This one finally arrived from Germany in today's mail and I photographed it today. I don't claim to be a professional photographer -- I use my phone camera -- but I like my photograph better than that of the auction firm. It actually looks like silver and three-dimensional! C. Caecilius Metellus Caprarius, 125 BC. Roman AR denarius, 3.89 g, 18.4 mm, 1 h. Rome, 125 BC. Obv: Head of Roma, right, wearing Phrygian helmet; XVI monogram below chin, ROMA behind. Rev: Jupiter, crowned by flying Victory, in biga of elephants left, holding thunderbolt in left hand and reins in right hand; C METELLVS in exergue. Refs: Crawford RRC 269/1; Sydenham CRR 485; RCV 145; RSC Caecilia 14. Here's Sonntag's photo: Let's see your coins that look different in your own photos than in the auction/store where you bought them!
Nice coin RC! Whether my pics are better or not they are usually very different. Thanks for making me go back and find these pictures I was not using. Dealer photo My photo
Excellent picture RC and great coin! I get a kick out of how much this particular Metellus reverse, much like their MSC reverse, shows that the gens Caecilia liked putting iconography of their vanquished Macedonian foes wherever they could. Certainly this type is a nod and a wink to the old Seleukid:
This is entirely a matter of preference - I personally prefer brighter images. You do have to feel for the guys photographing these auctions though. It's a lot of coins to shoot.