Benefactor kirispupis Posted June 12, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted June 12, 2022 It seems every day I learn something new in this hobby. Today, while waiting for some of my targets to come up for auction, I decided to look for what @Ryrocalls "snacks" under the Roman Imperials. I noticed this Crispina with a then current bid of 50 CHF. Since I don't have a Crispina, I made a note to check it out later. (I apologize if someone here purchased this coin) NOTE: NOT MY COIN In a bit of good luck, I wound up not only winning my #1 target, but I also picked up five more coins relating to Philip II or Alexander the Great. That pretty much killed my budget, so I didn't bother to bid on any Roman coins, nor did I pay attention when they came up for auction. Later in the day, I checked out this coin only to see it went for 1100 CHF! The only thing I can tell is the obverse legend says "AVG" instead of "AVGSTA", which according to the auction site is very rare. Still, it's the same basic coin. I have several Greek coins where there's some mint mark or variation with no other well-known examples. Did this Crispina go so high simply because of the legend, or is there some dramatic historic aspect that makes this super collectible? Just trying to understand for future reference what brought this coin so high. Many of the other Crispina examples I've seen in this condition go for under 100. The other weird thing is I noticed another coin with a seemingly identical legend coming up in another auction, so maybe it's not so rare... 9 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Collector Posted June 12, 2022 · Patron Share Posted June 12, 2022 (edited) It is indeed the obverse inscription that makes it rare. It is not in RIC, Cohen, Sear, or Temeryazev and Makarenko with the CRISPINA AVG legend. It is not to be found in the British Museum collection. It is described in Mouschmov's catalog of the Reka Devnia hoard (p. 92) as a hybrid. It is listed in Szaivert (MIR) as 19-4, but the citation in the concordance is wrong and doesn't cite the proper example, but wrongly cites BMCRE 45. Here's my example, with the usual AVGVSTA legend. I purchased it in 2016 for about $120. Edited June 12, 2022 by Roman Collector 15 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alegandron Posted June 12, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 12, 2022 This one is worth $5,200... CRISPINARI Crispina m Commodus 177 CE AR denarius 2.29g Juno stdg RIC-283 Mine. :) 8 1 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor kirispupis Posted June 12, 2022 · Benefactor Author Benefactor Share Posted June 12, 2022 20 minutes ago, Roman Collector said: It is indeed the obverse inscription that makes it rare. It is not in RIC, Cohen, Sear, or Temeryazev and Makarenko with the CRISPINA AVG legend. It is not to be found in the British Museum collection. It is described in Mouschmov's catalog of the Reka Devnia hoard (p. 92) as a hybrid. It is listed in Szaivert (MIR) as 19-4, but the citation in the concordance is wrong and doesn't cite the proper example, but wrongly cites BMCRE 45. This is interesting to know. I still find it odd how the legend can make such a difference. Interestingly I found another Crispina denarius on vcoins with a similar obverse, decent price, but different reverse - so presumably that one is common. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor Steve Posted June 12, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted June 12, 2022 I always thought Crispina would have been a bit of a hottie? ... ummm, or maybe it's just me Crispina. Augusta, Æ Dupondius or As (below) 178-182 AD Rome mint. Struck under Commodus, AD 178-182 Diameter: 26 mm Weight: 11.93 grams Obverse: Draped bust right Reverese: Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter Reference: RIC III 680 (Commodus); MIR 18, 13-7a Other: 10h … brown and green patina, bare metal revealed on the high points Ex-stevex6 11 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Collector Posted June 12, 2022 · Patron Share Posted June 12, 2022 15 minutes ago, kirispupis said: This is interesting to know. I still find it odd how the legend can make such a difference. Interestingly I found another Crispina denarius on vcoins with a similar obverse, decent price, but different reverse - so presumably that one is common. The CRISPINA AVG inscription was used on her early issues and the CRISPINA AVGVSTA inscription on the later issues. As expected, earlier emissions are supposed to have that legend. For example, there's this one in my collection, which is not uncommonly found with both obverse legends. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Collector Posted June 12, 2022 · Patron Share Posted June 12, 2022 I know it seems crazy, but this is a hybrid (mint error?) of an older obverse die with a later reverse die and it's very rare. There are two citations to it in the literature (Mouschmov RD and Szaivert MIR), and these actually might be referencing the same specimen. Of the 121 examples of the VENVS standing denarius at acsearchinfo, none have the earlier, shorter legend. I'm not saying it's worth a couple grand to me -- it isn't -- but I am saying it is truly rare. There may have been two Commodus specialists with deep pockets who were vying to obtain the coin for their collection. 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Collector Posted June 12, 2022 · Patron Share Posted June 12, 2022 (edited) 48 minutes ago, Alegandron said: This one is worth $5,200... CRISPINARI Crispina m Commodus 177 CE AR denarius 2.29g Juno stdg RIC-283 Mine. 🙂 This one must be worth at least 7 large! 😉 Edited June 12, 2022 by Roman Collector 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Severus Alexander Posted June 13, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 13, 2022 When multiple flyspeckers have money it's gonna happen! Nice dupondius, @Steve! Here's mine, Hilaritas though: Crispina is cuter on your coin though, isn't she? 😞 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor Steve Posted June 13, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted June 13, 2022 🙃 I'd do 'er 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alegandron Posted June 13, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 13, 2022 1 hour ago, Steve said: 🙃 I'd do 'er She’s dead, Steve. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quant.geek Posted June 13, 2022 · Member Share Posted June 13, 2022 18 hours ago, Alegandron said: She’s dead, Steve. Necrophilia comes to mind 🤣... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alegandron Posted June 13, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 13, 2022 LOL, yeah, was gonna say that, but LOL, I knew @Stevewould get my drift… 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kali Posted June 13, 2022 · Member Share Posted June 13, 2022 (edited) Rattle her bones, roll in her dust, who's to know?😐 I crush on Mughal Empress Nur Jahan Edited June 13, 2022 by Kali 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qcumbor Posted June 15, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 15, 2022 On 6/13/2022 at 1:30 AM, Steve said: I always thought Crispina would have been a bit of a hottie? Indeed she was : look at those lips !!! Q 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor Steve Posted June 15, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted June 15, 2022 3 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alegandron Posted June 15, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 15, 2022 (edited) LOL Edited June 15, 2022 by Alegandron 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julius Germanicus Posted June 20, 2022 · Member Share Posted June 20, 2022 CRISPINA AVGVSTA - Draped bust of Crispina right, her hair elaborately waved in curls across head and fastened in a chignon behind SALVS S C - Salus seated left, feeding from patera held in right hand a snake arising from altar at her feet, her left resting on arm of throne Sestertius, Rome, ca. AD 178-180 22,21 gr / 30,48 mm RIC (Commodus) 672a; Cohen 33; BMCRE (Commodus) 420; Sear 6010, Banti 14 (21 specimens) ex J. Alan Seeger Collection; CNG 76, 12.09.2007, lot 3330; ex Tom Cederlind 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jims,Coins Posted July 17, 2022 · Member Share Posted July 17, 2022 Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted at Rome for CRISPINA, Wife of COMMODUS in 177 A.D. Obv. CRISPINA.AVGVSTA.: dr. bust r. Rev. VENVS.FELIX.: Venus seated l., holding Victory and sceptre. RCS #1686. RICIII #288 pg.399 RSCII #39a. DVM #9. RCSVII #6003. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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