Yet Another Forum Game - Numismatic Go Fish!

Participations

keith12 = participation : ...
Spence = 5 points.
bd251 = 5 points.
arby96 = 20 points.
mcshilling = participation
jbuck = 5 points.
(Fine raised line on a coin that was caused by a crack in the die)
spruett001 = 5 points ( 1942-S,1944-S)

We have a winner : arby96 with 20 points.

The floor is yours

Congratulations!

This is the only 19th-century "gold" I have:




I have some exceptional 20th-century "gold," too.

Same here not even jewellery.

Life got the best of me and I missed a few rounds!

This is a *little* older than 19th century, but it's my favorite.



Valentinian III, 425-455 AD
AV Tremissis
DN VALENTINIANVS PF AVG, Diademed bust right
VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM / CONOB, Victory facing, head left, holding wreath and globus cruciger, star to right
RIC 274?


The grandson of Theodosius I, Valentinian III was Rome's final chance for redemption, and he blew it. Ascending to the throne from a young age under the regency of his mother, he was a spineless emperor--outwardly pious, but obsessed with magic and divination. He allowed his Germanic generals to exert greater and greater power while he indulged in worldly pleasures. Through his inaction, he lost Spain to the Vandals, setting the stage for their takeover of Africa which cut off the Roman grain supply. Only his bodyguard and second in command, Aetius, seemed to try to push the young emperor into action, and was murdered in cold blood by Valentinian for it. Valentinian was assasinated by the next plot against his life, only six months later. His death was followed by the successive rule of nine emperors in the next 21 years, until Rome was surrendered to Odoacer in 476.

Despite ruling for 30 years, all coins of Valentinian III are rare because the economy was in shambles and coinage was only issued in small spurts every few years. I sprung for a small gold of his, because the bronzes weren't much cheaper. His coinage is just about the final hurrah of Roman numismatic artistry. His engravers did not formally train their successors, and within a few decades the lettering is wobbly and full of spelling errors, the porttaits are cartoonish, and the figures are out of proportion and degenerating into stick figures.

Put into perspective, this coin is one of about 100-200 known (rare reverse type) and cost me a little less than $300, or not much more than a scarce date $1 gold!

Raw/ungraded; lotta chatter.. but good enough for a 7070 slot.
Still have a few holes to fill in that album after ten years of casual effort.