Seleucis and Pieria, Septimius Severus, Tetradrachm
205-207 - Laodicea ad Mare
Sold
Bust of Septimius Severus, laureate, draped, right.
Eagle standing, wings outstretched, head turned to the right, star between the legs.
Very fine specimen, very rare combination of observe and reverse types. Old cleaning.
AVT KAI CЄOYHPOC CЄ
ΔHMAPX ЄΞ YΠATOC Γ
12.46 gr
An “AU(50-53)” quality
As in numismatics, it is important that the state of conservation of an item be carefully evaluated before it is offered to a discerning collector with a keen eye.
This initially obscure acronym comprising two words describing the state of conservation is explained clearly here:
About Uncirculated(50-53)
This means – more prosaically – that the coin has circulated well from hand to hand and pocket to pocket but the impact on its wear remains limited: the coins displays sharp detailing and little sign of being circulated. The number (50-53) indicates that at least half of the original luster remains. Closer examination with the naked eye reveals minor scratches or nicks.
You might be wondering why there are different ranges of numbers behind the same abbreviation. Well, we’ll explain:
The numbers are subdivisions within a category, showing that the state of conversation is the same but coins may be at the higher or lower end of the scale. In the case of AU, the range (55-58) indicates that the luster is better preserved in than a similar coin described as (50-53).