Ancient Coin Grading (Post Your Coins)

Martin, excellent coin. The first one has just a very small amount of wear. EF
The details on the second coin is super. The only draw back I see with this coin is that some of the obverse legend isn't as sharp as the first coin. Still I would grade it at EF also.

Just for 'giggles' lets see what you see in this one. It is by far the most expensive coin I have ever purchased and that was about 25 years ago when I was young, single and children were someone else's responsibility !


AE Dupondius of Nero (laurel headed)
Rv Macellum of Rome

Built by Nero it was a marketplace specializing in meats and fresh fish. No trace of it remains.

I agree with Ski 100%. The coin is every bit of EF. Outside of the patina I can't imagine the coin was any nicer when it fell from the dies. A remarkable example of ancient brass. Kudos to you. Wish it was mine.

@ FVRIVS RVFVS: Rare are the instances when you see second brass of this quality. Of course, you already know that I am wasting keyboard time making a statement such as this!

The small but obvious amount of wear is almost to be ignored, due to excellent quality of the strike. It is only a tiny bit weak in places with good centering and full legends, rich brown patina.

Good VF would be a true grading, that doesn't really make much sense in this case. If anyone wants to call it EF, I will gladly accept that.

Museum quality.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am thinking that the die detail for the left hand column as appears in the picture, may have been filled with dross or similar. The blanks for these were struck hot.

Interesting type. The main problem I have with these is I am so unfamiliar with them that I am at a bit of a loss to know what the difference would be between a high end VF and a low end VF !
I will simply give it a 'mid' VF.

Back to the Macellum for a moment. There is obviously some double strike of the reverse. But looking at some others of the same I think that there is more going on than first meets the eye. As the structure is no longer in evidence we rely on this coin for what it looked like. One wing is always lower on the right side. Perhaps an attempt at perspective ? The left wing always has an archway next to the central staircase and many (not all) appear to show two domes or perhaps 'cupolas' ...... It is hard to tell really what is being depicted. Being a meat and fish market I would imagine that an abundant water supply would be necessary to wash or better yet hose the hole place down rather frequently. If you have ever been to Rome in July (I have) they idea of selling fish in an open air facility is enough to make you queezy. I am thinking that they must have had a tremendous cold water supplied by some means and perhaps even 'live' fish. All pure speculation but ....... That's the fun of having these things around.
Food for thought you might say

Nate, nice coin most of the legend is there and it has very nice details. I would grade it at VF+.

Try this one then

Septimius Severus denarius
Obv:â€" IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II, Laureate head right
Rev:â€" INVICTO IMP, Trophy with captured arms below
Minted in Emesa, A.D. 194 â€" 195
References:â€" RIC 389 (Scarce), RSC 232

Almost 'mint state' very nicely toned ! (I hate wearing sunglasses when viewing old coins) artistic style is different from most denari of Severus which I have seen. No doubt due to the unusual mint location. If I collected silver I would love to have one.

I do on occasion buy silver but only when I find them at 'give away' prices which I would be foolish to pass on. I don't anticipate finding one like this.