Got my first Marc Antony legionary denarius

It's not in the best of shape, but I think this bottom-feeder (at least, most of the time ) didn't do too bad at $25 for this example of this famous ancient coin series. I went for it thinking that I may be able, from the photos, to tell the legion number when I had it in hand (I'm not interested in any with the legion number gone, unless it was $5 or something). From the seller's photos (and some Photoshop editing), I think it may either be LEG VI or VII. If not immediately identifiable when in hand, hopefully it will be with some very light brushing in that area.

Marc Antony
AR Denarius
Obv: ANT AVG III VIR RPC, Praetorian galley to right
Rev: Eagle and two standards, LEG VI(?) or VII(?) across field
Ref: RSC 33 (for VI) or 34 (for VII)

 

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Not bad!

 

From what I see, brushing worn silver is more likely to make it worse, not better. Try looking under a very bright light with small bulb (halogen works) tilting it to see if there is an angle that shows more. As it is, the coin is still an example of its series. Adding scratches won't help.

 

Nice Score, Jango ... (nice galley)

... sadly, I don't have one of these babies "yet"

 

Mmmmm... I gotta go with "Thumbs Down." I mean the coin is what it is and if you have none in the series and just want the filler then that meets your needs. And it is always at least a real artifact of the time and place. So that's the plus side. You can carry it around and feel contacted with history.

The downside is that our Spanish Knight seems to know about Rome and to care. I would save my money and buy a coin worthy of my own level of interest. I see this too often among too many collectors - and we have a thread going now from someone who cannot stop buying. You are better off not buying low-grade material. If you have money to burn, give it to the International Red Cross or Medicins sans Frontiers.

If Valiant Knight wants to pursue the Legions of Marc Antony, going for one coin from each, then only the highest grades he can afford for his lifestyle are appropriate. At least that would be my own value system if I were collecting.

Just to offer an opinion...

 

April fools day arrive early? Did I sleep that long?......Am I on the PCGS forums by accident?

Anyways, for $25 you did OK. Ive seen worse go for higher. I still plan on adding 1 example eventually, probably a next year goal.

 

ANOTHER coin on my "to get" list.....yeah, for 25 bucks that's pretty good.



suum cuique

 

VK, nice coin, i think its better than mine, at least we know we have one..

 

Wow, what bit you in the rear end kaparthy?

Well I apologize oh great one that this coin didn't meet your lofty standards, since I am clearly only collecting coins to gain others' interest....

I'm touched to see a total stranger be so concerned about whether or not I have a buying problem. Or maybe your afraid I'll buy up all the countless ancient coins out there and leave you with nada? LOL

Oh, didn't realize you were earning for me the money that I have, telling me how I can spend it.
How about I tell you how to spend your hard-earned cash? I'll bet my all my denarii that wouldn't sit well with you, huh?

"his lifestyle"..... lol trust me dude, if I really had that "lifestyle", you would see a lot more coins (especially high-grade) from me...
You sound obsessed if your keeping track of all my purchases and then judging whether or not I'm buying too much.

If your just trolling, let me just say your pretty good at it (an indicator imo that you may need to find something more productive to do in your spare time). You certainly provoked me into responding back.
But I'm done with you on here. If you want to go further, feel free to do it through PM (I'm always up for a good discussion).

Thanks mat for the kind words and I wish you best of luck on your goal. And thanks everyone else (minus that cheerful guy) for your comments. And I will follow your advice doug and not put a brush onto it when I get it.

 

Real numismatics has almost nothing to do with grades. If you're collecting art for art's sake, grade certainly becomes very important. But short of completely unrecognizable culls, any coin can be researched and appreciated for it's historic and numismatic value.

I've collected on the cheap, but I've also acquired some pricey pieces, and I've discovered that the cost or grade of a coin makes little difference to my appreciation of its merits. Just one man's opinion.

 

And just like U.S. and some world coins, some of us "bottom feeders" appreciate being able to afford scarce/rare examples that may have had a hard life in their travels. It doesnt mean they shouldnt get some love from a caretaker who appreciates them too.

Ive gotten several romans and u.s. coins with problems I am very happy to have because they were affordable for my income bracket.

 

The question we all have to answer is whether we wish to study numismatics or collect coins. To do the former, it is not necessary to buy coins at all; to do the latter we only need to place full trust in the slabbers. Whichever is our choice, it would be nice if we could tolerate those with whom we differ.

Most of us are a mix of the two camps and probably fight with ourselves on the question of buying one $500 coin or 100 at $5. I have another coin show this weekend. I wonder which of my personalities will win at the show and which will call him a fool as buyer's remorse sets in.

 

ah-so => very true ...

=> yah, if I ever manage to save-up enough "liquid-coin-cash" to buy a slightly higher-than-average priced example, then I usually turtle afterwards and follow it up with a few lower priced purchases ...

=> as Doug states => we all have our own "comfort-zones" ..... I feel a bit disappointed if I don't buy a "nice enough" version ... but on the flip-side, I feel frivalous and awkward if I spend more than I feel is "allowable" (if I spend beyond my means) ...

NOTE => I'm hoping that kaparthy's comments were merely taken a bit more harshly than intended (when I re-read the comments, I thought that kaparthy was merely giving his personal advice, not trying to tear ya down) ... ummm, but maybe I was suger-coating the comments?

Jango => I love all coins ... including that nasty ol' cull of yours!!




... just jokes (sweet new galley, my friend!!)

 

I have this fight with the same guy all the time. I own several MA Legionary coins. Some good, some no so. It all depends on which personality is in charge at the time. At least on the OP's coin, one can make out a Legionary number VI or VII (I'm leaning towards the VII). I no longer look at any if there is not a Legion ID.

 

I agree here. In most cases I reject any coin missing what it needs to be fully identified. This is not a matter of grade since it is quite possible for a late Roman coin to be on small flan and missing the mintmark or even just the officina number but to be fully EF in every other way. However a collector who only wants one coin of a ruler might prefer the mintmarkless EF to a boldly identifiable Fine. There is room for both in the hobby.

 

After a long delay, the denarius finally arrived, and Im happy to say that I managed to identify it as a Tenth (X) legion denarius. Ill try to get clear photos of it up soon that hopefully show the X.

 

cool vk...then WELL worth it IMHO.

 

What, did sail it all the way to Florida, still much better than mine...i bought a coin a while back, after 2 weeks i emailed the seller, he told me that he just forgot to mail it out....glad it finely showed up..

 

Lol might as well have. Seller misspelled my address, so it got sent back after coming all the way from Central/Southern Europe. it got resent a week and a half ago and here it came!

 

Neat denarius. I haven't gotten one yet myself but I have been happily outbid on many of them when I was hasty. I agree with everyone else that before I buy one I am going to need a legion ID

I am glad you were able to ID and shipping issues happen. I had the same thing happen to a couple coins as yours where the seller misspelled my address.