jfp7375 Posted June 9, 2022 · Member Share Posted June 9, 2022 I just received my first ever Denarii in the mail... these are probably not truly worthy of their own thread, but I figured we should celebrate as these are my first "real" coin purchase (i.e. not cheap lots of late roman bronzes). First is a Trajan with Victory holding wreath and palm on the reverse (101-102 AD), second is a Hadrian with Salus lounging and feeding her snake on reverse (119-122 AD) 🙂 I am extremely excited about the coins. Ordered from Tom Vossen on Vcoins and while his photos were extremely accurate/representative of the coins' true appearance, they look even better in hand. Neither his photos nor mine truly do them justice. The Trajan has just the faintest hint of iridescent toning which doesn't show up in the pics... very cool. Pictures and full descriptions below - please let me know what you think!!! Not sure why the pictures are so large - my apologies! Trajan, 98-117 AD. AR Denarius (3.26 gm, 18.5mm). Rome mint. Struck 101/2 AD. Obv.: IMP CAES NERVA TRA-IAN AVG GERM, laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder. Rev.: P M TR P COS IIII P P, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. RIC II 60; BMCRE 121; RSC 242a. Hadrian. 117-138 AD. AR Denarius (3.16 gm, 20mm). Rome mint. Struck 119-122 AD. Obv.: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate bust right, with drapery on far shoulder. Rev.: P M TR P COS III, Salus seated left, holding patera, feeding snake rising from altar, SALVS AVG in exergue. BMC 207. Cohen 1151. RIC 98. RIC II, Part 3, 231 26 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kali Posted June 9, 2022 · Member Share Posted June 9, 2022 Those are great coins for being first ancients. And Tom is one of the good ones to buy from too. Congrats and welcome to a hopefully long and enjoyable hobby. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restitutor Posted June 9, 2022 · Administrator Share Posted June 9, 2022 Agreed with Kali. These are two great pickups - nice readable legends all around and really nice detail remaining on the portraits of the emperors and gods! Congrats 😃 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alegandron Posted June 9, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 9, 2022 CONGRATS! Great first Denarii ! I really like them. HAVE FUN! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alegandron Posted June 9, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 9, 2022 This was my first Denarius... I bought it directly from the Rome Mint when they first issued it... Oh, wait. My Grandkids think that I am that old... RRM Furius LF PhilusAR Denarius119 BCEJanusTrophy CarnyxCr 281-1 Sear 156 9 2 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ominus1 Posted June 9, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 9, 2022 14 minutes ago, Alegandron said: I bought it directly from the Rome Mint when they first issued it... Oh, wait. My Grandkids think that I am that old... ....seems like only yesterday...^^ 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alegandron Posted June 9, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 9, 2022 1 minute ago, ominus1 said: ....seems like only yesterday...^^ LOL! Awesome! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ominus1 Posted June 9, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 9, 2022 ..thats a great start...fine imperial denarii(your Hadrian is much better than mine) plus you have 2 of the 'good' 5(6) in silver..:) 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfp7375 Posted June 9, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted June 9, 2022 (edited) 40 minutes ago, Alegandron said: This was my first Denarius... I bought it directly from the Rome Mint when they first issued it... Oh, wait. My Grandkids think that I am that old... RRM Furius LF PhilusAR Denarius119 BCEJanusTrophy CarnyxCr 281-1 Sear 156 LOL straight from the Rome Mint... that's some impressive provenance! 22 minutes ago, ominus1 said: ..thats a great start...fine imperial denarii(your Hadrian is much better than mine) plus you have 2 of the 'good' 5(6) in silver..:) Thanks man! That's exactly what my first collecting goal is - denarii of the 5 good emperors. I think this is a great start! Nice coins you have as well Thanks to everyone else for the kind words as well. Super pleased with the coins. I paid ~$70/each with shipping which is more than I originally wanted to pay, but after shopping around a lot it was clear that I'd get something that could be a really nice piece long-term at that price point, versus a lot of ~$50 denarii where there are more significant flaws (for these emperors at least, which have many coins but are also more desired/popular). Probably would have been a little disappointed with something like that down the road. Edited June 9, 2022 by jfp7375 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapphnwn Posted June 9, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 9, 2022 I remember my first denarius of Trajan. Back then I had the bad habit (I still do) of showing just about anyone in range my new coins. At that time I was working at a summer job. I showed my new denarius of Trajan to my boss. He had already been subjected to a number of my coins already however when looking at this coin he said " This looks like real money." I have a soft spot for Trajan ever since. This is not that coin but one that is close. Trajan Ar Denarius 112-113 AD Obv Bust right laureate drapery on far shoulder Rv. Personifcation of the Via Traiana recling left head reverted holding wheel RIC 266 Woytek 398b 3.09grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen I think the reason by boss liked this coin is the abundance of obverse legend and the tight neat lettering that seems to be a feature of the coins of Trajan during this period. Despite all this information the coins of Trajan do not offer a lot of information that can be used to precisely date the issue. 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryfrog02 Posted June 9, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 9, 2022 That pair is a great addition @jfp7375! Victory is my favorite reverse so Trajan wins...but Salus is a close 2nd and that Hadrian portrait is very nice! Congrats! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Collector Posted June 9, 2022 · Patron Share Posted June 9, 2022 Great coins and the price was right! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniard Posted June 9, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 9, 2022 (edited) @jfp7375....Very nice start!... Both coins have good detail and I particularly like the toning...You have a good eye... I would say 15% of my entire collection has come from Tom over the years , a great guy to deal with..... Here's my Hadrian... Edited June 9, 2022 by Spaniard 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfp7375 Posted June 9, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted June 9, 2022 9 minutes ago, Spaniard said: @jfp7375....Very nice start!... Both coins have good detail and I particularly like the toning...You have a good eye... I would say 15% of my entire collection has come from Tom over the years , a great guy to deal with..... Here's my Hadrian... That's a great compliment, thank you! I spent a ton of time looking for the right coins... glad you agree with my taste! You Hadrian is very nice as well, love the toning And yes I will definitely buy from Tom again. He has so much great stuff at decent prices, and I received my coins in Chicago only 8 or 9 days after ordering... pretty impressive. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qcumbor Posted June 9, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 9, 2022 Great start. I like the portrait on the Hadrian den. The first denarius I purchased Q 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPK Posted June 9, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 9, 2022 @jfp7375 Very nice coins! Those are a great start. I'm also partial to Trajan coins - not only was he one of Rome's greatest emperors, but his coinage tends to be pretty affordable too. My Trajan and Hadrian denarii also came from Tom Vossen: 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted June 9, 2022 · Member Share Posted June 9, 2022 2 minutes ago, CPK said: @jfp7375 Very nice coins! Those are a great start. I'm also partial to Trajan coins - not only was he one of Rome's greatest emperors, but his coinage tends to be pretty affordable too. My Trajan and Hadrian denarii also came from Tom Vossen: Those are two handsome coin, congrats 🧐. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryfrog02 Posted June 10, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 10, 2022 I just realized that my first purchased denarius was also a Trajan...One of my favorite coins of all time. I love the cameo look of the portrait. I only have one Hadrian. Victory because of course... 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfp7375 Posted June 10, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted June 10, 2022 17 minutes ago, Furryfrog02 said: I just realized that my first purchased denarius was also a Trajan...One of my favorite coins of all time. I love the cameo look of the portrait. I only have one Hadrian. Victory because of course... Wow - you weren't kidding. I'm in love with that Trajan portrait. Looks so dramatic and lifelike with toning providing some shading. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryfrog02 Posted June 10, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 10, 2022 Just now, jfp7375 said: Wow - you weren't kidding. I'm in love with that Trajan portrait. Looks so dramatic and lifelike with toning providing some shading. The thing that kills me, I paid like $35 for it a few years ago. I doubt I could touch it for anywhere near that now. I'm glad to have it though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor LONGINUS Posted June 10, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted June 10, 2022 (edited) Great post, jfp7375 Edited June 10, 2022 by LONGINUS Fix tag 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfp7375 Posted June 10, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted June 10, 2022 39 minutes ago, LONGINUS said: Great post, jfp7375 Those are some great coins my friend. Love the presentation as well, do you catalog all your coins this way? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor DonnaML Posted June 10, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted June 10, 2022 Congratulations! I now have more than 20 Hadrians and about 15 Trajans, but your coins certainly compare very favorably to the first I bought for each, around 15-20 years ago -- well before I was actively collecting ancient coins. Neither of them had particularly unusual or interesting reverses, but I bought them because I liked the portraits. I remember being very happy to have them. And still am! Hadrian AR Denarius 137-Jul. 138 AD. Obv. Bare head right, HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P/ Rev. Four grain ears in modius with one poppy in middle, ANNO-NA AVG. RIC II.3 2318 & Pl. 41 (2019 ed.), old RIC II 230 (1926 ed.), RSC II 172. 18 mm., 3.2 g. Trajan AR Denarius, 112 AD or later, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped bust right, IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GERM DAC/ Rev. Fortuna seated left on throne with rudder & cornucopiae, P M TR P COS VI P P SPQR (FORT • RED in exergue). RIC II 318, RSC II 154, BMCRE 578, Sear RCV (1981 ed.) 884 (ill.) [not in Millennium Edition]. 18.9 mm., 3.11 g. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfp7375 Posted June 10, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted June 10, 2022 24 minutes ago, DonnaML said: Congratulations! I now have more than 20 Hadrians and about 15 Trajans, but your coins certainly compare very favorably to the first I bought for each, around 15-20 years ago -- well before I was actively collecting ancient coins. Neither of them had particularly unusual or interesting reverses, but I bought them because I liked the portraits. I remember being very happy to have them. And still am! Hadrian AR Denarius 137-Jul. 138 AD. Obv. Bare head right, HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P/ Rev. Four grain ears in modius with one poppy in middle, ANNO-NA AVG. RIC II.3 2318 & Pl. 41 (2019 ed.), old RIC II 230 (1926 ed.), RSC II 172. 18 mm., 3.2 g. Trajan AR Denarius, 112 AD or later, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped bust right, IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GERM DAC/ Rev. Fortuna seated left on throne with rudder & cornucopiae, P M TR P COS VI P P SPQR (FORT • RED in exergue). RIC II 318, RSC II 154, BMCRE 578, Sear RCV (1981 ed.) 884 (ill.) [not in Millennium Edition]. 18.9 mm., 3.11 g. Great coins @DonnaML - I don't agree that mine outshine at all. I totally see what you mean about your emphasis on the portraits - both have fantastic detail... the Trajan is very august/regal with the laurel and flowing headband, and the Hadrian is a very, very classic looking Hadrian portrait. I love my Hadrian as well but it's one of his earlier mints and he looks a bit thinner and idealized - yours looks just like his famous busts and statues. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herodotus Posted June 10, 2022 · Member Share Posted June 10, 2022 Congratulations!!! You're hooked now😛 Here's an old-toned Trajan, that was among my first denarii. Trajan. (AD 98-117). AR Denarius. (19mm, 3.00g). Rome mint. Struck (AD 108-109). O: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P; Laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder. R: COS V P P SPQR OPTIMO PRINC; Roma seated left, holding Victory and spear. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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