It had seemed tantalizingly probable that I was about to win a long sought after replacement coin....and my maximum was still in command until two additional bidders entered the fray during the last minutes of the auction and then kept leapfrogging over each other---- the coin eventually sold for over $200 beyond my maximum. That very same coin recently sold for just over the previous auction estimate in January 2016 at only about half of what it sold for yesterday.....The coin itself??? A Shekal of Tyre in overall VF grade. So, I 'consoled' myself with this purchase---- a somewhat worn, off-struck denarius of a 'lifetime' issue of Sulla as Dictator. I'd naturally 'prefer' a higher grade example, but I LOVE this one. According to the description provided by the seller: "While Sulla's enemy Marius claimed Apollo as his divine patron, Sulla invoked the goddess Venus. The double cornucopia is an attribute of Fortuna and may allude to Sulla's cognomen 'Felix' but it may also suggest that this issue was intended to defray the expenses of some special largesse of grain---- the inhabitants of Rome must have badly needed some assistance after the recent struggles..." Sulla as Dictator, AR denarius, unknown Italian mint, struck 81 BC; 3.47 grams, 17.78 mm Diademed head of Venus right, wearing single-pennant earring and necklace Filleted double cornocopiae, Q below. Craw 72/2, SYD 755, Cornelia 33 The 'busts' are of probable images of Sulla and Marius.
Nice coin @Mikey Zee! Love the wear, good portrait. Missing from my collection is a lifetime issues of Sulla as Dictator, I need one!
As consolation prizes go, that's quite a catch. When it comes to Tyrian shekels, the market is driven by collectors of Biblical coins - these are the "thirty pieces of silver" types, paid to Judas for his betrayal of Jesus. Yesterday I saw one sell on eBay that was grossly over-graded by NGC, for a little over $1000.
Lets be careful to recognize that not all Shekels of Tyre are equally desirable to the Biblical interest group. The coins were struck in more than one mint. Jerusalem mint carries a premium. The things were struck over a period of years and are year dated. You might like FDC coins of good style but you may pay more for a Jerusalem mint coin of 30 AD just because someone out there wants a coin that was in Judas' bag of 30. Dates after about 33 were pretty likely not made in time to have Judas' fingerprints on them. Is this crazy? In my opinion paying a premium for common coins of no great style because many non-collectors want them makes little sense. If it were not for the Bible link, how much would you expect to pay for low grade Widow's Mites? Got to go now, the Fed Ex truck is in the driveway. That is a good sign.
A bit amazing isn't it JA...and Doug. The referenced shekal was struck 98/97 BC from Tyre. My previously owned shekal was purchased about 15 years ago (sold over four years ago) and cost me about $700.00 shipped in VF grade. Now all I see are offerings for well over 1,000 and many much higher. Somehow I missed that lower auction offering (Agora?) I referred to in my OP for that very same shekal...selling for $600 hammer and 'flipped' on my unsuccessful auction attempt. So many are 'over-priced' (IMHO) and I agree with you on what appears to be driving the costs ever upward...especially the Jerusalem pre-33 AD connection.
The problem resides with both collectors AND dealers. Many collectors simply don't educate themselves to the distinctions, say, between shekels of different dates and mints. But at the same time, many dealers don't bother making the distinctions either, hoping to lure someone into buying something under false pretenses, ie., any Tyrian shekel will do for an example of the thirty pieces of silver. By the same token, I've seen First Jewish War prutoh advertised as Widow's Mites, despite the fact that they weren't struck until around AD 66.
that's a wonderful consolation prize MZ! i've been on an auction loosing streak as well. what did the fed ex guy bring to DS? inquiring minds want to know!
@Mikey Zee : DUUuuuudde!!! You are WAY-WAY-WAY ahead with this Sulla over the over-priced Shekel!!! I agree with what JA says...and I would take your Sulla ANY DAY!!! YOU got the best deal in MY book! Well done, LOVE that coin!!! I don't have it, but I am going to use the biblical: I COVET that coin!
Yeah, me too...and you know it has to be interesting on so many levels..... Thanks @Alegandron .....I'm more than happy with it...I bought it from ACM, using my e-Bay bucks and a new policy of hers (Ledi) of giving a 8% discount after winning her coins....Hmmm, should I have revealed that
The doorbell also rings for those of us who buy 10 junkers in one sale rather than one nice coin at the same price. When I get photos posted, inquiring minds will want to yawn but Bing and better will be able to post their nicer ones. I get a kick out of how Registered letters from overseas have to be signed for when they contain a coin that would cost more to mail back than it would to throw it out. In this case the ten would add up to enough to get registered but no one coin would be if mailed within the US.
As others have already said, that's an excellent 'consolation' coin! Nothing wrong with it and personally I find it far more interesting than your lost shekel.
