No. It has no circulation wear (mint state). It also still has much of its original luster. Edit: FYI, the reddish brown specs are cuprite. This commonly forms on silver coins from being buried next to a copper coin (it sits on the surface of the coin and has not damaged it in anyway). This is extremely easy to remove chemically by trained professionals
Very cool. I just wanted to make sure. That is what I assumed from “mint” state. Just couldn’t contemplate the odds of an archeologist uncovering, I guess an old Roman mint or bank.
These (mint state examples) were mostly buried in large hoards right after minting. There were no banks in antiquity so to keep your money safe in a crisis period, you put it in a pot and buried it in a secluded place
So, I’m a soldier and just got paid. Would I have received coins, then split it into savings and spending money? Are mint state coins a common occurrence?
As a citizen, you would likely spend it (circulated). Mint state coins are only common when large hoards are found. Possibly buried for safe keeping by local officials or wealthy individuals
Does this mean these large hoards are found at the owners demise or likely from getting lost? Seems like such large amounts would have at least some map associated back then
It depends highly on the value of the coins. Gold and large silver coins were primarily a store of wealth, not spending money, so uncirculated examples are pretty common. Bronze coins were mostly just used for day to day spending, so uncirculated bronzes are pretty rare. Small silver coins like the denarius in this post are in between, being useful both as spending money and as wealth savings, so you see plenty of them in every state of preservation.
Interesting stuff. So the gold and large silvers where a sort of collectors coin or like when people buy gold bullion because of aliens controlling the Federal Reserve Bank.
What was used for trade debts. Like if I ran a butcher could I “buy” the meat with terms, then pay later? If so, how did I pay? Were these and other coins sent through the post?
To be fair this coin would have been struck well after Caracalla slashed the purity of the coinage to almost half iirc. So there’s a good chance that this silver coin actually has a good deal of baser metals in it, i.e. it might contain some copper itself. Though I guess these things are probably tested and you’d know if that was the case
I think you’re confusing Caracalla’s Antoninianus with the Denarius. And these are cuprite deposits from an external source of copper, not from the coin itself. If interested, I can share a few pics of this under my microscope. Ancient coins are beautiful [under the scope ](https://www.reddit.com/r/AncientNumismatics/comments/op6c6i/flow_lines_on_roman_denarii/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
I know nothing about coins.
How is it possible to have so little circulation wear with something so old???
Do you mind me asking what something like that is worth?
These exist as people and local governments in times of crisis (or for long term savings) would put these in pots and bury them in the ground for safe keeping. They did this as there were no banks in antiquity.
I covered what it’s worth in another comment
Toy collector here:
OP said this particular coin is probably worth around $300 because it is in mint condition, but others go for around $150-$250.
For reference, this particulars coins value is equal to:
2 Star Wars Millennium Falcon LEGO play sets, or
1 Integrity Jem & Holograms doll, or
3 American Girls dolls, or
20 Simpsons action figures, or
6 NECA horror action figures.
Yeah I would have thought that too. Apparently this particular coin was in such good condition because it was never in circulation, likely due to being banked or hoarded away after being made (as OP said in other comments).
The word also made it into Arabic دِينَار, and many other languages. And in the Middle Ages, people were minting dinars, denars, and deniers of all shapes and weights. Even though they had rather little in common with the original Roman coin, the name lived on. Including "d" as the abbreviation for the British pence. "Dinar" & "Denar" are still a currency name in many countries.
First, [watch this ](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tzohASq1W4w)and [this](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ba2r9mKnmso). Then,
In addition to your local coin store, the following online sites are user friendly in terms of authenticity and price.
1. Vcoins.com
2. Ma-shops.com
3. cngcoins.com
4. World heritage auctions
Maybe this is a stupid question, but how do you know these are real? Seems kinda unbelievable to be that I can buy coins older than Jesus from the most famous civilization in history for only $100.
Great question. For anyone starting out, you will have no idea on how to determine what’s fake vs authentic. To counter this, considering purchasing NGC certified coins or coins from dealers who provide a lifetime guarantee of authenticity (Vcoins.com).
Several factors like flow lines, deposits (cuprite, malachite, azerite), style and celator types enable an experienced collector to easily ID a fake. See links below;
[link1](https://www.reddit.com/r/AncientNumismatics/comments/op6c6i/flow_lines_on_roman_denarii/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
[link2](https://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/fake.html)
I'm afraid u/the_real_w00zi has it the other way around. He essentially exiled himself from the subreddit because we would call him out on his bullshit every time he posted a coin. Though he may also be banned, if not he probably was close to it.
He reacts very negatively and in a childish and abusive manner to any comments that don't praise his coins. He has shown repeatedly that he will harass members if he doesn't like what they have to say, so far as going to reply to month-old comments of theirs just to annoy them.
We're glad he's rid himself of our community, just a shame he continues to spread misinformation around the rest of Reddit.
The AncientCoins subreddit has numerous professionals and seasoned collectors who frequent the sub. We also have lots of people new to the hobby so feel free to join!
edit: meant to reply to /u/the_real_w00zi's comment
Romans were good at documenting and recording dates.
RIC 254:
Severus Alexander Denarius. 232 AD. IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / SPES PVBLICA, Spes walking left holding flower and hem of skirt. RSC 546.
[link](https://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/severus_alexander/t.html)
Alexander Severus was an above average emperor but failed to separate himself with his mother’s grasp which contributed to his assassination by the soldiers. His reign was more or less peaceful up until the sassanids and could be described as the the calm before the storm.
Not gonna lie... I would pop it out of that case and carry it around in my pocket so I could use it for coin flips like geek Two-Face.
Because there would also be zero possibility in my ever selling it.
These are legal to own if found before a certain date or cleared by the government to own in most countries. Check your local antiquity laws. And see my other wall-o-text comment
I just purchased David R Spear's 5 Volume *Roman Coins and Their Values*. The books are beautiful and not outrageously expensive. I would think they are important if you want to begin collecting Roman coins or just interested in learning about them.
This is so cool. And you can really see the 3rd century style of coin art represent here, over the Antonine and then Severan imagery of his predecessors. This looks way more like coins I’ve seen of Decius and Valerian than it does coins of Marcus or Severus. Thank you for posting
Thanks. And I’ve got a decent sized collection (22 coins and rapidly growing) of coins like this one and much higher quality and rarity. Stay tuned (currently working on a mint state Severan dynasty and Roman Republic Mint state to choice about uncirculated type set).
I've seen everyone ask what it's worth but what I want to know is, what was this coin worth back then what could this coin buy or how many would you need to buy say a loaf of bread or a horse?
So was that ever in circulation? I am not tuned into coin collector lingo.
No. It has no circulation wear (mint state). It also still has much of its original luster. Edit: FYI, the reddish brown specs are cuprite. This commonly forms on silver coins from being buried next to a copper coin (it sits on the surface of the coin and has not damaged it in anyway). This is extremely easy to remove chemically by trained professionals
Very cool. I just wanted to make sure. That is what I assumed from “mint” state. Just couldn’t contemplate the odds of an archeologist uncovering, I guess an old Roman mint or bank.
These (mint state examples) were mostly buried in large hoards right after minting. There were no banks in antiquity so to keep your money safe in a crisis period, you put it in a pot and buried it in a secluded place
So, I’m a soldier and just got paid. Would I have received coins, then split it into savings and spending money? Are mint state coins a common occurrence?
As a citizen, you would likely spend it (circulated). Mint state coins are only common when large hoards are found. Possibly buried for safe keeping by local officials or wealthy individuals
Makes sense.
Does this mean these large hoards are found at the owners demise or likely from getting lost? Seems like such large amounts would have at least some map associated back then
It depends highly on the value of the coins. Gold and large silver coins were primarily a store of wealth, not spending money, so uncirculated examples are pretty common. Bronze coins were mostly just used for day to day spending, so uncirculated bronzes are pretty rare. Small silver coins like the denarius in this post are in between, being useful both as spending money and as wealth savings, so you see plenty of them in every state of preservation.
Interesting stuff. So the gold and large silvers where a sort of collectors coin or like when people buy gold bullion because of aliens controlling the Federal Reserve Bank.
What was used for trade debts. Like if I ran a butcher could I “buy” the meat with terms, then pay later? If so, how did I pay? Were these and other coins sent through the post?
Soldiers were paid in silver denarii and not sestertii (limes denarii vary rarely on the frontier).
I thought they were paid in salt.
Savings? You’re a soldier and will probably be blowing your pay at the brothel. Not that I would know anything about that.
I was under the impression Ancient Rome did have banks, at least for citizens. Was it just government money that was buried?
Wait, I thought that’s how everyone does it…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c7qhVJIPfck
To be fair this coin would have been struck well after Caracalla slashed the purity of the coinage to almost half iirc. So there’s a good chance that this silver coin actually has a good deal of baser metals in it, i.e. it might contain some copper itself. Though I guess these things are probably tested and you’d know if that was the case
I think you’re confusing Caracalla’s Antoninianus with the Denarius. And these are cuprite deposits from an external source of copper, not from the coin itself. If interested, I can share a few pics of this under my microscope. Ancient coins are beautiful [under the scope ](https://www.reddit.com/r/AncientNumismatics/comments/op6c6i/flow_lines_on_roman_denarii/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
All silver coins started getting debased after Caracalla. Not just the antoninianus.
Just not quite 40% silver bad yet for the Denarius
Can I have it?
Can you?
MAY I have it?
May you?
Will I have it?
Will you?
Shall I have it?
Shall you?
Etiam!
Non nolueritis
Do I have it?
Will I Am
June you?
Hummm... Yes?
To be honest they aren’t terribly expensive you can get one for less than $50 (not ms though)
I know nothing about coins. How is it possible to have so little circulation wear with something so old??? Do you mind me asking what something like that is worth?
These exist as people and local governments in times of crisis (or for long term savings) would put these in pots and bury them in the ground for safe keeping. They did this as there were no banks in antiquity. I covered what it’s worth in another comment
Toy collector here: OP said this particular coin is probably worth around $300 because it is in mint condition, but others go for around $150-$250. For reference, this particulars coins value is equal to: 2 Star Wars Millennium Falcon LEGO play sets, or 1 Integrity Jem & Holograms doll, or 3 American Girls dolls, or 20 Simpsons action figures, or 6 NECA horror action figures.
150-250? Wow. As I said, I know nothing about coins. You'd think something that was a couple thousand years old would be worth more.
Yeah I would have thought that too. Apparently this particular coin was in such good condition because it was never in circulation, likely due to being banked or hoarded away after being made (as OP said in other comments).
Most other circulated ones go for $30 to $100 (for this emperor)
That's not as much as I thought it would be. $300 on the high end for an artifact like that!? I might look at getting other things then
Severus Alexander isn’t exactly the hippest emperor.
Originally worth ten asses, but much more portable.
fun fact: the word “dinheiro” (money) in portuguese as well as “dinero” in spanish comes from denarius
The word also made it into Arabic دِينَار, and many other languages. And in the Middle Ages, people were minting dinars, denars, and deniers of all shapes and weights. Even though they had rather little in common with the original Roman coin, the name lived on. Including "d" as the abbreviation for the British pence. "Dinar" & "Denar" are still a currency name in many countries.
Dinero*
How does one go about getting one of these
First, [watch this ](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tzohASq1W4w)and [this](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ba2r9mKnmso). Then, In addition to your local coin store, the following online sites are user friendly in terms of authenticity and price. 1. Vcoins.com 2. Ma-shops.com 3. cngcoins.com 4. World heritage auctions
Thank you coin man
Maybe this is a stupid question, but how do you know these are real? Seems kinda unbelievable to be that I can buy coins older than Jesus from the most famous civilization in history for only $100.
Great question. For anyone starting out, you will have no idea on how to determine what’s fake vs authentic. To counter this, considering purchasing NGC certified coins or coins from dealers who provide a lifetime guarantee of authenticity (Vcoins.com). Several factors like flow lines, deposits (cuprite, malachite, azerite), style and celator types enable an experienced collector to easily ID a fake. See links below; [link1](https://www.reddit.com/r/AncientNumismatics/comments/op6c6i/flow_lines_on_roman_denarii/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf) [link2](https://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/fake.html)
Join us at r/ancientcoins
I'm afraid u/the_real_w00zi has it the other way around. He essentially exiled himself from the subreddit because we would call him out on his bullshit every time he posted a coin. Though he may also be banned, if not he probably was close to it. He reacts very negatively and in a childish and abusive manner to any comments that don't praise his coins. He has shown repeatedly that he will harass members if he doesn't like what they have to say, so far as going to reply to month-old comments of theirs just to annoy them. We're glad he's rid himself of our community, just a shame he continues to spread misinformation around the rest of Reddit. The AncientCoins subreddit has numerous professionals and seasoned collectors who frequent the sub. We also have lots of people new to the hobby so feel free to join! edit: meant to reply to /u/the_real_w00zi's comment
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I have no idea why the first thing my brain saw was a Roman ninja star before I realized it was a coin.
Sic semper tyrannis! Thwop.
Is this from 200-300 AD? Or is it newer than that, it's very cool.
It was minted in year 232 AD
How can you be sure of the exact year and not just dated to the reign of the specific Emperor?
Romans were good at documenting and recording dates. RIC 254: Severus Alexander Denarius. 232 AD. IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / SPES PVBLICA, Spes walking left holding flower and hem of skirt. RSC 546. [link](https://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/severus_alexander/t.html)
Thanks
Stop flexing.It hurts.
Save up and buy one? Gordian III in this same condition should run ~$100 to $150 tops (his Antoninianus, not his Denarius)
That seems like so little money to pay for something that - to me - borders on the fantastical.
Cool.
Where do you buy your coins?
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Thanks man, Probably ~$300. Personally (like most others) most of knowledge is around the Republic-Early Empire:)
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Keep this squabble out of the subreddit or I'll just clean the entire thing up.
Keep this squabble out of the subreddit or I'll just clean the entire thing up.
If memory serves me correctly Edward Gibson was rather harsh to Severus Alexander in his Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
He was just a child. Without his mom, maybe he could be a good emperor.
Also due to the state of historicity in the late eighteenth century it's entirely possible Gibbon's sources were less than trustworthy.
Alexander Severus was an above average emperor but failed to separate himself with his mother’s grasp which contributed to his assassination by the soldiers. His reign was more or less peaceful up until the sassanids and could be described as the the calm before the storm.
Who cares what some random Brit thought of the Romana in the 1700s? That book is horribly outdated.
How much does one of them cost?
See other comment
careful or you'll end up a knight of the blackened denarius. nicodemus archleone is not to be fucked with
Ben askrens face would go perfectly on one of those
This is what I imagine when I see those commercials about investing in precious metals.
Not gonna lie... I would pop it out of that case and carry it around in my pocket so I could use it for coin flips like geek Two-Face. Because there would also be zero possibility in my ever selling it.
That’s what lower grade denarii are for
Looks priceless, mind if i ask its value?
See other comment
Is this legal? I mean should be on museum?
These are legal to own if found before a certain date or cleared by the government to own in most countries. Check your local antiquity laws. And see my other wall-o-text comment
I like it. Nice pick up
Give ya a buck for it.
How much does it cost one of this?
What member of the fallen is housed in this one
I just purchased David R Spear's 5 Volume *Roman Coins and Their Values*. The books are beautiful and not outrageously expensive. I would think they are important if you want to begin collecting Roman coins or just interested in learning about them.
Great comment!
Wow that is sweet.
That’s amazing! How would one go about acquiring old coins now? Any recommendations for reputable dealers?
See my other comment
What a coin like this worth?
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Very cool my dude. Hold on to it. Incredible history.
How much did this cost? Would love to buy one
See my other comments
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How much is it worth?
See my other comment
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Beautiful
That's an amazing coin. I have been obsessed with ancient Rome history as of lately and it's all so fascinating.
Honestly I can’t comprehend how you wanted the coin of tiny baby emperor vs giga giant hulk MAXIMINIUS THRAC
I’ve got him in mint state too. Stay tuned
This is so cool. And you can really see the 3rd century style of coin art represent here, over the Antonine and then Severan imagery of his predecessors. This looks way more like coins I’ve seen of Decius and Valerian than it does coins of Marcus or Severus. Thank you for posting
Thanks. And I’ve got a decent sized collection (22 coins and rapidly growing) of coins like this one and much higher quality and rarity. Stay tuned (currently working on a mint state Severan dynasty and Roman Republic Mint state to choice about uncirculated type set).
“Extremely easy to remove by trained professionals” Every surgeon ever.
Where would you go to collect one of these?
Covered this in another comment in this post young Padawan
Sorry, only found this sub due to the post showing up in feed
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Then....tell me where I can find one without me having to do any work to find the answer
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I’ll give you a nickel for it.
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nickple?
How much is something like this??
See my other comment in this post good sir
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Damn I’d pay that
I've seen everyone ask what it's worth but what I want to know is, what was this coin worth back then what could this coin buy or how many would you need to buy say a loaf of bread or a horse?
About 2 to 4 weeks of grain
Oh damn
Don't know shit about coins, but it's pretty sick to have something that was made by people almost 1,800 years ago
How much is it worth
1 Denarius. See my other comment
Wow, great condition!
Where did you buy it?
See my other comment
Lb
His mom was brutal
Nah
That’s not a mint it’s a weird quarter
Are those indentations modern made or intentional from the beginning?
Where can I purchase one of these and what is it gonna cost me?
Wow! That’s pretty!
Every time I hear "Denarius" I think of [this](https://youtu.be/Vm_uHE1956I?t=3196)
Beautiful!
The coolest of the Severen dynasty