Hi All, I won a few cheap lots of LRBs a couple of weeks ago and they arrived today. I bought these to use as give aways here on CT and for some kids in the neighborhood. This is not my area of collecting. I just wanted to know if there is anything interesting in these lots or if the coins are just low quality common LRBs of Constantine and family. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. I am not attributing these myself because I want the new owners to do that.
The campgate is an R3 in Dane's files. Might be a nice gift for a campgates collector. Others do not inspire me to do a detailed search.
Personally, I find them all interesting. You have some 3/4 facing bust types in the lower row; they're unusual. You have a Constantinople commemorative which celebrates one of the most important events in western history. You have an antoninianus from the tetrarchy, a coin with a halo over the emperor's head on the obverse, a helmeted bust of Constantine "the Great", a campgate in excellent condition . . . At a quick glance, none of these coins strike me as particularly valuable. But interesting? Absolutely. All of them.
1st row 1st column: nice Eastern ca. 367 Valens 1st row 2nd column: Constantiniana Dafne maybe would use some cleaning(?) 3rd row 3rd column: Licinius II Jupiter type but with PROVIDENTIA legend, a nice specifically Nicomedian type 5th row 5th column: Valentinian I (likely from Arles) with officina number in field
I'm not an ancients collector either but I really enjoy looking at the one's CT Members posts. You really have to know your stuff to collect ancients and I do not have the knowledge or patience for it. Thanks to those of you who do!
You could start with late Roman bronzes or common Greek bronzes, both of which are relatively inexpensive ($5-$10 for decent, entry-level examples), and build up the knowledge over time. Buy a random coin that appeals to you, then to learn a little about the history behind the place or the emperor. Oh, and be sure to post pictures of them here with any questions, or just invite the experts to share any more interesting information about your coin they might have.
If I saw them in a "pick bin" at a coin show at $5 each the only one I would pick out is the Theodosius with an obverse showing him holding a shield on which is a Cross (lowest row, 2nd from left). Sadly, despite the fact that I (and most of you) find each of these coins to be fascinating pieces of history, each coin tangibly telling a legitimately ancient history lesson, their dollar value is typically low. :-( Just look on eBay for other LRB's of equal quality that sell for less than $5 each. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder; true value is likewise in that same eye.
You are absolutely correct, except for the "sadly" part. What is sad about being able to acquire a 1,600-year-old coin for $5?
LOL! So true!!! :-D However, for those of us who try to sell our "extras" on eBay or elsewhere it's a bit sad to have paid $20 (for example) for a coin, then once that coin gets upgraded in our own collection, or, once the type falls out of our personal collecting interest, to see it sell for FAR less. Of course we know that for a collector to look at a collection as a means of making money is not at all the wisest of motivations. I certainly don't look at my collection that way. But the more dollars that one's coins sell for -- the more funds there are to buy MORE coins. (I'm just glad that generally speaking, coin collecting has fared MUCH better than stamp collecting has over the past quarter-century. Don't ask me how I know that. ;-o ) Nonetheless, all that aside, yes, it is a JOY to find ancient coin bargain$ that come along! :-D And even when losing money on a re-sale, one must reasonably include the non-monetary value derived from ownership such as entertainment, and education in languages, mythology, ancient history & politics, numismatics, and (very much relevant to this thread) learning how to attribute coins. What a JOY it is to sleuth out an attribution using the various means available online at no cost.
Thanks again for all of the thoughtful and helpful posts. I am not interested in the monetary value of these at all. I was just looking for any unusual types.
Give to Family. Bus driver. Coffee girl. Bank teller. Pizza joint. Judge. Coworkers . 7-11. Church. Have a BLAST.
There's a neat flip-over double strike, 6th row, fifth column (Valens). Here I've manipulated the photo to show where the reverse design matches the bit on the obverse 12 o'clock edge: And here ^^^ you can see some of the portrait on the reverse. Looks like the Arcadius(?) in the last row, second column would be worth some careful cleaning. Could be a pretty nice facing bust there.
Geez, LRBs just don't get the love, do they? Great lots, @Orfew, I'm sure the recipients will like them!