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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Quality| ▸ |Eye Appeal||View Options:  |  |  |   

Ancient Coin Eye Appeal

The most important factor in determining the |price| of a coin is eye appeal. One coin of the exact same type as another can be priced ten times higher or more. So, what is this eye appeal?

It is beauty. . . It is classical fine art. . . It is a masterpiece portrait. . . It is sculptural high relief. . . It is a choice strike. . . It is a gem patina. . . It is Celtic abstraction. . .

It is . . . on this page!

Herennius Etruscus, Early 251 - First Half of June 251 A.D.

|Herennius| |Etruscus|, |Herennius| |Etruscus,| |Early| |251| |-| |First| |Half| |of| |June| |251| |A.D.||antoninianus|
Pietas in traditional Latin usage expressed a complex, highly valued Roman virtue; a man or woman with pietas respected his or her responsibilities to the gods, family, other people and entities (such as the state), and understood his or her place in society with respect to others.
SL89806. Silver antoninianus, RIC IV Decius 143, RSC IV 14, Hunter III 7, SRCV III 9521, NGC Ch XF, strike 4/5, surface 5/5 (2412821-154), weight 3.83 g, maximum diameter 20.9 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, as caesar, 250 - early 251 A.D.; obverse Q HER ETR MES DECIVS NOB C, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse PIETAS AVGVSTORVM (to the piety of the Emperor), implements of the pontificate and augurate: aspergillum (sprinkler), culullus (cup) or simpulum (ladle), ewer (jug), patera (libation bowl), and lituus (augural wand); from the Martineit Collection of Ancient and World Coins; NGC| Lookup; SOLD


Macrinus and Diadumenian, 11 April 217 - 8 June 218 A.D., Marcianopolis, Moesia Inferior

|Marcianopolis|, |Macrinus| |and| |Diadumenian,| |11| |April| |217| |-| |8| |June| |218| |A.D.,| |Marcianopolis,| |Moesia| |Inferior||pentassarion|
Renamed by Trajan after his sister, Ulpia Marciana, Marcianopolis was an important strategic center for centuries. The city was repeatedly destroyed by barbarian raids (Goths, Huns, Avars and others) but also was repeatedly rebuilt and prospered. During Valens' conflict with the Goths, Marcianopolis was a temporary capital of the empire and the largest city in Thrace. An Avar raid destroyed the city in 614 or 615.
RP70334. Bronze pentassarion, H-J Marcianopolis 6.24.34.2, AMNG I/I 778, Varbanov I 1290, SNG Cop -, BMC Thrace -, VF, attractive green patina, a few minor scratches, flan crack, central cavities, weight 10.894 g, maximum diameter 27.4 mm, die axis 0o, Markianopolis (Devnya, Bulgaria) mint, consular legate Pontianus, 217 - 218 A.D.; obverse AYT K OΠEΛ CEYH MAKPKEINOC K M OΠEΛ ANTΩNEINOC, laureate head of Macrinus right confronted with bare-head of Diadumenian left; reverse YΠ ΠONTIANOY MAPKIANOΠOΛEITΩN, Macrinus standing left, laureate, wearing military garb, right foot on helmet, Victory on globe offering wreath in his right hand, reversed spear vertical in left hand, two oval shields at feet on left, E in left field; ex CNG e-auction 278, lot 179; SOLD


Carus, Early September 282 - c. July or August 283 A.D., Posthumous Consecration Issue

|Carus|, |Carus,| |Early| |September| |282| |-| |c.| |July| |or| |August| |283| |A.D.,| |Posthumous| |Consecration| |Issue||antoninianus|
The consecratio altar type is not listed for Tripolis mint in references held by Forum. A similar type is listed for Antioch.
SH08800. Billon antoninianus, RIC V-2 -, SRCV -, ANS -, Choice aEF, weight 3.06 g, maximum diameter 22.7 mm, die axis 180o, Tripolis (Tripoli, Lebanon) mint, obverse DIVO CARO AVG, radiate bust right; reverse CONSECRATIO•, flaming altar, T - R across fields, XXI in exergue; dark toning; SOLD


Constans, 9 September 337 - 19 January 350 A.D.

|Constans|, |Constans,| |9| |September| |337| |-| |19| |January| |350| |A.D.||heavy| |maiorina|
The reverse legend translates, "Happy Times Restored." Happy times would not last for Constans. This coinage was among his last issues before his general Magnentius rebelled and had him killed.
RL90437. Billon heavy maiorina, RIC VIII Siscia 244, LRBC II 1136, Voetter 31, SRCV V 18730, Cohen VII 10, Choice gVF, light encrustations, weight 4.945 g, maximum diameter 22.8 mm, die axis 45o, 2nd officina, Aquileia mint, 348 - 350 A.D.; obverse D N CONSTA-NS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse FEL TEMP REPARATIO (happy times restored), Constans standing left in Galley left, labarum (legionary vexillum standard with monogram of Christ) in left hand, Phoenix on globe in right hand, Victory steering at stern, AQS• in exergue; SOLD


Tralleis, Lydia, c. 2nd - 1st Century B.C.

|Tralleis|, |Tralleis,| |Lydia,| |c.| |2nd| |-| |1st| |Century| |B.C.||AE| |18|
On the defeat of Antiochus, 190 B.C., Tralles, with the rest of Lydia, was assigned to the kingdom of the Attalids, under whose gentle sway it enjoyed peace and prosperity, and was one of the chief mints of the Cistophori. When Attalus III died without an heir in 133 B.C., he bequeathed the whole of Pergamon to Rome in order to prevent a civil war.
SH29098. Bronze AE 18, Kunker 67, 421 (same dies); Elsen 86, 124 (same), BMC Lydia -, SNG Cop -, SNGvA -, SNG Tübingen -, Weber -, Lindgren -, Mionnet -, aEF, nice green patina, weight 4.580 g, maximum diameter 17.6 mm, die axis 0o, Tralles (Aydýn, Turkey) mint, c. 2nd - 1st century B.C.; obverse laureate head of Zeus right; reverse ΔIOΣ TPAΛ/ΛIANΩN and winged thunderbolt within wreath; rare; SOLD


Numerian, February or March 283 - October or November 284 A.D.

|Numerian|, |Numerian,| |February| |or| |March| |283| |-| |October| |or| |November| |284| |A.D.||antoninianus|
When Augustus ruled Rome, he was not called emperor or king, he was the Princeps, the "first of men." In the empire, the designated successors to the emperor were named caesar and also given the title Princeps Juventutis, the "first of youths." This is the origin of the English word prince, meaning the son of a monarch.
RB71623. Billon antoninianus, Hunter IV 8 (also 5th officina, unbroken rev. leg.), RIC V-2 366; Venèra IV 418 (24 ex.); Pink VI-2 p. 24; SRCV III 12219; Cohen VI 76, Choice EF, excellent centering, much silvering, some porosity, weight 3.529 g, maximum diameter 22.1 mm, die axis 0o, 5th officina, Ticinum (Pavia, Italy) mint, as caesar, Nov/Dec 282 - Feb/Mar 283 A.D.; obverse M AVR NVMERIANVS NOB C, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse PRINCIPI IVVENTVT (to the Prince of Youth), Numerian walking left, baton in right hand, long scepter transverse in left hand, VXXI in exergue; SOLD


Kallatis, Moesia Inferior, Under Roman Rule, 2nd - 3rd Century A.D.

|Kallatis|, |Kallatis,| |Moesia| |Inferior,| |Under| |Roman| |Rule,| |2nd| |-| |3rd| |Century| |A.D.||AE| |20|
The Dioscuri were Castor and Pollux (or Polydeuces), the twin sons of Leda and brothers of Helen of Troy. The twins shared the same mother but had different fathers. Pollux, the son of Zeus, was immortal but Castor was mortal. When Castor died, Pollux asked to let him share his own immortality with his twin to keep them together. They were transformed into the Gemini constellation and the two spend alternate days on Olympus (as gods) and in Hades (as deceased mortals). The pair were regarded as the patrons of sailors, to whom they appeared as St. Elmo's fire.
RP26691. Bronze AE 20, SNG Stancomb 865 var. (no K or torch, Dioscuri right); BMC Thrace p. 22, 9 var. (same), gVF+, minor pitting, weight 5.643 g, maximum diameter 20.4 mm, die axis 0o, Kallatis (Mangalia, Romania) mint, obverse bust of Demeter right, veiled and wreathed in grain, torch right, K left, all in a circle of dots; reverse Dioscuri riding left, in circle of dots; rare; SOLD


Carus, Early September 282 - c. July or August 283 A.D.

|Carus|, |Carus,| |Early| |September| |282| |-| |c.| |July| |or| |August| |283| |A.D.||antoninianus|
 
SH34744. Billon antoninianus, RIC V-2 45, Choice EF, full silvering, weight 3.660 g, maximum diameter 21.9 mm, die axis 0o, 3rd officina, Rome mint, 282 - 283 A.D.; obverse IMP C M AVR CARVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse VIRTVS AVGG (valor of the two emperors), standing left, resting right hand on grounded shield, spear vertical in left, RΓ in exergue; SOLD


Palmyrene-Roman Empire, Aurelian and Vabalathus, c. Nov 270 - Mar 272 A.D.

|Vabalathus|, |Palmyrene-Roman| |Empire,| |Aurelian| |and| |Vabalathus,| |c.| |Nov| |270| |-| |Mar| |272| |A.D.||antoninianus|
According to Zosimus, after his defeat, Vaballathus died on the way to Rome. Other sources imply Aurelian allowed Vaballathus and his mother Zenobia to live, but only after they had been marched through the streets of Rome in a triumphal procession. This would have been humiliating, but better than death. This theory is supported by Aurelian's similar treatment of the Tetrici, Tetricus I and Tetricus II of the Gallic Empire, long-time enemies of Rome whom the emperor allowed to retire following their defeat at the Battle of Châlons in 274.
RA35037. Billon antoninianus, MER-RIC 3107, RIC V-2 381, BnF XII 1248, Hunter IV 7, Göbl MIR 353a5, Cohen VI 1, SRCV III 11718, Choice gVF, weight 3.646 g, maximum diameter 20.2 mm, die axis 135o, 5th officina, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, Nov 270 - Mar 272 A.D.; obverse IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right, E below; reverse VABALATHVS V C R IM D R, laureate, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right; SOLD


Julia Domna, Augusta 194 - 8 April 217 A.D., Stobi, Macedonia

|Stobi|, |Julia| |Domna,| |Augusta| |194| |-| |8| |April| |217| |A.D.,| |Stobi,| |Macedonia||AE| |22|
Stobi was an ancient town of Paeonia, conquered by Macedonia, and later made the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia Salutaris. Stobi prospered under Rome and in 69 A.D. was designated a municipium. Citizens of Stobi enjoyed Ius Italicum and were citizens of Rome. Theodosius I stayed in Stobi in 388. In 479, Stobi was sacked by the Ostrogothic king Theodoric. The town was rebuilt, but in 518 was struck by a powerful earthquake. Avaro-Slavic invasions in the 6th century ruined the city's economy and infrastructure. Stobi is perhaps the most important archaeological site in the Republic of Macedonia.
RP29521. Bronze AE 22, cf. Josifovski 157 (Josifovski specimen too obscure to verify dies), Varbanov 3908 (R3), SNG Cop 333, gVF, beautiful green patina, weight 6.780 g, maximum diameter 24.2 mm, die axis 0o, Stobi (Gradsko, Macedonia) mint, obverse IVLIA •A-VGVSTA, draped bust right; reverse MVNICIPI STOBEN, Victory walking left, palm extended in right, palm frond over shoulder in left; SOLD




  



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