Example. Here’s a link to a VCOINS dealer with lots that average $3-4 per coin with a variety suitable for someone new to ancients. The quality will be much much better than 99% of what’s on eBay. https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/zu..._desc&countitems=27&changeDisplayList=&page=1
I bought many times from this seller and he’s very reliable.Just one thing: some sand is added to the surface of the coins ( the guy is not hiding it because it’s written in the terms of his site). If you’re the kind of collector who like to soak his coins to clean them, you will notice a difference in the patina after few hours...
That seller is very much present on eBay. I've bought several coins from them over the last 5-6 years and most were ok, but one - a Julian II's maiorina that looked very nice - mostly because of the "sand" highlighting the details - turned out to be a disaster. 2-3 years after the purchase, I've noticed signs of BD and the "sand" turned out to be some kind of makeup. I removed it and realized that it was covering overcleaning and BD.
Those phony patinas earned him his spot on Warren Esty's fakesellers list (that TIF mentioned on page one of this thread): http://augustuscoins.com/ed/fakesellers.html.
Yeah, I've seen that - too late unfortunately. Though it taught me to research the seller first and check all new coins like a paranoid maniac. I probably look quite ridiculous when I sniff all new coins like a hound.
Forum auctions has a few lots of uncleaned coins right now. https://www.forumancientcoins.com/auction/APViewInCat.asp You have to expect that there really aren't any truly uncleaned lots. They've gone through too many hands for there to be any real hidden gems.