Did I Upgrade or Not ?

I sold the first one to a well known dealer in U.S. coins for Gray Sheet Unc. money, something like $800. So he must have viewed it as an Unc. My photos with NGC graded coins sometimes are not a true reflection.

 

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Glad you did

Q

 

David, There is some irony in your post . The coin illustrated in your book ROMAN COINS and their values IV, looks pretty much like the 2nd coin I just won from CNG, including the missing O in the word CONSTANTINVS !

 

John. I agree with Q, the 1st two cent coin looks like an AU53 to me. You were smart to unload it .

 

Many thanks to everyone who chose to add to this post on this important holiday . The responses were varied, which is no surprise to me . I didn't bid on the 2nd coin impulsively but waited till the last minute. I think the 1st coin has a slightly better portrait that is in higher relief & it has an attractive uniform dark patina, but the 2nd coin is more to my licking . I had the 1st coin slabbed about 5 years ago with the idea of eventually upgrading. Slabbed coins do better at auction & the coin will be easy to sell. We are all guided by different factors when buying an ancient coin, that's what makes this hobby so much fun . Some collectors like well worn coins & others like mint state coins that are nearly perfect. Some collectors prefer slabbed coins instead of raw coins. I will do as Doug Smith suggested & sell or trade the 1st coin, & I'm sure some collector will be happy with it. Hopefully everyone is enjoying this holiday & the Easter Bunny will be good to all the kids who missed out on their Easter egg hunt.

 

Definitely an upgrade! The details on Mars are more sharp. However, if I would start to upgrade all my coins of the same quality as your first coin I would be lost... Instead of upgrading I would have looked for one with Constantine as Caesar (which are a little bit more scarce (nice example @Valentinian). Here are mine:
As Augustus:

And as Caesar:

 

Adriaan, Both of those are great looking coins & wonderful to have the same type issued as Caesar & Augustus ! Many years ago I acquired a rare follis of Constantine I as Caesar with an unusually fine portrait.


Constantine I as Caesar, July 25, AD 306 - summmer of 310, (struck 306 - 307), Trier Mint, Billon follis: 9.50 gm, 27 mm, 6 h. Traces of silvering, porosity on the reverse.

 

The new coin has much sharper detail, and overall is clearly a better example in my opinion. However, I prefer the portrait on the older coin.

As such, I would need to keep both coins for that reason.