What's a "good" minimally "high" grade for Ancient coins?

So no black ring insert Air-tites? Bad idea?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

These coins have survived for a long time and the patina actually protects them. In ancient coin collecting you get to touch your coins!

 

If that's what you prefer, it's up to you, but it isn't necessary. Ancient coins are long past the point where a fingerprint makes any difference. You can handle the coins the way you would handle your picket change (not really, but you get the idea).

 

Good point about authenticating an expensive piece. But, not guaranteeing a coin when that's part of why coins are being submitted sounds a bit ridiculous on NGC's part. Maybe NGC had a bad experience before...

I'll probably ask you all before a purchase, anyway, so I think I'll stay away from submitting one unless it's expensive. That way, I'll at least have someone second what I have.

So, do raw ancients typically sell for just as much as slabbed ones at auction, (e.g. HA, eBay, etc.)?

 

We don't

Use coin trays, 2x2 Saflips, whatever. Don't you want to be able to touch and examine your ancient works of art?

I use Saflips. I hate them because they crack after just a few openings and closings and I like to get my coins out and play with them. Often. However, given the volume of coins I have and the need for protection against my harsh climate, they're the most sensible way to store them and flips for long-term storage need to be PVC-free. I have half-length coin boxes from Wizard, color-coded, for Greek, Roman Egypt, Roman Republic, etc. The coins, in their flips, are filed in the boxes which are stored in a larger fire- and water-proof box, along with a rechargeable desiccant.

 

The only market that really exists for slabbed ancients, is the market of collectors of moderns, that want a few ancients in their collection, and want them slabbed. At the moment, it's a very small market, so there's no real comparison. I've bought a few slabbed ancients, only because I really wanted the coins, and I did not pay a premium for the plastic. I promptly cracked them out.

 

... and who are obsessed with "AU" and "MS" and need validation of that status with a label.

 

Yes, and this goes back to my first response to this thread. READ DOUG'S PAGES! - read them carefully, and you will begin to understand why mere letter grades are only a small part of the ancients grading equation.

 

That'll be hard to get over. I'll probably still baby them, at least at the beginning.

Yeah, I love buying raw in part for that reason.

Though, slabbing is good for resale of moderns if you ever want to upgrade or change your mind about what you want to keep. You'll stand a better chance of at least breaking even (this is an expensive hobby!).

 

Has there ever been a discovery of some or a hoard of long lost ancient coins found in MS condition (in modern-speak, of course)?

Yes, will do.

 

This is what hoards look like when they're discovered. You tell me.

 

@iPen the U.S. coin market turned me to the dark side. Slabs, crack out games, stars, pluses, stickers...ugh. It's like the coin doesn't even matter. And they all look the same!

This thread needs some coins in it. Maybe @Alegandron will post some pics of him freeing his Republicans.

My oldest (I think...)

Kyzikos, Mysia
AR Tritatemorion, 9X12mm, 0.58g; 480-450 BC.
Obv.: Forepart of running boar left, tunny fish facing upward.
Rev.: Roaring lion.
From the collection of Dr. Sidney Mygind.

My largest:

Ptolemy IV, BC 246-222
AE41, 38.6mm; 12h
Obv.: Bust of Zeus-Ammon right
Rev.: ΠΤΟΛΣΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΣΩΣ; eagle standing left on thunderbolt, cornucopia tied with fillet before, ΔI between legs
Ref.: Svoronos 1125

Augustus Caesar:

Augustus Caesar, BC 27 - 14 AD
AE, As, 9.5g, 27mm; 2h; Rome mint, BC 6
Obv.:CAESAR AVGVSTVS PONT MAX TRIBVNIC POT; bare head right
Rev.: A LICIN NERVA SILIAN IIIVIR AAAFF around large SC with dot between

The most I ever spent:

Antiochus VII Euergetes, Seleucid Kingdom, BC 138-129
AR, tetradrachm, 16.59g, 30mm; 12h; Antioch
Obv.: Diademed head of Antiochus VII right
Rev.: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EVEPΓETOY; Athena Nikephoros standing left; to outer left, monogram above A; all within wreath.

 

How do old gold coins turn out? I'm more of a silver guy but I'd imagine these are super rare examples of what it would have looked like back in the day.

These 'net pic examples below are probably cleaned.

 

Put your bib on @iPen and check out AncientJoe's website:

http://www.colosseocollection.com/home

 

Gold is the least reactive of all coining metals, so yes, I might be tempted to use the designation AU when it comes to extremely well-preserved gold.

 

TIF's page is also very good for oogling coin!

http://www.tifcollection.com/

 

In my opinion it is VF and high for ancients. Anyone have any MS ancient they would be willing to share?

 

So what "should" a non-gold but perfect ancient coin look like?

I'm sure that most of them have succumbed to the elements.

Would they look like the modern "museum-grade" replicas?

If there's an actual example, that'd be best.

I'm just trying to get an idea of how it looks.

With moderns, it's much more straightforward (e.g. cartwheel luster, many referenced examples to compare with, etc.).

 

Have you read Doug's page yet?
You can't compare ancient coins to moderns.

 

Yes, I read through a lot of it. However, what should it look like, hypothetically speaking? The same as, say, a museum's replica pieces?