How Worn Will You Go?

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by David Atherton, Nov 10, 2020.

  1. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    My latest addition is admittedly not the prettiest coin. It's worn and has a few surface issues. But I can forgive all because of the interesting reverse.



    D606.jpg Domitian
    Æ Sestertius, 28.36g
    Rome mint, 88 AD
    Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII CENS PER P P; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
    Rev: COS XIIII LVD SAEC A POP; FRVG AC on platform; S C in exergue; Domitian std. r. on platfrom, approached by two or three citizens with open sacks; in background, four column temple
    RIC 606 (C). BMC 419. BNC 457.
    Acquired from CGB.fr, November 2020.

    In October 88 AD Domitian held the Ludi Saeculares, a festival featuring theatrical performances and circus games accompanied by six various daytime and nighttime religious ceremonies. The games marked the transition from one era (saeculum) to another and were supposedly held once every 110 years, or the maximum span of a human lifetime, making them a 'once in a lifetime' event. Domitian conducted his games on the Augustan calculation, rejecting the formula for the Claudian games held in 47 AD. The festival was important enough to interrupt the normal striking of reverse types on the coinage and for the mint to produce a new unique issue commemorating the event both in precious metal and bronze. The precious metal designs tended to be symbolic while the bronze were more narrative in nature, focusing on the various religious sacrifices that were at the heart of the games.

    This coin's reverse depicts the acceptance of wheat, beans, and oats (poured on ground) from a group of citizens by Domitian in front of a tetrastyle temple. According to Melanie Grunow Sobocinski* the meaning of this Ludi Saeculare ceremony is fairly clear - 'The festival began with nearly a week of preparatory events. First, the citizens brought gifts of agricultural produce (fruges) to various temples. On the following days, they received materials for the ritual purification of private homes (suffimenta) from the priesthood in charge of organizing the Ludi Saeculares ... According to the Augustan acta and Zosimus, the distribution of the suffimenta took place simultaneously at three locations, and the collection of the fruges at four locations. As a result, no firm identification of the temples can be reached without further evidence.' Although, she later concedes - 'Scholars interested primarily in architectural form have identified some or even all of the other hexastyle and tetrastyle temple images as representations of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus. This interpretation is plausible for the suffimenta and fruges coin types because the Temple of Jupiter was one of several sites for these two ceremonies.'

    So, IMHO, a coin type interesting enough to forgive worn surfaces and a blotchy patina. Oddly enough, despite the condition it has a good deal of eye appeal.

    How worn can you go?

    * 'Visualizing Ceremony: The Design and Audience of the Ludi Saeculares Coinage of Domitian', AJA Vol. 110, No. 4 (Oct 2006)
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2020
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  3. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    Here’s one of the most worn coins I have, such that I’ve been unable to attribute it yet

    AD3E7389-D3D9-40E6-A6A4-9DA12DDB08BF.jpeg
    11EE4D10-8FAB-4A0B-8AA2-7FB52800A88A.jpeg
     
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  4. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    Wow David you have added some amazing types lately. Love the reverse on this one.
     
  5. robinjojo

    robinjojo Well-Known Member

    The wear is even, the color nice and I don't see any signs of tooling - a very nice example!
     
  6. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

  7. gsimonel

    gsimonel Well-Known Member

    I have no shame when it comes to worn coins:
    [​IMG]
    Titus
    Silver Denarius
    Rome mint, A.D. 78-79
    Obv (retrograde): T CAESAR VESPASIANVS
    Rev: Sow and piglets
    IMP XIII in exergue
    RIC (New;Vespasian) 986
    18mm, 2.9g.

    [​IMG]
    Tiberius
    Provincial Bronze (AE26)
    Spain, Emerita
    Obv: TI CAESAR AVGVSTVS PON MAX IMP
    Rev: COL AVGVSTA EMERTA - City gate
    RPC 42
    26mm, 10.9g.

    [​IMG]
    Drusus
    Bronze As
    Rome mint, A.D. 21-22
    Obv: DRVSVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N
    Rev: PONTIF TRIBVN POTEST ITER, encircling SC
    RIC (Tiberius) 45
    28mm, 9.4g.
     
  8. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    That's not at all bad in my books! Great type too.

    Here's how worn I'll go (with a few minor surface issues thrown in)... :D

    Vespasian - Sestertius Victory Judaea Capta 123.jpg
    VESPASIAN
    AE Sestertius. 19.7g, 32.5mm. Rome mint, AD 71 AD. RIC 127 (R). O: [IMP CAESAR VESPASIA]NVS AVG [P M T P P P COS III], laureate head right. R: [VICTO]RI[A AVGVSTI] S C, Victory standing right, resting left foot on helmet, inscribing OB / CIV / SERV on shield attached to palm-tree.
     
  9. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Marcus as Caesar from Alexandria:

    Type: AE Drachm, 33mm, 22.95 grams of Alexandria

    Obverse: Bare headed and draped bust of Aurelius right
    M AVPHLIOC KAICAP

    Reverse: Elpis Standing left holding flower and hitching skirt
    LEND EKATOV

    Reference: BMC 1238 listed as "rare" by R.A. Numismatics

    [​IMG]
     
  10. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Very interesting reverse:pompous:... but, you call THAT worn?:troll:
    Screenshot_20201105-091229_PicCollage-removebg-preview.png
    Augustus
    27 BC-AD 14. Æ Semis (21mm, 3.97 g, 12h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck AD 10-14. Laureate head right / The Great Altar of Lugdunum: altar enclosure; panels decorated with corona civica flanked by figures holding laurel branches; altar flanked by columns surmounted by statues of Victory standing vis-à-vis, each holding palm frond and wreath.
     
  11. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    This is the most worn but still identifiable coin in my collection. The ID is made by recognizing the portrait as belonging to Julia Domna as she has a distinctive hairstyle. It also came down to knowing that corn ears and a long torch are attributes of Ceres.

    [​IMG]
    Julia Domna, AD 193-217.
    Roman Æ as, 13.49 g, 27.6 mm, 5 h.
    Rome, AD 198.
    Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
    Rev: CERES S C, Ceres standing left, holding corn ears and long torch; altar at feet, left.
    Refs: RIC 870; BMCRE 781; Cohen 19; RCV 6636; Hill 346.

    Here's the example in the British Museum for comparison:

    [​IMG]
     
  12. kevin McGonigal

    kevin McGonigal Well-Known Member

    I have no problem with coins that are well worn provided there is no roughness or corrosion on them . From my point of view it just means that they were handled by more of my ancestors than those that went into a hoard the week after they were minted. Here is a Galba that cost me $12 out of a bargain box. I surmise that this coin circulated for over a hundred years before it got dropped between two basalt paving stones in Bithynia. Can you imagine who all handled this coin in that time period? That pugnacious image must have been a sobering site for some time.

    IMG_1821Galba obv.jpg IMG_1822Galba rev..jpg
     
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  13. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

  14. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    @Bing All of those look perfectly acceptable to me. I don't yet have a Marc Antony but the main thing I want is to be able to see the ship and the Legion. Yours check all the boxes.
     
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  15. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Thanks @furryfrog02. My criteria for these coins is that I can read the legion number, but I would like to have better examples. The search continues.
     
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  16. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    Worn ancients - a topic that warms the cockles of my heart. :shame:

    So as not to overwhelm the thread with 90% of my collection, I'll stick to a few big Domitians (which are far worse than David's lovely OP):

    Domitian - Lot - 3 Sesterti details Jan 19 (0).jpg
    Domitian Æ Sestertius
    (90-91 A.D.)
    Rome Mint

    [IMP CAES DOMIT AVG] GERM COS XV CEN[S PER PP] laureate head right / [IOVI] VICTORI, [Jupiter seated left, holding Victory and sceptre]; [SC in exergue].
    RIC 702, Cohen 314.
    (24.53 grams / 31 mm)

    I am almost ashamed of this one - it was only $1.90 (from a lot), if that's any excuse. Doug's website helped me narrow the date down, as noted in the attribution. The rest of it is so far gone I got no further:

    Domitian Sestertius Aug 2018c.jpg
    Domitian Æ Sestertius
    (81 A.D. - 8th designated consulship)
    Rome Mint

    Laureate bust right, all legends worn away / Occluded standing figure (?), all legends worn away except DES VIII.
    "Domitian announced 8th Consulship on January 1, 82." (Doug Smith website)
    (24.23 grams / 33 mm)

    Finally, here is a sestertius-sized provincial:

    Domitian Prusias ad Hypium AE Mar 2020 (0).jpg
    Domitian Æ 31
    (c. 81-96 A.D.)
    Prusias ad Hypium, Bithynia

    Α[ΥΤ(Ο) ΔΟΜΙ]ΤΙΑΝΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑ[Ρ ΣΕΒΑ(Σ) ΓΕΡ(Μ) (Α)], laureate head right / ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ [ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ], Eirene (?) standing left holding branch and cornucopia, prow in front, left.
    RPC 678.
    (22.71 grams / 31 mm)

    Note: Trajan issued same type, but without reverse field marks: "The figure is very like that of Pax on the Latin coins with PAX AVGVST (RPC II, 501), and so has been identified here as Eirene. Neither the snake (RPC II, 677) nor prow (RPC II, 678) is very appropriate for Eirene, though both occur with...Demeter...Both the snake and prow are perhaps in some sense 'issue-marks' rather than attributes of the deity represented as the main type (see RPC II, 680-2)."
    (RPC Onilne)
     
  17. Finn235

    Finn235 Well-Known Member

    I generally go for nice examples for my collection, but a worn coin will do in a pinch, or for when I want a coin that has some character.

    Wouldn't have been able to afford half of these if they weren't worn:

    Julius Caesar lifetime denarius
    Julius caesar lifetime denarius macer sear 1414.jpg

    Vedius Pollio, from Tralles, Lydia
    Vedius Pollio zeus tralles.jpg

    Julia the Elder with Livia, Pergamum, Mysia
    Julia the Elder and Livia Pergamum mysia.jpg

    Quinctilius Varus as governor, Berytus, Phoenicia
    20190807_Quinctilius-varus-phoenicia-berytus.jpg

    Augustus AE of Tarraco, Hispania, with Gaius and Lucius, caesares
    Tarraco Spain Augustus Gaius Lucius.jpg

    Nero Claudius Drusus AE sestertius
    Nero claudius drusus sestertius.jpg

    Nero and Drusus Caesars with Tiberius, Carthago Nova
    Tiberius as carthago nova Nero drusus caesares.jpg

    Nero and Drusus Caesares, posthumous by Caligula
    Nero et Drusus posthumous lowball.jpg

    Caligula with Caesonia, Carthago Nova Caligula Caesonia AE carthago nova.jpg

    Galba AE drachm, Alexandria
    Galba AE drachm Alexandria year 2.jpg
     
  18. Mr.Q

    Mr.Q Well-Known Member

    Nice show and tell thanks everyone.
     
  19. Bill57

    Bill57 Member

    ROMAN IMPERIAL, Vespasian (69-79 AD), 78-79 AD, Denarius
    [​IMG]
     
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  20. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    I think Octavian has a SURPRISED look when he saw the reverse. :)

    upload_2020-11-10_11-10-43.png
    RI Augustus Quinarius - possibly Asia Recepta - blank wore-off-rev
     
  21. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Many of the coins shown here are not as much worn as they are corroded and I am much harder on corroded coins than on those with 'honest wear'. In either case it makes a lot of difference if the type is regularly available in a higher grade or if it is something sold once in a lifetime. My most recent worn example is one of two I know to exist (show me yours) so buying it was not a question of grade but whether or not I wanted this coin ever. There are many coins I do not want ever; there are too many to have them all. I may be the only one here who cares there is a Septimius Severus and Clodius Albinus facing bust coin (this from Pautalia). That is fine. Who knows, I may get the other one, too, if no one wants it.
    pi0370rp1471.jpg

    My Julia Domna sestertius is worn but it is from the portrait die I like the best of those I have seen so it is welcome here at least until I find an upgrade from that die. I have seen several nice coins of the type but I'm still looking for the die. Specialists can be very picky.
    rl6230b00197lg.jpg
     
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