New collector.. new to site....first denarius

Or, if you prefer to focus on Mars rather than any one particular emperor:

Constantine I ("the Great"), (A.D. 307-337), as Caesar
AE Nummus, Ticinum mint, A.D. 306
RIC 75
Obv: CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES
Rev: VIRTVS AV-GG ET CAESS NN - Helmeted Mars, advancing right, with transverse spear and holding trophy over shoulder
ST in exergue; [dot] in left field
27mm, 10.6 g.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Welcome @Clavdivs to CoinTalk. I have only been around since last April but I've really enjoyed this forum, and have a learned a lot and hopefully have contributed a bit. I picked up this Trajan a couple of months ago...

 

One very short bit of advice. Junk stays junk.

 

Very nice coin. Welcome aboard.

Here's my Trajan.

Note that Andres2 posted a complete set representing The Five Good Emperors. It was the ultimate of the Pax Romana. You can do them in denarii, very affordably. You can also, if you want, specialize in one common reverse. I am working on astronomical themes. This one shows the Cosmos at the foot on Providentia with the Zodiacal band across the Equator.

 

What a nice detail!

 

@Clavdivs While denarii are definitely awesome, also take a look at provincial coins. Trajan, like many other emperors, has tons of beautiful provincial issues, and many of them can be had for a lot less than imperial issues.

 

Welcome to the ancient coin collectors club ! You will no doubt enjoy this new activity.your coin is very nice and the seller is a very serious and reputable person.Good luck for your future acquisitions !

 

Welcome to CT!!! It seems you already have a pretty good grasp of the situation...nice start!

 

@PlanoSteve... I just wanted to say how much I like (and relate to) your avatar

 

Thanks TIF, it's my official motto!

 

Yeah, I just got up from one of those.

 

Thank you - that is fantastic information!!!

 

I will surely visit -thank you!

 

Welcome @Clavdivs , nice coin. A silver denarius is an excellent starter coin. As my name implies, I collect Roman Republican coins. But..... I have been known to stray. Today I bought a Roman Imperial coin because I liked the scale on it. It is not here, so I am tempting fate that it will make its way across the ocean.

Diocletian AD 284-305, AE silvered Follis
Obv - IMP DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; Laur. bust r.
Rev - SACR MONET AVGG ET CAESS NOSTR; AQS in ex.; VI in r. field; Moneta standing l. holding scales and cornucopia
Mint: AQS = Aquileia
Mint Date: 302 - 303 AD
Grade: VZ; EF, some minor striking weakness on rev.
28mm
9.43 g
RIC 35; Paolucci 17

I liked this one because it shows the scale and how to hold it. Note the pans are more like cups. I looked at several on acsearch and saw a lot of minor variations in the scale: right cup lower, left cup lower, center string not centered, etc. Note the finger positioning for holding the scale.

 

That is an amazing coin with incredible detail. Congrats on your purchase. The scale looks great and to see the detail on how to hold it is surprising.

 

Thank you - simple but important. I need all the advice I can get!

 

Good point - maybe I can get a better image. I am as new to coin photography as I am to roman coins... so here is my first attempt to improve on the screen grab I got from Frank S. Robinson's site.
Adding a blue background seems to help with the detail - instead of just white.
Any other hints are appreciated - I am sure there is a lot of info on this subject out there.. just have to get to work and search.
Blue background = Tupperware lid - lol.... I really am working on a shoe string budget.. haha.

 

fantastic ideas!!

 

I Like Trajan as well This is one of my faves.

 

I wrote too much before but there is one other point that needs to be made. One person's trash is another's treasure. Does one of the coins below seem more desirable than the other? Ask yourself the same question after you become a specialist in the coins of Septimius Severus and your answer may (or may not) change. There is no 'right' answer but there most certainly are differences of opinion.