Yes WOW ! I wowed at some of the coins I purchased because of their exceptionnal condition (I'm an easy wower to be fair) Did I ever show these ? Q
Most CT members know I'm a "high grade condition freak", so here are a few more favorites. Much to the chagrin of many CT members I have gotten many choice coins slabbed for their protection & easy viewing . Byzantine Anonymous Follis, AD 967-1065, AE: 10.48 gm, 29 mm, 6 h.
I have on occasion forgiven a coin being better than my collection average when that grade shows something I find interesting beyond what will fit on a slab label. This Parthian drachm attracted me by the way it showed how the letters and deer were fashioned from dots and curves. I probably was able to afford it because hardcore condition fans saw the weaker strike on the upper right reverse and turned their noses up at the defective coin. For the record: I almost did not post to this thread because I consider it highly inappropriate to start threads here highlighting/advertising specific coins in sales that have not closed. I apologize to any of our number that was bidding on this lot and was injured by it being pointed out to people not smart enough to recognize the coin was special without it being handed to them on a platter. I see nothing wrong with a post saying CNG has some nice coins for sale in their upcoming auction but I stop short of saying, "You rich but stupid folks should drive up lot xxx even though you don't understand why the coin is special. After closing the same thread becomes appropriate. Obviously, the coin will go to a Clio level (or better) buyer but I hope none of you were watching it before.
That is a really impressive Constantine II for all reasons! I’ve found that Trier-minted 4th-century coins coins to be of superb style. Here are some that made me go “WOW”
An English dealer I knew sold this coin to me on eBay in 2010. Maximian, struck c. 300-303. 25 mm. 9.86 grams. RIC VI Ticinum 45b "C2" = very common. IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG, head right with his distinctive upturned nose. SACRA MONET AVGG ET CAESS NOSTR
I agree. Posting coins currently up for auction is a no-no. Wait until the auction is over and then talk about it. Very interesting picture! I suspect the curved lines are from tap-tap-tapping of the graver during the gouging of the letters in the die. This particular engraver appears to have been rather timid with the tool, with each hammer strike or tap only removing a fraction of a millimeter of metal. I bet a newbie did this. A stronger hand (and sharper graver) would be used without such stop-starts.
That is one very very nice coin. If you don't mind the expense of letting me borrow it for photography I would include it in the Julian II plate section of my next book. Amazing state of preservation! Rasiel
Wut? Who came up with this rule?? Maybe I stepped over the line for one of the "house rules", I'm still relatively new on this forum, but linking to current auctions for good reasons or bad has always been SOP everywhere else. (doubting myself now) Rasiel
Well, it's not a formal CoinTalk rule but it comes up on the ancients board with some regularity. Here is the rationale for the taboo: Another member (or members) of this board may be bidding or planning to bid on the coin. Bringing greater attention to the coin may lead to more competition, causing your CoinTalk friend to either lose the coin or pay a much higher price than it would have otherwise brought. That's good for the consignor, of course, but this is really a collector's forum rather than a seller's forum. This is a very active board but there is an even greater number of "guests" (unregistered users) lurking at any moment. Right now, for instance, there are 47 members online and 516 guests, plus a bunch of bots. Why bring a desirable coin to their attention when it means you might lose it to them? A similar situation which we may as well rehash here since the topic arose: It's also not good to post a coin you're thinking about bidding on if it is an active auction listing. Another CoinTalk member may already be bidding or planning to bid, and if that member goes on to win the coin others might think he or she "stole" it from the member who was thinking about bidding. Perhaps this is a minor concern or perhaps most people wouldn't think that, but it could put a taint on the new owner's enjoyment of the coin. If a CT member is considering buying a fixed price coin and posts it here for opinions, that's a different situation. Since those are available for all to see and buy at any point in time, the risk is almost entirely at the choosing of the person who elects to post the coin here. It's a "you snooze, you lose" scenario . You probably have experience on a larger number of coin forums, but the only other forum I sometimes browse most definitely does not allow discussion of coins at auction or for sale elsewhere and they are militant about enforcing the rule (Forum Ancient Coins).
Well, as a guest on someone else's board I will defer. Won't happen again. That being said, the rationale may need revision. These coins don't appear out of the tap of a magic stick. Have you considered, for example, that this Constantine might have been consigned by another member who is very much hoping to draw attention to the bids? It's a zero sum game: the dollar saved by the one is lost by the other. Again, not trying to be argumentative. I'll be careful about observing this rule going forward. Rasiel
Yes, and that's an excellent point. My stance clearly shows my bias as a collector rather than a seller .
Wow, thank you! That would be great! Maybe first we could take a stab at me taking the photo? You could specify the requirements and I could try to meet them. I'd prefer not to risk shipping it if at all possible. I do love that coin. I feel like people are less shy about posting (and competing for) currently offered coins if they know or bet that a CoinTalker is the seller, and rightly so. The rule of thumb would then be: it's OK to post a currently offered coin if there's a high probability the seller is a regular Ancients board participant; otherwise not. May the odds ever be in OUR favour!
Among my favorite coins are the sestertii of Nero from the mint of Rome Sestertius of Nero RIC 267 Rv. Temple of Janus 65 A.D. 25.47 grms 34 mm
I ran into this ethical dilemma about two weeks ago. I have been given the task of disposing a collection for an estate of a friend. On one of the threads on coin talk an individual indicated that he would like to purchase a coin one of which I had consigned and was currently being offered at auction. I wrestled with the thought of mentioning this coin in the thread but even though I would only have an indirect benefit from him making a bid I refrained from doing so. I simply felt uncomfortable doing so. Okay I put up a Roman coin now a Greek Nomos of Herakleia 390-340 B.C. Obv. Head of Athena right. Rv. Herakles standing right strangling the Nemean lion. HGC 980 7.79 grms 21 mm I saw a coin like this in one of the Bunker Hunt Sales back in the 90's and decided some day I will have one Later I got this one.
S.A., That coin is a beauty ! I managed to score a nice example of a Julian II, AE 1, from the Sirmium Mint 13 years ago pictured below .
I mostly bought this LRB for the condition, as I'm not a huge LRB collector. But this Crispus wowed me...
Here's one that the combination of condition, toning and style all added up to ❋wow❋ for me: P. Servilius M.f. Rullus, AR Denarius, Rome, 100 BC Obv: Bust of Minerva left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet and aegis; RVLLI upwards to right. Rev: Victory driving galloping biga right, holding reins in right hand and palm frond in left; P below horses; P • SERVILI • M • F. Ref: Crawford 328/1 And another - that is a little less Ancient - and not FDC but still ❋wow❋: Giovanni Soranzo, doge, AD 1312-1328, Venezia, Grosso