Sestertius - Coins from the Safety Deposit Box

Alegandron · Feb 12, 2026 at 9:35 PM

Blake Davis said: ↑

In the early 2000's I became and still am friends with an eastern European dealer, since forced into retirement - another story - who sold me coins which I sold on ebay for about 10 years. It was like a second job - at one time I was selling 25 coins a week - all auctions - there were reserves back then and "buy it now" was a rarity.

People today forget how important ebay was as a place to sell ancient coins up until about 2010 - even CNG sold coins on ebay at one time. And it was ALL auctions. As a result I was able to afford to buy my passion- large bronzes - sestertius - which have held my interest for over 26 years. I bought these at a time when almost all of the newer sestertii on coinarchives were high grade - not the low grade stuff now being sold in huge numbers by mostly European auction houses. Higher grade can still be found - for a price.

In about 2012 I put these sestertii in a safe deposit box and after that focused on the family of Septimius Severus and Hadrian travel series but mostly Septimius and sort of forgot the coins in the box - focused on other things. Although I didn't really forget about the earlier coins - how could I? each is like an old friend now - I didn't have easy access since the box is in New York City and I live in Jersey.

However, two weeks ago the Capital One branch where the box is at told me the branch is closing, so I was forced to take the coins home. I picked out some of the more interesting ones, made some not so great but not too poor photographs - and here they are:

1. Titus sestertius - Mars - when I purchased this on ebay, it was one of maybe five known but it seems like a dozen have appeared for sale since then. The coin is far nicer than the photograph, and is high relief:

View attachment 1703131 View attachment 1703135

2. Nero sestertius - Temple of Janus - I believe this was purchased on ebay from Dianacoins and cleaned by a good friend in the UK - this is much nicer in hand, as is the Titus. The patina is simply perfect.

View attachment 1703138 View attachment 1703139

3. Drusus Germanicus - Pax? - purchased on ebay from an Eastern European seller in the UK for $400. Yes in 2004 it was possible to find many coins like this for prices that would seem incredible today. Was it the war in Serbia? The fall of communism - or one person who told the gypsies in Bulgaria to stop tossing the coins with construction debris in the river, and sell these. Next thing you know two tons of coins are moving through Germany - one story I heard. I got into ancient coins from an interest in history - shame on me for not knowing who this is. View attachment 1703142 View attachment 1703143

4. Domitian sestertius - on horseback with shield going after foe - I purchased this coin from a woman in Italy - I think on ebay in about 2006 - who was selling other gorgeous coins at an incredible price. She would have sold one other to me but some ruthless Italian dealer told her she had to sell all of the coins to him as a group or no deal. So I missed out on another one which was far nicer than this extremely nice coin - this type always has a medallic flan and must be a special issue - perhaps not Rome mint?

View attachment 1703146 View attachment 1703147

5. Trajan - eastern conquest platform - The last one is from a CNG ebay sale I think ca. 2003 - I know it is CNG, not 100% certain about ebay. This was my first really nice sestertius - I love the history behind it and I really like the perfect medallic flan which were struck during this period - the last common use of the really large perfect flans - after this smaller became the norm, although there were exceptions. I will post some more but 10 pix is the limit - I will also post the size - the price was $700 and no buyers fee - the buyers fee is a pernicious aspect of online auctions.
View attachment 1703148 View attachment 1703150

The coin above has a beautiful green patina that I bolloxed in the photograph. None of the coins are perfect - but most are honest VF which was what I was always trying for.

I have many more coming - Claudius, Caligula, Marcus Aurelius, Commodus even Gordian as Caesar. But 10 photographs is the limit so the rest will be replies.
Blake
Click to expand...

Wow, @Blake Davis ! Nice.

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Log in or Sign up

Sestertius - Coins from the Safety Deposit Box

Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

Guest User Guest

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

Sestertius - Coins from the Safety Deposit Box

Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

Guest User Guest

Share This Page

Useful Searches