Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 3746673, member: 19463&quot;]This is a wonderful coin in so many ways!&nbsp; I would feel lucky to have even one of the worn and misstruck examples.&nbsp; Mention was made of it being one of two rare types (the other having Minerva on the obverse and Hercules on the reverse) but we might point out that there is a series of paired designs of which the only one we see with any frequency is the Bacchus and panther springing on an altar.&nbsp; If I specialized in Republicans, I would feel pressured to find them all.</p><p><br /></p><p>However, there is one that I found really special in an old CNG sale.&nbsp; Notice it brought $475 on an estimate of $75.</p><p><a href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=274545#" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=274545#" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://www.cngcoins.com/photos/big/3400588.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><span style="color: #ff4d4d"><b>340, Lot: 588.</b> Estimate $75.</span></p><p><span style="color: #ff4d4d">Sold for $475. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee. </span></p><p><span style="color: #ff4d4d"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #ff4d4d"><b>C. Vibius Varus. </b>42 BC. AR “Denarius” (17mm, 3.30 g, 6h). Forgery by Carl Wilhelm Becker, 1772-1830. ΙΟΥΛΙΑΝ ΑΦΠΟΔ ΔΙΤΗΝ, wreathed head of the Julian Aphrodite right / C · VIBIVS VARVS, Venus standing left, back facing; column to right. Hill 146; Gorny &amp; Mosch 204, lot 2930. Near EF, toned.</span></p><p><span style="color: #ff4d4d"><br /></span></p><p><i><span style="color: #ff4d4d">Ex Archer M. Huntington Collection, ANS 1001.1.24818.</span></i></p><p><span style="color: #ff4d4d"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #ff4d4d">The inscription on the obverse is borrowed from a bronze coin of Pergamum with the busts of Julia and Livia.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>Odd?&nbsp; Perhaps CNG held it being a Becker &#039;forgery&#039; against the coin more than did the bidding public???&nbsp; They have also sold these much more cheaply in white metal made from Becker dies after his death.&nbsp; This shows at least the bidding public shows some taste in items illustrating the history of numismatic forgery.</p><p><br /></p><p>When I see a coin that is new to me, I like to search for a little background on the item just to learn something.&nbsp; I encourage those here who might find this coin more than just another gem condition bauble but who might not have known the type to do the same.&nbsp; One place to start would be:</p><p><a href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Search.aspx?PAGE_NUM=&amp;PAGE=1&amp;TABS_TYPE=2&amp;CONTAINER_TYPE_ID=1&amp;IS_ADVANCED=1&amp;ITEM_DESC=+Vibius+Varus&amp;ITEM_IS_SOLD=1&amp;SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_1=1&amp;SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_3=1&amp;SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_2=1&amp;SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_4=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Search.aspx?PAGE_NUM=&amp;PAGE=1&amp;TABS_TYPE=2&amp;CONTAINER_TYPE_ID=1&amp;IS_ADVANCED=1&amp;ITEM_DESC=+Vibius+Varus&amp;ITEM_IS_SOLD=1&amp;SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_1=1&amp;SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_3=1&amp;SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_2=1&amp;SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_4=1" rel="nofollow">https://www.cngcoins.com/Search.aspx?PAGE_NUM=&amp;PAGE=1&amp;TABS_TYPE=2&amp;CONTAINER_TYPE_ID=1&amp;IS_ADVANCED=1&amp;ITEM_DESC=+Vibius+Varus&amp;ITEM_IS_SOLD=1&amp;SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_1=1&amp;SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_3=1&amp;SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_2=1&amp;SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_4=1</a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in