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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Marsyas Mike, post: 8198828, member: 85693&quot;]My collection is based on eye-appeal (not, for me, the same thing as condition, necessarily) and price.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>However, I do occasionally pursue something because of the rarity.&nbsp; A recent example is this cruddy denarius of Commodus, which I bid aggressively on because of its type.&nbsp; My self-justification for this being:&nbsp; I really like the coins of Commodus, which means I really like his self-aggrandizing types from late in his reign.&nbsp; Also, it is a somewhat scarce type.&nbsp; Finally, it was described as a denarius of Antoninus Pius on eBay - this sort of misattribution appeals to my bottom-feeding urges.&nbsp; <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie30" alt=":bucktooth:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>So here it is, </p><p><br /></p><p><b>[ATTACH=full]1436399[/ATTACH] </b></p><p><b>Commodus&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Denarius</b></p><p><b>(191-192 A.D.)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; </b></p><p><b>Rome Mint</b></p><p>[L AEL] AVREL [COM]M AVG P [FEL], laureate head right / SAL GEN HVM, Salus</p><p>standing left, holding serpent-entwined sceptre and raising kneeling woman.</p><p>RIC III 260 (Scarce); RSC 677; BMC IV 358, RCV 5693.</p><p>(1.71 grams / 16 x14 mm)</p><p>eBay Jan. 2022&nbsp; $12.50</p><p><br /></p><p>It is on a very small, light flan, and is much shinier than the photos show - it appears to be of reasonably good silver for the era.&nbsp; The portrait appealed to me - it has that late-Commodus bathos to it, I think.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>So $12.50 seems reasonable, but it is a pretty poor specimen, and I never enjoy these kinds of purchases as much as the ones that appeal to me on appearance only.&nbsp; </p><p>One further note on prices:&nbsp; I&#039;ve been reading the Coin Talk threads on crazy-high auction prices.&nbsp; This is noticeable on low-end stuff on eBay too - the most awful, common silver goes for much higher prices than a few years ago.&nbsp; A few years ago I could scoop up the occasional low-grade denarius for $15-20.&nbsp; Now that&#039;s about double and I stay away.&nbsp; Hoping those prices come down, or my salary goes up!&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Also, [USER=19463]@dougsmit[/USER] has a nicer one here:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/rare-commodus-sestertius.387291/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/rare-commodus-sestertius.387291/">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/rare-commodus-sestertius.387291/</a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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