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<p>[QUOTE="dougsmit, post: 7798273, member: 19463"]I recognize two classes of rarities. The first are coins made rare because of some minor point that means nothing to the best of our knowledge other than it is different and there are not many examples known to us. The second are coins different like the first group but having some additional point of interest. That could mean the 'difference' indicated a mint, date or workshop change. It could mean a completely different type. These are the 'best' rarities. Certainly a rarity can be transferred from the first group to the second when scholarship identifies a meaning. For example, a dot that seems meaningless might make a coin rare in the first sense but that same dot realized to be a code for a second mint or coins issued on a different weight standard has the added meaning to qualify as the higher level rarity (again, assuming that there are not many of them).</p><p><br /></p><p>My best example of this is the only known (to me) Alexandria mint (by style) denarius of Septimius Severus with INVICTO IMP reverse. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1338950[/ATTACH] </p><p> Since the coin is from a different mint, I consider it of special interest (even though it is in horrid condition). In comparison, the same reverse is quite common from the mint called 'Emesa'.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1338951[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Another 'Emesa' coin shows a relatively rare variation where the second I was cut as L. Since I know of no reason of meaning for this difference, the coin is in the lower level interest group. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1338952[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>We do have a special class of lower interest 'rarities' when style suggests barbarous production. The example below is not of as great interest to me as the Alexandria coin but would be elevated to the higher level if someone could demonstrate, for example, that it was produced by some specific unofficial or official mint (possibly during some siege of a city???) rather than just someone wanting to make some coins but lacking the proper skills to do so. They may be rare but they are relatively 'boring' until understood.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1338959[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Is this coin official on a bad day (omitting the P)? Associating the style with some meaning might add interest now lacking.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1338960[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>I'm told the added dots (here triangular) mean nothing beyond some die cutter disliked blank spaces. I still like these coins in the unlikely hope someday the dots will be deciphered. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1338958[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>They say there is nothing more common than a rare ancient coin. Not all rarities are rare in the same way or carry equal interest based on their low census. We each must define "run of the mill" as we see fit.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="dougsmit, post: 7798273, member: 19463"]I recognize two classes of rarities. The first are coins made rare because of some minor point that means nothing to the best of our knowledge other than it is different and there are not many examples known to us. The second are coins different like the first group but having some additional point of interest. That could mean the 'difference' indicated a mint, date or workshop change. It could mean a completely different type. These are the 'best' rarities. Certainly a rarity can be transferred from the first group to the second when scholarship identifies a meaning. For example, a dot that seems meaningless might make a coin rare in the first sense but that same dot realized to be a code for a second mint or coins issued on a different weight standard has the added meaning to qualify as the higher level rarity (again, assuming that there are not many of them). My best example of this is the only known (to me) Alexandria mint (by style) denarius of Septimius Severus with INVICTO IMP reverse. [ATTACH=full]1338950[/ATTACH] Since the coin is from a different mint, I consider it of special interest (even though it is in horrid condition). In comparison, the same reverse is quite common from the mint called 'Emesa'. [ATTACH=full]1338951[/ATTACH] Another 'Emesa' coin shows a relatively rare variation where the second I was cut as L. Since I know of no reason of meaning for this difference, the coin is in the lower level interest group. [ATTACH=full]1338952[/ATTACH] We do have a special class of lower interest 'rarities' when style suggests barbarous production. The example below is not of as great interest to me as the Alexandria coin but would be elevated to the higher level if someone could demonstrate, for example, that it was produced by some specific unofficial or official mint (possibly during some siege of a city???) rather than just someone wanting to make some coins but lacking the proper skills to do so. They may be rare but they are relatively 'boring' until understood. [ATTACH=full]1338959[/ATTACH] Is this coin official on a bad day (omitting the P)? Associating the style with some meaning might add interest now lacking. [ATTACH=full]1338960[/ATTACH] I'm told the added dots (here triangular) mean nothing beyond some die cutter disliked blank spaces. I still like these coins in the unlikely hope someday the dots will be deciphered. [ATTACH=full]1338958[/ATTACH] They say there is nothing more common than a rare ancient coin. Not all rarities are rare in the same way or carry equal interest based on their low census. We each must define "run of the mill" as we see fit.[/QUOTE]
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