My new arrivals from auction included a five coin lot of Republicans which, as expected from lots, included a few coins better and a few worse. Judging from the photo provided, I thought I might like the lot and now consider it acceptable but not as nice as expected. One coin is a fourree (C.Junius CF / Dioscuri) but better looking than the L.Censorius / Matsyas with a polished area in the field at obverse right and otherwise rough surfaces. The L Calpurnius Piso Frugi is not bad (equal or better than the BM coin of the type but they have 300+ different ones of these and many are really nice). It has boring minor types (sword/star with D above). There is an anonymous quinarius of 81 BC which is the last before the denomination was revived during the Imperatorial period. If the reverse were as nice as the obverse, I would be very happy but that coin would not have been put in a lot. My favorite of the group is the L. Postumius Albinus with Diana bust and three horsemen riding down a fallen warrior. The obverse could have better surfaces but the reverse is pleasing with clear details even including the pennons of the standards carried horizontally in front of the horses. The question now is whether I will be looking at lots like this one in future sales. The photo was fair so I can only blame myself for bidding. I will be looking to upgrade the Censorius with Marsyas. I was hoping this would be an upgrade over my fourree with red paint number on the reverse. I suppose it is but the polished field bothers me more than the paint.
I like your lot and would have been happy with it myself, but I find with mixed lot buying some caveats apply. For me personally, they are the best fun when you: a) buy them at a significant discount to their theoretic retail value (50% or more would be good) b) find a nice bonus or surprise in the lot (for example, you buy the lot for a specific coin or two that you see in it, but discover on receiving it that it also contains an interesting type new to you, or one that you had overlooked but turned out to be an unexpected winner). c) don't have too many duplicates already in your collection - I wouldn't have a problem with 10 Gordian III ants in my collection, but perhaps not if 4 were the same reverse type. Oh, and if one expects only higher grade coins, or is averse to an element of gambling in coin buying, I'd just avoid mixed lots altogether.
i think that's a pretty cool mixed lot of RR...the "bobble head" horseman are great, the fouree is nice, cool sensorius reverse. Z summed up what i really like in lots!
Sweet haul, Mentor ... => I like all of 'em, but I think that the P Frugi is my favourite (nice big flan) ... it kinda looks like an eagle in exergue to me, not a star (but I see eagles in most clouds, so my opinion is a bit iffy)
The more I look at the Calpurnius denarius, the more I like it!!! Even off-centered the reverse is very appealing--- the details of the obverse bust are terrific. And your Censorius denarius (2nd example) is continuing to grow on me as well.....
