Looking for an opinion on this coin grade

What kind of grading would you give this Valens( lettering etc)

Fine? Very Fine?

also are there any red flags to its authenticity?



Thank you

 

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I would say it's poor to fine but looking as it does, does it really matter? It's been stripped of patina and possibly has bronze disease and It's chipped.

My advice is to buy the best coin you can afford. Not only will you get a better coin but if you decide to sell you'll have some value. This coin isn't worth much if anything except that it is a 1600 year old coin.

 

I couldn't agree more.

 

ty

does it look genuine to you?

 

Yes.


It's a hard lesson we all learn. When you start collecting ancients you just want to buy and own anything regardless of condition. The quicker you learn that owning one higher grade coin is worth many many many low grade coins the more you'll enjoy the hobby. There is a place for low grade coins but it's much more satisfying when you're holding a nice coin in hand. Nice coins of this type sell for very little money.

 

Like this Valens

https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/in..._emperor_dragging_captive/163582/Default.aspx

But I think your coin might be Valentinian

 

ty i understand

what would you consider very little money for this one?

 

A coin is a work of art from another time, in our case, of antiquity, 1500-2500 years ago. It was issued in numbers, which allows us to buy it for a relatively low amount of money. On a worn coin, part of the design is obscured. An undamaged coin without wear shows you the full design of the commissioner (emperor, sovereign), the artist (designer) and the artisans (makers).
It takes you to directly to the year 365 AD, or 14 AD, or 525 BC.

A worn coin is just a stair to a fine one. And a fine coin is a joy to behold.
That's why I always try to buy only the good coins, the lesser ones are disappointing in the end.

 

$3.00 bucks max.

 

thank you all.

 

"F, rough surfaces"

 

F, but I would wait and get a better example. A good one may cost $20 to $25

 

In a more general sense, grades for ancient coins are almost irrelevant since each coin's features will be different regardless of whether they're the same "type" and grade.

For example, there are hundreds (if not thousands) of "tribute penny" denarii of Tiberius available on the ancient coin market. Many of these will be graded VF by the dealers selling them. But they'll vary by (e.g.) artistry of the portrait, centering, sharpness of the legends, patina, etc. Thus, among the hundreds that are graded VF, you'll find some that appeal to you more than others. When you finally make a purchase decision among these VF coins, the grade is irrelevant since you're choosing one that appeals to your own personal preferences.

You'll rarely, if ever, find much of a debate on this forum about ancient coins' grades. Discussions will tend to focus on a coin's features or set of features that are particular to that coin. Look for coins whose history and appearance appeal to you, coins that you'd like to look at over and over no matter how long you own them.

 

I agree. Grade is not everything, but condition, eye appeal and desirability determine the price of a coin.
I think your first ancient is great. You can handle the coin and not worry about degrading it. You can win plenty of bets at a bar asking who has the oldest coin in their pocket. It is a good ice breaker: "Have you ever held a 1600 year old coin?"
One of the favorite areas of my collection are well loved and cut coins. Some can not be attributed beyond Roman Republican As (or in this case half of an As). These were less than $10 each (and I probably over paid.)

The following are examples of similar coins that are worth a lot more (10 to 20 times more than the ones above) because they have interesting historical guys on them: Julius Caesar and Octavian. The other one is like the ones above, only better condition.

 

Im pretty sure its valens... I had a couple experts look it over but ill admit it might be valentinan I

 

Great collection rrdenarius , looks there is a fleet of galleys on the last coin bottum right. Only got one half As:

 

I look carefully at each ancient coin for wear, centering, strike, surface condition, artistic style and compare to other examples of the issue. I ignore the letter grade people give them because they don't capture most of those characteristics.

 

My advice, try to always go for high quality, great eye appeal, no faults.....and buy from reputable auctions, dealers.

 

Nothing like a good half As coin
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