Common emperors that you're missing?

Nah I can’t replace it with a drachma because my collection is specifically denarii.

But I’m definitely saving him for last since at least I’ll have the satisfaction of completing my collection when I plunk down that amount of cash for a Caligula denarius.

Once I got offered an VF one for 2 troy oz of gold but I turned it down because it had a nasty scratch right through the nose.

 

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Hostilian
Valerian II

Everything else I lack I would consider uncommon and more costly.

 

I have Hostlian, but I don't think I have Valerian II, unless it was in the Viminacium set I bought from Matt Kreuzer many years ago.

 

Here’s a Junior I got for about ten bucks

 

I got another name checked - Tacitus.
Exactly what I was planning - a decent coin, maximum 20 EUR.
I like the reverse also, as I don't have too many Mars reverses.

 

There are many emperors that I don't have and don't mind not having. Aesthetic appeal is a very high priority for me and some emperors are simply too expensive in the grades I'm after. However, there are a number of common emperors that I often meant to get, but for whatever reason, never did. These include in particular: Balbinus, Vetranio, Clodius Albinus, Maximus and Aelius.

 

The economy thrived in the Antonine period and coins circulated for decades, eroding them down to slugs in many cases. It'll cost a fortune to get a high-grade Aelius that hasn't been "improved" by tooling. The average Aelius looks like this.

 

Amazingly attractive for such a worn coin. I guess it was still acceptable at the end of the 2nd century after having passed through countless hands and tabernae.

Btw, I try to stay away from larger bronze coins of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd century (for a perhaps irrational fear of bronze decease). So my future Aelius would have to be a denarius in VF+ to EF.

 

Mine is worn, but has a neat exergue

 

Mine will not win any beauty contests, but it's clearly attributable and I have no complaints


I have seen a few Aelius denarii in VF range (but I don't remember seeing VF+ - EF examples mainly because I don't watch auctions having this kind of coins)

 

Just out of curiosity, what is considered a fortune by this forum for a VF to XF Aelius Denarius?

 

Julia Maesa. I would like to get a nice denarius of her looking her most aged. There are some denarii in which she looks quite froglike. I want a froggy one. I think it’s fascinating that the die engravers had no trouble depicting her as aged even if it might be unflattering. No Instagram filter here.

 

Here's my Aelius Caesar denarius. I don't recall having any big problem finding one in decent condition on VCoins:

Aelius Caesar AR Denarius, 137 AD. Obv. AELIVS CAESAR, bare head right / Rev. TR POT COS II, Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae. RSC II 50, RIC II Hadrian 430 (1926 ed.), Sear RCV II 3973.18 mm., 2.70 g.




Here's my Julia Maesa. Is she froggy enough for you?

Julia Maesa (grandmother of Elagabalus & Severus Alexander), AR Denarius, 218-22 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Draped bust right, IVLIA MAESA AVG / Rev. Fecunditas standing left holding cornucopiae, an unidentified small child at her feet, FECVNDI-TAS AVG. RIC IV-2 249, RSC III 8 (ill.), Sear RCV II 7749. 20.08 mm., 2.58 g.




I think "froggy" might better describe this denarius of Maesa's sister Julia Domna:

Julia Domna AR Denarius 208 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Draped bust right, IVLIA AVGVSTA/ Rev. Hilaritas standing left holding palm branch & cornucopiae, two small children [perhaps representing her already-grown children Caracalla and Geta?] at her feet, HILA-RITAS. RIC IV-1 557, RSC III 79, Sear RCV II 6587. 19.39 mm, 3.25 g.

 

Less than a $100 on ebay several years ago. It just takes patience.

This image is *hit though, makes it look flat. It's much better in hand.

I need a Valentinian iii.


Aelius (136 - 138 A.D.)
AR Denarius
O: L AELIVS CAESAR, bare head right.
R: TR POT COS II, Felicitas standing left, caduceus in left, cornucopia in right.
Rome Mint, 137 A.D.
3.16g
18mm
SRCV II 3973, RIC II Hadrian 430, RSC II 50, BMCRE III Hadrian 969

 

Oh no. That's a flattering portrait. Usually Domna is the looker and it's Maesa who has a face for radio.

 

I had sestertii in mind when I commented. Tooled and smoothed. Hammered for $1,755.



$3,481:

 

For shame!!

Like this?


From Augustus to Constantine XI, I think I'm missing only one emperor that could be had for $200 or less (for a decent example): Theophylactus (w/ Michael I, 811-813).

 

Yes. That’s very froggy. She looks hung over. Maybe she partied even harder than Elagabalus.