How much off center is acceptable? Updated with picture.

I am looking at a Augustus Capricorn and globe denarius where the word AVGVSTVS is 3/4 off the flan. The globe is cut off a little too. Otherwise the coin looks very nice. To me it's an attractive coin. I probably would not be able to afford one in this condition if it were perfectly centered.

 

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i think you answered your question with your post go for it alde and post it when you get it.

 

If it's attractive to you, I wouldn't consider the centering to be an obstacle. As long as a portrait is intact and the major devices remain clear, centering isn't too much of an issue for me. It also depends on the direction the off-center happens. It's worse if it cuts off the nose of a portrait than the back of the head. It's worse to cut off the head of a deity on the reverse than the feet.

 

Well, I appreciate the input. I went ahead and bought it. Here is the sellers picture of the coin. I never thought I would be able to get one of these because they tend to be over my budget.

 

I'd say acceptable to

 

that's a fine lQQkin' coin! nice portrait one!

 

Gorgeous coin! A nice portrait (and a great reverse too!) more than make up for some of the legend being missing.

 

Sharp looking coin. Nice portrait and Capricorn. I could live with some of the AVGVSTVS missing

 

Here's my "Tribute Penny." As we all know, this issue demands a premium because of market demand. It's off-center, missing most of the left obverse legend. Properly centered, the coin would probably cost me an additional $100. I have a tight budget for coins, so I bought this one. Decent portrait details, reverse details, and *most* of the legend.

I would be proud to have your OP Augustus denarius in my collection. But at the end of the day, you can only please yourself.

 

There is a point where being so far off center starts adding interest. I once saw an Aegina stater with the head and one front leg barely on the flan but almost no shell at all. I so wish I had bought it. I once had a friend who specialized in Athenian owls. He had hundreds including rare varieties but not one had the nose touching the edge. He believed, as he put it, that pretty girls must have noses. It is all a matter of personal choice.

 

For all the reasons mentioned (especially budgetary), I find I can have quite a tolerance for off-centered coins.

 

I think both the coins pictured are very nice. Given that I can afford either, and both are otherwise equally attractive, I will choose a better-centered piece over an off-center one, as I go for quality over quantity. The exception would be if the coin is so rare, I might not find another for sale for a few years.

 

No great rule of thumb unfortunately concerning centering. If there is one aspect of a coin more important than others generally it will be a bigger deal, but most coins its personal preference. I searched for years for a RR silver that had both the camel's head and the word ARETAS on it. Very hard to find them with that centering and good style, but I finally managed. Others would have cared less so would have chosen another coin.

The one you posted might have some devalue due to Augustus not on the coin, which I imagine might be of interest for some of the type.

 

Darn, I saw that one on vcoins and had it in my wish list. Oh well. At least I bought another Augustus last week.

Uhm, congrats. There is a Cuban saying that goes like this: Camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente.

Translation: The sleeping shrimp is carried by the current...Or to put it in terms you'd understand: you snooze, you lose.

 

Thats a pretty coin, to me off centered is when the portrait is cut off. The legends gets cut off too easily and on rare or hard to find coins, its an exception that I can easily overlook.

 

Man, what a bargain price he got it for too. I would have bought it if it wasn't for overextending myself with the Victoriatus I bought earlier. So I bought the cheaper Augustus first thinking that if this other one has been on vcoins for so long, no way anyone will snap it off before next month.

I feel like crying. I'm genuinely happy for you, but I still feel like shedding some tears...It could have been mine if I had better self-control of my coin budget. You got a hell of a coin for a great price. You did well.

PS: if you ever change your mind about this coin or upgrade, PM me first.

 

Coins of the first two Caesars are expensive compared to similar coins without the name recognition.
A quick look through coins of this type tells me you should expect to pay a minimum of the low hundreds for a modest coin (modest -> either worn, off center, or otherwise not quite right). You could also pay 3+ digits for the coin. If you are price conscious, be patient and pick the part of perfect that is less a problem for you. Even low grades of this coin sometimes go for a lot.
I liked this coin because the features important to me were on the coin.
Nice portrait and screaming girl.

 

Lol, love that screaming girl @rrdenarius!

 

alde => congrats on that very cool addition

I am a big fan, because all of the "good stuff" is still on your coin, yet you snagged it for a sweeter price because it's not "perfect"

... if you were missing part of the capricorn or part of the portrait then I'd be second-thinking your decision ... but again, you have all/most of the good stuff, so I consider it a total winna!!

 

@rrdenarius mine cost me $220 with shipping included. Not sure how good that is or not. What do you think?