Three great cheap coins.

I have had a run of luck lately and picked up quite a few bargain coins, the three I am posting cost no more than $75 US with the cheapest $62US. I will display them below from most expensive $75 down to cheapest $62 and would like your input as to what you think was the best bargain and why. It will be interesting to get everyone's ideas on what constitutes a bargain buy so please vote in the poll and describe your choice in the thread.
1st at $75.
M. Volteius M.f. 75 BC. AR Denarius (3,48g). Rome mint. Laureate and bearded head of Jupiter right / Tetrastyle Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus; winged thunderbolt in pediment. Crawford 385/1; Sydenham 774; Volteia 1; RBW 1414. Near VF.
2nd at $66.
Trajan, 98-117 AD, SR 1015a, AE Dupondius, Radiate bust , right/ rev, Trajan's column with two eagles at base.
3rd at $62 CONSTANTIUS II, as Caesar. 324-337 AD. Æ Follis (19mm - 3.5 g). Arles/Constantia mint. Struck 329 AD. FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left / VIRTVS CAESS, camp-gate with open doors and four turrets, star above; T-F//PCONST. RIC VII 335 (r4); LRBC 345. Good VF, . Rare variety.

 

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Sweet coins!

 

Thanks, but which one you like the best?

 

All are quite collectible but I prefer the Volteius as the best balance of eye appeal and interest.

 

It's the Volteius for me... excellent price, looks great, and is just about perfectly centered.

 

They are definitely nice bargains! Compared to similar condition coins in ACsearch with recent sales I think the Trajan was the biggest bargain but if I could have just one I'd take the Volteius

 

I like the eye appeal of the Volteius, particularly the reverse. All three are really nice coins.

 

I'm a sucker for Trajan's Column, just 'cause I don't have one yet...

 

I’m going to break with the experts and show my ignorance. I like the Trajan's Column coin. Perhaps I still have enough of a layman’s perspective to like a coin that I can assimilate easily to my knowledge of Roman art and history. All three are bargains though.

 

Great scores @Ancient Aussie ! I was split between the Trajan and the Volteius as my favorite just as most.

I think the Volteius was the top bargain though. Love the reverse temple. Is that the temple of Jupiter O.M.C. that was on the Capitoline hill?

 

My vote was cast for the Volteius

 

I think @dougsmit hit the nail on the head when it comes to both value and interest combined of your RR denar. And I'd agree with @TIF based purely on the "resale" value of your column Dup. And that open door campgate is great, and well worth every penny of the $62 spent, there's just not too much margin after that.

Superb purchases, @Ancient Aussie !!!!

 

I voted for the Trajan column because of its dramatic reverse and it seems a very fair price at 66 dollars. But as others, if it were to put in my trays I would probably take the RR too because of an increase of interest for RR lately

Three very good purchases
Q

 

Feel free to reject my non-expert views, Ancient Aussie. I'm not at all keen on the Volteius - it looks like his face has been plastered on. The Trajan, for my taste, is too worn, so I give it second. My first choice is for Constantius II.- Hail Caesar !!!

 

I like the Trajan

 

Just a comment here about why the lovely campgate is getting less love. I think to really dig that coin, it helps to be a campgate enthusiast. You know the ones. Counting every block, turret, star, open door, close door—an infinite number of varieties. I think the open door versions are a bit scarce, which would make that coin really appealing to the campgate collector. I just don’t have the patience to specialize in those.

 

While the RR denarius is definitely the more eye-catching between it and Trajan, I think Trajan is the better deal as far as money is concerned. You should have no problem trading it or selling it in the future if you want to upgrade to some other coin. It also helps that Trajan's column is such a well known and appreciated surviving ancient monument.

 

Shakespeare online - "Coin always makes sound but the currency notes are always silent. So when your value increases keep quiet."

 

All three are great but I lean on the Constantius II.

 

Thanks for your comments and votes my Coin Talk friends, it seems equal appeal between the Volteius and Trajan with a few understandably liking the camp gate.
Having purchased all three I obviously like them all but If I had to pick the best bargain it would be the Volteius even though I already have one as I have noticed even more worn selling for twice that. Same with the column, yes it is the reverse that sells that coin although the obverse with it's near readable legend is in slightly better shape. I purchased the camp gate purely for the reasons Gavin Richardson mentions as I already have a rare (plain) London mint one and do not envisage collecting anymore I needed one with all the decorations. The main reason for this Poll is a lot of bargains to be had from Vcoin dealers not just auctions and quite often cheaper than auctions, once you find a few dealers that are consistently cheap it pays to set up daily searches for there NEW items, I hope this helps some of you collectors on tight budgets.