MrMonkeySwag96

I participated in my first online auction last Saturday and I made a couple of impulse purchases. One of my impulse purchases was this L. Procilius denarius:

Sure, it has nice toning & the Juno reverse is engraved in decent style.  
 

However I’m quite picky about the grade of my Republic denarii. This L. Procilius denarius isn’t quite as “crisp” as the other denarii in my Juno Sospita type set:

Am I being OCD, what do you guys think?

4 hours ago, Nerosmyfavorite68 said:

I can't say that toning is 'always' more attractive than brightly cleaned, but I'd say that it is, 85% of the time.

Not all toning is created equal. In the case of my denarius, would you say that the original spotty toning was less attractive than white shiny surfaces it has currently?

14 hours ago, CPK said:

I almost always prefer toning on my silver - preferably, what is called 'old cabinet' toning. Iridescent toning can be really attractive too, but is easily overdone.

Here's a coin that would look worse (IMO) if it were shiny blast-white:

GREAT BRITAIN, King George II (1727-1760)
AR Shilling (26.08mm, 6.00g, 6h)
Dated 1745. Tower of London mint
Obverse: GEORGIUS · II · DEI · GRATIA ·, laureate, draped, and cuirassed old bust of King George II left; LIMA below
Reverse: ·M·B·F·ET H·REX· F·D·B ET·L·D·S·R·I A·T·ET·E· 17-45 (date), crowned cruciform coats-of-arms of England and France, Scotland, Ireland, and Hanover around rayed central Garter star
References: Numista 13121
Attractive old cabinet toning.
This coin was struck from silver captured from the Spanish treasure galleon Nuestra Señora de Cavadonga, off the coast of Peru in 1743. The British warship Centurion, commanded by Commodore George Anson, encountered the treasure ship as it left the port of Lima. After an intense, 90-minute battle, the Spanish vessel surrendered. In its hold were more than 1.3 million silver 8-reale coins, plus an additional 35,000 ounces of silver bullion. When Anson brought the plunder back to England, it was decided to use the captured silver for minting coins, each of which was stamped with the word "LIMA" on the obverse to commemorate the great victory.

Here are some examples from my collection in which attractive toning enhances an ancient coin’s eye appeal:

26 minutes ago, lordmarcovan said:

You can see why it was the “must have” type for me.

A few years ago, I posted a YouTube video of my entire collection of Early Commemorative half dollars:

15 hours ago, lordmarcovan said:

Nice to see you, ‘Cuz!  🙂

(After this many generations, I reckon there are a lot of us.)

Family lore had it that my maternal grandmother owned a silver candlestick that had belonged to William Bradford.  Given how well-to-do she was, and the quality of some of the other heirlooms, I reckon that’s semi-plausible, though I never saw the candlestick in question.  So maybe it was real and maybe it was mythical.

While we’re at it, here’s another coin from my collection which depicts our common ancestor!

 

I used to be really passionate about collecting Early Commemorative half dollars. I’m surprised I never bought myself a Pilgrim half dollar considering it’s one of the more common types

Back in 2020, I bought a denarius of Man. Acilius Glabrio from Lodge Antiquities on Vcoins. I paid around $150 for the coin. As you can see, my denarius is a shiny, white coin:

After randomly researching coins in CNG's archive of sold coins, I discovered that my denarius was originally sold in CNG e-auction 352, lot 392 on June 3rd, 2015. When CNG auctioned the coin, it was pictured with dark, spotty toning:

The denarius hammered for $65 on an estimate of $100.

Apparently, my denarius was cleaned of its dark toning by the coin's original owner or Lodge Antiquities before it was sold to me.
 

What do you guys think, was my denarius more attractive with the original spotty toning or does it look better as a shiny white coin?

It’s ironic that some of the most beautiful & artistic gold Solidii were minted during the Hercaclian dynasty & 20 Years Anarchy, which were chaotic periods in the Empire’s history. 

Galba. 68-69 AD. AR Denarius (19mm; 2.84 gm; 6h). Rome mint. Struck August-October 68 AD. Obv: IMP SER GALBA AVG, bare head right. Rev: SPQR/OB/CS in three lines within oak-wreath. RIC I 167; RSC 287. Lightly toned. Flan flaws and a few obverse light scratches.

My Caesar & Pompey denarii certainly aren’t winning any beauty contests.

I bought my Caesar from Aegean Numismatics. I think I paid $330 for it. Both Aegean Numismatics & Incitatus Coins are the Vcoins dealers to look out for budget examples of Caesar denarii:

I bought my Pompey portrait denarius from Eid Mar Auctions on Biddr. The outline of Pompey’s bust is still clearly visible on the obverse. Unfortunately, the reverse is nearly worn slick. I find it funny that the auction house described this coin as grading “Very Fine”:

Karia. Rhodes. Circa 305-275 BC. AR Didrachm (6.46g, 19mm). Obv.: head of Helios three-quarters right. Rev.: ΡΟΔΙΟΝ, rose with bud on right, grape cluster in left field, E-Y flanking stem. SNG Helsinki 454; Ashton 158; Weber 6716. VF.

2 minutes ago, DonnaML said:

Congratulations! My favorite is the Juno Sospita.

I bidded on the L. Procilius denarius because Juno Sospita’s head is fully struck with facial details. Most examples of this type I’ve seen have Juno’s head flatly struck.

Over the years, I’ve unintentionally compiled a type set of Juno Sospita denarii:

Earlier this week, I decided to participate in my first online coin auction on Biddr. Before this I’ve purchased most of my coins via retail channels such as Vcoins, dealer websites (Minotaur Coins, Akropolis Coins, Davissons etc), Reddit, eBay, & Facebook groups.

The Biddr auction I chose to participate in is hosted by Eid Mar Auctions, a newer dealer. Since one of my main focuses are Roman Republic coinage, I placed most of my bids on denarii. The dealer charges 15% buyers premium & free shipping on lots over 200 Euros.

I won three lots, including a budget denarius of Pompey:

Sextus Pompey, 42-40 BC. AR denarius (17 mm. 3,3 g.). Uncertain mint in Italy. MAG PIVS IMP ITER, bare head of Pompey Magnus right, capis behind head, lituus before. Banker's countermark IV. Rev. Neptune standing left, foot on prow, holding aplustre, between the Catanaean brothers Anapias and Amphinomus walking in opposite directions and carrying their parents on their shoulders. PRAEF (partly ligate) above, CLAS ET ORAE MARIT EX S C (partly ligate) in two lines in exergue. Crawford 511/3a; CRI 334; BMCRR Sicily 7-10; RBW 1785.

L Procilius Denarius, 80 BC. AR Denarius (17,3 mm. 3,8 g.). Rome. S C behind laureate head of Jupiter right. Rev. L PROCILI F, Juno Sospita walking right, wielding spear, shield on left arm, coiled serpent at foot right. Crawford 379/1; Sydenham 771; Procilia 1; Sear 306.

L Rustius, 74 BC. AR Denarius (19 mm. 3,7 g.). Rome. Helmeted head of Mars right. SC behind head, X beneath chin. Rev. Ram standing right, L RVSTI in exergue. Crawford 389/1; Sydenham 782; Rustia 1; Sear 320.

I won three Republican denarii at a Biddr auction, including one with a portrait of Pompey the Great:

L Procilius Denarius, 80 BC. AR Denarius (17,3 mm. 3,8 g.). Rome. S C behind laureate head of Jupiter right. Rev. L PROCILI F, Juno Sospita walking right, wielding spear, shield on left arm, coiled serpent at foot right. Crawford 379/1; Sydenham 771; Procilia 1; Sear 306.

L Rustius, 74 BC. AR Denarius (19 mm. 3,7 g.). Rome. Helmeted head of Mars right. SC behind head, X beneath chin. Rev. Ram standing right, L RVSTI in exergue. Crawford 389/1; Sydenham 782; Rustia 1; Sear 320. 

Sextus Pompey, 42-40 BC. AR denarius (17 mm. 3,3 g.). Uncertain mint in Italy. MAG PIVS IMP ITER, bare head of Pompey Magnus right, capis behind head, lituus before. Banker's countermark IV. Rev. Neptune standing left, foot on prow, holding aplustre, between the Catanaean brothers Anapias and Amphinomus walking in opposite directions and carrying their parents on their shoulders. PRAEF (partly ligate) above, CLAS ET ORAE MARIT EX S C (partly ligate) in two lines in exergue. Crawford 511/3a; CRI 334; BMCRR Sicily 7-10; RBW 1785.

I bought my first Roman Provincial/Greek Imperial coin:

AR Denarius 17mm. 3.90g. Rome Mint Head of young Hercules, wearing lion's skin, r. The Erymanthian Boar running r.; In ex.: M. VOLTEI. M.F. RSC I Volteia 2

ROMAN REPUBLIC L. Titurius Sabinus Moneyer, 85 BC AR Denarius. 3.89g, 18.2mm MINTED: Rome mint, 89 BC REF: Crawford 344/2b; Sydenham 699 OBVERSE: SABIN, bare head of King Tatius right; palm to lower right. REVERSE: Tarpeia, facing, buried in shields, raising both hands in protest; to left and right, two soldiers about to cast shields at her; star in crescent above; L.TITVRI in exergue.

Grade/Notes: Good Very Fine. Well-struck, centered and complete.

Historical Notes: The reverse type shows the killing of Tarpeia, the Vestal Virgin who betrayed Rome to the Sabines, who were attempting to break into the city to rescue their womenfolk, who had been abducted by the Romans. When she greedily asked as payment what the soldiers wore on their arms, meaning their jewellery, the Sabine men instead took off their shields and threw them on her, crushing her to death. Her body was then tossed off the steep cliff of the Capitoline Hill, which henceforth became known as the Tarpeian Rock, a place where the Romans would execute traitors, perjurors and murderers.

Ex. Minotaur Coins

Lykian Dynasts. Perikles. Circa 380-360 BC. AR Tetrobol - 1/3 Stater (2.99g, 16.5mm). Obv.: facing lion scalp. Rev.: Π↑Ρ - ΕΚ - Λ↑, around triskeles within incuse circle. Müseler VIII.49-51; SNG von Aulock 4254-5. gVF.

A budget denarius of Aquilia Severa, former Vestal Virgin & controversial Empress. Elagabalus’s taboo marriage with Aquilia turned the Roman Senate against him, one of many factors leading to Elagabalus’s downfall.
 

Roman Empire, Aquilia Severa 220 AD, Silver Denarius 2.45g, 19mm Draped bust of Aquilia Severa right "IVLIA AQVILIA SEVERA AVG" Concordia standing left, sacrificing out of a patera over an altar and holding double cornucopiae, star to left. "CONCORDIA" RSC 2

I bought this Tribute Penny last month. I now own 11 of the 12 Caesars. I’m only missing Otho

I bought my first medieval coin from Western Europe:

The Time of the Crusades, French Feudal Counts of Angouleme 1200-1270 AD AR Denier, 18.7mm, 0.71g O: +lodoicvs, Central cross R: +egolissime, Central cross, Three amulets, One crescent. Poey d’Avant # 2663

I got myself an Antoninianus of good silver with a sharp portrait of Valerian and a decent depiction of Jupiter:

Roman Empire, Valerian 253-260, Base Silver Antoninianus 2.81g, 20mm Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Valerian right. "IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG" Jupiter standing, head left, holding a thunderbolt and scepter. "IOVI CONSERVATORI" RSC 94

Ionia, Kolophon 430-400 BC, Silver Drachm 5.33g, 15mm Laureate head fo Apollo right. Lyre. "[KO]ΛO[ΦΩN]ION" SNG Von Aulock 2004

My least interesting purchase of the month, a bronze Prutah of John Hyrcanus:

JOHN HYRKANOS I (Yehohanan) Judaea, Hasmonean Kingdom, 134-104 BC. Jerusalem. ‘Yehohanan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews’ (Paleo-Hebrew) in four lines within wreath; above inscription, Greek letter A. Reverse - Double cornucopiae adorned with ribbons, pomegranate or poppy between. Hendin 1131-1132. 15mm, 2.3g.

A silver tetradrachm of Seleukos I struck under his own name, rather than Alexander’s:

Seleucid Kingdom, Seleukos I 312-281 BC, Silver Tetradrachm 17.06g, 26mm Head of Herakles right, wearing a lion skin. Zeus seated left, holding an eagle and scepter, monogram to left, "ΔI"below the throne. “BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣEΛEYKOY” SC 117.1c

I’ve owned many modern gold coins, but this is my first ancient gold coin:

Byzantine Empire, Justinian 527-565, AV Semissis 2.16g, 19mm Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian right. Victory seated right inscribing a shield. "VICTORIA AVGGG", Staurogram to right. "CONOB" in exergue. SB 143