A common coin in uncommon condition

"Camp gates" of Constantine and his sons are among the most common ancient coins. They often come in great shape, so you can find really nice ones in the $20-$25 range.

Here are two in that price range, the first from Nikomedia and the second from Thessalonica.






The type was originally "surface-silvered" with an extremely thin layer of silver which rarely survives (and didn't survive on those two). I wanted one with silvering. I wanted one with strong strike from fresh dies in good style with good centering and silvering remaining. I wanted it all!

Today this came in the mail:


It is not perfect, but it is close. I'm done with that search.
CONSTAN-TINVS AVG
PROVIDEN-TIAE AVGG
SMABTE, dot in doorway.

RIC Antioch 81 "327-8"

Show us a common coin in uncommon condition.

 

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Gorgeous!

This Aurelian ORIENS AVG is quite common -- but not commonly encountered this nice:

 

It's difficult to find a silvered LRB that looks good. The patchiness of most silvering often detracts from the devices. That really is a nice one, Warren!

This one fits the bill-- definitely one of the nicest I've seen. These types must've circulated long because usually they are very worn.


SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I
Æ 20 mm, 8.23 gm
Struck c. 390 BCE
Obv: head of Athena left, wearing wreathed Corinthian helmet pushed back on head
Rev: hippocamp left
Ref: Calciati 35. SNG ANS 426
formerly in an NGC slab

 

Wow.

 

Beauties! A descendent of the OP coins that has to be in about as Mint a state as any coin i have
Constantius II Caesar, AD 324-337
3.4g Trier Mint, AD 327-328
Obv: FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C
Laureate, draped and cuirasses bust right
Rev: PROVIDENTIAE CAESS
Campgate with two turrets and one star above // dot PTRE
Ref: RIC VII 514, p.213
I really love this coin, it's well struck, crisp lines, nice centering. It's absolutely one of my favorite coins. I was lucky to win it from A John Anthony auction (I used his pics as well) and am unlikely to part with it. Ever.

 

Wonderful! Everyone thinks hippocamps are neat and you have the best. Spectacular!

 

Common but uncommom condition

CRISPUS
AE3
OBVERSE: D N FL IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: PROVIDEN TIAECAESS Jupiter stg. l., chlamys across l. shoulder, leaning on scepter, holding Victory on globe. In field to l., palm branch; in field to r., dot A; in exergue, SMN
Struck at Nicomedia 317 - 320 A.D
2.92g, 18mm
RIC VII 32

 

A winner!

 

That is a beauty, but somehow I'm skeptical that you won't still keep your eye out for another one.

This is probably my nicest, relatively common silvered LRB:


Constantius I Follis, Cyzicus, RIC VI 9a p. 580 (or poss. 11a)

 

Fantastic coins with super eye appeal everyone, my contribution I see a lot but not in this condition.
Pamphylia, Perge, c. 50-30 BC. Æ (16mm, 4.64g, 12h). Cult statue of Artemis Pergaia facing within distyle temple. R/ Bow and quiver. Colin series 7.2; SNG BnF 373-8. Good VF
PAMPHYLIA. Perge. Ae (Circa 50-30 BC).

Obv: Distyle temple containing facing statue of Artemis Pergaia.
Rev: APTEMIΔOΣ / ΠEPΓAIAΣ.
Quiver.

SNG BN 373-8.

 

You wouldn't find a lot of coins being more common than that one, but its portrait had me blown away


Gordian III, Antoninianus Rome mint, AD 238-239
IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian III seen from behind
IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre, a small figure of the Emperor at his feet
5,33 gr
Ref : Cohen # 105 (3), RIC # 2, RCV # 8614

Q

 

RI Severus Alexander 222-235 CE AR Denarius laureate Victory stndg



RI Constantine I CE 306-337 Æ Follis 19mm 3.2g Siscia CE 326-7 AVG Laureate R - PROVIDENTIAE AVGG Camp gate 2 turrets no door star RIC 200

 

You would be hard pressed to find a nicer one than that @Valentinian.

This one has a glossy patina with golden undertones.

 

This is a nice Arcadius.

 

Beautiful coins here. To reverse things a bit, how about a Gordian III antoninianus in uncommonly worn condition? Found this one at my local coin dealer's for about $7. I've never seen a Gordian III with this much wear - and I mean worn from circulation, not just worn-out dies:

 

When I was in Britain for the first time (1965 as a boy, just started collecting coins) it was paradise: pennies of a hundred years old were still circulating, some worn like this one. Your antoninianus looks rather coppery - maybe people didn't think it worth melting, but prefer use it as the small cash that could be rare in circulation.

 

That's a beautiful coin and such a strong strike I think some of these natural table shots give the pic an edge, take note chrsmat71.

 

I often tried to find real mint state ancient bronzes (the proverbial widow's mite has my full interest), and hoped I had won one here.
But I should have known (and looked) better, it's a nice enough patina, not lustre.



Some nice ones of Constantine II, the Noble Caesar:



Still a great favorite, this Maximinus Daia, almost flawless and full of character (a Tom Cederlind gem):



And from the Greek world, this Alexandrian tetradrachm of Gordian III:

 

I love tables with character but images like that are 85% table and 15% coin. If this were TableTalk it would be a great shot

That Arcadius really is a wonderful coin "for the type".