I don´t collect Denarii as I prefere large Roman Bronzes where available (just made one exception for a Julius Caesar so far), but on a visit to the flea market I came across this lustrous little Caracalla and could not resist: Looks like a common type, but genuine and likable to me This appears much more valuable in hand than most of my Sestertii (which usually are in a lesser grade but nevertheless more expensive, take Caracalla for example), so I wonder if I should consider converting my portrait gallery into these handy and affordable little silver pieces...
Very nice!! And I'm sure it was at a bargain price. My portrait gallery started off in Silver, especially the 12 Caesars, then I simply expanded into all varieties of bronze to complement them.----and now 'varieties'....what an insidious hobby!!
That's a nice looking denarius. I think the way Salus is represented on the reverse is interesting. She seems very nonchalant about feeding that serpent.
That's one hell if a flea market find, very nice. Last flea market I went to the most I saw was buffalo nickels and arrow heads, neither fascinate me.
What a great eye appeal! No doubts that was a great deal. Who knows you start to delve into this wonderful world of denarii?
For ancients, my local flea markets tend to have common as dirt constantines or over cleaned LRB slugs at big markups. But thats a great denarius.
It is a nice middle period denarius. You will have more trouble finding that age portrait on a sestertius. Caracalla sestertii in the sole reign are common but those in the later part of Septimius' lifetime are not. Asses are easier. Three asses under Septimius... ...and a sole reign sestertius.
