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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 1886268, member: 19463&quot;]Just to make a point, here are four sestertii of Julia Domna.&nbsp; I paid under $100 for each but there are dealers out there that would ask $200 and people with money to burn that would pay it.&nbsp; The point here is that most ancient sestertii have faults or have been tooled to fix the faults.&nbsp;&nbsp; The few really perfect ones are big money - really big in some cases. </p><p><br /></p><p>The first two are the same type (Venus) from the early part of the reign.&nbsp; One is just worn while the other has more detail, a green patina and some big scratches to reduce the price back down to the $100 level.&nbsp; The worn coin has better style and some people pay extra for coins with better artwork.&nbsp; </p><p>[ATTACH=full]320816[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]320815[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>The last two are from the later part of her life.&nbsp; One has a great obverse and a really messed up, double struck reverse.&nbsp; The other is better balanced but has a chippy patina on the surfaces that adds nothing to the appeal of the coin.&nbsp; It is the sort of coin that would appeal to toolers who could strengthen the reverse detail, smooth the surfaces and repatinate the whole thing to resemble a $500 coin.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]320818[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]320817[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Finally I&#039;ll show a 100% tooled coin.&nbsp; It &#039;claims&#039; to be a Greek legend Provincial bronze of the rarest of the rare empresses Zenobia, queen of Palmyra and mother of Vahabalathus.&nbsp;&nbsp; There are no coins like this of hers but that will not stop someone from making one.&nbsp; If genuine, this coin would easily bring $12,000 but, as is, the $12 I paid for it as a curiosity.&nbsp; I believe it started life as a low grade middle bronze of a Flavian emperor.&nbsp; Buy from dealers you can trust.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]320819[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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