I kept tabs on this coin for over a year. The price slowly declined over time and finally reached a level I felt was acceptable for the condition. Domitian AR Denarius Rome mint, 86 AD RIC 439 (R), BMC p. 319 ‡, RSC 202 Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P V; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: IMP XII COS XII CENS P P P; Minerva stg. l., with thunderbolt and spear; shield at her side (M3) The coin completes my Minerva types for the second issue of 86. Scratches be damned, I think it has a fine portrait that makes up for all the problems. I paid around $80, IMHO, a fair price. What do you think?
That is a killer portrait of Domitian, and $80 sounds great. Nice addition @vespasian70 Also, you are a far better man than me. I don't think I would have had the patience of waiting a whole year for the price to drop on a coin I wanted, hoping no one else got it in the meantime.
Man, I've been waiting for over year to purchase a pre reform Siliqua of Constantius II and a Flavius Victor Siliqua. I'm just waiting for the pound and Euro to be driven into the ground (Brexit), then I'll pounce on em!
It's awful how many coins I have bookmarked 'for another day'. The gamble doesn't always pay off, this time it did.
I have coins on my watchlist thats almost 2 years old. I could make offers but other things have been dropped into the fryers that have been tastier. The new coin has a great portrait. Congrats on your long wait of an addition.
IMHO, condition has nothing to do with the desirability of a coin but everything to do with the price I would pay. There are many people out there who don't care about style or even strike as long as a coin is mint state and undamaged. Worn or not, this has a wonderful portrait making it worth having. The question is how much to pay. I believe $80 is plenty considering the scratches but I am not particularly interested in Domitian and have all the Minerva reverse coins of his I intend to own. I suspect Vespasian would feel the same way about some of my Septimius Severus coins. Perhaps that is why the Romans were so kind as to have so many different emperors and so many different types allowing us each to find what we want at a price we would be willing to pay. It is only right that such a coin winds up in a collection where it will be loved.
Well, let us toast to a Brexit then. I think a lot of us are looking forward to the prospect of bringing a few more coins from the UK to the States. The Pound/Dollar ratio has stopped me buying a few coins too.
Scratches? What scratches? This IS a great portrait and in a style so familiar to Domitian. Congrats.
