Hi all, Here are two coins that came in the mystery lot of 30 bronzes from the 1st - 2nd century that I had won in the recent G&M auction. The coins in the lot were described as ranging from Good to Fine, and in general I've found that to be accurate. These two aren't amongst those that are in better shape, but I took an immediate shine to them. They also happen to be my first coins of the ladies of the Roman empire. This first one fits right into the Marcus Aurelius mini-series I'm working on. FAUSTINA THE YOUNGER, wife of Marcus Aurelius Sestertius 25.3g, 32.5mm Rome mint, 176 AD or later RIC 1702, Sear 5227 O: DIVA FAVSTINA PIA, draped bust right. R: CONSECRATIO S-C, veiled Faustina holding a scepter on a peacock flying right. I confess I had no idea who this next lady was before I got the coin, but it's always fun when a coin opens up a new area of history to read up on. ANTONIA THE YOUNGER, daughter of Mark Antony, mother of Claudius Dupondius 15.2g, 29mm Rome mint, 41 - 42 AD RIC Claudius 92, Sear 1902 O: ANTONIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, with hair in a plait, unidentified shallow rectangular countermark behind head. R: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP S C, Claudius standing left, veiled and togate, simpulum in right hand. Z.
Nice surprises, specially the Antonia. Generally pricey in the upper end coins. I could be satisfied with one in this shape.
Sweet new additions, Z-dawg!! => for obvious reasons, I am drawn towards Faustina ridin' the ol' peacock!! Congrats (please keep 'em comin'!!)
I also have a sestertius showing Faustina with her peacock ... but my example must be showing their pre-flight check? (I think Juno is fueling-up the bird for Faustina and perhaps checking the landing-gear?) Faustina II AE Sestertius Rome Mint 128-175 AD Diameter: 31 mm Weight: 23.72 grams Obverse: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right wearing circlet of pearls Reverse: Reverse: IVNONI REGINAE S-C, Juno, veiled, standing left, holding patera & scepter; peacock standing left at feet, head reverted Reference: RIC 1651
Coin stuff. Ive been thinking of getting Antonia in fairly low grade too but I am on Bings wagon. Damn thing is crowded, one of us should get off
Only one? I think since I've been on it longer than most (8 weeks), I should be the first off. But, alas, that won't be till after the holidays for sure, so I guess you can get off first.
Unless I find some $20s on the floor somewhere your gonna have a wagon mate till after new years too I still have 3 coins to share but not sure when to post them. I like to spread it out.
Man ... lately, we need a far bigger fricken wagon!! Oh well, I guess the X-mas season is for giving, not receiving, so I'm okay with holding-back and spoiling a few others in my life!! Cheers, wagon-brothers!!
Curious: What would you consider to be a fair grade for the Antonia? What would have to change to raise or lower it a letter? I agree that 'good to fine' would include it but the question is what makes a good too good to be just good. What does one have the right to expect from an unseen lot called 'good to fine'? The Antonia dupondii on acsearch range up to $9k but that one is nicer than yours by quite a bit.
Interesting questions. To me, just on the basis of how the coin looks, it is a Good. For it to go up to a Very Good, I'd want to see more complete outlines, and maybe a little more legend? I'm sure there'd be others who'd assess it differently and in more detail. In the case of this unseen lot (largely unseen anyway - the obverse of 3 coins were pictured), there wasn't any further description such as 'mostly Very Good' or 'average Fine', so if I had gotten 29 coins that I considered G and just one at F, it would still be accurate to me. Fortunately, this lot had a decent mix. While there were a few sides I'd struggle to say were even Good (and one horribly tooled one as a bonus), most werer at least Fine, and others I thought very close to Very Fine. I reckon there are two types of collectors who'd buy unseen lots - those who like surprises, and those who like abit of a gamble. To my occasional detriment, I fall into the latter category. Z.
Lol! Neat one too, Steve. There really is something inexplicably pleasing about a big old nicely worn bronze.
With me being mainly into the empresses, I would consider the crispina Good and the Antonia About Good.
I'm really starting to wonder why so many of us are on the wagon, if it has anything to do with the fact that it's coming to the end of the year and most of us work with a yearly budget and just spent it all too fast, and if we're a good example of how things are across the board. Maybe questions for a thread of its own.
I am no example of the economy in general. I just spent too much money on coins according to my wife (she who must be obeyed). We're fine financially so the economy plays no role in me being on the wagon.
With me its because I have other hobbies I am into other then coins. This coming weekend I have a local comic con I am going too with my dad. So what would be coin money is actually comic book money. Thankfully most of what I want is under $10. Another reason is this time of year is when packages from the USPS gets more screwed up then usual cause of the volume of mail for the holidays. Ive had some get lost or make several cross country trips in a span of a week. I feel more comfortable buying again after the holdays are over. I still have a package that was stuck in ohio for 2 weeks that just left friday. I am hoping it comes tomorrow but who knows.
In my case it's because I acquire most of my cash from mowing lawns, and I spent all of it at my local coin show at the beginning of September. Stinking wagon.
