Ancients That Blew Your Budget

Since we shared what are usual budgets are for ancients, I thought maybe we could share the coins that we have bought that blew our normal budgets.

Im not talking coins that may be $30 or so over, we all have that, but considerably over.

You dont have to state what the buys cost if you dont want.

The first coin that blew my usual $60-$100 budget. It was hard to do, but I have no regrets. Considering what I see the type sell for in decent shape I think I ended up paying a fair price as time has passed.


L. Valerius Flaccus, (108 - 107 B.C.)
AR Denarius
O: Winged and draped bust of Victory right, X below chin.
R: LVALERI / FLACCI (downwards on left), Mars walking left, spear in right, trophy in left over shoulder, apex left, head of grain behind.
SRCV I 183, Sydenham 565, Crawford 306/1, RSC I Valeria 11
Rome Mint
20.0mm
3.89g


Orbiana (225 - 227 A.D.)
AR Denarius
O: SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, draped bust right.
R: CONCORDIA AVGG,Concordia seated left holding double cornucopia and patera.
Rome
19mm
3.8g
RIC IV 319, RSC III 1, BMCRE VI 287, SRCV II 8191


Nerva (96 - 98 A.D.)
AR Denarius
O:IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR POT II, Laureate head right.
R: COS III PATER PATRIAE, Priestly implements: simpulum, aspergillum, jug and lituus.
Rome
3.1g
18mm
RIC 225, 34. Cohen 51.


Commodus (177 - 192 A.D.)
AR Denarius
189 A.D
O: M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT, Laureate head right.
R: PIETATI SENATVS, CVPP, Commodus standing right, holding roll, clasping hands with senator standing left, holding scepter.
Rome mint
RIC III 194 cor, RSC II 408
3.649g

 

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Superb coins, Mat. Wow. Two rare Nabataeans can rightfully accuse me of going overboard, but I don't have them in hand yet, so I'll wait to post pics.

 

Ive gone overboard a few times as well, especially with some of my Ostrogothics. I'll post my wallet-breakers when I get home.

 

Here are a few:
1. ATTICA, AEGINA


2. ATHENS ATTICA


3. MARCUS ANTONIUS

 

Sweet turtle & athens. Would love to have the MA type too.

 

4. CALIGULA


5. GALBA


6. OTHO

 

7. JULIUS CAESAR


8. JULIUS CAESAR

 

Thanks Mat. And I don't regret buying any of them. BTW, did you notice the banker's mark in the left field? I did not see it till I had it in hand.

 

Not until you pointed it out just now, cool.

Nice Caesars & Otho. Im afraid he may be my biggest budget breaker when I have the gumption to buy him.

 

Anastasius, Byzantine Empire
AV Tremissis



Theodahad, Ostrogothic Kingdom
AE decanummium

 

Libius Severus (one of the extremely rare last western emperors), Western Roman Empire
AE Nummus
Rev: Ricimer's monogram
(better in hand)



Under Theodoric or Athalaric, Ostrogothic Kingdom
AE Half-Follis (20 nummi)

 

Under Theodoric or Athalaric, Ostrogothic Kingdom
AE Folles (40 nummi)

 

Should do our best deal next

 

I dunno. I've had some pretty darn good ones.

 

hmmm.... you know, i haven't purchased anything more than 30 bucks over my budget. maybe i should work on that...i need something to post on this thread...right?

 

Lovely coins VK & Randy.

As for bargains, that could be pages of replies. Majority of mine have seemed like bargains, especially when comparing Vcoins and other big dealers.

 

Nuff' said.

 

That one did :


Mark Antony and Lucius Antonius, Denarius
Denarius minted in Ephesus in 41 BC
M ANT IMP AVG III VIR RPCM NERVA PROQ P, Bare head of Mark Antony right
L ANTONIUS COS, Bare head of Lucius Antonius right
3.58 gr
Ref : HCRI # 246, RCV #1509, Cohen #2
Following description taken from NAC auction 40, #617, about an other example of the same coin :
"This denarius, depicting the bare heads of Marc Antony and his youngest brother Lucius Antony, is a rare dual-portrait issue of the Imperatorial period. The family resemblance is uncanny, and one wonders if they truly looked this much alike, or if it is another case of portrait fusion, much like we observe with the dual-portrait billon tetradrachms of Antioch on which the face of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra VII takes on the square dimensions of Marc Antony. When Antony fled Rome to separate himself from Octavian and to take up his governorship in Gaul, Lucius went with him, and suffered equally from the siege of Mutina. This coin, however, was struck in a later period, when Lucius had for a second time taken up arms against Octavian in the west. Marc Antony was already in the east, and that is the region from which this coinage emanates. Since Lucius lost the ‘Perusine War’ he waged against Octavian, and was subsequently appointed to an office in Spain, where he died, it is likely that he never even saw one of his portrait coins."

Q

 

And so did this one :


Constantius, Argenteus
Antioch mint, 8th officina, c. AD 296-297
CONSTANTIVS CAESAR, Laureate head of Constantius right
VIRTVS MILITVM, Campgate, *ANTH* at exergue
3.40 gr
Ref : Cohen #318, RCV # 13966 (1100)

Q