I've had such tremendous luck in 2017 with these so called 'grail' coins. My latest addition is one I thought would never come my way - an uncommon bare head left Vespasian! A couple of years ago I was able to add one of these to the collection, dated COS VII, of which several specimens are already known. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-120879 However, the unique COS VI specimen cited in RIC remained elusive. @Orfew actually acquired it earlier this year in an obscure auction. Now, with my latest arrival we have a second specimen! Vespasian AR Denarius, 2.89g Rome Mint, 75 AD RIC 773 (R3). BMC - . RSC - . Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, bare, l. Rev: PON MAX TR P COS VI; Pax, bare to the waist, seated l., holding branch extended in r. hand, l. hand on lap Acquired from eBay, November 2017. Here is a notable situation of an extremely rare obverse paired with the most common reverse type ever struck for Vespasian's denarii. The Pax type with the common laureate right portrait was struck in vast quantities to commemorate the opening of the Temple of peace. The bare head left portraits are seen sparingly (Buttrey - 'Fleetingly') on the denarii of 75 and 76 exclusively with the seated Pax reverse. This denarius is the second known specimen of the exceedingly rare bare head COS VI Pax from 75. Unsurprisingly, it shares obverse dies with @Orfew's unique specimen cited in RIC. The bare head portraits seem to have been the experimental work of one engraver operating at the mint in 75/76. Too bad this portrait variant didn't catch on, it has a delightfully attractive spare elegance. Please share any coins that surprised you in 2017!
From the run you've added lately, I'm driven to the conclusion that grail coins of the flavians are quite common ! Fantastic addition Q
Fantastic! I love the fact that there are now two specimens, and both owned by CT members. Nice going, guys.
Cool!!! Isn't it a wonderful feeling to find an uncommon coin unrecognized for what it is in an obscure auction? I had that feeling when I found this denarius of Nerva in an obscure auction a month ago or so. It was minted only during a few months of his reign when his coins carried the obverse inscription IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P II COS III P P. I can't find a single other example of it online -- not at Wildwinds, acsearchinfo, coinproject.com, coin archives (free version), Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE), or CNG archives. There are none for sale at V-coins. It is not listed in Sear 5th ed. or BMCRE. Nerva, AD 96-98 Roman AR denarius, 16 mm, 3.39 g Rome, Sept-Dec AD 97 Obv: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P II COS III P P, laureate head right Rev: IVSTITIA AVGVST: Justitia, draped, seated right on low backed chair, feet on stool, holding long straight scepter in right and branch extended in left Refs: RIC 30; Cohen 103. Note: Not to be confused with RIC 6, with the IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II P P obverse legend or with RIC 18, bearing the IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS III P P obverse legend.
Neat coin David! I agree, it has a "delightfully attractive spare elegance." It is really nice to find an elusive coin that most do not recoognize an such and share it here on CT! @Roman Collector: Cool Nerva!
Wow David, congratulations. That is a fantastic acquisition. It just seems so fitting somehow that you of all collectors would be the one to find the second example. I am extremely happy for you. Here is my example. It thought it would be nice to have both on the same thread.
Wonderful posts! It's always cool to find highly scarce and 'obscure' coins, especially at budget-friendly prices I immediately thought of @Orfew when I glanced at the OP. Congrats guys!!!
Amazingly the seller I purchased it from had no idea of the rarity. Including postage, I paid well under $100 for the piece.
Bare head portraits are quite rare during the Flavian era. They were struck sparingly at Rome and a few provincial mints. Here are a few: Titus Caesar AR Denarius, 3.23g Ephesus mint, 71 AD RIC V1441 (R2). BMC p. 98 note. RSC 124. RPC 838 (1 spec.). Obv: IMPERATOR T CAESAR AVGVSTI F; Head of Titus, bare, bearded, r. Rev: PACI AVGVSTAE; Victory adv. r., with wreath and palm; at lower r., EPHE Acquired from Beast Coins, August 2010. Domitian Caesar AR Denarius, 3.01g Ephesus mint, 71 AD RIC V1445 (R). BMC V469. RSC 22. RPC 846 (4 spec.). Obv: DOMITIANVS CAESAR AVG F; Bust of Domitian, cuirassed, seen from front, Medusa head on breast of cuirass, fold of cloak on left shoulder, head bare, r. Rev: AVG and EPHE in oak wreath Ex CNG E88, 14 September 2011, lot 1302. Domitian AR Denarius, 2.73g Rome mint, 95-96 AD RIC 816 (R2). BMC 243. RSC 175. Obv: DOMITIANVS AVG GERM; Head of Domitian, bare, bearded, r. Rev: Temple, eight columns, seated figure in centre; IMP CAESAR on architrave Ex Private Collection. How common (or rare) were they afterwards? I can't think of many. Do any of you CTers have any to show off??
Great coins David and Andrew! I have a few bare headed Flavian coins but it's because the laurel has worn off!
When I see coins known to exist in only one or two specimens, I have to wonder how many varieties were made that did not survive at all. Any dedicated specialist collector who sticks with one topic for a long time is quite likely to own one coin that is otherwise unknown. Some become more common over time as other examples turn up but some don't. Keeping track of known rarities can be a problem when some are sold only once every 50 years or so. It can be longer if a collection is passed down from parent to (grand)child. Congratulations to the coin which found a good home where it is appreciated. May all interesting coins be so lucky.
Congrats @David Atherton and @Orfew on these fantastic finds. One day I hope to have gained the knowledge required so that I might be able to pick out a rarity. In the meantime, I read and learn . . . Awesome scores!! -d
Earlier this year I came across a totally unknown type for Vespasian's Ephesian COS II denarii, Victory adv. right. I reported the coin to Ted Buttrey and he assigned it a new catalogue number, RIC 1412A. A month later I was doing an online search and came across a second specimen! One wonders how many other examples have been circulating in trade over the years that went unnoticed. Some coins are unknown, others are overlooked.
