Ancient Coin Grading (Post Your Coins)

A couple of cracks in the flan which IMO don't really effect the grade. It is well struck and well centered with full legends and sharp details. I would give it a grade of aEF.

I would agree with FR. The coin is complete with a beautiful patina. I believe this is a XF coin as well. What draws me to the piece is the interesting simulated 3D perspective on the reverse. It clearly looks like the goddess is handing you the flowers.

I would say XF- taking off only for the incomplete die fill and the irregular flan and even that doesn't bother in the slightest. Kudos to this coin.

I think they were a little low on the grade. Are you going to crack it out of the slab?

Again I agree-

-and I knew nothing could hold the hulk.

FR- Interesting analogy, I am going to use that when describing thick patinas.

I had held off posting this one but I suppose the proper time has come.

I had stopped my collecting activities for seven years after I got married. Shortly before (7 months) my home had been burgled and a box containing around 25 coins of various type had been stolen. I took it rather hard and my new wife took a rather dim view of collecting anything except portraits of 'dead presidents'. A very frugal woman she ......

Around 2002 I discovered this wonderful new venue called ebay. At that time there were 3 sellers of Eastern European extraction selling from the State of New Jersey. Amazing volumes of coins were being listed every single week. I started by bottom feeding and found myself buying nice bronzes for a fraction of what I had expected.

Bliss !

I went to my first coin show in Boston in 7 seven years. A local dealer I had known since the 1970's was in his usual spot. He had his regular assortment of mid grade coins ..... nice stuff for a cheapskate like myself. In the corner of his case I spied a Trajan Dupondius which just made me swoon. I picked it up and just fell in love.

Now my friend always made nice discounts from the listed price on his ticket. But this wasn't his ticket ......
Sorry he said but its a consignment. He did offer 5% off but the ticket was high end.

Oh the humanity !

After wandering around the show for an hour who do I meet but my very own brother. Not the one who collects coins ..... the one who collects books and paper !

He had wandered about the place but not surprisingly hadn't found anything to buy (it was his first time to the Boston show). Oh well he said ........

Now at this time I was allergic to 'plastic' ie I did not even have a credit card. I had a wife a daughter a condo and a car but no credit card (amazing).

Can I borrow a few pesos ?

How much he asked as he pulled out his wad of bills.

JOY !

Trajan Orichalcum Dupondius
Overstrike of an Orichalcum As issued by Antioch
Rv. Trajan advancing right between two standards













Patina is green/black but cannot be described as 'thick'.
It can't possibly be as the surfaces are near 'mint state'.
Personally I believe the coin was never used (perhaps once or twice) due to it being seriously underweight. It had originally been a "brass As". It would have been viewed as suspicious and probably got thrown in the vault.

Great coin! Attractive patina, motif, and rockin overstrike!
I am swooning too:D
EF+! Congrats!

Just for larks I took some more 'pics'
The ones I had used were taken a year ago and I find my skills improving (while my vision declines !)
For some scale I have placed a single grain of sugar and a very fine sewing needle (slightly rusted) on the surface.
additionally I have focused on the area behind the head. The original legend is visible running below the overstruck legend which is partially obscured by the (formerly raised) border of the 'understrike'.

Very complicated !