Picked up my first ancient with my son this weekend. He picked it out. It was in a bin with about 100 other coins. They were all $15 and none were identified. I apologise for the pictures, my cell phone camera can only do so much. Thanks in advance.
As for making reasonable pictures with your iphone: take an ordinary water glass and put it mouth down on a neutral background, put a coin just next to it, put your mobile phone on the bottom of the glass with the camera eye downwards, make the coin almost as wide as the camera screen allows, focus on the coin, and softly touch the button. See here for some pictures and possible improvements.
Really terrible pics, but I would guess it is Constantine II follis, London mint. Type BEATA TRANQVILLITAS. You can look it up if it matches with yours.
Thanks for the info. I tried the easy way using my phone, but I'll use the digital camera and upload next time. My bad.
You can do better than that with a phone. Hand it to your son, let him do it. That's what I do with tech.
Yeah, it is a Constantinian coin with an altar on the reverse, legend is BEATA TRANQUILLITAS...not sure if it is Constantine I or Constantine II.
Sure. That is not a particularly common reverse type, e.g. I have 10 Constantine's and Constantine II's and I don't have one.
A radiate bust facing left. I'm guessing Constantine II as well. Here's one on VCoins right now. Yes, in that shape it's worth $15, IMHO.
BTW, hope your son enjoys the coin and gets the Ancients bug. Constantine coins are great to collect--lots of interesting and affordable options for the new collector!
That's it exactly. He thought we'd never find out and told him we'd know within a few hours if I posted good pics on CT. Unfortunately I did not post good pics. I appreciate the feedback.
And here's a good thread for advice for beginning collectors: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/for-beginners-who-ask-what-should-i-collect.308319/#post-2950353
