One Seller offers me two denarius: of Faustina (40eur) and Caracalla (60 eur). Is it worth that much, and they were not cast copies, suspicious pieces? At the beginning of the cooperation itself with the seller, I have built trust. Thank you.
Both seem to be nice coins. I will have to check on the Caracalla to see if that reverse is scarce, but otherwise I think the Faustina portrait is the better of the two. Neither look suspicious to me, but let others chime in to be more certain. The costs you mention are not out of line and seem to be better than what I might expect.
Info on Caracalla: You didn't mention weight and size, but it should weigh in the vicinity of 3+grams, and be close to 18mm CARACALLA Born Septimius Bassanus, by AD 196 Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Called by the name Caracalla after AD 193 Emperor AD 198-217 SILVER DENARIUS Obverse: ANTONINVS PIUS AVG, His young laureate head right Reverse: PONTIF.TR.P.VIIII COS.II, Caracalla holding spear, on horseback prancing right RIC 084, RSC 427, BMC 503
Info on Faustina I: Weight should be 3.5-4g, and size should be in the vicinity 18mm Faustina the Elder, Posthumous AR Denarius Obverse: DIVA AVG FAVSTINA, draped bust of Faustina, facing right. Reverse: CONCORDIAE, Antoninus Pius, togate, stands, facing right, holding a roll, and clasps hands with Faustina, who stands, facing left, veiled and draped, holding a scepter. A sentimental issue, struck after she died in 141 A.D., and before her daughter, also named Faustina, was given the title of Augusta, in 147, upon the birth of her first child. RIC 381b, RSC 159, BMC 298
Both nice coins. Of the two, the Faustina is a better value for the price (a good value, actually). Here's my example of that coin: Faustina Senior, wife of Antoninus Pius, Augusta AD 138-141 Roman AR denarius; 3.73g, 17mm Rome, AD 142 Obv: DIVA AVG FAVSTINA, draped bust right. Rev: CONCORDIA, Antoninus standing right, holding scroll, clasping right hands with Faustina I, standing left, holding sceptre. Refs: RIC 381b; BMCRE 298; RCV 4592; Cohen 159.
Since a couple people have posted they like the Faustina best, I'll go to bat for the Caracalla. He was emperor for 20 years and we watch him grow on coins from a kid to a snarling beast. People seem to prefer the extremes of that span but it is harder to find nice examples of the middle period (like this one). I believe the seller has priced the two correctly in proportion and you would best advised to buy the one you like, not the one we like. You might consider seeing if the seller would take a lesser number if you bought both (85?). I will mention one other little point. If you have been milking this dealer for information and not buying much or anything in the process of building trust, you might consider paying just a little more or, conversely, not beating him to death asking for a discount no matter how fair his asking price might be. You both benefit from forming a long term relationship and you want him to think of you as the customer worth answers to questions and being glad (at least not run away) when he sees you coming. I was once told by a dealer that I was the second biggest cheapskate he knew. I'm not sure that was a compliment. It has also been my experience over the years that when I really, really can not decide between two very different coins (as are these), the correct answer is either to buy neither or to buy both. Isn't it nice how I took a question with two answers and provided two more? When I see a coin I know I must have, I tend to be happy. When I go out wanting to buy a coin and take what I find even if I have some reservations, I sometimes suffer buyer's remorse. This is the hobby as I know it.
Sounds like something I would do. I have no idea who the first might have been, but if it wasn't me then he hasn't met me yet.
They both look nice to me. The Faustina in a has a nice portrait but I really like the reverse of the Caracalla. It shows some nice detail. I would buy both if you like them at the price offered. Seems fair to me.
I do not have a coin of Faustina Senior. I have a few denarius from Caracalla, but I like reverses with horses. Thank you all. If I buy any, I will post pictures.
I'm going to swim against the tide here and express some wariness about the first coin: The exceeding flatness and smoothness of the fields, both obverse and reverse, give the visual impression of this being a modern pressed forgery. Plus, I don't see any telltale flow marks that a struck coin in this condition might exhibit. Compare this sample from a recent Roma auction: Personally, I would decline this one.
