I went to the Worlds Fair of Money this week and did end up picking up a few coins. 3 for me and 1 for a family member. This is a piece I was not looking for but when I saw it I loved the toning. Roman is not my main collecting area of interest but I was really attracted to the coin, so I went for it. Roman Republic L. Lucretius Trio AR Denarius. Rome, 76 BC. Laureate head of Neptune to right, with trident at shoulder; IIIIX (control mark) behind / Infant Genius riding dolphin to right; L•LVCRETI TRIO in two lines below. Crawford 390/2; BMCRR Rome 3247-70; RSC Lucretia 3. 4.01g, 19mm Extremely Fine; beautiful grey cabinet toned surfaces with iridescent hues accenting the devices.
Wow, @kazuma78 , great Denarius! Well done. Roman Republic Lucretius Trio 76 BCE AR Denarius Neptune dolphin boy Sear 322 Craw 390-2
Really?? Please tell me how you accomplished this!... I know that even if I spent $5K on equipment I would still take a crap photo..
@kazuma78, a beautiful example and a fantastic photo! This type happens to be one of my own favorite Roman Republican coins: Roman Republic, L Lucretius Trio, AR Denarius, 76 BCE. Obv. Laureate head of Neptune right, XXXIII above and trident behind/ Rev. Cupid (or Infant Genius) on dolphin right; L LVCRETIVS TRIO. Crawford 390/2, Sydenham 784, RSC I Lucretia 3, Sear RCV I 322 (ill.), Harlan, RRM I Ch. 16 at pp. 98-103, BMCRR Rome 3247. 19 mm., 3.9 g. I particularly like the contrast between the visible grin on the boy's face and the visible scowl on the very disgruntled dolphin's face. Personally, I think the boy is Cupid; I'm not sure what's with the compulsion of some numismatists to label similar figures as "Infant Geniuses."
I just held the camera close enough that it focused well, slid the aperture bar to reduce the light in the photo and snapped the photo! Doesn't always work well but it did it this case.
