Another upgrade

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Orfew, Jul 26, 2020.

  1. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    For the past few months I have been trying to get more of the rare denarii of Domitian's first year as Augustus. There are some intriguing mystteries surrounding these coins and I find them very interesting. While this coin is considered rare it is not extremely rare. Still when an example comes to market I like to have a look at it.

    The first photo is the first example I bought some time ago. i have been however looking for an upgrade for some time. While this coin is nowhere near an ef I still like it very much. Not only is it better than my first example but it has 2 other things going for it. First, I love this reverse for Domitian. Secondly, I think the portrait is quite charming. For these reasons bidding on this coin was a no brainer.

    Also I like that the obverses are from different dies.

    Please post your coins that you have upgraded.

    Domitian RIC 2 copy.jpg
    Domitian ric 2 b.jpg


    Domitian, Denarius, 81 Rome (Group 1)
    (18mm 3.36g)
    Obv: Laureate head of Domitian right., IMP CAESAR DOMITIANVS AVG
    Rev: Dolphin coiled around anchor.,
    RIC: 2 (R); BMC 3 RSC 551
    Purchased from Savoca 81st Blue auction July 26, 2020 Lot 315
     
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  3. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    Sometimes I do what I call the "poor man's upgrade," which consists of cleaning a coin you already have so much that it looks different.
    Maximian.JPG
    Maximian a.JPG
     
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  4. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    That is a much better upgrade, congrats.
     
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  5. +VGO.DVCKS

    +VGO.DVCKS Well-Known Member

    Terrific examples, Orfew. Along with your resonantly implicit point about the appeal that even, 'honest' wear can have. Wish I could remember who it was who put it more eloquently than I just did, not long ago. But, yeah, especially relevant in this context. ...Like the reverse a lot. Given the more 'generic' legend, what is that likely to refer to? Or is that one of the more esoteric things about the issue?
    ...Wish it was easier for me to reciprocate, because I've uprgraded more than once. But when it comes to pics (of any quality, or none), I'm really challenged. Older ones didn't always make it onto the thumb drive that has half my life on it, and it takes trawling all over the hard drive to find whatever's (still) there. ...That's been getting in the way of one new post I started on.
     
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  6. +VGO.DVCKS

    +VGO.DVCKS Well-Known Member

    Cool. Felicitations!
    Once I had an anonymous late 4th c. Aksumite (/Axumite) AE, which began life, from here, as a lump of dirt. (Sorry, this was too long ago for there to be pictures.) All I had, or knew about, was a soak in vinegar (--? never tried this again), and a wooden tooth pick. It came out with zero patina --bright red-- but at least within loud shouting distance of VF+-XF. (Gawd, wish I still had that.)
    ...But, just to get snarky, isn't any upgrade a 'poor man's upgrade?' If not strictly by definition, then at least on some structural level?
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2020
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  7. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    Thanks for the kind words.
    Here is an interesting thread on the topic of the dolphin and anchor reverse
    https://www.cointalk.com/threads/words-of-the-first-emperor.361130/
     
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  8. +VGO.DVCKS

    +VGO.DVCKS Well-Known Member

    Massive thanks for the link! The whole thread was very enlightening.
    ...More generally, i've been learning a lot from this forum about just how complicated the dynamics between history and numismatics can be, in any number of ancient contexts. Coming from a mostly medieval kind of place, I used to think you folks were spoiled --piles of extant documentation; coins datable within a year or two; etc. But apparently, as often as not, the profusion of documentary 'moving parts' only adds to the potential for interpretive nuance and occasional, attendant controversy. ...Takes some of us longer, I guess....
     
  9. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 Well-Known Member

    Nice upgrade Andrew.

    I was fortunate enough to get the similar RIC 26 in nice condition the first time :)
    Domitian_dolphin.jpg

    IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P M
    Laureate head right

    COS VII DES VIII P P
    Dolphin coiled round anchor

    Rome 81 A.D. (3rd group)

    3.3g

    RIC 26 (R), RSC 63


    Ex-Enrico collection

    Extra fine portrait!
     
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  10. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    Great coin @Jay GT4 An excellent addition to any Flavian collection
     
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  11. Egry

    Egry Well-Known Member

    One of my favourite upgrades.

    E4CDFDBE-DD6A-42BB-A54F-C56D38C63809.jpeg
    Macrianus Junior, Usurper, AD 260- 261. USURPER SAMASOTA MINT FORTUNA SEATED LEFT ON WHEEL HOLDING RUDDER AND CORNUCOPIA (EXTREMELY RARE 2 KNOWN EXAMPLES) MIR 1731K Billon Antoninianus.
    Samosata mint. 21mm // 2,85g. Obv: IMP C FVL MACRIANVS P F AVG Radiate and cuirassed bust right. Rev: FORT REDVX/ *
    Fortuna seated left on wheel, holding rudder and cornucopia.

    DDF62AC7-0EC4-48E6-BAD7-84B335D322A1.jpeg

    Macrianus Junior BI Antoninianus. Samosata, AD 260-1. IMP C FVL MACRIANVS P F AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right / SPES PVBLICA, Spes advancing left, holding flower in her right hand and raising skirt with her left; star in left field. RIC 13; Cohen 13; MIR 1743b. 4.62g, 21mm, 11h. Good Very Fine
     
  12. ernstk

    ernstk Active Member

    Nice coin. What is Enrico collection? I never heard of it before
     
  13. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 Well-Known Member

    Enrico collection is someone local
     
  14. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    To my eyes, both coins appear to have been produced by the same engraver. Personally, I can't choose between the two - each one has their own pulses and minuses. A good enough reason to have both!
     
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  15. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    Here is an updated photo.
    D2.jpg
     
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  16. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Great coin , @Orfew ! Really like that Reverse.

    I wonder if the Roman Legionary Marines ever had that Dolphin on Anchor tattooed on their arms?
     
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