Finn235

Sometimes fakes can be scary good. Indo-Sassanian is generally safe from fakes, with this notable exception It's the correct weight, size, appears to be silver, and everything about the style and fabric is spot on for an authentic specimen- in fact I can only assume that it was transferred from an authentic specimen. The only thing that tipped me off was that the seller sold another one with the exact same flan shape, same flaws - a perfect duplicate of mine. Which sold, and another was listed. And another. They are clearly manufactured fakes, but are die matches to Maheshwari 190 (and possibly 191), presumably authentic coins

Thanks all! @Spaniard I'm not sure - I might have to ask someone else who is more familiar with this intermediate Nagari than I am. @JayAg47 yours is an intermediate type Adivaraha drachm, most likely struck posthumously. The timing of the type is not very certain, but generally speaking, if you can see legs, it's *probably* lifetime, whereas torso + head or head only is probably a later type. There's a LOT of variations and no one author seems to have a complete picture of the series - myself included. What we do know is that his grandson Vinayakapala (913-933) struck the same type in his own name, and the figures had degraded to this:

Apologies in advance for jumping straight into the deep end with this one; I do owe y'all a proper high level overview of Indo Sassanian coinage, especially of Track 2 and 3. Track 3 is the shortest track in the Indo Sassanian series, beginning after Tracks 1 and 2, and terminating while the Gadhaiya was still in its infancy. Most coins of Track 3 are scarce to rare, and they terminate with one of the most important historical anchors of the whole of Indo Sassanian coinage - the Adivaraha-dramma of Mihira Bhoja I of the Gurjara-Pratiharas (836-885 AD). Immediately prior to his coinage is the Vigrahapala-dramma, an important unit of account in the Siyadoni Inscription, dated to 908 or 909 AD. Variants are noted, but are almost certainly attributable to the types inscribed Sri ViGra And/or those inscribed Sri Vi Note that the attendants and fire altar were directly copied for the Adivaraha dramma, indicating that it was the source coin. Then I found this one, a Sri Vi, but with an additional letter which I believe is Pra - a variant which to my knowledge has never been observed before! What it all means, sadly is less clear. Vigrapala was a common medieval Indian king name and neither Sri Vi nor Sri Vigra can be attributed to any one of them with certainty - and Sri ViPra just muddies the waters further!

Didn't win any of my targets (not that I planned to put out strong bids) but I won a decent number of large lots. Mostly stuff to flip, with maybe a couple keepers. Some of the LRB lots went quite cheap, IMO. Hopefully enough to break even after the keepers and fees, and maybe make a little spending cash. Also won two lots of standing caliph fals, with one that I think may be a major rarity.

Thanks @Roman Collector! I am curious - what is the giveaway that the Carthago Nova Salus issue was minted before 39 AD? Perhaps the duovirs being mentioned elsewhere? If indeed SALVS is intended to the ailing health of Antonia, that would be just as good, as she is not otherwise known from lifetime coins, only posthumous.

And my second white whale from Naville - Volusian, as Caesar under Trebonianus Gallus and Hostilian AE As Struck ca. June - November (?) 251 Obv: C VIBIO VOLVSIANO CAES, draped bust right Rev: PAX AVGG S C, Pax sranding left, holding branch and scepter June 251 was without a doubt one of the most tragic events of the Crisis years for Rome - after tirelessly working to restore the facade of stability for the Roman Empire, Trajan Decius and his recently-elevated co-emperor and son Herennius Etruscus perished in what was supposed to be a low-risk campaign to subdue barbarian aggression on the empire. The desperate troops proclaimed the nearby Trebonianus Gallus as emperor, despite the title legally belonging to the young Caesar Hostilian back at Rome with his mother. In an unprecedented show of humanity, and perhaps still haunted by the murder of the young Philip II hours after the death of his father just years earlier, Gallus immediately announced that he would adopt Hostilian and elevate him to co-emperor, while his own son Volusian was granted the lesser title of Caesar. This arrangement would not last long, as Hostilian died of natural causes (likely plague) no later than November of 251. Coins of Hostilian as Augustus are rare But coins of Volusian as Caesar are very rare, exceeded in rarity only by the incredibly brief issue of coins for Herennius Etruscus as Augustus (which sadly still eludes me). I am positively thrilled to finally cross off Volusian Caesar from my list - and I certainly never hoped to find one in such nice condition, even if somewhat smoothed! Feel free to show anything related! And for good measure - my coins of Trebonianus Gallus And Volusian as Augustus

The wait is finally over - coin safe in hand, I can now post my first white whale from the recent Naville sale Judaea, Caesaria Panias AE18 of Herod Agrippa I, for Caesonia, with Julia Drusilla, wife and daughter of Caligula Dated Year 5 = 40-41 AD Obv: KAIΣΩNIA ΓYNH ΣEBAΣTOY, Draped bust of Caesonia left Rev: ΔΡOYΣIΛΛA ΘYΓATΡI ΣEBAΣTOY LE, small figure of Julia Drusilla, robed, holding Nike and branch This coin is the only generally accepted portrait of Milonia Caesonia, and certainly of the Imperial couple's infant daughter, Julia Drusilla. Another commonly cited example is the AE "as" of Carthago Nova, in which a vaguely imperial female bust of "Salus" is presented opposite of Caligula The only problem is Caligula honored many of his female relatives on coinage, and no name is given on this issue, which I recall reading may have been minted prior to the Imperial wedding in 39. I haven't been able to locate the exact example of this type with KAIΣΩNIA legible, but it apparently exists somewhere. Very little is known for certain of the life of Caesonia, due to the efforts to erase and later deface the memory of her husband. She married Caligula in AD 39, having been recently divorced or widowed, and was the mother to three daughters by her first husband and already at least seven or eight months pregnant with Julia Drusilla when she and Caligula were wed. It is uncertain whether Caligula was the father, or whether it was her former husband's. Unusual for a disgraced emperor, ancient sources are unanimous in declaring that the marriage was a happy one, with both Caligula and Caesonia infatuated and dedicated to one another. Caligula also considered Drusilla to be his, regardless of her true paternity. Caesonia died in the praetorian coup that had her husband killed on 24 January 41, reportedly she offered no resistance and simply requested a quick death. The toddler Drusilla was also murdered immediately after her parents, to ensure that Caligula's bloodline was erased forever. After the murder of the Imperial family, the senate issued a Damnatio Memoriae, ordering statues broken, inscriptions erased, and coins recalled and melted. Interestingly, these coins show signs of being part of that same Damnatio: - They are extremely rare (RPC cites 15, ACsearch lists about 12, with some overlap) - Multiple die pairs exist, hinting at a much larger initial issue (most notably the figure of Drusilla can be seen in various states of posture) - The surviving coins show relatively little wear, but almost universally display moderate to heavy corrosion, hinting that they were simply dropped and exposed directly to the elements, rather than hoarded in a protective container. - My coin was described as having large surface pits, but upon closer examination I believe they are actually countermarks, indicating that it was perhaps recovered and circulated for a time before being lost again. Thanks for reading and please feel free to share anything relevant!

I am really, really behind on even sorting through my world coins, but even before I got into ancients I bought probably a few thousand world coins in all sorts of mixed lots from many different buyers. One of my favorite lots was listed as "Japan vacation money" on the order of ¥10,000 in mostly ¥100 and ¥500 coins. Except it was mostly commemoratives! I won the lot for a little under exchange at the time ($100ish) which was 1/2 to 1/3 of what it was worth. Several of the ¥500 coins were counted as ¥100 which made it even sweeter. That nearly completed my modern Japanese type set in one fell swoop.

Question - On other forums, there was a dedicated place to promote eBay sales. I'm looking to get some attention on what is likely one of the last sales I'm having - is there a dedicated spot on this board for that?

Nice coins! I personally consider Agrippa to be part of the Imperial series, as: - He was the closest thing to the later title of "Caesar" (meaning heir apparent to the serving Augustus) under Augustus until his sons were born. - He issued no coins under his direct authority (that I can tell - trying to research his obscure issues is difficult on account of the two types you posted). - Nearly all of his coinage was posthumous and minted either at Nimes or Rome. - He was not related by blood to Augustus, but he was by marriage, and was the grandfather of Caligula and great grandfather of Nero.

And finally - my latest add, and perhaps the last one from this series! Annius Afrinus, Legate of Galatia AE 18 of Lycaonia, Claudiconium Ca 49-54 AD Obv: ANNIOC AΦPЄINOC, Bare head right Rev: KΛAVΔЄIKONIЄωN, Perseus, standing, holding harpa and severed head of Medusa Annius Afrinus, for whatever reason, appears to have been the last provincial Magistrate permitted to place his own image on coins. His issues can be dated somewhat narrowly because he minted coins for Claudius, and to celebrate the marriage of Claudius and Agrippina in 49. He did not mint for Nero, which indicates that he must have vacated his position by 54. It has widely been speculated that he is the same Marcus Annius Afrinus who served as suffect consul in 66, although his life during that ~12-17 year gap remains a mystery. He was appointed governor of Pannonia during the Civil wars of 69, and held that office until 73, when he disappears from history.

And another mysterious figure, and one of the very few to appear after Augustus Pythes, Magistrate of Laodicea AE17 Time of Tiberius Obv: ΠYΘHΣ, Bare head right Rev: ΛAOΔIKEΩN ΔHMOΣ, Diademed head of Demos right Like many of the others, nothing is known of Pythes, son of Pythes, except that he was apparently a Magistrate in Laodicea during the time of Tiberius, for whom he minted coins with his name on the reverse. He also minted civic bronzes with his name but without his portrait.

Thanks all! @AncientOne - I think the Asinius Gallus is the most common - that one is offered every handful of months, whereas the Libo is very rarely seen. Using a quick search at ACSearch: Asinius Gallus - 52 Statilius Libo - 14 Fabius Maximus - 48 Vedius Pollio - 46 (but a lot of false positive hits) Quinctilius Varus - 7 And @AncientOne - I had planned to do one for Germanus Indutilli but didn't have the write-up done for him yet! Roman Gaul Germanus Indutilli, King or Governor(?) AE18 Semis Ca 10 BC Obv: Diademed head of Germanus right Rev: Bull butting left, GERMANVS INDVTILLI L Another individual whose history has been lost, it is not clear whether the coin is of one "Germanus Indutilli", or if Indutilli (a Gallic name) was a local ruler and Germanus his freedman given authority over the mint. Regardless, the diadem on the portrait seems to indicate that this ruler was part of the local Gallic nobility, presumably acting as a Roman official. Interesting, the type mirrors a rare quadrans of Augustus (my coin but CNG's picture since I'm lazy and behind on my photography)

Asinius Gallus, Governor of Syria 6-5 BC AE16 of Temnos, Aiolis ΑCΙΝΙΟC ΓΑΛΛΟC ΑΓΝΟC, Bare head of Gallus right ΑΠΟΛΛΑC ΦΑΙΝΙΟY ΤΑΜΝΙΤΑΝ, Head of Dionysos right, wreathed in ivy (Yes, I happened to end up with two) Born in perhaps the 40s BC, the early life of Asinius Gallus is largely uncertain. He came to prominence in Augustus' inner circle in the late 20s or early 10s BC, and is best known as the second of husband to Vipsania Agrippina, Tiberius' first wife and love of his life. Tiberius and Vipsania were forced apart in 11 BC so that he could be married to Augustus' daughter Julia, although Gallus claimed the paternity of Tiberius' son Drusus, born in 14 BC. Gallus and Vispania went on to have five children together (She was pregnant when the marriage ceremony took place; the true paternity of Marcus Asinius Agrippa is unknown, although per Roman law Tiberius had no rights even if he were the biological father.) Tiberius never recovered from the heartbreak of his forced divorce, and is recorded as having at least once followed his ex wife around, sobbing and confessing his continued love for her. Sometime about 6-5 BC, Gallus was sent to be the governor of Syria by Augustus, at which he joined the mug-on-coins club. Still a major public figure at the time of Augustus' death in 14, Asinius Gallus attended to some of the preparations for Augustus' funeral, and was one of the many speakers at the event. Tacitus relates that during the transfer of imperial power to Tiberius, Gallus publicly humiliated Tiberius by reminding the public that the ceremony was just a farce and that Tiberius was not a mere reluctant servant in the matter. His arch nemesis now in power, Gallus somehow managed to keep his head down for sixteen years, but is recorded as having been arrested in AD 30, and ultimately died in prison in 33 after about three years of solitary confinement and malnutrition.

Paullus Fabius Maximus, Proconsul of Asia 10-9 BC AE15 of Hieraopolis, Phrygia Struck under Theokritos Obv: ΦABIOΣ MAΞIMOΣ, Bare head of Maximus right Rev: EPAΠO / ΛEITΩN / ΘEOKPITOΣ Paullus Fabius Maximus was born in the 50s or 40s BC, the son of Quintus Fabius Maximus, a legate in Caesar's civil war who famously died without apparent cause halfway through his last day as Consul, December 31, 45 BC. (He was famously replaced by Caninius, who served as Consul for just a few hours - historians like to crack jokes like "Nobody was permitted to breakfast nor even to sleep while Caninius was consul!") Maximus served as Quaestor during Augustus' travels to the East from 22 to 19 BC. At an unknown date in the 10's BC, he married Marcia, the daughter of Marcius Philippus and cousin of Augustus. While serving as Proconsul of Asia, he became part of the very exclusive club of men permitted to appear on coinage. From contemporary sources we can glean that Maximus was a pious member of the ancient Roman religions, particularly in that he joined the ranks of the then-obscure Arval Bretheren, offering annual sacrifices to the gods to ensure good anual harvests. As a wealthy aristocrat, he was also a patron of the arts, and several surviving poems of the late 1st century BC are dedicated to him. Tacitus relates that in the late years of the emperor's life, Maximus accompanied Augustus on his secret visit to Agrippa Postumus, the last living blood grandson of Augustus (via Julia and Agrippa) who was exiled on account of an unknown mental condition. Tacitus claims that Maximus discussed this top secret visit with his wife, breaking the emperor's trust and earning him a summary death sentence shortly before the emperor himself died in AD 14.

Next, a man who is arguably as well known as most Emperors - Publius Quinctilius Varus, as Proconsul of Africa, 8-7 BC AE30 "Dupondius" of Byzacium, Achulla (Modern day northern Tunisia) Obv: AVG PONT MAX, Bare head of Augustus left, flanked by smaller heads of Gaius and Lucius Caesares Rev: P QVINCTILI VARI ACHVLLA, Bare head of Quinctilius Varus right Born in about 46 BC to a distinguished but poor family in Rome, Quinctilius Varus' early life and rise to power are somewhat unclear. His father, Sextus Varus, was on the losing side of Caesar's civil war, may have been one of the senators involved in his assassination, and ultimately took his own life after his defeat at the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC. Little detail survives of Quinctilius Varus, but he seems to have found favor with Augustus, as he received Agrippa's daughter Vipsania Marcella Aggripina's hand in marriage in 13 BC and delivered his stepfather's eulogy the following year. Varus served as governor of Africa from 8-7 BC, and thereafter was granted the governorship of Syria from 6-4 BC. During this time, he achieved notoriety for his harsh treatment of his subjects, particularly in crucifying 2,000 Jews as punishment for riots after the death of Herod the Great. After this, he returned to Rome to live the good life for the next decade. Following the successful campaigns in Germania by Tiberius, Drusus, Ahenobarbus, and Germanicus, Augustus created the new province of Germania and sent Varus to be its governor in 7 AD. The facade of a pacified Germany began to crumble, as a Germanic prince and supposed ally, Arminus, delivered news of a growing rebellion over the Rhine. In September 9 AD, Varus along with the XVII, XVIII and XIX legions crossed over the Rhine to make a show of force and scare the barbarians back into compliance. Expecting no resistance, Varus did not keep his troops ready for battle, and chose the quicker route rather than the more defensible one. While marching his legions in a thin line several miles long through swampy terrain in the Teutoburg Forest, the Romans were ambushed in a surprise attack. Despite capable leadership, the troops were largely inexperienced fighting Germans, and after three days of fighting, the Romans were almost totally annihilated - the vast majority killed, some captured, and only a handful escaped back to Roman territory. In the final stages of the battle, Quinctilius Varus fell on his own sword. The victorious Germans cut off his head and sent it back to Rome with news of his defeat. The three Aquiliae of the lost legions were kept by the Germans along with the other booty from the defeated Romans. The majority of the survivors were enslaved, but the survivng officers were tortured to death or sacrificed to the Germanic gods. This defeat was the greatest catastrophe of the early Empire, and it is said that Augustus utterly lost composure when he received the news, tearing at his hair and clothes and screamed "Quintili Vare, legiones redde!" - "Quinctillus Varus, Give me back my Legions!" This set the stage for Germanicus' famous German campaign a decade later, in which two of the three lost Aquiliae were recovered; the third not being found until the reign of Claudius. All three standards were kept in the temple of Mars Ultor, possibly until the fall of Rome at the hands of the Goths over 400 years later. The legion numbers XVII XVIII and XIX were retired permanently. This coin is one of only three types that feature the portrait of Quinctilius Varus, as only a handful of non-Imperial Romans were given the honor of appearing on coinage during this time. The coins are the only known portraits of Varus, all struck from 8-7 BC during his tenure as the governor of Africa. Achulla also issued for an equally rare Proconsul the following year (Volusius Saturnius, a cousin of emperor Tiberius); they can be distinguished primarily by the placement of the legend on the reverse.

Next, in contrast, is a man whose memory was saved only by the coinage that survived. Cn. Statilius Libo, Prefect of Hispania AE 22 (Semis?) Obv: CN STATI LIBO PRAEF, Bare head right Rev: SACERDOS, Priestly implements It is assumed that Libo was Prefect of Hispania either during the time of Julius Caesar, the Civil Wars, or else during the early reign of Augustus. His portrait is noteworthy for being more personal and less idealized than was typical for the early Julio-Claudian period.

Not sure how I got started on this path, but as an addendum to my primary Roman collection, I also found an inexplicable draw to collect coinage showing the portraits of non-Imperial Romans of the provinces - usually governors, procurators, magistrates, etc. It is a unique challenge as many of these are extremely rare issues. This series (if it can even be called that) commenced during the late Republican era and fizzled out by the reign of Claudius, although the vast majority comprise Augustus' inner circle of political allies. They range from individuals ad famous as the emperors themselves, to individuals who have been totally forgotten by history. One thing that remains certain, however, is that as long as they were permitted to do so, these coins were minted to remind the local populace of who was in charge when the Big Man wasn't around I'll start off with one of the more famous governors - Vedius Pollio Vedius Pollio, Procurator of Asia c. 29-27 BC AE21 of Lydia, Tralles Magistrate Menandros, son of Parrisos OYHΔIOΣ KAIΣAΡEΩN, Bare head of Vedius Pollio right MENANΔΡOΣ ΠAΡΡAΣIOY, Laureate head of Zeus right For a Roman citizen to obtain the right to place his image on a coin under the supervision of Augustus was among the highest honors, granted to only some half dozen men during the entirety of Augustus' four decades in office. It is therefore nothing short of remarkable when history remembers nothing of Vedius Pollio save for his cruelty. An apparent Equestrian, Pollio served as the procurator of Roman Asia during the earliest years of the Empire, and surely was one of Augustus' closest friends and allies. He returned to Rome some time around 22 BC and thereafter became a figure of legendary terror, as he maintained in his large estate at Posillipo a tank of ravenous lamprey (or possibly Moray) eels that he would throw his unfortunate slaves to whenever they made a mistake, however minor. Once fattened on human flesh, the lampreys would be consumed as a traditional Roman delicacy. It is said that one day, Pollio was entertaining Augustus at a dinner party when a slave accidentally dropped and broke a crystal cup. Pollio had the slave seized to be thrown into the pool, but the young boy threw himself at Augustus' feet and begged for a humane death. Augustus asked Pollio to spare the young slave's life, to which Pollio responded that as the slave is his property, he will do as he wishes. Augustus then asked Pollio to bring all of the rest of the crystalware in the house. Everything gathered, the Emperor inspected it over, then ordered it all smashed to pieces, then turning to Pollio and remarking that surely whatever was done to his slave for a single cup must now also be done to his emperor for everything he owned. Flustered, Pollio ordered the slave released. Vedius Pollio died in about 15 BC at an unknown age, and Augustus had his residence at Rome torn down to make room for a public monument in his wife's honor.

A few of my favorite group shots Took this one of my Nerva-Antonine collection of every member and every title that I had at the time - have since added lifetime Matidia and Divus Nerva And the current state of my 12 Caesars set The "Augustus Posse" And this one got me a warning over at CT. It was the largest group lot I ever sold, and I just wanted to show off the pic

Beautiful coins! 238 is a really tough set, but I *almost* have it completed Maximinus' TRP IIII would have started in December 237 and ended in March 238 when the Senate declared him a public enemy in favor of the Gordians I don't think you can attribute their coins to a particular year, but I have his son Maximus And wife Paulina Then I got this super budget (read: less than $1k) Gordian I last year No luck with his son, sadly - he and Constantius III are the last two "official" emperors missing from my collection, except for last few puppet emperors. My favorite - Pupienus And Balbinus And as @Severus Alexander correctly guessed, Gordian III as their Caesar And I'm not sure how to differentiate between all the different emissions, but I'm pretty sure this Gordy III is very early - the bust even looks somewhat like a re-worked Balbinus

Final appearance of the Dioscuri on a follis of Maxentius Next: Last appearance of any other "pagan" deity on a coin (excluding renaissance/modern depictions)

Also, interesting to note is that there are a lot of posthumous coins that are not explicitly deification Issues - i.e. they do not make any mention that the person on the coin is deified, or sometimes even that they are dead. My examples: I've seen very widely ranging theories about this issue of Pompey fron Pompeiopolis - that it could have been a lifetime issue from the 50s BC or that it could be a posthumous issue, even as late as the Flavian era. This As of Sextus Pompey depicts Pompey as Janus, and was definitely minted after his death Although apparently never deified, nearly all coins depicting Agrippa are posthumous - this Nemausus dupondius was minted several years after he died... types with Augustus wearing laurels I have seen dated to various years, but always after 10 BC Agrippa's memory was again revived by Caligula for this popular type Livia is explicitly deified on several issues (regrettably I have none) but this issue from Augusta in Cilicia is supposed to be minted after her death, although it doesnt explicitly state that. Tiberius was featured posthumously on only a single issue from Alexandria, opposite Nero (and also on Flavian restitution issues, which I dont have) Germanicus' lifetime issues are actually somewhat scarce; he was however featured extensively after his untimely death By Tiberius Then Caligula (This one also has Agrippina Senior, who was not deified but only appears posthumously) Then Claudius And finally in a Restitution issue by Titus Germanicus' sons Nero and Drusus were honored posthumously by Caligula (This one is really ugly) Claudius' mother Antonia first appears posthumously by her son Claudius Ditto with Nero Claudius Drusus Then comes an obscure one - Galerius Antoninus was the son of Antoninus Pius who evidently died before his father came to power, but only appears on a single issue of an uncertain Greek city, opposite his deified mother. It doesn't even explicitly mention that Galerius is dead, but he must have been, or else Pius likely wouldn't have so eagerly adopted Aurelius and Verus and named them heirs. And even more obscure - this small series of quadrantes depicts a young boy as each of the Four Seasons - some have speculated that these were minted to mourn Annius Verus, younger brother of Commodus, and only the second son of theirs to reach 5 years of age Then we have a substantial gap and end with two tiny bronzes Helena And Theodora The size and artistry on both seem to indicate that these were minted around the time of the single-standard GLORIA EXERCITVS coin, or 337-340. That would obviously make the Helena issue posthumous, and likely the Theodora as well, as she would have been in her sixties or seventies when it was minted. The reason these were minted is unknown, possibly to placate the upset populace after the Imperial purges of 337.

Since posthumous is a distinct title that I actively seek out for my collection, I might have one or two... Augustus Claudius Octavia?! (The "Thean" would seemingly indicate divine status) Vespasian Nerva Trajan's father, Marcus Ulpius Trajanus Marciana Trajan Matidia Sabina Hadrian Faustina I Pius Verus Faustina II Marcus Aurelius Severus Maesa Paulina Mariniana Valerian II Claudius II Victorinus Carus Numerian Constantius Romulus Galerius Maximian And the last emperor ever to receive a deification coinage - Constantine I Like I said - one or two 😉

Adding to my above: - Ebay sellers who claim to "combine shipping" and then knock $30 shipping for 6 items down to $27, and only when you ask. Then it arrives in a first class, uninsured polymailer. - Once had a buyer open a claim against me because he "didn't receive" a coin. I had no proof of course, so I refunded the $15. Then after getting the refund, he listed it for sale on his ebay store. Ebay wouldn't help. - Once had a buyer who routinely sent lowball offers for coins. Usually with messages along the lines of "Come on, we both know its only worth $XX." Finally accepted one, only to see him immediately list it with my pictures for double my original asking price. - Once sold a very nice Trebonianus Gallus ant for $40ish to holding-history. He had it slabbed, and of course it came back MS, and then proceeded to sell for $300. I really don't know why I even bother with Ebay, sometimes.

I once bought several medium/highly priced coins from an auction house (we're talking $50-200 coins here) and they stuffed all of them in the SAME 2x2. Jostling against each other. Thankfully no damage, but come on. Flips cost 50 cents each.