Challenge; post attractive, sub-$300 coin/s

I have what would be a very nice Hosidia 1 denarius if the obverse were better-centred and the flan were a little less thick and a bit wider:



£103.50 in 2012.

ATB,
Aidan.

 

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I what year?

 

A pile on thread?

Some of my favorite coins interestingly enough have come from mixed lots, and I rarely bid even $100/coin on those, usually $10-50/coin depending on the quality/type.

One of the easiest areas to satisfy "beautiful" and "cheap" is of course LRB's - most of these were sub-$50 coins.

 

Very nice Jovian!

 

MON VRB is an abbreviation for MONETA VRBIS, meaning either "Roman Money" or "Mint of Rome".

 

I paid 13€ for this antoninianus of Maximian in December. It is not a perfect coin but I find the mottled green patina and the contrast with the bronze at the high points attractive. The mintmark is faint, but can be seen in hand.




Maximianus AE Antoninianus. Lyons mint. IMP MAXIMIANVS AVG, radiate, cuirassed bust right / PAX AVGG, Pax standing left, holding Victory on globe and sceptre. Mintmark B. Cohen 443; RIC V 399; Sear 13155.

23mm, 3.33g

 

Not the best of condition, but very pleasant to look at for $35.

Akarnania, Federal Coinage. Struck late second century BC. Æ20 (6.53g, 3h). Thyrreion mint. Obv: Head of Athena in Attic helmet left. Rev: Bearded taurine head of Acheloös left, trident above. Ref: SNG Copenhagen 423-424; BMC Thessaly pg. 170, 21-24; BCD Akarnania 41-44; HGC 4, 738. Good Fine, pleasant brown patina.

 

Has anyone published metallurgical studies showing whether the MON VRB coins were made in Rome and shipped to Syria or if the dies were Roman but they were struck in Antioch? Trace elements should show if the MON VRB coins matched the ANTIOXIA. IMO, these large silver coins offer about as much for the current price as anything but I believe they are less popular because there is not variety in reverses. I believe the series would be much higher in price if they had any other reverse but what we get is eagle after eagle after eagle.

 

I spent a little time tonight trying to take some better photos. These are all sub-$300 coins.

Nero, AE sestertius
Rome mint, A.D. 66
OBV: IMP NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P P P, laureate head of Nero right
REV: PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT, Temple of Janus with latticed windows to left and double doors to right with garland hung across; S C in field
34mm, 27.65g; RIC I 323; ex Numis, Gothenburg, Sweden, 1980



Claudius, AE diobol
Alexandria mint, A.D. 41 - 54
OBV: ΤΙΒ ΚΛΑV ΚΑΙ ϹƐΒΑϹ ΓƐΡΜΑ; laureate head of Claudius right with star
REV: ΑVΤΟΚΡΑ, [date; unclear]; bull butting right
25mm, 8.93g; RPC I 5122; ex CNG eAuction 511, lot 266



Philip III, AR drachm
In the name and types of Alexander the Great
Struck under Menander, Sardes mint, 323 - 322 B.C.
OBV: Head of Heracles right, wearing lion skin headdress
REV: ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, Zeus seated on stool-throne left, eagle on outstretched right hand, sceptre in left hand; torch beneath throne, NK in left field
15mm, 4.23g; Price 2580; ex CNG eAuction 511, lot 46

 

One of my favorite intersections between visual appeal and affordability is the Crisis years.

Maximinus ($120)


Gordian III ($40)


Philip I ($50)

Decius ($100)


Hostilian ($150)


Gallus ($75)


Volusian ($75)


Gallienus ($50)


(This one went unsold @ $15 so I kept it)

Salonina ($50)

 

Cont'd

Victorinus ($20?)

Claudius II ($40)


Quintillus ($50 but probably worth a lot more)


Aurelian ($30 - likely made by the same engraver as the Quintillus, too!)

Severina


Tacitus ($40)


Florian ($75 but likely worth more)


Probus
($40)


($50)


Carinus ($40)

 

Hostilian of this quality at $150?? - just fantastic! Same can be said about Tacitus- Bravo!