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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 3299793, member: 19463&quot;]I agree with Finn235 on this matter and it probably explains why so many beginners start with a Gordian and fewer with Valerian.&nbsp; The problem is both the decreasing quality of the metal and the overall workmanship.&nbsp; By the time Valerian entered the scene, Roman silver coins had been debased about as far as you can go and still have coins that look silver even if you are using the &#039;cheat&#039; of surface enrichment (acid bathing the flans to remove copper in the alloy near the surface).&nbsp; Finn&#039;s coin is a good example of the other problem.&nbsp; The reverse die is worn beyond a point that the earlier reigns would have replaced it.&nbsp; There are some well made and good looking coins of Valerian but there are more that show problems either from metal or quality control.&nbsp; It is hard to find a Gordian or Philip that does not look better than this but more than a few Valerians are much worse.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]873891[/ATTACH]</p><p>On the good side, there are sellers who do not have a grasp on this and sell Valerians based on how they look compared to the earlier standards so the patient buyer can find a bargain now and then.&nbsp; Those same sellers usually don&#039;t mark down the Gordians.&nbsp; If a XF/AU is worth only $40, the VF coins can still be attractive but should be half that price or less.&nbsp; Finn also pointed out the other matter of importance:&nbsp; Philip has quite a few reverses that are better than average and strike me as worth a premium.&nbsp; People make fun of my statements calling some reverses &#039;someone standing there&#039; but there are some of us who prefer some lion standing there, some elephant standing there or even someone standing there surrounded by an upgrade legend rather than the simple &#039;xxxxAVG&#039; formula. </p><p>Three Philips</p><p>[ATTACH=full]873894[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]873895[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>SPES FELICITATIS ORBIS Hope for world happiness (just walking there<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie50" alt=":happy:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />)</p><p>[ATTACH=full]873897[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>I do not own a Gordian III that I feel has a &#039;special&#039; reverse.&nbsp; Does anyone have anything that is not a just someone &#039;just standing, sitting, walking etc.&#039; ?&nbsp; My closest is the denarius with Gordian on horseback.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]873904[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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