Showability

There are a lot of ways we can measure the value of an ancient coin. I would like to suggest a concept that's common but, to my knowledge, doesn't really have a name:

Showability: An intangible, abstract property of a coin or its ownership context that occasions its display and discussion. May be different from aesthetic quality or monetary worth.

For example, I have more valuable and aesthetically pleasing coins in my collection than this Agrippa as. But because I teach the Aeneid almost every semester and discuss the age of Augustus and the Battle of Actium, I probably show this coin* more than any other.

Let me posit another example-- this one hypothetical. Deacon Ray might have a $500,000 Brutus Ides Mar denarius in his cabinet. But because he's a minister, he might show a $20 widow's mite ten times more often than that denarius. So on the showability scale, widow's mite > Brutus denarius.

So what is your most "showable" coin, and why? What coin do you find yourself displaying and discussing more than any other?

 

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I usually can't find anyone to show my coins to ....except you all!

Here is one of my coins I have shown. In one of my classes we discuss the menstrual cycle, and I always ask if they know whey it's called what it is. That's when I pull out this coin with Men on it (lunar guy...28 day cycle). Kind of weird that such a female process is named after a dude.




ANTIOCH PISIDIA, GORDIAN III 238-244 AD

O:Laureate and draped bust of Gordian III right; R: Mên standing facing, head right, foot on a bucranium, holding scepter and Nike on a globe to the right, rooster to left "COL CAES ANTIOCH SR" SNG France 1207. 35 mm, 26.0 g.



I have also shown pictures of @TIF s Syracuse hippocamp coin whe we talk about the hippocampus.

 

I'm not sure which coin is the most "showable". Most of my showing is done here on CoinTalk and virtually on my website.

@Gavin Richardson, is your Agrippa significantly larger than the other coins in the group you're showing? It seems that in general, non-collectors prefer larger coins.

 

I am very lucky that I am in a profession that allows me to show off and talk about these coins on a fairly regular basis if I choose. I know for many on this board, collecting is a much more solitary and lonely enterprise--reasons why this board is so important.

I too suspect that students are most impressed by larger coins. But really, relevance to the subject or text at hand occasions the show and tell, so I'm not sure.

And full disclosure: I put an asterisk next to the reference to that Agrippa coin because that one is actually a recent purchase to replace the same type that I had to sell due to a case of bronze disease I could not arrest. (Sold with full disclosure on the bronze disease as well.) More on this coin when I make my 2017 top 10 list!

I still haven't figured out an ideal methodology of passing a coin around the room. I want students to handle the coin out of a flip, but more than once I've heard the clink of a coin hitting the ground, and it makes me wince. Perhaps they could handle the coin over a wide tray. Still not sure how to balance showability with safety.

 

Although I have owned it for a short period of time, it appears the Julius Caesar denarius is the only thing that has made non collectors, and will continue to make non collectors, say WOW.

It's a name EVERYONE recognizes. But it must be more than just name recognition because they care far less about Alexander the Great or Nero or Vikings.

And they don't care about the condition. They expect to see a worn and beat up object. I could hand them a slug, and if I said it was minted by Caesar to pay his army......they would say WOW.

Of course, when I hold it, I also say wow. Largely for it's historical importance. It certainly isn't a pretty coin compared to large Greek silver.



There was one notable exception. My wife. She did not say WOW. It sounded more like a sigh.

 

I'm in the same position as chrsmat71 , nobody in my family or friends care about ancient coins. Thumbs up for Cointalk

My Athenean owl is the only exception , it's nearly 2500 years old , it has a sweet little bird on the reverse, a friendly smiling young lady, its solid silver and it has an high eye appeal, even for non collectors.

Athens is often in the news overhere in Europe, there is an old saying "" bringing owls to Athens"" reality nowadays is bringing billions of euros to Athens to keep the country on its feet.

 

I'd pass the coins around in padded trays with instructions to handle the coins directly over the trays.

A standard size jeweler's tray with padded insert would work well.

https://www.riogrande.com/Product/Black-Plastic-Stackable-Full-Size-Tray/46100111



with a padded velvet insert: https://www.riogrande.com/Product/Black-Velvet-Full-Size-Display-Pad/40505011

 

That's a great idea @TIF ! Thanks.

 

My most showable coins are these two:


Because everyone knows Alexander the Great and...



Because non collectors like big coins!

 

My Justinian solidus, because plenty of people like gold and he is possibly the most famous of the Byzantine emperors:



My Tiberius denarius, since it is the famous Tribute Penny type, and he is one of the Twelve Caesars:



Large silver is always nice, like my Demetrius I tetradrachm:

 

My experience is the same as @4to2centBC... Julius Caesar gets the most wows. When I tell them it was minted just before his assassination, they think that's at least somewhat cool. (I just wish my DICT PERPETVO was on the flan...)

 

My most shown coins are my half As collection.

I take the coins to places where I talk about coin collecting in general and ancient coins as my area of interest. These low grade RR cut bronze coins (most likely all asses) in the outer circle can be held without danger of wear or a big loss if dropped. I normally ask: "What is the oldest coin you have held?" These are about 150 BC.

My second most shown coins are Byzentine -


I use one of these as a flipping coin when I referee volleyball. I ask who is on front. The most common answer is ..... George Washington, and that is after I say they are 1000 years old.

 

As a Bible scholar I have occasion to teach various kinds of groups in churches, schools, and universities. Since the nineties I have used a wide variety of coins selected for their relevance to each particular subject. Here is a coin that gets nice play at Christmas time; it's a denarius of Caesar Augustus, bearing the word AVGVST.

Of course, I show it to let them see what Augustus looked like at one point in his life, but the younger kids seem to like it for the horse and rider. One cannot always predict how an audience will react to the coins or the story connections.

 

Like chrsmat71 and Andres2, any time I try to share my enthusiasm for any coin with my family seems to only elicit blank stares, and (maybe), a polite 'Oh, that is nice' from my wife, and mostly no response from my sons.
(The only time they show any interest is when I tell them how much they could be worth!!)

I have tried to bring up the subject of coins with friends, and I have to agree with a few of the other posters - the only name that anybody who is not into coins 'may' recognize is ol' Julius Caesar. That is when I pull up this one:




The comment is then usually: 'why is it so worn?'

 

I think people like to see those the most, because they talk to them :




I agree to people liking large and/or heavy coins the most

Q

PS : Oh, and I think @chrsmat71 has just found the obverse of my new avatar

 

All my showy coins are gold.

Justinian




Anastasius


Theophilos

Sulayman

Saladin



Valens

 

Man, if I had that much gold I'd show it off too! But probably would not pass it around the classroom. I doubt they would make it back to me.

 

Great thread Gavin -- and superb coins everyone! I was afraid someone was going to ask this question one day. Now I am faced with A tortuous quandary (if there is such a thing). I am afraid I am going to have to spend a considerable amount of time mulling it over -- but I will reply to your most excellent thread ASAP Gavin.

 

Agreed... Gold gets folks attention.

I tell them that this is the FIRST GOLD coin minted for major commerce/government payments (earlier electrum coins are gold/silver natural mix).

PERSIA Achaemenid Daris I-Xerxes II 485-420 BC AV Daric 14mm 8.3g LydoMilesian Sardes king wearing kidaris kandys quiver spear bow Incuse Carr Type IIIb Group A-B pl XIII 27


And Horsey's always win...

Carthage Zeugitana 310-270 BCE EL Dekadrachm-Stater 18.5mm 7.27g Tanit Horse 3 pellets in ex MAA 12 SNG COP 136
(Photo credit: @Ancientnoob)


Caesar's last two weeks of life prior to his assassination... (yeah, so-called casual history experts know who HE is...)

RImp Julius Caesar Lifetime P Sepullius Macer AR Den1st 2 weeks-Mar 44 BCE 4.03g. CAESAR – DICT PERPETVO Veiled - Venus Victory sceptre star Syd 1074a Sear Imperators 107e Cr 480-14 Rare -2


The tiniest coin that I have is always fun to show and talk about:

Ionia AR Tetartemorion 4mm 0.13g 530-500 BCE Rosette - Incuse sq punch 5 pellets SNG von Aulock 1807
(Thanks @John Anthony , my good-buddy coin-pimp)


And...my BIGGEST Stamped Coin that I possess:

Carthage AE 15-Shekel 45mm dia 7.5mm thick 102.6g 201-175 BCE Hannibal Tanit 4-hooves down Horse SNG Cop 400 RARE R1