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 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,785 |
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New Member
United States
2 Posts |
Hi, new to the community and ancient coins, although I have collected US coins since I was young. A few mos ago, I traded a guitar amplifier (of all things) for a ANACS slabbed Augustus Denerius. It's not in great shape but just holding something that has been used as money for 2000 years was the coolest thing lol. Anyway, I started looking for others. In a coin/pawn shop I saw a 3 coin lot of an azes II tetradrachm, an Aurelian bronze coin and low an behold what looked like my Augustus Denarius but in MUCH better shape. I know the first two aren't worth much but the whole lot was priced $150...got them all for $120. SO I rolled the dice. Any opinions on the Denarius pictured below? I know these things have been faked for centuries but did I get lucky?   Edited by kbuck11
12/22/2015 6:03 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
kbuck11:  to the CCF !Go to VCOINS search: 'augustus denarius caius lucius', for comparison with yours. Edited by sel_69l
12/22/2015 6:31 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3444 Posts |
Looks like the real deal to me. But of course determining whether it is authentic really requires a hands on inspection.
I feel it is most likely 'good'.
Sounds like you made a good score. Even a "rube" like yourself can get lucky !
Many places like Pawn Shops have trouble selling genuine ancients. Most people refuse to believe they can possibly be real !
I advise quitting while you are ahead though. Definitely keep an eye out for deals ! But when starting out it is always safer to buy from a dealer who has some knowledge of ancients.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3444 Posts |
BTW I would be interested in seeing the Aurelian "bronze". If it is actually bronze (imperial) you may have made another score.
Most likely it is "billon" a bronze alloyed with silver. Usually greyish in color. If Aurelian is wearing a 'spiked' crown it is an 'antoninianus' and fairly common. If he is wearing a laurel on his head or bareheaded then you have a much rarer coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
I don't see anything that raises any red flags, although sharper pics would help. I did a quick run through the fakes reports and don't see any matches there. I agree with FR: most likely good.
Azes II and Augustus in the same lot? Talk about strange bedfellows...
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
to the community. I agree with the others the coin looks fine. I would like to see the Azes II tetradrachm, post a picture if you have one. |
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New Member
 United States
2 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
All nice coins. The Azes is Azes I reference BMC 91. Actually Azes I and II are now considered to be the same person by most authorities on Indo-Scythian coins.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
They all look OK to me, but I also agree with FR with 'hands on'. Take them to a dealer who is familiar with ancients to confirm our opinions.
Look up VCOINS for the other two as well.
One of the methods of proving authenticity is to trace provenance back to a relaible source.
A pawn shop is not the best place for a reliable source, but in this case, it looks like you got lucky.
Edited by sel_69l
12/22/2015 9:37 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3444 Posts |
The Aurelian is indeed an antoninianus. Low grade billon for all intents and purposes ........ bronze.
Aurelian was a very strict military emperor. Shannanigans had been going on at the imperial mints for generations. The antoninianus had begun the 3rd century as a silver coin (double denarius). By the time of Aurelian the debasement had become so extreme that it was supposed to contain only 5% silver. Based on the appearance this one is probably less than half that !
The Emperor demanded better and instituted reforms. Reforms resulted in rebellion by the mint workers at Rome and the emperor quite brutally suppressed the uprising. As part of his project to bring back the good old days Aurelian tried to mint some of the long gone coins of earlier centuries. The project failed ! Medium sized bronzes were issued and promptly pocketed by the holders !
Bad money chases out good.
The reverse is interesting to a beginner learning about the history. Aurelian assumed power in Rome and promptly set out to reunify a fragmented empire. I believe he had 6 or 7 competitors for the 'top dog' position. He eliminated them each one by one and finally restored the "east" then dominated by Queen Zenobia of Palmyra.
The reverse reads RESTITVTOR ORIENTIS. Aurelian as restorer of the East receiving laurel wreath from woman.
Aurelian was one of the last emperors to receive a "triumph" in the city of Rome.
The former Gallic Emperor Tetricus walked behind his chariot and the beautiful Zenobia Queen of the East was displayed in chains of gold.
For all his efforts to make good
Aurelian only earned himself an assassins blade.
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
1194 Posts |
Quite early in his reign of 5 years , Aurelianus made a reform of the coinage , he increased the weight of silver in the antoninianus and marked these coins with XXI (KA for greek coins ) as mark of value , these new coins are also called: aurelianus after him .Here we have an antoninianus of before the reform , without any content of silver .
I think you made a big deal , take the Augustus to a dealer , this coin in this condition cost a lot more than what you paid .albert
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Replies: 11 / Views: 1,785 |
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Posted 12/22/2015 6:49 pm
. Here are the other two. As I said, I'm new to ancients but learning a bit every day...
