Need Suggestions: If You Had To Do It All Over Again

As I wrote when I first introduced myself, I got started collecting bronze coins of Constantine the Great sort of by accident. My goal was to assemble a collection of all the different reverse types of his coins. It proved to be a good choice because there are many different varieties out there and most are cheap and easy to acquire. Plus I've learned a lot about the man and the times, so it was worthwhile from that angle, too.

But, after about 10 years or so, I'm now running into the same issue that I came up against back when I collected pennies as a kid: I've gotten examples of most everything out there, and I'm now at the point where to add a new reverse type to my collection would cost hundreds of dollars. (I did acquire another Constantine at the NYINC yesterday for $30 that I'm very happy about, but not a new reverse type. I'll try to post a photo later today.) I'm no longer a poor graduate student, but I still can't bring myself to spend $350 for a single bronze coin.

I have several options, such as selecting a specific type--e.g., SOLI INVICTO--and accumulating lots and lots of examples. Another possibility would be to sell my collection and start anew with a different emperor or area, such as Black Sea region bronzes or whatever. So here's my question:

If you had to start your ancient coin collection over from scratch again, would you pursue the same area, or would you change your collecting focus, and why?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Personally, if I started from scratch today I would still collect Flavian silver. No question.

My advice to you is to continue to collect Constantine bronze, but do so in a way that tells a story or expands our knowledge about his coinage. For instance, collect the following:
1. variants
2. unusual or different styles
3. die matches
4. condition upgrades

Doing the above will elevate your collection above 'want list' status and you may just learn some interesting things along the way.

*Of course, this advice is coming from someone who loves to collect in a niche, so take it FWIW.*

 

I started out as a one of each emperor/empress collector and then, when certain ones were clearly out of my price range and I had acquired all the modestly priced ones, I found myself acquiring certain reverse types I liked and wanting different denominations. I found myself building certain side collections, such as Severan women and their reverse types, Antonine women and their reverse types, Gordian III marriage commemorative provincials, weird portraits of Aurelian (they're all weird, I know, but some are more weird than others), coins with Venus Victrix on them, coins with Cybele on them, coins with famous statues on them, and so on. I buy uncleaned lots and work on them for fun.

I'm much more of a magpie collector now than I used to be because I no longer have a real distinct focus (one of each). I pretty much get whatever seems appealing at the time.

 

If I started all over again, I would probably collect the same thing because that is what interests me. What I might suggest, is split up your budget. Choose one of those new emperors or a mint typeset, or something that would still be cheap, but save half (or a quarter, or whatever) and keep adding to it until you can eventually buy a rare reverse that you really want. (If it's a question of affording it, anyway - if you just can't justify paying large amounts, then go with what Roman or David did...)

 

I don't focus on building 1 set of something. I would go bored quick. I built side sets and doing it with empresses that don't have too many reverses. Some took about a year to assemble & complete, which I am happy with.

Now I have slowly been buying bronzes of said empresses but not in a huge rush to complete, if I ever do.

Same with 12 caesars, didn't plan on building the set, but only needed a few left and ended up completing it. And I am still rotating pieces in that every now and then.

But if I had to start over, I am sure I would be doing the same thing. I buy what I like & can afford. If a set starts to form & looks easy to finish or afford, then I will do that.

 

- Historical approach.
- Same thing.
- No regrets.
- Get them all.
- Life process.
- Fun.
- NEXT!

 

My collection is too unfocused and I just buy what appeals to me. Maybe I would have focus if I was going to start all over again.

 

I began with no real focus. I just wanted as many as I could find that pleased me within my budget. However, in the past three or four years I have focused to 2nd Century AD and older. My only change might be that I would have spent less time and resources on the later Empire.

 

I have notice that I've been drawn to a couple specialities like Seleucid Empire or Caracalla provincials. I think for me I have to discover what my focus would be.

 

I drifted away from collecting US coins because I got tired of the structure of collecting sets. A 1916 Walking Liberty Half Dollar does not look much different than a 1947. When I discovered ancient coins I was in heaven. My only real focus is Roman. I collect everything from Republic to the Severans and some later coins that I like. I just buy what catches my eye. The only real "set" I have worked on is the Hadrian travel series. I only need 2 to have all reverse types. Just Nylus and Alexandria.

 

Why not start on the sons of Constantine?

 

Ditto.
I have no direction, I know what I like when I see it. I've always been into history so ancients was a no brainer when I bored with moderns.
I just dove in after a few purchases. I know the time periods and the empires or kingdoms that have always captivated my interest. From there I just go.
It's fun and always finding something new.

 

+1

If I'd change anything about how I've been collecting, it would be this. I certainly love collecting beautiful coins and working towards an "as complete as possible" set of RR coins, and I don't regret focusing on this one admittedly large area at all, but mid way through this year I decided to start really trying to look for interesting coins as well - coins that exhibit a different style or with unpublished variations and overstrikes where I think there's a chance at discerning the undertype - things that help paint a more complete picture of the overall series I collect. At least for me, these things made the hunt more rewarding even if in some instances I'm spending even more money on coins most collectors might not want.

 

A coin collection should always be a work in progress. Once you've decided collecting is for you, expect that you will start projects that will never be finished, you'll finish projects and get bored, you'll spend years looking for an upgrade, you'll be second guessing some purchase from the past that you shouldn't have made and will be forever buried in, and your interests will change. You'll find some great deals and get burned with some poor decisions. You will sadly have at least a few counterfeits in your collection. You'll own some high grade coins that look like they were made yesterday, as well as some impaired coins that hardly anyone else can appreciate. You'll look back in retrospect and think about how you can improve the direction of your collecting. You'll take breaks from collecting and maybe even sell off your collection more than once. All of this is good. As long as you have fun.

 

Having collected Greek and Roman Provincial of well defined geographical areas for over 50 years, it was time to sell and did so by auctioning one of each type/variety/symbol/monogram etc. in nine BCD auction catalogues. Some of these catalogues I wrote by myself and all have my personal notes, thoughts and comments. Lots of fun but also hard work.

Now it is just the credible fakes of the same geographical areas that are the focus of my interests but they are hard to come by and harder to buy as the owners think they are genuine and refuse to part with them at a fair price for a fake. So I end up buying some at the price of a genuine coin. Am I a fool? What do fellow collectors think?

 

I wouldn't recommend selling your set unless you are tired of the coins, not interested, or want to use the money to pursue something else. It sounds like you enjoy your current set, but you are looking for more material.

You could move to provincial coinage of the same emperor. Or, you could start working on varieties (you have one of each type - now get the rest). Or, you could start working on other members of his family. Or, you could keep your current set and start something completely different.

 

I think that is a fascinating specialty ab initio.

Can you describe what constitutes a credible fake to you?

John

 

I absolutely love my collecting style ...

=> primarily random impulsive purchases which often lead me down a temporary coin-avenue (I have many cool, mini side-collections)

All of these side-collections seem to orbit around my true love => "cool lookin' coins" .... animals are my favourites, but I can be easily distracted by other sweet themes, such as: ships, weapons, chicks and pretty much anything that catches my eye and looks awesome)

Ummm, but if I actually had a coin professor and that theoretical professor forced me into creating a coin-outline, then I've always thought that it would be cool to

=> create a "globe of coins" ... I have zero tech-skills, but somebody could help me create this virtual-globe ... and it would contain all of the ancient coin-cities ... and as I collected a coin(s) from these cities I'd append my sweet globe

How cool would that globe be, eh?

NOTE: $10 bucks says TIF invents this globe during the next fricken hour!!



Oh, but overall => I have few regrets ... I love my collection (especially ab's sweet coins from Thessaly!!)

 

http://www.tifcollection.com/roman-provincials-by-map

http://www.tifcollection.com/view-all-greek-by-map

If you zoom out enough it will be round like a globe

 

Man, you're coin-hot, eh?



Sweet format ... you rock

Okay, well that's that ... now I don't have any coin plans except to

=> keep on coinin' ... bring-on the random winnas!!