The Budget Game! $500-$700 edition

[sand]

I have a large number of coins, which I purchased, in the $150 to $200 range, including shipping etc. However, I only have my own photos, for 1 of those coins. I'm slowly taking my own photos of my coins, but it's been a slow process, even with recent improvements to my photography equipment. Here's the 1 coin, for which I have my own photos, in the $150 to $200 range including shipping etc. This Athena tetradrachm cost me $171 out the door, in 2022. An excellent deal for me, in my opinion, because the Athena side of the coin, was my priority, when I was searching and waiting for an example of this coin type. I don't mind the test cut.

Athens AR Tetradrachm. 449 BC To 413 BC. Sear 2526. Diameter 24.8 mm. Weight 17.15 grams. Obverse : Head Of Athena Wearing Helmet Facing Right. Reverse : Owl Standing, Olive Twig And Crescent On Left, Alpha Theta Epsilon On Right, All Within Incuse Square. Test Cut.

Edited May 2, 2023 by sand

[JayAg47]

Lets move on to $200-$250

$250, Jan 2021 eBay, 

1 Maasa 'Piloncito, 2.44g Gold Incused Lingam with Nagari legend 'Tha' on the reverse. Circa late 8th century From Mataram/Medang Kingdom of central Java ruled by the Sailendra dynasty, they develpoed the Hindu/Buddhist culture in the Southeast Asia, they also intermarried with the Sri Vijayans of Sumatra (whom would be later invaded by the Cholas in the 11th century).   $235, Mar 2023 Andre Chicos (Ma-Shops), In name of Alexander III, Aeolis, Temnos mint ~188-170 BC, 35 mm, 15.2 g. Obv: Head of Heracles wearing lion skin headdress. Rev: Zeus Aëtophoros seated holding eagle and sceptre; monogram and E above knee, oinochoe within vine tendril at feet. Price 1676.

[CPK]

I believe the hammer on this one was $200. It's got a great portrait and nice surfaces.

This one was about the same:

[shanxi]

240 Euro, 2021 for my Artemis collection

LYDIA, Conventus of Apamea, Tripolis.
Pseudo-autonomous: Reign of Antoninus Pius or Marcus Aurelius
Obv: IЄPA CYNKΛHTOC, Draped bust of Senate left.
Rev: ΤΡΙΠΟΛЄΙΤΩΝ, To left, Artemis standing right, drawing arrow from quiver at shoulder, holding bow; to right, Apollo standing left, holding laurel-branch and chlamys.
Æ, 17.54g, 30mm
Ref.: RPC IV.2 online 1644; BMC 12-3; SNG von Aulock 3301.

[Edessa]

This was $215.

Celtic Britain. Durotriges, 58 BC-AD 43. Debased AV Quarter Stater (12mm, 1.45g, 10h). Obv: Wolf design; pellet rosette to left. Rev: Zigzag thunderbolt across field; Y shape and uncertain objects to each side. Ref: VA 1225; BMC 414-418; ABC 2205. Good Very Fine. Scarce. Ex Spink. Ex Chris Rudd, with ticket. Registered in the CCI as 98.1890. This coin is one of the few coins in the Celtic Coin Index at Oxford to have had a full metal analysis. This coin was analyzed for Bob Van Arsdell by Dr. Peter Northover of Oxford University. Metal contents: gold 30.42% silver 48.10% copper 21.02%. CCI documentation indicates this coin was also Ex Spink & Son.

Edited May 4, 2023 by Edessa

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

 

C. Annius T.f. T.n and L. Fabius L.f. Hispaniensis, Northern Italy or Spain, 82-81 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.79g, 11h). Draped bust of Anna Perenna r., wearing stephane; C • below neck; all within bead and reel border. R/ Victory driving galloping quadriga r., holding palm frond and reins; Q above horses. Crawford 366/2a; cf. RBW 1378; RSC Annia 3

$242

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Aemilian
AR Antoninianus, Rome, 253.
21 x 22 mm - 3.41 g

IMP AEMILIANVS PIVS FEL AVG
Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Aemilian to right
R/ PACI AVG
Pax standing left, leaning on column with her legs crossed, holding branch in her right hand and transverse scepter in her left.
 

Cohen 26. RIC 8

$207

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[sand]

I'm enjoying this thread. I'm wondering, where it will end. 1 million dollars?

A gold Eid Mar? Anyway, now we're in an area, where I've really been cutting back lately. The last time I paid $200 or more for a coin, was early 2022. I only have 15 coins, which cost $200 or more, including shipping, buyer's premium, etc ("out the door"). In the $200 to $250 range, I only have 8 coins. Some of my favorite coins in my collection, are in this range. I only have my own photos for 3 of them. Here are 2 of them. Both of them are bronze. Both of them are Byzantine.

In 2020, I paid $250 out the door, for this Byzantine Justinian I 40 nummi follis coin. A very good deal, in my opinion, even in 2020.

Justinian I The Great : AE 40 Nummi Follis. Regnal Year 12. 538 AD To 539 AD. Nicomedia Mint. Sear 201. DO 116b.1. Diameter 44 mm. Weight 21.73 grams. Obverse : Justinian I Bust Facing Front. Reverse : Large M Mint "NIK" Officina B.

In 2021, I paid $210 out the door, for this Byzantine Basil II or Constantine VIII 40 nummi follis coin. Another very good deal, in my opinion.

Basil II or Constantine VIII AE 40 Nummi Follis. 1023 AD to 1028 AD. Constantinople Mint. Class A3. Sear 1818. Diameter 28 mm. Weight 9.27 grams. Obverse : Jesus Christ With "EMMANOVHL" On Left Edge Greek For "Emmanuel" Meaning "God With Us" And "IC XC" On Left And Right Abbreviation For "IHSUS XRISTUS" Greek For "Jesus Christ". Reverse : "IHSUS XRISTUS BASILEU BASILE" Greek For "Jesus Christ King Of Kings".

[Pellinore]

For amounts between $200 and 250 (always counting the price including shipping and tax), I bought several coins that are very interesting or in my eyes very beautiful, but also pieces that subjected me to a high auction fever. Here are a few. 

3164. Marcus Annius Verus (162-169) and Commodus. AE18, Tarsus, 167-177? Obv. two youthful heads facing under the text ΚΟΡΟΙ ϹƐΒΑϹΤΟΥ, a caduceus and a club between them. Rev. Decastyle temple with text ΚΟΙΝΟϹ ΚΙΛΙΚΙΑϹ// ΤΑΡ/ ϹΟΥ// ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛƐΩϹ. In the tympanum, an eagle with outspread wings. 18 mm, 4.34 gr. RPC 5035. Early 2022 € 237

1211. Ionia, Islands off. Samos. Circa 210-190 BC. AR Tetrobol. Obv. Facing lion’s scalp. Rev. Forepart of bull butting right; amphora, monogram TAT, and barley ear below. Text above: ΣAMIΩN. 16 mm, 3.01 gr. SNG Copenhagen 1713; HGC 6, 1241. Barron p. 147, type j, cf. nr. 27. Febr. 2020, € 200   A bit outside my usual collecting area, but I bought it because of the beautiful style and conservation.

4147. Celtic coinage. Remi? (A tribe that roamed around Reims). AE14. Obv.: Celticized head right, hair upwards. Rev.: Celticized horse left, dot in pellet above, three dots in pellet below. 14 mm, 1.73 gr. ‘('unlisted', cf. Scheers Tf. 19.528). Found in northern France. Heritage auction November 2020, € 220

4402. Vandals, king Gunthamund (484-496). AE nummus, Carthage. Obv: Pseudo-legend, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Gunthamund right. Rev: cross within wreath. 10 mm, 0.79 gr. MEC- , MSV 212-7, BMCV pl.VI, 33-43, WA4126. May 2014, € 190  This coin's ugly portrait and puny size, when I received it brought me off collecting coins like this Dark Age type.

4801.  AV tari, Roger II of Sicily 1130-1154. Obv. Cross with IC-XC / NI-KA ('Jesus Wins'). Rev. Kufic text in two rings around a bull's eye with several dots. 12 mm. 1.38 gr. Coin Fair 2015, € 200

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Justinian I (527-565). Æ 40 Nummi (37mm, 20.77g, 6h). Theoupolis (Antioch), year 20 (546/7). Facing helmed and cuirassed bust, holding globus cruiciger. R/ Large M; cross above, date across field; A/9HЧΠ. MIBE 145a; DOC 217; Sear 220.

$221, May of last year.

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[Pellinore]

Some more coins bought for about $200-250:

Severus Alexander, 222-235. AE26, Alexandria Troas. Obv. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev. In the middle, a drunken Herakles to the right, supported by three satyrs around – or the one at the right is Pan, with goat legs. Or: Silenus dance. Left Marsyas, in the middle Silenus with a satyr, right Pan with goat legs. Cf. this clear depiction and description on CNG. 26 mm, 7.81 gr. RPC VI online 3987 (8 specimens). Bellinger A335. Naumann Numismatik March 7, 2021, € 192

 

5735. AR drachm, Chaganian (a district of Uzbekistan). About 600 AD. Obv. Imitation of head of  Xusro I. Three identical countermarks (see SNS Usbekistan: little head t.r., 26; with vertical line, probably a crack in the punch). At 3 o’clock, countermark 4 or a variant (17-19). Rev. Fire altar. Right side sigle for mint AW, or tamgha? Countermark ‘.oro’ (5). 24 mm, 2.72 gr. SNS Usbekistan Chaganian Ia1/Ia, p. 68-69, pl. 40 nr. 547. Kuznetsov Katalog Manyet Chaganian cf. 80-113. Febr. 2018, € 241. Some extra pictures of the countermarks:

 

6663. AV 1/4 dinar Fatimids, Sicily, about 1060 AD. Tiny gold coin. Al-Mustansir 1036-1094. Siqillyah (=Sicily). Stellate type. 15 mm, 0.77 gr. Obverse: the centre field consists of the kalima, and the marginal inscription consists of verse 33 from Chapter 9 of the Qur’an. Reverse: the centre field has the name and title of Al-Mustansir, and the marginal inscription provides the mint name and date (not readable). Album 722. Stephen Album, Nov. 2017, € 241 

 

4712. Holy Roman Empire, denarius, after 1046. Imitation of the Tiel type under Henry III. Netherlands. Tiel/ Zaltbommel. Henry III (1039-1056) or shortly after. Obv. Frontal head with crosier. Rev. (T)IELI/ AN (N mirrored). 18.5 mm, 0.77 gr. Ilisch I, 4.17.2; Dannenberg 1276. Elsen auction 143, nr. 860, Dec. 7, 2019, € 237

 

 

[Dafydd]

Pompey the Great 46-45 B.C. AR Denarius. Head of Roma r., in Corinthian helmet; before, M POBLICI LEG PRO, behind, P R / CN MAGNVS IMP, female figure standing right with shield & spears, handing palm to soldier on prow. Syd 1035. Cr469/1a. Ex Michael Trennerry 2018. £190.00

This was literally "right on the button" with the conversion at the time making this coin $250.00.

[JayAg47]

Lets increase the range from $250-$350

$260, Nov 2021 This tetradrachm managed to sneak into this territory,

Athens Attica Owl Tetradrachm
440-420 BC
25 mm, 16.3g
Ex Steve McBride, Incitatus coins.

 

 

[shanxi]

325 Euro, 2022

MYSIA. Pergamon.
Cistophor (Circa 166-67 BC).

Obv: Cista mystica with serpent; all within ivy wreath.
Rev: Bowcase between two serpents.
Controls: Civic monogram to left, stylis (ship's mast) to right.
AR, 12.56g, 30mm
Ref.: Kleiner & Noe Series 15; SNG Copenhagen 406.

 

[sand]

Now we're getting high up in the water column, for a bottom feeder like me. At this height above the sediment, I'm in danger of being eaten by much bigger fish. Therefore, I don't swim up here, very often. I have 4 coins, which cost from $250 to $350, including shipping, buyer premium, etc. One of the 4, I showed in my previous post in this thread, the Justinian I 40 nummi follis, which cost me $250 out the door, which I showed for the $200 to $250 price range. The last time I paid more than $249 for a coin, was early 2022. I have my own photos for 2 of the other coins in the $250 to $350 range. One of the coins, I hope to post soon, but I'm still working on writing an explanation of it. The other coin, is the following coin, a posthumous Alexander III The Great tetradrachm, which cost me $349 out the door, in 2019. A pretty good deal, in my opinion, even in 2019.

Alexander III The Great Posthumous Issue AR Tetradrachm. 280 BC to 200 BC. Odessos Mint. Price 1163. Diameter 28 mm. Weight 16.74 grams. Obverse : Heracles In Lion Skin. Reverse : Zeus On Throne. Minted in Odessos, which is now called "Varna" in Bulgaria, on the western coast of the Black Sea.

Edited May 8, 2023 by sand

[Limes]

Great coins everyone!

I think this one found it's way to my collection for a good price. Just over 250 eur with shipping and all. 

I missed the previous price range, but I just have to post this one. I still think this is one of my 'best deals' ever. 190 EUR ex fees. 

 

 

[Edessa]

This was $280 back in 2009.

Crusader States. Acre. In the name of al-Âmir al-Mansur, AD 1101-1130. AV Bezant (21mm, 3.61g, 3h). "Misr" mint, calligraphy clearly Crusader and not original Fatimid, probably struck circa AD 1148-1187. Ref: Album 730; CCS 5f, third phase.

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Eukratides I, 171 - 145 BC, silver 31.2 mm, 14.89 grams. Obverse: Helmeted bust right of Eukratides I. Reverse: The Dioskouroi on horseback right. Reference: SNG ANS 465

$350 in 2009.

ANUEL I COMNENUS (AD 1143-1180). EL Aspron Trachy Nomisma (3.00 gm). Constantinople mint. Struck 1152-1167(?). Obv. Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing; IC-XC across upper fields. Rev. Manuel, holding akakia, and the Theotokos, raising hand in benediction, standing facing, holding between them patriarchal cross set on small globe; M-ΘV across upper fields, [MANᏌHΛ] to left, ΔЄCΠOTH to right. SB 1958 | DOC 3a. Near EF; edge broken. Electrum, 3.00 gm, 32 mm, 6 h

$294.63 in August, 2022.

My John II Trikephalon was a better deal, but it's too late to post that.  I thought it was more expensive than it was.

--

3.37g
Head of Q Pompeius Rufus right (Consul)
Head of Sulla (Rufus' grandfather) right "Q POM RVFI / RVFVS COS"
Cr 434/1
Pompeia 4

$325 in August of last year.

[DCCR]

On 5/4/2023 at 8:10 PM, Edessa said:

This was $215.

Celtic Britain. Durotriges, 58 BC-AD 43. Debased AV Quarter Stater (12mm, 1.45g, 10h). Obv: Wolf design; pellet rosette to left. Rev: Zigzag thunderbolt across field; Y shape and uncertain objects to each side. Ref: VA 1225; BMC 414-418; ABC 2205. Good Very Fine. Scarce. Ex Spink. Ex Chris Rudd, with ticket. Registered in the CCI as 98.1890. This coin is one of the few coins in the Celtic Coin Index at Oxford to have had a full metal analysis. This coin was analyzed for Bob Van Arsdell by Dr. Peter Northover of Oxford University. Metal contents: gold 30.42% silver 48.10% copper 21.02%. CCI documentation indicates this coin was also Ex Spink & Son.

Hi Edessa - lovely coin 🙂 Would it be possible to get a photo of the ticket?  This coin is part of my die study and the extra information on it looks like it could be useful.  

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

I got this Gallienus sestertius for $375. 

Edited May 10, 2023 by Ancient Coin Hunter

[Pellinore]

1001. AV (electrum) 1/24 stater, Phokaia (625-575). Obv. Seal’s head. Rev. Incusum. 7 mm, 0.69 gr. Bodenstedt Em. 2.1. July 2014, € 315  My oldest coin. (It's very small!)
 

4005. Eastern Celts, Lower Danube. Uncertain tribe. Early 3rd century BC. // Thracian imitation by an uncertain issuer from the 350-300 BC period, Lower Danube. Early imitation of a Philip II tetradrachm of Amphipolis. Fourrée (at the edge some giveaway spots). Obv. Laureate head of Zeus t.r., behind it, a leaf. Rev. Jockey and horse riding t.r. Under it, labda over a bucranium. Under the prancing leg of the horse, an A. 24.5 mm, 13.85 gr. July 2018, € 293

Favorite coin.
The original Philip of Macedon style is heroic and realistic. The design of this coin is ever so slightly distorted into a surrealistic portrait - with its very short upper lip and huge bearded jaw, and its large temple, the man's gaze aiming intensely up forward. It’s one of my favorite coins, although it is a fourré.

 

4010. Eastern Celts, Northern Danube. AR Tetradrachm, Uncertain tribe. Imitating Philip II of Macedon. 359-336 BC. (13.42 gr, 21 mm). Struck circa 323-315 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Nude youth on horseback left. May 2021, € 300
 

4132. Suessiones. Potin coin. Obv. Graceful sun wheel, or alternatively: Four leech-like forms. Rev. Elegant horse with ringlets. 20 mm, 5.17 gr. Excellent condition. De La Tour 7673. S. Sch. (CNG Feature Auction 114, nr. 457: $950). Leuven coin fair May 2015, € 300   Three Stars Type

 

 

 

[Deinomenid]

This is one of my favourite coins,  bought for GBP260. It's very early, has an unusual view of the lion, partly from on high, partly the side, was bought in the 60's so for what that's worth re 1970 dates etc it has that, plus  it is a coin of the Phocaeans very soon after they'd  fled Cyrus in Ionia all the way to "Italy".

Apparently many of these coins were found near Marseilles, which was another Phocaean colony.

 

Incidentally Velia had various ancient names  Velia, Hyele, & Elea and  some modern day locals even dare call it Castell'a Mare di Bruca.

 

From  Williams' book  on Velia -

The type of a lion tearing its prey has been agreed to be a near-eastern design. The reverse square punch is found among cities of the Greek mainland and the north and east, but not in Italy where the incuse technique predominates. The tendency to 'anepigraphicism' is also an eastern rather than an Italian feature.

 

 

Velia, Drachm, 535-465, lion right, tearing at prey, rev. quadripartite incuse square, 3.79g (HN Italy 1259; Pozzi 640-1; McClean 1395-6; SNG ANS 1202-10; cf. SNG Lockett 534-5). Good fine, dark find patina

[Harry G]

The second most I've ever spent on a single coin is my Valens miliarense:

£227 on eBay (which I still think is a bargain despite the damage)

DN VALENS P F AVG - Diademed, shoulder-draped cuirassed bust of Valens

VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM / RP - Victoria standing left, foot placed on a globe, inscribing VOT / V / MVLT / X on a round shield supported by column

[Pellinore]

Some more coins between $250 and 350. An € (euro) is somewhere between 1.05 and 1.10 dollar most of the time. All these coins are much loved by me. In the (for me) more expensive coins like these, there's always an emotion playing up. It's never about just filling a hole or finding a good deal. 

 

3513. Byzantium, Phokas (602-610). AV tremissis, Constantinopolis. 16 mm, 1.49 gr. Obv. Bust t.r. DNFOCAS PERAVI. Rev. Cross potent VICTORIFOCASAUG/ CONOB. Coinfair Houten, Netherlands, 2014 € 289  

4706. Groningen, bishop Bernulph (1040-1054). AR denarius. Obv. Bishop’s crosier with legend BACVLVS. Around this+ BERNVLDVS EPS.  Rev. Cross with four points in the corners. GRONINGA or something like it. 17 mm, 0.68 gr. Ilisch I, 18.3; Dan. 559 var. Auction Elsen April 2018, about € 345  (Expensive, but I wanted it very much, because I lived in Groningen for a long time)

5704. Kidarite Huns, a variation on Sasanian drachms. AR drachma Kidara, c. 380. "King A". Obv. Three-quarter bust with palmettes and crenellated crown, crowned with pomegranate globe. Text KIDARA KUSANA SA. Rev. Fire altar with assistants turned to it. Under the altar a text read alternately read as A-La-Kha or Su-La-Kha. In the middle die weakness. 27 mm, 3.93 gr. Cribb, Kidarites, C2b; Vondrovec [Göbl, Hunnen] Type 11. Pfisterer 11. Zeno 199536. Ex. auction Münzen & Medaillen 31 (2009) 187. Jacquier 277, Sept. 2014 € 325

6674. AV pale dinar Great Seljuq. Sanjar (1118-1157). Herat, ND. Obv. with elaborate circle. Rev. shows two dragons at the top and two at the foot of the central circle, snapping to the outside world. 24.5 mm, 3.86 gr. Album 1687. Nuqud Gallery, Febr. 2020, € 340 

Do you see the wide-mouthed dragons? Isn't this a great medieval coin? 

Edited May 10, 2023 by Pellinore

[JayAg47]

The bracket moves to $350-$500

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Heraclius, 610-641, Gold Solidus, Sear-734, MIB-8a, Officina-H, struck 613-616 at Constantinople, 4.42 grams, 20.9 mm. Nice VF

Obv: D D N N HERACLIUS ET HERA CONST P P AVG - Facing busts of Heraclius with short beard on left and Heraclius Constantine beardless on right, each wearing chlamys and elaborate crown with cross, cross above between

Rev: VICTORIA AVGU - Cross potent on three steps, CONOB in exergue

Nicely centered with fully lustrous 'mint state' surfaces, but a bit unevenly struck with the left side of both surfaces missing. 'M' graffiti in the upper obverse field is noted for accuracy. Still a pleasing example with an especially nice portrait of Heraclius.

$429  ex: Glenn W. Woods, 6/2009.

John II, Comnenus. AD 1118-1143.. AV hyperpyron (30 mm, 4.39 gm). Thessalonica. Christ seated facing on throne with back. Rev: Facing figures of the Virgin and John. SB 1949. EF. Graffiti on reverse

$500, 7/2009.