Sneak Peek on My book

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Colby J., Dec 6, 2019.

  1. Colby J.

    Colby J. Well-Known Member

    @arnoldoe Sorry something popped up for school I just saw your post. But I love the challenge! :) :)
    Ok, so I see an imperial coin on the top left. Antoninianus. The pic is too gritty to make out the legend. Nice fool on that one. For emperors if you want to make it hard--I'd say Trajan Decius or Diokletian. Only because of the skinny face.

    On the top right I see the head of Ancus Marcius. Although, I can't see The legend. It is possible that this could be Marcius Philippus as well. Their faces tend to look alike. Denarius for that one.

    On the bottom right I see what could be a galley, so most likely it is a C•FONT[EIOUS] denarius. And if I'm not mistaken, there's a janiform on the obverse. Which I believe is the rarer variety for those janiforms that I hate so much. They're just so creepy, the two heads and all. Just my preference.

    Bottom left I've seen before, common I guess? I forgot the name in full but I think it is a version of the Scipio Africanus denarius from the second or third Punic war. That'll be on the obverse though. The reverse: Zeus in armor, minerva...etc. I just remember the story. He was the only one to defeat Hannibal's army of pesky Phoenicians! Ik: I'll have to check with this one since I'm not 100% sure. I think you got me on this last one.
     
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  3. Nicholas Molinari

    Nicholas Molinari Well-Known Member

    I feel misled by your first post.
     
  4. Colby J.

    Colby J. Well-Known Member

    I don't understand? What first post? The one on this thread or my first post ever? Dead Serious....
     
  5. red_spork

    red_spork Triumvir monetalis

    Arnoldoe can share exact IDs but I'm pretty sure top left is likely Claudius Gothicus, top right Q Pompeius Rufus with a portrait of Sulla on the obverse, bottom left a quinarius of C Egnatuleius, bottom right a denarius of Mark Antony.
     
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  6. Colby J.

    Colby J. Well-Known Member

  7. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

  8. red_spork

    red_spork Triumvir monetalis

    I certainly didn't say that. A couple of these are pretty tough coins. From the pic shown, I wouldn't necessarily expect a non specialist to be able to identify the Egnatuleius or the Q Pomponius Rufus. I've even seen dealers mess up IDs on that Egnatuleius type to the point of identifying it as some unpublished earlier victoriatus or half victoriatus. Stick around, keep learning. We were all new to this at one time or other.
     
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  9. frankjg

    frankjg Well-Known Member

    Why not stick around and learn instead of trying to impress people. You seem to like coins, it’s ok to be just starting out and learning. We all start out somewhere and all have a lifetime of learning ahead of us.
     
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  10. Nicholas Molinari

    Nicholas Molinari Well-Known Member

    The original—but I see now I misread your post and thought Whitman was publishing the book. You would need a great deal of familiarity with RIC to write such a book, no?
     
  11. Colby J.

    Colby J. Well-Known Member

    I will be a mere observer for the next few months. You may see me like a post or two but I will stay dormant. I believe I know a lot about Roman coins, but maybe not enough. I still am going to write the book, my editors will edit and I'm sure I will be posting the good news of the final product, great or a failure, in a few years. Hopefully by 2023. I have just contacted an ancients specialist to "tutor" me in the complex ideals. So hopefully that goes well. I have also ordered a copy of RIC, Cohen, and RRC. I hope those will help me on my journey as well.

    I think I just know too much about history, and too little about coinage.
     
  12. AncientJoe

    AncientJoe Well-Known Member

    This has been a fascinating thread.
     
  13. Ajax

    Ajax Well-Known Member

    Are you the same guy from a couple years ago who hired architects to build a floor plan for you fancy new shop? If not my mistake. Fascinating thread indeed
     
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  14. Theodosius

    Theodosius Fine Style Seeker

    I think it is admirable that you want to write a book. There is room in ancient coins for many useful new books. I think people have explained that a price guide by condition may not be the best way to start. Maybe pick an smaller scale thing to specialize in that needs a modern book written in English. I am sure the folks here could suggest some ideas that would be popular if written.

    Buying the standard references is a great starting point! I am curious how many volumes of RIC did you order? Which edition?

    I am not sure I even know how many total volumes of RIC there are, but I think it is more than 15??? Maybe the Roman guys can comment. If you were going to order a set of RIC, which editions are still for sale, which do you have to hunt for second hand. What are the best editions to own (thinking of plate quality)? How much would it cost to have a complete set? I am guessing $1500?

    I dabble in Roman for fun, and only have RIC volume 3, the 1986 Spink reprint. No idea where I got it, but I wrote in the front page I bought it in 1989.

    Same question for Cohen, aren't there a lot of volumes that are out of print? I honestly have no idea.

    John
     
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  15. akeady

    akeady Well-Known Member

    There are 10 volumes of RIC, but some are in several parts and many of the volumes are being actively worked on. Vol. V is old and in 2 parts; vol. IV was in 3 parts, but they have been published as one large volume. Vol. II part 3 was published recently, covering Hadrian; II.1 appeared in 2007 (the Flavians) and II.2 is due in 2021 or 2022. The original vol. II from 1926 (I think) is still the only volume covering Nerva and Trajan. Only a few volumes are in print, the others you'll have to find secondhand. Spink's website seems to be offline right now - offhand, I think they have vol. I, vol II.1, vol II.3, vol. VIII and vol. X available now, the others you might have to dig up on the secondhand market.

    There's not much point in buying Cohen - it has long been superceded by RIC and is available online. I have one odd volume of it - I'd guess it's been out of print for a century, more or less.

    The main place Cohen's legacy lives on is in the numbering system used in RSC, which is a series worth getting if you're interested in silver coins - cheap and fairly comprehensive.

    RRC at least is available new, and cheaply, as it was recently released in paperback format - I see it for less than £70 including delivery from amazon.co.uk.

    ATB,
    Aidan.
     
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  16. Theodosius

    Theodosius Fine Style Seeker

    Anyone know how many physical volumes you need to get to have all 10 logical volumes of RIC? I am learning a lot from this thread! :angelic:

    John
     
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  17. akeady

    akeady Well-Known Member

    It should be 13 at the moment (assuming you get the last issue of vol IV, with the three parts together). Vol. V is in 2 parts and for vol. II, you'll need 3 books - the original, plus II.1 and II.3. Right now, some new volumes are in the offing (well, within a few years), which will probably increase the number of books required - IV.3, V.4 and V.5 and IX are all being worked on.

    ATB,
    Aidan.
     
  18. Black Friar

    Black Friar Well-Known Member

    A very noble effort. The more info that is out there in a format that beginners as well as advanced collectors will certainly benefit from is a work of love. Whitman certainly has a feel for a market that responds well to their formula.

    Bravo and best of luck. Hopefully you don't loose too much hair.
     
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  19. Suarez

    Suarez Well-Known Member

    Being an independent publisher in numismatics is, basically, a luxury reserved for those who can afford to lose a lot of money.

    I've been extremely lucky in turning a (small) profit publishing. And by that I simply mean that sales have offset the printing costs. If I were to actually tally the time put into the project I'm sure my "wages" would be well less than a penny per hour. I literally could have made more money by standing at an intersection holding up an "anything helps" sign.

    Anyone considering publishing, especially print media, should keep in mind that you're almost guaranteed to lose money. And it's ok if this is your hobby and passion - and can afford to lose that money.

    Rasiel
     
  20. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    My eldest son tried his hand as an independent publisher about 15-20 years ago. You are correct. He lost his butt! he over-ordered his first book that he published and still is trying to unload copies. He did better on his next few books but not enough to make a living.
     
  21. Suarez

    Suarez Well-Known Member

    Hopefully he's moved into print-on-demand or similar other low overhead cost setup (unless he now has a following and broke out into the mainstream!)

    In re-reading the OP another warning: if Whitman really is interested make sure to get from them before you turn over your work a written contract that lists a guaranteed dollar amount paid to you per copy sold. Any other arrangement and they'll drag you through the coals. You'll literally be lucky if you don't end up owing them money. Seriously.

    Rasiel
     
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