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 Replies: 475 / Views: 52,883 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3446 Posts |
Well while we are on the subject of Trajan aka OPTIMO PRINCIPI....... I find my photo skills improving recently and our good friend 'Whiz' gets a bang out of this coin so I thought why not do a 're-shoot' ! One of the first 10 coins I ever purchased it set me back a stupendous $48 ! But I was feeling rich that day and probably had most of $100 in pocket. It sounds awfully cheap but remember that ... The President was a still popular man named Carter The Soviet Premier was an often comatose Leonid Brezhnev The Ayatollah Khomenei was in still in Paris shopping for the best price on plane tickets to Tehran And Ronald Reagan was famous for a movie called Bed Time for Bonzo and a TV series called "Death Valley Days" ! Trajan Ae As Obv Bust of Trajan laureate right Rv. OPTIMO PRINCIPI S C Crossed German Shields and Spears RIC 584 26-7mm 11.21 grams   |
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Moderator
  United States
23731 Posts |
Wow! another beauty. Excellent details and patina this is another EF+ coin IMO.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
579 Posts |
Every auction I look at I always check the Trajan coins to see if they have an example of this coin in as superb of quality. The last time CNG sold one was in their eAuction number 120 and would be of comparable to lesser quality.
This is one of my 'someday' coins to track down and find an excellent example of. I don't know why but I just find it awesome!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
None of that hard gunk has been tooled off this piece.
That makes it an honest coin
EF. A beauty!
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$48?
And the date is....?
Edited by sel_69l
02/08/2014 10:00 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3446 Posts |
I believe the year was 1978. I was 19 years old and decided to take a year off before continuing with school. I had been working for my father who had a small hardware manufacturing operation making "widgets". I can't recall precisely but I know I had started part time in '75 (child labor !) at $1.85 which was the minimum wage. By '78 I was probably making whopping $2.25 banging out 'thingy's' from coils of steel on a 20 ton drop forge. Back in '77 my brother had given me a 'taste' with an Alexander III drachm (damaged) to play with for a High School Art/Jewelry making class. By the following year the 'disease' had become a chronic condition and I was a full blown addict. I traveled over 60 miles to the next State to visit a "dealer" in such exotic imported 'specialties'. We discreetly went to a back room in his home where the product was shown to me. Some money was quickly exchanged and I stuffed the small white packets in my shirt pocket. My life has never been the same really ....... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xtTP3dk4EYEdited by FVRIVS RVFVS
02/08/2014 10:02 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Story from today;s show... I thought it would be appropriate to post the coin here since the coin is graded. I had some store credit with a dealer of mine that I felt was time to use, I combed through many a' boxs and again as always nearly leaving empty handed...this was offered to me. I was able to procure this piece for *super* good price.  http://www.ngccoin.com/certlookup/i...=4171392-001NGC grades this VG when IMHO it is F. 5/5 Strike and 3/5 surface with honest wear. The photo that NGC took gives the impression that the coin is porous but in hand it does not appear that way. NGC did not remark on any particular surface issue. I am also considering breaking it out of the slab. I suppose it would be worth more if I left it in the slab, but it might be worth more to me out... you know what I mean? I really want to handle the coin. These are not exceptionally rare coins. They seem fairly common in the $500 dollar range, but rarely less than that. I don't plan on selling the coin as it is a type I need to scratch off my list. I really didn't plan on buying the coin but rather taking the credit as cash which was an option open to me. So I took the coin and $87. I then proceeded to slip to my vehicle and drive home. |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Along with your First Meris, this is my second favorite coin in your collection. You already know my feelings about breaking it out of the slab. I would give this coin an overall grade of VF.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
any other thoughts on this coin being under graded by NGC?
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Nate, this is such a nice coin that I think everyone is speechless.
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Valued Member
United States
188 Posts |
After 3 days, I am happy to announce another coin is up for grading! Got it for a dangerously low price, and is very toned in hand. Unfortunately, this makes it look like an uncleaned coin, and while it does have some dirt, is for the most part cleaned. I would grade it a gEF, because of ful circles centering and full legend on both sides.   Obv: IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG Rev: PAX AETERNA AVG Edited by DannDaMan020
02/13/2014 9:31 pm
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
It would probably grade a little higher cleaned, but I like it in this condition and would grade it at VF.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Sharp detail, toned dark, with some deposits a very solid VF.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
I havent posted on this topic yet - I just cant justify any grading system without putting in a number for every aspect of the grade (centering, strike, wear, corrosion, design execution, etc). But this coin is probably my most worthy of recieving a grade. Phillip I, SAECVLARES AVGG. Heres a couple of pictures, and also a gif or two to show how nice it is. Pretty week reverse compared to the Obverse, but still as struck.     Points of note: Reverse is from a worn (& damaged) die, but struck deeply. Obverse is weekly struck - probably due to the depth of the COS III on the reverse - the beard and the radiate crown lack detail, as does the ear, but flow lines from the metal remain, even from the bust to the edge. |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Full legends and nice details. VF.
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Replies: 475 / Views: 52,883 |
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Posted 02/05/2014 5:34 pm
