Octavius

"Vae, puto deus fio" (  Woe is me! I think I'm turning into a god! " , supposedly quipped Vespasian on his death bed.

Also , his famous "Pecunia non olet!" or money does not smell, defending his tax on public urinals to his  son Titus. To this day, public urinals are called "Vespasiani" in Rome. Romans have long memories.

"Oderint dum metuant" , ( Let them hate (me), as long as they fear (me). Often uttered by and attributed to Caligula, though the phrase was originally from Accius , a Roman , tragic poet...

I really like the patina on the Decius sestertius.

Tiberius with Livia as Pax reverse in gold and silver...

2 hours ago, Marsyas Mike said:

Okay, so it is not tooling, exactly, but I believe this coin has had its surfaces manipulated in modern times:

Hadrian Æ Sestertius (130-138 A.D.)          Rome Mint [HADRI]ANVS AV[G COS III P P], bare-headed, draped bust right / [AD]VENTVI AVG GA[LLIAE] | [SC in ex.] | Hadrian on left standing right  holding scroll, Gallia on right standing left sacrificing with patera over altar, bull behind (24.00 grams / 31 x 29 mm) eBay Jan. 2024.  RIC II Part 3 2nd ed. 1746

 

There's not much left to "smooth" on this one - circulation pretty much smoothed it flat!  It's kind of an interesting type - too bad for all the wear.  Although I have a couple ancients with old musuem/collection numbers painted on, I've never seen the legends enhanced with a Sharpie!  No, I have not removed the ink yet; I think it gives the coin some added "pop" and is kind of funny. 

I would use the same term some dealers are now using,  "the coin has been enhanced".

1. Roman Phalera, c. 1st-2nd century CE. Often given as awards , decorations for horses.

2. lead for slings - c. 1st century BC.  found in Spain.

3. Tip of catapult projectile. 

Selection of coins of Claudius...

1. aureus with praetorian camp...

2. denarius with his niece/wife Agrippina...

3. sestertius with Spes reverse...

4. sestertius with OB CIVES SERVATOS...

5. dupondius / Ceres reverse...

6. As with Minerva brandishing javelin...

7. As / Constantiae...

8. As / Libertas...

Another Antonius Felix prutah under Claudius with BRIT...

two aurei of Claudius announcing Nero as his successor - the Princeps Iuventutis, thus bypassing his son as heir - maybe because he was too young, or maybe just to spare him the dangers of being ruler (to no avail), maybe to simply appease Agrippina. We will probably never know what was in his mind.

Three Antoniniani of Probus...

1 fully silvered ADVENTVS

2. Soli Invicto , with Sol driving quadriga...

3. Victoria Germ(anica)   with two captives at foot of trophy...

The boss, or "umbo" was used as a pounding weapon in its own right.

VICTORIA GOTHIC(A) Antoninianus of Claudius II...

Aside from some surface corrosion, I can't find anything suspicious about your coin. It would be important to know the weight. This probably would be a good example to send to NGC for authentication. If they do authenticate your coin and slab it , I would likely advise that this would be an appropriate time to keep it encased. Good luck. For what it's worth, I vote genuine.

Two sestertii and an Adventus antoninianus of Decius....

On 2/2/2024 at 6:09 PM, AETHER said:

You need a balloon and some oil, pm me for the rest of the instructions 

As a physician, I can assure you the old balloon / oil trick dose NOT always work!

Her son Tiberius with Livia seated on reverse.

I think I, Claudius is one of the best books around you can read to familiarize yourself with the Julio-Claudian familial relationships.

I've purchased a number of coins through them and always have found them a top notch, great company.

I think if you tried cleaning them you would lose whatever silvering there is. I would leave them alone.

Same thing only different....  

My cover photo - sestertius of Caligula addressing troops, Adlocutio cohortium (or probably cohortibus). purchased from Tom Cederlind...

sestertius with wreath reverse ....

As / Vesta... ( purchased from Agora)...

I actually find the helmeted Roma obverse denarii to be attractive. There are lots of varieties, and they are quintessentially Roman in design.

anonymous C. 211 BCE

Servilia

Marcus Baebius Tampilius c. 120 BCE

Anonymous / Dioscurri

Junius with ass head on obverse...

Lucius Sempronius Pitio...

One of my favorite Republican issues. I'm still hunting for one.

Sestertius of Septimius celebrating his victory in Britain.

 RR denarius , PLAVTIVS with Medusa / Aurora...

 Lifetime denarius of Julius Caesar...