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Replies: 17 / Views: 3,827 |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
946 Posts |
Unfortunately most "Bargain Bins" at Coin Shops and Fairs here in London are full of Slugs. However this came to mind, for a Bargain. This came in a Lot I bought last year, until I took it to the British Museum's Coins & Medals Department for identification I had never known about this type: Coin: AE16 Ob: Laureate bust of Apollo facing to the right. Rv: A Man-headed Bull, advancing to the left, ΙDΝΘI above. Weight: 3.70 g, Dia: 16.2 x 17.8 x 2.3 mm Mint: Irnum, Campania, circa 250-225 B.C. Ref: SNG ANS, 274-275Because it is not technically Greek it is not in any Greek coin reference books, such as Sear or Seaby. It was sold with three others (they were "real Greek" AEs) for £7.40, so this alone was £1.85. I sold it for £40 to a very happy Italian buyer. Things like this happen, but this coin really does stick in my mind for its uniqueness, I would be very lucky to see another and for such a ridiculously low price again.  
Edited by Masis 02/24/2014 8:22 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
It is an enjoyable challenge to buy poor condition ancient coins, for a correspondingly low price. Most of the fun comes with the effort needed to fully identify them. If that happens, they are then worth at least double what you paid for them and sometimes, very considerably more than that!
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
905 Posts |
Quote: Because it is not technically Greek it is not in any Greek coin reference books but you give a reference of SNG ANS, which is a Greek reference book. SNG is the abbreviation for Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
946 Posts |
Quote: It is an enjoyable challenge to buy poor condition ancient coins, for a correspondingly low price. Most of the fun comes with the effort needed to fully identify them. If that happens, they are then worth at least double what you paid for them and sometimes, very considerably more than that!~ Sel Quite, as I demonstrated. Quote: but you give a reference of SNG ANS, which is a Greek reference book. SNG is the abbreviation for Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum~Victor Clark Because it is not technically Greek it is not in any Greek coin reference books, such as Sear or Seaby. You omitted that last part. If I was lucky to own a copy of " Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum" it would have saved me a trip to the British Museum's Coins & Medals Department for identification but I would have missed seeing the very interesting exhibition on Zoroastrianism including coins influenced by it. Ironically Sear has coins of Iberia, Gaul and beyond that had some interaction with the Greek world, but nothing for the Oscan tribes, from which the Irnum coin came from.
Edited by Masis 02/25/2014 09:59 am
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
905 Posts |
Quote: Because it is not technically Greek it is not in any Greek coin reference books, such as Sear or Seaby both of those books are far from exhaustive, it would be impossible for that to happen. David Sear even says this about his book "Although not a complete type catalogue collectors should be able locate most coins" So just because a coin isn't in those two books, I would not say that it is not Greek.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
946 Posts |
Quote: David Sear even says this about his book "Although not a complete type catalogue collectors should be able locate most coins". So just because a coin isn't in those two books, I would not say that it is not Greek.~ Victor Clark Well unfortunately, David Sear, I was not able to find a match for my Irnum coin in either of your books "Greek Coins And their Values" volumes 1 & 2. Luckily the experts at the British Museum's Coins & Medals Department were able to identify the coin in around ten minutes. The Oscans were not Greek, as neither were the Gauls or Parthians yet they appear in Sear's two volumes. Even when the coin in question imitated the Neapolitan types of the time. Anyhow, rather than this be another stereotypical rant that causes topics to be diverted from their subject, and "time being of the essence", I look forward to seeing other members post their "Bargain Coins".
Edited by Masis 02/25/2014 10:32 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3445 Posts |
Okay in all honesty I am cheating ...... just a little. Last week I got an email that started out with the "Congratulations you won !" I won what ? I wasn't actively following anything and did not even remember having any bids outstanding !   Winning bid ? 4.50 ....... euros Outrageous shipping charge ? 1.20 eoros The joys of being an 'egg sucking' bottom feeder ? ...... priceless 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3445 Posts |
O
Edited by FVRIVS RVFVS 02/26/2014 09:36 am
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
My Johannes came in a lot of coins, so by itself it would have been $4.85 shipped. Not bad imo for this very rare usurper: Johannes, Western Roman usurper (ruled 423-425 AD) AE4, Nummus Obv: DN IOHANN-ES PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped bust right Rev: SALVS REI-PVBLICAE, Victory holding trophy and dragging captive, Chi-Rho to left RM in ex, Rome mint Ref: RIC X 1913 
Edited by VisigothKing 02/28/2014 3:54 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3098 Posts |
Nice for a Johannes!
Paul Bulgerin
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Valued Member
United States
121 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
Looks a bit like Septimius Severus. What is the metal, can't tell from the pics.
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Valued Member
United States
121 Posts |
It is Silver, but I can't find any cracks on the coin to see if it is silver-colored or silver. It has a lot of dirt that I am going to try and give it a bath, but this is my first potentially silver coin so I don't know if that's the best idea or not.. bath = distilled water + time :)
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Valued Member
United States
121 Posts |
I looked at all the septimus severus coins and you are spot on. The face and all match the majority of the coins (90%)but on this coin, it has the detailed back that I think mine is supposed to show but isn't able to because of its current condition. The observe is mildly different as well, beginning with the hair, namely facial as mine is "bubbled" where this coin shows a dreaded or braided beard. Hot style they had... lol. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Septimius-S...251459489333
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