Everyone Has One of These Threads.....

So why not me? But mine has a slight twist. Its easy to post about your last or your best buys of the year. But as a dealer I dont always know what will be mine and what I will pass on to another collector. This late December I have two candidates:



There isn't anything special about this Gordian Sestertius. But a photo alone doesn't tell the entire story. The patina is quite rich and deep in hand. The portrait is rendered exceptionally. On the other hand, its not really high grade, and the reverse you can see has its issues (double struck or die shift, some corrosion). Bottom line I dont need or want another Gordian (not that I have huge numbers, some of you know I maintain a small collection). But, well, damm! Its very nice in person.

Forgive my plebeian photos on this next one:



Caria, Tabae, 1st Century BC
Silver Drachm, Zeus both sides.

Well, this turns out to to be exceptionally rare. So far there are four other known examples, and none ever sold, just those in museums. I 'kind of' like it, but have no attachment really. Just that I will never see another in my life (nor will anyone else for that matter, this one seems to be the only example anyone will ever be able to own).

So what do I do? Do I keep one or the other, sell or keep both? As a dealer, if I kept everything obviously I would be out of business in a heartbeat. What do you all think? I know what the collectors will say, but there are some dealers here....

 

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Sell the first one, keep the second until the right specialist collector comes along where the coin will have a meaningful home.

 

i think the 2nd coins pics are the best

 

The Tabae is very interesting. It needs to be in the collection of a specialist who will treasure it, rather than in the tray of a collector/dealer who "kind of" likes it.

I am surprised to see a center dot on a silver coin. Usually I only see that on bronze coins.

I was only able to find three examples of it. The one in the British Museum collection has a hole:
http://www.britishmuseum.org/resear...ctId=1258008&partId=1&searchText=tabae&page=1

 

I'd sell the Gordie, though it is very nice. I'd jump at the chance to buy a coin with only 4 known examples, so that one definitely is a keeper.

 

Good point on whether or not to keep it. As for the population, British Museum, 1, BN France, 2, ANS, 1. So far there are 5 known.

 

What’s Gordie’s LAETITIA holding in her lower hand? A porcupine? A joy buzzer? The world’s least user-friendly patera?

 

A wreath.

 

I'd keep 'em both. They're lovely. But then I am not a dealer, and I keep almost everything...

 

Well if I were a dealer like you.
I'd send that Gordie on to me at cost, since it would really compliment my last purchase of the year
Then do as Ed Snible said, and sell the Tabae to a collector who would appreciate it more.

 

I don't deal in coins and don't think I would want to but I do deal in another collectible and as a dealer who was more or less forced into dealing many years ago by circumstances, I now work on the basis that I hang on to anything that I would like to own one day in my collection but make it available at the right price which if achieved allows me to reinvest in other interesting items. I am not as avaricious as I once was so don't feel the same emotional loss as I would once have done on parting with an item and the parting of something interesting is bolstered by my innate optimism that something better or more interesting will turn up. Having had a few fake coins pass into my hands this year, I'm at the happy stage that the relief of not having a coin condemned makes that one the best coin so far this year! We are all only temporary custodians of our coins but some of us are more temporary than others......

 

The Gordian III would probably sell fast.

 

Two neat coins! Hold them for the right home. Neither are my area, but someone could find one like the two Zeus drachm in an ancient junk box and drop its sale value, so I'd sell it first.

 

As I'm not a dealer, I would sell the Gordian and keep the rare Tabae

But should I put myself in the position of being a dealer, I think @Ed Snible got the point

Q

 

ISEGRIM found one in Copenhagen, and one in "SLG WALCHER" (CATALOGUE DE LA COLLECTION DES MEDAILLES GRECQUES DE M. LE CHEVALIER LEOPOLD WALCHER DE MOLTHEIN). It is possible one of the two you found in Paris were donated by Walcher. So six or seven.

http://isegrim.mybluemix.net/#!?m=AR&po=Tabae&vt=HEAD MAN R&rt=MAN WALKING

1. CARIA, Tabae. 50BC -0 AD. AR. Obverse: HEAD MAN R / HERAKLES <?> (BEARD). Reverse: TABHNWN ARTEMWN PAPIOY AR; MAN WALKING R(1) / ZEUS(1) (NUDE / THUNDERBOLT(1) / EAGLE(1)).
1. 16.51mm 2.56g BMC Caria p. 162, #20
2. CARIA, Tabae. 50BC -0 AD. AR. Obverse: HEAD MAN R / HERAKLES (BEARD). Reverse: AR ARTEMWN PAPIOY TABHNWN; MAN WALKING R(1) / ZEUS(1) (NUDE / THUNDERBOLT(1) / EAGLE(1)).
1. 2.67g 12h SNG Copenhagen volume 26 #528
3. CARIA, Tabae. 50BC -0 AD. AR. Obverse: HEAD MAN R / HERAKLES (BEARD). Reverse: TABHNWN ARTEMWN PAPIOY AR; MAN WALKING R / ZEUS <HERMES> (NUDE / THUNDERBOLT(1) <?> / EAGLE(1) &lt;?&gt.
1. 19mm 2.85g SLG WALCHER 2432

 

I like them both quite a bit but judging from your post I would say that you should sell them (the Tabae to a specialist if you can find one).

If you have to ask yourself whether or not you should keep a coin then you probably already have your answer.

Being a dealer of stuff you want for yourself would be tough.

 

I like both of them so I would keep them. However since you are a dealer you should do what you feel is best.

 

That Gordian is very attractive! As you say, I am sure that the photo only hints at the special quality it has. I don't mind the doubling on the reverse. It's an artifact showing evidence of the minting process. I find it adds to the interest, as long as it doesn't obscure the design too much. Gordian's portrait is rendered with incredible sensitivity, and the figure of Laetitia on the reverse is very graceful.

 

I'm a collector and I would keep them myself. If I was a dealer, I'd sell the Gordian and hold on to the Greek until the time is right to sell for the right price and preferably to a collector since they would hold on to them for awhile and then make sure the coins go back to market later on. Ain't no different than what some others have suggested. I think it's a good idea.

 

You have to collect what you like or else what's the point? If you're not in love with either of them then sell them off...this is especially true if you're a dealer or anyone really who maintains a "small" collection. There's no room or money to hold on to something you're not in to.