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My First Coins...

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New Member

United States
12 Posts
 Posted 05/01/2014  2:36 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add Jst to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Just got these 3 coins off ebay. Appreciate any input on their authenticity and any other comments please.

One: Constantius II. 2.03 gm. I could not find an exact match anywhere with with same ex. SMALA.

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Two: Valentinian I AE3. 1.6 gm.

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Three: Valens AE3. 2.4 gm.

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Ben's Avatar
United Kingdom
4208 Posts
 Posted 05/01/2014  2:45 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Ben to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
All look authentic. The Alexandrian one has odd legend engraving, but a lot of the Alexandrian ones have struck me as odd, so I reckon its okay. Top one:

Constantius II
FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C
GLOR-IA EXERC-ITVS
SMALA
RIC VII Alexandria 60
r1 (Rare)
330-348 AD
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echizento's Avatar
United States
23731 Posts
 Posted 05/01/2014  3:14 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add echizento to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
to the community.

For your first coins you did well. The mint mark on the first coin is from Alexandria 1st officina.
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Paul Bulgerin's Avatar
United States
3098 Posts
 Posted 05/01/2014  5:11 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Paul Bulgerin to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
That's a nice Constantius II GLORIA EXERCITVS! Very strong details and nice centering on that coin.

Welcome!
Paul Bulgerin
New Member
United States
12 Posts
 Posted 05/01/2014  6:16 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Jst to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks everyone.

I was most concerned about the Constantius II. I could not find a coin with the ex SMALA with the soldiers and other objects positioned exactly the same as my coin. Is it common to find such variations undocumented?
New Member
United States
12 Posts
 Posted 05/01/2014  6:23 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Jst to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
@BenByfield...I looked up RIC VII Alexandria 60 and the ex on that coin is SMALB, not SMALA. Is this a legitimate variation? Thanks.
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echizento's Avatar
United States
23731 Posts
 Posted 05/01/2014  7:35 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add echizento to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Not a variation but a shop within the mint. For control and accountability the there were seperate workshops within the mint called Officinae. The shops were given letters, the first was A,than B, Greek letter Gamma, Delta, etc... So when you look a a mint mark you will first see the mint in this case SMAL for Alexandria and than A for the shop the coin was struck at.
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United States
1315 Posts
 Posted 05/01/2014  8:03 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Doucet to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Jst,

It's not uncommon that ancient coins don't all match each other. They were hand made , the dies wore out, new dies were hand made, maybe by a different engraver. Actually it's more unusual to find a die match.

Your first coin pictured is really nice. Keep it up.

Here is one, same mint, same officina.
http://www.acsearch.info/search.htm...=&c=&a=&l=#0





Edited by Doucet
05/01/2014 8:07 pm
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chrsmat71's Avatar
United States
4981 Posts
 Posted 05/01/2014  8:53 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add chrsmat71 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
nice first ancients! the Alexandrian constantius ii is very nice really.
New Member
United States
12 Posts
 Posted 05/02/2014  09:34 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Jst to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks for the bit of education on mint practices. Since I'm total new in this area, I'll gladly take any and all info that comes my way.

BTW--I got the Constantius II from ebay seller numistreasure_inc (US based) and the other 2 coins from continental_coins (Belgium?). Any experience with these sellers?



Can anyone recommend any reputable sellers. I have looked at various lists posted here, but not sure how contemporary they are.

Thanks again guys!
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Dutchgulden's Avatar
Netherlands
1204 Posts
 Posted 05/03/2014  11:25 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Dutchgulden to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Hello Jst, welcome!

I started to build up my ancient collection of coins 1 year ago.. it's very addictive!

You will gain experience fast by posting coins you are interested in and the feedback everybody will give you here.
Dont rush the first months in buying expensive coins, otherwise you might make a lot of bad deals.

Reputable sellers I'm buying from via ebay auctions are G&N, Lanz,budgies-break, ....
Sometimes its worth the risk to buy from unknown sellers but you can never be sure, especially not when you are new..

Enjoy!
New Member
United States
12 Posts
 Posted 05/03/2014  2:15 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Jst to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks Dutchgulden. I feel the same way about risk, I figure if it's onlt a few dollars it may be worth it.
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