|
Style is the artistic quality of the coin, and probably the most ignored factor influencing a coin's value and relative quality. While appreciation of style is subjective, the standards of style are not. While easy to illustrate with pictures, this is difficult to define in words, so we will be adding a number of images to this section fairly soon. For the moment, words will have to do.
Style is generally described as GOOD, AVERAGE or POOR, with some very rare coins being of SUPERB style. Because it is related to the die engraver's skill, grade and striking qualities (centering, etc) are a separate issue as discussed elsewhere on this site.
SUPERB
Superb style is exactly as it sounds. Masterpiece's of the celator's art which take your breath away when you see them. Superb is not relative to anything, and within most series of ancient coins does not exist. We have never owned a coin of superb style (few collectors have) and do not have an image of one available at this time, but if you have a copy of Greek Coins and Their Values, have a look at #953 (Syracusian dekadrachm by Kimon) or #872 (early tetradrachm of Naxos) and you will get the idea.
GOOD
Good style simply means the celator (die cutter) had above average skills and artistry and did a better than average job relative to other coins of the same issue. If you are very familiar with any given series, when you see an example of good style you will know it. It is not a requirement that coins of good style be commented on, but since such coins should (and often do) sell for significant premiums, most dealers will comment on it.
Click on image for enlargement
This Antioch tetradrachm of Caracalla is of good style for the series. Hopefully in the not too distant future we will find examples from this series of average and poor style to show the difference.
AVERAGE
Average style is the normal style one would expect for a PARTICULAR ISSUE, and is the standard assumed in most price guides. Coins are assumed to have average style, so coins of average style need not be commented on in descriptions.
POOR
Poor style is self explanatory and usually results in a coin with very low eye-appeal when compared to other coins from the same series. It is often the work of novice celators, but in some cases can be barbarous imitative issues or the work of ancient counterfeiters. Poor-style coins usually sell at a significant discount and the fact that they are of poor style should always be mentioned in such a coin's description.
ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES
The image above is of two figures of Hercules as they appear on two Gordian III antoninianii. The types are almost exactly the same, but the figure on the right is of a thin almost stick-like Hercules, while that on the left is of a heavy muscle-bound Hercules, as he should be. One of the most noticeable style differences is on the heads, where that on the left is much more detailed and life-like. Another style difference is on the head of the lions skin by his right arm, which is a very much better style on the left than on the right-hand coin. All else being equal, the example on the left is of greater value than that on the right.
WHY STYLE IS RELATIVE TO ISSUE
These two Severus denarii illustrate the principle of style relative to issue.
In absolute terms, the top denarius is a better style than the lower, and, all else being equal, should be of greater value. This judgment takes into consideration not just the portraits, but also the lettering, overall layout and balance of the designs. If one is collecting only one portrait of each Emperor and wants a portrait as close as possible to what that Emperor probably looked like, the top coin will probably be the more desirable of the two.
However, the top coin is from the mint of Rome and is of a style typical at western mints. The bottom coin is from the mint of Edessa and of a style typical at eastern mints. The western and eastern styles are different things and comparing them is like comparing apples and oranges. If one is collecting coins of historical periods and wants this type struck at Edessa in AD 195 to celebrate Severus' victories over Pescennius Niger's Eastern allies, than one should not try to compare it to Rome mint coins, but rather only to other coins of the Eastern mints. When such a comparison is made, this coin would be considered of good style for the issue and command as much premium in its series as the other would within the Rome series.
Next page : CENTERING | 
