Common coins in uncommonly good condition

[Ryro]

There's a lot of common coins that we all have or have seen in common cruddy condition. I'd like to share and see some of your common coins in great condition, like they looked to the ancients who got them hot off the die. 

The coin that inspired the idea is my latest MSC with the gorgon boss:

Philip III Arrhidaios,

323-317 BCE. Salamis (Cyprus). 3.81g, 15.4mm.
Obv: Macedonian shield with facing gorgoneion on boss.
Rev: B A Macedonian helmet facing, caduceus to left.
Price 3158.

Of course Syracuse was known for its beauties:

Sicily, HimeraSICILY, Himera. Circa 415-409 BC. Æ Hemilitron (16mm, 3.3 g, 6h). Head of nymph left, hair bound in ampyx and sphendone; six pellets (mark of value) before / Six pellets (mark of value) within wreath. Kraay, Bronze , group b, 3; CNS 35; SNG ANS 186. (c. 415-409 BC), cast Æ Hemilitron, head of nymph left, wearing ampyx and sphendone, rev. six pellets in wreath (Calciati I, pp. 43, no. 35; SNG ANS 186), Off center, obverse with excellent detail. 

There are many stunning, and many not so stunning coins of Herakles from Alexander and the Diadochi in both bronze and silver:

Alexander III 'the Great'

 

KINGS OF MACEDON. (336-323). Ae. Uncertain mint in Western Asia Minor.
Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion’s skin headdress.
Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ.
Bow in bowcase and club; torch below.
Price 2799.
Condition: Extremely fine.
Weight: 5.7 g.
Diameter: 20 mm.

Alexander III ‘the Great’, 336-323 BC. Drachm (Silver, 19 mm, 4.18 g, 12 h), struck under Antigonos I Monophthalmos, Kolophon, c. 310-301. Head of youthful Herakles in lion's skin headdress to right. Rev. ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Zeus seated left on low throne, holding long scepter in his left hand and eagle in his right; to left, Φ; below throne, AP monogram. Price 1828. Well centered on a broad flan. Toned. Very fine. Saturnalia gift from Shea19 Dec 2022

We can also find beauty back east:

PHRYGIA, Kibyra.

Circa 166-84 BC. AR Drachm (15mm, 2.65 g, 11h). Helmeted head of male (Kibyras?) right / Horseman, holding couched spear and palm, riding right; O below. HGC 7, 706; SNG Ashmolean 996 var. (O below). VF

Nothing bummy about this bum:

Julia Domna

Denarius . 193-196 AD . Rome . (Ric- 536 ). Ob .: IVLIA DOMNA AVG, Bust draped to the right . Rev .: VENERI VICTR, Venus standing to the right, leaning on a column, holding a palm and an apple . Ag . 3.18 g. Displaced. Tone . EBC . Tauler & Fau Jan 2021

And not all LRBs are hideous, if you're willing to look:

Helena, Augusta,

 

324-328/30. Follis (Bronze, 19.5 mm, 3.37 g 6), Treveri, 327-328. FL HELENA AVGVSTA Diademed and draped bust of Helena to right. Rev. SECVRITAS REI PVBLICE / STRE Securitas standing left, holding branch in her right hand. LRBC 41. RIC 508. Nicely toned. Extremely fine.

 

So please share some of your uncommonly beautiful coins!

Edited May 22, 2023 by Ryro

[Prieure de Sion]

Julia Domna… my favorite

[kirispupis]

Nice idea for a topic!

Here are my two of mine. I just learned that the first is a bit controversial. While I bought it as "Macedonian Interregnum" I see other attributions to Demetrios I Poliorketes.

Macedonian Interregnum
Macedonian mint 288-277 BCE
3.85 g
Macedonian shield with head of Gorgoinion facing in the centre, surrounded by five double crescents with five dots between each
/ B-A to left and right of Macedonian helmet with ear-flaps, caduceus in lower left field, nothing in lower right field
Sear 6781

 

Mysia. Pergamon / Trophy
Circa 133-27 BCE 21.76mm 7.50g
Obverse: Helmeted head of Athena right
Reverse: ΑΘΗΝΑΣ - ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ, trophy of armor
SNG France 1893

[ambr0zie]

Some denarii pretty close to original shape 

 

[IanG]

I always take descriptions of ancient coins as FDC with a pinch of salt, but the two fairly common coins below were both sold as FDC by Hess Divo and Gerhard Hirsch respectively.

Constantius II.

 337-361 AD.

Follis 321-324, Siscia, as Caesar.

Laureate head right / VOT X in two lines within laurel wreath.

RIC 182.

3.38 g, 18mm.

Celtic Britain, Iceni.

Unit, Stepping Horse type c. 25-38 AD.

Two opposed crescents with pellets between, superimposed on band of three lines surrounded by two lines of pellets / Horse right; daisy above, ECEN monogram below.

Allen, Coins 169-74; Van Arsdell 730-1; SCBC 443a.

1.24 g.

[Prieure de Sion]

 

 

Commemorative series, struck under Constantine I the Great

Follis of the Roman Imperial Period 333/335 AD; Material: silvered AE; Diameter: 18mm; Weight: 2.73g; Mint: Alexandria; Reference: RIC VII Alexandria 64; Provenance: Ex Artemide Aste Numismatica San Marino; Obverse: Bust of Constantinopolis, laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial cloak, left, holding reversed spear in right hand. The Inscription reads: CONSTAN TINOPOLIS for Constantinopolis (Personification of the City Constantinople); Reverse: Victory, winged, draped, standing left on prow, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand. The Inscription reads: SMALA for Alexandria, 1st officina.

 

 

Think the commemorative series type of the 4th century was a common type - but rare I get one in this condition.

[Al Kowsky]

 

[expat]

Not as common as some and the photo doesn't show the amount of silvering still present. Still round, centred and showing the full robed figure of Sol. The details such as  Aurelian's frown lines on his forehead and the textures of the cuirass straps, are, to me, a joy to behold

 

[Rand]

Do not have many graded coins - this seems to have the highest numbers.

Anastasius I (AD 491-492). AV solidus (20mm, 4.42 gm, 6h).   Constantinople, 6th officina.

Heritage Auctions, Inc. Auction 3037. 04/01/2015. From The Law Collection (whatever this means).

Edited May 22, 2023 by Rand

[Qcumbor]

Fresh form the dies AND common ?

Well, let's go for some (can't be a lot more common thant those, among roman coins) :

 

Q

 

[John Conduitt]

Here are a few fairly common coins that weathered better than they usually do.

Magnentius Centenionalis, 350-351

Lugdunum. Billon, 22mm, 5.25g. Rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right; D N MAGNENTIVS P F AVG. Emperor standing left, holding Victory in right hand and labarum bearing ☧ in left hand; FELICITAS - REIPVBLICAE; RPLG in exergue (RIC VIII, 112). From the Freckenham (Suffolk) Hoard 1948.

Barbarous Imitation of a Commemorative VRBS ROMA, 335-339

East Anglia imitating Lugdunum. Bronze, 14mm, 1.20g. Helmeted and mantled bust of Roma left; VRBS ROMA. She-wolf standing left, head right, suckling the twins Romulus and Remus; two stars above; •PLG (cf RIC VII, 242). Reportedly from the Nether Compton (Dorset) Hoard 1989.

Eadberht Class Di Series Y Secondary Sceat, 737-758

York. Silver, 1.00g. Fantastic animal left, cross under tail and triquetra below. Large cross in centre; .EOTBEREhTVF (S 847).

Burgred Lunette Type A Penny, 868-874

London. Silver, 19.5mm, 1.36g. Bust (type V5) right; BURGREDREX+. +BEAGZTA in between [N]MON | ETA (Beagstan moneyer); two lunettes divide the legend (S 938).

Phraates IV Drachm, 37-2BC

Mithradatkart. Silver, 21mm, 4.16g. Diademed bust left, wart on forehead; behind, eagle flying left, crowning Phraates with wreath. Archer (Arsakes I) seated right on throne, holding bow (Sellwood 52.32-3 var).

Gadhaiya Paisa, 1022-1135

Chalukyas of Jujarat. Silver, 17mm, 4.40g. Stylized Indo-Sassanian type bust to right wearing sun and moon crown. Stylized fire altar with crescent moon in upper right field (Mitcher 427).

Raymond Roupen Denier, 1216-1219

Antioch. Billion, 18mm, 0.98g. Bust to left, wearing helmet with chin guard and chain mail armour; crescent to left, star to right; ✠ RVPINVS. Cross pattée, inward facing crescent in upper right quadrant; ✠ A•ITIOCHIA (cf Metcalf, Crusades 1995, class L).

Henry III Class 3d1 Long Cross Penny, 1250

London. Silver, 18-19mm, 1.50g. Crowned head facing, annulet eyes with pellet, pellet between hair curls, pointed beard, neck lines, no sceptre, wedge-shaped R; hENRICVS REX: III'. Voided long cross, three pellets in each angle; NIC OLE ONL VND (moneyer Nicholas of London) (S 1364). Ex Michael Trenerry. From the Brussels (Belgium) Hoard 1908.

Vasily II The Blind Denga, 1425-1433

Moscow. Silver, 0.64g. Rider with falcon right. Imitation of Arabic inscription (Metz 11).

South Ferriby ‘Stork Head’ Rich Type 28a Unit, 55-45BC

Corieltavi Tribe, English Midlands. Silver, 13-15mm, 1.18g. Horse right, stork head, pellet rosette above, pellet below tail. Uniface (ABC 1806; VA 884-1; S−).

Charles I Maltravers Type 2 Farthing, 1634-1636

London Token House. Copper, 17mm, 0.73g, 12h die orientation. .CAROLVS. D! G! MAG! BRIT. (Obverse 5); privy mark bell. Eagle-headed 6-string harp; .FRAN! ET. HIB! REX. (Reverse 1); privy mark bell (stop) (Everson Type 2 131e).

[Rand]

A very common one, and I do not really collect them, but could not resist.

Maximinus I. AD 235-238. AR Denarius (21mm, 2.94 g, 12h). Rome mint. 3rd emission, AD 236-237. 

Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Electronic Auction 306. 10/07/2013

 

[Dafydd]

Common but quite attractive to my eye.

Antoninus Pius, 138-161 Denarius after 161, AR 19mm., 2.98g. Bare head r. Rev. Eagle standing r., head l., with wings spread. RIC M. Aurelius 429. C 154. 

Ex-Navilles 2017.

Edited May 22, 2023 by Dafydd
Typo

[CPK]

Probably my best-condition coin, which I'm sure you've all seen before. Does this qualify as FDC?

 

Can't forget my favorite Constantine either:

 

Here is a common-enough coin but in nice shape:

 

 

 

[Romancollector]

I suppose this is a common coin and arguably better than the average example.

AE follis of Diocletian from Aquileia mint - rv. Moneta holding scales and cornucopia

[ambr0zie]

In the last days I worked on creating a personal catalogue for my collection. Standardized descriptions and formatting, personal photos for all the coins (on some I only had auction photos; on others my pics were very bad). 

Here is one of my first ancient coins, photo taken today. Not UNC by any means but still great conservation. 

[Ursus]

Abundantly common but in unusually attractive condition despite the partially weak strike:

Claudius II Gothicus, Roman Empire, BI antoninian, 268–270 AD, Kyzikos mint. Obv: IMP CLAVDIVS P F AVG; bust of Claudius Gothicus, radiate, draped, r. Rev: VICTORIAE GOTHIC; trophy between two seated captives; in exergue, SPQR. 20mm, 2,58g. Ref: RIC V Claudius Gothicus 252.

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

This Severus denarius was struck for the emperor's safety on his ocean voyage to Britannia to take on the Scots and Picts. Shortly after this time the emperor died at York (Eburacum) whilst on his deathbed he exhorted his sons to "Enrich the soldiers, ignore all others!"

While a common coin, it is probably my most lustrous denarius.

Septimius Severus, A.R. Denarius, Rome mint, 210 C.E. 3.3 grams, 19.1 mm

Obverse: Laureate head right, SEVERVS PIVS AVG

Reverse: PMTRP XVIII COS III PP Neptune standing left, nude but for cloak over left shoulder and right arm, right foot on rock, right arm resting on right knee, trident vertical behind in left hand. 

ex-The Sallent Collection

 

[maridvnvm]

This is a very common type. They aren't usually in this condition.

Septimius Severus denarius
Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II, Laureate head right
Rev:– INVICTO IMP, Trophy with captured arms below
Minted in Emesa, A.D. 194 – 195
References:– RIC 389 (Scarce), RSC 232

[AETHER]

On 5/22/2023 at 1:46 PM, Rand said:

A very common one, and I do not really collect them, but could not resist.

Maximinus I. AD 235-238. AR Denarius (21mm, 2.94 g, 12h). Rome mint. 3rd emission, AD 236-237. 

Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Electronic Auction 306. 10/07/2013

 

That obv is seriously amazing detail. Nice coin.

[akeady]

Some ancient coins are beautiful!   Here are some random pictures of my coins.   Mostly just of one side.

Enough!   Some are in good condition, some I just like the style.

Keep them coming!
Aidan.

Edited May 26, 2023 by akeady

[Orange Julius]

I absolutely love this coin. It’s nearly in “just from the mint” condition but still looks like junk. 😂 

Look at the silvering on the obverse, the sharpness of the portrait… then there’s the flan that looks like it’s been eaten by a garbage disposal, the reverse die clash… it’s beautifully ugly.

[Sulla80]

this one has always appealed to me....very common and not a great flan but a nice crisp image

and this one unusually nice condition

Khasmir, Partha Varma, 906-921 & 934-935, AE stater (6.26g), Mitch-167/68, king standing, varma right // Lakshmi seated, Nagari partha right

 

Edited May 26, 2023 by Sulla80