Is this not the place for non-connoisseurs who do not have the highest standards and knowledge of finest grade coins? I promise you that I'm not being snarky or disrespectful in the least! I just collect Bronzes and Brass. Not an ounce of silver in my collection, (gasp!). Is there another place you might recommend in addition to this wonderful site?
Nothing wrong with that. Collect what you like, there are plenty of people here that collect non-silver coins.
Great coin MZ! My feeling is that collectors really get carried away with quality standards. For example a FDC perfect Denarius of Diva Paulina sold at Nomos Auction for 5000 SFRCS, while a "lesser" mintstate sold for 900 Euros/ EF example 450 Euros. Even more crazy when US AV Half Eagles circa 1800-1820, slabbed MS-66 will sell for 10X more then MS-65. Then again with "ancients" a coin graded FDC by some auctions only make a EF-CH in CNG catalogue! To conclude, all ancient coins are nice! John
I am aware of no site that only discusses AE coins. Most of us have more AE than AR. A very few have more than a few gold coins. The other matter is quite different. I have not been active in a group more likely to show post less than finest grade coins. Certainly we have a few members who have no interest in coins below EF but more of us have a range, again, not limited to one degree of preservation. Where were you when we were posting coins we found interesting that were both AE and no better than Fine? It does seem recently that the Roman Republican collectors have been active here. I suspect that the AE crowd may resurface after JA returns from Baltimore and shows us what he found there. Now, few of us only collect ugly, semi-identifiable bronzes. Many people start with uncleaned batches like that but most move along to legible coins. We do try to assist those in that phase of the hobby. Did you see the post "this arrived today"?
I noticed five examples listed on acserarch and one closest to @Volodya's example sold for more than $1,300 and a type closest to mine for about $300.00----although I purchased mine for less than that shipped. Further, it seems there are three main obverse varieties-----laurel, plain or dotted border....or even no border at all. With so many 'varieties' I wonder if two original dies were simply repaired and a limited number of denarii actually produced or several dies were used and far more of these silver coins were produced and subsequently lost or melted down since first being struck??? They appear incredibly scarce today and the differences in 'styling' certainly suggest several dies and engravers at work.