The greatest day in my journey through ancient coinage

There are many wonderful days in an ancient collector's journey through the coinage of the ancient world. After all, most of us are coin junkies and will probably manage to get at least 20 coins this year. But seldom are the days we can truly call great...the days where we get a coin we never thought we'd have the opportunity to own, and the days where we get one special coin that leaves us giddy with joy and amazement.

Today is such a day for me. My Julius Caesar lifetime portrait denarius is finally in my hands after some unfortunate delays at the post office.

Oh boy, I feel like I just hit a grand slam home run at the World Series with this one. For all of you non-Americans, the soccer equivalent would be scoring the winning penalty shot at the World Cup.

All that said, this was an expensive coin by my standards, so to go with the expensive theme I photographed it with some appropriate currency for the background. I'm being a bit of a drama queen with these pictures, aren't I?

So without further adieu, here is Julius Caesar himself in coin form, minted only weeks before his death on March 15, 44 BCE.

 

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In addition to the lifetime portrait, another compelling aspect of this coin is that it was struck within a few months of Julius Caesar's assassination. The connection to one of history's most dramatic single events staggers one's imagination.

 

That is one heck of a coin and one I might only be able to dream of. Personally I also like the bankers mark and find it well located in an unobtrusive location on the obv. and it totally missed everything of significance on the rev. Awesome Grand Slam score!

 

FAAAAAAAAKE

 

I like the way you phrase this! For me that is the way I always feel. Not that I am supremely positive, but just that my collecting interests have no direction whatsoever. Each and every coin I get is a surprise because I didnt even know I needed or wanted it!

Anyway, nice coin. When I saw the image I was hoping you paid $100 for it!

 

Love it man!

 

there are many differences

 

Your comment is useless without some sort of explanation of what leads you to believe that.

 

Compare between two pics

 

That is a wonderful coin with a realistic portrait. Any collector would be proud to own it. Congratulations.

 

There are 36 known die pairs for this particular issue. There will be differences between individual coins.

 

These types come in many varieties, and there were likely a number of different engravers, so yes, there will be differences between dies. The OP coin is a die match to Alföldi Type IV, 141. Here's one that sold at CNG.

 

These types come in many varieties, and there were likely a number of different engravers, so yes, there will be differences between dies. The OP coin is a die match to Alföldi Type IV, 141. Here's one that sold at CNG.

Also compare!

 

You do realize ancient coin dies were hand engraved by different celators. Even the same die type made by the same celator would not have been identical each time due to being hand made.

Also, differences in the strike quality, alignment of the coin on the flan, and wear patterns from circulation, as well as environmental damage from burial, can make even coins from the same die look different to the untrained eye.

I don't mind someone calling my coin fake if they can back it up. No offense as you are new here, but I'm starting to suspect you are way over your head here.

 

The difference between the OP coin and the CNG coin is that the OP coin has some circulation wear and CNG coin is flatly struck on a portion of the flan. The dies however, are identical. If you're a newcomer to ancient coins, you will learn that the striking techniques did not allow for the kind of homogeneity you find in modern coins. Even coins struck from the same dies will exhibit many differences.

 

likely one of the "portagees" of fake

 

Sallent-- wonderful coin! What a thrill that must be for you

As for new member pihiyomi, he/she sounds quite a bit like a recent troll who creates a new user name almost daily and is repeatedly banned. Just ignore

 

it's my personal opinion