I recently purchased what I thought was an upgrade to a coin I already had and even entered into negotiations with another forum member about selling the lesser version. However, during those discussions, I was looking closer at the two coins only to see that they ARE different even though the reference for both is the same. I think I just might need to pay closer attention to detail when buying. MN FONTEIUS CF Roman Republic AR Denarius OBV: Laureate head of Apollo Vejovis right, M FONTEI CF behind, thunderbolt below, ROMA monogram below chin REV: Infant winged Genius (or Cupid) seated on goat, standing right; pilei of the Dioscuri above; filleted thrysus in exergue; all within laurel wreath Struck at Rome, 85 BC Reference: Cr353/1a; Fonteia 9 Coin 1: 4.0g, 20mm Coin 2: 3.87g, 20mm
Common issues have dozens to hundreds of dies to make the coins and each is an individual effort rather than a mechanical duplication. It can take a lot of looking to find two coins from the same dies. I do not see anything about these that would warrant a separate cataloging. Condition makes it hard to confirm all the letters of the legend but I believe the original intent was a matching coin set. Mine is below and still different/the same. The British Museum has 18 more posted: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/publications/online_research_catalogues/catalogue_image.aspx?objectId=1152175&partId=1&searchText=FONTEIUS+goat&orig=%2fresearch%2fpublications%2fonline_research_catalogues%2frussian_icons%2fcatalogue_of_russian_icons.aspx&sortBy=catNumber&numPages=12¤tPage=1&catalogueOnly=True&catparentPageId=29126&output=bibliography%2f!!%2fOR%2f!!%2f6738%2f!%2f%2f!%2fA+catalogue+of+the+Roman+Republican+Coins+in+the+British+Museum%2c+with+descriptions+and+chronology+based+on+M.H.+Crawford%2c+Roman+Republican+Coinage+(1974)%2f!%2f%2f!!%2f%2f!!!%2f&asset_id=621998
To elaborate on that, I've been poring over a great many texts lately that deal with classification, and it seems the word "type" gets somewhat redefined, depending on a particular author. I would say your denarii belong to the same type-family, but the differences in the inscription and laurel wreath styles don't allow the two coins to be classified as the same exact type.
After looking at those, it's tempting to come up with half-a-dozen sub-types, so perhaps Doug is right: it's easier just to chalk up the differences to hand-made dies.
I would agree with everything. I certainly was not looking to find a die match and these two certainly are not that. But what makes the biggest difference to my eye is the hair on Apollo Vejovis and the laureate tie behind on the one. Like I said, I was thinking of upgrading and trading the first when I bought the second coin, but now I'm tempted to keep them both.
BTW, some of those listed in the link Doug provided are Fonteia 10 rather than 9. Fonteia 9 has the Roma monogram under the chin, while Fonteia 10 has the initials CF under the chin.
I would call them the same "type" but different "varieties" because the first has a shorter version of the legend. If we think the intention was to make a different design, I'd call it a different type. If the intention was to make the same design, but there is some difference like a field mark or slightly different execution of the design, then I'd call it a "variety." In this case, I don't know why the change would signal an intentionally new type, so I put it in the variety category.
My version has CF under the chin ... NOTE => I love the way that he has combined a few of the letters (to save a wee bit o' space, I'm assuming?) ... cool
As far as selling goes, I can't seem to do it. I had no problem selling a few of my moderns to fund a couple of ancient purchases, but I couldn't manage to sell any ancients. I put a few lower-grade pieces up for auction, and as soon as they garnered watchers, I pulled them down, lol.
I have entertained selling many times. Many times I could have made significant profits, but could not do it. Instead of selling I would rather give a coin to someone who would appreciate it or use it to facilitate a trade. I have a hard time putting a dollar amount on my coins. I could say hey, I paid $150 but its worth $400, I will take $350, but oddly to me the coin is worth $1000. I could never get what I feel they are worth to me. Many of the coins I have I could not replace, let alone replace cheaply.
Understand completely. I think we all have a little of Golum in us. Even trading seems to be hard for me. As I said before, I ended up selling a nice mid-age Carcalla to one of the other members here and I have been trying to find a replacement ever since. I have ended up buying two more Caracalla's, but neither are mid-age. So, in the end, I will buy several coins just trying to make up for the one I sold. What's the point, eh?
