Mystery ancient coin I bought 11 years ago...

I've had a safety deposit box with Bank of America apparently for 11 years...which I totally forgot all about and didn't notice due to them automatically deducting my yearly fee from my account. Well, two years ago I transfered banks, and earlier last month I got a bill for 2 years worth of safety deposit box fees. As I don't have the keys anymore and I don't even recall what's in there, I asked them to tap it. In the meantime, I dug up in an old box of documents to try to see if I could find out any info, and discovered an old ledger with items that were apparently stored in that box. I can't be sure if any of them are still there or if I removed them at some point, I'll find that out tomorrow when they tap it, but one of the things that picked up my curiosity was entry #5 in my ledger. It states "Ancient Roman silver of grumpy emperor acquired at Gables Coin Shop"

Let me just say that I can't guarantee there's even such a coin in the box, as I honestly don't recall anything about it at this point. Probably a result of being a half-drunk and hard partying college student at the time. But if there is such a coin when I open the box tomorrow afternoon, perhaps we can all find out what the mystery "ancient Roman silver of grumpy emperor..." is all about. Whatever it is, if it's actually still there, I'm sure it will be authentic, as the shop I'm sure I'm referencing is a good dealer who I remember dealt in ancients on the side. I just don't remember ever having bought any ancients from him...let alone a "grumpy emperor."

So, will there be a coin in the box? Will it be Caracalla, Titus, Vespasian, another emperor? Or will I be disappointed and find out the coin is no longer there? Stay tuned tomorrow as we find out the answer.

In the meantime there's a fun poll for all of you to take guesses on what the outcome will be...

 

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I am am going to cross my fingers and hope you get a nice Galba. He can usually be called grumpy.

 

Caracalla all the way!

 

I didn't think about that. Wouldn't that be something? Well, they drill at 4:30 PM EST tomorrow. I don't know if the bank will let me photograph the drilling (probably not) but I'll let you guys know what I found, and if there's still a coin there, I'll post a photo of whatever the coin is as soon as I have it in my hands. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

Got a good feeling about Caracalla, a nice snarling example wouldn't have been so expensive that it would have memorably impinged upon booze funds or other necessities.

 

Caracalla returns from the underworld...

 

When I think of grumpy Roman emperors, Tiberius comes to mind

 

Nice coins everyone. I really hope there's still a coin there tomorrow, otherwise I'll be somewhat disappointed.

I could use a grumpy Caracalla. My current one is not so grumpy....

 

How about Gordian III? Wait, he wasn't grumpy!

 

Yeah, I doubt my college student self would have spent more than $100 on a coin back then, so I doubt it.

 

OK, I voted, at the risk of you being the next "Geraldo Rivera"!...

I hope I won't be grumpy after this!...

Anxiously awaiting....

 

Ooh, how fun! I'm betting antoninianus of Caracalla.

 

I voted, but assumed that your comment was based more on the appearance of the effigy than how much you knew about the figure behind it. I'm curious to see how it turns out. By the way, did you ever consider selling snake oil? I bet you'd be good at it.

 

When I think Geraldo, I see the father of trash talk TV.

Few people know that Jerry Springer is really the Geraldo Rivera of the 1990's. Geraldo Rivera was pioneering trash talk TV long before anyone had heard of Jerry Springer.



I think you are referencing his "Al Capone's vault" show. That was infamous too. Probably the most disappointing ending in all of TV history, but the ratings were through the roof. Yeah, I hope I don't have one of those moments tomorrow.

 

I remember watching that live on TV. Such a great idea, but a gamble for him and ultimate disappointment.

As for your mystery coin I hope it works out. Years ago I used to put coins into paper envelopes and seal them up in groups and put them in the back of the safe. I'd then open them up after 10 years or so. I was always fun, but I dont do it anymore. Maybe I should.

 

Vespasian Denarius for sure

 

No idea, but I am watching this thread!

 

I don't think Caracalla was Grumpy; I think he was Dopey.

 

Caracalla looks like a psychopath. Vespasian however, talk about the godfather of grumpy faces (ironically he seems to have been a really funny dude)...





=

 

Well, we are 24 hours from finding out what's inside Al Capone's Sallent's box. You've all been warned it could be nothing, so don't expect me to have to sing "Chicago" like Geraldo Rivera if that's the case. On the other hand, it could be something special.

Will the box be empty? Will it contain ancient silver? Only one way to find out. Stay tuned!