Coin Community Family of Web Sites Join Thousands of Coin, Bullion, & Money Collectors
Coin, Banknote and Medal Collectors's Online Mall Join Thousands of Coin, Bullion, & Money Collectors Vancouvers #1 Coin and Paper Money Dealer Royal Estate Auctions - $1 Coin AuctionsRoyal Canadian Mint products, Canadian, Polish, American, and world coins and banknotes. 300,000 items to help build your collection! Specializing in Modern Numismatics








Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?


This page may contain links that result in small commissions to keep this free site up and running.

Welcome Guest! Registering and/or logging in will remove the anchor (bottom) ads. It's Free!

The Ancient Bargain Bin

To participate in the forum you must log in or register.
First Page  Showing last 15 replies.
Author Previous TopicReplies: 17 / Views: 3,827Next Topic Page 2 of 2
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
946 Posts
 Posted 02/24/2014  8:21 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Masis to your friends list
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, 274-275


Because 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.


The-Ancient-Bargain-Bin

The-Ancient-Bargain-Bin
Edited by Masis
02/24/2014 8:22 pm
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts
 Posted 02/24/2014  9:04 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add sel_69l to your friends list
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!
Pillar of the Community
Learn More...
United States
905 Posts
 Posted 02/24/2014  9:18 pm  Show Profile   Check Victor's eBay Listings Bookmark this reply Add Victor to your friends list

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
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
946 Posts
 Posted 02/25/2014  09:57 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Masis to your friends list

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
Pillar of the Community
Learn More...
United States
905 Posts
 Posted 02/25/2014  10:06 am  Show Profile   Check Victor's eBay Listings Bookmark this reply Add Victor to your friends list

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.
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
946 Posts
 Posted 02/25/2014  10:30 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Masis to your friends list

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
Pillar of the Community
United States
3445 Posts
 Posted 02/26/2014  08:06 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add FVRIVS RVFVS to your friends list
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 !


The-Ancient-Bargain-Bin

The-Ancient-Bargain-Bin

Winning bid ? 4.50 ....... euros

Outrageous shipping charge ? 1.20 eoros

The joys of being an 'egg sucking' bottom feeder ? ...... priceless
Pillar of the Community
United States
3445 Posts
 Posted 02/26/2014  08:06 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add FVRIVS RVFVS to your friends list
O
Edited by FVRIVS RVFVS
02/26/2014 09:36 am
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts
 Posted 02/26/2014  08:33 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add pishpash to your friends list
That is so nice FR.
Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts
 Posted 02/28/2014  3:42 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add VisigothKing to your friends list
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

The-Ancient-Bargain-Bin
Edited by VisigothKing
02/28/2014 3:54 pm
Pillar of the Community
Learn More...
United States
3098 Posts
 Posted 02/28/2014  6:53 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Paul Bulgerin to your friends list
Nice for a Johannes!
Paul Bulgerin
Valued Member
United States
121 Posts
 Posted 02/28/2014  10:29 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add xodus to your friends list
This coin cost about $1 as included in a set of 'junk romans' but I think it's pretty cool. Haven't done the research and it isn't a bust that I recognize. btw, is distilled water also good for this coin? (PS. sry about the bad pics, my camera doesn't have a workable macro setting.)

The-Ancient-Bargain-Bin

The-Ancient-Bargain-Bin

The-Ancient-Bargain-Bin

The-Ancient-Bargain-Bin
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts
 Posted 03/01/2014  06:04 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add pishpash to your friends list
Looks a bit like Septimius Severus. What is the metal, can't tell from the pics.
Valued Member
United States
121 Posts
 Posted 03/01/2014  10:15 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add xodus to your friends list
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 :)
Valued Member
United States
121 Posts
 Posted 03/01/2014  10:24 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add xodus to your friends list
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
Page 2 of 2   Previous TopicReplies: 17 / Views: 3,827Next Topic Page 2 of 2
First Page  Showing last 15 replies.
To participate in the forum you must log in or register.


    




Disclaimer: While a tremendous amount of effort goes into ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in this site, Coin Community assumes no liability for errors. Copyright 2005 - 2026 Coin Community Family- all rights reserved worldwide. Use of any images or content on this website without prior written permission of Coin Community or the original lender is strictly prohibited.
Contact Us  |  Advertise Here  |  Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

Coin Community Forum © 2005 - 2026 Coin Community Forums
It took 0.36 seconds to rattle this change. Forums