Three Cheap Roman Newps.

I collected three coins today.

1. A marvelous Valentinian I with sharp detail, full legends, and a clear mint mark. I've lately become more and more interested in post-Constantinian bronzes, so I was happy to find this coin for the price of a sandwich.

2. A Constantius II FH. I have several examples of this ubiquitous type, but this one struck me as one of the nicest for an AE3: almost complete legends and crisp detail on both sides. The drawback is the weak mint mark, which is obviously Siscia, but I can't make out anything else. Still, most FH AE3's are poorly made and preserved, and this one stood out for its sharp, clean character. Also for the price of a sandwich.

3. A lovely ant of Gallienus with chiseled devices on a round flan, Virtus reverse. For the price of two sandwiches, how could I go wrong?

 

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I have actually gotten more interested in later roman coins just because you can get them for such a nice cheap price.

Any Gallienus that has a full legend and a portrait as nice as the one is a real winner in my books and I think you got a bit of a steal on it!

Have you been able to ID the mint on the FH?

 

SIS is all I see - the rest is rubbed out or poorly struck.

And yes, there is a lot of interesting numismatics in the era of Valentinian, Valens, Theodosius, Honorius, Arcadius, etc. I'm just beginning to explore it, but it does seem that collectors are less interested in this period than others, keeping the prices low - at least for the common issues.

 

I bid on four LRBs today, but my bids were too low. Most LRBs are not that attractive to me, but when they are well struck and detail remaining, they can be as nice as any other era. All three of your new coins are nice, but the Gallienus is my favorite.

 

nice lookin' LRB JA.

 

All three look very nice. Congrats!

 

Three sweet new LRB's my friend ... congrats

I like the reverses with some good ol' fashioned brutality on 'em!!

 

Hey! These aren't Nabaeteans! What have you done with the real JA?!?!

Choice pickups!

 

Huh, I am not feeling the Gallienus much, I like the other two more, go figure. Maybe its cause my Gallienus is an early one with good silver. They're available and affordable. So I just snub the later ones even though some rare reverses can be found.

 

Fineness isn't a consideration for me with later ants, other than to mark the gradual debasement. I don't collect any one sort of metal more than I collect coins for numismatic interest.

 

I really dont either, I go for portrait more then anything. My Gallienus was one of the first 5 coins I ever bought though. I had no idea about debasements at the time.

 

JA a true Ancient collector, three very nice coins...

 

That Gallienus is very attractive. Nice photograph, too.

 

Those are the dealer's pics. I'm still waiting for Santa Claus on these.

 

I love that Gallenius JA. It's interesting to note the style differences between my "ex. JA" and your "soon to be JA."


Gallienus Billon Antoninianus. Asian mint. GALLIENVS AVG, radiate, draped bust right / ROMAE AETERNAE, Roma seated left on shield, holding Victory & spear. Cohen 919; Sear5 10343. (Cost: zero sandwiches. )

 

Gallienus was a handsome man, judging from the various sculptures of his bust, but for some reason he doesn't fare well on the coinage. The Eastern mint portraits are particularly cartoonish.

 

Mind as well post mine:


Gallienus (253 - 268 A.D.)
AR Antoninianus
O: IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate and cuirassed bust right.
R: IOVI CONSERVA, Jupiter standing left, head turned right, holding scepter in right and thunderbolt in left.
5.1g
24mm
RIC 143F (Rome) Sear 10237

 

Great coin, Mat. EF+

 

I have way too many Gallienus coins, but this has the best portrait of my herd:

GALLIENUS Antoninianus
OBVERSE: GALLIENVSAVG - Radiate head right
REVERSE: PAXAVG - Pax standing left, holding olive branch and scepter in left. "S" and "I" across fields
Struck at Siscia, 260-8 AD
3.1g, 19mm
RIC 575k, C 729

 

An excellent portrait, Bing. I have one comparable.

Gallienus, 253-268
AE Antoninianus, Rome mint, 268 AD
Obv.: GALLIENVS AVG; Radiate bust right
Rev.: P M TR P XVI COS VII; Emperor standing left, holding globe and sceptre
Reference: RIC V(a) Gallienus Sole Rule 156 (p. 144)
Notes: This is the last issue in the dated series of antoniniani.