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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 2017921, member: 19463&quot;]The reverse is particularly well done.&nbsp; I find it also interesting that the reverse legend curls at the bottom so it stays on the flan while most keep a straight line and run off the flan.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>I have no experience with expensive coins including gold but am amazed sometimes at the lack of concern shown in the market for style.&nbsp; It seems most people would rather pay more for an EF of journeyman die quality than a VF from the master.&nbsp; Certainly there are some issues where most dies are good and others where most are poorly executed but where there is a choice, it would seem appropriate to go for the coin with good workmanship.&nbsp; There is a major dealer who I once considered very poor in this regard since he often sold high grade coins with low quality die work.&nbsp; Later he hired some people who must have had some influence on what was purchased since the situation improved.&nbsp; I also know a dealer (not major) who has never had a coin of poor die quality.&nbsp; He buys what he likes and he has taste.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>My talking coin is a Caracalla Caesar which I consider to be from the best of his obverse dies.&nbsp; The coin has faults; the die was excellent. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]364626[/ATTACH] </p><p>&nbsp;About the same date is my very low grade Julia Domna from a die I would love to see in high grade.&nbsp; Most of her better coins I have seen used poor portrait dies.&nbsp; </p><p>[ATTACH=full]364627[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>I believe, however, that the coins that speak to me most loudly are those with some technical oddity or &#039;situation&#039; that teaches me something about the minting process.&nbsp; Most people do not like them quite like I do but that is for the best since many are one of a kind and I really do not need competition for them.&nbsp; I&#039;d rather dealers who get stuck with these think to show it to me because no one else would want the thing.&nbsp; The example here is the Magnentius flipover doublestrike where the first strike was a brockage.&nbsp; Thank you, you know who you are, for letting me have it.&nbsp; </p><p>[ATTACH=full]364632[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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