Late Roman Silver Rarities(Plated Washed coated)

Of course, but the whole set thing is a lot more nebulous for us. However, I would point out those who you mention are part of the generic roman emperor set. Take a coin of G1 or G2 rarity and make it a central asian leader and you could pick up the coin for $20.

 

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Thanks a lot for looking, @Archeocultura. I’m not surprised. I bought it because of the odd flaked silver surface and the fact it was called ‘argenteus’.

 

On CT we are inundated with coins of Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Caligula. I have posted two Pescennius Niger coins which brought yawns and no rush out to buy 193 AD sets. I believe Galba and Caligula deserve the attention they get. So do the boys of 193. Their coins are 'exorbitantly pricey' in higher grades just like those of the rarities from the twelve. There are fewer coins but next to no demand at least from our membership. Who reading this now has ever posted a Pescennius Niger? I suspect we have had as many coins of the Didius Julianus wife and daughter from our collectors of Roman women as we have from Didius himself. Most of our Pertinax posts have been questions of authenticity rather than about the coins as types or history. I do believe that being in Suetonius really does make a difference.

 

Being in Suetonius increases interest and prices, but I think there's a degree of difference between that and "few would care". Perhaps I should have continued to say I wish there were a similar book on the AD 193 rulers to justify the prices, but as it stands the 'problem' is that the most awful Niger already costs two to three times a tolerable Galba. Let's have even less interest until I get mine, please!

 

I am good with this theory. Please do not even consider buying anything I want either. I would like a complete set of Pescennius coins (impossible considering the number of types and the small numbers of many of those types). While I am at it, lets lay off all Alexandrian coins, all Eastern mint Severans and ...... oh, it would just be easier to lay off everything. We have too many interests, too many specialties and way too much competition already.

 

The thing is we are already horribly lucky. The ancient coin market is way thinner than say the US market is. If only 10% of US collectors switched to ancients we really would be hosed. There simply aren't enough ancients to go around. ALL ancient would be labelled scarce at minimum by US collectors, with most horribly rare or uncollectible by their standards of population. Heck, a chain cent by ancient rarity standards is a very common coin.

So, as bad as competition might be today, we should consider ourselves fortunate.