Limes

I think you are on the right path when it comes to a cheaper type: provincial, no silver.

There s also he dupondius issue with octavian. A bit more expensive, but imho a better type when it comes to value for money. Perhaps saving some cash for a longer time and go for that type? 

Nice coins! @maridvnvm, those busts of Clodius Albinus and the last Probus are lovely (and I believe I've voiced my love for that Probus before). 

I'll toss in this one: 

Nice addition. And one can never have enough Constatine coins, there are many interesting types. 

Two of my favorites, with the 'eyes towards the heaven' obverse. Is it a Christian theme? Or a throwback to Greek hellenistic times? 

Im not a general collector, and I dont buy many coins in a year. This year, I had 10 additions to the collection, and maybe by the end of the year I can add one more. The coins vary a lot in value. This year Ive added an aureus, but also a small group of three Trajan denarii, which were about 80 eur. each. So, its hard to give a general price range.

Yup, todays e live venue did not bring me any coins either. My budget was low, yes, but I had decided to put it all on 2 coins. I missed the first one, and the second one by a mere 25 eur, but of course I did not know how high the other bidder would go. Interestingly, as was in the previous e live auction some bidders seem to be bidding against themselves again. No patience I guess. What annoyed me was that this 'premium' e live venue had a few of 25% also. Seems a bit strange to me, why do they levy the same fee on an e live venue, as on the floor auction? 

In any case, I was more lucky in the cng auction. Then again, i already fear the tax levied and the annoying handling costs of the shipping company. Ah well, thats the life of a collector I guess.

1 hour ago, Prieure de Sion said:

Hmmm frustration today. On CNG a bidder kill my bid 1s before ending at the Godianus Aureus. 
And at Künker I get only the Balbinus and one Gordianus - but booth for the Shop - nothing for me. 

Bad day - but hey - some interesting auctions coming up the next weeks. No matter real really bad for a long time. 
Tomorrow is a new auction day... and tomorrow and tomorrow... 🙂 

Out of curiosity; what shop? 

29 minutes ago, DonnaML said:

I bid (not terribly much) on three coins, one Roman Republican and two Imperials. 

I seriously underestimated how much the Imperials would sell for. I would have had to bid about 5 times what I did to win this denarius, given that my bid was only 400 Euros:

I probably shouldn't be surprised that I didn't come close to the early Augustus, but I didn't expect this Hadrian to go for almost 10 times the 200 Euros I bid! Perhaps it's an uncommon type, but if that's the case I had no idea.

On the other hand, I did win this Roman Republican denarius for less than my bid. I guess it just didn't attract much interest, even though it's a type I haven't seen that often and appears to me to be in decent condition:

 

Congratulations on the win, that's a lovely RR.

About that Augustus, it's a more than nice example of the type, although I've seen an example of a not so much lesser quality (obv and rev a little off center, good details on reverse, nice toning) for sale in retail for 450 eur. Not saying that this one sold by Kunker isn't worth the 2.200 EUR (someone thought it was worth it), but if I had to chose I'd rather go for the 450 EUR one. In the end I guess it's a matter of quality - price and where one stands on that scale, which makes the answer to the question what is it worth a very personal one. 

2 minutes ago, Qcumbor said:

Good portraits of Commodus on denarii are very difficult to come by, well done !

Q

Thank you! 

On 10/18/2022 at 4:20 AM, kapphnwn said:

omorrow I head to Europe for about two weeks. I plan to be in two cities while I am there Paris and Vienna. If there are any from this forum that live in or around those cities, I wouldn't mind visiting with and talking to others who share similar interest to my own.  I know it is short notice but these things happen. So if anyone is nearby.... contact me and maybe we can get together. 

Enjoy the trip! Paris and Vienna are lovely. Do eat some Sachtertorte in Vienna, and visit the Spanish school with the lipizzaners 🙂

Oh well, my pre bid was outbid easily. Too bad, but I took a gamble. @DonnaML, the estimates are, just as the photo's, rubbish. I think Kuenker live auctions is a venue where a representative really pays off.

3 hours ago, Prieure de Sion said:

 

This type for 2.600 Euro (+25% = 3.125 Euro) ... ??? 😬😱

Ok... 

 

I'm looking forward to the next doofus (?) coins on the Berk podcast. There were some eligable candidates today... 

13 minutes ago, Restitutor said:

Reading articles about impending recession, and then seeing these prices.... I am floored. If I ever sell my collection, Künker will be my consignor of choice 🤑

Well, a bit of a guess here, but I think Kuenker generally attracts a crowd on which inflation will have little effect. The coins are amazing and attract high end bidders. (And folks like me that will enter a low pre bid and hope for the best.)

Another great addition @David Atherton, congratulations. That is a mighty fine portrait indeed, as are the many other portraits shown here. I'll toss in a few too. And indeed, big bronzes have enough space for the artist to create a beautiful portrait, altough on the smaller denarius of Commodus, the artist did a great job as well. 

Augustus:

Nero:

I've always had a soft spot for this portrait of Commodus. The strike is on the weak side, but that does not affect the portrait in any negative way. The beauty of this portrait is enhanced because of the flow lines that seem to emanate from the head. 

Congratulations on the win!

I have one low pre bid in for tomorrow, but hey, you never know right? The 25% fee annoys me a bite though....

Great accomplishment, and as always a lovely presentation! You've been acquiring and sharing with us many coins this year. What are your next targets? 

I've so far collected about 35 emperors/empresses. I tend to focus on interesting reverses more, including imperatorial/republican coins. From there, I'll see where my collection interest will take me. Perhaps more Greek coins, or later imperial coins (soldier emperors)? 

You also asked about milestones. I have many, so to say. The completion of my 12 C's set for example. Or the 'good emperors' in silver. Individual coins have also been milestones, so to say, because they were difficult to acquire. Below you may find two examples of such coins, which I truly cherish.

Cheers, keep on collecting! 

Nice score! You did not go for this one in the same sale? 😉

https://www.biddr.com/auctions/mdcmonaco/browse?a=2865&l=3215640

Nice score! RIC rates it common? Maybe its me, but I dont see this type often...? 

Unfortunately, my coin above turns out to be a match with a fake coin posted on forum. I've contacted the seller about this and will be reimbursed. I would like to give my thanks to @maridvnvm for seeing the match and contacting me. 

I wonder if that's why nobody else was interested...? 

Nice concert going on here! I feel like playing some Vivaldi now. 

No new instrument, but this coin has not been posted yet here:

Nice catch @David Atherton! The bust is lovely. I really like cuirassed busts. 

EDIT: coin below is a match with this fake posted on Forum: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?pid=5691 
If it's ok, I'll leave the photo here for educational purposes. 

37 minutes ago, Al Kowsky said:

I've seen this commercial many times 🙄 & it has nothing to do with ancient coins 😏. It's a tacky sales pitch by Bank of America showing a young guy calculating investment returns on his phone 😜. The irony of the commercial is most young people aren't spending time calculating investments on their phones, most of them are using their phones for social media 🤣. I've seen the collection of coins BoA has on display twice, & it's impressive ☺️.

Your last sentence makes me wonder; how many banks, companies etc other than museums have collections. I know the Dutch Central Bank has a collection, and it is huge. Does a complete overview exist of these collections? 

Hmm, question, so the idea of this commercial is that its better to use that investment thing than post photos of ancient Roman coins? Interesting, because coins are not the most popular part of a museum for many people, so why use coins in the commercial? Does it imply that collecting ancients is very popular in USA but one has better ways to spend money? If so, I agree, and hope many will follow (so prices may drop 😁) 

(and no, im not good in English, so find it difficult to get the message behind the commercial.)

Great addition @LONGINUS, and lovely tray of the Severans (and great layout as always)! I have yet to acquire a coin of the unfortunate and young Diadumenian. I do have dad, however. I personally would not put Maximianus Thrax in the digital tray, as he's generally seen as the first of the 'soldier emperors' and the end of the Severan dynasty. But perhaps I'm missing something here. 

When it comes to events and coinage, I find the Severan dynasty very interesting. I dont have that many coins, especially compared to e.g. Dougsmit, or Maridvnvm. I specifically like the issues of the family together, in the various compositions. I have one of those, a worn one, and I would like to add a better one to the collection one day, preferably with Caracalla and Geta together. For now, it's just mom and son no. 2. 

Another interesting issue, is this one of Caracalla, showing the circus maximus. I know at least one member has a better issue, that is Tiff. It's always difficult to pick favorites amongst your coins, but this one would be in the top 10 for sure. 

Another interesting, and rare issue, is this sestertius of Caracalla, showing his 'oppression' of Alexandria. Its - again - a worn issue, but quite difficult to get. Caracalla standing on a crocodile says it all I guess.

And lastly, this issue of the derailed (is this a good saying in English too?) emperor Elagabal is interesting as well. It shows a procession that took place in Rome, where the sacred stone of Emesa was brought from from Syria. 

Neat coin, could be worth it. Depending how much you mean, when saying it can cost. 

that's an interesting and lovely subcollection @Severus Alexander! Whats going on, on the reverse of the left coin at row 6; emperor on platform receiving a citizen, or giving out cash? 

I have no middle bronzes of SA, but I do have this peculiar sesterius, which is about the weight and diameter of a big AE AS. Makes me think, perhaps it is a AS? 

2 hours ago, LONGINUS said:

Great post, @Severus Alexanderand excellent coins!

 

Man, I wish I had a beard like that at age 13 between 26.... (and I was slow when it comes to facial hair)

Ah yes, who doesnt have a case of the auction frusties? Funny thing is, every time I make the same mistakes again. Its a never ending case of self inflicted torment. And I think over the years i have learned to enjoy the pain.

Anyway, it goes something like this. A few weeks before the auction starts, the catalogue is posted. I drewl over all the amazing coins, select a big list of targets, start the research process and decide my tactic. Which is then basically the idea i can get a few main targets cheap because supposedly im the only person on the planet who follows this auction and is interested in the coins. (Haha) Then, the first pre bids come in. No problem, I expected those, and they are manageable. (I tend to forget again and again that a pre bid does not show) someone s max bid. A week before auction date, more pre bids follow. Ok, that is trouble, some high bids already, I have to cancel some targets from my main list. But luckily theres always a second, not main target list and I just go for those. A day before the auction starts the last pre bids come in. By then I cancel almost all my main targets and secondary targets. I can always focus all my funds on one or two coins, right? Auction day arrives: pre bids are just the beginning of the misery. My primary and even secundary targets are getting away on such high prices, i start wheeping a bit. This is not what realized prices told me!! But then comes that one main target left on my list.... I get all my hopes up, go full in.... aaaaaand its gone. Enter: the pain. I start contemplating my lifes choices, open a beer or two and start eating a lot of chips, sometimes followed by frustated shopping on ma shops (and still find nothing).

Luckily theres always another auction around the corner. Eat, sleep (rave) repeat, and sometimes you get lucky. 

Neat addition to your collection! It reminds me of a dupondius of Trajan I no longer have, with a similar reverse. Do you think this reverse was based on the reverse of Vespasian? Or was it some sort of general image of propogandic nature, whenever an emperor needed to be shown as a strong military man? 

I mostly have static reverses showing buildings or referring to certain conquests, or events, rather than action scenes. One coin with a bit of emperor - on - horse action, is the worn denarius below of Galba, but it lacks the spearing of someone. More as if he is rallying the troops. 

Nice coins! That DJ sestertius has a mighty fine portrait! Are you planning on getting a Pescennius Niger as well? I'm still looking for a good and affordable Didius Julianus denarius. But in these complex times with high auction prices, I prefer to wait. 

To share a 'trophy'; this denarius of Tiberius was my first 'big' spendure on ancients, beaten by Otho two years later. I had told myself at that time, I would never spend that much, and after having bought the Tiberius one, tried to never spend that much again. I failed.