2 pickups from Savoca today

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Orfew, Feb 23, 2020.

  1. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    I managed to add 2 more first year Domitian denarii today. The first one is a RIC 67 and is a group 4 denarius. It is a scarce coin but not horribly rare. The second one was my main target and I was prepared to go much higher than my original bid. It is a rare group 3 denarius from 81 CE. Note that the reverse legend does not list TR P even though we know that TR P is a title that would have been awarded as a result of Domitian's ascension to Augustus. The reason for its absence is a mystery for those who collect these denarii.

    One thing I really like about these first year denarii is that the portraits are interesting. In many cases these denarii show Domitian in an unpolished light. Later portraits make adjustments to the nose and result in more idealized portraits.


    Domitian AR Denarius 81 CE (Group 4)
    (18 mm., 2. 83 g.)
    Obv: IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG PM; Head laureate right
    Rev: TR P COS VII DES VIII P P ; Seat draped, above semicircular frame decorated with three crescents.
    RIC 67
    Savoca 29th Blue Auction February 23, 2020. Lot 1237. Lot 1228
    Domitian RIC 67.png

    Domitian AR Denarius 81 CE (Group 3)
    (19 mm., 3.12 g.)
    Obv: IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG PM; Head laureate right
    Rev: COS VII DES VIII P P ; Seat draped, above winged thunderbolt
    RIC 36
    Savoca 29th Blue Auction February 23, 2020. Lot 1237

    Domitian RIC 36.png
     
    Ryro, seth77, panzerman and 22 others like this.
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. Limes

    Limes Well-Known Member

    Nice catch @Orfew! I was unfortunately outbid on two targets. Bidding felt strong this time. I was also going for the alexandria type of Hadrian. Three appeared in auctions last weeks, but i was outbid 3 times. Guess I need to step up the game for this type, which i could not for now.

    I wonder if anyone on this board was able to obtain this highly desirable type.
     
  4. thejewk

    thejewk Well-Known Member

    There's a lot of Vespasian's face in those imo, maybe a carry over as a result of habit on the part of the die cutters? Nice coins.
     
  5. maridvnvm

    maridvnvm Well-Known Member

    I managed to win two coins at Savoca that I think were likely only desirable to me....
     
    Orfew likes this.
  6. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    I missed out on this one. Hopefully I will learn about it earlier and have some time to bid. Nice acquisitions @Orfew!
     
    Orfew likes this.
  7. Finn235

    Finn235 Well-Known Member

    Nice pickups! I was too preoccupied with the Leu auction (and also real life stuff) to make any serious bids on Savoca. They had some amazing and extremely rare Sassanian drachms of Balash, brother of Peroz - I bid on the best one and got stomped down; the rest went cheap of course.

    I almost pulled the trigger on the Domitian as Caesar right before your second one, but the worst thing is to win a $25 coin and then have to pay $20 to get it shipped.
     
  8. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Had only one bid in at Savoca and got outbid during the live portion of the sale. Won two at Leu.
     
  9. Orielensis

    Orielensis Well-Known Member

    I won my two main targets from Savoca. The Septimius Severus denarius went higher than I had hoped, but I really wanted it. The Basel pfennig, on the other hand, was kind of a bargain – I was prepared to pay quite a bit more for this one. Well, I assume that this is kind of a niche coin that only die-hard medieval collectors will get excited about...

    1022416_1580839115.jpg

    Bildschirmfoto 2020-02-25 um 11.41.32.png
     
  10. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

    Nice pickups! I got some nice coins from them in earlier auctions.
     
    Orfew likes this.
  11. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    The coins arrived today and I am very pleased with them. They are better than the auction photos. Here are my updated photos. I love the nose on the first one.
    Domitian RIC 36 new.jpg Domitian RIC 67 new.jpg
     
  12. Gary R. Wilson

    Gary R. Wilson ODERINT, DUM METUANT — CALIGULA

    I was lucky to get this Trajan sestertius from the most recent Savoca auction. I had one of this type in an earlier collection which has since been sold. I'm trying to slowly replace coin types I had earlier.



    Trajan AD 98-117. Rome Sestertius.jpg

    Trajan (Augustus)
    Coin: Brass Sestertius
    IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P - Laureate and draped bust right.
    IMPERATOR VIIII/ S C - Trajan seated right on high platform on left, raising hand haranguing soldiers: by him stand two officers, to right on the ground stands an officer right, holding spear addressing six soldiers, one of them holding a horse by the bridle; three signa in back
    Exergue: SC


    Mint: Rome (114-116 AD)
    Wt./Size/Axis: 24.83g / 33mm / 6h
    References:
    RIC II 658
    Woytek 549v
    Banti 80
    BMCRE 1018
    Provenances:
    Savoca Coins
    Acquisition/Sale: Savoca Coins Internet 41st Silver Auction #301 $0.00 02/20
    Notes: Feb 23, 20 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection
     
    svessien, Orfew, Johndakerftw and 2 others like this.
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page