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 Replies: 28 / Views: 3,979 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2596 Posts |
I bought this in a lot from the UK. Its been soaking in water for a while and just now starting to show details looks ancient but I guess it could be medieval too any ideas. It almost looks like a Constantine bust on obv. 13mm 0.9gms   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
I don't recognize the reverse design. Could it possibly be a provincial coin? It's similar to a Gordian III coin I've seen from Tarsos. To be sure it's not the same, but it has some of the same design elements such as a pair of palms set on a table. But then again, it's awful small for a provincial.
You may have to wait and let it soak some more. Sorry, but its not real clear.
Edited by Bing
12/11/2011 3:12 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2596 Posts |
thanks JW i'll soak it some more.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Arggggghhh! - This has me so frustrated! I know this coins reverse, I just cant for the life of me remember from where.
It will come to me eventually - pretty sure its 3rd / 4th century Roman, I have a feeling it could be Tacitus or someone very close to him in date. I think the reverse shows a tree or some kind of awning.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2596 Posts |
This coin has strong details for such a bad condition.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Still cant remember where I've seen this coin. This is the reverse rotated 180 O - It maybe looks more familiar this way up!  Could the text on the right maybe say 'MILT'? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
 Does this help? It is one of the great rarities of the Constantine series. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Wow. I'm impressed. Not only with the coin, but that Doug recognized it. I'm not sure I've ever seen this coin before. Here is the info on it:
Constantinople RIC VII 19
CONSTANTINE I. 307-337 AD. Æ Follis (2.97 gm). Struck 37 AD.
Constantinople mint. CONSTANTI-NVS MAX AVG, laureate head right / SPES PVBLIC across field, labarum, with three medallions on drapery and crowned by a christogram, spearing serpent. RIC VII 19. Extremely rare. According to RIC, this famous reverse type represents the defeat of tyranny by the death of Licinius. Yet, the scene also has powerful Christian imagery in that it allegorically portrays the power of Christianity over evil.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
BTW, If this were my coin I would stop cleaning on it and contact one of the big dealers (CNG, Berk) and see if it has any value even in this condition. It is hard to tell from the photo but it might even be worth paying for a professional conservation. The chipped edge suggests the flan is not sound and I can see a mistake in cleaning turning it into a pile of dust. I have never seen one in poor condition but nice ones are $2k-$10k so I'd really not do any more with it myself.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1315 Posts |
Amazing! That's why I love ancients. Way to go jessvc1, nice find.  Also nice work in turning it over bobbyhelmet and dougsmit for recognizing what it is. congrats Edited by Doucet
12/12/2011 10:43 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2596 Posts |
wow I bought this in an uncleaned metal detector find lot for $40 nice.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2596 Posts |
there where 44 large penny's half penny's and some ancients in this lot 44 total coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2596 Posts |
Here is some better pictures, It looks bad but the coin feels pretty solid I guess I can put it in a flip and figure out what to do now that it might be a rare coin.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
842 Posts |
I also bought a metal detector lot from the UK and it should get here by the end of the month. After seeing this I am quivering with anticipation! Hope I get as lucky as you have!
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
I'm glad someone got it - it was driving me crazy!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
This coin brings up a really good question:
What is it worth? 99.999% of all coins in this condition are absolutely worthless (less than melt). This one may be in the .001 that is so rare and so interesting that someone would like to pay one percent of the price of a nice one. That would be about $100. I would not go that high but I would love to own such a coin so I assume there is a market for it. If I found it in an uncleaned lot I would save it to show that uncleaned lots do occasionally turn up something interesting. I regularly tell beginners that uncleaned lots are not the way to go except for the fun you get out of the chase. However you have this very rare coin and I never will.
Edited by dougsmit
12/13/2011 07:19 am
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Replies: 28 / Views: 3,979 |
Posted 12/11/2011 3:52 pm
