Ugh. No statement sends a chill down a collector’s spine like that one. You can’t win. You don’t want to sound mercenary and say, “spend this much and buy me this one”. But if you leave it up to a non-collector, the chance of getting a bad coin in bad condition at a bad price is high. This year I stumbled on a fool-proof solution. I pointed my wife to VCoins and MA-Shops and explained I wanted a coin depicting Anna Perenna. The coin was thematic with a birthday, which was important to her: Anna is the goddess of a happy and healthy year. What I didn’t say was that there were only a handful of them on both sites, in a wide range of prices, and, most importantly, I would be happy to add any one of them to my collection. This gave her the satisfaction of choosing which coin would be my surprise gift, and I didn’t have to practice faking surprised delight in the mirror. The one she picked out was this, and I am very pleased with it, L.Fabius L.f.Hispaniensis AR Denarius 82 BC Army Mint in northern Italy. Obv: C ANNI T F TN PRO COS EX SC. Draped female bust n.r. (the ancient Roman spring goddess Anna Perenna), in front of it Libra, behind Caduceus. Rev: Victoria in Quadriga n.r., above Q, in section L FABI L F HISP. 3.90 g Ex Dr. Busso Peus 419, 408 3.90 g Ref: Cr. 366/1, Sear 289, Syd. 748, Albert 1247. Ex. Busso Peus 419, 408 That people asked Anna Perenna to bestow as many more years to them as they could drink cups of wine at the celebration was, I assured her, purely coincidental. My birthday party was a bit of a blur, but I predict a long life ahead.
A long life to you and yours for sure. That's a lovely coin and a good idea when someone says they are going to buy you an Ancient coin. I generally don't get asked and those that buy me a present (fewer each year), just give me a gift card. I'm fine with that. I can then put it towards something I want (and no neckties).
I did the same with my wife but went on to show her the vcoins watch list feature. Said pick one from my watch list if you want to get me a present (I said she was my real present). She got this for me for Christmas one year: John
Happy birthday What a tidy solution and wonderful coin! Sharing your Vcoins wish list (as Theodosius did) is another great idea.
Excellent coin and strategy! Many republican denarii strike me as a bit simple but that one is very visually appealing. Most of us are likely in the same boat, but I am also fond of silver bullion so my better half got me a kilo ingot for my last birthday. That's the good sort of weight to put on as the years go by
Beautiful coin and a very nice selection by the missus! I know better than to ask anyone in my family for coins as a gift. A couple years ago, my wife's mother surprised me with some coins that she picked up at a garage sale, "Since I know you like collecting coins." They were a few of those Franklin Mint clad quarters/half dollars that were painted or had stickers of celebrities, and two proof 1oz silver $1 from Niue commemorating 9/11, except that they were both about 10 grams underweight, had no reeding, and were magnetic... I think I deserve an Oscar for thanking her for the thoughtful gift!
ah, my good friend Marty got me a coin for Christmas last year..one must accept a gift in the spirit it is given(it was a worn LRB fractional).. never look a gift horse in the mouth(and don't be too critical of non collectors gift coins)..
My wife gets me a coin every year, either for my birthday or Christmas. She knows what I collect and only buys from vcoins or forvm. My mother-in-law always wanted to buy a coin for Christmas, but never knew what I collected or where to get them, so she just gave me some money and told me to send a picture of what I bought. I did that, but also always made sure I took the coin with me when we would go visit so she could hold it herself.
This is a can't win situation. I never use want lists as offered on VCoins. If I see a coin there I want, there are three possibilities. Either I order it (now!) OR someone else will OR (most often the case) it was overpriced to a point that it is not something I would want my family to spend their money on. I bought four coins today. That means either I paid more than other people who had seen them would or I got lucky and saw the listing first among the group that might be interested in them. In all honesty, time is very much the essence in buying coins at a fixed price. If you go to a show and shop every dealer before deciding which coin to buy, you run a great risk that someone else bought it before you could tell your wife that Dealer X has what you want for Christmas. I have greatly appreciated several gift coins over the years but they were not things that I had seen before and passed up. I have been trying to sell some coins through John Anthony's auctions. Quite accidentally I sold a very low value coin received as a gift. I hope the giver is not a JA sale subscriber.
well, i always make a point to tell the givee that those are theirs to do with as they wish, whatever it may be, i.e. sell, clean, keep or throw off a cliff.
Happy Birthday! That’s a beautiful example. I bought the same type a few years ago for my dad on his 74th birthday. ROMAN REPUBLIC C. Annius T.f. T.n and L. Fabius L.f. Hispaniensis AR Denarius. 3.82g, 18.8mm. Northern Italian or Spanish mint, 82-81 BC Crawford 366/1b; Sydenham 748a; RSC Annia 2. O: C.ANNI.T.F.T.N.PRO.COS. EX.S.C, draped bust of Anna Perenna right, wearing stephane; winged caduceus to left, scales to right, plough below neck. R: L.FABI.L.F.HISP, Victory driving quadriga right, holding palm and reins; Q and dot above horses.
