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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;IMP Shogun, post: 8135058, member: 114683&quot;]First it was gas, then groceries now rampant inflation has hit the grading of ancient coins at auction houses (or did it?)!</p><p><br /></p><p>Ancient Rome had its share of politics, perhaps making ours look tame. Here are two guys who had their share of political controversies -- otherwise known as killed off their share of senators.</p><p><br /></p><p>I am always looking to add denarius from the Nerva-Antonine dynasty. And I enjoy collecting the references to justice on all types of coins. Throw in a wonderful portrait in fine style and I was very fortunate to get this.&nbsp; Following the references which the AH did include there appeared to be grading inflation. Leu and CNG in my opinion do a very nice to the best job of describing coins, and I&#039;m a fan of Roma, just don&#039;t like the descriptions as much as the others.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1417478[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://Hadrian | Lot 886 | Hadrian, 100, Lno, 30, 5000, List view, 1, No cat (romanumismatics.com)" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://Hadrian | Lot 886 | Hadrian, 100, Lno, 30, 5000, List view, 1, No cat (romanumismatics.com)" rel="nofollow">As described by Roma</a>:</p><p>Hadrian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 118. IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate bust to right, with slight drapery on far shoulder / P M TR P COS II, Justitia seated to left, holding patera and sceptre; IVSTITIA in exergue. RIC II.3 117; BMCRE 74; RSC 877. 3.10g, 19mm, 6h.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #000000">Extremely Fine.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>From the prior Leu auction:</p><p><b>Hadrian, 117-138.</b> Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.11 g, 6 h), Rome, 118. MP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG Laureate head of Hadrian to right, with slight drapery on his left shoulder. <i>Rev.</i> P M TR P COS II / IVSTITIA Justitia seated left, holding patera in her right hand and long scepter in her left. BMC 74. Cohen 877. RIC II, Part 3, 117. A lightly toned example with a fine portrait. Minor flan fault on the obverse<i>, otherwise,</i> <span style="color: #000000">good very fine.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>But low and behold at NAC prior to Leu (all within 18-months...)</p><p><b>The Roman Empire. Hadrian augustus, 117 – 138</b></p><p>Denarius 118, AR 19 mm, 3.10 g. IMP CAESAR TRAIAN – HADRIANVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. P M TR P COS II Justitia seated l., holding patera and sceptre; in exergue, IVSTITIA. C 877. BMC 74. RIC 42 = RIC II, 117.</p><p>Wonderful old cabinet tone and extremely fine / about extremely fine</p><p><br /></p><p>Ex Helios sale 4, 2008, 387. From the A. Lynn collection.</p><p><br /></p><p>Almost the same exact thing, amazing how consistent these guys are.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1417482[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>From Roma:</p><p><b>Commodus </b>AR Denarius. Rome, AD 181. M COMMODVS ANTONINVS AVG, laureate head to right / TR P VI IMP IIII COS III P P, Pax standing to left, holding branch and cornucopiae. RIC III 17; BMCRE 63; RSC 806. 3.06g, 18mm, 12h.</p><p><br /></p><p>Good Very Fine.</p><p><br /></p><p>Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG;</p><p>Ex Schweizerische Kreditanstalt Monetarium, Fixed Price List 32, August 1980, no. 5;</p><p>Ex Schweizerische Kreditanstalt Monetarium, Fixed Price List 28, April 1979, no. 117.</p><p><br /></p><p>From Leu:</p><p><b>Commodus, 177-192.</b> Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.07 g, 12 h), Rome, 181. M COMMODVS ANTONINVS AVG Laureate head of Commodus to right. <i>Rev.</i> TR P VI IMP IIII COS III P P Pax standing front, head to left, holding olive branch in her right hand and cornucopiae in her left. BMC 63. Cohen 806. RIC 17. Beautifully toned. Very fine.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><i>From an old Swiss collection, ex Schweizerische Kreditanstalt Monetarium FPL 32, summer 1980, 5 and FPL 28, spring 1979, 117.</i></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Both coins are fantastic trust me, whether it&#039;s EF, near EF or Good Very Fine x2 but just a reminder that caveat emptor applies even when dealing with the best. Or is it that Leu is so conservative they dropped it a grade from the prior for it only to be raised back up by Roma? Can AH ratings resemble real life inflation:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1417483[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>I would love to see you Nerva-Antonine denarius or hear about any grading patterns you&#039;ve noticed or your thoughts on the frequency of coins coming back to auction.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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