My latest coin has a few things that would turn-off some collectors - it's worn, so-so patina, and the reverse is off-centred. However, I believe all is redeemed by the sublime portrait of Titus Caesar. Someone took their time engraving it. Fine style can forgive many things. Titus as Caesar RIC 641 [Vespasian] Æ As, 9.90g Rome mint, 73 AD Obv: T CAES IMP PON TR P COS II CENS; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: VICTORIA AVGVSTI; S C in field; Victory stg. r. on prow, with wreath and palm RIC 641 (R). BMC 675. BNC 690. Acquired from CGB.fr, August 2020. A generic Victory on prow type struck when Titus held the joint censorship with Vespasian which is advertised in the obverse legend. This Victory type would be repeatedly struck throughout Vespasian's reign for both father and son with the prow possibly alluding to 'Victory at sea'. Some collectors and dealers refer to this as a 'Judaea Capta' type, although there is not an explicit connection. This variant is rated 'rare' by the new RIC II.1. I'm happy with it, which I suppose is the most important thing. Do you have a 'troubled' coin you're happy with?
@David Atherton Nice one! Art is subjective so none can tell you what to like or not which is good, the world would be boring if everybody liked the same things. I myself really like Vespasian's portrait if I have to choose one of the Flavians.
David, Your coin has an attractive portrait, so I can see why you snagged it . The coin below was a "junk box" find, but I couldn't resist it . It doesn't fit with my other folles but the color contrast of the patina sold me .
That's a lovely coin, @David Atherton , and with an artistically rendered portrait, indeed. Your coin proves that condition cranks miss out on all the fun. That coin is rare and were you to have said to yourself, "No thanks; I'll wait for another," you might have had to wait a decade for a better example to come along. I don't really have any "problem-free" coins. Some coins I love not in spite of problems, but because of their problems. I love this sestertius of Faustina II, for example, because of the big flan split and because of its encrustations and wear. The portrait is really something and I love the patina in hand, with a few brassy highlights from the orichalcum beneath:
Years ago I sold an as with the Victoria Navalis reverse because it was centered poorly and barely was distinguishable from a coin like yours with Augusti. I bought it thinking it was interesting but soon realized that it needed to have a bold Navalis like the one in the link below from you collection. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/vespasians-victoria-navalis.323424/
Wow David, that is a great coin. That portrait of Titus is one of the most sympathetic I have ever seen.
I'm not sure I'd even call yours troubled. I prefer coins to be a little worn, otherwise they weren't even used. Where's the history in a pristine coin? The reverse might be a little off centre but you can see it perfectly well. This one is very worn. I bought it because it's Claudius and it has a countermark PROB, which means it was to be used in Gaul or Britain (i.e. directly after the Roman invasion of Britain). It looks as if it's been sitting at the bottom of a river for 2000 years, but that's what I like about it. It's a big lump of a coin too (at least compared to my delicate London mint Roman coins), and they stamped the countermark right across Claudius's face, which apparently they weren't supposed to do. Claudius, Sestertius, 41-50AD, Rome, 24.75g. PTI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP, ROB countermark. EX S C OB CIVES SERVATOS (RIC 96)
This portrait seems to show the underlying uncertainty of Pupienus' precarious position....including wrinkles on the forehead and baggy eyes.
That's all it takes! Otherwise, I'd be bothered by the "://www." on the reverse! (Thinking to myself: Steve, you know you hate it when you have to explain your jokes, so why do you do it, you idiot?!?!?!? You know it's only on the picture, but someone is going to chime in & point out to you the obvious! You're just a glutton for punishment!......I know, but I still think it's funny!......OK then you deal with it...I'm going to party [take a nap]!.....wait, what?, you've only been up for 4 hrs!!!!...)
I enjoy collecting differently. It is why I do not collect Moderns anymore. I generally collect Historically, enjoy circulation wear on my coins (proves they were coins), and don't focus on style as much. I have a horrible eye, but I enjoy my ragtag coins. I thought about my "troubled" coins, and decided that it would just be a random poke at my database to select any of mine. Each of them has their troubles, but I enjoy them all, just the same (kinda like everyone's kids.) Here are a couple of my random kids from the Roman Republic Pre-211 Denarius Reform: RR Anon AE Double-Litra 275-270 BC Apollo Lion S 590 Cr 16-1a RR Anon AE Litra 230-226 BC Mars Club Galloping Horse Cr 27-2 S 596
Nice one! Coins were designed to be used, and there is nothing wrong with a well-loved coin! Here is my coin that I purchased for the portrait - I paid about double the normal price to get a Caracalla with a particularly realistic snarl, and if the reverse was as crisp for the obverse, I could see it having gone for ten times what I paid (sold through the right venue)
I have bad habit of buying cheap recognizable portraits. "Worn, but pleasing with some eye appeal" describes the bulk of my collection. Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. Æ Sestertius (31mm, 27.6g). Rome mint. Struck AD 195. Obv: Laureate head right. Rev: Minerva standing left, holding spear and round shield. Ref: RIC IV 689. Ex-Amphora.
You are referring to my whole collection...I purchase for the portrait most of the time when buy Roman coins. I purchased this one for the portrait.
A very nice portrait indeed David! Well, many, many of my coins are troubled: worn, off-flan, weakly struck. But these coins are my only possibility of acquiring a coin of that type/ruler. And I'm more then happy with them! One example that comes to mind: Great portrait, in a better condition even more expensive, but with too many flaws to mention. I love it!
