Today eBay sales resulted in my awaiting three coins and one book. You will see the coins when they arrive. Does anyone know this old book: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=201045859464 Coinage and Currency In Roman Britain by C.H.V. Sutherland The author is a major figure from the 1930-1980's but I imagine all of the information is dated. Did I waste $3.68 (postpaid)? Today I went 4 for 17 which is about average for me. There was one I really wanted but couldn't bring myself to pay more for so ugly a coin. That will be the one I regret. Which of the ones I bought are also regrets remains to be seen.
I know of the author, but I do know the book. It says it is a German reprint so does that mean commentary will be in German or English? Did you waste your money? Not at 3 and a half bucks you didn't.
$15.96 shipping to Canada (well, you certainly did better than Whizbang and I would have done!!) regardless => I love books and especially nice, old coin books (please give us a quick book review/opinion once you're thumbed through it ... thanks) Oh, and I can't wait to see your new coins (congrats)
This is a problem for which I see no solution. I bought one coin in the last Pecunem sale for $83 hammer price which is $113 after you add buyers fee and $20 postage. If I had won two or three coins, the postage would have not been more but I didn't. Yesterday I won $70 worth of coins on eBay all from the same seller who charged me $2.25 postage for all three. Buying from someone in the same country has advantages. When you buy high end Greek silver, ancillary costs like postage (or wining and dining your dealer) pale in comparison to the amount spent on the coin. When you buy the stuff I buy, the post office can make more than the seller and the dealer doesn't even eat off the Dollar Menu. We are still left with the question of whether a 1937 book reprinted in the 80's is worth what it costs to mail. I have a stack of books that are not.
You can get this book on Amazon for $27 plus shipping, so I'd say you got a steal. I'd love to read that volume myself. As I see it, all scholarship adds to the historiography of numismatics and is therefore valuable, be it current or dated.
To be able to read the opinions/observations of a respected authority in any subject has to be worth .99$. If I sat down with you for an hour and you talked coins with me, I would happily pay good money.........I think you have a bargain and if you ever resell, let me know.
Speaking of auctions, I did very well for myself this week as well - I've got 12 coins on the way, and that's always a nice feeling.
My recent dry period had nothing to do funds. Every so often I find myself with dozens of new coins that I know little about, and I find myself back-tracking and doing some research. I got serious about my gallery at FORVM, took new photographs, double-checked attributions and dimensions, and decided to learn at least one new thing about every coin in my possession, be it numismatic or generally historic. Still, the amount of information concerning ancient coins is daunting, and I will forever be a newbie.
I've done a overhaul on my coins a few times until I have a format that I am mostly satisfied with. I've also studied each coin that I have as much as I can. I often tell some people that each coin has a story to tell. So then, with a Roman coin I'd tell them about the ruler, god/goddess on the reverse, some of the implements that they carry and some amount of symbolism behind some things as best as possible, etc. I have more to learn myself, but am by no means a newbie anymore. As I've heard some say, I'm a student of ancient numismatics and history. I believe I am also that way now days. To be honest, I think you are past the newbie stage. Too much humility isn't good, at least in my opinion. You are now into advanced subjects, as well as helping other people. That automatically disqualifies you as a newb. lol As far as too many coins. I've never had a backlog of coins. I study them as soon as they arrive, consult online references, my own books, etc. I learn as much as I can about them. I remember when you first started collecting ancient coins, I believe. You've come along way and you are a lot better now then before. I've noticed.
The highlight of my collecting life was the period I spent as a member of the Ancient Numismatic Society of Washington. Usually 20 or so members would meet monthly at the home of a member and talk coins. Often we would have a semi-formal program usually by a member but the good part was that we could show off new purchases and buy/sell among ourselves. We had quite a variety of heavy hitters and beginners. I got to handle an Athenian dekadrachm and buy late Romans from people who knew. I was the club expert in Septimius Severus (and the only one who cared about him). I really wish those of us on this list could get together at my place this Sunday afternoon but the 'postage' on SteveX6 and YOC would be a bit out of reason. Back then, before the Internet and CT, such meetings were what we had and we felt lucky to have each other. The club still exists in DC but I don't drive up to meetings (120 to 150 miles each way depending on whose home it is). That is why I am so happy to have the Internet.
There is a coin club for ancients here in L.A., but its over an hour away from me and being the frugal person I am, I am not gonna use up alot of gas for it. Gas is closing in at $3.90 a gallon as I type this. I take the bus on occasion but its a bit much for Sherman Oaks Galleria. Im grateful for the net & boards like this.
I can honestly say if it wasn't for coin forums I wouldn't be as interested in collecting as I am. I would also have more money because I would stop seeing your awesome coins and think to myself 'I wouldn't mind one of those'. As for the original post you can't go wrong with that price even if it is all in German. I don't know how many pictures will be in the book but it should prove to be an excellent resource even if you only possess rudimentary German skills.
I also would probably not be an ancient collector if not for the internet. Trust me, there was no one to turn to in Iowa for ancient coins, (at least anyone I knew). Now I am "lucky" and have an ancient club relatively nearby, (about an hour drive), but especially in the beginning it was only online.
Anything by Sutherland is well worth a perusal, especially at such a cheap price. His Roman Coins is a wonderful read, even though after Augustus' reign it gets skimpy on details. Quite the bargain, IMHO.
