Steppenfool

I'm always impressed with the collaboration in Classical Numismatics' videos! Great video.

I am still able to communicate with this seller on eBay. I received this message this morning and was able to reply right now without problems.

It appears the account is still active. He has not been kicked off eBay. Either eBay is removing the items while it conducts an investigation of sorts, or he has removed the items himself. I am happy to wait and give the seller a chance. I'd really like an update though!

No tracking number. I thought "Awaiting Dispatch" on UK Ebay means the seller hasn't posted it yet? I'm not sure what shipping I'm getting to be honest. It was about $50 so I'd expect it to be tracked. Maybe not though? This is the screen I have:

Oh no! Just as I order my #1 target. It's still "awaiting dispatch". I wonder what will happen. I have sent the seller a message asking what the situation is regarding my order. Hopefully it will work out and I am not out a sizeable chunk of change!

I realised after writing this, I'm not really responding to anyone in this thread, moreso commenting on a common trope that I hear about Aurelius and Commodus. In my humble opinion, people tend to pass over the most plausible explanation as to why Aurelius elevated Commodus. He was his biological son. I think that's all there is to it. I believe people are mistaken when they think that there was an institution of adoption that Marcus somehow eschewed. This completely ignores the fact that none of the other emperors produced biolgical sons. It also doesn't take into account the nuances of the previous adoptions. By all accounts, Nerva, who was childless, was forced into the adoption of Trajan in order to placate the various factions in the fallout from Domitian's assasination. The childless Trajan's adoption of Hadrian was completed on his deathbed and was completed so hastily that rumors spread the adoption was fabricated by Trajan's wife Plotina who favoured Hadrian. The only real adoptive institution that was present was the system of the again childless Hadrian who I rank exceptionally highly due to this foresight. Hadrian planned his succession ahead for two seperate generations, even after his initial attempt of Aelius failed. He adopted Pius (who was, you guessed it, sonless too at this point) on the condition that Pius adopted Aurelius and Verus. Therefore, if we are to take the Nerva-Antonine adoptive succession system in totality, it appears to be more of a hasty response to necessity rather than a clearly defined strategy. I believe only Hadrian can be said to have taken any deliberate initiative here. Furthermore, is there any evidence that Commodus was going to be a poor emperor when Aurelius was alive? He was only 18 years old at the time of Aurelius' death. As another posted alluded to, in his early reign, Commodus appeared to make a sound strategic decision in ending the costly Marcomanic wars and adhered to the Augustan (and to some extent, Hadrianic) policy of not overstretching the Empire for little gain. I have seen it speculated that the conspiracy against Commodus in 182 was a major catalyst for his descent into being rubbish, however the sources aren't clear enough to make any sound judgements. Here's my early Commodus from 181, perhaps minted very soon before it all went wrong.

The seller didn't give a RIC number, but mine looks remarkably similar to the British Museum Specimen which they say is RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 2959 minted in Antioch, which fits with your account. In fact, the context cointained in your description is exaclty the reason I was after this coin. It was pivotal in cementing the transfer of power from Trajan to Hadrian. The Antioch mint is the cherry on top for historical relevancy. I would have settled for a Rome mint, but my heart was always in Antioch! The style is very interesting too, and I like the comparisos between the Tetradrachms too which adds another historical tidbit. Your coin certaintly wins the beauty contest! https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1929-0716-11

Following this good news, and the seller's good reputation and explanation for delays, I decided to take the plunge on that Hadrian ADOPTIO from the Eastern Mint. Very excited, I've been after one of those for a while! The coin certainly has a lot of character!

How did you folks get on with this seller, any update? It'd be nice to have another dealer to peruse from time to time.

The bidding for Roman Imperials looks about normal for the Roma E-Sale occuring today.

This seller has an Eastern Mint Hadrian Adoptio coin I have considered buing. I think I'll definitely wait for some good news from this thread before pulling any triggers.

Elagabalus Stone/Meteor of Emesa/Elagabal denarius. I can't think of a coin with a better story! This one sold retail for 1.6k so I'd need to lower the condition a bit! https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/apollo_numismatics/12/product/elagabalus_ar_denarius__stone_of_emesa_on_quadriga__rare_details_on_stone_perhaps_depicting_meteorite_regmaglypts/1075315/Default.aspx Link to the vcoins listing before it sold. Very enlightening.

Beautiful relief with a lovely flow line shimmer around it. The portrait POPS!

Damn that Silvered Carnius (?) looks nice.

It appears to my untrained eye that the outlook is not good for the defendant. With that said, I'm surprised there has been so much legal discussion surrounding the case. In my experience following previous high profile cases, legal speculation at this point is mostly wasted time because much more information will come to light in the future. At that point we will all be able to have more informed opinions. This is without even considering the potential for bungled prosections/defences, inadmissable evidence, vacillating witnesses or other strange events that can occur in the legal process. I think a better use of our thoughts would be to decide whether we will bid in the upcoming Roma Auction and whether we consider issues such as these ethically significant. To me, the ethics of this situation are multi-faceted and murky. People have weighed in appropriately regarding the ethical/legal debate surrounding the trade of ancient coins. Therefore, I will simply make my life easy and follow the law. If Roma is allowed to continue to operate, I will probably continue to bid.

Great selection of coins. I enjoyed scrolling through them and learning about them. Roma did a good job of highlighting the key historical pieces.

I am 99% british with the smallest dash of Scandanavian. The result didn't lend itself to much investigation. 😂

I keep them in box in Velour trays and have thrown a few silica gel capsules in at the bottom. I store each coin in its own segment so no coins can touch. This is for ease of organisation, but also in the unlikely event of an outbreak, spread will be minimized (hopefully!). I take absolutely no precuations when handling them except washing noticeable dirt/oil/sweat from my hands if it happens to be present. I'm not particularly delicate when handling them either and sometimes even gently run my finger across the coin like a Roman would if he was waiting in line for bread or whatever. I let guests handle them if they wish, only politely requesting that they don't drop them. I've never experienced any toning of silver or disease of bronze. I'm of the mindset that after 2000 years of survival, my storage and examination of a coin isn't going to pose any problems it hasn't encountered already. My collection is for the enjoyment and education of myself and the people I know. To use an analogy, I wouldn't want to be the Whisky collector who doesn't drink Whisky! I don't have any coins that cost more than £150, nor any that are in spectacular condition, which may explain my lack of care compared to others.

I agree, I've said before I don't really enjoy the effort and uncertainty of auctions so I'm happy to pay a premium for the service of a dealer. I don't grudge anyone conducting business and making a profit. However, there's now only a small handful of shops on vcoins/mashops that I even care to look out for when scrolling. Some I like in Europe are: Vossen, Lodge, Kolner, Monetarium and N&N Collection. Also, our very own @Prieure de Sion at YOTHR appears to be an honest and fair dealer with regards to this issue. A substantial amount of knowledge and effort goes into their listings and the provenance is honest so you can check the auction hammer and see that the mark up is reasonable. Absolutely. UK eBay is a chore to browse at the minute. I only go to a few sellers profiles directly nowadays.

Especially in the case of Albinus, who was recognised as Caesar by the "legitimate" emperor Severus.

I was the second highest bidder on the following coin at the Roma Numismatics E-Sale that occured recently. A nice coin, to be sure. My final bid was a £100 hammer or £120 including Buyer's Premium. The bid that defeated me was £110 or £132 including Buyer's Premium. A fair price, I thought, but a bit too much for me given the lack of obverse legend and general detail. I was happy for the person that won it, and hoped they'd enjoy the new addition to their collection. However, scrolling through eBay, I find this exact coin up for sale, with a sizeable price increase. I can't help but wonder who would pay this much? It is simply not worth the price tag, esepcially considering the added risk of eBay where fakes are abundant. The seller also can't state the provenance to prove legitimacy, because that would reveal the price increase that has occured. There must be a market for people who are totally unaware of vcoins/mashops/biddr/Roma etc. and think the only place to buy coins is eBay. It is a shame that people who enjoy the coins in their own collection have to do battle with the resellers. They say all is fair in love and war, but I suppose they should add in business to this proverb.

I'm thinking I may have made another blunder. Spent 72£ at the N&N London auction, finally winning something! Unfortunately I did not realise the £35 shipping I am getting landed with. They are based in London, but they ship from mainland EU unfortunately and charge an exorbitant amount. Hopefully I can negotiate something. Furthermore, under the 19% buyers fee it says there's a 20% VAT for UK. It reads like the 20% VAT is added to the buyers fee and not the final bill a(as happens with Roma), but on reflection I see that it's not clear. It'd be very misleading if I had another 20% to pay on the final bill! I think I'd seriously have to consider forfeiting my purchase at that point and paying some sort of fine. 😂

My streak is similar to yours. Counting only Augusti, I have from Vespasian to Commodus. My "Titus" is a deified Vespasian which doesn't really count though. I think Pertinax is an obstacle I'll be able to overcome one day, and that will easily take me to Gordian I and II which will probably forever be limiting factors. I stick to Silver for the pre-crisis era too so I imagine Claudius I will be a limit at the other end.

I paid £20 for a Constantine II Alamannia Devicta type with a blurry photo hoping that the "Alamannia" in the legend was visible. It was not. I still console myself by recalling its historical relevancy as evidence that Constantine planned for Constantine II to be the Senior partner in the succession, because only himself Crispus and Constantine II ever had Devicta coins and accomapnying titles bestowed on them.

Excellently rendered coin! Strong detail on both sides, the head-dress still has fur on the obverse and the club is still studded on the reverse . I'm still searching for my example that straddles affordability and detail! Something that is interesting to me is that this coinage didn't condemn the lion skin headdress forever. Maximian and his son Maxentius can be seen sporting it on some gold issues. Maximian of course being touted as Hercules' servant here on earth during the Tetrarchic period.