Coins That Mean Something To You...

For this thread I thought it might be different to ask for anyone to post coins which have a certain personal meaning. Is there any milestone or personal significance to the coin in question? What was the story behind the purchase? For some it might be quite simple, for others significant. But I think it would be interesting for some to share their stories, to bring a little more humanity and interest to what it is that we do, why we do it, etc. I’ll start off with one such coin.

When I first started dealing back in the 1980’s the dealer Tom Cederlind became a mentor to me. He had plenty of excellent advice, some of which was only to be appreciated a little later (and in some cases much later). At the time most of the ancient coin business was being conducted in London (now it is in Munich) and Tom advised me that if I was to succeed in the business I had to go to that illustrious city. I knew it was a bit of a stretch for me to accomplish. After all I was selling coins generally worth $5-50 and getting myself to London seemed like an impossibility. I came from a poor family, had no money, no connections, etc. Add to that I had never travelled anywhere on my own (I dont feel the military counts, as I didn't pay for it and essentially there was always someone there to tell me what to do, where to go, where to sleep, etc.).

But at a certain point I did save enough money to make that first trip. In January 1995 I went to London, a week hotel and airfare for the princely sum of about $600. I attended the London Coin Faire where I’m afraid I conducted myself akin to the Country Mouse. But it was there that I met Basil Demetriadi (who I had been corresponding with for a few years), Alan Walker and many others I likely cant remember.

At any rate there are two coins that I bought from that trip (only one for the post) that I kept. At the time there was a hoard of recently discovered Iceni silver and I bought one for 15 Pounds retail. It seemed like a lot of money at the time to me (it was about $25 plus exchange fees at the time).

I did offer it for sale at a few points in time, I dont remember what retail price I was asking (I still have all my old printed price lists, so I suppose I could look it up), but it did not sell. So, why did I keep it? I really dont know. For some odd reason this coin remained with me despite the fact that I had, nor to this day do I have, any particular affinity towards it. Perhaps it is just a reminder of past and good memories, of people who are no longer with us…

Britain, The Iceni, 65 – 1 BC
Silver Unit, 13mm, 1.25 grams

Obverse: Celticized head right, two trefoils before, triple pellets below.

Reverse: Horse rearing right, pellet below tail, wheel above, lozenge shaped box below.

Cost:
£15

References:
Van Arsdell 794 // ABC 2567 // SCBC 434

Provenance:
Purchased at the London Coin Fair, 1995.


From my passport at the time. Yea. I know. Just remember it wasn't too far from the 1980's. Besides, I worked my ass off to get that suit!

 

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My "dishwasher" coin



A couple years ago, we found ourselves in need of a new dishwasher. We went to the store, picked it out, set up the delivery, and I narrowly convinced my wife that we didn't need to pay $150 for the installation. She bet me that I couldn't do it.

It took most of a Saturday afternoon, a dozen YouTube tutorials, and a dash of brute force at the end, but I got the &#!@$ thing in and working.

That night I went on to my vcoins watch list and bought a $150 Macrinus I had been drooling over for months.

 

I'd say the coin that means the most to me is the Septimius Severus below.

It's the very first ancient I acquired, here on coin talk no less, and despite having several others of his, I can't part with it.


Septimius Severus (193 - 211 A.D)
AR Denarius
O: SEVERVS AVG PART MAX, Laureate head right.
R:RESTITVTOR VRBIS (Restoration of the City), Severus in military attire, spear in left, sacrificing over a tripod altar with right.
Rome mint, 201 A.D.
3.3g
18mm
RIC 167a, RSC 599, BMCRE 202

And the other coin is my Napoleon 5 francs. Learning about him in history class in grade school is what really kicked my interest in history into high gear. Can't say why?, but I paid attention more when his history came up at the time.

I haven't had the coin super long, but it has meaning due to my childhood and finally acquiring one whereas I didn't as a kid when I got into collecting.


Napoleon Bonaparte (1804-1814)
France AR 5 Francs
O: Head right.
R: Value in wreath, date below.
Bayonne Mint
36mm
25g
Badoury 583. Dav. 84

Rare Mint for this Date

 

Excellent coin, story and Pic Ken!
I guess the coin that really "struck" me early on was this double strike. I wanted to get into Greeks. I really loved the idea of the gorgon and their depiction on coins. And when I found this "rare" error coin I knew I had to have it. It "spoke" to me.
The irony here, of course, is that my first gorgon, and possibly my first Greek purchase, has no gorgon on it!

 

I don't have a picture of mine. My parents met on a troop ship going to Egypt. I had seen a coin that mum had had many years ago. We didn't know where it had come from but it was obtained in Egypt. It is a 10 fils from Iraq. I found it in her purse after she passed.

 

I made this coin my background on my PC's...

This was minted at Rome's lowest point in the 2nd Punic War when Hannibal was kicking their tails. Regardless of Trebbia, Trasimene, Cannae... and losing upwards of 175,000 men within 18 months to Carthage, they REFUSED to surrender. It was a "NEVER GIVE UP!" mentality.

What a crucible that went on to build a World Empire!


Roman Republic
Anon 225-215 BCE
AR Heavy Denarius - Quadrigatus - Didrachm
Craw 28-3 Sear 31

 

This is the first coin I ever bought. I bought this Otho denarius in April 2015. It was this coin that started this journey.

 

I have to show two coins for this story. Both are Alexandria mint denarii of Septimius Severus. They were the first two coins of this group I acquired. I corresponded with someone at the British Museum who suggested I contact a UK citizen who shared my interest in Eastern mint Septimius Severus. This is how I met Roger Bickford-Smith. This was 1988 and only a very few people cared in the least that there were Eastern mint Septimius coins. Most scarce in those days before the 'opening' of Eastern Europe were those of Alexandria. I had paid a total of under $50 for the two (and I dare say both sellers thought I was a sucker for buying them at all). Roger saw my photos and offered $250. That is more than most people would pay today despite the fact that both are rare varieties. (I know Martin has the first but I don't know about the second.) I declined. At that time I was buying Septimius almost exclusively and did not want to have none from the mint. Our correspondence developed into friendship and I even got to meet him in person when he was in Washington DC on business. His death hit me hard. Had I sold these two coins, our contact most likely would have gone no further. As it was, I learned most of what I know on the subject from him. I could go on and show the coins I bought when CNG auctioned his collection but I am already showing two when one was requested.

I now have 42 Septimius denarii from Alexandria and another 20 from other people that issued coins from this mint (Commodus, Pertinax, Domna and Albinus - I lack Pescennius). Oh, how I would love to show them to Roger!

 

I'll follow up Orfew's with another Otho:


This coin is very special to me because it was a present from my grandmother. She was an amazing woman who had suffered the loss of her husband in war and her lung to TB, but she was unfailingly strong, kind, and generous, and she was a huge presence in my life. When I was a teenager, she single-handedly supported my collection as I didn't really have the means to do so. But this particular coin was exceptional and made my jaw drop. She felt I deserved it... but there's no way!

I remember her fondly every time I do a little coining.

 

It's not ancient, but I got it in my change (I have no idea if it was intended to circulate or if it was strictly a commemorative) in 1980 when I was an exchange student in Germany. It reminds me of a time of excitement and wonder. I liked the Griffin and have held on to it since then. I think it's actually made of silver.

 

I started as a wee pup, on a very tight budget with uncleaned coins. I loved history and was hooked from my first little bag of dirty coins. However, it was my first cleaned Campgate that started a collecting interest. I was absolutely taken with campgates and began to collect them in earnest. I still have all of them, even though my interests have changed. One of my favorites:

 

This is one of my first ancients. Though I have an upgrade for it (below) I can;t get rid of it either.




Another is this one. A coin I passed on at the local shop. My sister got it for me for my b-day. I was surprised to actually get an ancients coin as a gift from a family member, let alone my sister. Not a type I like, but Im happy to have gotten it.

Ottoman akche
Suleiman 1 "Kanuni"
926/1520/---974/1566/

 

Strong stories, some moving, some funny (love the dishwasher one...)

I might show again my commodus sestertius, but you would end hating me for the rest of my life

For years, we've had a greyhound (she was my wife's actually, as she got her while alone for her first permanent job in the north of France, and me studying 500 miles away).
After the dog had passed away I gifted my wife with the following coin. It's her only ancient coin, I have it in custody


C. Postumius, Denarius - Rome mint, 74 BC
Bust of Diana right, bow and quiver above shoulder
Hound running right, C POSTVMI and TA (ligate) at exergue
4.0 gr
Ref : RCV # 330, RSC, Postumia # 9

Q

 

This coin was a gift from a friend I helped many years ago. It has special meaning to me because my grandparents on my mother's side were born in Sicily in the late 19th century.

 

Beautiful coin, and very special to you as I understand : brilliant !

Q

 

I find inspiration in history's greatest leaders. Holding a lifetime coin of one of these men from a couple thousand years ago is, for me, an incredible feeling of connection. My two favorites are the coin I use in my profile image [Sicily, Syracuse. Timoleon (Circa 344-338 BC) - Castrizio Series I, 1β; CNS 71; HGC 2, 1440.] and a lifetime Philip II of Macedon [(Circa 355-349/8 BC) - Le Rider D71, R -; SNG Cop 545 var.]

 

As a former agent of the US Army Counterintelligence, this coin feels like it has a special connection to me:

MARCUS ANTONIUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: ANT AVG III VIR R P C, Praetorian galley, thyrsos behind prow
REVERSE: CHORTIS SPECVLATORVM, three legionary standards
Patrae 32-31 BC
3.52g, 18.mm
Cr544/12; Syd 1214
ex. Marti Classical Numismatics

 

My first two cast coins were a significant change of direction from the Roman Republican silver I collected. The Semis on the right was purchased at a coin show in Belaire, TX and was by far my most expensive. I was amazed at the size of the coin vs a RR denarius. The As on the left is my largest coin was purchased on line from what is now my favorite dealer.

 

A Sybaris stater, gift to my daughter born under the taurus