HARD TO FIND (HTF) COINS: I think all of us, regardless of our collecting philosophy or specialization, seek some coins that we would dearly love to have but, for one reason or another, have experienced great difficulty finding despite our best searching -- and researching -- efforts. Following are my hard to find coins, some of which I had been trying to find for many years. Please post the coins that you have had difficulty finding (or are lusting for) -- no particular listing format. RIC, VOLUME VI, LONDINIUM GROUP I, c. 297 to 1 May 305 Abdication of Diocletian & Maximian Herculius Elevation of Constantius & Galerius Maximian to Augustus GROUP II Period I, c. 1 May 305 to 25 July 306 (death of Constantius) RIC (Roman Imperial Coinage, Volume VI, Londinium) Augustus and Caesar name forms and common usage: For Headers in RIC .......... In RIC Text .......... By Collectors & Dealers> DIOCLETIAN .................. DIOCLETIAN ................. DIOCLETIAN MAXIMIAN HERCULIUS .... HERCULIUS .................. MAXIMIANUS GALERIUS MAXIMIAN ...... GALERIUS .................... GALERIUS CONSTANTIUS ................ CONSTANTIUS .............. CONSTANTIUS I SEVERUS ....................... SEVERUS ...................... SEVERUS II MAXIMINUS ................... MAXIMINUS ................... MAXIMINUS II Note: Caution should be exercised when attributing the coins of Galerius Maximian & Maximian Herculius due to the similarity of their titulature. Galerius Maximian was both Caesar and Augustus during this time period whereas Maximian Herculius was always only Augustus. Therefor, coins bearing the titulature MAXIMIANVS and NOBIL CAES, NOB CAES, NOBIL C, etc.can only be those of Galerius Maximian. There is a special problem with Galerius as Augustus coins: The titulature is exactly the same as that of Maximinus Herculius and frequently the only way to differentiate between the two is by the portraiture on the coin obverse. RIC Volume VI, Londinium, Group I, (i), folles, c. 297, No. 1a-5, obverse and reverse in the style of the unknown continental mint invasion coinage, laureate head, right, with bare neck truncation, long ribbon tie laying on neck. Smaller and more compact lettering. LON in reverse exergue. No. 1a - Diocletian -- coins in this series were only produced for a very short time and have always been difficult to find for me. Sometimes several years go by before I locate one offered for sale. The coin pictured here is especially hard to find, being the first coin minted under Constantius at the London mint: IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI LON (exergue) Intermediate Group folles (Bastien) c. 297 that often feature Lugdunum style laureate heads and London style lettering. Sometimes with laureate busts in fine style with elaborate consular cuirasses (Stewartby). Galerius Maximian as Caesar> Intermediate Group - laureate truncated bare bust with long ribbon tie lying on neck -- these coins have always been hard to find. Production was sparse and sporadic: C VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB C GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI RIC Volume VI, Londinium, Group II, Period I: until the death of Constantius on 25 July 306 -- Period II: after the death of Constantius until the Introduction of mint marked (PLN) reduced size folles in the summer of 307, folles, No. 40-81. Mostly laureate busts, cuirassed and sometimes draped. Titulature Notes: Augustus titulature: IMP .................... AVG Caesar titulature: NOB C | NOBIL CAES | NOBILISSIMVS CAESAR | etc. Constantius as Augustus: * All coins with Augustus titulature were minted during Period I. Galerius Maximian as Augustus: * All coins with the following Augustus titulature were minted during Period I. As noted previously, there is some duplication of Maximianus Herculius titulature here which often causes confusion. The RIC, Londinium, Group II, header lists the Augusti as Constantius and Galerius Maximian only for Period I with Constantius titulature prefixed with 1 and Galerius Maximian titulature prefixed with 2 as follows: 2a IMP C MAXIMIANVS PIVS FEL AVG 2b IMP C MAXIMIANVS P FEL AVG 2c IMP C MAXIMIANVS P F AVG 2d IMP C MAXIMIANVS P AVG 2e IMP C MAXIMIANVS P F IN AVG 2f IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG Severus * All coins with Caesar titulature were minted during Period I. * All coins with Augustus titulature were minted during Period II. Maximinus * All coins with GAL VAL MAXIMINVS or SEVERVS ET MAXIMINVS in the titulature were minted during Period I. * Most coins with other Caesar titulature were likely minted during Period I, although some were probably minted during Period II. Diocletian/Maximian Herculius Abdication coinage * Most likely minted during the early part of Period II. No. 47 - Constantius as Augustus -- very seldom encountered by me. Constantius was only Augustus for just over a year and that fact, combined with the naturally low production rate of London mint coins, has resulted in these being particularly hard to come by. The coin pictured here is especially hard to find, bearing as it does the earliest form of Constantius as Augustus titulature: IMP CONSTANTIVS PIVS FEL AVG GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI No. 59a - Severus as Caesar -- very seldom encountered by me. Similar situation as with Constantius as Augustus. The coin pictured here is especially hard to find, bearing as it does the earliest form of Severus as Caesar titulature: SEVERVS NOBILISSIMVS CAES GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI
I collect widely, though with a few areas of concentration. But I like to get representative groups of nice coins rather than completing rarities in a series. My problem is that my tastes are too conventional. I like a lot of coins that are common but popular, and therefore tend to be expensive. I find it hard to find the right coin at the right price. I have some scarcer coins, but I'm missing a lot of common ones like the Tribute penny, a legionary denarius, a Julius Caesar elephant, etc. I could fill most of my gaps with great examples tomorrow if I had the money and was willing to spend it. But I think even if I won the lottery I'd recoil at the 'retail' prices.
Yes, I know what you mean Nerva. Although in my early collecting years I concentrated on acquiring Julio Claudian coins in very fine condition, for the past forty five years or so my emphasis has been on the coinage produced by Constantius and its historical association. Coin condition is secondary for me - as is rarity - although I eventually had to face seeking out hard to come by coins in order to round out that historical association.
i'm the same way about pricing on some coins too, and lack some i would really like to have. when i had the money to throw around i wouldn't/didn't get'em. i have no tets because i was too "tight" and bought denarii instead.
I suppose if I'm being honest that's how I would describe yours truly. However, I still get the same pleasure buying inexpensive coins that I derive from the few expensive coins I've purchased. That being said, there are a ton of coins my tight nature will never let me purchase, but, if I hit the lottery tonight ($435 million), I might be able to pry those tight fingers open just a little (I wonder if the thrill would still be there). One of the first coins I would seek out is an MA legionary CHORTIS SPECVLATORVM mainly because of my past military profession: And the second I would find is CHORTIVM PRAETORIARVM
haha! well Bing, if you're like me, you still wouldn't buy it unless the "price is right", no matter how deep the pockets..but it's a nice dream tho^^ the 1st i do when i desire a coin is to start shopping around for one that has a price tag on it i can live with. i have, (and figure you have too) waited long years for some coins and getting them at a real bargain sets my dopamine off and those coins, along with the price continually swim around my mind for a considerable length of time
Of the Plantagenet and Angevin coins I like to collect there are a few rarities I would gladly purchase if they came to market, regardless of price, if i won the lottery tonight. A treaty period Edward III Calais groat has long been on the top of my list.
Well put, Bing. For me too, collecting pleasure levels are connected with price. I just feel better about a bargain than paying a fair price. When I was a young collector I would occasionally pay top dollar for something I "had to have" and then just not really find myself enjoying the coin as much as something I got on the cheap. I can't explain it - but that's how it has worked for me over the years. Thus my quest for bargain prices on eBay...and a rather scruffy collection (with a few gems I lucked into). This takes me outside the realm of "serious" collector, I realize. I'm sure winning the Lotto or inheriting a gazillion clams would change my buying habits, but I rather doubt it would make me any happier. I am willing to find out if anybody wants to make me their heir! As for fantasy coins, I'd love to upgrade my awful RR Marsyas avatar (Denarius of L. Censorinus). That thing is awful. Paid $19 for it. But it is still pretty awful! Decent ones are available for a couple hundred bucks, but what fun is that?
Just what is a "serious collector"? I would like to think of myself as one and my collection is stock full of "scruffy" coins. Perhaps some of us are cut from the same cloth. I was brought up to be honest and to always pay my debts as quickly as possible, but best not to have debts in the first place. Earn your way my father would often remind me. Know the value of a buck was another of his repeat phrases. I carry his admonishments to this day. I can afford much more than I could when I was young, but that doesn't mean I should just throw money around. You and some of the others here sound like you may have been raised in the same fashion, or learned through time and experience. I would say you can be a serious collector and not spend hundreds and thousands of dollars per coin. But that's just my opinion
I've noticed that after months and years of searching for a coin and finally finding and buying it, a nicer one pops up at a better price :/
