I just posted a page of links to interesting CoinTalk threads: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/threads2.html Those are threads from August 16 until October 13, 2019. That page supplements this older page which is the main page and has far more of interest and importance to beginners. http://augustuscoins.com/ed/threads.html It has links to the most interesting threads among the 2000 threads preceding August 16, 2019. I'm sure there are many great threads among the 16,000 earlier threads, but I have not done anything with them. Of course, you can go back through old CoinTalk pages and look for "Featured" threads to find threads other people thought were especially interesting. The links on my pages are categorized to make it easier to decide if you want to bother with them.
Thank you so much for compiling these! I remember @Curtisimo at the beginning of the year had a similar idea that I was very keen on (though none of my threads got recommended to his but you have several). It is fun to go back through these and not having to search through loads of "is this real"/"how much is this worth" threads. And also to catch up on threads that I have missed
I noticed lately that many more threads have been featured compared to the previous years. I believe it’s a good thing because many write-up were very instructive in the past but were a bit « under the radar ». Thanks for your useful compilation @Valentinian .
Yes, that thread died a pitiful death I thought it was a fun idea at the time I will resurrect it before year’s end in so much as I pledged to give away some things with it and I’m a man of my word. I was keeping a bookmark list but I will do some digging into the forum when I have some time to find as many of the well researched threads as possible.
This is a fantastic resource @Valentinian . The emphasis on learning and education shown by you and other members of the forum are the case and point for why ancient coin collecting is a positive thing.
Thanks, @Valentinian! That is helpful. I wish CT had a master list too, or at least had links to an individual's featured articles in their profile overview. I'm particularly fond of the concise writeups which also contain humor (looking at you, @Ryro! ). It keeps things from feeling too much like a school assignment . I'm in this for the fun .
It can be said that I am no fun but I am particularly opposed to threads where the cut and paste text is larger than the original material. I am fond of Wikipedia and will read what they have to say about, for example, an emperor, so I do not value the entire Wiki-text being quoted in a thread. Similarly I do not value cut and paste coin identifications including catalog listings that almost no one owns or uses. I am particularly against quoting catalog numbers that you have not checked because it perpetuates errors when someone else quotes the misquoted quotation. There are sellers who very rarely make such an error and there are others that need checking closely. I apologize for not being concise. I'm not. My grandson's English teacher makes his class write practice essays on subjects required by Yale admissions ranging between 25 and 250 words. He always gets top score on the 25 word ones. Obviously he got that skill from the other side of the family.
It is hard for me not to feel singled out here, Doug (I mean you did reply to a kind shout out that was given me). Though I appreciate the feedback, I couldn't disagree much more (other than with the 1st 9 or so words). Coin collecting is a hobby to be enjoyed, not suffered. If someone sites a source (even one as basic as Wikipedia) to catch the readers up to whatever the writer is on about or to cut to the chase I just don't have issue with that. If someone is knowledgeable on the subject then surely they would just glance over such things. Similarly, young collectors do not have an infinite revenue to purchase every $100-$500 reference book to say, "I've read this, so now I can post." Nor do I have issue with someone making it easier on others by putting numerous catalogue #s that might help others quickly identify what is being shared from their own collections (though certainly if I was misquoting a reference a friendly nudge or PM in the right direction is something I think anyone would appreciate). Great to read that your grandson has such a good teacher. Good teachers are becoming fewer and fewer in this country.
I very much understand this point and would like to second it. At the same time and on the notion of very costly reference books, which was rightfully pointed out above, I'd like to mention that the wonderful ANS websites effectively constitute reliable online versions of some of the most expensive standard reference catalogues. In my opinion, the following websites can be used as a veritable and free alternative to the printed reference works when checking dealer attributions: OCRE (Roman Imperial) is basically an online RIC with images. CRRO (Roman Republican) is an online Crawford/RRC, though the book contains a lot of valuable extra information and is thus still worth buying. Pella (Macedonian kings) can be used as an online Price. SCO (Seleucid) follows Houghton/Lorber/Hoover: Seleucid Coins: A Comprehensive Catalogue and can be used as a substitute for the book. PCO (Ptolemaic) is still under construction but follows Lorber's yet unfinished Coins of the Ptolemaic Empire more or less parallel to the publication of the volumes of the printed catalogue. This does of course not cover all collecting areas – but at least some of the larger ones.
Thanks for putting all those links in one post! My Coin Info bookmarks folder is so full that is it hard to find anything now. I'll bookmark your post. Hmm, make a new folder?
These websites are the future of numismatics and much better than paper and ink books on the subjects since they can be updated easily and cost us nothing. My objection is cut and paste of coins sold by sellers who do not know and do not care or copying material posted on a coin similar to but not identical with the one being discussed. I believe that it is better to provide links to material online than to wholesale copy it especially without crediting the source. I am sorry anyone was offended by my post but I have regularly suggested that those who do not want to read what I write have two options. You can 'soft ignore' my posts and just not read them or you can use the Coin Talk 'Ignore' button found on each of our profiles so what I write will not appear on your version of CT.
The threads that are LITE, Fun, humorous, informative, educational, lotsa coins being posted, moving fast, etc. are what makes this fun for me. I like a paragraph or two of info to tease my mind. This is a hobby, a diversion, an avocation for me... it helps me relax, and enjoy folks that have a common bond. LOL, and, of course, all of MY coins are the best .... (for me). Oh, and I LIKE posting a coin with most of my postings... isn't this why we are all here? Frentani - Larinum AE 18mm Quadrans 210-175 BCE Herakles - Centaur SNG COP 272 Kindest Regards, Brian
