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Author Topic: Quiz: why did these worn-down coins fetch 311€?  (Read 1340 times)

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Offline Rupert

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Quiz: why did these worn-down coins fetch 311€?
« on: April 30, 2006, 11:58:37 am »
Half a minute before closing they stood at some thirty Euros, and I wanted to bid some seventy, but they soared to 311€ within the last twenty seconds. Now my question, especially for newbies: Why?

Rupert
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AncientCoins

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Re: Quiz: why did these worn-down coins fetch 311€?
« Reply #1 on: April 30, 2006, 01:16:29 pm »
I guess I can still be considered a newbie, because I am not sure of the answer ;D  But I will PM Rupert to see if I'm right, so not to take out the fun for other members.

Andrew

basemetal

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Re: Quiz: why did these worn-down coins fetch 311€?
« Reply #2 on: April 30, 2006, 04:20:32 pm »
Someone collects countermarked coins perhaps?

Offline Pscipio

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Re: Quiz: why did these worn-down coins fetch 311€?
« Reply #3 on: May 01, 2006, 03:37:12 am »
Yes, but I guess the buyer was out for one particular countermark  ;)

Lars
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Offline Numerianus

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Re: Quiz: why did these worn-down coins fetch 311€?
« Reply #4 on: May 01, 2006, 04:48:22 am »
Should be Varus countermark.

Offline Rupert

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Re: Quiz: why did these worn-down coins fetch 311€?
« Reply #5 on: May 01, 2006, 05:31:09 am »
This is it, of course; as Andrew and Basemetal said correctly, the coins are all countermarked. But normal countermarked low-grade asses are not expensive. Here, however, at least two coins have the rare and / or especially sought-after Varus countermark plus a well-legible undertype (Lugdunum with altar). Unfortunately enough other people but me saw it.

Rupert
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Online Joe Sermarini

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Re: Quiz: why did these worn-down coins fetch 311€?
« Reply #6 on: May 01, 2006, 07:28:34 am »
Guess I should stop throwing away those slugs with the funny stamps on them.   ;)
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Offline Numerianus

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Re: Quiz: why did these worn-down coins fetch 311€?
« Reply #7 on: May 01, 2006, 12:43:01 pm »
Good idea! I did a this already: 

Offline Vitruvius

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Re: Quiz: why did these worn-down coins fetch 311€?
« Reply #8 on: May 02, 2006, 12:05:23 am »
For any newbies looking for some background on the Varus disaster and countermark, check this link:

http://www.ancient-times.com/articles/varus/varus.html

Very well done article!

 

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