These are all great coins. My favorite so far is @red_spork 's Marcus Furius Lucii filius Philus denarius. I use my real face and real name and will not be talking about coins worth more than $100.
I don't have many in this price range--I'm more of a < $100 per coin guy--but these sestertii of Severus Alexander and his wife fall into this range:
Some recents: RR L Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus Asiagenus AR Serrate Denarius 4.0g 19mm Rome 106 BCE Hd Jupiter l - Jupiter quad r scepter tbolt L•SCIP•ASIAG B Cr 311-1e Syd 576 GAIUS CASSIUS LONGINUS & PUBLIUS CORNELIUS LENTULUS SPINTHER AR silver denarius. Struck circa 42 BC, at a mobile military mint moving with Brutus & Cassius, probably located in Smyrna. C CASSI IMP LEIBERTAS, veiled & draped bust of Libertas right. Reverse - LENTVLVS SPINT, jug & lituus. 18mm, 3.3g. Anonymous Æ Semis. Rome, after 211 BC. Laureate head of Saturn right; S (mark of value) behind / Prow right; S (mark of value) above; ROMA below. Crawford 56/3. 19.33g, 26mm, 5h. Anonymous. ca. 211-210 B.C. AR quinarius (16.34 mm, 2.14 g, 2 h). Southeast Italian mint. Helmeted head of Roma right, V behind / ROMA, the Dioscuri riding right, each holds a spear; H below. Crawford 85/1a; Sydenham 174; RSC 33b. Good VF, toned. Scarce. Ex RBW collection (not in previous sales); Ex Claude Ansellem 12/86 Anonymous. 115-114 B.C. AR denarius (19.52 mm, 3.82 g, 8 h). Rome mint. ROMA, helmeted head of Roma right; X behind / Roma seated right on pile of shields, holding spear; birds flying above; she-wolf suckling the twins Romulus and Remus before. Crawford 287/1; Sydenham 530; RSC 176. Good VF/VF, minor porosity, scratch on obverse. From the Joseph Donzanti Collection; Ex Roma Numismatics Egypt, Alexandria. Dattari. In the name of Livia, wife of Augustus Diobol circa 1-2 (year 31), Æ 23.5mm., 7.46g. Draped bust r. Rev. Athena standing l., holding Nike and leaning on shield; L-ΛA. Dattari-Savio Pl. 3, 60 (this coin). RPC pag. 692, 5 (this coin cited). Very rare. Nice brown-green tone. Very Fine From the Dattari collection. In our opinion is correct the interpretation of Dattari on this coin and the date shown on the Rev. is L-ΛA and not LMA as suggested from RPC. Arabia Petraea, Bostra. Trajan. A.D. 98-117. AR drachm (18.57 mm, 2.92 g, 8 h). Struck A.D. 114-116. AYTOKP KAIC NEP TPAIANω APICTω CЄB ΓЄPM ΔAK, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / ΔHMAPX EΞ UPATO ς, Camel walking left. SNG ANS 1158; SNG von Aulock 6408; Sydenham, Caesarea 205. VF. Ex Harlan J. Berk. Roman Republic Italy, Rome P.CORNELIUS P.F. BLASIO (BC 169-158) AE Sextans Standard As 35 mm x 42.5 grams. Obverse: Laureate head of Janus, mark of value above. Reverse: Prow right, P.BLAS above mark of value before ROMA below Ref:Sear 703,Babelon Cornelia 6. Sydenham 370. Crawford 189/1. Prov: ex ebay (2/2016), ex. Naville Numismatics Auc. 8 Lot 90 (7/2014), ex. Ex I. Vecchi sale 3, 344.(1996) GALBA AR Quinarius ; Lugdunum mint Ox: SER GALBA IMP CAESAR AVG P M TR, laureate head right Rx VICTORIAE GALBAE AVG, Victory on globe standing left A scarce denomination from a very scarce Emperor. 15mm, 1.5g. Anonymous After 211 B.C. Sestertius Good VF -- #AC72188 AR Sestertius 12mm. 1.00g. Rome Mint Helmeted head of Roma, r.; IIS behind. Dioscuri riding r.; stars above; In ex.: ROMA Crawford 44/7; RSC Anonymous 4 Good VF. Brightly lustrous and attractive. Scarce. Minor crystallization visible at tiny edge chip.
Here's one that I missed earlier but had been planning to share in this thread. I purchased this Antony denarius for $190 from a Vcoins dealer in February 2015. It is my only one so far but still one of my favorite coins. Many of these are struck off center or partially flatly struck and while the "V" in "LEG XV" isn't quite as clear as I'd like, I was thrilled to find an otherwise well centered and well struck example for the price Roman Imperatorial period AR denarius(3.40g, 17mm). Marc Antony, triumvir, 32-31 BC, Patrae(?) mint. Galley right, with sceptre tied with fillet on prow; above ANT AVG; below, III VIR R P C / Aquila between two standards; below, LEG XV. Border of dots. Crawford 544/30; Sydenham 1235.
A few more recents: Balbinus, AD 238 AR Denarius, 20mm, 3.7g, 12h; Rome, AD 238. Obv.: IMP C D CAEL BALBINVS AVG; Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right. Rev.: VICTORIA AVGG; Victory standing front with wreath and palm. Reference: RIC 8 Anonymous. Circa 235 BC. Æ Double Litra (19.5mm, 6.54 g, 8h). Rome mint. Head of Hercules right; club below / Pegasus right; club above, ROMA below. Crawford 27/3; HN Italy 316. VF, rough, brown surfaces.From the RJM Collection. Victoriatus circa 206-195, AR 16.5mm., 2.61g. Laureate head of Jupiter r. Rev. Victory crowning trophy; in centre field, sow r. and in exergue, ROMA. Sydenham 253. Russo RBW 554. Crawford 121/1. About Very Fine. Privately purchased from L. Simonetti Firenze. - From the E.E. Clain-Stefanelli Collection. MAKEDON Alexander III. 336-323 BC. AR Obol (7mm, 0.51g). Babylon mint. Lifetime issue, struck circa 336-323 BC. Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress Rev: Club, bow, and quiver; monogram in wreath left, M right. RARE Ref: Price 3744. Near EF! Rome Silbersud-Antoninianus 285 AD Grade: extremly fine Abbreviations Catalog: RIC 343 Material: bronze Weight: 3.40 g Diameter: 23.00 mm Silvered-Antoninian of Magna Urbia, coined 285 AD in Rome. Obv: Drap. Bust on crescent n. Right, wears Diadem MAGNIA VRBICAE AVG Rev: Venus on the left, holding apple and scepter, at the foot of a shield VENVS GENETRIX Preservation: excellent RIC 343, C.17 rare! Fine portrait! Lucilla Ar. denarius, LVCILLA AVUGVSTA, bust r., rev., IVNONI LVCINAE, Juno seated on l. low seat, holding a flower and child in swaddling clothes (Seaby, 36.) 3.1 g Roman Republic, Ti. Minucius C.f. Augurinus, moneyer. AR denarius, 18mm, 3.9g, 8h; Rome mint, 134 BC Obv.: Helmeted head of Roma right; behind, XVI monogram. Border of dots. Rev.: Spiral column; standing on column, statue holding staff in right hand; at base of column, two corn-ears; on left, togate figure holding loaves(?) in both hands and placing left foot on modius; on right, togate figure holding lituus in right hand; above, ROMA; on left, TI MINVCI C F upwards; on right, AVGVRINI downwards. Border of dots. Reference: Crawford 243/1; Sydenham 494; Minucia 9. From the Collection of Fred Shore Egyptian Amenhotep III Scarab New Kingdom, Reign of Amenhotep III, 1390-1352 BC. Obv: A stone scarab with detailed carapace and legs; Rev: to the underside a cartouche with Neb Maat Ra, the prenomen of Amenhotep III, and series of hieroglyphs; pierced through body for suspension. 41.37 grams, 45mm (1 3/4") Ex Gustave Mustaki collection, some of the Mustaki collection is in the British Museum, Comments: the collection was exported to the UK with export permits in 1948. CARTHAGE, Second Punic War. Circa 215-201 BC. Æ Shekel (20mm, 9.03 g, 4h). Carthage mint. Wreathed head of Tanit left / Horse stepping right; long kerykeion in background. CNP 226; MAA 91; SNG Copenhagen 327. Fine, dark green patina with patches of red, rough surfaces, cleaning scratches.From the J. P. Righetti Collection, 37 Anonymous. 214-212 B.C. AE quadrans (28.1 mm, 19.28 g, 1 h). Sicilian mint. Head of Hercules right, wearing boar's-skin headdress; three pellets behind / ROMA, bull charging right; grain ear and three pellets above, snake below. Crawford 72/7; Sydenham 94. aVF, black patina, lightly porous. Ex RBW collection (not in previous sales).
@FitzNigel in post #3: That is definitely a premium Achaemenid siglos, with better detail on the king than usual and some interesting banker's marks. Not sure if I personally would be willing to pay $200 for it, but certainly a higher-end coin for its type. I posted a full write-up of this coin recently; it's a didrachm of Tyre, c.4th century BC, won from Frank Robinson for $205: And this Arab-Sasanian bronze is from a few years ago, won at a CNG for about $175:
I'm really enjoying the variety of coins that we've seen so far in this price category, not to mention the quality of some of them. Really excellent stuff! This very worn sestertius has a decent portrait, and well, that's about it. In this condition, you could say that it has no business being in this category ($225 shipped), except that it's a coin of Didia Clara, daughter of the man who bought the throne with his incredible wealth. She's on the rare side, and gets much pricier in better grade. DIDIA CLARA, daughter of Didius Julianus AE Sestertius. 18.24g, 30.0mm. Rome mint, AD 193. Struck under Didius Julianus. RIC 20; Cohen 4. O: DIDIA CLARA AVG, draped bust right. R: HILAR TEMPOR, Hilaritas standing left, holding long palm in extended right hand and cornucopiae in left hand; S-C across field. Ex Dr. Rainer Pudill Collection Another example of a 'junky' bronze that gets really pricey in higher grades is this drachm of Antoninus Pius from the "Zodiac series" issued at Alexandria. I paid $193 for it earlier this month, which I honestly thought was a really good deal. It was $97 before fees in a 2005 CNG auction, but the prices of desirable types Roman-Egypt coins have really been going up in recent years. ANTONINUS PIUS AE Drachm. 24.39g, 35mm. EGYPT, Alexandria, RY 8 = AD 144/5. Emmett 1530; Dattari 2968; RPC Online 13547 (31 spec). O: Laureate head right. R: Sun in Leo: Lion (Leo) running right, radiate and draped bust of Helios and star above; L H below. Ex CNG E-sale 125 (26 Oct 2005), Lot 155
~$225 Theodahad, Ostrogothic Kingdom AE decanummium Obv: INVICT-A ROMA, Roma helmeted, facing right Rev: D N / THEODA / HATHVS / REX within wreath, X below Mint: Rome Date: 534-536 AD Ref: COI 90
~220 eur Macrinus - Denarius Obv: IMPCMOPELSEVMACRINVSAVG - Laureate, cuirassed bust right. Rev: PONTIFMAXTRPCOSPP - Securitas standing left, leaning on column and with legs crossed, holding scepter. 217 (Rome).
That is a great Orbiana!!! Mine looks worse AND I paid more for it... My favorite middle bronzes do fall in this price category: Antonia Dupondius (200 USD): Germanicus As (245 USD): Drusus Caesar As (250 USD): That was a good deal . I´m envious...
Your Bactrian drachm is a real gem, @FitzNigel ! I like the Darius I—Xerxes II also! You can actually see the expression on the kings face!
ABSOLUTELY!!!! It seems half of the coins i have purchased fall within this price range... Bronze assarion, H-H-J Nikopolis 8.26.6.6 (R2, same dies), Varbanov I 3825 (R3, same dies), AMNG I/I 2018, SNG Cop -, EF, centered, green patina with a few coppery high spots, Nicopolis ad Istrum (Nikyup, Bulgaria) mint, weight 3.726g, maximum diameter 17.8mm, die axis 180o, obverseAVT M AVPH - ANΩNINO-C, laureate head right; reverse NIKOΠOΛITΩN ΠPOCICTPON, draped bust of Serapis right, wearing kalathos.......... $200.00 AEMILIAN, 253 AD. AR Antoninianus (3.28 gm). Radiate draped bust / Apollo standing holding branch and lyre. RIC.1. RSC.2. Toned VF. Rare----$220.00 T. Carisius. 46 B.C. AR denarius (17.7 mm, 3.92 g, 2 h). Rome mint. Scarce. Head of Sibyl Herophile right / T·CARISIVS, III·VIR, Sphinx seated right. Crawford 464/1; Sydenham 983; RSC Carisia 10. VF.-----$250.00
Thank you, @zumbly ! Many of my coins fall into the $200 range but here is the most recent. I have difficulty passing up these large (quarter sized) Herod the Great coins of which I have several. Part of my impulse to purchase these when I see them comes from the scarcity of quality ones on the market. Of course nowadays quality must also mean—ones that have not been tooled, smoothed, or artificially re-patinated. It's very important to purchase these only from respected dealers! Of course that rule goes for all ancients!
I'll throw in another. I probably paid more than I should have for this sestertius but i became increasingly frustrated at constantly being out-bid on so many others Nero 54 - 68 AD. Sestertius, Lyons, 65 AD, AE 26.53 g. 36 mm. NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P, Laureate head right, with large globe (later type of globe) at point of bust / S - C, Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory and parazonium behind her, two shields. In exergue, ROMA. Cohen 261 BMC 324 RIC 442 CBN 76.----------------------------$197.00
$200 for this Augustus And I'll fees up to paying $225 for this And I believe this Istros drachm below was just shy of $200
RR C Mamilius 82 BCE AR Den Serrate Mercury caduceus Ulysses Dog Argos Sear 282 Craw 362-1 RImp Albinus Bruti AR Den 48 BC Mars Carnyces Cr 450-1a This one was so weird, I had to get it: RR M Furius ERROR DOUBLE-STRIKE AR Den 119 BC 3.8g 20mm Janus Trophy Carnyx Sear 156 Craw 281/1
Well, I've only got one to show. 215. This is what it looked like to me when I got it out of the envelope.