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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;medoraman, post: 2673648, member: 26302&quot;]Cleopatra VII, (as the commonly termed Cleopatra is rightfully known), is of course one of the most famous persons from ancient history. She was instrumental in the affairs of the Roman Imperatorial period. She had a son by Julius Caesar, and three children from Mark Antony, with whom she sided after the assassination of Caesar against Octavian.</p><p><br /></p><p>Mark Antony coinage is fairly obtainable, if higher priced due to his renown. Unfortunately, Cleopatra VII coins are not common at all, even less so for portrait pieces of her. I am aware of three duel portrait coins with both her and Antony, with one portrait on each side for each. One is a rare denarius from Alexandria:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]595856[/ATTACH]</p><p>Courtesy of CNG. This is a small coin, 18mm, 3.64 grams. This example sold for $4500 plus commission recently.</p><p><br /></p><p>The second duel portrait is a bronze coin from Chalcis:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]595858[/ATTACH]</p><p>Courtesy of CNG. This is slightly larger, 20mm and 6.81 grams. This example sold for $2400 plus commission recently, (somewhat surprising).</p><p><br /></p><p>The third duel portrait is a tetradrachm from Antioch.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]595859[/ATTACH]</p><p>Courtesy of Roma Numismatics. This one is 27mm and 14.2 grams.</p><p><br /></p><p>Why am I posting this information do you ask? Its because the Antioch piece WAS my &quot;white whale&quot;. It is the singular ancient coin I would be willing to write a big check for the last 15 years of collecting. In hand, the coin above is much better than the photograph. Its not pitted at all like it looks, its dark and iridescent toning. The detail in hand is better as well. I have tracked these coins for so long I feel like I could write a book. RPC lists 47 known specimens, but this is patently absurd. My guess would be 300 examples are known.</p><p><br /></p><p>However, given the popularity of the subject matter and this is the largest portrait Cleopatra extant, it is a very expensive coin. Here is an example that sold for $525 plus commission recently:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]595864[/ATTACH]</p><p>Courtesy of CNG.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have seen worst, (rough outlines of the head), sell for similar. While nothing wrong with that, I have always wanted a higher level of detail. Here is what roughly $20,000 will get you:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]595865[/ATTACH]</p><p>Courtesy of CNG.</p><p><br /></p><p>So of course I like to keep investment funds in investments, not coins, so $20,000 plus was not a great option for me right now. I like my compromise. In hand it is way better than the picture, and I was hoping for that. I have had great luck with bad pictures of iridescently toned coins in the past, and with this piece. Photography is very difficult with such a shiny surface, a fact anyone can try to take advantage of in evaluating coin pics in auction catalogs.</p><p><br /></p><p>So, what about you? Anyone have a pic of their &quot;white whale&quot; they finally have captured?[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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