Eye of the beholder, I guess, but with all due respect for your feelings that coin was not a beauty. Too many unclear letters in the inscription, and too much mountainous terrain on the surfaces. I realize that magnification can make a nice coin surface look a bit lunar, but with all due respect I would not put that coin in the Choice XF category. I am dumbfounded that NGC did that. The coins of Delmatius are not so rare that compromised surfaces might still be classed as CH XF. If it was originally bought based on the NGC grade assignment, then as Sev. Al hinted it is not surprising that you took a beating on the resale.
Exactly! This one demonstrates the fact NGC grades obverses only. That reverse is neither choice nor EF.
To be fair, it is an old slab from before the time they evaluated surfaces and strike. I'm sure NGC would do much better on this coin now.
Neither is the obverse which is far from "choice". Delmatius is not uncommon in much better condition. Too glossy to photograph well! FL DEMATIVS NOB C Lovely centering and glossy surfaces. RIC VII Siscia 266 "r3" with two other varieties r4 and r5. (But, it is not really that rare.)
My only Delmatius, it is in need of an upgrade. I am a fan of the GLORIA EXERCITVS types so I'm happy I have Delmatius with this reverse type. Delmatius, AD 335-337 AE, AE4, 16mm, 1.78g; 5h; Heraclea Obv.: FL DELMATIVS NOB CAES; laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right Rev.: GLOR-IAEXERC-ITVS; two soldiers holding spears and shields with one standard between them with dot on banner In Ex.: SMHΓ
That's quite a find. The issues with two standards before the currency reform and reissue at a lower weight standard are scarce for Delmatius. I have only the one-standard, lower weight, version of this coin. From Siscia, too, as is quite common (there must have been a hoard found). Delmatius, as Caesar, AD 335-337. Roman billon reduced centenionalis, 1.47g, 16.4 mm, 1 h. Siscia, AD 336-337. Obv: FL DELMATIVS NOB C, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: GLOR-IA EXERC-ITVS, two soldiers standing facing each other, each resting on on spear and shield, one standard between them; BSIS in exergue. Refs: RIC vii, p. 458, 256; LRBC 758; Cohen 4; RCV 16894.