What your budget buys 2500-10000 edition....

This is the most incredible obol I've ever seen. What's the diameter of this coin, @AncientJoe?

@panzerman: Do you have a Severus Alexander to show me?

 

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I can't let you play alone @panzerman and @AncientJoe

Those are fabulous coins, the croc being my favourite, even though I wouldn't dare spending 5K on a croc

I only have one ancient falling into this category (probably a few others would, should I buy them nowadays, but I was lucky enough to purchase them before....)


ROMAN IMPERATORS, Sextus Pompeius and Q. Nasidius, Denarius Mint moving with Sextus Pompeius, Sicily, 42-39 BC
NEPTVNI, head of Pompey the great right, trident before head, dolphin below
Q.NASIDIVS at exergue, galley sailing right, star in upper field
3.92 gr
Ref : HCRI # 235, RCV # 1390, Crawford # 483/2, Sydenham # 1350, Cohen # 20
Ex Freeman & Sear,
Ex Barry Feirstein collection (NAC auction # 42/279)
Ex Roma Numismatics


Other than that I have a few in my Dombes niche that would fit the bill, here's one of them, that I like so much for being an unicum so far (no idea how much it would go for at auction today....)


Louis II de Montpensier (1560-1582) Pistole, or - 1579 Atelier de Trévoux
+ LVDO . P . DOMBARVM . D . MONTISP Ecu de Bourbon couronné
+ DNS . ADIVTOR . ET . REDEM . MEVS . 1579 Croix feuillue
6.54 gr - 25-26 mm
Ref : Date inédite : Divo Dombes -, PA -, Mantellier -, Boudeau -, Sirand -

Q

 

Strictly speaking I can't play here since I do not have any ancients with a purchase price in this bracket.

What I do own is this cherished piece of old American Colonial silver. A Massachusetts large planchet shilling.

1652 Massachusetts Pine Tree Shilling, Large Planchet Fine 15 PCGS. Crosby 2a-A.1, Noe-11, W-760. No H in MASATVSETS; all N's retrograde. 68.05 gns. Pale gray patina covers both sides, with tan and gold accents on the high points. The tree and most of the legends are bold, while the lowest letters and the 2 in the date are soft. A lightly abraded example of this important variety, listed on page 37 of the Guide Book.

ex Heritage, August 2009.
$ 3162



I

 

Yes I do....Magnificent coins, Cucumbor!

 

This category is where most of my purchases fall these days. Here are some, all from NAC 83 in 2015 because I'm too lazy right now to look further. Prices converted to USd including fees:

Lot 335, C. Servilius Vatia, Crawford 370/1b, $2769:




Lot 370, M. Aemilius Lepidus, Crawford 419/1c, $7523:



Lot 405, D. Iunius Brutus Albinus, C. Pansa, Crawford 451/1, $7825:



Lot 444, L. Valerius Acisculus, Crawford 474/5, $9630:



Phil Davis

 

Drooling....!

Q

 

I have to comment that these coins are really quite a bargain and I'm somewhat stunned that you can find historically significant coins of this quality and artistry in this price range. A Boscoreale Nero aureus? I'm just shaking my head, thinking "How did others miss that coin?"

It takes real persistence and a great deal more than just luck (although that DOES help) to find and acquire these coins.

I'm also going to make a slightly editorial comment about this thread and the more expensive coin-threads in general.

There was a time in our lives when most, if not all, collectors of these types of coins couldn't afford them. Obviously, at some time that changed. But even before that changed (at least for me personally) seeing great examples of historically significant coins induced positive (aspirational, "Wow what a great coin.") emotions rather than negative (envy, resentment, "I'll never be able to afford one of those coins.") types of emotions. It still does, since there are coins that I can't afford as well.

I hope that the collectors on this site continue to find their own personal joy in the coins that they collect, as well as coins to which they may one day aspire to collect.

 

Taking Volodya's lead, here are my 2 most recent purchases in that price bracket.

 

These are lovely

 

The difficulty for me personally in spending money on coins is that this money would surely be better spent on saving some of the thousands of children who die each day from poverty. (Surely the child's life is much more valuable to them than the coin is to me?) I find I can still enjoy my coins as long as my donation budget is at least as big as my coin budget.

Thanks, @panzerman! Awesome coin!! It would be great to see your coins given the Doug Smith photography treatment® !

 

my entire collection put together would fit in this category.

 

My most recent purchases in this bracket:

 

Awe inspiring coins, @panzerman !

My contribution to this category may not qualify exactly but I thought I'd give it try anyway. I purchased these boxed collections of Judaean coins early in my ancients collecting career. Actually, I didn't consider myself a coin collector when I purchased these—a better term for me may have been—Holy relic hunter.

 

Awesome coins all! Love those aurei! My suggestion for those that are more budget challenged are Byzantine solidi which can be had for much more reasonable prices. I don't own any solidi yet but I'm planning on making some purchases in the near future.

With regard to the aurei I'm pretty sure that these are valuable investments in addition to the historical and numismatic significance.

 

EGYPT, Alexandria Hadrian Drachm 134-35 AD Asclepius standing

Reference. very rare r5
Emmett 918; RPC 3, 5959.4; Dattari-Savio Pl. 76, 1625 (this coin)

Issue L ƐΝΝƐΑΚ·Δ or L ΙΘ = year 19

Obv. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙС ΤΡΑΙΑΝ - ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟС СƐΒ
Laureate draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear

Rev. L ENNEAK Δ
Asclepius standing facing head right, holding serpent-staff.

25.91 gr
35 mm
11h

Note.
From the Dattari collection

 

I cannot even conceive of spending this much money on a coin. I've never even spent more than $3500 on a vehicle! I'm like Severus Alexander. If I have that much money to spare then it is going to go to animal charities before it goes into a car, a definitely before it goes into a coin.

 

I understand this sentiment and believe everyone should attempt to balance their enjoyment of the fruits of their working life with helping charitable causes. While this may not always be the case, in the last five years my wife and I have given as much to charity as I've spent acquiring coins.

Interestingly, our entire estate is designated for such charities (hopefully far in the future, though). Nieces, nephews, and siblings can fend for themselves.

Personally, I almost never judge the way others might spend their disposable income and assets; I rarely feel I know enough about another person's situation to do this. I do, however, admire those who contribute some of their time and/or money to the betterment of people, animals and this planet. Every individual needs to find this balance for himself/herself.

 

I am not attempting to judge anyone. Everyone has to have their priorities and for all we know the people posting these coin also make large charitable contributions. For my wife and myself, with our limited income, we have prioritized so that almost all our money goes to charities when we are gone and quite a bit of it now. Of course, I plan on living to be 100 so hopefully that will not happen for a long time yet.

 

Um, nice coin? Cant think of a better word, maybe spectacular?

Don't think my entire collection adds up to that much. Would probably still have lots of dough left over too.

 

In the 12 Caesars category, there are a number of excellent examples that can be found in this price range.



DOMITIAN 81 - 96 A.D.
AR Denarius (3.59 g.) Rome 73 A.D. RIC Vespasian 680
CAES AVG F DOMIT COS II Laureate head right. Rev. Domitian riding on horse prancing left, holding scepter in left hand and raising right. Almost FDC.
Purchased at NAC #51 in 2009 for $5,400; adjusted for inflation and current market conditions, coin would still fit into this price range today.





CLAUDIUS 41 - 54 A.D.
AE As (9.41 g.) Rome 50 - 54 A.D. RIC 113
TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P Bare head l. Rev. LIBERTAS - AVGVSTA S - C Libertas draped, standing facing, head r., holding pileus and extending l. hand
Purchased at NAC #59 in 2011 for $6,000; adjusted for inflation and current market conditions, coin would still fit into this price range today.