New Antoninus Pius Sestertius

thanks JW thats why I bought this coin because of the portrait and patina. One thing I learned from all the different cleaning methods I have used on ancients is to appreciate a natural patina and spot the different methods on coins by how they look.

Nice Roman Imperial coin to add to the collection! 'VCOINS' show similar sestertii of Antininus Pius, in similar condition, at around $100 apiece.

I remember a denarius that I had many years ago, in nice VF condition, of Antoninus Pius, that had the modius and corn ears only on the reverse, without the goddess Annona. It was the first ancient that I acquired in 1968. I remember buying it for $4.50.

I sold it in 1973 on consignment, to help raise money for the 1/3 deposit on my first home. Paid the other 2/3 rds off over seven years, on a single income. You can't put a roof over your head with a stack of rare coins!

jessvc1: I entirely agree with everything you have said. I sold my collection which had about 150 Roman coins in it, including two aureii of Cluadius and Vespasian, and a nice solidus of Constantius 11, a nice cistophorus of Augustus and also nice argenteus of Maxentius, a sestertius of Nero with the closed doors of the Temple of Janus in nice fine, to name the best ones.

I also disposed of a complete type set of Australian sovereigns and half sovereigns all of the Sydney Mint, along with an Adelaide Pound. You may wish to Google THAT! 17 coins in all, in this part of the collection.

But I didn't sell any of my books! They are the tools of the numistmatist's trade. Besides, it is impossible to sell your lifetime love of nimismatics.

I have since built a second collection since 1973, bigger and better than the first, and I stll have my home, all paid off on a single income, for more that 20 years.

Currently, I am in the process of giving the home to my kids so the tax man can't get at it, out of my estate. Besides, they will save rent.

I have my latter day stack of rare coins, AND I have a roof over my head, AND my lifetime love of numismatics!

The collection from 1973 onwards is indeed bigger than than the first.

I have a gold stater of Philip 11 of Macedon purchased from Spink's London in 1975, another aureus of Vespasian which came from Seaby's London a year later, and more latterly, an aureus of Augustus, bought from Bob Loosely, who used to be an employee of Seaby's, in 1988. Have about 200 other ancient Greek, Roman and Indian coins that are part of a much larger collection of World coins.

Even with owning these pieces, I consider that others in this Forum know more than me, because my interests have branched to cover most areas of numismatics that cover coins that have actually been used as money. I have become a generalist, not a specialist, and I rely on other opinions that may be better than mine, as expressed here in the CCF.

That is why you seem to find my posts in so many other sub forums in the CCF. My learning curve is still very steep.

Such modesty is killing me. lol

A lot of you guys have great skill at numismatics, at various levels of expertise. You guys should be proud and have great confidence (as long as it's not out of control). What would the Romans think? lol