What Your Budget Buys - Bargain Bin Edition

My first thread in this series asked you to show coins that cost you in the neighborhood of $75. Now that we've broken the ice, we're going to head over to the "Bargain Bin section" of the coin shop. In the following weeks, we'll progressively move up the budget range ladder.

The call here is specifically for coins that cost you $20 or under (ie., anything from $1 - $20), and especially, those purchased in the recent past.

No need to include coins you received as a gift, as part of the reason of this thread series is to show beginners and newbies what they can actually buy at various budget ranges. Also, if a coin is an older purchase (ie., not bought in the past few years), please let us know roughly when bought it. If the coin was part of a bulk or large lot purchase, it would be helpful to mention that too.

I know we have some members here who have consistently proven themselves skilled at nabbing some fantastic low-priced bargains, so I expect we'll see some great coins in this category.

With that, let's see your bargain buys from the bottom feeder's buffet... your most recent acquisitions from dumpster diving du jour... your choice and cherished cheapskate's cha-ching!

 

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One of my favorite bargain bin buys was this $6 ebay snack. You'll have to forgive its condition - it's 2,400 years old - but how cool does young Pan look, sitting on his little goat and blowing his conch shell!

SICILY, Himera
AE Tetras. 2.45g, 16.7mm. SICILY, Himera, circa 420 - 415 BC. HGC 2, 476; CNS I 32. O: Pan as a youth, holding lagobolon over shoulder and blowing on a conch shell, seated on goat prancing right; three pellets (mark of value) below. R: Nike flying left, holding filleted aphlaston and hem of chiton.

Another ebay buy, and another favorite, just under $10 shipped, and a just a little under 5mm at its widest!
IONIA, Teos
AR Tetartemorion. 0.14g, 4.7mm. IONIA, Teos, circa 540-478 BC. Cf. CNG 63, lot 506. O: Head of griffin left. R: Quadripartite incuse square with raised central pellet.

And a gratuitous next-to-a-rice-grain pic for perspective:

 

Ebay is not the only place to find bargain bin items. This one was from a Harlan Berk auction about two years ago, and cost $7 after auction fees and shipping.

CARACALLA
AE 21. 6.48g, 21.4mm, SYRIA, Antiochia ad Orontem, Seleucis and Pieria, AD 213-215. McAlee 696/1 corr; SNG Cop 231. O: AYT KAI ANTONEINOC, laureate head of Caracalla right. R: SC within wreath, eagle below.
Ex Robert Effler Collection

A Constantine I LRB, but a less common type, and just under $20, from the same Harlan Berk auction as the above coin.

CONSTANTINE I
AE3. 3.4g, 19.2mm, Rome mint, AD 318-319. RIC VII Rome 146 (R3); Cohen 470. O: CONSTA-NTINVS AVG, bust right, wearing cuirass and crested helmet. R: ROMAE A-ETERNAE, Roma seated right on shield, inscribing X/V on shield that rests on her knee; P-R in field, RP in exergue.

 

These were all recent $20 coins

 

I don't know how you beat good ol' Roman silver for $20 a pop. Those are some really nice scores, @randygeki! Don't you just love this hobby?

 

Thanks. Definitely love it

 

Wow, Z-- that Teos price is shockingly low! The Pan is pretty cool despite the condition.

I could add >150 coins to this thread but they were from group lots. That isn't really in the spirit of the thread since I had to spend more than $20 to get each lot. Buying large mixed lots is fun though, especially they were (mostly) at the beginning of my collecting and most were unattributed.

 

$15 including shipping, this Tetricus II which I purchased 2 weeks ago.

 

Two are from shows, one is from a non-eBay auction site.


Sicily, Alontion. circa 241-210 BC. AE19 6.39g
Obv: Male (?) head left wearing Phrygian helmet (Perseus, or the founder Patron Turio?)
Rev: Man-headed bull (Acheloios Chydas?) standing left [with water flowing from its mouth]
(purchased as unidentified)


Roman Republic, L. MEMMIUS. Denarius (109-108 BC). Rome. Fourree, 18mm (3.20g)
Obv: Male head right, wearing oak wreath; below chin, star (mark of value).
Rev: L MEMMI. The Dioscuri standing facing between their horses, each holding spear.
Crawford 304/1.


Western Turk dynasties, BI drachm, Kabulistan, 630-711 AD 2.23g 28mm
Obv: Pahlavi lengd NAPKI MALKA; Nezak Malka type, bull's head crown
Rev: Fire altar with two attendents

 

Randy's first coin is an Alexandria mint denarius of Septimius Severus with AEQVITAS II. Twenty years ago we thought these were really rare but now they are only rare as more people recognize them and sort them out of the trash denarii. Last I looked there was another of the mint on eBay going cheaply but i have too many just a bit better. A Rome mint coin in this grade would be $2 IMHO. This still belongs under $20 but is notable for being what it is.

 

I have a lot of coins that fall into this category, but I'll only post a few.

THRACE, PANTIKAPAION
AE18
OBVERSE: Head of Pan left
REVERSE: P-A-N, head & neck of bull three-quarters left.
Struck at Pantikapaion 400-300BC
4.0g, 18mm
SNG BMC Black Sea 890
Cost: $20

PTOLEMY VI
AE20
OBVERSE: Diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right
REVERSE: ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ, two eagles standing left on thunderbolt; cornucopiae before
Struck at CYPRUS 180-176 BC
6.11g, 20mm
Svoronos 1426, SNG Cop 315
Cost: $20

ALEXANDER TROAS CIVIC ISSUE
AE25
OBVERSE: COL ALEX TRO, Turreted & draped bust of city goddess or Tyche right; vexillum behind
REVERSE: COL AL [EX TRO], Horse feeding right, tree behind; beside the horse, a herdsman wearing chlamys, holding pedum in right hand, standing right
Struck at Alexandria Troas, 250-70 AD
5.6g, 24.9mm
BMC 52
Cost: $20

AGRIPPA
AE As
OBVERSE: M AGRIPPA L F COSIII - Head left, wearing rostral crown
REVERSE: No legend - Neptune standing left, holding dolphin and trident; S C across fields
Rome 37-41 AD
11.0g, 28mm
RIC58, BMC 161, BN77, C3
Cost: $20

 

An extremely rare Domitian Caesar denarius won on eBay in 2012 for $19.


Domitian Caesar
AR Denarius, 3.14g
Rome Mint, 79 AD
RIC V1088 (R3), BMC p. 46 note, RSC 379
Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS COS VI; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, l.
Rev: PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS; Vesta std. l., with Palladium and sceptre
Ex Den of Antiquity (eBay), October 2012.

A very scarce (4th known) left facing portrait of the common Vesta and Palladium reverse. It is listed in Cohen as 379 (citing lot 784 of the de Moustier Sale of 1872) , although the new RIC states it is unverified(?). The lone example cited by RIC is in G. Mazzini's Monete imperiali romane, vol. 1. Also, Curtis Clay has a specimen, same die pair as mine. Left facing portraits of Domitian are extremely rare, especially those as Caesar.

This probably is the least expensive denarius in my collection, other than a couple of dealer freebies. Cheap coins have a story to tell too.

 

It's been a while since I spent less than 20 on a coin. Here are a few I got at a coins how last November, they were 4 bucks each.

 

WOW!! What an amazing selection of cool coins for less than $20.00---especially the silver issues!!!

Gallienus. A.D. 253-268. BI antoninianus (23.0 mm, 3.82 g, 11 h). Antioch mint, Struck A.D. 263-264. Scarce type. GALLIENVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P XV P P / VIIC ·, Neptune standing left, foot on prow, holding trident and leaning elbow on knee. Göbl 1638b; RIC 603; RSC 848. ----$13.00


Ae-15mm of Carthage (mint on Sicily), 350-300BC. Av. head of Triptolemos left Rv. horse jumping right-- dark brown patina, 6,01gr. SNG Cop.94---$15.00






IMP C VICTORINVS PF AVG radiate cuirassed bust right PROVIDENTIA AVG Providentia standing left, holding baton and cornucopiae. RIC 61---$11.00

 

That's an outstanding Gallienus, especially for $13!

 

In the 50+ years since I bought my first ancient coins, I have purchased many coins in this price bracket. I decided that my participation in this thread would be limited to coins I bought in 2015, 2016 and 2017 on the theory that there is little for others to learn from the fact that things were cheaper when I was younger. I was surprised how few coins there were. Most of my cheap coins dated to the early 2000's when I was attending coin shows and going through bag after bag of unsorted coins. It was dirty work but someone had to do it. About 50 of those coins were recently featured in John Anthony's sales so some of you have them. The last of that consignment that no one wanted are being given to what I hope will be good homes.

My first offering was a political purchase from a Baltimore show this year. I had enjoyed talking to the seller who was a friend of a friend and gone through his box of $10 coins finding nothing I really needed at that lofty figure but bought this one as pick of the litter. It is a common, late period falling horseman but from Rome mint and better style and condition than many of it's miserable peer group. It was worth $10. Some would pay more but most would question why anyone would bother looking in a $10 pick-out box in the first place. I have received much enjoyment and a few nice coins from such boxes. This coin was for old times sake. If you buy less attractive coins, pay low prices unless you were specializing in falling horsemen and wanted a coin from Rome with a palm in the mintmark or a certain barbarian hairstyle and are willing to admit you are an addict. Then you do what you must.

 

Thanks @TIF

I suggest those interested in coins within this price range check out the Independent sellers at FAC auctions---you might luck out

 

My next one was from a smaller show in 2016 and a favorite dealer who always has a box of 'half price' specials. Most coins in the box are not in the least tempting at full price but look better at half. It is sad that there are many dealers out there who don't have a single coin that I would buy for a quarter of their asking price. There are a few I would have trouble finding something for a tenth. I usually get a few coins from the half price box but recently fewer and fewer have come in under $20 even after being halved. This was $18 down from $36.

Claudius II ae antoninianus / Juno Regina
The coin has a few traces of silvering, decently styled peacock and a left facing portrait. Some dealers ask more for lefties. I tend to buy from the ones who don't. I really don't need more Claudius II coins but he keeps following me home. I am NOT a specialist in these.

 

My third is a 2016 eBay purchase from a seller I have used before. I like overstrikes when you can make out the components. This Byzantine follis of Michael VII Sear Byzantine 1878 was struck over a Romanus IV Sear Byzantine 1865. Most of these are overstruck but not all have details that allow you to ID both parents. That feature drove me to buy it for $19.

 

Here is my $20 Claudius Gothicus - pretty good deal for this coin!