I started collecting coins in earnest just after 9/11. After almost 20 years I finally treated myself to a ticket into the aureus club Many collectors often start by getting worn "starter" coins but I figured if I was going to spoil myself I might as well do it in style and I saved up all year for a nice specimen. If you have a couple of minutes please take a look at my Roman set arranged from most to least common: http://www.tantaluscoins.com/coins/grid164.php
It is gorgeous! I love everything about it-- the staid portrait of A-Pi, the well-rendered legends, the graceful Pietas, the flow lines, the reddish toning, the beautiful surfaces, the pedigree (ex Biaggi)... congrats on the acquisition!
Very cool @Suarez ! I like the flow lines also ... lotsa gold pounded off those dies. True to form chasing Roman Republics, I am holding out for an Aureus from the Republic ... 20, 40, or 60 Asses.... I am not particular!
This is an amazing coin for your first aureus. The artistry of the portrait is outstanding -- a pensive, contemplative image of the emperor. I especially like the flow marks and Boscoreale-like toning.
@Suarez , that is a great coin. On the page of your coins that you linked to the second coin is an aureus of Gordian III.
Thank you all for your congrats, I'm honored [takes a deep bow] I added the Gordian III unexpectedly just last week. Has it ever happened when you win an auction and go "Oh wow, I WON it!" and then immediately after "Oh crap, I won it!"? Well....
Really nice aureus Suarez ! You will always treasure this fine coin. I still remember getting my first 2 aurei from Triton 1 Then to sit waiting and waiting for them to arrive.....still waiting Both are MIA. But everything ended well, CNG banked my money and I ended up winning two better coins in Triton II I wish you many more in future! John
A pleasure to look at, thanks for sharing. As for the toning, I have owned a few 19th century gold coins that were shipwreck salvaged and they had the same toning as your beauty. I think some people called it " orange peel " toning. Just wondering if this coin spent a good portion of its life underwater ?
John, sorry to hear about your loss of two aurei. That is unbelievable. I know this is pretty far back in CNG's history but I'm surprised that they lost such valuable coins in transit. They always send registered mail with the coins literally glued to the inside of the box. This is a trick to avoid a carrier slitting open the package (since it's easily visible when it passes through the x-ray machine) and then letting the empty box go back into the mailstream. It is also the tactic used by bullion sellers and I've adopted it too when selling precious metals. Anyway, you should post the photos of the coins and do a search to see if it's turned up somewhere so you can claim them or at least put pressure on the current owners. I have Triton I digitized, let me know if you need the photos.
That's the so-called Boscoreale toning after a famous hoard of aurei that had those reddish deposits. They're probably iron-rich sediments rather than a true patina since gold is inert.
My first Aureus was a Pius as well. The year 1991 and I was on a three week trip to Europe. I just spent a week in Italy (mostly in Rome) and was coming back through Switzerland and as we got into Basel at about 3 AM we slept in the car about 2 blocks from Munzen & Medallian. At opening (I think 7 AM) I showed up and saw some Aureii. All were of Pius. I picked what I thought was the best and started to pay. I had gotten a hold of something like 100 Five franc coins a bunch of two and one franc coins so I started paying. At first I thought I would do a down payment, but then i told them" If you can drop the price a bit more i can do the whole thing." They did I paid in Swiss francs Canadian travelers cheques Italian Lire, and finally in German Marks. I got a further discount when I told them that this was my last 500 DM. So I got the coin. I have loved it ever since. Antoninus Pius Aureus RIC 226
Thanks Suarez! Its not the best to write on customs, gold coins/ value. Like leaving your doors unlocked. I keep all my auction catalogues in mint condition , have a library of them, great resource for reference. Here are the lots MIA. 1566 Severus Alexander / reverse Jupiter CH-EF 1615 Trajan Decius/ Uberitas FDC Problem is these are not that rare, so many other examples may be out there. Since that unfortunate incident, no more MIA shipments. I managed to pickup this Elagalabus in Triton II/ plus a very rare (2 known) Constantius II Solidus Siscia Mint