Thanks! It was very exciting for me. At that time 1987, I just started working for myself in lawncare. I won the coin from NFA auction, and it was my first nice coin!
Great coin! Centered, well preserved, great dies, all of the features are on the coin like beads in the head-band, folds in Victory's outfit. Couldn't ask for more.
Best part....this Emperor's AV coins are affordable compared to Magnetius/Constantine III/ Magnus Maximus etc.
Another winner panzerman. I would love to stay, say one hour or two, in your coin cabinet just for the pleasure of looking at your beauties Q
Pish, I would be delighted to go and visit John with you. Flying from France to Canada, on the way, I can stop anywhere in the UK and give you a lift !! Q
Thats even better! By the way, you could also see my "other" collection....worldwide butterfles. I am selling that coll. to buy more nice coins.
Thank you. I have about 12,000 mounted specimens, all in AI quality. My main interests were papilionidae/parnassius(swallowtails) charaxes/polyura saturnidae. One Japanese collector has over million set specimens=60 million $! But, now I can put more attention to COINS! John
Yes! Some rarer butterflies are worth as much as an FDC Philip II Aureus! Papilio elephenor from india sold for $45KUS male specimen! Female would be over 200K. Unlike with coins, there are now many laws protecting flora/fauna, like CITES/import restrictions, some Countries have laws where collecting is taboo, some way to dangerous to collect. With numismatics, only obstacle is $! John
Very nice, panzerman => that's a very cool butterfly collection ... Oh, and your gold coins are always very impressive as well (congrats)
Thanks Steve: I always had the two collecting areas. Finally decided to sell one to have more funds for other....coins won out! Here are a couple of pics to show dimorphism between males/females #1 male #2 female
very pretty examples (congrats) ... it's sad that you can't continue to collect both, but I know what you're saying ... Sadly, where I'm currently living, it is a rare occurence to see a butterfly and/or a butterfly with any cool colours ... => but wow, if you want days where there are billions of moths flying around, then hop on a plane and come to my current home-town (they're almost like hordes of locust!!) ... sounds pretty eh?
Yes, the closer one gets to Equator....more diversity/abundance of butterflies/insects. Both the dangerous kinds like mosquitos/pretty ones like exotic swallowtails/morphos/saturnidae moths/agrias Have to say, insects also were a great hobby/also investment. I spent around 100K in 25 yrs on that hobby/ I have sold over 250K worth, still have 80% of collection here to sell off. John