Worn But Historical

The first coin was struck in Samaria and represents Judean king Agrippa II, being the last of the Herodian Dynasty. The second coin represents the historical lighthouse of Laodikea ad Mare on the Eastern Mediterranean Coast(Syria).

 

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Showing worn historical coins is a cool idea for a thread @David Atherton! Almost all ancient collectors are bound to have at least a few.

You know how common the phrase "better in hand" is? Well, I guarantee you my coin below is NOT "better in hand". The wonders of photo editing can produce an image that appears slightly better than the coin-in-hand, and such is the case with this image (which BTW was the listing picture).

No real details. The eyes/nose/chin profile is worn away forever. (But if you squint hard and use your imagination you can see what may be an eye socket.) The king's right elbow and his left hand were struck on the flan, but have similarly been worn into oblivion. And if you didn't know the king had a long beard you may not be able to discern that he is indeed sporting one.

However, it IS a daric. And I believe it is Carradice Type IIIb, which would be circa 480-420 B.C. It is 13mm at the widest point, and it weighs 8.32 grams.

It hails from the approximate midpoint of the influential and far-reaching Achaemenid Empire. The numismatic 'denomination' of 'Daric' is mentioned in 1. Chronicles and also again in Ezra, although nearly assuredly in an anachronistic sense.

Related: In a coin listing/description what is the difference between "honest wear" and just "wear"? For some reason "honest wear" sure sounds better! ;-)

 

Wear received in circulation is honest. Wear caused by tumbling a coin in a rock tumbler to smooth out the rough surface is not so honest. Today, many people hate wear so much they would rather have an EF with pitting than a worn coin with smooth surfaces. Below are two similar asses of Caligula. I would call the first worn to Fine with green patina.

The second is VF for wear but has horrid surfaces. When I got it, the junkbox contained few coins this bad. Now with new style grading it might be VF 5/5, 1/5. Which is better? Could some 'dishonest' wear improve the second coin? Not to me. I owned that coin for 30 years before I decided to catalog and keep it for the PRON legend. I would like to upgrade it to a nice Fine,

 

I have the denarius version.

 

Although your denarius struck in 79 does feature a quadriga, it's a wholly different type. Take note of the corn-ear in the driver's seat instead of Titus.

This, however, is the corresponding denarius type.


Titus as Caesar
AR Denarius, 3.20g
Rome Mint, 72-73AD (Vespasian)
RIC 371 (R2). BMC p.15. RSC 394. BNF -.
Obv: T CAES IMP VESP PON TR POT; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: No Legend; Titus stg. r. with branch and sceptre, in quadriga r.
Ex Harry N. Sneh Collection.

 

I'm pretty sure I have posted this elsewhere on CoinTalk already, but...

Titus as Caesar, "Judaea Capta" Denarius.
AR Denarius, struck in Antioch, 72-73 A.D.
Obv.: T CAES IMP VESP PON TR POT; Titus’ head, laureate, r., bust draped.
Rev.: No legend. Titus, in triumphal quadriga, r.; holding branch and sceptre.
Attrib.: Hendin 1493. Cohen 395. RIC II 1563 (Vesp.). RPC II 1935. BMCRE 521.
Notes: Considered part of the Judea Capta series. This reverse specifically commemorates the Judea Capta Triumphal Parade which was held in June of 71 A.D. This coin was struck the year that Masada fell. Scarce.

 

I don't have a ton of worn coins, but I do have a few. I'll accept quite a bit of wear on types I consider legitimately rare, but I won't accept corrosion or other unsightly abuse at all. If someone gave me a corroded Eid Mar, I'd sell it in a heartbeat and never look back.


One variety of the rarest non-portrait coin of Julius Caesar. Crawford 452/5, 48-47 BC


Gnaeus Pompey, Crawford 470/1b, 46-45 BC. Certainly not common, but not as rare as it once was; a steady trickle of these have been coming out of Spain where they were made. I'm not getting rid of it and I doubt I'll ever upgrade, but I probably wouldn't buy this coin now.


L. Valerius Acisculus, Crawford 474/4, 45 BC.


Q. Cornuficius, Crawford 509/5, 42 BC.


Phil Davis

 

TIBERIUS AGRIPPA NEPTUNE AS WITH CLAUDIUS COUNTERMARK


Agrippa Obverse & Neptune reverse As
BMCRE, Vol I, Tiberius, No. 168 (RIC, Vol I, No. 58)
Plate 26
Reverse: Claudius Countermark TIAV (A and V ligatured) in oblong incuse over head of Neptune

"In hand" enlargement of countermark:


Neptune reverse
As, BMCRE, Vol I, Tiberius, No. 168 (RIC, Vol I, No. 58)
Plate 26
Reverse: Claudius Countermark TIAV in oblong incuse over head of Neptune

Mattingly lists TIAV as the usual Countermark employed by Claudius for these coins. They were issued for extended circulation in Britain by Claudius following his Victory there. These were the common Roman denominations used as legal tender in Britannia - evidently for a very long time, for many are found in very worn condition.

 

Antoninus Pius
Regnal year 18 (154/5 CE) - probable date​

32 mm; 10.5 grams; Axis: 11:00
​

OBV: Antoninus Pius laureate draped bust facing left. Legend: [ΑVΤ Κ Τ ΑΙΛ ΑΔΡ ΑΝΤωΝΙΝΟС СЄΒ ЄVC]. Dotted border not visible.
REV: Harbor of Alexandria: Isis Euploia standing center, Euthenia & Nilus to either side, bow of ship entering harbor to left, stern leaving harbor on right. Above Isis: L; In right field: IH. Dotted border not visible.​

Emmett-1589.18; Geissen-1751; Dattari-2898; Dattari (Savio) 8772; Milne-2288​

Alexandria's three harbors were critical to the prosperity of the city. This coin is believed to represent those harbors and the good fortune that the trade in grain had brought to Egypt. The center figure is Isis Euploia (who some call Tyche), flanked by Euthenia and Nilus. Foreparts of ships are in the left and right fields.

-Broucheion

 

​

Faustina The Younger (Under Antoninus Pius)
Alexandria, Egypt Year 18 (154/155 Ce)
Hemidrachma, 26x27 mm; 11.1 grams; Axis: 00:00

OBV: Faustina draped bust facing right. Legend:[CEBAC]TH-[ΦAVCTINA].
REV: Pharos lighthouse. In left field: LI; In right field: H.
Ex-Dattari Collection

EM-2018.18 (R5); Geissen-UNLISTED (Geissen-1973 var: year 17); Dattari-3309, pl 174 (THIS); BMC-UNLISTED

-Broucheion

 

Matidia. Very worn, but I couldn’t pass up.
Æ Sestertius (33.5mm, 22.44 g) Rome mint. Struck under Trajan, September AD 112-117. [MATIDIA] AVG DIVAE MAR[CIANAE F], draped bust right, wearing double stephane, erect on top of her head, on which her hair is built up; her hair is massed and coiled on the back of her head / [PIETAS AVGVST], Matidia standing left, placing her hands on heads of two children, Sabina and Matidia the younger, who standing looking up and raising hands to her. RIC II 761 (Trajan); Woytek 730-1; Banti 1.

 

CLAUDIUS TRIUMPHAL ARCH SESTERTIUS WITH NERO COUNTERMARK

Evidently Nero also Countermarked and issued Claudius aes coinage in order to extend the supply of money in Britain after the death of Claudius.


BMCRE, Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 123, 41-45AD (35mm, 22.3gm)
Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right
Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP
Countermarked NCAPR in oblong incuse rectangle behind head (unknown mark on head)
Reverse depiction: Triumphal arch surmounted by equestrian statue of Nero Claudius Drusus
Inscription: NERO CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMAN IMP


Enlargement of NCAPR countermark:





This coinage was usually countermarked NCAPR - which is interpreted different ways by collectors and researchers, with the most popular and frequently used interpretations being Nero Caesar Augustus Probavit or Nero Caesar Augustus Populo Romano. It appears these coins were produced at the Rome mint, circulated then countermarked and subsequently re-issued for use in Britain.

 

Edited. Post below.

 

Wow, I’ve been looking for such an example like this for a long time!

 

Still looks good to me.

 

Looks like David A's twin

 

Poor example.. but I am just so happy to own this piece of history.



CATO THE YOUNGER (Marcus Porcus Cato) AR silver quinarius. Imperatorial issue (The Pompeians), Utica in Africa, 47-46 BC. Victory seated

 

My example is in rough shape

 

The denarii of Mark Antony were debase compared to other Roman denarii so people tended to spend them and hoard better coins. As a result, some of them remained in circulation for 150 years and are found mixed in later hoards. Trajan demonetized Republican coins or they would have been used until they were paper thin.

 

@Broucheion thank you for leading me here - nice one! Since I'm checking out this thread I thought I'd add one of my very worn coins.

527-565 AD
Justinian 1
AR Miliarense
18mm
2.363g
Obverse bust right
Reverse robed figure holding spear and a sphere with a cross above

I believe this is a clipped and terrible condition Gloria Romanorvm



Didn't figure I'd be able to afford one in good shape if I could even find one. So I count myself lucky that this one came up for dirt cheap.