Augustus Denarius

Alright, so this is only my second posting in ancients and am still fairly new with them. Excuse any errors I may make.

Just got this in the mail today.



Augustus
AR Denarius, Lyons Mint
CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE. laureate head right
AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT, C L CAESARES below, Gaius & Lucius standing front, each with a hand resting on a round shield, a spear, & in field above, a lituus right & simpulum left
RIC I 207
3.85 g, 19x21mm

Only question I have, what is that mark on the obverse by the forehead? I cant seem to find other examples with the same mark. Just wanting to make sure it isnt something saying it's fake lol.

 

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Welcome to the dark side of coin collecting Evan that coin is an absolute beauty to my eyes... great job!



I am not sure what the mark by the forehead is but I'm sure specialist will be along shortly to explain it.

All the markers lead me to strongly suspect the coin is legit. Good style and nice visible flow lines from the strike. Congrats

I don't have any awesome Augustus coins to add but I'm looking forward to the pile on posts for this one!

 

Gorgeous coin! Lots of eye-appeal.

I think that thing in front of the forehead is from a pitted/damaged die.

 

Very nice, I like it.

 

Welcome Evan8, good looking coin, nothing wrong with the post. Congrats.

 

Great looking coin. You did well.

 

A nice example, and as Roman Collector says, the small lump in front of the head is probably from the die, as struck.

 

nice 1 Evan8! the 1st Augustus denarius, one of my favs.

 

Nice!

 

Many of us have examples of this coin, but yours is one of the excellent ones. Congrats

 

Awesome coin. I got one too, albeit a rarer variant.

 

Terrific example @Evan8 !!!

I also have an example of the same shield placement as @Sallent and @Bing....and it also has that 'mysterious' X on the reverse that no one seems to understand---including FORVM from whence it came.

 

When I first started collecting, I got it into my head that being a newbie I would not be taken seriously in this forum unless I bought some serious coins.

I wanted a Trajan, but I splurged on this one instead of getting a more humble yet still awesome VF Trajan, so I would be taken more serious. I could have bought three or four decent denarii for the price of this superb one.

I was naive and missunderstood the people on this forum. In my defense I was a total noob, plus I was a young boy of only 29 years of age...so how was I to know any better?

Oh well, I do love the coin. I wouldn't have bought it if I was doing things all over again, but I do love it.

 

Nice @Evan8 , I like the flaw on the obverse. Makes it real.

I have one similar to yours:


RI Augustus AR Denarius struck 2 BC-14 AD Caius and Lucius Caesars stdg shield spear Sear 1578 NGC4276216-007

 

I'll be 25 next month, and I have been collecting US coins since I was 7. I completed my Lincoln cent collection at 21 years old, including the 1909 S VDB and the other key dates. The 1909 S VDB was the most money I ever spent on a coin, at $730 graded VF-30 by NGC. I love it. I dont really care what other people like or hate, I collect what I like, and can afford.

That is kind of the problem. I dont stick to just one thing. Which can get expensive lol. My collecting doesnt make much sense. But I cant just stick to one thing. The week I had bought my first denarius, a Domitian, I also bought an 1853 gothic florin and a proof Ike dollar.

I just collect what speaks to me. After being on here and glancing at all the ancients you guys post and thier history, I coudn't take it. I had to collect them too. Infact, @Sallent it was your post about Plautilla awhile back that really motivated me to learn more about Roman coins. That story was as fascinating as it was tragic. That's when I decided to start with denarii and hopefully collect a 12 Caesars set, with the exception of Claudius, that one may have to be bronze.

But yeah, denarii and their history "speak" to me in new ways. I like their size, I like the styles and imperfections of the flans, and I just like silver. Hopefully more to come.

 

Alagandron - Superb!!

 

Thank you kindly.

 

@Evan8, what a nice start for an arrival to the dark side : welcome.
As most people here, I have one to share too


ROMAN EMPIRE, AUGUSTUS Denarius, RIC 207 Rome mint, 2 BC
CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE, Laureate head of Augustus right
AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT, Caius and Lucius holding shields and spears
3,65 gr
Ref : RCV # 1597, Cohen # 43, RIC # 207


Q

 

Nice start, most collectors start with something smaller. Getting a denarius is awesome, plenty out there to choose from. And you're not the only one to collect lots of different coins. Lots of people here do that too.

 

I believe that may be a ripple/fold in the metal before striking. Perhaps the guy pouring the blanks was having trouble. It is possible that such a seam can indicate a plated coin (fourree, ancient fake) but your has good weight, no core exposure and no other signs that make me doubt it. Mine (different Augustus type) is a good example of a bad coin with not only the seam but core showing and weighs only 3.0g. More than you want to know:
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/fourree.html
We always suggest buying coins from sources you know and trust until you get enough experience that you feel like gambling on your own expertise. My guess is that it is good but I don't make a stronger statement than that from a photo.