Sestertius….NEW

Hi everybody, I won this nice Severus Alexander from the Dorney Auction last week. Not bad for 22 bucks. A great auction, with a fair premium and mailing..Tell me what you think of good ol Severus…

 

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..why that was deal!...fine coin at a great price.

 

Nice score!!

 

Very nice and the price can't be beat! I don't own a single sestertius myself. I've been tempted, but I'm still looking for the right "match".

 

Known as momy's boy, his mother Julia Mamaea hold the reigns during his reign.
They both were killed on their way to Germany, Severus was only 27 years old.

 

I like it! Thick patina, but the details come through nicely. Great score.

 

Very, very nice!

Coincidentally, I've been considering buying a sestertius of Severus Alexander myself, at retail. My concern is not so much the cost (not cheap but not outrageous), but whether the coin is smoothed and/or tooled. Here's a photo -- and I'm well aware that by posting it here, even without a link, I risk someone finding it and buying it from under me:



What do people think? Smoothed? Tooled? Both? Neither? Thanks!

 

I think neither. There may have been an attempt to smooth the areas of purple encrustations on the reverse, but this doesn't distract.

 

I am far from being an expert, but I do not see obvious signs of altering ... but my opinion is not qualified, again.
I have 2 bronzes from this emperor - a provincial I like


Troas, Alexandreia
M AV S ALEXANDRV (sic), laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Severus Alexander, r. / [...?] AVG TROA, Apollo nude standing, l., placing foot on pedestal, holding laurel branch
similar to RPC VI, 4031 (temporary), Bellinger A334


... and a sestertius



Severus Alexander AE Sestertius. AD 231. IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG, laureate head right, slight drapery on far shoulder / VICTORIA AVGVSTI, Victory winged standing left, holding wreath and palm. S-C across lower fields. Cohen 569.
RIC IV Severus Alexander 618

This was 19 EUR + 18% fees so pretty similar.

 

That's a very nice example, at a great price!

I find the sestertii of Severus Alexander quite appealing. They are very available, much like those of Gordian III, and they give collectors a chance to acquire a nice sestertius without breaking the bank.

Here's one from a group lot, a little rough, but with a nice portrait and a decent reverse.

circa 233AD
Rome
Obverse: Severus Alexander facing right.
Reverse: Sol advancing left, holding a whip.
RIC 535

16.31 grams

 

Coingrats on the new addition @Mammothtooth !
Here's mine:


Ps, @DonnaML , I hope I'm wrong and am also unqualified, but it does look smoothed to me. Look at those fields compared to the wear on the portrait. I would pass if it were me. But, as you know, I'm no @Barry Murphy

 

I think that is a very appealing coin. I have trouble, honestly, detecting smoothing unless it is really obvious. That fact is that the vast majority of sestertii have been cleaned to one degree or another, some with skill, others quite harshly.

My approach to this coin would be to assume:
1) It might be lightly smoothed/cleaned; and
2) Assuming it is, does it still appeal to me at the price and will I still be happy looking at it while I own it.

As with any acquisition, buyer's regret must be avoided.

Other than my latest Severus Alexander sestertius, purchased as a group lot coin, I don't know what the price trend for his sestertii, but I imagine it has climbed along with just about all other ancients.

 

Great info thanks..

 

Julia Mamaea was the force behind the throne, to be sure, much the way Livia was during the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius.

 

Severus Alexander and his family in sestertii:

 

I mostly collect his middle bronzes, but I do have a sestertius or two.

 

Thanks for all your opinions. Right now I think I'll pass. Too much (ca. $270 ) to spend on a coin I'm not really sure how I feel about.

 

WAAAY too much. I still think you should re-evaluate your attitude to auctions; for a generalist like yourself you'll be able to do so much better on price.

 

I have! Just since December, I have bid, and won ancient and even some British coins at, the Roma, Cayon Subastas, Nomos Obolos, Dix Noonan Webb, and CNG auctions. Not that I've exactly been frugal by doing so.

 

These coins are very nice, thanks for posting. Mine is not as worthy but I like it and the price. Thanks all of you.