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 Replies: 18 / Views: 3,787 |
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New Member
China
5 Posts |
I have recently bought a splendid NERO's AS but there is no SPQR on the shield of Victory. It this a variant or perhaps the corrosion has taken away the letters on the shield?  Edited by GirolamoCardano
08/08/2012 04:45 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
As the highest point on the coin, the SPQR is worn off most of these. This is a bit different pose than I recall.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
 Doug is probably correct about the wear erasing the SPQR; however, to my untrained eye it looks to me like it was never there to begin with. I see absolutely no trace of it. In reviewing my sources, I can find no reference to a coin like this without the SPQR on the shield. Here is an image of one like this with the SPQR nearly worn off the shield:  From what I can see of your coin, it is a very pleasing coin and well centered. Either you have a rare, unlisted version, or your coin is a fake. A very good one if it is. May I ask where you purchased the coin? Do you know the dealer or the dealer's reputation? Edited by Bing
08/08/2012 09:03 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
I think the indentation on the right field of the shield on the OP is the remnants of the SPQR. As far as the slight style and position differences between the OP and JW's I can't comment either way. Although it just might be the style of a different die engraver. I would suggest compare OP to existing diameter and weight of the known coins.
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
Wow Bing, that's harsh => playing the ol' fake-card on the new dude's very first CCF post!! GirolamoCardano ... it is always nice to have a new face visit the ancients site!! Ancientnoob has a good point => it does look like the identation on the shield might be the remains of one of the letters (most likely the Q) ... => I sure hope that your coin turns-out to be genuine NOTE: most of the guys on this site are very sharp and they can often help you avoid making poor purchases ... I've found it very useful to ask the members what they think of the coins "before" making a big purchase => that way you can get several opinions before making a potentially suspect purchase (oh, and nobody has ever tried to bid on a coin that I've asked about => it is a flawless strategy) so again => "welcome and good luck!!" Oh, and if you're going to take photos of your coins on your computer screen, then it is probably wise not to show the web address in the background (I'm just sayin') |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
This is not a Nero coin, a Trajan. Even as worn as this coin is, SPQR is still visible, if not very legible.  |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
to the community Maybe it's my imagination but I see what looks like the shadow of the letter S on the outer edge of the shield. I think the rest has just worn off. Nice coin |
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
 Now that I look at the coin more and more, I'm tending to agree with echizento ... now I can almost make myself see a faint S and a faint P ... wow, maybe it's kinda like a mood coin? (it changes colour the more you stare at it!!) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Here's my Nero, the reverse is pretty worn and SPQR is gone as a result.  Edited by VisigothKing
08/08/2012 11:40 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Don't get me wrong. I am in no way saying the OP coin IS a fake. Just one of many possibilities. More than likely Doug's assertion that the SPQR has worn off is correct. Even if that is the case, one has to explain the style differences in Victory. Perhaps Anoob is correct about different die engraver's style. That argument could be put to bed if someone can find another coin with the OP's coin style. One other possibility about the SPQR. Could this coin have been tooled and the shield smoothed? As I said, endless possibilities
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Since you pictured the ebay item #, I went to the auction  A few observations--seller listed coin as "variety without SPQR on shield" Also, EUR 290- is a pretty low price for this coin, particularly when sold in Europe--deals are hard to come by there. After just visiting several coin shops in Europe, I'd expect Roman coins sold in Italy to be higher? And, wouldn't a scarcer variety sell for more? Just questions here--nothing definitive. I hope you got a real coin and a nice deal too!  Edited by DVCollector
08/08/2012 7:05 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
BTW GirolamoCardano, it is quite easy to save the ebay images to your computer. Just use the "save as" and save to a location of your choice. After that you can post the image here on CCF or anywhere you choose. I'm still hoping the coin you got is genuine. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
Someone show me a coin with the SPQR that is worn to fine like the OP. Note the image jw posted has a full laurel wreath on the portrait but almost no SPQR. Imagine that same coin worn more to remove the wreath and ask how much more SPQR would disappear. Also look at how much rounder is the body on jw's photo while the OP is flattened. It might be that the OP coin was a bit flatly struck and never had much of the SPQR. I always wanted one of these but never saw one that had the full SPQR that I could afford.
BTW, the Trajan does not count. The Nero is the one with the lettering on the highest point.
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New Member
 China
5 Posts |
Thank you community! The reputation of the dealer is fine even if I found him a bit of an ignorabimus (ehmm.. worst than me, I mean). Next time I'll check before buying it. I am now waiting for it to come, then I'll closely examine the shield and post a new photo. The seller claims it is a rare variant without SPQR but I cannot find any reference. On the other hand I think that make no sense to produce such a fine copy and then forget a small detail. Thank you again.
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New Member
China
5 Posts |
Finally got the coin. Patina looks beautiful and there is a fine trace of the final R at close inspection when using a magnifier, of course on the right side of the shield. Thank you.
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New Member
China
5 Posts |
Do you think that was been really minted in Rome as the seller claims, or may be Lyon? Possible to pin down the date 65 AD, the year of the Pisonian conspiracy?
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Replies: 18 / Views: 3,787 |
Posted 08/08/2012 09:02 am
