Leaving Gordian III in favor of diversity

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Sallent, Nov 1, 2018.

  1. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

    The other day, after looking at some of my recent Greek purchases, I realized what a breath of fresh air the newer acquisitions were. I can't help but feel I've overdone it with Gordian III and that a single collecting focus is not my thing. Almost 1/6 of my collection is Gordian III. :eek:

    So I've made a decision. I think I'm going to sell my Gordians (except for my favorite 2 or 3) and use the money to keep acquiring diverse Greek and Roman coins in areas of my collection that are still underrepresented, such as Roman Republic bronze coinage, Greek bronze and Greek western city states, and Celtic.

    Sorry to disappoint the other die hard Gordian III fans here, but I haven't had as much fun collecting as I've had over the last few months with all my Greek purchases that were outside my usual zone of comfort. Isn't that what collecting is all about? Discovering new things instead of the same old, same old routine?

    Anyway, sorry for being kind of quiet here lately, but I've been spending my free time reading historical fiction set in Roman times, doing outdoors camping trips with my son, and browsing astronomy forums and buying up new astronomy gear (can't wait to show off my new astronomy toys soon --though I had to use my coin budget for the next 6 months to get it all o_O )
     
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  3. John Anthony

    John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

    The nice thing about collecting is that you get to call all the shots.
     
  4. red_spork

    red_spork Triumvir monetalis

    c90uE6V.gif
     
  5. John Anthony

    John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

    Or maybe not.
     
    ominus1 likes this.
  6. Deacon Ray

    Deacon Ray Artist & Historian Supporter

    Great to see you posting, @Sallent !

    If you're willing to listen to the advice of an occasionally delusional but harmless and well meaning Holy man—here it is:

    Don't sell your Gordians! I sold a modest collection of Roman Republican coins which I now regret doing. If there's any way you can expand your collection without sabotaging your collection, I'd advise you to take that route. Whatever you decide—keep collecting ancients.

     
    Last edited: Nov 1, 2018
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  7. ValiantKnight

    ValiantKnight Well-Known Member

    I can definitely relate when it comes to wanting to diversify. For years my main focus was 5th century Romans and Germanic kingdoms, but over time I couldn't really keep up with the overall high prices for the rulers and types I wanted (except for my Odoacer nummus, did everything within my power to get it :D ). So I ended up drifting towards other areas (it wasn't a one-time decision; it just gradually happened). Ended up discovering an interest in Greek coins and history, especially of the Ptolemaic Kingdom. Branching off of that more recently is my interest in early Roman Alexandria (sorry not sorry @TIF !).

    This is the crown jewel right now in my new pursuit:

    Ptolemy I Soter AR Tetradrachm (1).jpg
     
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  8. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

  9. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Gee @Sallent I hope you keep your Gordians, though I've only got three of his coins currently. But as they say, follow your bliss. Nice to see you around, as well. I just bought a $2,400 apochromatic refractor earlier this month to add to my collection of scopes. Of course, it's been cloudy since then but par for the course.
     
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  10. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

    Sweet. Can't wait to see that bad boy. I am now the proud owner of a Coronado PST with a double stack. I should be receiving shipment of it tomorrow. It was $1,100 (including an alt az mount), but well worth it to see the sun in H-Alpha. I've also finally got a GPS unit on my Celestron, and will be receiving the heater control and heat strip bands, as well as a few other upgrades and accessories over the next two weeks. The whole shopping spree was $1,700.00, so I definitely won't be getting any new coins for a little bit as I've overblown my hobby budget.
     
    Last edited: Nov 1, 2018
  11. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

    This makes me think. Perhaps you are right. I have sold off a few ancient coins over the years in order to invest in other ancient coins that interested me more. Some I don't regret selling, and I'm happy with the coins I purchased with the money from those sales, but some others I really do miss and regret selling.

    Maybe I should take it slow and think about it carefully before I decide to sell any of them off. It may turn out that some I won't miss at all, but other I may end up regretting selling later. Yeah, I think I'll think about it a little longer before I decide which I my Gordies I will sell (if any).
     
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  12. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    I don't expect anyone here to listen to me but we all have been there. In 1974 I sold about 150 coins because I thought I needed the money. I was wrong. I still miss those coins. I got $500. I could have kept those coins and ate more beans. I like beans. I miss Caligula; I miss Balbinus; I miss Divus Pertinax and I don't even have a foil pressing if it. I still sell coins I have outgrown or that I have in duplicate but selling coins I want makes no sense to me. Recently I have decided to give away some because I would rather see them go to appreciative homes than to a dealer who will tell beginners they are rare and valuable when they are just roaches.

    I still suggest treating hobby money like you do lunch money. Enjoy it today and don't plan on remarketing it tomorrow.
    foilcaligula.jpg foilbalbinus134.jpg
     
  13. Pishpash

    Pishpash Well-Known Member

    I have always believed that your collection will find you, rather than you finding your collection preferances.

    Like the others, I would urge you to hang on to your roaches. You have a lovely collection. Hang on n to it for a few years. Perhaps it might be something to pass on to mini sallant!

    I understand the allure of Greek coins. I wish I could afford better ones. Just don't be hasty, you may regret it.
     
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  14. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    very good @Sallent ..the fields wide open :)
     
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  15. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    I'm looking at a Coronado or Lunt, too. I've finally decided that my cloudy skies in the eves are meant to be, and I should join the ranks of solar observers to ease my frustration.
     
  16. Ken Dorney

    Ken Dorney Yea, I'm Cool That Way...

    I'd also have to say you should keep them. Each and every coin I have sold from my collection I have regretted. Even the ones I only had a slight interest to begin with. Like Doug, I have sold when I 'felt' I needed the money, but always in retrospect I see it was a mistake and more money always will be earned (but some coins never come back). Some I dont even have photos of. Like the sublime EF Hadrian dupondius with emerald green patina which I only paid about $75 for back in the 80's and now sell roughly $1,000.
     
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  17. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    I just talked to Gordian III. And man, he isn't taking it well. He asked me to post this and rethink things over...
     
  18. Carausius

    Carausius Brother, can you spare a sestertius?

    That Middy Waters video is an interesting segue. About 20 years ago, I played blues guitar semi-professionally. I had built a considerable collection of guitars and vintage amplifiers. One night on a gig, Muddy Waters' piano player, Pinetop Perkins, sat in with my band for a half set. It was great fun. A few years later, I was no longer playing guitar professionally and slowly sold off excess guitars and amplifiers to fund other hobbies - ancient coins and restoration of an old sports car. I see this as a natural progression. Hobbies and specialties within hobbies ebb and flow. I recently consigned a chunk of my Roman Imperial silver to some January auctions, because my focus is almost entirely on Roman Republican coins these days, and I want to reallocate in favor of the RR. If I regret the move later, I can always buy more Roman Imperial. I think my collecting skill has improved over the years and I'd likely make better selections the next time anyway.

    So I concur with @Sallent - keep the few best Gordians and sell the rest to fund what currently excites your collecting passion. You can always go back to Gordian later.
     
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  19. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    Collecting guitars is just as addictive as coins. I have managed to keep it to three guitars at the moment. I have a Takamine acoustic, a Martin acoustic and a Fender custom shop '57 reissue strat. I have to keep telling myself...you do not need another guitar. As for the blues 12 bar in E or A is usually on my list of warm up routines. I envy your chance to play with such a legend.
     
    dadams likes this.
  20. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    Glad to hear you decided not to give up the Gordies quite yet, @Sallent! (But does this mean the roach banner will be gone soon? ;))

    Time well spent IMO. :happy: Don't miss the Colleen McCullough "Masters of Rome" series.
     
    dadams likes this.
  21. Plumbata

    Plumbata Well-Known Member

    I sold an early Iron Age Celtic sword (same style as the riveted bronze willow-leaf swords) back in high-school because I thought I needed the money. I didn't and have regretted it ever since. Selling off your collection won't make you rich but could easily leave holes in your heart that are tough to fill. If your forays into other coins eventually awakens a passion that is much greater than that inspired by Gordians then by all means, but I'd advise a conservative approach until that time.
     
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