Hi, I won a great coin today and it is very rare. RIC lists 2 examples, one in Berlin and one from a H.J. Berk catalogue. Since this coin is very rare I would like to see a photo of the Berk coin to rule it out as mine. The list is Berk 83 from 26/10/1994 Lot 382. Now to the coin. It was of course misattributed. I think 60-75 percent of all of the Flavian denarii I have collected were misattributed. My copy of RIC was a great investment. I have been able to find many rarities this way. Some will take the attribution at face value. @David Atherton @JayGT4 and I have had a number of conversations about how important it is to check the dealer attributions when considering a bid or purchase. At first glance this seems to be just another from the pulvinar series for Domitian. However, this one is special because it is a group 3 denarius for Domitian's first year as Augustus. Group 2 and Group 3 denarii are all very rare. In fact there is only one group 3 denarius that is rated R. All the rest from both groups are R2 or R3. In this RIC, R3 means that only 1 example was known to the authors at the time of publication. My new acquisition is R2, very few known. I love the look of this coin.The portrait is awesome and that beard... If anyone is interested the grade is XF Domitian AR Denarius 81 CE (Group 3) Obv: Head laureate right; IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG PM Rev: Curule chair; above wreath; COS VII DES VIII PP RIC 24 (R2), BMC P. 299; RSC 58a Not in RIC plates Stacks Bowers The February 2021 World Collectors Choice Online Auction Lot 71061 February 23, 2021
Stunning coin @Orfew congrats! Very good condition which in many time is not the case when hunting rares. You've been pretty successful in finding Flavian rarities the last year. Keep it up!
It's a great feeling to come across an unappreciated rarity and win it at auction! I am glad you were to acquire such a rarity for your collection, @Orfew.
Wonderful coin Andrew. We're always on the lookout for these misattributed rarities and I agree, RIC is invaluable! The coin is where it belongs, in a serious Domitian collection.
Congratulations on your new coin, @Orfew . Here is a photo of the Berk coin. You can find back catalogs from Harlan J. Berk and many other auction houses at the Newman Numismatic Portal - https://nnp.wustl.edu/. https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/auctionlots?AucCoId=510329&AuctionId=513601