SEVERUS ALEXANDER, RPC Parium, Mysia, AE22

Description

SEVERUS ALEXANDER, RPC Parium, Mysia, AE22
Attribution:
Ancient Resource CR2788; Mionnet 450 var (rev, type); SNG Cop 300 var (obv. Legend)
Date:
AD 222-235
Obverse:
IMP CEAS L SEP ALEXANDER, laureate, cuirassed bust right, aegis on chest
Reverse:
CGIHP beneath Capricorn swimming right, cornucopiae over shoulder and globe between forelegs
Size:
22mm
Weight:
5.04g
Grade:
NGC graded this coin as a Ch VF, Strike 5/5, Surface 3/5, the coin has experienced light smoothing
Description:
Typically I like to let NGC’s info to speak for the coin.
Comments:
·
NGC has designated this coin as have under gone light smoothing. My understanding smoothing is a process to attempt to enhance the appearance of an ancient coin (typically one that was buried for some time) and a finding of smoothing will affect the surface score. One might wonder the significance of the strike and surface scores. In my discussions with David Vagi it was implied that the coin’s valuation should be adjusted up or down for the designated grade based on these scores. A score of three can be viewed as “typical” i.e. typical strike or typical surface. One needs both scores to equal a 3 in order for the coin’s value for the given grade to equal that given in accepted valuation catalogues. No info was given on how these adjustments were to be determined except that if one of these scores drops below a three the coin’s value for the given grade could drop as much as one full grade. That is a VF with one score of two could drop to the valuation for a Fine. Also one cannot average these scores (that is a coin with one score of 2 and another score of 4 cannot be said to two scores of 3).
I have
never seen
an NGC graded ancient coin designated as having light smoothing with a surface score of 5. I have had a few with scores of 4 and a few more with a score of 3. My own experience that scores of 2 is not uncommon. So an ancient coin designated as having light smoothing and a surface score of 3 or higher should not experience a valuation penalty.