Collecting Aims for 2020

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by frankjg, Dec 10, 2019.

  1. frankjg

    frankjg Well-Known Member

    I was perusing some of my old posts working on cataloging my collection (lost part of my Excel file and have to rebuild) and came across last years "Collecting Aims for 2019" thread. So, with all the Top 10 threads flying around, I thought it would be good to start thinking about whats ahead.

    Me: I still have no desire to have one singular focus.. I've picked up a little of everything this year (Kushan, Sicilian, Roman Imperial, Chinese, etc..) because coins are awesome and why limit to just one type! However, I have been seriously thinking about putting some time into building a small collection of one of each denomination of 1st or 2nd Century AD Roman Imperial coinage for one Emperor (thinking Hadrian, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius). Something that you can easily see the differences between each denomination and a display that would appeal to the casual viewer. I've got some research to do to figure out which emperor could be done for a reasonable amount of money ($2-3K w/ decent quality - Gold is TBD) and will likely kick off at the NYINC show in January.

    What is everyone else planning for next year?
     
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  3. Arkos

    Arkos Member

    So far I am just collecting any neat US coins I can get my hands on
     
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  4. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    Great thread, Frank! I have yet to post my year's top ten (nor commented on others), as I've been finishing up a course while packing and will be closing on a house in 2 days (so excited!) and the subsequent moving follows. This plays into my plans for my 2020 collecting approach, as I'll need to cut back on the purchase of many new coins (new house payment) and instead will be focusing on appreciating and enjoying (re-photographing with the new additional space) the ones in my collection. Also, along the same lines as @Clavdivs, my hope is to use our spare garage space to begin some woodworking and build myself some sort of wall presentation and/or cabinet for my collection.
     
  5. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Waking each morning not dead!!!
     
  6. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    I have no intentions of posting a top 2019 this go around, but for 2020 I plan on continuing to buy coins that "speak to me" and if they are at a great price.

    I still enjoy my Tetradrachms, lately Parthians and modern world coins.
     
  7. Finn235

    Finn235 Well-Known Member

    Good collecting aim! I have been itching to do similar - would probably have to be Trajan or Hadrian since their quadrans and semisses are not exceptionally rare. Plus that way you could also do a really nice Cistophoric tet if you felt so inclined.

    Personally, I am winding down on my Roman Imperial set - only a few more wives and emperors left to collect, and all are $500+ purchases. I think I would like to set my goal on a significant milestone that is doable in a year's time:
    - Add Pescennius Niger
    - Upgrade my ratty Augustus bronze to a nice denarius or a relatively nice Cistophoric tet
    - Upgrade my ratty Claudius as to a nice Cistophoric tet
    - Maybe fill one or two more rare holes - I still have the white whales left like Matidia, Annia Faustina, Gordian I & II, Eugenius, Constantine III, etc.

    More importantly, I think my focus will be less on acquiring more than organizing and caring for what I already have. I havent made nearly as much progress as I had hoped on my various write-ups this year, and I hope to fix that for next year.

    Also, as with the past three years, I will continue my death march to "complete" the Indo Sassanian set, selecting only the coins which will add to the already massive collection.
     
  8. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

    That is brilliant! I have a relative in Germany (just turned 107) who had that same saying....in German;) It seems to be working:)
     
  9. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

    My collecting goals for 2020 are as follows.....

    win a really nice coin (Triton XXIII)

    then keep my powder dry all year (save up $$$) and go after some really exceptional material in Nov./ Dec/ Jan. auction events.
     
  10. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Some more coins of Roman Egypt. This past year has seen the addition of tets of Nero, Vespasian, Titus, Nerva, Commodus, Carinus, and Numerian to add to the ones from the previous year. I hope to get a couple of specialty reverses such as the Zodiac, Canopic jars, and Triptolemus among other collecting goals. On the Imperial side, it would be nice to get a Pertinax, Niger, and/or Albinus.
     
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  11. Deacon Ray

    Deacon Ray Artist & Historian Supporter

    Waking up dead (or post mortem, out of the body, afterlife experience) would be particularly bad if it happened before I could pass my collection on to a person who has an appreciation for it.
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2019
  12. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    DITTO !
     
  13. Deacon Ray

    Deacon Ray Artist & Historian Supporter

    More coins from first century Antioch
     
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  14. Orielensis

    Orielensis Well-Known Member

    My main aim is to have my entire coin collection photographed and digitally catalogued at the end of next year. So far, I'm more or less done with taking pictures and typing catalogue entries for my Romans, and I have made good progress with the medieval collection. Unfortunately though, many of my Greek, most of my Eastern, and almost all of my 1500–1650 coins still lack proper photography and digital labels. Catching up on this will be quite some work but also a good opportunity to improve my macro photography skills.

    As far as new acquisitions go, there probably won't be as many as in recent years. Yet, I have an eye on the following coins:

    Roman: I'm looking out for a couple of Severan denarii with reverse types I find interesting, including first of all a nice dea caelestis and secondly a Neptune as well as a Ceres reverse for a little pantheon I'm building. For the same reason, I'm searching for an attractive Valerian antoninianus with a DEO VOLKANO reverse. If good opportunity arises, I might also add a couple more Republican denarii to my collection.

    Greek: Really not that much. I'm mostly happy with my collection as it is. Yet, there are a few important and iconic types that I feel would complete it, for example an Aegina stater, a coin from Thebes (I'd be fine with an attractive hemidrachm), a Tarentum nomos, a Byzantium siglos, etc. Realistically speaking, I'll probably buy one or two from this wish list next year and leave the rest for later.

    Medieval: I have a list of bracteates that I'm looking out for. I'll definitely be bidding should any of these appear on the market for an acceptable price. Yet, this likely is in many cases just wishful thinking due to the general scarcity of these coins as well as other collectors with much deeper pockets. A Jerusalem denier struck by Amalric and showing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is also on my list.
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2019
  15. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    I bought a new camera and intend to learn to use it including more angled and micro images. I will be reshooting a dozen or so coins that have not cooperated previously. In 2019, I have only added 9 coins that strike me as 'year end list' worthy and don't see that improving. I am increasingly priced out of the market so I will focus on improving my cataloging and enjoying what I have. I am finishing 2019 with nearly 50 fewer coins than I started but have no intention of selling more in the near future. It is time to concentrate on other hobbies.
     
  16. CoinBlazer

    CoinBlazer Numismatic Enthusiast

    For my second year of Classical numismatics, I intend to fully catalog and finalize my current coins. There are 1 or 2 ancients coin that I haven't yet fully attributed, have to get around to that. Considering my collection consists of my Valentinian and Constantinian era coins, I would like to focus on that, a family tree of those rulers in a way.
     
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  17. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

    Maybe take them with you to Heaven.....or maybe in Heaven all your wishes are realized for eternity:)
     
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  18. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    I will keep my plans private lest someone (improbably) decide they are good ones and adopt them as well! :shifty::p

    Oh, except I can say that I will acquire some more Sev Alex middle bronze types that are missing from my attempted type set. Nobody else is likely to care about those. :D Here's my latest one:

    9132.9.18_1.jpg

    (Since it lacks the S C, it's actually a small medallion.)

    Actually, I will just keep doing what I do: look for targets of opportunity that fit with my history-guided general collection. And things that strike me as cool.
     
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  19. Terence Cheesman

    Terence Cheesman Well-Known Member

    I cannot really say what I will do except to do what I try to do every year which is to improve my collection. Last year I was very successful having bought some 60 coins but most of the purchases were basically the result of being flexible. I had my sights set on other coins more so than the Alexander I Oktadrachm or the Nero Boscoreale Aureus. I see a number of coins in the Trition XXIII and some of the other NYINC Auctions and while I hope to get some I know that I maybe scrambling to find another coin to fill in a blank in my collection. However in 2018 I bid on a tetradrachm of Alexander II Zabinas to the tune of $3000 Thought I was an idiot for doing so and got beat as the coin went for $7000-$9000 ( I cannot remember). Last January I got this one for less than 3 K and I am very happy with it. Alexander II Zabinas Ar Tetradrachm 1288-122 B.C. Antioch SC 2220b HGC 1149d 16.55 grms 28 mm Photo by W. Hansen. What I am trying to say is Whether I get 60 coins or 6 as long as they do what I need them to do I will be happy and maybe some of the ones I tried to get in 2019 I may get next year. SKalexzabinas4.jpg But to the rest of you Good luck and good hunting (even if you outbid me)
     
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2019
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  20. thejewk

    thejewk Well-Known Member

    I am a little bit torn about where to take my collecting at the moment, so I am really not sure. I definitely want to continue adding coins to my main Nerva-Antonine collection, and I hope to add several more Augusta coins in particular.

    Otherwise I am very tempted to begin a British coins and associated collection, but I am finding it difficult to commit to starting it at the expense of coins that I could be adding to my main collection instead. I am going to be getting the new Spink Coins of England 2020 reference for Christmas, so maybe that will help settle my mind.

    I also want to expand into more provincial coinage from the 2ndC AD, including pseudo autonomous issues, and I can a copy of Sear's Greek Imperial Coinage on the way to help me do some basic research on common types.
     
  21. AussieCollector

    AussieCollector Moderator Moderator

    Complete my Byzantine collection, refine my Greek collection, and split my Roman collections between Republic and Empire.

    I may achieve all or none of these :)
     
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