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Late Roman Bronze Coins

Coin talk => Late Roman Bronze coins => Topic started by: Victor on January 23, 2021, 12:31:59 PM

Title: Did you know Licinius was a red head?
Post by: Victor on January 23, 2021, 12:31:59 PM
I thought this coin was interesting, because of a bit of rust, Licinius looks like he has red hair.  I figured I would bid a couple of hundred dollars, but was surprised that this coin sold for $1020. Heritage has recently been getting ridiculous bids, in part I suspect, because of the slabs and the grading. This coin for example, is MS★, so it probably drove up bidding.


Licinius I (AD 308-324). AE follis or BI nummus (23mm, 4.55 gm, 5h). NGC MS★ 5/5 - 5/5. Cyzicus, 8th officina, AD 316-317. IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS P F AVG, laureate head of Licinius I right / IOVI CONS-ERVATORI, Jupiter standing facing, head left, Victory on globe in right hand, scepter in left, eagle with wreath in beak standing left, head right, at feet to left; VIII in right field, SKM in exergue. RIC VII 6.
Title: Re: Did you know Licinius was a red head?
Post by: Heliodromus on January 23, 2021, 12:51:40 PM
Nice specimen of an interesting issue, but $1000+ ???  ::)

I have the complete officina set of these - posted this on FORVM years ago!

Some of the bids Heritage are getting on these slabbed coins are ridiculous. There was a silvered Constantine VOT XX, ex. Epfig, that went for over $400 recently.

Here's my favorite recent slabbed coin.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/AD-324-328-30-AE3-BI-Nummus-Helena-House-of-Constantine-Ancient-Coin-NGC/383915163240?hash=item5963207e68:g:WjgAAOSw4zdgC4qk

It's tempting to buy it, throw away the coin, and keep the slab.  ;D
Title: Re: Did you know Licinius was a red head?
Post by: Victor on January 23, 2021, 01:20:47 PM

Yes, I was bidding on that Constantine from the Epfig hoard- I think my max was $200. I break out slabbed coins that are going in my collection, but leave the hoard coins slabbed, like examples I have from Epfig and Bishop's Wood. I don't think that they should be worth more because of the slab though.
Title: Re: Did you know Licinius was a red head?
Post by: Severus on January 24, 2021, 07:30:52 PM
>> It's tempting to buy it, throw away the coin, and keep the slab.

I know you thought you were kidding, but believe it or not Stacks/Bowers actually ran a "Collector's Choice Old Holders" auction in December where the premise of each lot was that the slab itself is considered collectible -

https://archive.stacksbowers.com/?q=98f974c5-b38d-4aca-abbe-3652e0f7c8ec

Title: Re: Did you know Licinius was a red head?
Post by: Heliodromus on January 25, 2021, 08:50:33 AM
QuoteI know you thought you were kidding, but believe it or not Stacks/Bowers actually ran a "Collector's Choice Old Holders" auction in December where the premise of each lot was that the slab itself is considered collectible -

Interesting concept ... Smacks of cargo cult worship.

Next up, collecting photos of coin dealers ?!
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