I got it down to these three. I am having a hard time deciding. So if I missed something and one is a much better coin I would appreciate the help.
I was leaning to that one also. The detail is rally nice. I love the obverse of the second one, but its a bit more wear to it.
Third was my least favorite because the nose is clipped—a pet peeve of mine. I would choose no. 1 then 2. 2 would easily be best if not for the scratches.
Here are the two pieces in my collection. This quadrigatus-didrachm was issued toward the end of the Greek coin inspired, didrachm era, 225 to 215 BC. It derives its name from the four horse chariot that appears on the reverse. The two headed obverse may have celebrated the closing of gates of Janis which signaled the end of the Punic Wars. Conversely it may have represented Castor and Pollux the twins in Greek and Roman mythology. “Victory” is driving the chariot on the reverse. Man. Acilius Balbus was a Consul in 114 B.C. A Roman coin (at right) was minted in honor of this individual or M. Acilius Balbus, Consul in 150 B.C. On the front of the coin is the head of the god Pallas with the inscription BALBVS. On the reverse is the god Jupiter and a quadriga (a four-horse chariot). Marcus Atius Balbus was Caesar Augustus' grandfather. Julius Caesar's youngest sister Julia (101 B.C. - 51 B.C.) married Balbus, a praetor and commissioner who came from a senatorial family. They had three daughters: Atia Balba Prima, Atia Balba Caesonia and Atia Balba Tertia. Their middle daughter, Atia Balba Caesonia (85 BC-43 BC) and her husband Gaius Octavius had a son named Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, or as he later became to be known, Caesar Augustus. Since Julius Caesar did not have a son, he named his grand-nephew, Octavius as his successor. In 62 B.C. Marcus Atius Balbus was a praetor which was one of eighteen magistrates with judicial functions. He was appointed governor of Sardinia. A coin was minted in his honor. On the front is the head of Sardus, the father or mythical ancestor of the island, and on the back is the head of Balbus. In 59 B.C. Balbus was appointed one of the vigintiviri under the Julian law for the division of the land in Campania. The term vigintiviri refers to an individual who was appointed to oversee the process of founding a colony.
I bought no 2. No3 I was going to buy because of the strong detail but they wanted 40 usd shipping. That was way too much for a small coin. It was billed as FedX but unless its express shipping which it did not say express that was too much for a letter size envelope.
I paid $750 at a Baltimore coin show for the first piece I posted with Janis on the obverse. I paid a total of $408 for the second one, including shipping, which I purchased in an internet auction. I was the only bidder, so maybe I goofed up. It had been cleaned up to a fairly bright look, but there are no hairlines. I know that these ancient coins often need to be cleaned. Maybe those numbers will help you.
