Is anyone else trolling the Roma auction today?

Thanks! It definitely does seem to be the case that sometimes an eke upwards in grade sends the prices up exponentially. In this particular case interestingly enough the Pecunem example actually lacks one detail in the reverse scene that drew me to the coin type in the first place - the hand of the herdsman stretched out to stroke the horse. After looking through coin after coin of gods, goddesses and galleys in that CNG auction, this simple pastoral scene really stood out for me. Which is not to say I didn't end up with a galley too.

Z.

 

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Be very careful here! When you start preferring one coin over a better one just because the 'lesser' has some better detail on some minor point, you are in danger of wanting a dozen examples of a single coin so you can have the one with the best boots, most clear horse trappings, fancy clothes on the emperor, most ferocious lion, fanciest hairstyle ...... in other words, the way I collect. Coin collecting becomes a lot more difficult when you get to the place that you believe not all EF coins are 'better' than all Fines.

 

I have one from Alexandria Troas I bought for many reasons, one of which was the fact the herdsman had a pedum (shepherds crook) in his right hand. I believe yours has the pedum as well:

 

Haha, thanks Doug, consider me warned! But right now budget dictates that I should try and find little niggling ways to justify every appreciable detail for the coin I purchased rather than to look for reasons to buy another example of the very same type. I also always keep in mind that line in your Impossible to Grade article where you mention there being two grades of coins - coins I like, and coins I don't like.

Z.

 

Great coin! Now after what I just said to Doug, please don't give me more reasons to go looking for another example of this reverse. Right now I'm telling myself that my pedum is just as nice as your pedum.

Z.

 

NAC 4/4/2011:



Can't get much better than this.

 

Indeed, that was one of my comparison examples when determining how much to pay. The detail is stunning on that coin - the flan crack bothers me but I'd put up with it. That is the same variety as mine: there are only a few of them available to private hands today (I've read that six are available). This is the issue which has been speculated by a recent scholar to have been handed out at the first ever games held at the Colosseum. Outside of an EID MAR, this is the most exciting coin I've come across.

I had several dealers look at my example prior to bidding on it. There is some slight smoothing in the fields on the Titus side but the Colosseum side is original, which is what mattered most to me.

It was an expensive coin but one that I was willing to go considerably higher on and actually one of the first times I've had zero thoughts of buyer's remorse!

 

Wat!

 

There are only two coins outside my current focus (portrait coins of the 12 Caesars in as/small bronze, sestertius, denarius, and aureus) that I really covet. This is one of them. I'm more than a little envious.


The other is (as the perceptive collector might infer) an Ides of March denarius.

 

Watched the Stack's auction just now, had a few prelim bids and did some live bidding.

Tried again for an aes grave with boar-- although it wasn't as good as the last one I failed to win-- and this one also went for more than it was worth to me.

I love love love large mixed lots. They're like a surprise package. I've bought two such lots in the past and felt they were both well worth the price and loads of fun. Got another one from Stack's this morning.

There will undoubtedly be many that I don't want to keep so I'll have trading fodder or coins available to coin forum friends for very good prices. Plus spares for various contests.

 

Grats on the win! Mixed lots are a good deal of fun. Sort of like mystery prizes to yourself. Can't wait to see some of them.

Z.

 

Great snag, TIF => man, I can't wait to see your new squadron of monkey-coins!!

(awesome)