AV Aureus Valerianus 253-60AD

Just got first coin from my mega "Butterflies in exchange for Roman Aurei"

AV Aureus struck 253/4AD Rome Mint first emission/ 3.90g./21mm.
obv. Draped/laureate bust right
rev. Jupiter standing/ holding scepter/thunderbolt
Provenance ex: Koch coll.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Wow, that is spectacular!

Looks like a good trade.

John

 

Gold > bugs. Carthago approves!!

 

Where's my butterfly net?

Outstanding.

 

Seems like that might have been a good trade.

 

oh my....


those must have been some amazing butterflies!

 

Another gorgeous coin!

 

I know nothing about butterflies. Do dead insects last forever or is there a time in the future when the most rare $10,000 specimen is a pile of dust? I suspect Valerian will be rather unchanged in another few thousand years. Gold is funny like that. Nice coin.

 

Agreed.

We have only moths around here. Are they of any value ? Is it worth catching a dozen for trading a binio ?

Wonderful aureus nevertheless
Q

 

Beautiful!

 

Thanks for all your nice comments. To answer Doug's interesting question. Dead insects (beetles/butterflies/moths/walking sticks etc.) will last for thousnds of years....if properly stored in airtight museum drawers/in cabinet/with napthalene to prevent pests from eating body. Also must be stored in dark....light will fade colours. However, coins if properly stored will last forever. Neat thing about AV coinage, even when found in shipwrecks, these coins are still as struck....no adverse damage from saltwater. While the AR 8 Reales etc., are heavily corroded

 

Sorry to say @panzerman, but those series look as boring to put together as euro coins collected by date, mint and errors...

I definitely prefer roman coins, you were absolutely right to trade them

Q

 

Cucumbor/ I agree!!!!!
But/ when I started into the butterflies/moths....I was passionate about my collection. Then, I came to the realization that my coins were number one/ so now I can trade the insects for coins
That Valerianus Aureus was in original Kunker flip/ they graded it vorz.=EF.
Off to work/ lots of leaves to cleanup now!

 

Gorgeous aureus!!!

Hmm, I note that nature has devised a way for insects to last thousands to millions of years---encase them in amber

 

Speaking of, a recent non-coin purchase of mine - a praying mantis in amber (20 million years old). Coins and insects don't have to be mutually exclusive in a collection

 

Personally, I prefer to see butterflies flying, I have no problem with a mantis in amber, that is absolutely stunning AJ.

 

Amazing AJ !!! I'd love to some anything similar. Do trilobites count? LOL

 

AJ - That manitis is wayyyy cool!!!

 

What about an exchange into my Antoninius Valerianus panzerman ? (I pay all the shipping costs )
That mantis is awsome, Jurassic park quality.

 

@Andres2, the portrait style on that antoninianus is unusually good for Valerian, well done

Q