Added a couple of bottom fed coins a few weeks ago. I know "perfect" coins seem to be a lot of the rage here, especially the new posters, but I think there is still room for blue collar level coins. Didn't own a Egypt Vespasian Tet. Vespasian (69 - 79 A.D.) Alexandria, Egypt Billon Tetradrachm O.: AΥTOK KAIΣ ΣEBA OΥEΣΠAΣIANOΥ, laureate head right, date LB before. R.: EIPHNH, Eirene standing left, branch in right, caduceus in left. 12.01g, 24mm Ref.: RPC II 2411, BMC 232, Dattari 357 Needed a Caracalla as Caesar. Caracalla (198 - 217 A.D.) AR Denarius O: M AVR ANTON CAES PONTIF, bare-headed, draped bust right. R: PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Caracalla standing left, holding baton and scepter; trophy to right. 3.41g 17mm Rome Mint, 196 - 198 A.D. RIC 13a
There's room for every kind of coin in this hobby, except for the fake and the tooled. That Vespasian is a nice catch!
Interesting types Mat Have to consider the "need" of a coin though ! Well, I understand quite easily what you meant here, but not everybody can, I believe. Q
Well done, Mat ... I see that you're adding a few more fellas to your collection lately (I'm assuming that the ladies that you still need to acquire must be getting a bit pricey, eh?) I really like both of your new additions ... sadly, I don't have an AE Tet of Vespasian, but I do have a very sweet AR denarius of "young Caracalla" ...
I have a diobol of Vespasain from Alexandria. Does that count? VESPASIAN Æ Diobol OBVERSE: AYTOK KAIΣ ΣEBA OYEΣΠAΣIANOY, laureate head right REVERSE: LE, Draped bust of Isis right wearing uraeus crown Struck at Alexandria, Egypt, Year 5 = 72/73 A.D 9.15 g, 24.9mm RPC 2438; Milne 427; Emmett 217 Ex Zuzim Judaea Coins, New York
I don't have an Alexandrian Vespasian but here is a tetradrachm from Antioch. Remember that the first letter in Vespasian when written in Greek is O. OV gave what we might call a W sound. My favorite silver Caracalla as Caesar is this one with reverse copying the Boni Eventus Syrian mint type of Septimius. It could be barbarous or the product of a recently unemployed worker after they closed the mint. The reverse die is worn out. This is another that will never be proved. Forgive my showing again the Caracalla Caesar sestertius die that I consider the best art work of the Severan period.
Great Posts!! I have a few of the 'blue collar types' on bid....hopefully a couple of will not exceed my small remaining budget...
some solid bargain bin scores mat! i need a caracalla as a kid (and a geta) as well, and would really like to have a vespassian tet. here's my closest thing, it is a "year 2" a eirene reverse...so kind of close ish.
My two or three 'bargains' are an Antioch bronze of Trajan and a Ant of Probus with a chance at a modest Denarius of Nero still pending....I guess they qualify for this thread???
VERY nice coins Mat! I like them both! Knowing you, they are an awesome price for a great coin: VALUE! I am of the camp that coins are a placemark in history... I don't collect coins, I touch history. Coins were intended to be circulated. The more reasonable wear, the more beautiful they are to me as they have been touched, transacted, and gently worn by real people from the ancient past. THAT is exciting to me! Even though I love the Res Publica Romano, I digress into the Empire and really like Vespasian...He was one of the better leaders of Rome! Caracalla... well he is the example of why I do NOT like the Empire...
I REALLY like how the written Latin language and its diphthongs etc. make so much sense when trying to read/enunciate it... so much more logic than the ridiculous English language spelling and pronunciation. As an American, and as a Businessman, I just self-attacked the Lingua-Franca of the Business World!