Medievals: A Tale of Two Gigliati (poll)

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by lordmarcovan, Jun 10, 2018.

?

Which do you like better FOR THE MONEY ... if either?

  1. Coin A

    4 vote(s)
    12.5%
  2. Coin B

    20 vote(s)
    62.5%
  3. I like 'em both (but I don't collect medievals)

    1 vote(s)
    3.1%
  4. I like 'em both (and I DO collect medievals)

    2 vote(s)
    6.3%
  5. Don't really care for either (but I don't collect medievals)

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  6. Don't really care for either (and I DO collect medievals)

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  7. I don't feel qualified to answer

    1 vote(s)
    3.1%
  8. You should probably order pizza

    9 vote(s)
    28.1%
  9. Nah, skip the pizza

    1 vote(s)
    3.1%
  10. My name is TIF and I think these polls are stupid

    2 vote(s)
    6.3%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    Here are two early-14th century medieval gigliato (grosso) coins of Robert of Anjou, king of Naples, also known as "Robert the Wise". What are your impressions?

    Which do you like more overall (if either), and which do you like best for the money (i.e., which seems the better value)?

    Coin A is in my watchlist and has been for some time. Though opinions may differ, I personally like this knd of toning and just think this is a really neat looking medieval coin. Recently I decided I might actually buy it the next time some funds came in from a coin sale, but I ended up buying something different. It is still under consideration for the future, however.

    Coin B is better struck and perhaps in a bit better grade. Unsurprisingly, it is more expensive. But it costs almost twice as much as Coin A. And at this $220-ish price point, there are many other things (medieval and otherwise) that would probably beckon to me more. (This is a moot point, presently, since do not have that kind of cash to sling around unless and until I sell something.) But I've added this one to the watchlist as well.

    ----------------------------

    Coin A
    Attractive darker grey toning with contrast
    Cost = €95.00 ($111.77 USD at time of posting)
    King Robert looking serious and scowling sternly

    24672_02209r00_c.jpg

    Coin B
    Better strike and arguably better grade
    Cost = €190.00 ($223.54 USD at time of posting)
    King Robert looking happy but perhaps drunk and buffoonish (aren't the quirks of medieval portraiture fun?)

    3091_2467900l.jpg
     
    Pellinore, CircCam, ominus1 and 7 others like this.
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  3. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    Coin B for me. I like how the legend is clearer and the obverse seems to be in much better style even if they were of the same grade.

    ...also, what kind of pizza are we talking about?
    IMG_5200.JPG
     
    galba68, TheRed, Johndakerftw and 3 others like this.
  4. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    We ordered Dominos. That's the only delivery option we have out here in the boondocks. Neither ladymarcovan nor I were in any mood to go out.
     
    Curtisimo likes this.
  5. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    Then yes, coin B and a pizza... final answer. :D:hungry:
     
  6. ycon

    ycon Renaissance Man

    I don't mind the toning on coin a, but I do think it looks tooled...
     
  7. Milesofwho

    Milesofwho Omnivorous collector

    I would go for coin B, because I like that it is unclipped and that, as mentioned above, the strike is better. I think those reasons alone justify a doubling in price. I have one of Robert’s successors, Louis II, but it is unfortunately clipped. I actually have grown to appreciate it, as it’s a nice example representative of clipping. Better this coin than an English sterling. It does have nice toning though. 1FEA5B86-FC2B-4CEB-B34A-F584318C3F74.jpeg CB8FE50B-13EE-4F3B-B206-6B48800336F7.jpeg
     
  8. Oldhoopster

    Oldhoopster Member of the ANA since 1982

    I like coin B but not sure if I would pay 2x vs coin A. Touch choice. If the $100 price jump isn't an issue for you, then B is the no brainer. If the extra $100 would be useful as part of your coin budget, then I don't know (how's that for decisiveness)
     
    ominus1 and lordmarcovan like this.
  9. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    Yes, good point about the clipping. I did not really notice the difference here until I had both pictures together for comparison. The clipping on Coin A doesn't particularly bother me personally, but it is certainly an important detail I was late in noticing.
     
    Oldhoopster likes this.
  10. Nathan401

    Nathan401 Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

    I like the toning and price of coin A. But coin B is the better buy, for all the reasons Miles said above.
     
    ominus1 likes this.
  11. Evan8

    Evan8 A Little Off Center

    Im saying coin A. I like B but atleast in the pics I like A more just for its contast. Coin B seems cleaned to me. Coin A though worn looks more original and heck think of the hands it passed through. Coin B doesnt quite have the story to tell IMHO.
     
    lordmarcovan likes this.
  12. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    The extra hundred or so bucks does make a big difference here, actually.

    North of $220 for Coin B puts it into a pricerange where there's a lot more other stuff (not one of these) that might be more appealing to me, whereas in the "just over $100" price range Coin A looks reasonably appealing against its similarly-priced competitors for my attention and budget.

    Therein lies the dilemma, if it's a dilemma at all. (Not a big one, because at this point it's a purely hypothetical discussion of stuff in my watchlist.)
     
  13. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    This sort of echoes the thoughts I've had up to this point.
     
    Evan8 likes this.
  14. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    Really? Are you talking about Coin A? Where?
     
  15. ycon

    ycon Renaissance Man

    you should look at the italian auctions on bidinside or deamoneta. coins of this type often sell for 50-70 euro.
     
  16. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    Thanks. Never heard of those.

    Where'd you see tooling?

    What's your avatar coin? Looks interesting.
     
  17. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    Lunch has arrived.

    20180610_131308.jpg
     
    ominus1, TheRed, Theodosius and 2 others like this.
  18. ycon

    ycon Renaissance Man

    Pellinore likes this.
  19. spirityoda

    spirityoda Coin Junky

    if you can afford coin B do it. you be happier down the road with the better coin.
     
    Severus Alexander likes this.
  20. spirityoda

    spirityoda Coin Junky

    My name is TIF and I think these polls are stupid lol
     
    Severus Alexander likes this.
  21. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    Maybe not. Maybe she wasn't the one who voted. ;)

    Maybe she'll post so I can give her a Best Answer. :p
     
    Severus Alexander likes this.
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