I'm a budget collector, so gold buys are usually few and far between. However, I recently changed my strategy and started skipping buys to save up for coins. What is a budget buyer? I'd define it as a buyer of coins of $500 or less, especially under $300. I had wanted a non-Santa beard solidus of Constans II, and this 'inexpensive' one came up. With the price of gold it's still the second most expensive coin I have to date. The portrait is charming for the time and a veritable masterpiece compared to some of the contemporary coins of western Europe. With the rise of Islam to contend with, Constans II managed to keep the Roman empire afloat, albeit as a rump state. It was an Ivan Drago vs. Apollo Creed type fight at that point. Sasanian Persia did not fare as well, and ceased to exist. This was also purchased and in the mail right before the tariffs were announced. I had some period of anxiety when it was in transit. (the English translation of the dealer's description) Bust of Constans II, facing, with large head and slight beard, wearing crown, chlamys and holding cruciger globe in right hand. Potent cross on three steps, Є in right field. Despite the weak strikes on the obverse at the level of the cruciger globe, on the reverse at the level of the legend and the top of the potent cross and traces of file at 3 and 5 o'clock, this coin remains a remarkable example in a very good state of preservation! dN CONSTAN-TINЧS PP AVG VICTORIA -AVGЧ B // CONOB 4.34 gr Denomination: Solidus Year: 646-647 Mint name: Constantinople Composition: Gold Diameter: 19 Empire, kingdom, or civilization: Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire) Main character: Constans II
You can build a fantastic collection of ancient coins and never spend a dime over $300. I think I had a nice collection and until the children graduated college I had only purchased two coins over $300 - a sestertius of Julia Paula, and a platform scene sestertius of Trajan, both in unusual circumstances. Also I started collecting in 2000 and therefore was able to buy during the 1999 - 2008 magical period of the influx of coins from Eastern Europe - if only collecting ancient coins was as popular now as it was then. But I think the big auction houses are killing off the small collector - the starting prices in auctions are ridiculously high, and the buyers fee which now in almost every auction is 20% is absurd. The number of collectors seems to go down every year, and soon collectors will be limited to those able to afford the best pieces, assuming the hobby survives at all.
Around 1995-2002 was the best I encountered, but the Catch 22, I didn't have much money to spend. Another downside, e-commerce was just starting. There were less dealers. As late as about 2012, I was able to get budget tremissises at $100-something.
2002 at the NY show was insane - dealers bags and bags of coins, hoards all over the place, wonderful prices - but I had a wife and three children to support - coins were a luxury
Yes, I had the same situation, albeit in my locale, around 2002 or 3. That was a great show, with Jon Kern having piles of coins (he still does, I'm sure) and I picked up a really neat Cornelian? (orange gem) small stamp. I was but a lowly college student during the later 90's. The upside; coins were a lot cheaper. The downside; one had less dealers to choose from. You pretty much had to have a handful of 'go-to' dealers, as well as going to coin shows.
Phenomenal coin! I also consider myself a budget collector and the most I've ever spent on one coin was $450 (in 2014 money) for a solidus of the grandfather of your coin's ruler, Heraclius and his two sons Heraclonas and Constantine III. It's the only purchase to this day that I've spent over $300 on (at least for individual coins that weren't part of lots).
