I picked this up today for GBP 50 (around USD 75). Did I do alright? What grade would you give it? I have ID'ed it as a Denarius of L Opemius in Rome from 131 BC - S129 in the Sears book. Some of the blurring, particularly on the obverse, is due to the coin not lying flat on the scanner bed. What do you think?
It should be a denarius of Lucius Opeimius The actual attribution should be: Ref Opeimia 12 denarius, Cr253/1, Syd 473 Obverse: Lucius Opeimius Denarius. 134 BC. Head of Roma right wearing crested winged helmet, * beneath, wreath behind Reverse: Victory galloping right in quadiga, holding wreath, L.OPEIMI beneath, ROMA in ex. Syd 473. I have no idea how rare this coin might be, but I've not seen one minted by this moneyer. Don't take that to the bank. Just because I haven't seen one really doesn't mean much. As far as $75, I would guess that would be about right or just a tad high again depending on it's scarcity.
Although I have not seen many, nor do I have one; I searched a couple databases and there were several listed. So, I doubt that they are rare. I concur with Bing on the attribution. For me, you are about right for the money paid, however it is difficult truly seeing the condition from your scans. I am no expert, nor a Dealer, I am but an end-user collector. Thanks for posting!
Thanks for all that! Yes - with Brexit I guess USD68 is probably closer to the exchange but, as it is not leaving the country anytime soon, that doesn't matter. As for Brexit - best thing we could do. Long overdue kicking back at the continental Europeans, their elitism and their bossiness. Interesting the differences in the attribution in the different books. Over here we use the books by David R Sear published by Spinks of London and in those the date is definitely given as 131BC for both L Opimius and his brother M Opimius. I wonder where the difference arose. In Sear the number is S129. Not that it matters much - we are all talking about the same coin.
I always like using the Sear numbers. Agreed, Sear 129, for 131 BCE. Although, I reference Crawford also.
You paid an OK price, about average retail. That's about where I'd expect to see it priced on Vcoins for instance. As far as grade, grades are less important in ancients simply because the Sheldon 70 point scale doesn't really work for handmade coins where things like strike and style make big differences but here's how I'd evaluate it if I were considering it for purchase: Overall grade: gF(good fine/fine+) Well-centered obverse strike Detracting off center reverse strike Average style Small scratches and a handful of small non-distracting holes on either side, otherwise good metal and average surfaces. Rarity: common
Up here in Canada, we were paying almost $2 Canadian for UK Pound Having a crappy currency sucks big time!
Look at the bright side...less competition from Canadians at auction for us Yanks. I remember when the loonie was higher than the Dollar a few years back...and Canadians were outbidding me at fountain pen auctions. Yeah, I collect fountain pens too. Don't laugh
I think you did ok on the price. There are several "big nose" ROMA coins minted about the same time. I picked up two early this year for about the same hammer price. You have L.OPEIMI Crawford 253/1 (39 dies) and I have M.OPEIMI, Crawford 254/1 (47 dies). So yours is a bit rarer than mine. Neither coin is a high mintage coin. top Left Roman Republican denarius, M. Opeimius, moneyer, Rome mint, 131 BC, 18.5mm., 3.92g. Obv - Helmeted head of Roma r.; below chin, star and behind, tripod. Rev. Apollo in biga r., holding bow with arrow and reins with quiver over shoulder; below, M·OPEIMI. In exergue, ROMA. Crawford 254/1 Grueber 1137 RSC/Babelon Opeimia 16. Sydenham 475 top Right Roman Republican denarius, L. Postumius Albinus, moneyer, Rome mint, 131 BC, 19mm., 3.92g. Obv - Helmeted head of Roma r.; below chin, star and behind, apex. Rev. Mars in quadriga r., holding spear, shield and reins in l. hand and trophy in r.; below, L·POST·ALB. In exergue, ROMA. Crawford 252/1 Grueber 1129 RSC/Babelon Postumia 1. Sydenham 472 bottom Roman Republican denarius, M. Caecilius Q.f. Q.n. Metellus, moneyer, Rome mint, 127 BC, 19 mm., 3.87g. Obv - Helmeted head of Roma r., with star on flap; behind, ROMA upwards and below chin, *. Rev. M· METELLVS·Q·F around Macedonian shield decorated with elephant's heads; All within laurel wreath.. Crawford 263/1a Grueber 1147 RSC/Babelon Caecilia 29 Sydenham 480 Note - I ask folks at my coin club if they think this is a girl or a guy. How would you vote? I do not consider this to be the peak of RR artistic efforts.
I also agree @PaddyB ....A very good and fair price for a very nice RR denarius. Congrats!!! I vote female, obviously since it's Roma, but possessing attributes of masculine virtues (Roman)---seemingly the reverse of most depictions of Apollo as a bit feminine.
M. Opimius. Denarius 131, AR (19mm, 3.93g, 12h). Helmeted head of Roma r.; below chin, X (Mark of value) and behind, tripod. Rev. Apollo, with quiver over shoulder, in biga r., holding bow with arrow and reins; below, M·OPEIMI. In exergue, ROMA. Babelon Opeimia 16. Sydenham 475. Crawford 254/1.
Seems everyone had HONKERS for noses during that time! Roman Republic AR Denarius, L. Postumius Albinus Rome mint, 131 BCE Obv: Helmeted head of Roma r.; below chin, star and behind, apex. Rev: Mars in quadriga r., holding spear, shield and reins in l. hand and trophy in r.; below, L·POST·ALB. In ex ROMA. Crawford 252/1; Sear 128
I can't find an image of my pretty nice example of the Opeimia. Here's my example of the Postumia, ex RBW:
I don't have an Opeimia but do have this rather manly Roma of Postumia. Not quite as nice as Volodya's Roman Republic, L. Postumius Albinus 131 BCE AR denarius, 19 x 21 mm, 3.8 gm Obv: helmeted head of Roma right; flamen's cap behind Rev: Mars in quadriga right; L POST (AL)B; ROMA in exergue Ref: Crawford 252/1 ex-SomeoneWhoseCollectionWasSoldAsAGroupLot
