Octavius' top 2019.

I'd like to post what I consider to be my favorites for 2019. This past year I have tried to "beef up" my Aes Grave collection. I realize that most people would not really regard these coins as beautiful, artistic , or even elegant. I wouldn't blame you; but for me they represent something else. Holding one of these heavy, massive coins relays a feeling of permanence, majesty , and power - almost a metaphor of Rome herself.
These coins were made during a tenuous but vital period. Rome was plagued by nearly a century of war with Carthage, and the outcome was not at all certain. The first war was was basically a naval one. Carthage was a naval power, yet Rome was victorious.
Then came a Carthaginian upstart who was arguably one of the three or four best generals of the ancient world - Hannibal. Rome suffered catastrophe after catastrophe yet she still persevered and won the war. This was the extraordinary background of the III century BC. The last breath of Dido's curse faded to no avail. It was as though Rome had some divine patroness watching over her . If you put credence in Virgil, it must have been Venus, as she pleaded to her father Jupiter to save her beloved Trojans from the Ire of his wife Juno.
Anyway, I probably have romanticized the history of the third century way too much, but what the hell. I'm not a historian, just a Romanophile.


Apollo/Apollo series. AE Cast As, 275-270 BC. D/ Diademed head of Apollo right. R/ Diademed head of Apollo left. Cr. 18/1; Vecchi ICC 33. AE. g. 288.90 mm. 68.00 A superb cast. Lovely emerald green patina.



As, c. 225 - 217 BC, obv. bearded head of Janus, Rev. prow right, I above. , Vecchi 84.




Anonymous, Cast Semis, Rome, ca. 225-217 BC
AE (g 123; mm 51; h 12)
Laureate head of Saturn l.; below, S, Rv. Prow r.; above, S. Crawford 35/2; ICC 76.




Anonymous, Cast Triens, Rome, ca. 270 BC
AE (g 104; mm 46; h 12)
Head of horse r., below, °°°°, Rv. Head of horse l.; below, °°°°. Crawford 18/3; ICC 35.
Scarce.


Anonymous, Cast Quadrans, Rome, ca. 225-217 BC
AE (g 68; mm 41; h 12)Head of Hercules l., wearing lion’s skin; behind, °°°, Rv. Prow r.; below, °°°. Crawford 35/4; ICC 80.


below, sextans; shell / caduceus. c. 280 BC.

Sextans , Tortoise/wheel , c. 230 BC.


another Horse Triens....

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

to round it out, another quadrans , sextans , and an
irregular uncia.
also to show that I am not totally indifferent to "pretty "coins, I have a nice one of Nero and Marcus Aurelius I got this year.

 

Holy smokes! Saweet line up

 

That's all top shelf stuff man, killer line up! I've never had the chance to feel one of the early cast AS in hand, I get they feel glorious!

 

Wow, you made all those Aes Grave acquisitions in a single year?! Methinks you make that remarkable tour de force accomplishment look a little too easy!

Truly incredible stuff, @octavius. The Marcus Aurelius is absolutely fantastic too. I hope you have an equally fruitful 2020.

 

Great stuff @octavius! I know that the early Republic coins are the focus, but wow is that Marcus Aurelius incredible. All of these are beautiful, congrats on a great year.

 

Some great aes grave coins!

 

Stellar!

 

Really enjoy those AES Graves, @octavius ! Very nice stuff!

I have several, here is one of my Dog, BLUE (avatar), when she was younger:


RR Aes Grave AE Quadrans 269-242 BCE Dog 3 pellets Six spoked wheel 59.8g Craw 24-6a Th-Vecchi 34 ex Sellwood

 

Beautiful coin and gorgeous dog - a treasure.

 

Thank you. She is completely white in the face now. She can hardly walk, but she gives me all her love. Very special.

Great Graves, Richard. Super coins.

Here is my knucklebone... got it cuz it is on both sides...
Kinda a "We're #1" tribute, also


RR Aes Grave Uncia 269-266 BCE 10.1g Astragalus knuckle-bone - knuckle-bone Thurlow- Vecchi 21

 

Really incredible examples of the Aes Graves. I hope your 2020 is good to you!

 

Believe me , I know how you feel.

 

Some real eye candy @octavius. The Nero and Albinus are my favorites. The detail on the reverse of Albinus is fantastic.

 

Wow, that double Apollo is incredible. (And nearly 300 grams! ) I think it's safe to say your "beefing up" project was a spectacular success. The Aurelius is none too shabby either.

Anyone who pays even the slightest bit of attention to your posts definitely doesn't need a demonstration of this!

Here's the best I can do on aes grave:

 

Wow. All stunning, but the second Horse Triens is remarkably pretty with that patina.

 

Fantastic coins, my favorites are Nero and Marcus Aurelius.

 

The most heavy top 10 ever I bet !!
Each one of these coins would be in the top 3 of my entire collection, I'm envious

Q

 

Great coins and a superb collection. Congrats on a super year.
I agree that holding one is hard to beat!


PS - I had to look up Dido's curse. Thanks for sharing a bit of history.

 

All I can say is - WOW! The Nero and Marcus Aurelius are stunning! My budget only allows me to admire coins like that from a distance, but I still love all my coins and this great hobby. Thanks for sharing.