I bought these at a coin auction a few months ago and just recently had the time to look at them. The dealer that originally had this had a price on them for $240.00. I thought that was on the high end and that's why he never sold them. I paid just under $50.00 for the booklet and coins so I know I did alright. Other than what the booklet says about them I have no ideas. I'm drawn more to Bibical Ancients than other ancient coins but then I buy what I like. This booklet is dated 1970, which is 51 years ago by my math. There are 6 Jewish Coins, all coppers. The time frame is around 135 BC to 135 AD. I believe I have all the original packaging with this, which I count as a bonus. Please leave feedback. @Deacon Ray I know this is an area of yours so please let me know what you think. Thank you one and all. I'll have to do several posts just to get all the photos in view.
That’s really unusual, @Collecting Nut . I can imagine them being offered for sale to tourists. I think that 50 dollars is a good price not so much for the coins but as an interesting curiosity.
Finally got them all. This is the entire booklet, packaging, coins and data on each coin. A few of them are in rough condition.
Thank you and that's what I was thinking as some of the coins are in poor shape. The booklet is what drew my attention. That price of $240 is outrageous.
I see a total of 4 coins. I'd be curious to see the other 2. To me, although the leather book is of some interest, the value in what you bought is from the coins themselves. (BTW: The info written on the collection book seems to contain no misinformation.) The "retail" value of the 4 coins pictured definitely exceeds what you paid, so you did fine on the price. The most valuable of the 4 coins is the First Revolt year two example.
The booklet has value in that it establishes provenance of the coins back to February 1970, and shows that they weren't dug up and illegally exported last week.
True. Good point. I agree the booklet provides some degree of confidence in this area to a buyer and therefore has value in that sense. I can't help wondering though if the booklet would give sufficient credence to a 1970 provenance if called into question in a legal setting. Establishment of provenance would be tremendously enhanced if the booklet contained photos of the coins, or if the coins were securely encased within the booklet rather than loose -- or even if the exact diameter & weight of each coin were to have been listed. Wouldn't it have been cool if the booklet had been issued by and signed by Ya'akov Meshorer? I confess that that would motivate me to be willing to open my wallet a little further for the 6 coins.
If you want photos that show more detail on the coins, try photographing them on a black background. It might encourage your phone to bump up the brightness, and bring out more detail.
Nice batch of Judaea bronzes at a good price. As for the Alexander Jannaeus - a recent thread linked below: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ju...ca-103-76-bc-the-biblical-widows-mite.364737/