What are the gaps in your collection?

My collection (RR & cast bronze from Central Italy) has more holes than runs. I started concentrating on RR silver because most of the coins have an interesting story line / history to go with the coin. I do not see being able to have a large fraction of either area. A traditional set of buffalo nickels can be completed with time and effort if I include re-dated coins. I have a friend who has completed the set 3 times. There are 550 Crawford numbers, but a gillion more if you include the letter number adders like Cr-89.1a, see below.
I think part of my interest in ancient coins is I can still browse auction catalogs & coin show offerings to find interesting coins to borrow (we do not own these treasures, only hold them for a while).
My two club series coins (of seven total), one silver and one bronze.


Anonymous Victoriatus, Club
Mint SE Italy, 208 BC
Jupiter / Victory



Anonymous As, Club
Mint SE Italy, 208 BC
Janus / Prow
At 49.2 grams, this is one of my heaviest struck coins and one of the first RR bronze coins I bought.

 

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I would argue that history and ancient numismatics are integral to each other.

the poet W.H. Auden agreed-

Serious historians study coins and weapons
Not those reiterations of one self-importance
By whom they date them,
Knowing that clerks could soon propose a model
As manly as any of whom schoolmasters tell
Their yawning pupils

there has been a lot written about this approach, including Michael Grant, "Roman History from Coins"

in my thesis I stressed the multidisciplinary aspects of numismatics and tried to demonstrate how coins can be used as another primary source

 

Several of the late rare Western Roman emperors (managed to strike off Eugenius and Flavius Victor recently), King Odoacer, a Theodoric monogram nummus, a Justinian Rome mint follis, 7th century Byzantine coinage from Rome/Ravenna, and Merovingian coinage.

 

I was reading "The Hellenistic World: Using Coins as Sources" by Peter Thonemann and this is what he does. It's an interesting read. Sorry...not much of a review there but I'm not finished with it.

 

Not long ago I read another book dealing with numismatics and the Hellenistic world, "Lost World of the Golden King" by Frank L. Holt. Here is part of the blurb from inside the cover- "Drawing on ancient historical writings, the vast array of information gleaned in recent years from the study of Hellenistic coins, and startling archaeological evidence newly unearthed in Afghanistan, Frank L. Holt sets out to rediscover the ancient civilization of Bactria."

 

I reckon I mean that I do not focus on the minor nuances and devices distinguishing one coin from another within a series, rather I collect them as placemarkers in History. This is a hobby for me, history is a hobby for me. My vocation has nothing to do with my Hobbies.

 

That sounds fascinating, thanks.

 

I understood what you were saying, but I am a little defensive about numismatics and history, probably PTSD from grad school. I had to explain a few times why I was not merely a "coin collector" or an antiquarian. Fortunately for me, I was able to turn hobbies and interests into a vocation...but unfortunately I also cringe a little at the term "history buff"

 

Can't say my coin collection is any thing the size of what I read here, my collection is mostly Lincoln Wheat Pennies. I have been collecting them,, I would guess for over fifty years. I lack five.; 1914-D, 1922 no D, 1931-S, 1943 copper, and 1944 steel. Still buy rolls of pennies from the banks, with the hope one day I get lucky for these elusive coins.
I have a fair collection of Indian head Pennies but that is the extend of my coin collecting.

 

Can't agree more ! (thought i was hearing voices)

 

I think I am far too early in my collecting (particularly with the different rabbit holes my collection has gone down) to speak of holes yet. I have short term goals that have a few holes (a Henry II penny from England being one - preferably a Tealby), but right now I just have good beginnings of several collecting areas that appeal to me.

Perhaps I could categorize my British decimal collection as having holes, but this is the ancients section...

 

I just finished it. I won't review it in detail, but I can say I like it and started it again. The information is insightful and worth absorbing. It is very good and remarkably up-to-date with very many scholarly references since 2000.

For a coin book, it is pretty inexpensive--about $24 on Amazon. If you have any interest in coins of the Hellenistic period, I recommend it.

 

I'm happy to see a Kindle edition. Downloaded

 

I understand. However, I do not get worked up here at all. This is a fun site, not formal, nor it need be stressful. I enjoy it here as I can enjoy my Hobby and de-stress from my Vocation... It is a great pace to share our hobby, meet friends, and learn. Taint worth it being stressful... we have enough of that in all of our own lives.

 

WHERE ARE THE GAPS YOU SAY? LOOK IN CLIOS COIN CABINET AND YOU WILL FIND THEM.!!

 

Pre Denarius RR coinage
Silver RR fractionals

Pre denarius is an extra challenge because of stupid import restrictions.

 

Agreed!

 

Like others, I have a wish list. It is a relatively short list. However, when a coin speaks to me (and I have some coin cash), it doesn't matter if the coin is on the list.

The hole in my collection is like a black hole capable of sucking-in all coins.

 

Lol, and money.

 

Here's one big big gap that, sadly, is likely to remain so forever. Not a type I expected ever to see for sale; almost certainly I'll never see another, although this example may reappear at some point: