High End Ancients

A coin is only worth what it sells for. Anyone can ask $100K for a common LRB, doesn't mean it's worth that price. If it doesn't sell, it's worth nothing...

 

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There's been a lot of discussion concerning "worth" lately - I feel like I'm in the US Coins forum. The market worth of a coin seems so ephemeral and shallow to me. Here today, gone tomorrow. Not even the wealthiest of collectors are going to take any of their coins with them into the great unknown, which equalizes us all.

What difference does it make if a coin is worth 4 million or 10 million or 14.95? Someday all of our coins will be worthless to us. Why this preoccupation with market value? If coins don't not have an immediate existential value that's intellectually and emotionally edifying, collect something else that does. Life is too short.

 

Actually, I will be taking mine into the great unknown. My remains will be shot into deep space with my coins.

 

I can see your point. I try not to obsess about value or worth of a given coin. My recent experience selling my US collection has been a huge education. I can tell you based on that experience, I don't expect to get out of a collection nearly what I put into it! Live and learn. The learning part being the key. Although I was sorry to see many of those coins go, I actually had fun selling my collection, and I learned a lot in the process.

That being said, I think that understanding value, and market price for a given coin adds an interesting dimension to the hobby. If nothing else the market price of a coin provides validation from other collectors based on what you have chosen for your collection.

In this arena, I am finding similarities between ancients and US coins. A well struck, well preserved, rare coin with eye appeal commands a premium in both markets.

Ultimately though, I collect coins that I like and that interest me. With ancients, the historical background for any given coin has been a huge part of my enjoyment of the hobby. The fact that they have a dollar value beyond the enjoyment I derive from them is just gravy.

 

Aliens will find you.

 

And eat you. Then take your coins!!!!!

 

Dang! I forgot about aliens.

 

Mommy, Uncle Bing is scaring me!

 

BOO!

Man, we have a way of taking a conversation down to the lowest common denominator, eh?

 

Nonserious social incongruity is always funny