When I decide to have a go in an auction, I choose a few main targets and a few secondary targets. Probably all the collectors have similar strategies. I also buy impulse coins, that were not spotted when studying the list in the days before the auction, but I notice them when the auction is live. And if I decide I like the coin and the price is reasonable, I bid on it. I try to limit these purchases, as 10 cheap coins mean a big sum when the invoice arrives but 1 or 2 cannot be refused. It was the case with my new Mamaea sestertius. Everybody knows Mamaea's history - she witnessed Caracalla's end, the reign of Macrinus (when her daughter, husband and son-in-law were killed), the ascension of her nephew Elagabalus and finally reached power along with Maesa in the reign of Severus Alexander. Her death meant the end of Severan dynasty and a new era for the Empire. I didn't save the coin when preparing the wish list mainly because Sestertii even in so-so condition are not very cheap and I just wanted a few main targets and therefore a cheap invoice. But when seeing the coin remains under my personal estimate, I decided I want it. The reverse probably made other bidders stay away from the coin, but I consider it a decent addition because I simply like the coin, especially the interesting color, not fully visible in photos - a homogenous gray - and I don't consider it too bad for my tastes (I am aware that it is not rare but this is not extremely important for me) Julia Mamaea. Augusta AD 222-235. Rome Sestertius Æ 30 mm, 19,80 g Obv: IVLIA MAMAEA AVGVSTA, bust of Julia Mamaea, diademed, draped, right / VENERI FELICI SC, Venus, draped, standing right, holding sceptre in right hand and Cupid in left hand RIC IV Severus Alexander 694; RCV II 8232; BMCRE 190 Please post - Julia Mamaea coins, sestertii or other denominations - recent impulse purchases - anything you feel relevant
@ambr0zie.....Nice snack!....Good portrait and the reverse is quite nice too with the little cupid quite visible...Congrats. No Bronze here but I do have.... Julia Mamaea. Augusta, 222-235 AD. AR Denarius (2,81 gm, 19mm). Rome mint. Struck 222 AD. Obverse: IVLIA MAMAEA AVG, bare headed, draped bust right. Reverse: IVNO CONS-E-RVATRIX, Juno standing slightly left, holding patera and scepter; to left, peacock standing left. RIC IV 343 (Severus Alexander); BMCRRE 43-5 (Severus Alexander); RSC 35. gVF.
What a great addition to your numophylacium, @ambr0zie! Everyone should have a thick and chunky sestertius of Julia Mamaea! Here's a Venus Victrix for her. Julia Mamaea, AD 222-235. Roman orichalcum sestertius, 23.08 g, 30.6 mm, 12 h. Rome, 12th emission, AD 231. Obv: IVLIA MAMAEA AVGVSTA, diademed and draped bust, right. Rev: VENVS VICTRIX S C, Venus standing left, holding helmet and scepter, shield at her feet. Refs: RIC 705; BMCRE 718-722; Cohen 78; RCV 8235.
Nice find, @ambr0zie - I really like Julia Mamaea's sesterti and will snap them up whenever I find one cheap. Thank you too for sharing your auction strategies; I always enjoy insights into other folks' methods. My "strategy" consists of eBay+cheap. Thanks to this, I have two like the OP - they were very cheap, but have some problems: Julia Mamaea Æ Sestertius (Mother of Severus Alex.) (222-235 A.D.) Rome Mint IVLIA MAMAEA AVGVSTA, draped and diademed bust right / [VE]NER FELICI, Venus standing right, holding sceptre and Cupid; S C across. RIC 694; BMCRE 190. (19.00 grams / 30 x 28 mm) eBay Feb. 2020 Julia Mamaea Æ Sestertius (Mother of Severus Alex.) (222-235 A.D.) Rome Mint [IVLIA] MAMAEA AVG[VSTA], draped and diademed bust right / [VENERI] FELICI, Venus standing right, holding sceptre & Cupid; S C across. RIC 694; BMCRE 190. (15.15 grams / 27 mm) eBay Oct. 2019
Nice pickup, @ambr0zie. I picked up a Julia Mamaea sestertius over at vcoins earlier this year. I like the large size and chunky feel of a sestertius. JULIA MAMAEA. Æ. Sestertius. Obv: IVLIA MAMAEA AVGVSTA. coated bust on the right. Rev: VENVS FELIX S.C. Venus, seated, carrying scepter and statuette. 16.58g. 27 mm
Nice pickup ! I have something very similar to yours : a B'day gift from my parents back in 2008 Julia Mamaea, Sestertius - Rome mint, AD 224 IVLIA MAMA EA AVGVSTA, Draped and diademed bust right VENERI FELICI, Venus standing right, holding Cupid and a sceptre. SC in field 17.85 gr Ref : RIC # 694, RCV # 8232, Cohen # 62 Q
Oh, but @Cucumbor and @happy_collector, those are not snacks, they are full meals. Also @Al Kowsky's is a decent meal at the 2 Michelin stars restaurant (interesting that Julia Mamaea appears quite young there) Also like @Roman Collector's sestertius - I love that dark green glossy patina on bronzes but I think I only have a similar patina on a Nerva and a Vespasian. @Marsyas Mike - not bad if they were cheap. I try to avoid overly worn coins, but if a coin is clearly identifiable (even if the legend has missing parts, I need to identify the exact coin in the catalogues) - I consider it collectible.
I have always liked the sestertii of Julia Mamaea so when I had the opportunity to purchase this coin I just had to do it. Julia Mamaea Ae Sestertius 228 AD Obv. Bust right draped and diademed. Rv Felicatas leaning on column left holding caduceus. RIC 676 24.86 grms 29 mm Photo by W. Hansen This coin is an ex Jack Frazer collection. This coin does have something of a squarish flan but the detailed portrait is what drew me to this coin.
Here’s another Julia Mamaea sestertius…the same type shared a couple other times in this thread. I like the very relaxed-looking Felicitas leaning on the column on this example. Julia Mamaea, AE Sestertius (30mm., 20.27g.), Draped bust r., wearing stephane./ Rev. Felicitas standing l., holding caduceus and leaning on column. RIC 676.
Great post and sestertius @ambr0zie . The Julias are fun to collect and the prices that respected dealers are charging for them seem pretty reasonable. Here is my Julia Mamaea denarius. Quite a bit smaller than a sestertius so I’m showing a magnified version that brings her up to sestertius size
