It's always fun to spot an overlooked rarity!

[CPK]

Awhile back, I was browsing some of CGB's listings and came across a very worn and fairly inexpensive Vespasian sestertius with Roma standing on the reverse. An interesting, though very common, coin - attributed as RIC 244, struck during Vespasian's great bronze output of AD 71.

Then I got to looking at the obverse more closely and noticed something that the dealer had overlooked. The legend did not end in COS III but COS VI - a different year of issue, AD 75 instead of 71. And it turns out that very few sestertii indeed were struck for Vespasian in that year.

The correct attribution is RIC II 815 - rated R2 by the RIC authors, and one of only five sestertius types produced during Vespasian's sixth consular year, all of them extremely rare. Three specimens are cited for type 815; my coin is a double die match to the illustrated specimen from Vienna.

In all of my searching online, I was able to find only one other specimen, also a double die match: naturally, a coin from the Curtis L. Clay collection, sold by Harlan J Berk in the 229th Buy or Bid Sale, lot 513.

Not many people, perhaps, would care about this sort of rarity, and the coin itself is very worn, but I was so pleased with myself for having spotted the error that I immediately bought the coin. After all, it's this sort of thing that makes collecting ancients so enjoyable: there are always new things to learn and hidden gems to find.

Please feel free to comment and/or post your own "overlooked" rarities!

VESPASIAN, AD 69-79
AE Sestertius (33.21mm, 23.59g, 6h)
Struck AD 75. Rome mint
Obverse: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS VI, laureate head of Vespasian right
Reverse: ROMA, Roma standing left, holding vertical spear in left hand and Victory in right; S C across fields
References: RIC II 815 (R2, same dies), RCV - ; ERIC II - .
Worn with brassy highlights. This coin is one of only a handful of sestertius types that were struck for Vespasian in his sixth consular year (AD 75.) All of them are very rare; RIC II.1, published in 2007, records just eight different specimens from five types. This coin shares the same dies as the RIC plate coin (Vienna) and is also a double die match to HJB BBS 229, lot 513 (ex Curtis L. Clay Coll.), the only other specimen I could find outside of the three cited by RIC.

[Victor_Clark]

I always feel guilty when this happens; but this coin I just bought was ID'ed a Constantine I as Augustus follis issue. It is actually a rare half follis from Constantine as Caesar.

 

 

 

the real description----

Constantine I
A.D. 307
Ӕ half follis 22mm 3.9gm
FL VAL CONSTANTINVS N C; laureate and cuirassed bust right
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS; Constantine standing facing, head left, in military garb, standard in each hand; S-A across fields.
In ex. PTR
RIC VI Trier 743

 

[Roman Collector]

I love that feeling, @CPK. Coingratulations on the rare find!

This one is quite rare because of its early obverse inscription. The usual obverse inscription is FAVSTINA AVGVSTA AVG PII F. The coin was produced for a brief period in December 155 CE before the inscription was changed in January 156. There may be as few as five specimens known.

 

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman AR denarius; 3.48 g, 17.2 mm, 6 h.
Rome, December 155 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL, bare-headed and draped bust, right (Beckmann Type 5 hairstyle).
Rev: PVDICITIA, Pudicitia standing left, dropping incense over lighted altar to left.
Refs: RIC 508c (corrected); BMCRE p. 165n*; RSC 181; RCV –; Strack 513; CRE –.
Notes: Ex Stack's Bowers Fall 2024, lot 74392, 31 October 2024; ex Berk B/B sale 213; lot 269, 19 November 2020; ex Berk 152, lot 289, 23 December 2007; ex Philip Ashton.

[Sulla80]

Nice catch @Roman collector. Not only an interesting rarity from 156 but also a coin in very nice condition, reasonably centered, and with an engaging portrait! Here's a photo of my most recent Faustina II, also a PII AVG FIL with a very different portrait type, as thanks for the interesting post. I believe that this is an early portrait with this legend.

https://www.sullacoins.com/post/faustina-the-younger

The coin was issued  between the birth of her first child and elevation to Augusta at the end of AD 147, and the birth of her second child in March 149 when both obverses and reverses were changed significantly.

This Venus - blended with Fortuna (rudder and entwined dolphin) intrigued me. Venus Felix ("Lucky Venus"), combining aspects of Venus and Fortuna, goddess of both good and bad fortune. Sulla (Lucius Cornelius) claimed favor and support from Venus Felix in his victory at the Colline Gate to legitimize his power and his brutality.  With her divine protection and the good fortune bestowed on him (in war, politics, and life), he adopted the name Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix.

Faustina II (Augusta, 147-175) AR Denarius (Silver, 3.13g, 19mm), Rome, 147-150.
Obv: FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, Draped bust of Faustina II to right, her hair bound with pearls
Rev: VENVS Venus standing left, holding apple in her right hand and rudder entwined with dolphin in her left.
Ref: RIC 517a.

Edited December 7, 2024 by Sulla80

[CPK]

8 hours ago, Victor_Clark said:

I always feel guilty when this happens; but this coin I just bought was ID'ed a Constantine I as Augustus follis issue. It is actually a rare half follis from Constantine as Caesar.

 

 

 

the real description----

Constantine I
A.D. 307
Ӕ half follis 22mm 3.9gm
FL VAL CONSTANTINVS N C; laureate and cuirassed bust right
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS; Constantine standing facing, head left, in military garb, standard in each hand; S-A across fields.
In ex. PTR
RIC VI Trier 743

 

That's exactly what I'm talking about! Nice catch. The dealer must not have given the coin more than a cursory glance at the reverse type before making an attribution.

[CPK]

2 hours ago, Roman Collector said:

I love that feeling, @CPK. Coingratulations on the rare find!

This one is quite rare because of its early obverse inscription. The usual obverse inscription is FAVSTINA AVGVSTA AVG PII F. The coin was produced for a brief period in December 155 CE before the inscription was changed in January 156. There may be as few as five specimens known.

 

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman AR denarius; 3.48 g, 17.2 mm, 6 h.
Rome, December 155 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL, bare-headed and draped bust, right (Beckmann Type 5 hairstyle).
Rev: PVDICITIA, Pudicitia standing left, dropping incense over lighted altar to left.
Refs: RIC 508c (corrected); BMCRE p. 165n*; RSC 181; RCV –; Strack 513; CRE –.
Notes: Ex Stack's Bowers Fall 2024, lot 74392, 31 October 2024; ex Berk B/B sale 213; lot 269, 19 November 2020; ex Berk 152, lot 289, 23 December 2007; ex Philip Ashton.

Thanks @Roman Collector! You got the best of both worlds: both rarity and top condition. Congratulations!

[CPK]

2 hours ago, Sulla80 said:

Nice catch @Roman collector. Not only an interesting rarity from 156 but also a coin in very nice condition, reasonably centered, and with an engaging portrait! Here's a photo of my most recent Faustina II, also a PII AVG FIL with a very different portrait type, as thanks for the interesting post. I believe that this is an early portrait with this legend.

https://www.sullacoins.com/post/faustina-the-younger

The coin was issued  between the birth of her first child and elevation to Augusta at the end of AD 147, and the birth of her second child in March 149 when both obverses and reverses were changed significantly.

This Venus - blended with Fortuna (rudder and entwined dolphin) intrigued me. Venus Felix ("Lucky Venus"), combining aspects of Venus and Fortuna, goddess of both good and bad fortune. Sulla (Lucius Cornelius) claimed favor and support from Venus Felix in his victory at the Colline Gate to legitimize his power and his brutality.  With her divine protection and the good fortune bestowed on him (in war, politics, and life), he adopted the name Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix.

Faustina II (Augusta, 147-175) AR Denarius (Silver, 3.13g, 19mm), Rome, 147-150.
Obv: FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, Draped bust of Faustina II to right, her hair bound with pearls
Rev: VENVS Venus standing left, holding apple in her right hand and rudder entwined with dolphin in her left.
Ref: RIC 517a.

Nice coin! That is a distinctive and delicate portrait.

[Sulla80]

9 hours ago, CPK said:

The correct attribution is RIC II 815 - rated R2 by the RIC authors, and one of only five sestertius types produced during Vespasian's sixth consular year, all of them extremely rare. Three specimens are cited for type 815; my coin is a double die match to the illustrated specimen from Vienna.

Great catch @CPK!  I agree with you that finding some hidden items - especially those relevant to a specific year like CE 75 in this case or event - can be quite rewarding.

[JAZ Numismatics]

Good eye, @CPK My most recent cherrypick was this denarius being sold as an original Q. Fabius Maximus, except this is one of the restoration issues under Sulla, a much scarcer, more valuable coin...

[CPK]

1 minute ago, JAZ Numismatics said:

Good eye, @CPK My most recent cherrypick was this denarius being sold as an original Q. Fabius Maximus, except this is one of the restoration issues under Sulla, a much scarcer, more valuable coin...

Great coin! How common were "restoration issues" during the Republic? I hadn't known that they even existed previously.

[JAZ Numismatics]

11 minutes ago, CPK said:

Great coin! How common were "restoration issues" during the Republic? I hadn't known that they even existed previously.

The only ones I know of were struck by Sulla. The RR experts may shed some more light on it...

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

That's very good detective work!  If I have any recent overlooked rarities; I've also overlooked them. I usually buy coins just because I like the way that particular coin looks.

[Alegandron]

Years ago, I was on a mission to get an early Republic Denarius (Crawford 44-5).  I was happy when I found it, and happily posted it on Coin Talk.  It is a difficult one to find.

However, a coin-buddy, who had much more experience and knowledge of the Roman Republic coinage, pointed out that mine was not the Cr 44-b version that I had been hunting.  Wow, I screwed up!  HOWEVER, he DID point out, that my Denarius was the RARE version as the Crawford 68-b, which was struck in Sicily. 

So, wow, I really screwed up in reverse!

RR

Anon AR denarius

Roma 211-206 BCE

ROMA, X behind, single horn-helmet plume (designates Sicily issue)

incuse Dioscuri

Sear--, Craw 68-1b SICILY ISSUE RARE

(was cr 44-5)

 

Ok, so I was still on the mission to get the early Republic Crawford 44-5 Denarius.  FOUND IT several months later!  That was great.

Proudly posted it again on CT...

Got more comments... Brian, you did it AGAIN!  You found ANOTHER Sicily issue of this coin!  He stated that there were not that many made of these RARE version... 

I found TWO...by mistake!

RR

Anon AR denarius

Roma 211-206 BCE

ROMA, X behind, single horn-helmet plume (designates Sicily issue)

incuse Dioscuri

Sear--, Craw 68-1b SICILY ISSUE RARE

(was cr 44-5)

 

 

[JAZ Numismatics]

3 minutes ago, Alegandron said:

Years ago, I was on a mission to get an early Republic Denarius (Crawford 44-5).  I was happy when I found it, and happily posted it on Coin Talk.  It is a difficult one to find.

However, a coin-buddy, who had much more experience and knowledge of the Roman Republic coinage, pointed out that mine was not the Cr 44-b version that I had been hunting.  Wow, I screwed up!  HOWEVER, he DID point out, that my Denarius was the RARE version as the Crawford 68-b, which was struck in Sicily. 

So, wow, I really screwed up in reverse!

RR

Anon AR denarius

Roma 211-206 BCE

ROMA, X behind, single horn-helmet plume (designates Sicily issue)

incuse Dioscuri

Sear--, Craw 68-1b SICILY ISSUE RARE

(was cr 44-5)

 

Ok, so I was still on the mission to get the early Republic Crawford 44-5 Denarius.  FOUND IT several months later!  That was great.

Proudly posted it again on CT...

Got more comments... Brian, you did it AGAIN!  You found ANOTHER Sicily issue of this coin!  He stated that there were not that many made of these RARE version... 

I found TWO...by mistake!

RR

Anon AR denarius

Roma 211-206 BCE

ROMA, X behind, single horn-helmet plume (designates Sicily issue)

incuse Dioscuri

Sear--, Craw 68-1b SICILY ISSUE RARE

(was cr 44-5)

 

 

You should go buy a lottery ticket!

[Alegandron]

8 minutes ago, JAZ Numismatics said:

You should go buy a lottery ticket!

I have always told my wife that I do not want to buy lottery tickets.  If I do, I want to buy one that is second place... you always hear of all the major lottery winners getting hounded by family, charities, strangers for money.... and all the murders, etc. that have happened with lottery winners.  

No, I would rather buy the day-AFTER the hundreds-of-million dollar wins.  NO-ONE is piling on, scrambling to buy that ticket for that "only" a million dollar jackpot, and there is no news about that jackpot.  Yeah, a million / 2 million "who-cares" win would be great for me.  😄 😄 😄 

It is not "lack of ambition", rather it is placing a bet on a more statistical sound winning.  Besides, who would turn down $1,000,000 win, even when it is taxed???  😄

 

Edited December 7, 2024 by Alegandron

[Homer2]

Good eyes @CPK. That one's a struggle for the critical detail. 

 

Very much enjoying this thread.

[CPK]

2 hours ago, Nerosmyfavorite68 said:

That's very good detective work!  If I have any recent overlooked rarities; I've also overlooked them. I usually buy coins just because I like the way that particular coin looks.

Thanks! That's the way I usually buy too - but I also like looking out for rarities too.

2 minutes ago, Homer2 said:

Good eyes @CPK. That one's a struggle for the critical detail. 

 

Very much enjoying this thread.

Thanks! 🙂

@Alegandron: Wow, that is crazy! Hopefully, the third time will be the charm. 😉

[JAZ Numismatics]

Well this is hardly a rarity, but I was going through a handful of bronzes I recently picked up and found this little guy from Cappadocia, attributed to Gordian III, but it's actually Severus Alexander. That makes it a little more valuable and underscores the point that you should never trust someone else's attribution. Always research the coin YOURSELF. You'll find mistakes everywhere, even at the major auction houses like CNG...

 

Edited December 7, 2024 by JAZ Numismatics

[CPK]

17 minutes ago, JAZ Numismatics said:

Well this is hardly a rarity, but I was going through a handful of bronzes I recently picked up and found this little guy from Cappadocia, attributed to Gordian III, but it's actually Severus Alexander. That makes it a little more valuable and underscores the point that you should never trust someone else's attribution. Always research the coin YOURSELF. You'll find mistakes everywhere, in at the major auction houses like CNG...

 

100%. I've run into errors many times, usually it doesn't make much difference in value, but it's always good to check. Nice coin.

[DonnaML]

On 12/7/2024 at 3:10 PM, JAZ Numismatics said:

Always research the coin YOURSELF. You'll find mistakes everywhere, in at the major auction houses like CNG...

Indeed! A lot of those mistakes seem to result from carelessness (and insufficient time spent per coin) by the persons doing the cataloging, more than incompetence or lack of familiarity with the types. I suspect that they get paid by the coin, as if they were doing piecework.

I noticed an example in tomorrow's Leu auction session that exemplifies both kinds of mistake: the description of a Roman Republican coin on which I'm considering placing a bid gives the correct Crawford main number but the wrong subtype (something that could have been avoided by carefully comparing the descriptions in Crawford to the coin itself), and misidentifies a letter -- probably because of insufficient familiarity with the forms of Roman letters on coins, as compared to modern lettering. Neither error affects the value, but they're still disappointing to see so often. But I suppose it can only be expected from auction houses that regularly hold auctions with 4,000-7,000 coins each! 

Edited December 8, 2024 by DonnaML

[panzerman]

I once saw a slabbed coin in Coin Cabinet Sunday auction. The description by auction house and NGC was incorrect. So I won the coin for fraction of its true value. Coin was a AV 1`/2 Sovereign Victoria/ Jubilee Head (rare variant) MS-63

[David Atherton]

20 hours ago, CPK said:

Awhile back, I was browsing some of CGB's listings and came across a very worn and fairly inexpensive Vespasian sestertius with Roma standing on the reverse. An interesting, though very common, coin - attributed as RIC 244, struck during Vespasian's great bronze output of AD 71.

Then I got to looking at the obverse more closely and noticed something that the dealer had overlooked. The legend did not end in COS III but COS VI - a different year of issue, AD 75 instead of 71. And it turns out that very few sestertii indeed were struck for Vespasian in that year.

The correct attribution is RIC II 815 - rated R2 by the RIC authors, and one of only five sestertius types produced during Vespasian's sixth consular year, all of them extremely rare. Three specimens are cited for type 815; my coin is a double die match to the illustrated specimen from Vienna.

In all of my searching online, I was able to find only one other specimen, also a double die match: naturally, a coin from the Curtis L. Clay collection, sold by Harlan J Berk in the 229th Buy or Bid Sale, lot 513.

Not many people, perhaps, would care about this sort of rarity, and the coin itself is very worn, but I was so pleased with myself for having spotted the error that I immediately bought the coin. After all, it's this sort of thing that makes collecting ancients so enjoyable: there are always new things to learn and hidden gems to find.

Please feel free to comment and/or post your own "overlooked" rarities!

VESPASIAN, AD 69-79
AE Sestertius (33.21mm, 23.59g, 6h)
Struck AD 75. Rome mint
Obverse: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS VI, laureate head of Vespasian right
Reverse: ROMA, Roma standing left, holding vertical spear in left hand and Victory in right; S C across fields
References: RIC II 815 (R2, same dies), RCV - ; ERIC II - .
Worn with brassy highlights. This coin is one of only a handful of sestertius types that were struck for Vespasian in his sixth consular year (AD 75.) All of them are very rare; RIC II.1, published in 2007, records just eight different specimens from five types. This coin shares the same dies as the RIC plate coin (Vienna) and is also a double die match to HJB BBS 229, lot 513 (ex Curtis L. Clay Coll.), the only other specimen I could find outside of the three cited by RIC.

Very astute acquisition! You know how much I like it. 😁

[CPK]

1 hour ago, David Atherton said:

Very astute acquisition! You know how much I like it. 😁

Thanks! I thought you would like it. 😉 I'm sure I'm not the only one who's gained a lot of knowledge and inspiration from your own collection/posts!

[-monolith-]

@CPK nice catch. I'm always on the look out for hidden treasures that others overlook. I recently purchased this Antoninus Pius for my Pamphylia, Perge collection. I knew it was rare but I didn't fully realize how rare until I started researching it. It is the finest specimen of the three known. The coin came with hand written and typed notes by Vladimir and Elvira Clain-Stefanelli. The coin is an unpublished type from their personal collection.

 

My specimen

 

Specimen 02 (not mine)

 

Specimen 03 (not mine)

[CPK]

2 minutes ago, -monolith- said:

@CPK nice catch. I'm always on the look out for hidden treasures that others overlook. I recently purchased this Antoninus Pius for my Pamphylia, Perge collection. I knew it was rare but I didn't fully realize how rare until I started researching it. It is the finest specimen of the three known. The coin came with hand written and typed notes by Vladimir and Elvira Clain-Stefanelli. The coin is an unpublished type from their personal collection.

 

My specimen

 

Specimen 02 (not mine)

 

Specimen 03 (not mine)

That is indeed a little beauty! And from a quick glance, it looks like all three came from the same pair of dies, which says even more about its rarity. Great score!