Balt. Misc.

This one matches the Gamma Decentius I was supposed to get in the mail yesterday. The package arrived from Spain and contained a completely different coin (a Spanish of Ulia which I'd be happy to have but someone else probably ordered it and got my coin). Paying unnecessary postage takes the fun out of buying from Europe. I've written the dealer to see what he wants to do about it but have not heard back yet. I don't have the Gamma Magnentius so I'll show my Beta.


March was a bad month. One failed to arrive and was refunded; One fake bought two years ago was returned. April is not starting well. I have a probably repatinated sandy (hopefully cleanable?) coming from Israel. All this because I was not willing to drive to Baltimore?

 

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^^^ The "like" was for the coin, not for the run of bad events you've had . I hope April brings showers of desired coins.

 

I have one thats going on over a month that hasn't arrived. Dealer said this morning to wait till next friday and if nothing, refund. This is coming from norway. I am not holding my breath.

 

Antonio Veniero grosso. Cf. http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=234612

 

I have seen a couple of these countermarks but none even close to as nice on either side. Mine is a total junker. I believe someone else here has a nicer (than mine) one.

 

Wow JA, looks like you scored some pretty sweet coins at the show, eh? (congrats)

Ummm, I also have quite a cool example from Tarsos, sporting that cool Helios countermark (wanna see it?)

Cilicia, Tarsos AE22
Circa 100 BC
Diameter: 22 mm
Weight: 9.78 grams
Obverse: Turreted head of Tyche right, Countermark: Radiate head of Helios right (CM: Howgego 11? Hierapolis Phrygia circa 50AD)
Reverse: "TAPSEWN" Pyre of Sandan in the form of a pyramid ...
=> Sandan on a horned-lion within
Reference: SNG Levante 951ff

 

ENTER THE SANDAN.

good song

 

Some great coins!

 

Great song, but dudes in the know merely say "Enter Sandan" ...



... I'm just sayin'

 

This Seleucid coin of Apollo has a big countermark representing apparently Artemis. It was struck in Tyre, with a Palm tree on reverse.

 

Steve, I forgot about your coin, how could I? Great piece! Here's a nice bronze of the Thessalian League. Not rare, but great style and detail...

 

Here's our favorite Numidian buddy Micipsa. Not the strongest strike on this coin, but man do these have a lot of problems in general. So whenever I find one that's reasonably centered and clean, I have to grab it...

 

I know next to nothing about ancient coins, but I do enjoy viewing the pics and reading the posts about them.

The best coin I saw at the show, however, was the F-12 1913 Type 1 Buffalo nickel my 12 year old granddaughter found and bought for her budding type set. It was her first coin show, and she was thrilled -- and so was I.

Unfortunately, kids were scarcer than hens' teeth there, sad to say. I'm guessing the average age of all there was in the 50s. What will happen to this hobby in the future without involvement by youngsters? We adults need to help keep this going, with our young family members, with talks at youth clubs, scouts, etc. I fear those who inherit our collections of a lifetime will simply sell them, with little appreciation for the coins themselves or for the effort that went into them.

 

Amazingly, there seems to be quite a few youngins (YNs) on this ancient-side ... but I totally agree with you that we should "spread the word" ...



Hopefully, we're stealin' a few from the US coin side ...

=> baby-steps to dominating this fricken coin-site, my friend!!



For the record, I collected coins when I was a kid and then I re-engaged fully when I was in my late 40's .... so hopefully the trend continues (not many "kids" have the cash to be spending at coin shows, right?)

 

I came across this unusually strong Widow's Mite, lepton of Alexander Jannaeus. The centering and detail are off the charts, and it's not doctored either, just lightly cleaned. I'm tempted to say you won't see a Widow's Mite like this every day, but I happened to find two of the same quality on the same day! Here's one...

 

Nice coin JA ... ummm, I am allowed to be posting my examples in your thread, or is that bad-form?

 

Post away my friend! This is a coin forum, we post coins!

We have this conversation about kids and numismatics sometimes, and it never bothers me that collectors are generally older. It's just the way it is. Although it seemed to me that this show was less well-attended than it has been the past few times, at least on Friday. Maybe it picked up over the weekend.

 

I just don't think these kinds of hobbies appeal to younger people. It takes disposable income and is pretty low-threat. I can "coin" from my recliner with a beverage. I didn't get into coins until after I had a stable career, a son, and had to be in bed before 10. These days it's more like 8:30...

 

I think the hand-wringing about a lack of young people in the hobby is unnecessary. There are many young collectors and young professional numismatists. Some are already well established and some are just starting to show their potential.

Examples: Rich Beale, 31, director (owner/founder?) of Roma Numismatics; Bill Dalzell (CoinTalk's Ardatirion), 28, professional numismatist and cataloger for CNG. CoinTalk's ValiantKnight, 24, is a good example of a very young and very serious numismatist hobbyist. He is someone I suspect will become a leader in his areas of interest.

In general though, it makes sense that the bulk of ordinary collectors will be middle-aged and older because the hobby does require disposable income and leisure time. However, I believe there are enough young and serious collectors to assure the hobby's good health. The more the merrier, of course . The internet has been a huge boon to the ancient coin collecting.

 

Really high grade tetrobol of Akanthos, reverted bull type with quadripartite incuse stamp. I really love this coin - it's the first of its type I've acquired...