A quick search on ACSEARCH turns up 325 hits, so it's not a rare coin. Values are all over the range, from $33 to over $33,000. I have one of these and it's among my favorite coins (see below). Your example appears to be genuine, and the obverse portrait is quite nice. It's missing the TI CLAVDIVS part of the legend on the obverse, which is a minus. The reverse of SPES is also fairly well done. It doesn't appear to be tooled. I wonder if it could be further cleaned to bring out more detail. What is the asking price? CLAUDIUS 10 B.C. - 54 A.D. AE Sestertius (29.21 g.) Rome 41 - 54 A.D. RIC 99 TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP Laureate head right. Rev. SPES - AVGVSTA Spes, draped, advancing left, flower in right hand, raising skirt with left, S C in exergue. Ex. Luc Girard
The obverse portrait is quite good, compared to many of this type that turn up on ACSEARCH. That feature alone would make the coin worth acquiring despite the missing TI CLAVDIVS on the obverse. Assuming that the coin is genuine (be sure the dealer is willing to offer a guarantee), I would make a final decision only after examining it in hand. Ask the dealer if he is willing to allow you to do this, and maybe offer $125 - $150. Let us know how this works out.
Its fine. The soil you see is possibly applied to bring out details. The condition is just fine to me, quite collectible (but isnt anything??). As to value, I would say between $100-150 but they have sold actively in this grade around $200.
