An XVI question.

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by tartanhill, Jan 29, 2020.

  1. tartanhill

    tartanhill Well-Known Member

    This coin sold today at CNG for $2500 with an estimated value of $500. Does anyone know what the XVI in the left field on the reverse represents or if that makes this coin more valuable? I know that the XVI on RR coins circa 140 BC give the denarius a value of 16 asses. By 72 BC when this coin was issued, the as value of a denarius was no longer stated on the coin. Just curious.


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    L. Cossutius C.f. Sabula. 72 BC. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.95 g, 3h). Rome mint. Winged head of Medusa left, serpents in her hair / Bellerophon riding Pegasus right, hurling spear; XVI on left. Crawford 395/1; Sydenham 790; Cossutia 1; RBW 1436 var. (contro number). Toned, a touch of porosity. Good VF.
     
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  3. rrdenarius

    rrdenarius non omnibus dormio Supporter

    XVI is a control number. Crawford estimates 28 dies and notes the numbers range from I to XXXXII. Grueber lists 9 with numbers IIII to XXXXII. I can only guess why the highest die number was higher than the die estimate.
    Die numbers of XVI happen, but not that often. I considered buying a die # XVI to go with my 16 asses denarii, but passed when the price went too high.
    4.28.16 004.JPG
     
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  4. tartanhill

    tartanhill Well-Known Member

    Thank you, rrdenarius. Do you know if certain control numbers are more valuable than others? This coin is in nice condition, but the hammer price seems pretty high.
     
  5. akeady

    akeady Well-Known Member

    I don't think there's anything special about the number XVI - each number is known from one die, though it's of course possible that some are much more common than others. I don't know anyone who wants to collect each number, though. I see it sold for 550 SFr in 2012, so it's a considerable hike since then. It is a bit better than my number XXXVI, but I paid a lot less!

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    Last edited: Jan 29, 2020
  6. rrdenarius

    rrdenarius non omnibus dormio Supporter

    I agree with @akeady that XVI is nothing special on this coin. Coins that use Roman numbers to identify something more than a die can be collected as a set, see @Bing 's set of Mark Anthony legionary denarii.
     
  7. Fugio1

    Fugio1 Well-Known Member

    These L. Cossutius C.f. Sabula issues have attracted very high prices in recent years and I understand why. They are not enormously rare coins but the medusa type is very popular and the increasingly so as more collectors become familiar with Roman Republican silver. On many Republican issues the reverse is the most important but on this issue, the obverse is the most striking. For this coin, which I considered bidding on until it went above $2K, the obverse is well centered and struck from a young die. I looked at it in NYINC and the toning is quite lovely. I'm not surprised it went for so much. I hope to own one one day.
     
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  8. Pellinore

    Pellinore Well-Known Member

    The portrait has an exquisitely beautiful style.
     
  9. Carthago

    Carthago Does this look infected to you?

    What @Fugio1 said. It's just a really cool type. Here's mine that I bought at NYINC about a decade ago.

    L Cossutius CF Sabula AR Denarius 395-1 Nomos 2010.jpg
     
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  10. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    The question that remains unanswered is if the buyer was influenced by XVI in a mistaken belief that it showed the value as did some earlier denarii. We will not know. Just because we have evidence of fewer than 42 denarius dies known to students does not mean they never existed or that all that existed managed to survive to be studied. I can not speak for others and especially not those who collect mainly for condition but I have selected a coin from a die numbered series because I liked the number. How much more would I pay for a number I like? I don't know but I do recall selecting this coin because it had the old style downward arrow L on the obverse and the double subtractive XCIV 94 on the reverse. I would have preferred a coin with all the number oddities on one side and completely on flan. I takes all kinds to make a hobby. I am strange in my way but I doubt I am the only one who finds some numbers more interesting than others. Did this series number die 79 LXXIX or LXXVIIII? If 78 were LXXIIX, I would pay a bit extra.
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  11. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    I'm a fan of these as well. I sold my first one some time ago in AMCC 1. I think the buyer scored it for a good price. I do still have a second example I'm equally pleased with.

    RR - L Cossutius Sabula 1590.jpg ROMAN REPUBLIC. L. Cossutius Sabula.
    AR Denarius. 3.95g, 18mm. Rome mint, 72 BC. Crawford 395/1; Sydenham 790; Cossutia 1. O: Head of Medusa left, winged and entwined with serpents; SABVLA upwards behind. R: Bellerophon riding pegasos right, hurling spear; control mark X behind, L COSSVTI C F below.
    Ex Eucharius Collection
     
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