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New coin - a very special Commodus As
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<p>[QUOTE="The Meat man, post: 25328681, member: 135271"]Been awhile since I was this excited about a coin! <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>I was browsing the new inventory of a well-known dealer and saw an as of Commodus listed for sale. It was the excellent portrait which first caught my eye. I kept browsing other coins, but made a mental note to go back and take a closer look later.</p><p><br /></p><p>(dealer photo)</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://content.invisioncic.com/k321387/monthly_2024_04/59995.jpg.e015cc2010d87d2d303f66b441341395.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>In addition to the portrait, the coin is beautifully patinated. I also noticed that it was an interesting VOTA type, from the Jeff Clark VOTA Collection. As a collector of unusual as types, I did what I usually do when interested in a Roman coin – reach for the appropriate volume of Sear’s <i>Roman Coins and Their Values</i> and look it up.</p><p><br /></p><p>My eyes nearly popped out when I saw this! <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie57" alt=":jawdrop:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://content.invisioncic.com/k321387/monthly_2024_04/20240424_064239.jpg.99f667606f01e8752654360cad611431.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>Is that the same coin?? I could hardly believe it! The listing did not mention anything about it being a plate coin. Could I be mistaken? I scrutinized both coin images. No question about it – it was the same coin! How on earth could a Sear plate coin lose such a provenance?? No matter, that was enough to push me over the edge! I bought the coin.</p><p><br /></p><p>Being so caught up in the excitement of discovering a plate coin, I hadn't noticed before that the rarity rating given in the dealer listing was 8/10. It's not even listed in RIC (that reference only recognizes this type as a dupondius.) There is one specimen in the British Museum collection, No. 566:</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1930-1113-22" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1930-1113-22" rel="nofollow">coin | British Museum</a></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://content.invisioncic.com/k321387/monthly_2024_04/mid_00671023_001.jpg.104bc51dcc80c79aefb5633f5dd0e1d9.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>I did an exhaustive search on ACSearch and other archives but only found three other specimens. It was while searching Coryssa, the database created by our member [USER=148921]@rasielsuarez[/USER] that I came across this:</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://coryssa.org/coins/997540?q=commodus%20456&qf%5b%5d=desc&p0=&p1=&w0=&w1=&d0=&d1=&p=all&s=all" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://coryssa.org/coins/997540?q=commodus%20456&qf%5b%5d=desc&p0=&p1=&w0=&w1=&d0=&d1=&p=all&s=all" rel="nofollow">Coryssa - The Coin Auctions Database - Coryssa - The Coin Auctions Database</a></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://content.invisioncic.com/k321387/monthly_2024_04/997540(1).jpg.148e9c5d1bd4b231b67331a5fb4bf57b.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>The same coin! Apparently, it was auctioned off by Numismatic Fine Arts on December 10, 1980. Turning to rnumis, I found the complete auction catalog. There was the coin – lot 537 – misdescribed as a dupondius, which hammered for $100 on a $200 estimate:</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k98130889" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k98130889" rel="nofollow">Ancient coins. Auction IX : 10 décembre 1980 / Numismatic Fine Arts | Gallica (bnf.fr)</a></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://content.invisioncic.com/k321387/monthly_2024_04/Screenshot2024-04-26204349.png.dd80400653f5f4304bd0e3f3bbcd9a78.png" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://content.invisioncic.com/k321387/monthly_2024_04/Ancient_coins_Auction_IX___..._bpt6k98130889.JPEG.df49df7a278c7cd13fccb5c696a71f78.JPEG" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>How did this coin end up being illustrated in RCV? Thanks to a CT thread by our valued member [USER=26430]@Curtis[/USER] I learned that David Sear was a cataloguer for a number of NFA auctions, and used some of the coins in his RCV reference books. Check out the thread and Curtis's awesome Philip I plate coin here:</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/finding-provenance.403741/page-2" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/finding-provenance.403741/page-2">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/finding-provenance.403741/page-2</a></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>So to make a long story short, I am now the proud owner of a Sear plate coin – which also happens to be an extremely rare type, has a terrific portrait, a beautiful patina, and an interesting collection provenance. Doesn’t get much better than that! <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Feel free to comment/post your own surprise plate coins, provenance discoveries, Commodus coins, or anything else!</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://content.invisioncic.com/k321387/monthly_2024_04/CommodusAsVOTSVSC.jpg.cf6cf4e9bb10e0e333c18e624844eb42.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p style="text-align: center"><i>COMMODUS, AD 180-192</i></p><p><i><p style="text-align: center"><i>AE As (24.84mm, 7.59g, 11h)</i></p></i></p><p style="text-align: center"><i><i>Struck AD 185. Rome mint</i></p></i></p><p style="text-align: center"><i><i>Obverse: M COMM ANTON AVG PIVS BRIT, laureate head of Commodus right</i></p></i></p><p style="text-align: center"><i><i>Reverse: VOT SVSC DEC P M TR P X IMP VII, Commodus, togate, standing left, sacrificing over tripod-altar; COS IIII P P in exergue, S C across fields</i></p></i></p><p style="text-align: center"><i><i>References: RIC - , BMC 566, RCV 5897 (this coin illustrated)</i></p></i></p><p style="text-align: center"><i><i>An extremely rare type, with a fine portrait and rich emerald patina. This coin is the illustrated plate coin in David R. Sear's popular reference series </i>Roman Coins and Their Values<i> (Vol. II, p. 411)</i></p></i></p><p style="text-align: center"><i><i>From the Jeff Clark VOTA Collection.</i></p><p></i>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="The Meat man, post: 25328681, member: 135271"]Been awhile since I was this excited about a coin! :D I was browsing the new inventory of a well-known dealer and saw an as of Commodus listed for sale. It was the excellent portrait which first caught my eye. I kept browsing other coins, but made a mental note to go back and take a closer look later. (dealer photo) [IMG]https://content.invisioncic.com/k321387/monthly_2024_04/59995.jpg.e015cc2010d87d2d303f66b441341395.jpg[/IMG] In addition to the portrait, the coin is beautifully patinated. I also noticed that it was an interesting VOTA type, from the Jeff Clark VOTA Collection. As a collector of unusual as types, I did what I usually do when interested in a Roman coin – reach for the appropriate volume of Sear’s [I]Roman Coins and Their Values[/I] and look it up. My eyes nearly popped out when I saw this! :jawdrop: [IMG]https://content.invisioncic.com/k321387/monthly_2024_04/20240424_064239.jpg.99f667606f01e8752654360cad611431.jpg[/IMG] Is that the same coin?? I could hardly believe it! The listing did not mention anything about it being a plate coin. Could I be mistaken? I scrutinized both coin images. No question about it – it was the same coin! How on earth could a Sear plate coin lose such a provenance?? No matter, that was enough to push me over the edge! I bought the coin. Being so caught up in the excitement of discovering a plate coin, I hadn't noticed before that the rarity rating given in the dealer listing was 8/10. It's not even listed in RIC (that reference only recognizes this type as a dupondius.) There is one specimen in the British Museum collection, No. 566: [URL='https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1930-1113-22']coin | British Museum[/URL] [IMG]https://content.invisioncic.com/k321387/monthly_2024_04/mid_00671023_001.jpg.104bc51dcc80c79aefb5633f5dd0e1d9.jpg[/IMG] I did an exhaustive search on ACSearch and other archives but only found three other specimens. It was while searching Coryssa, the database created by our member [USER=148921]@rasielsuarez[/USER] that I came across this: [URL='https://coryssa.org/coins/997540?q=commodus%20456&qf%5b%5d=desc&p0=&p1=&w0=&w1=&d0=&d1=&p=all&s=all']Coryssa - The Coin Auctions Database - Coryssa - The Coin Auctions Database[/URL] [IMG]https://content.invisioncic.com/k321387/monthly_2024_04/997540(1).jpg.148e9c5d1bd4b231b67331a5fb4bf57b.jpg[/IMG] The same coin! Apparently, it was auctioned off by Numismatic Fine Arts on December 10, 1980. Turning to rnumis, I found the complete auction catalog. There was the coin – lot 537 – misdescribed as a dupondius, which hammered for $100 on a $200 estimate: [URL='https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k98130889']Ancient coins. Auction IX : 10 décembre 1980 / Numismatic Fine Arts | Gallica (bnf.fr)[/URL] [IMG]https://content.invisioncic.com/k321387/monthly_2024_04/Screenshot2024-04-26204349.png.dd80400653f5f4304bd0e3f3bbcd9a78.png[/IMG] [IMG]https://content.invisioncic.com/k321387/monthly_2024_04/Ancient_coins_Auction_IX___..._bpt6k98130889.JPEG.df49df7a278c7cd13fccb5c696a71f78.JPEG[/IMG] How did this coin end up being illustrated in RCV? Thanks to a CT thread by our valued member [USER=26430]@Curtis[/USER] I learned that David Sear was a cataloguer for a number of NFA auctions, and used some of the coins in his RCV reference books. Check out the thread and Curtis's awesome Philip I plate coin here: [URL]https://www.cointalk.com/threads/finding-provenance.403741/page-2[/URL] So to make a long story short, I am now the proud owner of a Sear plate coin – which also happens to be an extremely rare type, has a terrific portrait, a beautiful patina, and an interesting collection provenance. Doesn’t get much better than that! :D Feel free to comment/post your own surprise plate coins, provenance discoveries, Commodus coins, or anything else! [IMG]https://content.invisioncic.com/k321387/monthly_2024_04/CommodusAsVOTSVSC.jpg.cf6cf4e9bb10e0e333c18e624844eb42.jpg[/IMG] [CENTER][I]COMMODUS, AD 180-192[/I][/CENTER] [I][CENTER][I]AE As (24.84mm, 7.59g, 11h) Struck AD 185. Rome mint Obverse: M COMM ANTON AVG PIVS BRIT, laureate head of Commodus right Reverse: VOT SVSC DEC P M TR P X IMP VII, Commodus, togate, standing left, sacrificing over tripod-altar; COS IIII P P in exergue, S C across fields References: RIC - , BMC 566, RCV 5897 (this coin illustrated) An extremely rare type, with a fine portrait and rich emerald patina. This coin is the illustrated plate coin in David R. Sear's popular reference series [/I]Roman Coins and Their Values[I] (Vol. II, p. 411) From the Jeff Clark VOTA Collection.[/I][/CENTER][/I][/QUOTE]
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New coin - a very special Commodus As
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