A dealer at the show had several plastic bags each with 50 to 100 silver coins. Two were Republicans, two denarii, two antoniniani. Each pair had a good $45 bag and a lesser $30 bag. I found nothing I needed in the Republicans and ants but liberated one denarius from each bag. What this shows is that there are $30 Republicans available in quantity but they were all worn and mostly chariots. The ants were all Gordian and Philip. The denarii were much more varied which makes sense since the denomination was made for a long time by more rulers. I like pickout bags like these and am a little surprised I did not find more 'keepers'. I suspect many of you would have left these two but found other treasures in the same bags. That is the beauty of unidentified pickout bags. Caracalla / Sol below is dated to his next to last year with the GERM obverse. It is later than his worst scowling portraits but reasonably well struck and has a little tone and few deposits. I other words, it is the kind of coin that usually appeals to me. The Gordian III / VENVS VICTRIX denarius below was an easy choice for me. I only had two of his denarii previously. There are many fewer denarii than antoniniani for Gordian. Am I trying to get the set? Not consciously --- but there is something about them that appeals to me so I might accidentally buy ten or so more and start asking which ones I lack. This example is fully cleaned but reasonably well struck. It even shows a bit of crude helmet detail in Venus' hand. Some of these have more a blob. I may like it better in a few years if it tones a bit.
I have never seen anything like you are talking about yet with the grab bags, I've only been to a few small local shows, and ancients are few and far between. It sounds awesome. Your coins are great, and i need to find a way to bigger shows.
Fun! If only all of us had access to grab bags to plunder... You didn't say which priced bag your coins came out from . The Gordian looks like it would have come out of the $45 bag but could have sold for more. I'd buy the Caracalla for $45 too but would love it even more at $30. Here's are three $40 Caracallas. I wonder which ones your dealer would have consigned to a bag (all of them?), and which bag?
Great finds Doug. I also love going through pick bins or bags. Just goes to show that decent coins can be had for reasonable prices if you take the time and know where to look. Most of my coins now come from shows. Better prices and you build relationships with dealers one on one. The more you get to know them the more willing they are to show you their "stash". One dealer I always go see has a box of his latest purchases, unsorted and not yet priced. He always let's me pick from it but not everyone is so fortunate
These are two great coins, @dougsmit. I particularly like the Caracalla. Even at $45 I feel that that would be a pretty solid price. I don’t collect Gordian but I would like a piece like that for my collection especially in that condition and at that price. I’m a big fan of digging through pick bags. One, it gives me the rare opportunity to cherry pick ancients which is rare when you can only go to so many shows and have to buy most of your coins online. Two it is fun to see so many at once and test yourself in terms of buying not only what you need for your collection but also some scarcer reverse or bust types. I know have the itch to go start digging.
I believe this was the case here also. The dealer had a page of items he had pulled out to write up when he had time and I pointed out a couple that I suggested he might want to 'upsell'. Of course, these were things I already had or I would have bought them. Most of the coins in these bags were well sorted and survivors of European markets. They were not a hoard. Ancient coins of this sort are not rare. I almost bought a denarius because it had a 3x2mm paper label glued into the reverse field with number "210" printed in the smallest human handwriting I ever had seen. I obviously was from an old collection when such practices were common and acceptable. I had the type and mine was nicer. I have enough ordinary duplicates. While at the show I helped a dealer separate his Severans by mint (he had at least one from each but was unsure he had them right). Building relationships is a good idea (and not just in coins).
Excellent bargains, @dougsmit ! Lovely coins! I went to a large show attended by a number of ancient dealers some 15 years ago, such as Tom Cederland, Pegasi Numismatics, Stephen Huston, CNG and others. One of them had a grab bag of unsorted Severan denarii and I bought about eight of Plautilla and Julia Domna, ranging from aVF to MS. My computer has since crashed, along with the financial records from the sale so I don't know how much they were (in the $40 range, if I recall) and from whom I purchased them. But this is one of them. While none are currently for sale at V Coins and Temeryazev and Makarenko give this an (undeserved) R3 rarity rating, this coin comes up for auction rather infrequently (2 in CNG's archives and about 8 at acsearchinfo), so I'd call it scarce. I consider it a bargain in any case. Plautilla, AD 202-205 Roman AR denarius, 3.76 g, 20.2 mm Rome, AD 205 Obv: PLAVTILLA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and drape bust, right Rev: DIANA LVCIFERA, Diana standing left, holding flaming torch with both hands Refs: RIC 366; BMCRE 420; RSC 13; RCV 7070; Temeryazev and Makarenko 427.
Gosh, Doug. Where do you live that you have access to so many great coin shows? I would love to pick through bags of coins like those you describe! I live in Westchester County, NY, about 30 miles north of NYC. When I moved down here I figured "Hooray! There's probably a good coin show in the area every weekend." Wrong. Other than the annual NYINC in January, it's pretty barren around here. Anyway, great score. I'd be happy with either of those coins.
Both OP coins are terrific---well-centered with full legends and loads of eye-appeal....not to mention at a great price with interesting devices.
Nice finds, Doug. I'd have really had fun with a $30 bag of Roman Republics...maybe I need to start thinking about going to shows again.
You might want to add these to the appropriate "What your budget buys... " threads, since they're such great purchases in price, style, and condition. New collectors can learn a lot from both the coins as well as the value of attending coin shows in person.
Would love to forge through a bag of misc. denarii in the $30s range. I'm sure many I don't need would come home. Nice additions, Doug. I guess when you go to a coin show, eventually, a Roach will hitch a ride to it's new home. My roach in denarius form. Only bought it for the high weight and the toning. Gordian III (238 - 244 A.D.) AR Denarius O: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. R: SECVRITAS PVBLICA Securitas seated left on throne, holding scepter and resting head upon hand. 3.81g 18mm Rome, 240 A.D. RIC IV 130; RSC 340
I live not far from you. In Westchester county there are three shows yearly in Tarrytown. The next one is November 24th/25th at the Westchester Marriot. Usually there are three ancient dealers there: Time Machine, Pegasi, and one other guy I can't remember who has a lot of slabbed Egyptian bronze. Mark from Time Machine told me he sells monthly in Clifton NJ. http://www.cliftonworldmoneyshow.com/ . The dealer list shows two other dealers of ancient coins.
Great coins Doug! I really like the Caracalla. One I've been passively looking for since I gave my worn one away.
As a huge Gordian III fan, I'm envious of your new Gordian Venus Victrix reverse. I really need one badly. You know what they say, one can never have too many Gordian III coins in their collection.
