Sometimes I buy group lots for just one coin and this week I scored two unlisted coins. The first is a Constantine I from a group of 10 coins. It is not listed in Roman Imperial Coinage VII for the bust type with obverse legend; nor is it in Bastien's Le monnayage de l’atelier de Lyon (318–337). It should come after RIC VII Lyon 128, Constantine I A.D. 321 CONSTANTINVS AVG; laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. BEATA TRANQVILLITAS; globe set on altar inscribed VO/TIS/XX; above, three stars; C-R across fields. in ex. PLG RIC VII Lyon —; Bastien — This coin was also in a lot of 10. To say it is rare is an understatement. I have never had an example; but there are a few online. It is RIC VIII Rome 208, with an unlisted workshop. Bastien's Le monnayage de Magnence (350-353) has two examples from workshop B; but none known from workshop S. The reverse legend translates as “Renewal/rebirth of the city of Rome” in reference to the defeat of Nepotian. Decentius A.D. 350 MAG DECENTIVS•N•CS•; bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right RENOBATIO VRBIS ROME; Roma helmeted std. l. on throne, holding Victory on globe and spear, beside her, a shield. In ex. RS RIC VIII Lyon 208; Bastien 465 (2 ex. for B) edited because I thought this coin was not in RIC
Double congrats! Cool historical connection to Nepotian's defeat. And I really like the Decentius portrait -- expressive eyes in particular.
Congrats on those new additions, Victor. It's great that this group lot went to a specialist to see such rarities versus a newbie.
As a newbie Matt, I would have kept those for my collection. They have great character, and nice details.
[QUOTE="Blake Davis, post: 26061352, member: 91820"Beautifully done - would love to know where you bought the group lot but I understand that that is privileged information; I started by buying group lots from Paganecoins - these were incredibly high grade fourth century coins - I believe Curtis Clay found a Jotopian (sp?) in one of the lots. The 100 coins lots would typically sell for between $300 to $400 - today these would go for ten times that price.][/QUOTE] He is an eBay seller that listed several group lots of ancients; but nothing since then. He doesn't seem to deal with ancients; but somehow acquired a group of them. I remember Pagane...lots of competition now for quality LRB's.
I was reminiscing about group lots and thought that I would post my best coin ever from a group lot. It was a previously unknown type from Arles that I eventually sold to a museum in the city it was minted. Sometimes I wish that I had kept it; but it was nice to send it back home. https://constantinethegreatcoins.com/VICTORIA/
Hi @Victor_Clark, Out of curiosity, did you contact the museum, or did they contact you first? - Broucheion
I just found a very rare coin in a group lot - the coin is from a city that was discovered in 1978 in Caria. The city is called Kranaos, the coin was struck around 300BC is copper, 11mm, 1.28 grams. This is the far better example from CNG research. The city is discussed in A. Walker, "Kranaos, A new mint in Caria" in SM 112 (1978), p. 87, fig. 3 and 4;
