Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Blake Davis, post: 26690859, member: 91820&quot;]Hopefully, I can put up some more:</p><p><br /></p><p>6. <b>Sabina sestertius - Eagle Divvus type</b> - I saw this (I think) on VCOINS and could not believe it - I thought these were never offered for sale.&nbsp; But it was affordable at the time.&nbsp; I am still waiting for other divus (divvus?) especially Julia Domna.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1703151[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1703152[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>7. <b>Nerva sestertius - Libertas </b>- I purchased this coin from a young German collector who sold me several other coins, including a Thracian Titus sestertius that I foolishly later sold. One of many I regret selling.&nbsp; I have been able to buy several beautiful coins from overseas collectors but the hard part if making these connections.&nbsp; What a schnoz!</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1703153[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1703154[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>8. <b>Gordian as Caesar Sestertius - Priestly Objects</b> - I love these rare examples - still waiting to find a Severus Alexander as Caesar sestertius.&nbsp; This one was also cleaned by my British friend Anthony Holmes who has passed on at a way too young age.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1703155[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1703156[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>9. <b>Vespasian sestertius - Fortuna</b> - this was also from Dianacoins.&nbsp; There was a time when Dianacoins was selling incredible examples for prices that were about a third under the rest of the market.&nbsp; I recall example after example of Caligula as&#039;s - if only I had not sold the one I purchased!&nbsp; But I could not afford to add another catagory of coins to sestertii - as one sage wrote - &quot;you cannot collect them all.&quot;&nbsp; But Dianacoins sold quite a few Vespasian sestertii - I bet I paid less than $125 for this one.&nbsp; Harlan Berk was selling a die match to this and I recall the description indicated there was something special about it but I do not recall what.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1703157[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1703158[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>10. <b>Aelius sestertius - Spes:</b>&nbsp; The last one for today is an Aelius that was one of a few purchased from Richard Beale of the &quot;Four Bad Years&quot; website and collection.&nbsp; Before he focused on sestertii of Trebonianus Gallus and family Richard was trying to put together a collection of sestertii of all of the emperors - and I joined in and tried to do the same.&nbsp; I recall searching high and low for a Valerian II or Saloninus sestertius.&nbsp; Valerian II did made an appearance on a CNG auction and other places I think but too expensive, I missed the Saloninus that was offered and stopped actively looking - until now.&nbsp; When he switched to putting together the greatest collection of T. Gallus and family and documenting it in a fantastic web-site Richard sold off his sestertii of earlier emperors on ebay - I picked up a Caracalla/Mars, a REALLY nice Julia Maesa and this one, a beautiful sestertius of Aelius.&nbsp; I am now back to looking for sestertii of Valerian II and Saloninus!</p><p><br /></p><p>Let me add again that what I looked for was not perfection since I could not afford it but through scouring the listings I looked and sometimes found higher grade coins that had small imperfections that resulted in a lower price - these were acceptable. I did not buy tooled coins, but smoothed was ok and maybe barely noticeable strengthening of inscription.&nbsp; Also I looked for anywhere I could find affordable, examples - it was quite a task - still is, although I do not have the time I had then.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Buying bronze coins is hard sometimes but with persistence you can find examples that are far better than photographs.&nbsp; However, I think if I were starting out I would focus on provincial bronzes - the last area where you can find quality coins for relatively reasonable prices and an enormous selection - but tough to resell - that&#039;s of course not a problem.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>In fact, I am looking more and more at Alexandrian drachms - but darn these are not cheap in mid and higher grades if you can find any at all!&nbsp; So maybe not. </p><p><br /></p><p>The search is never ending isn&#039;t it?.....</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1703161[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1703162[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in