Although I am saying since September that my purchases should stop and I already posted 2 Top Tens, Santa Claus asked me if I was good this year and what do I want. The only thing I was able to say was "ancient coins" so this is what I will get. I was after some RR denarii as this is an area I want to develop further (this would be my 7th RR coin). Managed to get the one I was expecting less and on 3 others I considered more common/worse conservation I was outbid. I first heard about this denarius in @DonnaML's thread and was fascinated about the myth behind it https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ro...papius-celsus-juno-sospita-wolf-eagle.387754/ And I really liked the design. Read further about it here https://www.cointalk.com/threads/nice-republican-surprise.378343/#post-7360623 and here https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-beautiful-myth-in-a-little-coin.370203/#post-5136398 I knew that examples showing the eagle on the flan are highly desirable, as the story makes sense and I also knew that more often than not the eagle is missing. But I also knew this is not a cheap coin even in an average condition. Seeing that the other RR denarii I was after are getting more expensive than I was prepared for, I decided to concentrate on this one, thinking I might get it for 100 EUR, even if other prices I checked were bit encouraging. But, what did I have to lose. Got it for much less than I was expecting, this was surprising, even if Juno Sospita is in bad condition and the reverse does not show the full wolf, it clearly shows the interesting feature of the wing's eagle escaping the dotted border, plus the fire and stick clearly visible. Now my only question would be, does anyone see some bad clues on this coin? (except the obverse roughness). I am fully aware this is not FDC and probably a collector who wants only above average quality would ignore it, but I consider it an excellent addition. The only thing I am afraid of is a forgery (I am not skilled at all in detecting forgeries). And I don't understand what is behind Juno (coin is not with me yet). Initially I thought it is a control mark/mark of value/something similar but I cannot find anything similar on the examples I saw.
...idk....it looks kinda soapy and has some...'pitting''.. i can see...but i'm no expert...whats it weigh?...and really, if its a gift, you should like it for what it is, as long as someone didn't get rooked too much....that is a kool koin esp the reverse..
..hey...you shouldn't joke about Santa....he's real man......haha...well shit man...idk its possibly legit...that's not a bad weight on that type coin...we'll let some others ring in with their opinions...i kinda figured someone who didn't collect coins got you a gift of one...my good friend, Marty did that a couple years ago....the worn LRB ..i never asked what he gave for it and i still have it with the envelope it came in...
I instructed my close ones against buying me coins or numismatic stuff as most likely they will fail. I remember many years ago a friend bought be for Christmas a set of medals with American presidents. All very large and very fake. And not in my area anyway. But I am 99% convinced he paid A LOT for them. I still keep them because they are a gift from a dear friend, but I strongly suggest buying collector items when you have no idea about the area is not a good idea. Edit - similar condition but I think worse than mine https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=7386224 I suspect it is genuine but I would just like to check.
I'm pretty bad at telling fakes myself. I really like the reverse, and don't see anything wrong with it. Does the fact that the obverse is poor necessarily mean it's a fake? Not that I know of. Have you checked the fake coin lists at forvm for fakes of this type?
I did and couldn't find a match. In fact I only found this https://www.forumancientcoins.com/f...lbum=search&cat=0&pid=17837#top_display_media I am not saying that if the obverse is poor or the coin is poor the coin is suspicious (this would mean I suspect 80% of the coins in my collection). The issue is that 1. I fail in detecting fakes 2. I was expecting a bidding war for this coin but I won it easily, so I was just wondering if other people saw something I don't.
Is a genuine coin for me , and you are sharing the same reverse die with the one you found on acsearch
Thanks. I like this coin very much, especially the reverse, the eagle, fire and stick are very well represented. A pity the reverse design is not full (nevermind the obverse design) but what is missing are the least important parts for this coin.
There are a few things wrong with it and you better just give it to a close CT buddy First, you got it for too good of a deal. B - it would fit in my collection so nicely. And 3rd, the eagles wing going off the border is just bad ace! Like when movies break the 4th wall with a wink and a nod to the audience...or should I say, a wing and a dog??? I don't have the type so will share a coin that I bought at the same auction and also got a great deal on, with some incredibly intriguing figures behind it and some debate. For the record I believe David Sear is correct: Antigonos I Monophthalmos Æ16. Struck under Demetrios I Poliorketes (could be Philip III Arrhidaios) Salamis, 306/5-301 BC. Macedonian shield, boss decorated with facing gorgoneion / Macedonian helmet; B-A across upper fields, kerykeion to lower left, monogram to lower right. Price 3159 (c. 323-315 BC); Zapiti & Michaelidou 7-8. 4.4g, 16mm, 12h. Very Fine. Purchased from Savoca December 2021 In the work of Martin Price, this type of bronze is dated between 323 and 315 BC, struck in Cyprus. If so, this bronze could have been struck by Philip III, Antigone the One-eyed or Demetrius Poliorketes. For David Sear, this coin would have been struck in Macedonia during the interregnum between Demetrius Poliorketes and Antigonus Gonatas. History: Philip III, son of Philip II and the half-brother of Alexandre, was not fully sane. At the death of the conqueror and before the lack of power, in order to maintain the fiction of the unity of the Empire, he was proclaimed king, but in fact he had no power. He was assassinated at the instigation of Olympias, Alexander's mother, in 316 BC.
Well I saw that coin, I liked it, but I know Macedonian shields are a no no. Funny thing is that even if the overall prices were terrible, some coins managed to stay under the radar. Some under my radar too and noticed them after the auction finished. I could give away the Papius Celsus, I don't like it (I just jumped from the chair and shouted so all the neighborhood knew I got a coin) but you know I can't send it to you because of customs. And I can't give it to a CT member from Europe because it would be discrimination. So I will keep it.
Yeah, the prices were crazy for the more popular types and pretty coins...oh and as always for coins that folks need to complete their 12 Caesars sets. It always drives me nuts when there is a "pretty" MSC that is rare. I know that folks are going to either bid me up or outbid me cause they want a pretty shield coin with little to no context for how hard some of these little beauties are to come by!
That's a good general observation. In fact I am wondering if completing a 12 Caesars set is a good idea. I was planning 2 sets, one in bronze and one in silver, but I am starting to wonder if for the rare emperors a budget coin is worth the price (for me). Because a budget coin for them will be a poor condition coin (and with a "standard" reverse) and for that sum I could buy another coin that would be more interesting. Again, for me. Anyway regarding the L. Papius Celsus, I am a little relieved now - I really wanted this coin and it was a big surprise it remained at a decent price, especially since other targets went ... in a galaxy far, far away. For me, it is an attractive coin and the reverse is pretty unique (I know there is also RRC 472/2 with Triumphus on the obverse) If other members want, coins are welcome: - recently acquired at a pleasantly low price - with mythological reverses - first seen on CT and added on wish list
