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Constantine II Small Bronze - 2 Soldiers, 1 Standard Reverse

GLORIA EXERCITVS Type
This is about as close to uncirculated as these tiny AE 4's can be found. There is still a hint of silver wash covering the surface of this coin, forming a grayish patina whereas a bronze coin with no silver coating would probably acquire a deep chocolate brown toning in this state of preservation. The author picked this one out of a very special collection of about two hundred exceptionally nice Roman coins bought by Rudy Schroeter. He got aay with this gem for a paltry thirty - five dollars. These types are not often found in this nice a condition and when they do change hands, it is usually at aucttio for eighty to a hundred dollars. Surprisingly, there are quite a few choice later Roman coins out there waiting for the appreciating collector to pick up for under fifty dollars, even though a search focusing on any particular type may not prove fruitful and will usually result in the collector paying top dollar when an example is located. The key is to form a good relationship with your dealer, visit the shows, and be willing to purchase the choice little items he or she picks up in the course of doing business. Dealers often obtain scarce coins in nice condition but, unfortunately for them and fortunately for the collector, they have to move these items in order to cover costs and stay in business. Most of the time, these are not the highly publicized Twelve Caesars types or Athenian Owls, but lesser - known types with their own fascinating story to tell. Chances are if you are a well - read collector and have been doing your homework, you can bag an excellent example of a significant type for a bargain. Leave the worn Claudius, Agrippa, and Nero pieces to sell for high prices to those who don't care to dig a little deeper into Roman history and numismatics than the limited scope of general knowledge admits.


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