An upgraded labyrinth

My general approach when buying coins has been to find examples that I don't feel I'll need to upgrade or that upgrading would be challenging.

However, sometimes opportunity comes knocking and a better example of a type that I thought I wouldn't be able to upgrade falls into my lap. In this circumstance, it was thanks to a solid relationship with a dealer I work with regularly. He held back a coin before the NYINC show for me to take a look at and upon seeing it, I had to have it.

As somewhat of a minimalist in my collecting focus, I find it very difficult to have two coins with the same overall iconography on them, even if both are nice. So, I'll be consigning my previous example to an auction, even though it's one of the nicer examples and I still really like it (especially for its ex-British Museum pedigree reaching back to the 1920s).

My previous coin is a drachm, weighing 5.4 grams, depicting the labyrinth at Knossos with an obverse of Hera:



And my new coin is a stater, weighing 11.2 grams. The obverse was designed by a very talented engraver - I've envied this die since seeing it in the Boston MFA's example but never thought I'd have the opportunity to buy one as they simply don't come around. This coin has been off the market since the 1980s and there arguably hasn't been a comparable example in the interim:



Post coins you've already upgraded or any that you're planning on upgrading.

 

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Just WOW!

 

another WOW!

 

That’s a tremendous upgrade! The obverse of Hera is spectacular and both sides are so well-centered. What a dream that coin is.

 

Stunning!

 

That's impressive, the artistic quality is amazing!

 

Both are fantastic coins, but your new coin is twice the coin of your original. Congratulations.

 

Both coins are amazing, but that second one is unbelievable!

Well done.

John

 

Very cool!

 

Nice upgrade! How many times have you traveled the Labyrinth?
My upgrade is a modest RR coin. The before and after, and a bit of a write up:

Before


After

I fell in love with this coin when I saw it. I was not looking to upgrade a coin I bought in 2011 and had to wait extra time while the MOU between the US and Italy went into effect. I eventually received the first coin. At the time, I did not have around 150 BC, so this one was a nice addition to my collection. The new one is about as high a grade I have in the series.

L.SAVF - Lucius Saufeius, Roman Republican Silver Denarius, 152 BC, Rome
Obverse – Head of Roma R wearing a winged helmet decorated with a gryphon’s head; wearing ear rings with 3 drops, middle one is long and others are pellets; wearing necklace; hair in 3 locks; X behind head

Reverse – Victory, naked to hips, driving biga, horses galloping (or prancing), whip in R hand and reins in L hand, L.SAVF below (archaic style L), (VF in monogram), ROMA in partial linear frame at bottom of coin. The border for ROMA has been described as:
· On tablet
· In exergue
· In linear frame
· In linear frame in exergue
· On raised tablet, in exergue
I think there are two main styles here. Most coins have a partial linear frame (a box with two or three sides). I have seen none with a 4th side or a line below ROMA. Small flans or off center strikes cut off some or all of the two side lines. A few coins have just a long exergue line.

The Saufeia gens appears to be from Praeneste and is not mentioned before 100 BC. This moneyer issued silver (denarius) and bronze coins (As, Semis, Triens, Quadrans & Sextans).

Cr – 204/1
BMCRR – 835 Gruber notes the two examples in his book have different ear rings: #835 (and mine) has ear rings with a longer center droplet, #834 has similar sized droplets.
Sear – 83
RSC/Bab – Saufeia 1
Syd – 384
RBW – 874
Albert – 874
NMW – 235 – 237
NMCr – 44 – 45

 

Very nice!

 

I think @chrsmat71’s graphic says it all

Head-explodingly fabulous!

 

Tiny coins do not draw the eye if they are not sharp and of good metal.

Before:

After:

(Pasted as thumbnails to illustrate.)

 

That is more than a typical upgrade. Besides the tremendous jump in style and quality, you changed denominations also. The first is a daily driver Porsche Boxster, the second is more like a Ferrari 458.

Very, very, very nice.

 

@AncientJoe I fully appreciate your minimalist strategy - avoid repetition, maximize diversity in the trays, free-up resources for other types etc - but I'd hate to see you sell that lovely drachm, particularly with its exceptional pedigree! New coin is stunning.

 

I wonder if there are any better Knossos Labyrinth drachms in existence? I've certainly never seen one. That coin dealer is certainly your friend!

On the topic of upgrades: Since my philosophy is similar to yours, I've only had one opportunity to upgrade:

First coin:


Upgrade:

 

Very nice upgrade.. i will take your old coin off your hands.. to get it out of the way

 

I would have no problem owning both at the same time forever! Really, lovely coins!