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 Replies: 16 / Views: 1,829 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
Doesn't look like a bad coin at all. I haven't found a match for it at Wildwinds to compare engraving styles.
The seller says the coin is from Sirmium which I think is wrong. I think the coin was minted in Serdica. I attributed it as well.
RIC VI Serdica 4a.
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
I am not that swift at checking the ol' fake database for possible matches, so I'll leave that chore to the other ancient coin sleuths on this CCF ...
I am always more interested in the "seller himself" ... and in this particular case, the seller sounds like he has had a long and positive career:
9 years as an e-bay member,
100% positive feedback score,
free shipping,
... his return policy of only 7 days is a little bit weak? (you may want to ask him what happens if the coins ends-up being a fake => will he guarantee the coin and agree to a refund if the coin is found to be fake sometime in the future, beyond 7 days) ...
NOTE => It is only an $11 coin (at the moment), so the risk-level isn't super high ... but again, I haven't checked to see if the coin is fake ...
=> it certainly seems like it's a nice lil' ancient coin (to my untrained eye)
Edited by stevex6
11/03/2012 03:47 am
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
It's a nice looking coin that appears to be 100% genuine. The only concern that I have with it is that there is signs of active bronze disease on both side of the coin. More so on the reverse with the pitting in the field and green patches. At this point in the bidding $11 isn't a bad price, but not knowing for sure if there is active BD on the reverse, I would be cautious about bidding much higher.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
TJ, dont stress too much about buying on ebay, yes there are unscrupulous people selling coins but also a lot of honest people. As long as your not spending big (would recommend respected dealers for that) I think its generally worth the risk and it wont take you long to get the experience you need to spot the bad deals, and more importantly the good ones, of which many can be found  As Gil-galad has said your coin most closely matches RIC VI Serdica 4a (p492) however that coin does not have a dot before the 'SM' in the mintmark so yours would be best described as 'RIC VI Serdica 4a variant'. Had a good look through RIC and cant find any exact matches to your coin, technically its a 'Not in RIC', I found a record of a very similar Galerius (the other Caesar) from the Sinai Hoard described as 'RIC VI Serdica 4b variant'.  Does anyone know if RIC has simply missed a dot out of the mintmark for this series in the book? Checked the errors page but its not referenced there. Other examples of .SM.SD. Genios are also kicking about on the web. I'm now thoroughly confused  Anyways, all the above does not mean much to the average collector or ebay bidder, the coin is nice and looks fine to me, echizento may be right about BD, certainly at 2pm on the obverse, although green the reverse is probably stable IMHO. Its a shame this little doubt exists as otherwise its a nice coin. Much like echizento I'd happily buy it for $11 but probably wouldn't go much higher than $15 on it. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
 , but with three days to go on the auction I would suspect the price to rise at least into the $20-$30 range. The detail looks very good on this coin, so I would go for it as long as the price is sub $20. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3167 Posts |
I don't think you have anything to worry about, if you pay using PayPal and you get ripped off by the seller ie. you never get the coin, PayPal is usually pretty good about giving you a refund.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3229 Posts |
Thanks for your feedback everyone. I have been looking for a match. Here is the closest I have been able to find so far: http://www.acsearch.info/search.htm...c=&a=&l=#196 I fairly certain the reverse is a match, but obverse is different. Thanks for helping! Echizento, thanks for the heads up on possible BD! I don't think it is...but its possible and now the risk is known. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
Wait...Ok...I think I found it. Well Gil-galad & Bobbyhelmet did:) But besides the officia mark I believe its a match http://www.acsearch.info/search.htm...c=&a=&l=#223Description Constantius I, May 305 - 25 July 306 A.D. 224. Silvered follis, SRCV 3671, RIC VI 4a, choice EF, Serdica mint, 10.8g, 29.0mm, 303-305 A.D.; obverse FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, laureate head right; reverse GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius of the Roman people with modius on head, holding cornucopia and pouring libations from patera; SOLD  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
You know TJ thats a nice coun but you should go Greek.... Just wanted to slip that in there....
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Quote:
but you should go Greek Dont start the Roman vs Greek argument again! Quote:
I think I found it Yep, thats a pretty good match, only the workshop is different. Been wondering about this and I think it could be that RIC has missed a dot out in its listings. All the attributed coins with the dot I have seen are linked to the RIC numbers without the dot so its obviously something many come across and settle on when trying to assign numbers. Good luck if you bid TJ. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Aww great coins! Now we are cooking with Crisco! ... What was that Bobby?  , don't get me wrong I love the Romans, but even they loved the Greek! |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Lets not get on to what the Greeks loved on a family forum though  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Haha - that is just the tip of a very perverted iceberg  |
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Replies: 16 / Views: 1,829 |
Posted 11/03/2012 03:42 am
