This 'flawed' denarius with its chipped edges and rough surface areas still appealed to me as long as it fell considerably under the estimate---and so it did---at my initial and final bid.....So I'm happy to have an example of a JC portrait despite being posthumous and of a 'youthful' Julius. Some scholars seem to believe this coin may have been struck at the time of the commencement of the 'Saecular Games' of 17 BC, celebrating the 'New Age' and the elder Caesar shown as rejuvenated again to mark the occasion. While the youthful bust little resembles lifetime portraits of Julius, the 'comet' leaves little doubt as to the identity of the 'young man'. Perhaps later this year I'll purchase a lifetime portrait...if luck and budget cooperate AR Denarius of Augustus and Julius Caesar (27 BC-14 AD; struck circa 17 BC?) AVGVSTVS DIVIE F Bare head of Augustus right Moneyer M Sanquinius; 3.21 grams; Rome mint M SANQVI NIVS III VIR Laureate, youthful head of deified Julius Caesar, comet with four rays and tail above. Ref: Ric 338, BMC 71: Ex R Forman Collection
No coin is perfect, especially ancient coins. So rather than judge by what's not there, look at what it has. The portrait of Augustus is very well done and he looks like a handsome powerful man at the peak of his physical and political prowess. Caesar, although not a realistic portrait, is very well preserved and very well artistically done. So despite the so called flaws, I would say this is a very desirable, attractive, and historically significant coin that belongs in the collection of a demanding ancient coin connoisseur, which you clearly are. Speaking of flaws, my Gordian III antoninianus has a rim ding from someone dropping it 1,700 years ago (you can tell it's a very old ding when you look at it). Doesn't bother me one bit because it has an attractive portrait and a sweet reverse theme. At the risk of being repetitive, no ancient coin is perfect, even my most attractive ancient coins have some flaws somewhere if I bother to look. We can only judge by what is there rather than lament what's not there.
yeah, two great portaits...I need a JC and a good augustus...I'd take that one for sure. the rugged flan doesn't really bother me much. good score MZ.
Excellent coin! When you decide you need a denarius with both of these people on it, the choices are very limited. There are a few bronzes but in silver the choices are pretty much yours and mine. Yours is better; mine is fourree. To me, the most interesting part of your coin is the Augustus portrait which is not quite as idealized as most of his denarii. Augustus was not a handsome man, I suspect, but his coins and statues tend to make him look more regal.
True as I see it in some part. Statuary shows Augustus a bit different from his coins, but largely similar. The thing I see on this coin is that the portrait of Julius is about as generic as it gets. Obviously the celator never saw him nor any of his statues or busts.
I must admit, this is what 'concerned' me most about the coin and why I was only willing to place the initial required bid with no increased maximum. But all other aspects of the coin still appealed to me---at that initial and winning bid.
OK there is a lot not to love about the coin but it is a Caesar portrait (well, sort of anyway). Not knowing how much you paid makes it hard to say if it was a good move or not. Some of us don't have a portrait that good so we can't be too critical, can we? Other than the edge problem, the coin is not bad. Below is my only other Caesar portrait. It really has an 'edge' problem, what? I always liked it because it is the half that shows Caesar (Augustus was on the other half). Vienna half dupondius Caesar-Octavian/prow 36BC http://www.acsearch.info/search.htm...s=1¤cy=usd&thesaurus=1&order=0&company=
I LOVE that half of Caesar Doug!!! One final thought about the OP JC portrait. The more I ponder it the more it puzzles me, especially since a statue or bust of JC must have been available for viewing and the inescapable conclusion seems to be that the 'generically youthful' Caesar (as Ken refers to it), with or without Augustus' approval, must have been purposefully rendered---But why??? For me, this both detracts and enhances the coins appeal LOL BTW: The estimate was highly placed at $850.00 and I paid the initial hammer bid of $500.00-----and I'm sure some will feel that is a bit high, but virtually all of the coins of this type are...
Wow! $500 seems rather high for this particular coin. But, hey, sometimes one has to pay the price for a coin that is wanted for one's collection. I paid a high price for my Caligula Denarius for that very reason.
I agree Bing, although comparative prices for that type were as high and much higher as a search for the type will clearly show----it is considered highly scarce and even rare (R-2). I would not have been disappointed if I was outbid by the next highest bid increment, but the coin does seem to have grown on me. I paid even more for that Fine grade Otho I bought last year which should have been at least VF for the price---- the only coin I truly regret buying at the actual cost. Oh well, I just paid a grand to have a bunch of repair work done on my car too LOL
Yeah, I hear what you're saying. We just went to my friend's memorial in Georgia. Not only did I pay for the cremation, I paid for airfare for my wife and I, car rental for three days, hotel for three nights, plus other expenses. I don't regret any of it ( although I wish that none of it was necessary). Sometimes spending for just the pure enjoyment of something is therapeutic.
@Mikey Zee nice job on the capture and hammer. I have been quietly capturing a lot over the last 6 months, and find as you have. Sometimes it is hard getting a "reasonable price", but you want the coin! I think you did well on this one, as it seems prices on Aug/Caes have been pushed up! I just captured a knucklebone uncia aes grave, and paid my top estimate for it! But still had to tack on hammer fees and freight. I have tried several times elsewhere for this aes grave, but prices are high on them now! In fact, my top estimate I paid the other day was actually CHEAPER than what I had been seeing them sell for... All the above points to: it is great you got the coin! Fills the hole in your collection! ...now I have to go out and waste good money for new tires for my truck, as-dammmit!
@Alegandron LOL Yeah, I hear you...... new tires, brake work etc etc.... But It sounds like you did really well with your acquisitions and I look forward to your newest posts!! Basically, I'm done until the end of month RR bids clarify themselves---so I may have two more coins and then a month of just looking....
MZ, I would like to "just looking" as you do : very nice and covetable coin, distinctive portraits with nice style, despite it's chipped Good catch my friend My only JC portrait coin is a posthumous too, and features Mark Antony instead of Augustus Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, Denarius minted in 43 BC M ANTO IMP RPC, Head of Mark Antony right, lituus behind him CAESAR DIC, Head of Caesar right, jug behind him 3.76 gr Ref : HCRI # 123, RCV #1465, Cohen #3 Q
Absolutely fantastic coin 'Q' !!! I love that 'traditional' rendering of Caesar....and Mark is way cool too !!
