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 Replies: 20 / Views: 3,587 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
As I mentioned in another thread, I was "forced" into buying another coin. OK, OK. I wasn't forced, but it sounded good. While perusing some coins for sale today, I came across a coin I have long wanted in my collection. It is a Julian II Majorina with the "Apis Bull". The one I purchased I believe to be RIC VIII 164. The reason I am unsure is part of the exergue is either missing or the image is poor. I think I can make out the "palm branch" at either end, but will have to wait till I get it in hand to be sure. OBV: D N FL CL IVLI-ANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right REV: SECVRITAS REIPVB• dot, bull right, two stars above, •palm branch-CONSPA-palm branch in ex. 7.95g, 29.48mm   In researching this coin I found this interesting tidbit. There is the common belief identifying the bull with the Apis bull, but that this is probably wrong. An interesting passage from Dio Chrysostom compares a good ruler to a bull. Also, Julian was most likely born in May, in the sign of Taurus. The stars are probably the two important star clusters in Taurus, Pleiades and Hyades. Taurus or Apis, this bull is pagan and this coin was the last pagan coin type issued by the Empire. |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
The only thing I can say is  ! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Very nice coin. Is it a rare one?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4253 Posts |
You know, I'm not really sure. I have read where it is rare, but I have seen plenty on the market. Perhaps someone else can say how rare this coin is. If you look at the values assigned to this coin on sites like Vcoins and acsearch, one would think it is a fairly rare coin. Trust me when I say I did not pay near the amounts on these sites (little ol frugal me).
Speaking of values, JangoFett and echizento you haven't opined on the cost of my Crispus coin. Any ideas? How about this coin? Be honest. You can't hurt my feelings by going too low or too high. Take a stab!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
I would say $50 for this one.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Knowing how frugal you are, I going to say $35.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
That's an interesting design!
My guess is $30.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Before I disclose how much I paid, take a look at the examples for sale on acsearch.com and vcoins.com. I did not pay the prices they are asking, but I did buy this from a reputable dealer with which I have done business before. I'll be back later this afternoon to tell the price.
I'm really anxious to get this particular coin (as if I'm not for other coins).
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Very nice - I like the symbolism of the stars and the bull, this sort of thing makes the coins much more interesting to me.
As far as price goes I would not like to say - I know your 'frugal'!
However, you may be 'frugal' but I'm as 'tight as a ducks butt' when it comes to coins, I very rarely buy unless I can get them for about half market value. I once dropped a £1 coin, I bent down so fast to pick it up it hit me on the back of the head!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Quote:
However, you may be 'frugal' but I'm as 'tight as a ducks butt' when it comes to coins, I very rarely buy unless I can get them for about half market value. I once dropped a £1 coin, I bent down so fast to pick it up it hit me on the back of the head! How tight is a a duck's butt and just how would you know that little tidbit of information? I've never heard the saying about dropping a coin. Cute. Ok, so I suppose everyone is tired of playing the guessing game. I thought it would be a good way to wake the discussion board. As to the price for this coin, I paid an enormous amount compared to most coins I buy. The cost was $46, but if the coin is in as good of shape as the image, it is well worth the price. Especially when you compare it the price of those on the sites I mentioned previously. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Quote:
How tight is a a duck's butt and just how would you know that little tidbit of information? Its tight - they spend a lot of time sitting in water! I would prefer not to divulge how I know this. You got it for a good price - I would pay that. Perhaps I need to stop being so tight - I just missed out on a rather nice invasion coin from Germany - gutted. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
 I believe this is close to yours but I'm reasonably certain that the problem with your coin is that it has been tooled considerably removing parts of the detail. Value of tooled coins is very much a matter of opinion with some people wanting nothing to do with them while others realize it is better than the mess it was before. I suspect the price is about right although there would be some who would prefer a more worn or rough coin that had more original surfaces. They are not rare but they are very popular so decent ones bring good prices. I believe it is the next to last AE1 size Roman and people always like big coins. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
Consider that the Siscia coin is from the days that Julian was just Caesar and style was not under his control. I don't have a Siscia bull but it might be better to compare one to the Constantinople before blaming the mint for the differences. That issue with the M in the reverse field was at the low point of workmanship and coin value so most of the mints looked 'rushed' at best.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Doug, I see what you are saying about this coin's possibility of being tooled, but that would mean it has been repatinated as well. I received the coin today, and I am very pleased, tooled or not. But the entire coin has a very nice dark green patina with the exception of the side of the bull. So either it hasn't been tooled or it has and repatinated as well. The coin weighs 8 grams and is near 30mm. It is quite thin for a Roman coin of this size.
JW
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
Bulls are thin. Perhaps rather than being tooled the coin was just very heavily smoothed reducing its very heavy patina to a smooth one with marks making it look suspicious. To me, the style looks OK except for the beard which I don't like.
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Replies: 20 / Views: 3,587 |
Posted 11/17/2011 9:13 pm
