When I first started seriously collecting over thirty years ago, it was a similar experience to most. I had the blue whitman folders with the sliding plastic screens(love the smell!!). I was a kid in my early teen filling Lincoln cent holes. Later on I transitioned to 19th and 20th century type, with an emphasis on Barber, Bust, and Seated material. The more and more I collect, the more flexible I become in what I collect. I still desire quality, but I am willing to collect numismatic and exonumismatic items that I gave no credit to when I was younger. This includes tokens, medals, paper money, modern US proof coinage, etc. I think we owe it to young as well as new collectors to introduce them to a more eclectic array of numismatic items , to that end, show some stuff that you wouldn't otherwise admit to collecting, . Show some diversity! I'll go first. If you had told me five years ago that I would be collecting this, I would look at you like you had three heads, but here I am and here they are:, and I love it, show yours ___________ ___________________ 1925 Pius XI .990 silver medal. EF40-32mm dia. German Nurenberger: Berman 110a --------------------------- 1963 Roosevelt Dime: NGCF68: exceptional toning. Purchased from Rick Tomaska at R&I. ______________ The Sultan of Brunei $5 Banknote: Polymer(plastic composition).UNC ---------------------------- German Notgeld Inflationary Banknote; Rotweill: XF/AU _________________ Austrian 2 Shillings XF
You are halfway there, venture over to the dark side and join us ancient collectors! Then you will truly see some diversity, with maybe a half a million types to look at.
Medoraman: Thanks for the warm welcome, but have been there for many years. ACCG member and Celator subscriber for many years. Here is a tasty morsel from my collection _______ Parthia Mithradates II. Silver Drachm:XF 123-88 BC, 21.1 mm, 3.97 grams . King's bust with Parthian crown to left/ Archer seated. Sellwood 28/2.
Sounds like me! I started on SL and Bust coinage, then moved to ancients. DO you have many Parthians? I just picked up a couple of months ago a Mithradates I, the early type with the cap like Arsaces I and II. If you like middle East coins, maybe consider joining ONS as well.
Med: Thanks for the warm invite. I only have a few Parthians. My main ancients emphasis is on greek classical and imperial rome. It is fascinating beyond belief. I am also glad that NGC, ICG, and ANACS are now grading and attributing ancients. I'm not sure about PCGS, haven't seen any ancients in their holders, but the three mentioned are doing a good job. I'm trying to collect Rome by Emperor, but its a daunting task, especially when the empire splits and one is faced with the decision of whether to include eastern emperors and transition to Byzantium. One mistake many new collectors make is thinking age equals rarity. They pay $50 for a widows mite from one of the approval "coin " services and think they've hit the motherload, only to discover they have a $5-$15 coin. Hopefully we can do a better service for the new collector with education.
