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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Blake Davis, post: 26343149, member: 91820&quot;]I should respond to a thread about my favorite type of ancient coin - I apologize because the coins are not here or I would have included size and weight:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1681649[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The above: Clodius Albinus sestertius - Felicitas, purchased from Henri Delger ca.2002, and the second sestertius I purchased.&nbsp; One of the only good photographs of the coins I am posting. [ATTACH=full]1681650[/ATTACH]</p><p>Didius Julianus - Fortuna - poor photograph - the patina is jet black, a smaller, thick coin, the relief is very low, something I have noticed about many of Septimius Severus&#039; early sestertii and even late Commodus.&nbsp; As a result I am extra careful when handling this coin. Didius Julianus is very rare these days - not that his were ever common, but I believe these used to be more available in the past.&nbsp; The prices are now insane in almost any condition - same with Pertinax, although his seem a bit more available - still out of reach though and not that many out there.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1681651[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Diadumenian sesterius - Spes - a larger coin, purchased on ebay ca. 2010. Spes is much more rare than Fides type, which is the only other type for Diadumenian.&nbsp; This is a large heavy example.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1681652[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>This is a poor photograph of the other type for Diadumenian.&nbsp; The coin is actually much closer to brown green - when I first started looking at sesterii 25 years ago Diadumenia&#039;s sestertii were extremely rare. These are certainly not common now but I could never have bought this coin for the price paid in the early 2000&#039;s - in fact, I had put in a bid that I thought would never win.&nbsp; I had some suspicions as to authenticity when first purchased in a European auction a year or so ago because it is so round etc. but I spent ALOT of time on it and am satisfied it is authentic - and it is, thankfully, not perfectly round.&nbsp; But at one time I had my doubts.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1681653[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Severus Alexander sestertius - with some schmutz on and around the portrait.&nbsp; Purchased from a Serbian friend - I wanted an SA with a beard, this is it - the coin is nicer than my crummy photograph - in fact, none of these photographs are that great - I had done them to send to a fellow sestertii collector in Seattle, and was - of course - in a rush.[ATTACH=full]1681654[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>This, of course, is not a sestertius but a drachm of Alexandria.&nbsp; I have noticed that the celators in Alexandria do not seem to have anywhere near the same level of skill as Rome - my opinion of course, - the reverses are more interesting but the portraiture appears generally crude. Even the high grade types do not have the same level of skill -- but the reverses are wonderful!&nbsp; The exception is the drachms of Hadrian - this is the only one I have and probably the only nice one I will ever be&nbsp; able to afford.&nbsp; But even this one seems to show Hadrian with a pointed weak chin - but it is very nice all the same.&nbsp; Reminds me of the poorer portraits of Marcus Aurelius - ca. 171AD, when the skill in portraiture seems to have lapsed - perhaps by the need to strike coins en masse due to the invasions?</p><p><br /></p><p>But of course Rome made it up a few years later with the medallions of Commodus -wonderful!</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;[ATTACH=full]1681656[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Figured I should show the reverse of the Hadrian - a common type.&nbsp; I would like to start collecting Alexandrian drachms, but even mid grade examples are VERY expensive.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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