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 Replies: 12 / Views: 734 |
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Valued Member
United States
208 Posts |
At Spence's suggestion (thank you!) I checked out the Stephen Album auction today and snagged my first two ancient coins. Decided my first collecting goal is going to be a denarius of each of the 7 Adoptive Emperors. ROMAN EMPIRE: Commodus, 177-192 AD, AR denarius (2.80g), Rome, 186-187 AD, RIC-161, laureate head right, M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT // emperor standing left, sacrificing from patera in right hand over lighted altar with sacrificial bull, a few stray scratches, Choice VF.  ROMAN EMPIRE: Trajan, 98-117 AD, AR denarius (2.82g), Rome, 114-117 AD, RIC-334, laureate and draped bust right, Legend: IMP CAES NER TRAIAN OPTIM AVG GERM DAC // Virtus, standing right, holding vertical spear in right hand and parazonium in left, PARTHICO P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R, glossy dark patina, VF.  Edited by Hordfest
07/10/2023 3:03 pm
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
Fantastic!  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7934 Posts |
Congrats!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
24993 Posts |
Hordfest, excellent acquisitions! Seems like someone is hooked now.
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Valued Member
 United States
208 Posts |
Don't get me wrong guys I still enjoy USA, but as a historian with two degrees in history there is something alluring about ancient coinage that is pulling me in.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1143 Posts |
There is something about ancients that is the root of coin collecting and that IS the history they carry.
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
Did you get them at a good price? John1  |
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Valued Member
United States
208 Posts |
Quote:
Did you get them at a good price Commodus was $75 ($90 including BP) Trajan was $70 ($84 including BP) I don't know a ton about Ancients yet but I figured that a denarius of an Adoptive Roman emperor that is legible with a nice obverse bust would be at least a decent buy at under $100. But admittedly I didn't do as much research as I could have first. Originally I just wanted to watch the auctions not bid, but I couldn't resist getting 2 emperors knocked out! |
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
1557 Posts |
Congratulations on your purchase, the coins are really very beautiful.
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Pillar of the Community
Portugal
655 Posts |
They are not just legible, they are in very nice condition. Seems to me you had that Trajan cheap, congratulations.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4962 Posts |
Those are great looking coins, the bust are sharp...commodus looks like he just saw a ghost. Great idea for a collection also!
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
Those two denarii bring back some memories for me . My first Roman coin acquisition was a denarius of Antoninus Pius, VF condition, modius and corn ears reverse, which I bought for AU $4. That was a long time ago, in 19 64, believe it or not. You can't go far wrong with collecting denarii of the Adoptive Emperors in VF condition, where the price range is still quite affordable. You also can't go far wrong with ancient cons from the public auctions of Stephen Album, these auctions have the highest of professional numismatic reputations. The denarius is probably best known to the non collecting public at large, because this denomination is mentioned in the Bible. Coins are the hardware of history. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I hope that I haven't been responsible in causing an ancient coin disease ! Beware:- it is permanent, but it won't kill you.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1120 Posts |
Congratulations and I agree - you can't go wrong with those two. Condition is everything when talking ancient coins and those two look wonderful. |
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Replies: 12 / Views: 734 |
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Posted 07/10/2023 3:10 pm
