POLL: Which Claudius II floats your boat?

this!

 

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#4! Love that crazy Kevin special!

Anyone seen Kevin? He went to lunch at that pub downhill from the mint and never made it back.

 

All dots are not equal. If someone researched the matter and discovered a meaning of the dot, I might have more respect for the dots but just having a do means nothing. For example we know the Nero coins with a big dot at the point of the bust are Lugdunum mint. They don't sell for more but might make someone want two coins rather than one. I have had discussions with experts greater than I about dots on the reverse of some Septimius Severus coins. One swears they are space fillers with no meaning. If someone ever figures out the code I might start paying extra for some dots. Meanwhile?
One dot lower right reverse


Two dots

 

Dots show up from time to time at the end of the obverse legend on the denarii of Titus. Coins with them tend to be a bit rarer than those without.







Even for those struck for Domitian as Caesar.



Divus Vespasian.



And Julia Titi.



I've been told the same 'space filler' theory. But I wonder.

I've tried to convince myself that the dot is different enough to acquire duplicates - one with, one without. Like I need excuses to buy more Titus denarii!

 

Hmmm I'll have to go with the following as my favorites in order from most favorite to least:

#4 He looks like a shaky headed poltergeist

#3 I like good looking coins

#1 I think it's really neat that it was published by the previous owner

#2 I enjoy rarity and I think this coin is cool. However, it's just lost too much of its artistry to Father Time for me to value it above the others.

My Claudi Goth is no looker but it has some pleasant detail left in the portrait and I like the color of it


Great additions @zumbly . Happy to see you posting more again!

 

On the topic of dots, it's known that for Claudius II, Smyrna and Cyzicus used dots below the bust as officina marks. Coin #2 has two dots and was an unrecorded issue in the original RIC - I won't expect $1000 for it, but perhaps that fact could garner it a few more votes in the poll? In all honesty, I'm actually heartened to see it got as many votes as it did.

More surprising to me is the number of votes Coin #4 with the crazy double strike has received. As of now it leads the pack as favorite, albeit with Coin #3 a very close second. Coin #4 is personally my favorite as well, with the other three about equal. Go, Kevin!

Thanks to everyone for voting and giving your thoughts, I think it's been an interesting and fun little exercise.

Poll results as of now :

Coin #1: Rome mint / Annona reverse. Published in The Celator vol. 16, no 10 (Oct 2002). - 5 votes

Coin #2: Smyrna mint / Mercury reverse. Extremely Rare, one of two known specimens. - 7 votes

Coin #3: Rome mint / Pax reverse. High grade...for a Claudius II. - 17 votes

Coin #4: Siscia mint / Pax reverse. Dramatic obverse double strike. Kevin's choice. - 18 votes

 

I think KEVIN tried to pay for his liquid lunch with this one, when challenged by the barman he replies " ofcourse its real, I just made it myself "
RIC 67, MARS VLTOR, H in Left Field

 

The SPQR spec is, in my opinion, the most important coin from the selection in terms of rarity and historical significance. As for desirability and price, this earlier Gallienus from the Smyrna SPQR series (check out the reverse!) just sold yesterday for cca. 90$.

Not a fortune, but not junk bin either.