This purchase was a bad pic gamble at feePay. The seller listed both coins in one lot with only a pic of the obverses. The first is a common Constantine I/Sol type - there is nothing special about it, but it does have some eye appeal despite the pock-marked fields. The second, however, is a rare coin of Constantine II with obverse legend VIC CONSTANTINVS AVG, a type minted only in Rome for a period of about three years. I would likely have overlooked this auction, as everyone else did, except the pic of the coins showed the letters VIC on the attribution slip. I could not tell if the coin matched the attribution from the image, but the gamble payed off. The coin arrived today, and it is indeed a rare type of Constantine II, RIC VIII Rome 21, R3. Here's the kicker. Did I say everyone else ignored these coins? Click here to see what they cost me. Sometimes it pays to take a second look. Edit: Huh, well, double-checking the attribution of the first coin shows it's not so common either. Siscia mint third officina gets an R2.
Eesh JA, you can tell what coins are rare from their obverses? Wow, anyway, those two are some nice pieces for $2.
Dang, that's a fantastic deal! Those are far better than all of the slug-like "uncleaned" coins I bought, each of which cost more than your lovely coins!
Thanks guys. For the record, I sent the seller an extra $20 and gave him a bit of advice as to how to set up an auction, since he's obviously new. My damn conscience wouldn't let me take them for two bucks.
Well done JA! I liked that after scoring such a deal, you helped out the newbie seller too. Good Karma shall certainly come your way...
Always great to score rarities for cheap. Thats nice of you to throw some extra $ the sellers way too.
2 bucks! LOL!!!! man, that's awesome JA. that coins is pretty nice lookin' as well. i'm preparing for my fall coin surge...so i'm on the hunt...bet i don't get any deals that sweet.
Hey Chris, my little Nagas of Narwar mini-bull showed up today too. I'll post it in your thread tomorrow - I'm too tired for pics right now.
What a find! Awesome. Doesn't it feel great to give up an equivalent cost of a soft drink to buy a piece of history? WOW. Sadly, most people would grad a soft drink.
