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 Replies: 15 / Views: 2,397 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Yeah, it's definitely seen better days, but coins of late Roman empress Verina (wife of Leo I) are very tough to come by, and this inexpensive example is perfect for me: on a budget and collecting scarce/rare 5th century AD Roman coins. If you want to cheat, so to speak, there is a bronze coin type of Leo I with Verina on the reverse that is way more common (but a still scarce coin overall), but in my case I've still always wanted a coin in her name and couldn't pass this one up. She is rated 6 (out of 9) for bronze on Dirty Old Coins's rarity scale. Hopefully the obverse can be improved when I get it, but the way I was able to tell it was Verina (instead of just going with the seller's word), was the style of the letters on the reverse pretty much match the ones on coins of Verina. Quote:
Aelia Verina (died 484) was the Empress consort of Leo I of the Byzantine Empire. She was a sister of Basiliscus. Her daughter Ariadne was Empress consort of first Zeno and then Anastasius I. - WikipediaMore info: http://www.roman-emperors.org/verina.htmAelia Verina, Eastern Roman empress (457-474 AD) Obv: AEL VERINA AVG, diademed, draped bust right Rev: SALVS RE-PVBLICAE, Victory seated right, inscribing chi-rho on shield, CONE in ex, Constantinople mint  Here's Wildwind's better example of my coin, to show what I mean about the style:  Edited by VisigothKing
07/03/2013 11:12 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Welcome back we have seen you in a while. Nice find.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Sometimes you have to take them in whatever condition you can  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Nice coin! I was going to bid on it and I wouldve if I had realised how far up the 207 rankings it is! Its a great example of late roman style. If you find another, id be interested in this one. You got a sterling price.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4778 Posts |
Thanks guys, glad you like it! I recently got the last bronze type of Leo I's I needed for my collection, so getting this coin so soon after was pretty appropriate.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36905 Posts |
I too will have to settle for a filler on some of these rare rulers. Nice pick up and you filled a hole in the collection.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Thanks IGE! I feel lucky I managed to snag this one; VCoins has the only other Verina I saw on sale. Its definitely better than mine but not spectacular (the reverse is half corroded). Asking price: $1750!
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Valued Member
279 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Look closely at the letter style. On my coin the letters are big, like on Verina coins. On Flacilla coins the letters are very small.
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Valued Member
279 Posts |
I have seen but unfortunately you know that a certain classification requires much more!
I often see Johannes' coins classified as such only to increase the selling price,but which can't be said to be certain.
You know that a similar coin with a sure visible legend on the obverse costs really a lot of $;in this case you can take if you suspect and for sure you've done very well taking it, however, you should not pay much for an uncertain coin.
I write this not to belittle the purchase.and as I write you did well.
I'm also fond of the fifth century and I know how difficult is to classify these raw coins , when in doubt I always put a question mark next,when the coin is 100% sure, it means that I've spent quite a bit of money with a certificate of authenticity and legal expertise origin.
Edited by giano
07/05/2013 11:47 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Quote:
unfortunately you know that a certain classification requires much more! Yes I realize that and know the letter style seems like a pretty shaky way to attribute it and normally if the details were very, very similar or exact (like coins of Honorius, Val III, or Johannes with no legends for example) I would pass, but here, personally I see too much of a difference between the letter styles to say its Flaccilla. Also, the wing shape much more resembles the one on Verina coins. I will see if I can tell in hand and if not try to improve it when I receive it. |
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Valued Member
279 Posts |
For example there are some coins, on which I went crazy, trying to figure out if it was Johannes or Eugenius other if it was Valentinianus III.
Even a numismatic expert wasn't able to help me and will always remain with a question mark.
However, this increases our desire to get one nice and defined when you find it even if it costs very much, don't you think?I'm sure you'll find one day a better sure Verina and you'll take it for a lot of $(even if I'm hoping not V-coins' price!)
However the reverse in your coin is for sure very similar as style,letters wings etc,to Verina's one,it's a shame because it lacks just that little bit particular, or letter on the obverse which would make it safe.
Edited by giano
07/05/2013 5:23 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4981 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Ok so I got it today, and after some light brushing of both obverse and reverse, I am more confident than ever that this is Aelia Verina. Aside from the matching reverse style and letters, I also managed to uncover a bit of the E in CONE on the reverse, made slightly clearer SAL in SALVS, and most important of all under the right light and angle, the VE in Verina, with the V a bit more clearer of the two letters.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Even with the original picture this coin is not in doubt and does not need imagination to see it. It's actually a nice coin!
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Replies: 15 / Views: 2,397 |
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Posted 07/03/2013 11:48 pm
