Today's Roma Auction

Yes, bidding has been very strong, actually for some time, for the large cast early Roman Republic bronzes.

Even back in the mid-nineties I had to pay over $600 for this coin, which at least for me, was a lot of money at that time. Harlan Berk had a few of these, so Aaron offered this coin to me. I'm glad that I got it when I did.

Anonymous Aes Grave, Quadrans, 280-276 BC.

 

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I bid reasonably on about a dozen Roman Imperials but came up short. The only one I bid aggressively on was the 19th century Becker version of a Vitellius aureus tucked away in the back end of the sale. You don't see those often, and there's no way I could ever obtain a real one, but again, no luck.

 

I also couldn’t believe the hammer prices. I was trying for the Jovinus siliqua, I took it to £750 but stopped there. It hammered for £1200 + buyers. Rare coin but it wasn’t nice enough for that kind of money.

Also, the Trajan Aureus, last I saw it was at £6,000 and had a half day to go. I mean it was nice but not worth that much in my opinion.

 

I had only one target in this auction: "elaborately cut from a Constantius Gallus". I got if for 10% over estimate. It falls in the Ugly Coin category.

The piece was described as a gaming token cut from a coin.
The base coin:
Constantius Gallus, as Caesar, Æ Nummus 18mm. Uncertain mint, circa AD 351-354. D N FL CL CONS[TANTIVS NOB CAES],
Obv - bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust to right
Rev - erased and engraved with cross/star design.
Cf. RIC VIII Constantinople 107 for obv. type.
Condition as seen; an interesting re-worked numismatic object
Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., 17 October 2019, lot 1173.
4.20 grams
18 mm
Roma described the piece as a gaming token. I have no reason to question this other than it looks a bit like other scale weights produced from late Roman bronze coins. Based on the weight, I would guess a one solidus weight. The weight is 0.35 grams short of one 4.55 gram solidus and I think the dirt adds some weight.
Some of my weights made from coins.


A coin weight (not mine) with marks similar to this piece.


I do not recognize the back of my piece. Anyone have a clue?

 

I was successful bidding for one lot, though I had to go way over my target maximum bid. I rationalized the my bid as a one-off for this type, plus, for this type, it is a very decent example, though no great beauty.

On the minus side, it is somewhat porous, and the strike is off center, especially with the obverse. The flan is typically crude.

On the plus side, the strike detail is good, the reverse is better that what is usually seen with this type, and there is no die rust, which is often present in coins from Syracuse (it must be terribly humid there).

So, as usual, there was a flurry of bids in the closing minute. I sometimes wonder if this is a sport for some bidders. Anyway, I got the lot for £750, which, after the buyer's fee and exchange, comes out to roughly $1,296. I've spent a few years cruising MA Shop, Vcoins and other auction sites, and it seems that a mid-grade coin such as this one fall within this price, perhaps a little bit lower, or higher. If it was perfectly centered, with perfect metal and well struck, I'd probably have to sell the family farm to pay for it.

Second democracy tets are problematic, and it is odd, in a way, that such beautiful die work was wasted due to slipshod production, but I am sure the mint workers had their reasons for this.

When the coin arrives, I will take some more snaps.

Very fine

17.19 grams



Check one off of my list....

Late in the auction I did win a couple of Byzantine group lots. I look forward going through them and spend time researching them on the web.

 

My single win was a very common Lugdunum mint follis of Maximianus Herculeus. I didn't even have this on my list but I've only recently begun to collect coins of this era and could not pass up a GEF example for £60 hammer:

 

I did end up winning a couple.

I feel like I did well on this one. I’m slowly creating a collection of Bosporos Kings. My ancestry is of Ukrainian decent so I find these ancient ‘Ukrainian’ Kings quite interesting.


Kings of the Bosporos, Kotys II Æ 48 Units. Circa AD 123/4-132/3. BACIΛEΩC KOTYOC, diademed bust to right, / MH (mark of value) within wreath. MacDonald 431/1; RPC III 894. 7.45g, 26mm, 12h.

This is a nice coin even with the flan crack. Probably over paid a bit for it though.



Helena (mother of Constantine I) BI Nummus. Ticinum, AD 326. FL HELENA AVGVSTA, diademed and mantled bust to right / SECVRITAS REIPVBLICE, Securitas standing to left, holding branch; Q(crescent)T in exergue. RIC VII 202; LRBC 487. 2.65g, 17mm, 12h.

 

Truer words have never been written.

 

they are true too

 

This is 100% accurate! I was blown away on everything I had WANTED in Triton, but by the esale I just desperately needed to get my hands on anything greek to start the year off. Lo and Behold I managed to snag 2 great coins, both at what I felt were low prices (both for a single bid above estimate, and one of them was $800 less than it's previous hammer at CNG ).

 

Hmm I was the underbidder on a coin that sold for $800 less than its previous hammer at CNG
364?

 

Hahaha yep, that's the one! It really is a small world after all, and of course it shows we both have AMAZING taste.

Hope there are no hard feelings!

 

fel temp reparatio maybe? looks like the curvature of the soldier doing the spearing

I do not recognize the back of my piece. Anyone have a clue?[/QUOTE]

 

Of course not! I admit I really wanted the coin, but the prize goes the highest bidder and I did not bid aggressively enough to get it done

Congrats and yes, you do have some fine taste!