Identification and appraisal of collection

Hi everyone,

I have inherited my late father's coin (and vintage camera) collection and I would like to sell it.  
This is a coin that I think is quite interesting but I know, like all the rest of them, it may be a common valueless coin.
It is not magnetic and not quite round.  I can't make out anything on the one side, but the other has a head shape and some inscription but I can't make out any letters of the alphabet.
Can anyone offer me some advice?  I live in Port Alfred, South Africa  but will be moving to the UK in about 3 months time.

I can read “…AVGGER…” on the obverse.

This is a roman coin, and based on the bust I am quite sure that it is from Nero.

Example: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_R-9998

Without size and weight, it's hard to say what denomination it is. 

Edit: in terms of it's value… not much for a roman coin. I guess less than 15€, but how much exactly is hard to say.

Oh brilliant, yes that looks like the exact one.  Thank you.

jamesgreaves

Oh brilliant, yes that looks like the exact one.  Thank you.

I would not say that it is the exact one. There are hundreds of variations (242 for Nero alone, and there are 6 other emperors with that inscription on their coins). 

See here a list of Nero Asses/dupondii/sestertii with “AVG GER” on them. 

That is why it is important to state the size and weight. 

 

I'm supprised that you only value it as 15€. Does that mean I have to wait another 1950 years before it double in value  :-D

jamesgreaves

I'm supprised that you only value it as 15€. Does that mean I have to wait another 1950 years before it double in value  :-D

Well, actually…

based on the color of the coin (brass) and the lack of a radiate crown, I suspect that it is a sestertius (once more, without size and weight I cannot know…)

When we look at one of the few commodities that will never decrease in value (the love of a woman), we notice that in the early empire the "affection of a girl” was worth about 8 asses ( = 2 sestertii).

Nowadays, a fine east-european girl in Amsterdam will set you back at least 50€. Hence, the love-purchasing power of this very worn sestertius was higher 2000 years ago than it is now.

You know, to put things into perspective.
 

The value of any coin largely depends on its condition. This one is in very very low grade and grades as Pr 2/Bc 1 (Poor/Basic for the obverse and reverse respectively). The reverse is almost entirely corroded and possibly not identifiable. The obverse is not much better.

The same coin in high grade (XF) could be worth, I suppose, more than 100€, but this is speculative until we know more (diameter and weight).

If this is indeed a sestertius of Nero, these are among the most sought after coins because the quality of the engraving, particularly the portraits, was at the top. But all the art is lost in this corroded one.

Now, don't worry, many people have Roman coins in this condition. I have given up a long time ago in trying to identify them here on Numista because they're not worth the time. If someone gave you 15€ for this, personally I would take it.