Sestertius - Coins from the Safety Deposit Box

Alegandron · Feb 12, 2026 at 9:35 PM

Blake Davis said: ↑

In the early 2000's I became and still am friends with an eastern European dealer, since forced into retirement - another story - who sold me coins which I sold on ebay for about 10 years. It was like a second job - at one time I was selling 25 coins a week - all auctions - there were reserves back then and "buy it now" was a rarity.

People today forget how important ebay was as a place to sell ancient coins up until about 2010 - even CNG sold coins on ebay at one time. And it was ALL auctions. As a result I was able to afford to buy my passion- large bronzes - sestertius - which have held my interest for over 26 years. I bought these at a time when almost all of the newer sestertii on coinarchives were high grade - not the low grade stuff now being sold in huge numbers by mostly European auction houses. Higher grade can still be found - for a price.

In about 2012 I put these sestertii in a safe deposit box and after that focused on the family of Septimius Severus and Hadrian travel series but mostly Septimius and sort of forgot the coins in the box - focused on other things. Although I didn't really forget about the earlier coins - how could I? each is like an old friend now - I didn't have easy access since the box is in New York City and I live in Jersey.

However, two weeks ago the Capital One branch where the box is at told me the branch is closing, so I was forced to take the coins home. I picked out some of the more interesting ones, made some not so great but not too poor photographs - and here they are:

1. Titus sestertius - Mars - when I purchased this on ebay, it was one of maybe five known but it seems like a dozen have appeared for sale since then. The coin is far nicer than the photograph, and is high relief:

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2. Nero sestertius - Temple of Janus - I believe this was purchased on ebay from Dianacoins and cleaned by a good friend in the UK - this is much nicer in hand, as is the Titus. The patina is simply perfect.

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3. Drusus Germanicus - Pax? - purchased on ebay from an Eastern European seller in the UK for $400. Yes in 2004 it was possible to find many coins like this for prices that would seem incredible today. Was it the war in Serbia? The fall of communism - or one person who told the gypsies in Bulgaria to stop tossing the coins with construction debris in the river, and sell these. Next thing you know two tons of coins are moving through Germany - one story I heard. I got into ancient coins from an interest in history - shame on me for not knowing who this is. View attachment 1703142 View attachment 1703143

4. Domitian sestertius - on horseback with shield going after foe - I purchased this coin from a woman in Italy - I think on ebay in about 2006 - who was selling other gorgeous coins at an incredible price. She would have sold one other to me but some ruthless Italian dealer told her she had to sell all of the coins to him as a group or no deal. So I missed out on another one which was far nicer than this extremely nice coin - this type always has a medallic flan and must be a special issue - perhaps not Rome mint?

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5. Trajan - eastern conquest platform - The last one is from a CNG ebay sale I think ca. 2003 - I know it is CNG, not 100% certain about ebay. This was my first really nice sestertius - I love the history behind it and I really like the perfect medallic flan which were struck during this period - the last common use of the really large perfect flans - after this smaller became the norm, although there were exceptions. I will post some more but 10 pix is the limit - I will also post the size - the price was $700 and no buyers fee - the buyers fee is a pernicious aspect of online auctions.
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The coin above has a beautiful green patina that I bolloxed in the photograph. None of the coins are perfect - but most are honest VF which was what I was always trying for.

I have many more coming - Claudius, Caligula, Marcus Aurelius, Commodus even Gordian as Caesar. But 10 photographs is the limit so the rest will be replies.
Blake
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Wow, @Blake Davis ! Nice.

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lordmarcovan · Feb 13, 2026 at 1:48 AM

Blake Davis said: ↑

I have a number of coins still to go and thought I would continue to post in 10 coin batches:

1. Agrippa As - Neptune - this was from Dianacoins. At one time they put up what seemed like dozens for sale, and purchased one. I used to have a Caligula As and a few others and very foolishly sold them - I recall how exciting it was when Dianacoins resumed selling every September after taking the summer off. This is only one of the many many amazing coins purchased from them until 2009.

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2. Claudius sestertius - Spes - this was purchased from a seller who would sometimes post amazing coins - I lost out on a perfect Volusian that is on the "Four Bad Years" site. I had also purchased a Claudius inscription sestertius with Tiber patina from Richard Beale but foolishly sold it thinking I already had a Claudius sestertius. But I like this one.

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3. Caligula Sestertius - inscription - cleaned by Anthony Holmes, purchased from Dianacoins - one of my favorites but I wish the laurel leaves on the portrait were clearer - but again you won't find perfection in any of these.

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5. Agrippina Jr - blank - Thracian mint - this coin is insane. Recently CNG sold one like it and it went for only a few hundred dollars even though there are only a handful known - in coins condition is king. This one is from Dianacoins.

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5. Agrippina Sr. "SC" - another Dianacoins purchase - a bit rough but as with many, if not most of the earlier sestertii - it is large and heavy.

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6. Viitellius sestertius - Pax - ebay purchase. Usually these go for thousands but I got this much less than that because of the wear. Finding it was hard, but I didn't want the gap - I had a tendency to go for higher grade more common coins, and as a result didn't have one. I tried to find a Pertinax that was affordable but these go four figures even for really worn examples. I was lucky to find this.

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7. Gordian III sestertius - Roma - In or about 2015 CNG had a large number of high grade Gordian III sestertii for sale - why? Who knows? But these were too nice to pass up and the quantity made the price reasonable, which no longer seems to happen - as with many of the other coins posted the color of the patina is a bit off.

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8. Nero sestertius - the only coin I have from my friend Walter's coins which I helped sell on ebay the early 2000's. He was an amazing guy, his passing was sudden and he is much missed. The relief on this coin is amazing as is the excellent job done by another friend who has passed - Anthony Holmes. View attachment 1703374

9. Balbinus sestertius - Providentia - a CNG acquisition purchased on ebay. Amazing to think that ebay had such beautiful coins for sale there although judging by what is above there are a few very nice ones that appear there. And why not - no consignment fee for the seller and no tacked on 22.5% for the auction house. Ebay isn't free but it is still a good place to find coins IF you can ignore the fakes - it drives me crazy that ebay does not police this.

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10. Augustus Divvus issue under Tiberius - this was purchased and shoved into the box only a few years ago. After buying this I realized that it was portraiture I really liked about sestertii - but then again, there is the historical interest. View attachment 1703376

I have one more that really belongs in this group but I can only list ten at a time. Every penny spent on these coins was eked out of my tiny coin business - for which I am certain I make under minimum wage. But it is a labor of love - not just the coins but history - the amount of time I spend reading ancient history is at least equal to the ti.me spent on coins - well not quite. If only I had the time to learn latin and greek....
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Your Balbinus caught my eye. He's one that I've never owned. I did have a Pupienus sestertius once, and it was a Wildwinds plate coin, but alas, I can't find it online now and have no pics.

Eduard · Feb 13, 2026 at 4:34 AM

@Blake Davis , you have a beautiful collection of Sestertii. I loved your Titus and Caligula most.
Titus sestertii have become very difficult to find. I regret never getting one for my collection. Yours is well above average.

I started collecting sestertii around 1990. I remeber welll CNG sales on Ebay. I think I got a Galba from them.

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Sestertius - Coins from the Safety Deposit Box

Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

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Sestertius - Coins from the Safety Deposit Box

Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

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