the_Thing ®

Aren't they, in a way, saying the grade on the slab is wrong?

I'm only been looking at CC Morgans as of late, and, no high end ones, so that is likely why I haven't seen any.

Thanks for the responses. I haven't seen any NGC coins yet with a CAC sticker. Do they just do PCGS?

not at all. I said "or what".

I don't know, just seems a way to try and jack up a coins value over its grade.

Thanks. AU-55

Well, I found my 1890 CC. Graded by NGC, and a nice original tone. I think its nice, feel free to disagree. I bet someone might find it fugly, but I like it. Care to guess the grade? I'll revel shortly.

Thanks. I do like the toning around the edges. I'm hoping its that distinct, or more so once I see it in hand.

I would tend to agree, but believe it or not, NGC graded it AU55. If it goes up just one grade that doubles its value. Might resubmit it, but I'm not sure. I'm new to the slabbing concept.

1878 CC Morgan Dollar I just purchased for my Carson City set. These are not my pictures. I'll have to get better ones. Got a good deal on it. Just that one damned tiny carbon spot. Anyone want to guess the grade?

Man. you guys around here are a tough group to arouse.

MS63

This one caught my eye

Had to pull the trigger on this one. Perfect for my CC set I'm trying to put together. Opinions always appreciated.

Great coins. Having a CNG pedigree always adds a premium to coins.

Never seen anything like them. If they are authentic, which I'd worry about, I'd start looking at Oriental, India or Islamic. Certianly not Roman, Greek, Medieval or Byzantine. Don't even look Islamic to me. Seen quite a few ancient Islamic, but none like that. If I had to chose, I'd say India (but fake).

Any portrait coin of Julius Caesar is a good coin to have and really like that tribute penny. I've owned a few over the years. Good historic grouping you have there.

Thanks! I wish it were gold. Just a cheap $40.00 bronze. Probably paid too much, but I like the patina. There is another example of the issue I own on page 1 of this thread. I paid a few hundred for it, because its the nicest example I've ever seen. I purchased it before I knew we were having twins.

First coin I've pruchased in a while. I'm going to start a collection of this particular issue. I like the "twins" aspect of it. I love the patina on this coin.

CONSTANTINE THE GREAT. 307-337 AD , Commemorative coin, issued to commemorate the movement of the capital from Rome to Constantinople ,

Constantine the Great

RIC VII Rated as Scarce (S) Constantinople mint, 326 - 327 A.D.; obverse CONSTAN-TINVS AVG, diademed head right; reverse PROVIDEN-TIAE AVGG, campgate with two turrets, star above, A to the right , in exergue CONS.

This coin has everything I like. A great natural patina and full legends. Picked it up pretty cheap too.

Constantine The Great, AE3

Cyzicus Mint, 307-337 AD

Obverse: CONSTANTINVS AVG, Laureate head right

Revsese: PROVIDENTIAE AVGG, Campgate with two turrets, star above.

SMKB. in exergue, Cyzicus mint.

RIC VII, Cyzicus,34

20mm, 3.2gm

Purchased this one this afternoon. A really spectacular coin and subject matter in my opinion. This coin was found in Jerusalem. Minted in Alexandria, Egypt, so we know it made a bit of a journey.

CONSTANTINE The Great Celebrating The City of Rome & The She-Wolf and The Twins, Alexandria. Obverse: URBS ROMA Personified "City of Roma". Reverse: She-Wolf suckling Romulus and Remus.

This is a set of Camp Gates of Constantine that I've been thinking about buying. They were found around Lebanon. Fresh out of the ground. I buy quite a few coins from that are fresh to the market. A dealer in Lebanon has this set.

Also, in regards to the patinas, if you collect them long enough, you'll be able to tell from the patinas where they were found. I have coins minted in Judea from about 32 AD that have the same exact patina as the last coin I posted above. But the coin above was minted 300 years later. And, I know for a fact the coin above was found outside of Petra, in Jordan. The father west you get from Judea, the darker the patina gets. I've also seen many coins from different dealers that share some weird patinas with unique traits, which indicate they were found in the same hoard. Deep rich red patinas are usually indicative of the regions in Spain.

Ancients are far to vast to try and collect everything. Even when you narrow them down to sub-groups like Roman. You then have Roman Imperial, Provincial, Civil Wars etc. I'd been wanting to start another collection since I pretty much completed my collection of Pontius Pilate prutahs. I like coins of historical importance and for some reason, they usually have a religious theme to them, like Pontius Pilate. Constantine has a heck of a history, and as I found out in some research, he earned the title "the Great" for many reasons, not just one. Outstanding military leader, brought Christianity to Rome etc. In fact, the coin above known as "eyes to God" is in reference to Constantine praying to God before a battle in which he was outnumbered and the odds were against him. He won that battle. I ended up with the bronzes of Constantine because #1 you can own some very rare coins, say less than 20 known, from the series for $200.00. Regular issues in mint condition can be had for $20.00. I hate cleaned coins and consider the patinas, like on the last example I posted, to be "natures toning". Much like Morgan collectors chasing after the monster rainbows, I'm looking for the best natural patinas on uncleaned coins I can find. With this Constantine series, I'm going after coins that have full legends, full flans, devices and natural patinas with strong eye appeal. I doubt I ever complete a full set of every issue/mint, but I can put together a world class set for relatively cheap. I'll most likely start going after some "Camp Gate" issues of Constantine soon. There are a wide variety of them out there. Pretty much the same obverse as above, but the reverse shows different styles of forts.