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circusmax120's Last 20 Posts
| Alas I Must Let Go *sniff*
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circusmax120
Valued Member
United States
287 Posts |
 Posted 08/18/2023 1:24 pm
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The hunt...grueling as it can be...does indeed come with rewards, jbuck. That's what keeps me going. Keeps me inspired!
Palouche:
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Same happened to me a few years ago but managed to sell off a couple of my kids and a second hand tumble dryer to alleviate the shortfall
Ahhh, Paul. *shaking head* Did you have to throw in the kids to sweeten the deal...or vise versa?
You crack me up, lil' buddy! |
| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Alas I Must Let Go *sniff*
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circusmax120
Valued Member
United States
287 Posts |
Posted 08/17/2023 3:11 pm
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Yeeeeeah...it stings a bit, Paul...but it is what it is. Turns out Spence's hope that I would "knock it out of the park" with my auctions isn't quite the way it went. Despite taking my best swings, I managed only what can be described as...a full-swing infield single. *smile* I can, however, take solace in the fact that the coins went to new stewards who seem to really appreciate the opportunity to care for them as I did.
I am already back to the hunt...looking for the next amazing portrait. Huzzah!!
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| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Alas I Must Let Go *sniff*
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circusmax120
Valued Member
United States
287 Posts |
Posted 08/11/2023 12:09 pm
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Well I just sent off the last of coins sold from my eBay auctions. Five in all. So I thought it a good time to update this Topic.
As the goal of this sell-off was to raise some much needed funds, I can say that the auctions were, in that way, a success. Even if the individual totals for each coin was...far short of expectations. Some fortunate collectors were able to snag some great coins at bargain prices!
As I have always maintained, I collect these ancients for the joy of being part of it's story. It's journey. To be a good steward in a long line of Good Stewards. I traded messages with several of the buyers, and I am both pleased and satisfied that the coins are going to be cherished and cared for by like-minded people.
One is a father sharing the joy of collecting and history with his seven year old son. A first sestertius! Another is a husband who wished to give his beloved wife a special (bronze) gift for their nineteenth wedding anniversary. To celebrate their marriage...as well as her interest in "strong women of history". Faustina Minor certainly fits that description!
Did I hope to do a bit better monetarily? Certainly, I did. There is, however, no time for that kind of triviality. Time to get back to the hunt!! |
| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Alas I Must Let Go *sniff*
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circusmax120
Valued Member
United States
287 Posts |
Posted 07/30/2023 09:41 am
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I can relate to your pain too. I have just recently let go of almost all my ancients. In fact yesterday I listed not only my last few but also the coins I have found over the past years metal detecting.
Eeeeouch! Must be all the more painful to let go of coins that you yourself rescued from the ground.
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I really do share your pain.
The blessings of this Community: shared joys...shared sorrows
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Good memories and no regrets at all. "Ya gotta do what cha gotta do!"
Could not agree with you more, Westernsky. Fortunately (for now) the hit is limited. We forge on!
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Yes agreed, but hopefully your auctions knock it out of the park.
My hope as well, Spence. I do not collect with an eye towards any kind of profit-making. So that makes things easier. Finding new stewards, while meeting a life-necessity. That's the bottom line. |
| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Alas I Must Let Go *sniff*
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circusmax120
Valued Member
United States
287 Posts |
Posted 07/29/2023 10:58 pm
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| Yeah, I hear you, Jim. It does sting a bit. My focus is sssso tight: fine realistic portraits. It's quite difficult to find these inspiring pieces. I does hurt to let them go...but I understand they are only in my hands for a time. Hopefully they will go to stewards who will care for them as I did. |
| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Alas I Must Let Go *sniff*
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circusmax120
Valued Member
United States
287 Posts |
Posted 07/29/2023 10:36 pm
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Excellent advice, Hondo. It is true. Being careful and thoughtfully selective is a smart course of action when faced with such a dilemma...if the situation allows. In this case, I am grateful that the situation doesn't have me backed into a corner.
Having to part with high-value coins is rough. They are, of course, more difficult to replace. |
| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Alas I Must Let Go *sniff*
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circusmax120
Valued Member
United States
287 Posts |
Posted 07/29/2023 9:34 pm
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| Thanks, Bob. I've had a a few sell-offs over the past decades. The first was, as you mentioned, a shift in collecting focus. The last couple, however, were direct hits on my Ancients. I live in New England here in the US, and during a particuarly rough Winter I had to choose between the collection and home-heat. Home and family take precedent. |
| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Alas I Must Let Go *sniff*
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circusmax120
Valued Member
United States
287 Posts |
Posted 07/29/2023 9:18 pm
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Ahhh, the bittersweet taste of collecting Ancients. Life...ofttimes intrudes. A family issue has arisen and I am compelled to part with a handful of pieces from my collection. A few are actually quite recent acquisitions. *sigh* It is good that I understand the temporary aspects of holding these beauties. So...tomorrow I am putting four coins up for auction on eBay. A Hadrian, a Claudius, and my two Augusta. Kinda stings! Hopefully that will be the extent of it. We shall see.
Anyone got a sell-off story to relate? Misery loves company!
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| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Augustus - To Clean Or Not To Clean?
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circusmax120
Valued Member
United States
287 Posts |
Posted 07/19/2023 9:30 pm
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| I agree with Bob, Jim. That deposit looks concretized to me. Trying to remove it is very likely to do unnecessary damage. I'd go so far as to say that the open areas were not "cleaned". Simply areas where the concretion layer was weak and flaked off over time. The coin is still a beauty with a 2000+ year old story to tell. Let it speak! |
| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Octavian Ae? Not Exactly, But By The Gods, Close!
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circusmax120
Valued Member
United States
287 Posts |
Posted 07/19/2023 5:36 pm
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| Thank you, jecz79. The coin is indeed a nice pick up. The Octavian denarii you reference are always eye-catching when I see them, but I've found the price to acquire such gems to be a bit prohibitive (for my budget). Somewhere between $350 and $650 for decent specimens. Even more so for the singular portrait style I'm looking for. It's always encouraging to find alternative coins like this provincial. |
| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Octavian Ae? Not Exactly, But By The Gods, Close!
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circusmax120
Valued Member
United States
287 Posts |
Posted 07/18/2023 12:48 pm
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My meager budget has yet to allow me to acquire coins with a solid portrait of a man like Octavian. Even on restitution type coins minted by later emperors like Tiberius or Claudius. Just beyond my reach, I'm afraid. So I sometimes look to coinage minted in the Roman provinces during Octavian's time that do not bear his depiction. All the while maintaining a focus on the quality of the portrait...whomever that might be.
When I saw this AE minted in Antioch, I was immediately drawn to the fine portrait of Zeus. Not as sharp as I normally like...and a bit off-center...but intriguing nonetheless. On the small side at 20mm. Regardless, it is a nice addition to the handful of coin portraits in my collection depicting the personification of a supernatural being.
This coin was struck during a time of political flux for Octavian. After the defeat of Antony, but prior to his role as "Princeps Senatus / Princeps Civitatus". Carefully negotiating that political minefield! I would be interested in seeing coins from members who...1. HAVE managed to acquire an Octavian...or 2. have settled for "as close as I could get!"
Antioch, Seleukis and Pieria, AE 20mm. Under Roman administration, dated year 21 [Caesarian Era] (29-28 BC). Laureate head of Zeus right. Reverse - Zeus seated left holding Nike and sceptre; headdress of Isis before. 20mm, 9.6g.
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| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Die Engravers Eyesight
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circusmax120
Valued Member
United States
287 Posts |
Posted 06/29/2023 12:48 pm
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I recently stumbled upon this beauty of a Titus As. The realism of the portrait immediately attracted my attention, and I began to study the details. I was stunned! The level of skill demonstrated by the nameless artist is truly awe inspiring!
All the points of realism that have impressed me on other coins are present here...but it is one singular subtlety that really floored me. The delicate line delineating the nostril: separating the columella from nasal alae.
On a face that cannot measure too much more that 10mm!!
Was this ancient engraver simply an extraordinary myopic? Or was a lens/crystal used?
In the published article linked by Kamnaskires (thank you, Bob!), author Bart Lewis writes:
"Perhaps the most important discovery was a Roman period magnifying lens discovered in 1854 in the "House of the Engraver" on the Stabian Way in Pompeii."
"I personally feel it is most unrealistic to assume that during the first millennium BC no one would have looked through a lens or polished gem at a small object and not noticed its magnifying properties. Rather, it is far more reasonable to assume that the practical use of such an image magnifier was simply not generally appreciated or written about."
"So perhaps we will never be able to prove conclusively that the ancients used lenses, especially in any commercial endeavor, for their magnifying properties. But my denarii say they did."
(Page 41 of the November 1997 edition of The Celator)
When these coins speak...perhaps it is wise to listen.
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| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Diocletian: Big Ego With Tiny Hands!
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circusmax120
Valued Member
United States
287 Posts |
Posted 06/26/2023 10:54 pm
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Tyrannosaurus Rex...casual-Heil...*shaking head* You guys crack me up! I knew you would grab the ball and run with it. The emperor would've joined in...but he couldn't reach the ball!
This coin-type definitely lends itself to "once you see it, it's impossible to unsee". Let the hilariosity continue! |
| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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| Large Roman Silver . Attribution And Authentication Help Please
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circusmax120
Valued Member
United States
287 Posts |
Posted 06/26/2023 1:15 pm
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| I am in no way an expert, Roma2021. There is simply something off about the specimen. Especially crude in many ways. The gap in the dotted edge element is strange. Not only are the tiny voids troubling, but also the appearance of (what appear to be) stress fractures on the reverse. As if the coin had been stamped or pressed. A weight and clear edge pic would offer some beneficial information. |
| | Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins |
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