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Message:: [QUOTE="Valentinian, post: 2364777, member: 44316"]Some types are much less rare than they used to be and sometimes a type that was rare in 1990 is worth far less now than it was then.   Here is a type, about which in 1992 Grierson and Mays (Catalog of Late Roman Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection") wrote, [p. 241, noting that the type existed for Theodosius II] the existence of "such coins on behalf of Valentinian III seems unlikely."  By 1994 Kent was able to write in RIC X [p. 92] "known from three examples."  It is RIC X 461.   In 1995 ["The Large bronze of Valentinian III," Numismatic Chronicle, p.271-275 and plate 48, 2 and 3] Korshenko et al. wrote "During recent years a number of coins have been found with the legible name of Valentinian in public and private collections in Russia and the Crimea. Unfortunately, most were in bad and very bad condition. Usually only a few characters and part of the type were visible. Nevertheless, at least 6 obverse dies and 7 reverse dies could be distinguished among 17 readable specimens which were examined, bearing the name of Valentinian. Among these pieces two were in good condition."  Those two are illustrated with both line drawings and enlarged photos. This one, with all its flaws, is slightly better than either. [ATTACH=full]482866[/ATTACH] This type is quite rare for Theodosius II and significantly rarer for Valentinian III. This is because Valentinian III was the western emperor and this is an type issued by Theodosius II in the east.  In RIC Theodosius II is "R3" and Valentinian III "R4" with its three known examples (at the time).CONCOR-DIA AGV [sic] andhas mintmark CONS [with backward N's] It is sometimes said to have been minted in Constantinople for distribution at or near Cherson in Crimea on the north side of the Black Sea. However, it might have been minted at Cherson. It seems to be found only in Crimea and possibly Russia.  This piece:  22-21 mm. 5.51 grams 6:00 die axis.  Had you wanted this type in the 1990's it was simply unavailable. During 2002-2005 (I don't recall the exact dates) some examples of Theodosius II appeared and fewer of Valentinian III (in terrible shape-broken, etc.). The best examples available were half as nice as this one and offered at about $1000 (I don't know if they sold at that price), even those in the name of Theodosius II.    RIC thinks it was struck about 437 when Theodosius II got married. Most copper coins from that era are really bad and AE4 size, so this AE2 denomination is remarkable. But, examples worse than this one are no longer worth more than $1000. The Iron Curtain came down and coins became available to the west that were almost unknown before. Prices of those that had been known came down too. This coin is worth much less than it was in 2005.    The long-time collectors on this forum could start a thread on coins that are worth less than they used to be.[/QUOTE]

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