In the fall of 1974 I returned from California after living the "hippie" life style for over four years , and like the old saying goes "I didn't have a pot to pee into or a window to throw it out of" . Never the less, I made it to the local coin show in Rochester, NY with holes in my pockets and a whole $10.00 to spend on what ever I liked . In those days they didn't charge to get into a coin show . After walking the floor for nearly an hour I found a junk box with a lot of interesting stuff in it for $5.00 a pop. I stumbled on the coin pictured below and my eyes lit-up . The verdigris patina on the coin was stunning. In the mean time a line was starting to form behind me of other people wanting to get into that junk box . So I paid five bucks for the coin & left the show. I've held onto that coin for 45 years and always enjoy looking at it. If any other CT members have an exciting junk box find your welcome to post it on this thread
This Julian II was in a junk box at a show. I need to rephotograph it because it's nicer than this. Julian II, 361-363. Roman Silvered AE 3 Centenionalis; 3.16 g. 18.3 mm. Antioch mint, AD 362-363. Obv: D N FL CL IVLIANVS P F, helmeted and cuirassed bust, left, holding spear and shield. Rev: VOT X MVLT XX, legend within wreath; in exergue: ANTA between two palm fronds. Refs: RIC 220; Cohen 151; RCV 19181; LRBC 2642.
Several years ago, I happened into a local coin shop just to see if they catered Ancients. They didn't, but they did have a junk box with maybe 10 to 15 Ancient coins. Well I found this one, haggled a bit (owner had no knowledge of Ancients) and was able to buy the coin for $10 plus tax. TRAJAN DECIUS AR Antoninianus OBVERSE: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG - Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. REVERSE: VBERITAS AVG - Uberitas standing left, holding purse and cornucopia Struck at Rome, 250 AD 3.5g, 20mm RIC 28b, C 105
I recently found this at a Denver Coin Expo this fall. The boarse of 120 tables is nearly all US coin dealers with maybe 6 dealers specializing in World/Ancients. I typically walk away from this local show with nothing except casual conversations with dealers and collectors I meet there. One US dealer said he had a couple of blue boxes of ancients but he didn't know anything much about them. He said that he had a friend attribute and price them. The first box contained surprisingly nice Sev. Alexander - Gordian III denarii, all priced reasonably, but not of interest to me. The second box was really a junk box with mostly late Roman in horrible condition. There were some loose coins but most were in cardboard flips with no attribution or prices. The very last coin in the 2nd box was this Aurelian As. Not a thing of great beauty, but the price was right and I walked away from the show with a somewhat scarce coin in my pocket:
