Time to refocus my collection

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Orfew, Feb 16, 2019.

  1. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

    We are alike, I too am German....so hopefully same ancestry as you. Chris Rudd e-auctions have some great Celtic material mostly British. Kunker/ CNG/ Savoca/ Solidus/ Gorny& Mosch get really good material.
    John

    Here are 2 ex. from Kolchis/ Basternae Tribe IMG_0730.JPG IMG_0731.JPG IMG_0682.JPG IMG_0733.JPG
     
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  3. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    There is a big difference between refocusing your purchases and selling off what you had to finance the fad of the day. I sold most of my collection in 1974 and still regret it. I got $500 for 150 coins and still miss my Divus Pertinax denarius. CNG has sold 7 of them since they started posting online and ony one in 2002 went for less than I got for the 150 coins. In the time since I have not seen a single coin that I sold. Maybe Joel Malter sold them to someone with enough sense to keep them. I have seen the same types in most cases but not many of some. I regularly change focus but tend to sell coins that have already been replaced in my heart.
     
  4. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

    Well said....
    I was at my local coin dealer friend in Ottawa, he said that I could always sell 20-25 coins from my collection and concentrate with the new found $ on a couple of MS aurei (knowing I really like them a lot) But, I replied, I like all my existing coins and cannot part with any. I then made it a goal to get those aurei in 2019, by hard work and saving my money for that goal. But one never knows, if a MS Transylvania AV 10 Dukaten comes up in auction.....I may just get that.:happy: My only focus is to keep on having a ton of fun with this beautifull hobby.
    John
     
  5. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Curious question: What was it about this denarius that made it appealing to you? It is certainly high grade (unworn and decent metal). Was that it or did you see something else? Mine are not high grade but each illustrates something that meant something to me that I value over grade.
    rd0045fd0775.jpg rd0050bb1458.jpg rd0055bb3155.jpg
     
  6. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    Thank you James for the thoughtful message. I also appreciate the calligraphy at the end. The Thoreau quotation is apropos and wonderful.
     
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  7. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    Thanks for the question Michael,
    When I started I wanted all portrait denarii. I have accomplished that goal. I then wanted a set in silver that had rare or interesting reverse types. I also accomplished that goal. I wanted to do a set that included a variety of coins and coin types and I also wanted this set to have rare or interesting reverses. I also accomplished that goal. I now have 3 complete 12 Caesars sets, 2 of them in silver. I think what may be next is a set of Alexandrian tets for the 12 Caesars (hopefully all portraits). In the meantime I will keep on adding interesting coins of the 12. The upgrading will continue and I cannot see myself ever selling these sets. I am far too attached to them. As for the rest of my collection I just do not have the passion I once had for them. There may be a few special ones that I keep however.
     
  8. jamesicus

    jamesicus Well-Known Member

    You are very welcome.
     
  9. Terence Cheesman

    Terence Cheesman Well-Known Member

    In reply to Doug Smith. Overall it was the grade and I liked the portrait. The reverse was a bit more off center than I would have normally liked but the coin was pleasing and the color was really nice. Also it was an ex Garret Collection coin.
     
  10. Terence Cheesman

    Terence Cheesman Well-Known Member

    Perhaps I should continue. Beside keeping them in my collection I use my coins for two other purposes The first as teaching tools. I do seminars on ancient coins and I deal with students whom quite frankly have never seen an ancient coin except in books. The second I do displays both at coin shows and once in a while in local museums. In both cases I prefer to use high grade coins because they are easier to see and understand. In both cases I really cannot deploy more than a few coins.
     
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  11. 7Calbrey

    7Calbrey Well-Known Member

    The best feeling I have about this issue is as follows :
    I feel very happy when I sell a coin at a good price , bearing in mind that I have another similar one of better condition in my pocket.
     
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  12. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

    I agree, if I had two of the same coins, I would keep the best quality ex., sell or trade the other for my price.
     
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  13. Theodosius

    Theodosius Fine Style Seeker

    I agree with this idea and am starting to think of selling duplicates that add nothing unique to fund other coins that fit my main collecting intetests.

    John
     
  14. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    I know when a coin is in super shape one does not want to touch it much. But I think it would be worthwhile to take it out of the reflective flip once to get really good photographs which could then be shared on CT. If you don't want to ever touch the coin again, okay. But, photographs through flips are never as nice.
     
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  15. medoraman

    medoraman Supporter! Supporter

    @Orfew , it is your hobby and only you know how to best enjoy it. I tried to limit myself, I tried a lot of things, but I figured I would collect how I want to collect. Its a hobby. Myself, I know I am a hoarder now. I remember and regret every coin I have sold. I simply am in a position I do not need to sell in order to buy other coins, so I won't. Other collectors will be able to buy my coins when I am gone unless one of my sons grows up with the bug, but for now they are mine. I have gone 20 years without looking at some coins, but I know I have them. I have a chain cent and flowing hair silver dollar from my US collecting days I bet I haven't glanced at in over 15 years in the SDB, yet I will not part with them.

    It's what works for you. Some people like a "clean slate", others are hoarders, still others wheel and deal and use some coins to obtain others. None of these approaches are "wrong". It is only about what YOU want. Its a hobby, have fun and wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide. :)
     
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  16. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

    Sorry, here are the same coins sixbid photos:happy: 6b098556f4f7e83b5a022e401a7eaf18.jpg 976c3ec88588f7d3b4c5696c5e055f11.jpg
     
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  17. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    We have heard from many members who have refocused their collections. I am one of the members who might not have responded in this thread because I have not much refocused my interests, rather expanded them. To me, all ancient coins are interesting and some are more interesting than others. The last three coins I bought would not have been near the top of any "want list" of mine, but are fascinating none-the-less.

    I talked on the phone to a coin-friend last night who told me he had recently bought a coin he knew almost nothing about. It prompted a lot of research and he remarked that was enjoyable and a big part of the hobby for him. Research and learning are inexpensive compared to coins (even if you buy books) and we all have budgets.

    If I have refocused, it has been because I had learned a lot about any "focus" I was working on and felt the ratio of dollars-per-next-coin to learning got too high. (In ancient coins, you don't have to fill that last hole.) That is not to say I didn't still like the ones I had. There are an unlimited number of possible collecting topics among ancient coins!
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2019
  18. medoraman

    medoraman Supporter! Supporter

    Well said sir. Honestly, half of the time I buy coins is to force myself to learn more about the place, era, or ruler who issued it. I use ancient coins as an effective push to jolt me into studying a new era or location. I have a few group lots of coins right now I might buy simply to form an instant mini-collection of a city I wish I knew more about. Having these coins will be a way of forcing me to study it more. :)
     
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