| Author |
 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,178 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3444 Posts |
I found this 'beauty' over in Germany but hesitated as the seller was not one of the famous dealers which we are usually familiar with. I have purchased from 'him' before and all his items appear to be quite genuine as well as aesthetically pleasing. Perhaps selling off a collection ? Point of fact most of the bronzes are exactly the type I have been on the watch for for 30 years !  Well a bit of research (wildwinds) seems to provide a perfect die match for both obverse and reverse.  So I took the plunge !  AE Sestertius of Didius Julianus Obv. Laureate head of Julianus right IMP CAES M DID SEVER IVLIAN AVG Rv Concordia standing left, holding a legionary eagle and standard CONCORD MILIT S C Issued May-June, 193 A.D., RIC IV 14 (Rare) Sear 6075 29-30mm 25.78 grams   (cng 2015)  Only after I had made the purchase did I notice something. I am still 90% sure it is genuine but something slipped past me. Something which makes me go hmmmmmmmm  |
|
|
|
Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
First impression was that it didn't look right, maybe a Pauduan. Your the expert on Roman bronzes so if you say it's genuine it's good enough for me. Nice rare find, congrats.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
3444 Posts |
Well my knowledge of Julianus is somewhat ...... thin !
But the fact that Wildwinds listed one that seems to be a perfect die match gave me some confidence.
The fact that the photographs (and the coin) were attributed to CNG gave me a double boost of confidence !
And yet .........
There is something that my initial enthusiasm caused me to miss.
As I stated I am 90% (plus) on this one but something is different about it.
My apologies for being less than candid.
I am curious if anyone else notices and how it might influence their opinion !
Edited by FVRIVS RVFVS
10/12/2016 7:46 pm
|
|
Moderator
United States
34435 Posts |
@FR, not really my area of expertise, but since you are asking... The primary difference that I see is your coin is a bit more worn that the CNG coin (e.g. on the obv, your coin has one less row of hair with details). However, your coin has a fairly prominent raised rim, which is either missing or worn off on the CNG coin. Assuming that these two coins were pretty much identical back in June of 193 AD, then I would expect that either the CNG rim would be at least as visible as your rim or else yours would have more details. Am I right? "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3444 Posts |
But I give you an A for effort !
The question is in the details.
The reign of Julianus was not a 'normal' situation
Something about this coin is quite 'normal' when the typical example is usually off by around 25% !
That is as big of a clue to point you in the direction I am looking ........
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
204 Posts |
Beautiful sestertius FVRIVS!! Congrats on your rare find, your patience paid off When it comes to authenticity, I truly don't know enough yet to comment but it looks great  Edited by NorthSideTy
10/12/2016 10:03 pm
|
|
Moderator
United States
34435 Posts |
25% struck off-center? 25% too light on the mass?  "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3444 Posts |
BTW
What often is interpreted as "wear" on the sestertius is in fact due to a weakness of the strike.
The sestertius often had an almost bas relief portrait of the ruler which required an extraordinary amount of force to
get the orichalcum to flow into the die. This is most often noticeable when the portrait relief has a flatness about the highest points.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3444 Posts |
Typical examples of Julianus weigh in at 18-20 grams when the normal weight would have been around 24-5 grams.
He had promised the Praetorians 25,000 sestertii each for making him emperor.
A sum he obviously did not have in the vault !
He cheated on the weights which probably made him even less popular with his 'base'.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Belgium
1194 Posts |
Didius Jualianus was only a few months emperor . So I think it is possible that the first sestertii he struck , had the normal weight .If the coin looks not a fake once you have checked in hand , I would try to compare as much as possible the weights of the sestertius on other sites . For me , the coin looks ok . albert
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3444 Posts |
I agree Albert
I came to the same conclusion myself.
I only mentioned my concerns as I had attempted to verify the coin as much as I believed possible before purchasing.
The fact that the weight was normal for the era allowed the fact that Julianus cheated on his weights to slip past my notice.
I am very happy with the purchase and gave the number of 90% plus sure simply because the coin lacks the type of exquisite
green and black patination that my (and yours too !) favorite bronzes have. The type of patination that simply cannot be faked !
I believe that there should always be some room for doubt. Too many experts have been fooled over the centuries to think it can't happen to mere mortals like outselves.
Edited by FVRIVS RVFVS
10/13/2016 2:37 pm
|
| |
Replies: 10 / Views: 1,178 |
|
Posted 10/12/2016 7:45 pm
