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Message:: [QUOTE="nerosmyfavorite68, post: 8350616, member: 134416"]I go through streaks of ordering from certain dealers.  London Ancient Coins have been getting a lot of my business lately, and I've been quite happy with all of the coins from there. In the week before my staycation, I ordered some coins and opted for the faster and more expensive DHL option.  Even though there was a week's delay because of the useless phone number, the package showed up during my vacation. This is my second order using DHL Express and I've been quite happy with both.  The turnaround time on both orders were extremely fast.  I also know now to send a just-in-case email with a phone number if I order anything DHL Express. I've also generally been upping my game, generally going after quality examples of types I care about, save for times where a decrepit rarity might be the only one within my budget.  I also tend to do throw-in coins, although they're harmless enough. This isn't the nicest coin of the order, but let's start out with the largest.  My hands aren't dry enough to risk taking them out of the flip yet, but all are as good or better than the picture. The first one, a Justinian, is a whopping 44.5 mm.  I think this is my second or third example of 40+ mm. Justinians. I'm a lover of large coins, my ideal sweet spot being 33 mm. + on AE's. [ATTACH=full]1481551[/ATTACH] Justinian I (527-565). Æ 40 Nummi (44.5mm, 20.47g, 6h). Nicomedia, year 13 (539/40). Helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger and shield; cross to r. R/ Large M; date across fields; B// NIK. Sear 201. Green patina, VF The dealer picture is pretty true to type.  The coin's ok-looking, mostly ordered for the size. The nicest one of the order: Still pretty large, 37mm., this is my first Antioch Justinian facing bust follis, and was chosen because it's an attractive coin. [ATTACH=full]1481553[/ATTACH] Justinian I (527-565). Æ 40 Nummi (37mm, 20.77g, 6h). Theoupolis (Antioch), year 20 (546/7). Facing helmed and cuirassed bust, holding globus cruiciger. R/ Large M; cross above, date across field; A/9HЧΠ. MIBE 145a; DOC 217; Sear 220. Good VF The others were just regular orders or throw-ins. [ATTACH=full]1481554[/ATTACH] alens (364-378). AR Siliqua (18mm, 1.60g, 6h). Treveri, 367-375. Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r. R/ Roma seated l., holding Victory on globe and spear; TRPS•. RIC IX 27e; RSC 109†b. Edge broken, otherwise Good VF The coin's a bit darker than the picture. I wonder if it's a hoard patina? I don't collect the post-Maxentius emperors that much, but even with the edge chip, it's my nicest Valens to date.  I usually try and only go after non-clipped siliquae. I've always wanted an example of this Maximinus debased argenteus, and at only $36, it wasn't appreciably worse than many of the more expensive vcoins examples.  This one looks better in person. [ATTACH=full]1481557[/ATTACH] Maximinus II (310-313). BI Argenteus (18.5mm, 2.53g, 11h). Treveri. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust l., raising hand and holding globe. R/ Sol driving facing quadriga, head l., raising hand and holding whip; PTR. RIC VI 826; RSC 174. VF The last one is a truly tiny coin.  I threw it in because it was so early. [ATTACH=full]1481564[/ATTACH]Lesbos, Unattributed early mint, c. 500-450 BC. BI 1/12 Stater (9mm, 0.63g). Confronted boars’ heads. R/ Four-part incuse square. HGC 6, 1067.[/QUOTE]

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