| Author |
 Replies: 8 / Views: 2,825 |
|
|
Valued Member
United States
130 Posts |
While wandering the Chicago World's Fair of Money the other day, I got a taste for a Byzantine bronze and settled on this piece from a dealer I've known for a few years.   Justinian I AD 527-565 AE Follis, 40mm 23.5g Constantinopolis Mint, Year 15, Officina Delta DN IVSTINIANVS PP AVG As for the price, the flip said $175. When asked if there was any flexibility in that, my dealer friend looked and seemed surprised by his own price, saying he must have "bought it right" to have priced it so low. So there would be no discount this time. A glance at ebay didn't do much to confirm or refute his suggestion that I was getting a great bargain, but we'd done a fair amount of business and I liked the coin so here we are. What do you think about the beginning of my Byzantine collection and the price paid? Edit: Corrected my mistake regarding the inscription. Edited by ThomasJefferson
08/10/2014 7:50 pm
|
|
|
|
Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
This is really a very nice example, well struck and centered, with clear legends. I think you did OK on the price.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
946 Posts |
The "extra three Is in his name" are the letters I and N. I bought a similar quality AE Follis (SB 201, Nicomedia) of Justinian from Forum Ancient Coins in 2007 for around $170. Of course on ebay you may find cheaper ones and poorer quality ones too, and fakes.  Edited by Masis
08/10/2014 6:19 pm
|
|
Valued Member
 United States
130 Posts |
Thanks, Masis, for pointing out the N. After tilting the coin in the light I can see now the diagonal line. And it's plain to see in the photo. How embarrassing.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
that's a really nice one and BIG at 40 mm. the price you paid is reasonable I'd say. here's mine, it was les than 100 bucks...but it's around 35 mm. still, one of my favs.   |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Well TJ I must say I really like the piece. Its dates to the year that the plague of Justinian struck Constanatiople. Its a coveted plague coin. Read about the plage of Justinian. I have a very nice piece for Nikomedia and the large module 40 nummis sits among my favorite ancient coins.  Plague fingers  |
|
New Member
United States
27 Posts |
#98 in Harlan J. Berk's Book 100 Greatest Ancient Coins. "The emperor created a large bronze coin whose obverse was patterned after the gold solidus he was also issuing."
|
|
Valued Member
United States
152 Posts |
At 40mm, this is a nice large Byzantine bronze and so the 175$ price is very good.
Paul
|
|
New Member
United States
3 Posts |
T.Jefferson:
That's a good price for that from what I have seen recently. You have a nice piece there. I picked up a few Byz coins myself this month and while shopping I saw some similar to yours and they were that much and more.
|
| |
Replies: 8 / Views: 2,825 |
|
Posted 08/10/2014 6:05 pm
