Hello everyone, I'm still working on assembling some sort of an ancient collection, but I haven't posted any new acquisitions lately! These five are all from the same dealer and add a few new faces to the very mini-hoard. I just came back from the Long Beach C&S Expo this evening and was pretty surprised by the prices most dealers had on their similar quality ancients. I left those alone, but did pick up a few Medieval coins that aren't yet photo'd. As far as these coins go, it looks as though Geta suffered some fire damage and I know how hard that is to clean off, but if anyone thinks it's something besides "lampblack" let me know. I left them in the 2x2's for a quick photo session, LOL, sorry about that, but if anyone has some twins please share! SEVERUS ALEXANDER DENARIUS AD222 Obv: IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate draped bust right Rev: P M TR P COS PP, Fortuna standing half left, holding rudder on globe and cornucopiae, star to left RIC 267, RSC 223a 3.42g / 19mm ELAGABALUS DENARIUS Obv: IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate draped bust right Rev: P M TR P III COS III P P, Sol, radiate, advancing left raising right hand & holding whip, star to left RIC, RSC 154 2.35g / 16mm CARACALLA DENARIUS Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right Rev: P M TR P XI COS III, Mars in fighting stance right holding spear & shield RIC 100, RSC 447 3.68g / 16mm PHILIP II ANTONINIANUS Obv: IMP PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate draped bust right Rev: LIBERALITAS AVGG III, Philips I & II seated on curule chairs distributing cash RIC 230, RSC 17 3.92g / 22mm GETA DENARIUS Obv: L SEPTIMIVS GETA CAES, draped bust right Rev: SEVERI PII AVG FIL, priestly implements - lituus, knife, jug, simpulum, & sprinkler RIC 3, RSC 188 2.82g / 16mm
Oh wow! Awesome haul. I wouldnt mind snagging anyone of those, but the Carcalla and Philip II grabbed my eye.
Those are five great pick-ups (well done) ... yah, it is nice to find a seller that has a lot of what ya like (buying in bulk can save you a wee bit o' cash on postage, plus often you can score a sweeter bulk-deal) => congrats on this handful of great additions!!
I was at Long Beach too. I already posted one of my buys in a new thread already. Isn't it shocking how expensive ancients are at the long beach show? It's no wonder I walk out with very few and stick with modern world silver. Seems like the ones that have bargains stay on the east coast . As for the coins, they are a nice group. From the photo, it looks like Geta just has an old "hoard patina", not fire. And many collectors desire that look. It means it's pretty much original. Look at the comments you got on it alone in this thread.
Thank you all right kindley! I'm especially glad to hear of the term "hoard patina"...guess I won't try to clean it then. Yes, this is a lot of fun trying to dig up new treasures and learn a little along the way. I did manage to get another nice Ancient Ant. here: GALLIENUS AR ANTONINIANUS Obv: GALLIENVS AVG GERM V, Radiate and cuirassed bust of Gallienus, holding spear and shield. Rev: GERMANICVS MAX V ,Two captives bound at the foot of a trophy. Date: 257-258 AD RIC 19 4.0g / 24mm -Here are my Long Beach pick-ups (half price): Actually, I can't quite recall what the 3 bottom ones were called.......but at less than a buck apiece I just had to have them. And me with Charmy "The Penny Lady":
All the ancients seem very nice. No one can give any valid advice on a coin shown in a windowed 2x2. I don't even like to buy coins at shows from dealers who use them because you can't see some faults. The best I can see on the Geta suggests it should be left alone and would not clean well. How ancient silver looks when found depends on many things but the vast majority of coins sold were dark and have been cleaned. The decision of which will clean and which will be ruined is something I'm glad I don't do for a living.
that "abbas i" rupee are cool also! YES. This got me at the last coin show i was at. the lighting was poor, yet there was just enough light to glare of the flips. i bought a couple of coins for not much money, but when i got them home i realized i would have passed on both of them.
All nice from what I can see. Take them out of the 2x2's and take better pics. Then don't put them back in those, but rather in non-PVC flips.