I recently acquired this piece and thought that it is pretty nice. It's been dipped, obviously, but overall the eye appeal is quite good. Is this piece really nice for an ancient coin, am I missing something?
I think it is a nice coin and certainly one I would buy. The only down side of the coin is the off centered reverse.
There's nothing wrong with this coin, and it's in pretty darn good condition. I own an example, but it's chipped on the edge, and I'm proud to be it's custodian. AUGUSTUS AR Denarius OBVERSE: AVGVSTUS DIVI F, bare head right REVERSE: Bull butting right IMP X in exergue Lugdunum 15-13 BC 3.7g, 18mm RIC I 167a, BMC 451. C 137, CBN 1382
More recent coins get dipped in a mild acid solution to remove toning. This coin has the look as if it were done a decade or more ago with some toning, in this attractive, reforming.
Obligatory: All ancient coins have been cleaned to some degree unless you just dug it out of the ground. You see a lot of coins that look like this and often it's just how the toning reforms after the coin is initially cleaned.
@johnmilton: this is a gorgeous coin, and one I would own if I were going to only own one Augustus coin. Gorgeous style, nice condition, stellar eye appeal. I can't really find much to complain about here. I wouldn't even count that against this coin. The only thing that's really missing is the letter X. Were the bull's head off flan, then I would definitely ding it for centering. This is very true, but there are greater and lesser degrees of cleaning, of course. "Desert patina" and "find patina" are definitely things.
Your coin is absolutely beautiful. I would buy it in a heart beat. Ancient coins are expected to have been cleaned at some point.
Great coin which is almost certainly been out of the ground for some time since it was cleaned. The toning appears natural with different colors around the periphery, suggesting the toning was environmental. Although it is struck slightly off-center, it is nearly all there. If this was in my collection, I would cherish it for a long time and probably never consider selling it.
This will be my only Augustus Caesar for a while. After I get the other emperors, I might go back and buy one with the comet. After Julius Caesar died, a comet appeared in the sky. Some thought that it was a sign that Caesar was leaving to join and become one of the gods. It made for some very good politics Octavian since he was the chosen successor to Julius.
Here is one of mine with an obverse Banker’s test Mark. Denarius - Augustus - RIC, Vol. I, 38b (17 BC) - Spain (Colonial)