Looking For A Reputable Dealer In Ancients?

Hello Everyone!

Can any of you recommend a reputable dealer in Ancient coins?

I've always steered clear of ancients despite my interest for fear of getting bamboozled, but i figured if anyone would know of a reliable dealer on the net it would be you guys...

Many thanks in advance....

 

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CNG

Vcoins, a virtual mall of ancient coin dealers

 

Be careful on VCoins. Most of the dealers there are reputable, knowledgeable and forthright--several are members of this forum--but a very small few are shady or shamefully overpriced.

One of the best aspects of VCoins is that you can comparison shop. Do so before you purchase.

eBay is actually a good place to begin if you're willing to start with low-to-medium grade bronzes. As a general rule don't spend more than $10-15 on a coin on eBay until your are much more experienced. But you'd be surprised how many legitimate, decent late Roman bronzes (LRBs) or even ancient Greek bronzes can be found there in that price range. To me, the idea of buying a coin from 300 B.C. for $8 is mind-boggling, especially when you consider the price of a 1909-S V.D.B. penny.

A lot of people on this forum will tell you not to waste your time on low- or mid-grade coins. I disagree. I think they are a good way to enter the hobby. I think it's foolish to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a coin before you've even established a definite collecting interest and are well-enough acquainted with the coins in that area to spot most of the fakes. You have the rest of your life to acquire big-ticket items. Go slow and learn the hobby and the history first. That's part of the fun anyway.

Welcome to ancient coins.

 

I recommend www.coolcoins.com which will take you straight to Ken Dorney's Vcoins store. Lots of good beginner and intermediate priced coins there, and the prices are very reasonable. He is also a member of this forum.

I've also had good results on vcoins with Lodge Antiquities. https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/lodge_antiquities-88/ancient-coins/Default.aspx
They are based out of London, expect to wait 2 weeks for your shipment, but they have some great selection of uncommon and rare Late Roman Bronzes at very competitive prices.

I also recommend www.civitasgalleries.com, and www.ancientimports.com , especially Ancient Imports as they have a large selection of entry level ancients at great prices. Both are trustworthy.

Also sign up to CNG auctions and Agora Auctions. Agora might be your best bet as a beginner. They host a lot of smaller dealers for their auctions and great beginner coins can be found at auction on their website.

As far as who to avoid on vcoins, just ask before buying and we will let you know. Mostly a few members who love fake desert patina, though the coins are genuine, and one or two who overprice their coins.

And please do avoid eBay, especially for your first purchases.Not a good idea to go after your first few ancients there, especially when you don't know ancients yet.

 

I was about to vehemently disagree about eBay, but you presented a GREAT IDEA as to collecting parameters on eBay! Well done, and I agree. I have done that myself, albeit only a few times. With the minimal price criteria, these is little to lose, and a LOT to gain in knowledge and "the hunt". Well done.

 

Thanks, Alegandron. One more thought about eBay: Bid on auctions (but keep your bids under $15, and consider the shipping costs in your bid). This way, you'll begin to learn the value of different coins, because eBay will let you know the final selling price of anything you bid on.

Keep in mind when you bid that most of the bidding takes place within the last hour of the auction, so eBay may show you as having the highest bid for most of the time, and you might think that you are going to win that dupondius of Nero for $12.50, but then you get an email from eBay informing you that the final selling price was $65. That's valuable information for a beginner, and over time you'll develop a sense of what different coins sell for in different conditions.

 

Approximately where are you located?
There may be a nearby coin show with dealer(s) that some might recommend meeting. Reputable dealers, mentors, and friends help me enjoy this hobby.

 

Edited:to correct several errors and omissions:

Because of my physical limitations (I do not drive and I have difficulty walking) I no longer attend coin shows, in fact, I do not visit local coin shops very often. I purchase my coins online via mail these days.

I whole-heartedly dislike waiting very long for purchase transactions to be consummated and particularly do not like anxious mailing delays (I am too old to squander precious time on those things) and I hate all of the perceived, or real, problems inherent in customs procedures and operations. For me, that rules out buying from vendors located overseas (I am located in the United States), Auction House bidding and e-bay.

I also only buy coins from personal acquaintances or dealers who have earned my trust or have established a reputation for in-depth knowledge of ancient coins, fair dealing, honesty and prompt, reliable delivery.

I guess that makes me a crusty curmudgeon! But adhering to those criteria keeps me out of trouble and makes my current collecting life very pleasurable. I miss out on many good deals (and coins I would like to have) by being so strict -- but there are always plenty of other coins.

Where on earth did I find dealers that met my requirements? Well there are two dealer/members of Coin Talk that I buy from whenever I can -- Ken Dorney and Victor Clark (Victor's Imperial Coins) -- they both measure up for me on all counts. I may find others in due course but for me they fit the bill at present.

 

We should start a club of "crusty curmudgeons". Although I still buy from certain dealers in Europe, I'm very picky anymore. Still, I consider myself a curmudgeon and my eldest has been calling me that for several years. I wear it as a badge of honor!

 

I, too, recommend both dealers.

 

I would recommend via my experience a couple CoinTalk friends: @John Anthony and @Valentinian . Both are very respectable collectors and excellent Providers. I have dealt with both MANY times and have always had exemplarly service! I highly recommend from my own persoal experience and number of consistant transactions and deliveries. Additionally, very much agreed regarding @Victor_Clark , @Ken Dorney , and I would add @Brian Bucklan ... although I have not captured as many coins from them due to my collecting focus.

 

I'm older than Bing and younger than Jamesicus. I drive when the show has free parking in a good neighborhood but have stopped driving far and wide. I have written off Europe as more trouble than it is worth as a source. You might see that there is a pattern of change from Bing's age to my age to Jamesicus' age. I have a friend in his 90's who goes to shows pushed in his wheelchair by his son. Should I warn my daughter or let her find out the hard way?

The above is about as wise words as you will find on this hobby. If a 'deal' is not pleasurable and gets you into trouble it was not much of a deal after all whatever your age.

That is a real problem with me. The dealer that has provided more coins for my collection than any is Frank Robinson (fsrcoin) but I bought ten times as many coins from him in the first 15 years than in the last 15. He buys coins he thinks will sell well to his customers and avoids things he fears won't sell (sounds like a good business plan). My specialties tend to be 'strange' and not as good a fit as when I 'discovered' him. My current favorite dealers now are all 'show only' guys. Some of them buy things that did not sell in 'name' sales because of stupid reserves at prices that allows them to sell to me. Some of them buy things that are as strange as I am. Many of their coins are consignments from people whose grandfather might have been a friend of mine. All the sellers mentioned in this thread are good people but aiming your purchases at things I would buy may be a fast track to the poor house.

 

Yeah, I buy from Frank a lot. He has such a wide range. I agree with you Doug, if I am understanding your message correctly: Personally, I admit that I have an odd collecting style and focus. Many folks' offerings are exciting to me, and many folks' offerings are exciting to other people.

 

Thanks to all of you for your tips, great advice, and recommendations so far!

 

I edited my original post extensively to correct several profound errors (such as spelling Ken Dorney's name incorrectly) and to add a little more information. But, I have a sterling excuse for that: "She Who Must Be Obeyed" (Rumpole of the Bailey) was waiting, somewhat impatiently, in the car for me -- we were on our way to the Marana Veteran's Cemetary -- just to register!

BTW (for @dougsmit especially) -- SWMBO does take me to Coin Shops on occasion, sometimes pushing me around in a wheel chair.

I should have added that I put great stock in excellence of packaging and speed of delivery. The performance of Victor Clark is truly remarkable -- he puts Jimmy John to shame ("what took you so long?"): two days from TN to AZ -- sometimes the next day!! They should make him Postmaster General!

BTW -- both Victor Clark and Ken Dorney are VCoin dealers -- there are some other US coin dealers there I am checking out. Forum Ancient Coins is also an excellent place to buy coins IMO.

 

I'll add a link to Brian Bucklan's store. He's a member here and he'll have a ton of interesting coins that fall within your budget range: http://bargainbinancients.com/

Some positive have been mentioned about ebay up thread, and while I agree to those points, I still feel that sending a newbie there without direction to some genuine sellers on that venue is akin to sending the lambs to slaughter. It's way too easy and tempting for newbies to fall into the trap of thinking they can score an authentic $150 coin for $15, and unfortunately, a high feedback score on ebay doesn't mean much at all. Here are a couple of links to the ebay stores of some good sellers there. I'm sure many more can be provided.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/thereturno...TRK:MEFSXS:MESOI&_trksid=p2053788.m1543.l2654

https://www.ebay.com/sch/carpe-diem-nvmismatics/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

https://www.ebay.com/sch/mortown/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

 

You inspire us, Jamesicus!

This image is for educational purposes only and not to be used for commercial profit .​

 

Not sure ole Diogenes was a collector, let alone dealer.

 

Here are some trusted dealers I can recommend:

Forum Ancient Coins
Akropolis Coins
Naville Numismatics
Savoca
St Paul Antiques
Numismatik Naumann
William Rosenblum Coins
Harlan J Berk
Roma Numismatics
Jesus Vico Auctions
Munzenkontor Kornblum on MA-Shops
MA Shops INGEMAR WALLIN UTVECKLING AB
Incitatus Coins (VCoins)
Frank Robinson
Aegean Numismatics
CNG

 

Great image @Deacon Ray ! it really captures the essence of coin collecting. Of course my (our?) inner sanctum (="man cave") is no where as neat or elaborate, and the senior citizen is far more handsome and dignified than me. I am afraid my Springer Spaniel, Agrippina, would have made short work of that piece of cake placed so tantalizingly close, and my faithful cat, Augustus, always occupies (appropriately) the "Chief's" chair -- I have to sit on a beat-up one:



Agrippina


Augustus