How would you guys grade this coin

[MrZun]

I am curious about it, Also, its a bit porous and rough, was it caused by natural processes?

[Ryro]

How much does it weigh?

[AncientCoinnoisseur]

Good VF?

[Tejas]

Good VF (with some flatness at 6-9 o'clock).

[CPK]

Glad to see my initial thought of "gVF" was in line with the general consensus. 🙂 

[MrZun]

14 hours ago, Ryro said:

How much does it weigh?

3,84

[-monolith-]

Like the others aVF (almost very fine).

[kirispupis]

For me it would be a tough call, but this coin could be a reference. The details are good on the OP coin, but the worn ethnic and bottom left side would be enough to place it as VF in my book instead of gVF. 

[John Conduitt]

46 minutes ago, -monolith- said:

Like the others aVF (almost very fine).

gVF is nearly XF. aVF is nearly VF. I agree the coin is more like aVF. Even then, that is light to moderate wear at the high points - this coin is at least that worn, although the flatness on the bottom left of the reverse is due to the strike, not wear.

[Victor_Clark]

Yikes...quibbling over grade like modern coin collectors. The charm of decent pictures is that there is no need for grading...you get what you see.

[John Conduitt]

8 minutes ago, Victor_Clark said:

Yikes...quibbling over grade like modern coin collectors. The charm of decent pictures is that there is no need for grading...you get what you see.

At least it's not MS68 vs MS67.

[AncientJoe]

1 hour ago, Victor_Clark said:

Yikes...quibbling over grade like modern coin collectors. The charm of decent pictures is that there is no need for grading...you get what you see.

I agree: there's no need to assign a grade. The coin is beautiful and the pictures speak for themselves!

[Dafydd]

I agree with the comments the whole grading issue is a fiasco in relation to ancients  later hammered.  I have bought some beautiful slabbed coins recently because they were sold undervalue as being "details cleaned" . One particular hammered coin I recently bought has mint lustre. I then crack them open keeping the label  to prove the coin is genuine for my descendants ( of course the title genuine is personal opinion by the individual grader). I have been studying TPG company grades of English milled and hammered coins recently and they are all over the place. 

Fortunately whilst many buy the slab and not the coin there are great opportunities to buy "detailed" coins. I sent a consignment to a TPG in July which recently returned and some of the detail comments made surprised me. A proof crown was described as Details reverse scratched. Enough to put anyone off but I could not see the scratch and eventually found a nick on a horses leg. Virtually impossible to see without a magnifying glass. The coin is beautifully toned and pleasing but the comment is not so pleasing so that was a waste of $45. 

So my advice @MrZun is buy with your eye and if you like it someone else will when it is time to sell. This is a really attractive coin and you have done well. 

Edited December 18, 2024 by Dafydd
Typo

[John Conduitt]

I'm the last person to support grading, but it is useful to understand what grade a coin might be. Every type is different and while you can simply look at the photos and choose one you like, it takes a while to understand how much wear some coins actually have, particularly if you don't know the series. A small difference in grade can make a big difference in price, and you need to know what you're paying for. With ancients you need to look at other things too - strike, centring, corrosion, tooling etc.

That doesn't mean sending it off to a TPG, though. The best solution is what kirispupis suggested - compare it to a higher end coin and see what's different.

[Spargrodan]

In many cases, especially with ancient coins, a lower-graded piece can often have a better eye appeal or a stronger strike than a higher-graded coin. I try to go with my gut feeling—if it has good appeal, the grade doesn't matter as much. If you like it then it's good.

[Sulla80]

I give it a grade of "medium quality ancient coin" (my personal rating system : high, medium, low)  It reminded me of this one that I also grade similarly:

[Hrefn]

I bought this denarius about 2 years ago on impulse.  Usually, I am rather picky as regards condition, although I sometimes will compromise on condition if the coin is scarce or otherwise very desirable.  In this case, I just liked it.  Certainly it is worn, but the Dioscuri are iconic and the coin spoke to me.   I paid $100.  To this day I have no idea if that was a good buy or a poor one.  This is not my collecting field of expertise.  

Sometimes, a coin just “looks good” to you, and that is a combination of strike, centering, metal, wear, toning, etc.  It is a subjective judgement.  If you like the coin, and you still like it a year later, I would say you did well.  

[Alegandron]

LOL, I use the Historical Grading Standards:

- I like it
- Not interested at this time.
- Cool, yeah, not normally what I would look for, but I want it anyway!
- Etc.

[Alegandron]

Mine is graded as: "I like it", so I bought it!

Roman Republic

Q. Minicuis Thermus M.F.
103 BC. 

Head of Mars left/

two warriors fighting, the left one protects a fallen comrade.
Q THERM MF 
Crawford 319/1.  Sear 197.

Edited December 19, 2024 by Alegandron

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Quite a nice piece. I am not into grades per se but mostly eye appeal, which can occur in multiple grades actually