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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,483 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
I just purchased a coin for $4.50. I know it has problems but I got it because I liked the portrait style. I think it is a Constantius II but I can't find a RIC number for it. This is the seller's photo. I am trying to attribute before I receive.  I can barely make out the legend details in some areas. OBVERSE: FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB REVERSE: GLOR-IAEXERC-ITVS I can barely make out the mintmark in exergue. AQ(?) Probably from Aquileia. I would appreciate some help to attribute this coins. Thanks. Edited by Gil-galad
12/16/2011 3:20 pm
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
If it is AQS, it's RIC VII Aquielia 120, R3, if it's AQP same #, R5.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2044 Posts |
Thanks a lot for the attribution. For the two online references I have, Aquileia RIC VII 120 doesn't seem to be listed. Did you get the number from a book or other online place besides Wildwinds and Dirty Old Coins?
Still hard to say exactly what the mintmark is right now.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Actually it was from Helvetica.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
I read it as AQS and agree with echizento's ID (using RIC VII page 407). I know I'm wasting my breath but I really believe people who have a great need to have an RIC number should buy RIC. You might find the trouble you save trying to pull second hand numbers from other sources might be worth the price of the book and it comes with the bonus of a lot of information in the chapter headings and footnotes that might prove of some value, too. Are not the coins as interesting without some number attached? Lets say this is the R3 coin. If type were exactly the same but the mintmark read .gammaSIS. (a C3 listing), how would it affect your evaluation of the coin? Would you rather have your R3 or my C3? Would that be because of the portrait style or the are number? If the condition were the same but the mintmark were clearly AQP how much would that add to your desire for the coin? I admit I'm trying to get a Falling Horseman from each mint but even I don't plan to get one from each RIC number. How many of you see added value in a coin being accompanied by the number? Are you willing to pay? Another dealer might have supplied this coin with full numbers for $20. Good or bad?  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
Thanks a lot for the information, everyone.
Although, for me purchasing these "The Roman Imperial Coinage" books are at present prohibitively expensive for me right now. I looked around and saw a couple of them used for about $100. Most of them are around $250+. Which is why I haven't purchased any yet. Besides, I just started coin collecting again after a 20 year hiatus so I can't pay out that much for the books. I'm planning to in the future as money allows. Now, I'd rather purchase coins than books. So, I hope I get a little slack for it. lol
I have no doubt about the books value and reference as a scholarly work and various information you can learn by reading them. Which is only one thing that I wish I had, is more knowledge. But I ain't going to worry about it right now as I have a lot to learn and I'm not sure if I should be pursuing such advanced works at this time. But I could be wrong.
As far as the need to ID coins, it's important to me so that I know what they are. But I didn't purchase that coins or others for it's catalog ID. I purchased it because I liked the artistic look of the coin, despite it's low grade. Perhaps I may change my mind later on but so far I am having fun collecting. Right now I have about 8 coins, and about 10 or so more on the way here. There are so many directions I could go and so many coins to choose from. I'm really enjoying it.
For the mintmark, it looks more like an odd-shaped "C" than an "S". But I'm sure you guys have seen these types of letters before and I already learned that some letters are either corroded, die variation or destroyed somehow over time.
Thanks, everyone and I hope no one is offended by my current views.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Gil-galad, I've been collecting Ancient coins for a little over 10 years now, and I don't own a copy of RIC because they are too expensive. Unless someone gives them to me as a gift I have no intention of spending the $1000+ for the set. With all the information on the web and in the books that are available for far less the cost of RIC and the knowledge base on this forum and other fourms I am quite content on finding what I need from them. I would rather spend $150 on a copy of ERIC II that covers Roman and Byzantine coinage with Ric & Sear numbers giving me more money to buy coins with.
I enjoy as I know others do on this forum to help others in any way we can to promote this hobby. So ask away.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
Oh yeah, almost forgot. Tell Helvetica I said thanks for the attribution.
Oh yeah, I certainly don't want to spend $1000+ on those books but I think I need an alternative sometime in the future, such as ERIC II.
Thanks again, I appreciate it!
Edited by Gil-galad
12/16/2011 11:32 pm
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Helvetica's data base is available on the web for down in case you weren't aware.
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,483 |
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Posted 12/16/2011 3:40 pm
