Gifting Coins

I appreciate the thought - looks like @Ken Dorney isnt taking nominations yet, but I'm still thankful.

 

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I have never been able to understand the large number of posts we get here on the ancient forum from people that have absolutely no interest in ancient coins. I think we make it worse when we post threads titles 'Free Coins' and encourage people to apply for anything free. I have never liked that sidebar showing recent threads. It attracts posts from people who do not realize they are posting in the ancient section with information based on erroneous assumptions.

I believe the best way to gift coins is privately without a contest based on posts made by the person that tipped us off as to what the person might like. It is not necessary for everyone and his brother to know there is a free coin being given away and they are not getting it. I have given to and received coins from people here on CT but it is not anyone's business but ours. If they choose to mention where they got a coin, that is fine but posting contests invites entries that may or may not be what you wanted.

I like the idea of nominating others but most of all I agree with the idea that the recipient needs to agree to receive the coin and give it a good home. I like the idea of favoring YN's but many of my coins would be beneath the notice of many young people so we really need to know the individual situation. Those two points also bring up the need for parental involvement when giving to minors.

I would suggest accepting nominations only from people who post nominating other people who post. Lurkers may lurk but it is not a paying position. We might lose attracting potential new collectors but we might make adding to your eBay stock just a little more difficult.

 

Veryy kind of you @Jwt708! I appreciate the nomination. I still have the ancients you sent me when I was in DJ. They are an awesome talking piece and I show them to anyone who asks me about coins haha. I am not a full-on ancient collector but I love the history behind them and the beautiful designs. Maybe I am still waiting for "the one" lol. Not sure my wife wants me to find it...
@Ken Dorney - What an awesome idea for a giveaway and very generous of you. I hope you don't let some bad apples ruin it.

 

i concur with Ken about qualifying entrants for coins. very good idea. i would have been very upset to have given one away and found it on ebay, but i'm most sure it wasn't a regular cointalk ancients collector, or would hope not anyway.

 

Ken, I have to agree with @dougsmit
I think it's awsome that members want to attract collectors to ancients and I applaud those here that do it with open hearts.
I feel bad to hear or read that there are people who have taken advantage of the give aways for their own profit, that's just wrong.
To be clear I'm not asking to be given anything, but aside from Secret Saturnalia there is only 1 coin that was given to me in my collection. It was gifted from a CT member that we all know as being generous. It was gifted by way of PM and I'm sure he did his chooseing by reading posts here on CT.
Just my humble opinion.

 

Excellent and generous idea, Ken! I enjoy gifting coins to those who are really interested in collecting ancients. When I read the posts of a beginner ancients collector I often offer to contribute a few coins to their start-up collections. I can understand how it takes some of the fun out of the gesture when you see the coins you offered as a gift of goodwill being offered on Ebay. When I did the Bag O' Romans Giveaway, I set rules that those entering had to have posted on the Ancients Forum at least three times prior to their entering the contest. In the end it worked out well and the coins went to an excellent and dedicated beginner ancients collector @GerardV . I was even happier to learn that his son is becoming interested also.

 

Sounds awesome Ken. Great idea!

 

You are more generous than I (well you are a minister ). I would have made it like 25 posts minimum, all within the last 3 months or something, and they couldn't have made all their posts in one day (like for example someone new posting like 10 coins for ID individually all in one day) and then post nothing by the time of the contest.

 

I nominate @Ken Dorney , that guy is awesome!

 

I nominate ominus1, a relatively new member who has shown an interest in just about everyone's postings and has contributed some interesting comments.

 

Very generous and good way of giving coins away @Ken Dorney, that's awesome

I just cannot imagine how people do dare selling coins that have been given to them as presents (I'm old fashion maybe)

Q

 

Concerning the museum idea, its not a very good one. Collectors are collectors because they wish to own examples. Most museums have coins that were donated to them, but have almost no public interest in looking at them. When coins are donated to museums, collectors do not really look at them because we want to look at coins we can buy. The general public has little interest in them.

Better idea is to sell them. That way, new collectors get to enjoy your coins, you can generate new interest in the hobby, and your heirs get some money to help you after you are gone. I am proud to say my stuff will be auctioned off unless my sons want it.

 

It surprises me too when non-ancient collectors post in this thread. But since I literally never look at the "Recent Threads" sidebar, I'm easily surprised.

Initially when I started reading this thread I was a bit uncomfortable with its approach to a coin giveaway, and Doug's statement above articulates the reason for my lack of comfort. The generosity evidenced in Ken Dorney's intention is probably best administered in private.

I would suggest that Ken assemble a small "committee" of experienced, long-time members who then communicate among themselves via private message to determine and announce the lucky recipient. Similarly, nominations for a deserving recipient could also be received by the committee via PM from non-members simply by contacting them. This would eliminate most (but probably not all) of the possibility of giving away coins to those who simply want to turn around and sell them.

 

Ides and I are very, very different in what and how we collect but I am regularly amazed on how often I agree with his posted opinions. I think we both love the hobby in similar ways differing only in little details like how much to spend on a coin.

Medoraman and I differ in style also but I am 100% with him on museums. Most museums do not want your coins unless to also fund a full time employee to curate the collection and funds to pay for a display room. The thought of collectors sending their coins to the locked basement of museums that are looking for a chance to sell them so they can buy another pot or hunk of marble sickens me but at least that way the coins get back in the market were someone who cares can see them.

 

Agreed. On top of that, there are sites like ACSearch that aggregate sales so that they can all be searched and viewed in a single place. The ANS has a few aggregator type sites for museums but few museums are willing to even publish their collections online, let alone allow another website aggregate their images. By simply freely sharing an image online, members and dealers here are doing more to share their collection with the public than many of the world's museums.