A humble little RR denarius: P. Servilius M.f. Rullus, 100 BCE

I don't really do Roman Republic denarii, as I only have 9 (10 with this coin). However, I had the opportunity to acquire one for just over $100 with shipping and fees. At that price I don't know if I'm overpaying or not, but it is the cheapest RR denarius I have by at least $20 USD.

By the way, this is my 8th coin of the year (for those of you keeping track):

The good: It was cheap (I think). At least after spending on 7 other coins I was looking for a budget coin to wrap up January, and this fit the bill. Now watch me buy another coin before the month is over.

The bad: At a budget price, it is not exactly a pretty coin by most of this forum's standards. So it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I think it's decent considering the price...and I could probably use a few more worn and beat up coins in my collection (to add character to it)



ROMAN REPUBLIC. P. Servilius M.f. Rullus, 100 BC. AR Denarius. (3.90 gm).
Helmeted bust of Minerva / Victory driving biga.
Servilia.14. Cr.328/1. VF.

As you can see, she is far from perfect. Quite a bit of wear and some small off centering issues in the reverse. However, I still like her. She may not be a beauty queen, but she is my coin! And most importantly, she is my 5th Roman coin with Minerva, which makes Minerva the Roman deity with more coins than any other in my collection.

Post any RR or Minerva coins you want to share:

 

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It's actually a very pretty coin, in terms of strike, centering, and surfaces. It's just that the rendition of Minerva isn't all that pretty. I wonder if the engraver was just tired or unskilled, or if that was the style at the time. There was a period in RR denarii during which Roma wasn't all that hot either.

 

Even if it is not perfect, it is an attractive coin! congrats!

Almost an average of 1 coin per day

 

Yeah, I know she is not a pretty girl, but she might look decent once not under magnification. Besides, even ugly deities deserve a little love, don't they?

PS: SHOW US YOUR BEAUTY CHALLENGED ANCIENT FACES ON COINS

 

I think it's a very nice coin and I don't think you did bad at all.

 

Nice RR, considering how common Roma/Biga type reverses are, I own none.

 

Yes, absolutely. It's not a criticism, just an observation about the style.

 

Here is my other RR Minerva, this time on the reverse ridding a quadriga. At least on my OP coin you can appreciate her face, even if she looks a little funky. The same can't be said for this C. Vibius C.F. Pansa

 

Apart from the nosebit, it's an attractive coin I think

But while yours is nose-challenged mine is mouth-challenged


Domitianus, Denarius minted in Rome AD 95-96
IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM PM TRP XV, Laureate head of Domitianus right
IMP XXII COS XVII CENS PPP, Minerva standing right holding spear and shield
3,21 gr
Ref : RCV #2734 v, Cohen #292

Q

 

I can always upgrade to a less nasal-challenged one a year down the road and have JA sell it for me for big bucks. LOL.

Nice Domitian/Minerva. I have one too, though mine is the one with an owl. The poor thing hasn't seen a cleaning in forever, but I prefer my silver coins dark and grimy like that.

 

Even if I don't have a lot of RR, I managed to find one with Minerva:



C. Vibius C.f. Pansa. 90 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.49 g, 1h). Rome mint. Laureate head of Apollo right; flower below chin / Minerva driving galloping quadriga left, holding spear, reins, and trophy. Crawford 342/4b; Sydenham 685; Vibia 3. VF, toned, graffiti and scratches on obverse under tone.

From the Archer M. Huntington Collection, ANS 1001.1.10564.

 

That's about what I paid for mine(I think it was $110 all in) a year or so ago and almost exactly what the dealer I purchased it from paid at a Gitbud Naumann auction a few months before that. Minerva ain't terribly pretty on either one but she never is on these types.

 

It seems on the nose on the denarii of
P. Servius M.F. Rulius
is in a straight line with the forehead. Here is a third example:

100 BC. 21-18 mm. 3.90 grams. 6:00.
Sear 207. Crawford 328/1. He says the type refers to victories of Marius and and the "P" in the field abbreviates "Argento Publico".

 

Nice coin and price I think @Sallent

 

Great coin @Sallent
I've been trying to get a quad & tridriga for some time now.
I even actually tried kirkuleez when he posted those of a friend of his.
Funny, I never heard back from him. On to the next, lol.

 

@Sallent I think it is a great coin that I'd feel pride in adding to my collection, well done in my opinion.

 

Not bad @Sallent , nice capture at a fair price.

I have a Rullus:


RR Servius Rullus 100 BCE AR Den Minerva Victory Biga Sear 207 Cr 328/1


Several Minervas, but I will toss this one into the fray (since you are now looking at Bronzes...):


RR Anon AE Triens 157-156 BC Minerva Prow RARE Cr 198B/3 Sear 989

 

A very nice RR

 

Got the coin today. No doubts about it, the ancient celator botched the nose, but thankfully it looks much better in person than it did in the auction house pics.

 

A very respectable coin at a fair price.