The worst reason for buying a coin

I purchased this coin because I fell in love with her face. The coin wasn't cheap! If I buy every coin that I see with a pretty face on it I'm going to be living in the street!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

my bad reason was, I got caught up in a silly bidding war on a Stack's/Bowers Auction. It happened a few years ago, I had a bead on a perfect as struck AV Quarter Noble ND Henry VI/ estimate was 1200, I ended up winning my prize for 4500. Then it sunk in....what did I get myself into! This was the Theo Law collection on British coins.

 

Neither of these coins cost terribly much and neither are in great shape (though they aren't horrible for the type either) but I purchased the second one for one small little feature that it had which the first one lacked: the "club" on the obverse behind Minerva's crest at around 8:30 on the obverse(is that tiny feature a bad enough reason?). The series is complex and also includes trientes with the club hidden within the prow details of the reverse or which include the club on obverse but no staff and examples are known that include neither the staff not the club but are in remarkably similar style and thus should be considered related, so I hope to buy at least 3 more similar trientes, maybe even more.

 

Thanks, David! I was considering purchasing every Pontius Pilate era prutot on the market---of course I would have to mortgage my house to do this.

 

To make matters worse for my wallet, recently I was sent an advanced copy of the RIC II Addenda which has a slew of new types and variants I have to track down.

 

For me it's early morning caffeine and sugar rush ancient coin fever (ACF). When ACF gets hold of me I lose track of time and finances.

 

For me, when I see a really beautifull coin that is in my affordability range, I tend to get over zealous in a live auction. But, when I finally scrape up enough $ to pay for my win, I tend to think I did OK even if I paid more then the estimated value.

 

When I first joined this forum, I saw some of you with fancy coins and I figured no one would take me seriously here or give me the time of day unless they thought I was a serious collector (whatever that means.) So I bought this Denarius of Trajan for big bucks when I could have bought 3 VF examples for the price of this fantastic and incredibly appealing gXF sample.



If I had to do it again, I would have gone for a cheaper yet still nice sample, instead of forking the money for this one, and used the rest of the money to buy two or three other ancient coins.

You do have to excuse me though, I was new here and thought you guys were snobs, and that I'd have to pretend to be one to get advise and knowledge from you guys, plus I was a naive young child of 29 years of age.

Obviously I was wrong about what kind of forum this was. You guys rock. But looking back, even though I would not buy this same coin all over again, and would have opted for something cheaper, I do love it and I have no regrets I got it.

 

Sallent, I'm glad that you have no regrets ... ummm, or do you have regrets? (I got confused)

 

Well looking down my nose at this rather attractive Trajan, I would have it in a heart beat. Glad you have got it together Sallant

 

No regrets. I enjoy owning it. Just because I bought it for bad reasons doesn't mean I can't love it.

 

On the moonshine again Steve?

 

Ahahaha, nice ... hey, re-read that dude's post ... somebody is on moonshine, my friend!!

I love ya, Sallent ... you're consistent (and sometimes you get the joke)

 

Why would we... I mean wouldn't we take you seriously?

But its a nice coin, sometimes paying a bit more for better details is worth it.

 

I would say this, I have met many fellow collectors here where I live, some are even "bigshot" lawyers/ doctors/ high tech executives....no one has ever looked down on me or others, who are part of the numismatic community. Coin collectors are all great people, and wads of fun to be around.

 

I agree 100 percent Thats why in the end I was happy with that Quarter Noble, esp. after I got it in the mail, examined its beauty up close...

 

anyone who can buy gold coins is a bigshot in my book

 

That's a breathtakingly beautiful Coin, Sallent! Great and honest testimony!

 

Mine are up for sale now. For the mere price of a home, you can enjoy the feeling of owning a Special Alegandron Prutah of Pontius Pilate... And you can even say that "you saw it here, on Roller Derby!" (Old Cheech and Chong joke)