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 Replies: 24 / Views: 2,643 |
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New Member
 Canada
29 Posts |
Thank you for the suggestion on the Bronze coin above...certainly a very appealing dark green patina.They are still uncovering Dacian Gold in the Carpathian mountains of Romania although there does seem to be a troublesome Black Market that the authorities are trying to stamp out.The situation has improved in recent years I understand with Romanians being more interested in the local history and reporting finds to the museum.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
After I made the suggestion I actually looked closer at the sellers pics .......
The coin is being sold in a plastic case with the information printed on a label. The coin is identified as a sestertius but the specs read otherwise. 24mm and 7.9 grams ! It isn't a sestertius at all. In fact it is the very rare (for the AD 250's) bronze As !
If I was not feeling poor these days I would have already made the guy an offer !
By the mid 3rd century both the silver denarius and bronze As/Dupondius had virtually disappeared from circulation. Many reduced sestertii weigh in at 13-15 grams. At 7.9 grams this can only be an As.
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New Member
Canada
29 Posts |
darn! I've only been a Coin Forum member a few days and it has already cost me $100.00! lol...All kidding aside I thank you FVRIVS for the info and heads up.The more I looked at the coin I found it very appealing with nice definition for the price which is basically a meal for two at Denny's these days and your assertion it was rare made it a no brainer...Such history..Thanks again!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
Congratulations ! Hopefully you won't hate me now ....... I did a quick Vcoins search and found this one not that much different than this one Note the "outdated" description of the reverse ! Also note the ask price ....... I think you did well https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/wa...Default.aspx |
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New Member
Canada
29 Posts |
Even better!...and yes Dacian warrior holding staff with head of Dragon sounds better than holding staff with head of Ass..lol. Thanks again
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
I think that ebay seller owes FR a commission on the sale... Edit: since Peter is new here, and we want him to feel welcome, I won't suggest a finder's fee... Edited by Kamnaskires
07/14/2016 6:41 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
I didn't really expect our new member to dive straight into the pool at my suggestion.
But all in all I do believe he did well enough.
There are some similar bronzes selling in the same price range but they do lack the impressive green patination that this one has.
Thick patination of this nature on bronze can only be found on a genuine ancient coin. While the coin is less than perfect it is a good example of the type and it is the more desirable denomination.
He didn't exactly steal it ....... but I don't think it was a bad price either.
One word of advice though
Coin dealers are like rug merchants !
It never hurts to make them an offer ...... they often will take it !
If not ..... so it goes !
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New Member
Canada
29 Posts |
So you called it an As/Dupondius bronze FVRIVS? When I Google(because now I have to find out every thing I can about my new coin of course) you do certainly see the sestertius variety size with similar image of Trajan and Dacian holding staff but not many of this variant.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
In the early 3rd century a new coin (double denarius) came into being during the reign of Caracalla which has been given the name of antoninianus or sometimes 'ant' for short. No one actually is certain of the original name.
It was an inflationary coin as it was tariffed at 2 denari yet weighed only 1.5
The sestertius was also reduced over this period. For convenience think of the sestertius (originally 'brass' 30mm 28gr) as a dollar. The dupondius (brass 27mm 13-14 grams) a half dollar and the as (copper 27mm 10 grams) as a quarter dollar).
By the 250's the denarius had vanished. The 'ant' had been debased and reduced in size. The sestertius had been reduced to between 15 or 20 grams (no longer brass but now bronze) and both the as and dupondius were almost unknown (dupondius distinguished by radiate crown).
I see many listings on Wildwinds described as being the as denomination but a look at the weight (between 13-15 grams) shows me that they are actually a reduced sestertius. That is how inflation worked in the bad old days. The money literally got smaller !
At 24mm and 7.9 grams this coin can only be an as. You won't find too many of them as the reduced sestertius had replaced them and in fact for a few years a double sestertius (radiate crown and weighing around 25 grams) was produced.
The period was a downward spiral as bad money always chases out the good. By the 270's the chaos had created an economic system that relied on the debased (virtually bronze) 'ant' with gold and occasional silver produced for the elite alone.
By the 290's Diocletian threw out the ancient system and attempted to start over with a new system based on the "billon" follis.
It worked for around ten years before the downward spiral started all over again and the money grew visibly smaller nearly every year
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New Member
Canada
29 Posts |
Impressive knowledge FVRIVS! 250AD is still shrouded in mystery for sure(right in between Christ and the King Arthur myth to come 200 years later) even with all of the findings in our modern era.I will print your response and put it with the coin to avoid confusion in the future..Thanks!
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New Member
Canada
29 Posts |
My coin arrived and as FVRIVS suggested it is much nicer "in hand" at certain angles the definition is very crisp and sharp...an inanimate object for sure but the link to the past is very tangible and real. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ancient-Rom...&pid=100102& |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
Glad to know you are happy with the purchase !
As mentioned before I had no inkling you would dive head first for the suggestion !
I had a good feeling about this piece though as it has the sort of wonderful green patination that just cannot be faked.
As a collector and big fan of these emerald beauties I also know how difficult it can be to photograph them in a manner that gives a true feel of the way they actually look.
The sellers pics had harsh direct lighting (too much glare) and the Crimson background doesn't help either. I have found neutral background best and the darker the better.
Good luck with the new collection !
Good start !
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New Member
Canada
29 Posts |
Thanks again FVRIVS! I'm curious as to why the letters on the reverse are randomly placed DAASC and don't really spell out anything...why is that?
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Valued Member
Canada
266 Posts |
They aren't Random, It spells D-A-C-I-A starting at the bottom left and goes clockwise around the coin
and the S and C are part of a separate word short for Senatus Consulto
Edited by arnoldoe
07/28/2016 3:57 pm
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New Member
Canada
29 Posts |
Thanks arnoldoe! The C and the I are a little less defined but now I can see them...even other variants online are rough around the edges so it wasn't jumping out at me.
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Replies: 24 / Views: 2,643 |
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Posted 07/14/2016 4:11 pm
