One thing you know when you buy a coin at auction is that you were willing to pay more for the coin than anyone else who bid in the sale. This coin is an example of what I consider winning by losing. Last week's Frank Robinson sale included several Sasanian drachms on which I bid very little over the minimum and won exactly zero. The coin below was offered by Frank as a back up 'loser' lot as he is wont to do for customers who do not mind the offense of a lesser coin at a lesser price. The listed lot was described as Choice EF and bright metal. The winning bidder wanted it more than I did. The backup 'loser' I got is not quite as perfectly struck and not bright. However, my personal preference is for toned coins over bright and shiny ones so I am happier with this one than I would have been with the listed one that sold for $65 on a bid of $88. Since I was not the immediate underbidder, I assume that he had a 'roll' of these common drachms and offered others to other losers like me. I wonder if any others on CT won by losing in this sale. The coin is a 31mm silver drachm of Khusru II (by far the most common Sasanian king) dated year 29 from the mint GD (Jayy) if my terrible skills at reading these is working. I will rest a bit and research more to see if my eyes see it differently. Your opinions are welcome as are images of any Robinson 'losers' you won (even if they are not better looking than the 'bright' winner). Later, I'll post the lots I won by being high bidder (aka - the one who paid more than the smart people bid???).
Great strike on that coin! I agree with the reading 29 GD. The mints are pretty easy to decipher on these, the dates less so. But this one is pretty clear.
Outstanding. I bid on a Maxentius (lot 366) but got outbid at the end of the auction. Rats. It was the hexagonal temple type on the reverse. So sad, I still need a Maxentius to round out my tetrarchs.
