So, ... who are you?

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Roerbakmix, Jun 5, 2020.

  1. Roerbakmix

    Roerbakmix Well-Known Member

    At least once a week, some cointalk member does something nice, which make others exclaim 'you guys are like a family!'. I do agree: members on this forum are (unusually?) nice, friendly, helpful, insightful, humoristic, etc. However, there is a certain anonymity with internet fora, which made me think: how well do we actually know each other?

    Now this is of course not without reason, and some may like this anonymity (for example, in personal message, I often use my own name, but on the public forum I hesitate to do so), while others use their full name as forum handle. There have been threads (e.g. this one three years ago) where new members posted some info, or even photos of themselves, and these were fairly popular. Speaking for myself, I was pleasantly surprised to experience the mismatch between how I envisioned members and how they envisioned themselves.
    upload_2020-6-5_10-33-27.jpeg
    Anyway, why not start a thread like this again? You can post anything about yourself that you want to share - if you don't want to share any private information, that's fine as well, please share some information about your collection or some cool recent acquisitions (but then, please include why you share this specific coin). You can share anything (that is in compliance with Cointalk rules, of course): where do you live, what's your personal life like, do you have any peculiar interests, any hobbies besides coins? Do you have a job? How did you get entangled in this forum, or in the coin collection hobby in general? So, in conclusion, post anything you feel comfortable sharing!
     
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  3. Roerbakmix

    Roerbakmix Well-Known Member

    So, I'll start: the man behind the mysterious @Roerbakmix - or "stir-fry mix", which is the translation for my Dutch cointalk handle (I like to keep that a mystery ;)). I started collecting coins as a kid, when you might find silver guldens in your pocket change. During college, I mostly forgot about coin collecting, but at the end of my six-year education for medical doctor, I was looking for some distraction and bought a metal detector. After a couple of finds, I was looking for determination of barely readable slugs, and via via ended up here, on cointalk. @AnYangMan, who basically knows every coin thinkable, guided me through the Roman coins, towards Greek, and finally Medieval (which is my current area of collection, aside from Celtic). With a steady income as medical doctor, I was able to buy coins I liked, but found out that selling coins is almost as fun as buying them (thus my entire collection netto didn't cost me a cent so far, which I aim to keep that way).

    In 2017, I married my wife, and a few months thereafter, we had our twin - followed by our third child in march this year (born only 40 minutes before the birthday of our twin ...!) In 2018, I paused my residency Internal Medicine to start a PhD in Clinical Epidemiology (very sexy job these days - nobody really knew what epidemiology was before COVID-19, and I guess most people think I work with viruses or so), focusing on prediction research, with an occasional COVID-19 evening shift in between for good measure.

    Last april, I passed the Rubicon and turned 30. The prospect that coin collecting is so extremely broad, and that I will only know just a fraction of it in the next 50 year is very comforting - especially because there are no rules to follow: I decide what's fun to collect (within reason ... my wife recently mentioned that she likes my sceatta collection!) Aside from coin collection, I enjoy coin restoration and metal detecting; non-coin related hobbies include playing around with data, reading Dutch literature (any Godfried Bomans fans here, perhaps?), playing the harpsichord and organ, and listening to classical music.
     
    Aleph, Dafydd, Andy and 53 others like this.
  4. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    I really enjoy your post! Busy man! And congrats on your children. Very cool that the twins to your Third’s birthdays are 40 minutes apart! We have a Grandaughter and Grandson 11 days apart, which was fun to watch 2 of my Girls go through pregnancy at the same time.

    I actually really enjoy the sound of that instrument. Kinda a “real” sound of a quill plucking a cord. Sadly, I have absolutely no music playing talent, but I do enjoy and appreciate listening!
     
  5. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Well, not much has changed this that thread 3 years ago, so I've copied what I posted and updated it:

    I retired from the Army in 2001 after 33 years of service. I spent tours in Vietnam and the Gulf War. Afterwards, I spent 10 years as a government contractor working much through the Defense Attache Offices around the world.

    As of March of next year, my wife and I will have been married 53 years. I'm not certain how she has put up with me and my career for all that time. I have two sons that are older than many of the posters at CT, but neither of them are much interested in my collection. The oldest is a teacher in Virginia and a writer. My youngest is with the Army stationed with NATO in Belgium. Both are highly educated making my BS in Sociology the lesser of all their degrees. I'm obviously very proud.

    My collection is rather small at somewhere near 800 Ancient coins. It covers a period from c 500 BC to 1439 AD. The bulk of my collection is Roman Republican and Imperial, but my Greek collection is gaining on the Imperial at a fast pace. Seeing as how Army green runs through my veins, it should not be surprising that my interest lie primarily in military history as shown on coins.

    To be more specific, my collection passion centers around the first and second centuries BC through the same period AD. I have a "complete" set of Marcus Antonius Legionary denarii with some duplicates. With all the variations, I believe there are 34 examples to be found. Below is a hard to find Legio IIII: Marcus Antonius  Leg IIII.jpg Marcus Antonius  Leg IIII Slab OBV.JPG
    MARCUS ANTONIUS
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: ANT AVG III VIR R P C, Praetorian galley, thyrsos behind prow
    REVERSE: LEG IIII, legionary eagle between two standards
    Patrae 32-31 BC
    3.3g, 17mm
    RSC 29; Syd 1220, Cr544/16
     
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  6. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    Roerbamix, Congratulations on your 30th birthday :D! You are now in the prime of your life, so play your cards wisely :cool:. I'm a befuddled old man :oldman: who's had a lot of ups & downs in my life, so I won't bore CT members with my past :meh:. Aside from coins I collect oriental crafts, antique & modern art glass, & carved jade.

    IMG_6842 (3).JPG
    Chinese carved cinnabar lacquer dish, 4 in. dia.

    IMG_8472.JPG
    !8th century English wine glass, 6 in. tall.

    Pre Columbian Jadeite Pendant.jpg
    Costa Rican Pre-Columbian jade pendant, c. AD 100-500, 2.06 in. long.
     
  7. Ocatarinetabellatchitchix

    Ocatarinetabellatchitchix Well-Known Member

    This pretty much sums up my life:

    D7148BD7-D262-4F31-93E2-A235A33BF303.jpeg

    Oh yeah, and I also collect Roman coins........
     
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  8. GH#75

    GH#75 Trying to get 8 hours of sleep in 4. . .

    Well, my name on coin talk is GH#75. The reason for that is first off are my initials. GH. My name is Grant. The #75 is for my favorite number, but it is also the number I used to play hockey. As of now, I am 14 and have been collecting since I was about 6. My favorite coins to collect are wheat pennies and mercury dimes, but I collect pretty much anything old.
     
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  9. seth77

    seth77 Well-Known Member

    I am:

    - father
    - husband
    - friend of critters, especially cats
    - philologist and historian by formal education and passion
    - consultant and interpreter/translator by trade
    - love fencing (especially arming sword and rapier), although I am not into reenactment
    - professional beer drinker
     
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  10. Larry49

    Larry49 Active Member

    Retired Rabbi.
    Like so many others, started young, long break, came back a few years ago.
    US types, early copper, Colonial & Pre-Federal, Washingtoniana, + pieces related to various eras of Jewish history.
     
    7Calbrey, Andy, seth77 and 20 others like this.
  11. Nathan P

    Nathan P Well-Known Member

    I'm 43. I've been collecting coins for just a short time - mostly Greek - as though I've loved ancient history since I was a kid, I didn't know this world existed and that it was even possible to own such beautiful pieces of history until a friend clued me in a few years ago. It didn't take me long to get hooked.

    I'm an investment analyst for a boutique asset management company in Vero Beach, FL. I've had the same job for 21 years. I'm married to a beautiful woman who has given me two wonderful sons (now ages 16 and 17). My other hobbies are surfing and making original music for fun (if you like the band Sublime, you should like this too!). You can check out my music for free here:

    https://soundcloud.com/bigsaltytears
     
    7Calbrey, Andy, jamesicus and 23 others like this.
  12. Ray Jackson

    Ray Jackson Member

    My name is Ray Jackson, a relatively new member. I signed on to learn things I wasn’t aware of even though I’ve been collecting coins since about 1968. I’m 66 years old, retired Navy (72-92), Married for 44 years, have two kids (?), four grands and three greats with one more on the way. I specialize in US coins, but also have a bunch of foreign that i mostly collected from my world travels. After retiring from the navy i held odd jobs, got my degree to teach history and government and eventually ended back in electronics where i was until i lost my job in 2013. I called it retirement since old men weren’t getting jobs, so coin collecting and fishing with my oldest great grand is my basic past times. I still love studying history, but in goes out to no one but myself. After 20 years of paying for an education that didnt get me anywhere job wise, i will be finally paying off my school loan in a couple of months and then can buy more coins!
     
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  13. Magnus Maximus

    Magnus Maximus Dulce et Decorum est....

    Got my bachelors in Medical Laboratory science and went to work at a private hospital. Eventually joined the US Navy Medical Service corps where I run a small microbiology dept. I would like to continue my education and get a doctorate in epidemiology, much like yourself @Roerbakmix !
    C75E386D-C0B7-44F5-AD68-FF0F2AA4DB8E.png

    I like to collect late Roman coinage as it shows us a snapshot of conditions before the fall of the western Roman Empire. I recently started collecting Seleucid Tetradrachms. I really enjoy the style and history behind the Seleucids, who in my opinion seem underrated.
     
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2020
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  14. Voulgaroktonou

    Voulgaroktonou Well-Known Member

    What a nice idea, Roerbakmix , for us to get to know one another better. I posted this 3 years ago, so I will copy and perhaps delete or alter what I wrote then.

    In a lifetime spent studying ancient coins, the greatest benefit it has given me is the lifelong group of dear friends whom I would never have met, had not our paths crossed through our shared coin interest. One I count very dear is my friend Valentinian, whose willingness to share his knowledge has benefited so many. If I never looked at another coin, my friends would remain. And I look forwarding to getting to know many of you better as well.

    Perhaps my grave marker will read:

    "Loved his horse, his dogs, his coins and books, and, oh yes, his wife, kids, and grandkids. Also, Susan, I TOLD you I shouldn’t try to gallop on Alex."

    Like my Coin Talk image, or avatar, as I suppose it is called, my name is Mike. 60 years ago when I was a child, I fell in love with ancient Greece and Rome, and began collecting ancients. For a few years I did what I could to assemble a portrait gallery of Roman emperors, and occasionally add the attractive Greek coin that struck my fancy. 4 years of high school Latin turned into a college major in Classical Studies – Latin, ancient Greek, and ancient history. Then followed graduate studies in Classics at the University of Cincinnati, where I concentrated in late Latin literature, studying such authors as Ammianus Marcellinus, Prudentius, and Ausonius, as well as Christian writers Lactantius and in Greek, Eusebius and Romanos the Melodist. My professional concentration on late antique literature and history caused my coin interest to move to the late Empire and to its natural continuation, Byzantium. What led to my love of Byzantine coinage was the fact that Byzantium WAS the Roman Empire, and the contemporary Greek nation evolved from that (along with a healthy influx of Slavic DNA in the late antique period). This was made crystal clear to me by a lecture I once attended. The speaker was a noted Greek scholar of Byzantine history. He described the incident that led to his devoting his life to Byzantine studies. When he was a young child, the island he lived on was liberated by the Greek navy from the Turks. As the Greek marines were dismounting from their boats and coming ashore, he like hundreds of other Greeks were shouting out “Οι Έλληνες, οι Έλληνες”! (the Greeks, the Greeks!). A marine approached him and replied “Δεν είμαστε Έλληνες, είμαστε Ρωμαιοί”. (we are not Greeks, we are Romans”. I guess his story hooked me, too.

    Because I had a family, I didn't want to pursue a teaching academic career involving a host of short term positions in the hopes of finding eventual tenure, so as a job opened in our Classics Library, which is one of the world's premier collections of books on all areas of Classical antiquity, as well as in Byzantium, and modern Greece, I took it, and 44 years on, I am still here. I choose the books we add to the collection - 4,000 - 5,000 a year. One would have thought there was nothing new to write about events that happened 2,000 years ago...

    In the early 1980s I was asked to become curator to the private collection of Byzantine coins of a gentleman whose surname is found on products in every grocery store in the country. He had begun his collection buying Byzantine gold in the early 1950s. In the 30 years of our association, we moved into acquiring Byzantine silver and bronze, especially concentrating on silver and bronze of the highest grade. It was a thrill for a small town boy like me to be able to participate in international auctions of the most wonderful material. But the even richer reward was the friendship and love I came to feel for a man that I cared as much about as a second father. My friend died several years ago and “our” - as he used to call it, collection went to Dumbarton Oaks, where it will be used as a teaching aid for years to come. That 30 years was the most meaningful time of my life, passed only by the blessings of my wonderful wife, our children, grandchildren, 3 dogs and our horse, Alex.

    Today, in the twilight of my life, my coin interests center on Byzantine silver, especially the 7th century hexagrams and for truly perverse reasons, I find the Palaeologid stavrata strangely beautiful and haunting, and I acquire them whenever I can find well struck specimens.

    My other hobbies include trying real hard to not fall off our horse, reading 15th century English literature (Chaucer, and for prose, the Paston Letters), the Bible in modern Greek – it is amazing how much modern Demotic Greek approximates Koine Greek, target shooting (but not hunting), and last but by no means least, sleeping, a special interest to which I should like to devote more time.

    My wife also has a degree in Classical Studies, although she questions my love for Byzantine coins. But she tolerates them. And me – she tolerates ME! Amazing Grace, I can only assume. Yes, I am blessed.

    Some CTalkers have added very nice photos of themselves, so I venture one of mine. I am shooting a 45 ca. flintlock pistol, and when the photo was taken, I felt like Iuppiter Tonans!

    MB 05.jpg
     
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  15. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    I basically am regurgitating what I posted before about me...

    Post a Coin and a little about Yourself
    [​IMG]


    Carthage-LIBYAN UPRISING - Mercenaries issue
    Mercenary War 241-238 BCE
    7.36g AR DiShekel
    Melqart / Herakles Head in Lion's Head-
    Lion walking; Punic M above; LIBYA below
    Overstruck
    R SNG Cop 240f

    Coins were struck in the name of Libya and "M", which has been taken as either "machanat" - the Camp (of the mercenaries), or perhaps Matho, their leader

    [​IMG]
    RR Anon 265-242 BCE AR Heavy Denarius - Didrachm Roma-Victory Crawford 22-1 Sear 25


    [​IMG]
    Kingdom of Makedon
    Philip II 382-336 BCE (Reign 359-336 BCE)
    AR Tetradrachm.
    Mint: Pella, lifetime issue, struck circa 353-349 BC.
    25 mm. 14.4 g
    Obv: Laureate head of Zeus right Rev: ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ,
    Rev: Philip on horseback left, wearing kausia and raising right hand; spearhead below, star below horse's raised foreleg.
    Le Rider 102 (D58/R82); SNG ANS 357Hey

    I take an Historical approach to collecting, and do not consider myself a numismatist. Just a person who has a fun hobby that transcends my interests...

    In my philosophies, I am more of a mixture of Stoicism and Buddhism...

    This is my Hobby to divert and rest my mind. I enjoy everyone’s sharing of knowledge, but I will not sweat the details for my avocation, I leave those worries for my career work.

    I am NOT an expert. Period. I just ENJOY.

    I enjoy collecting Coins of:
    - Roman Republic
    - Roman Republic pre-denarii
    - Central Italia
    - Carthage
    - Diodachi / Alexandrine
    - Etruria
    - Ancient China
    - Coins from Ancient Critical Junctures in Human History
    - Have around 145 of the Roman Rulers, but that is for teaching / creating interest with my Grandkids. I really do not "collect" them.
    - Interesting new target may be CELTIC COINAGE...LOL, but still not there yet!
    - I collect Cool Coins that "grab" me
    - Since Egypt has a long history without coins, I collect historical placemarkers by focusing on Royal Egyptian Scarabae

    Love my Wife, 6 Daughters, 8 Grandkids.
    Grew up farming cattle, sheep, grains, had many pets, animals, etc. personally, I connect with most animals very well. One of my daughters is an Animal Whisperer, but she revealed a few years ago that she learned from me.
    I have been a consumer products provider and manufacturing for 40 years;
    I have lived "everywhere" (it seems) for my career, but grew up in a small town where my family was rooted there for 6 generations... yeah, reckon I was a Black Sheep...
    Enormous amount of global travel over my career(s) - right around 5 million air miles on bidness travels.
    I am a lightening rod - Have been in many natural disasters or unusual situations that folks "do not believe" - but, hey, I will eventually go to my grave with a wonderful smile on my face with many cool experiences around this Wonderful World. :D
    I have recently REALLY slowed down my hectic travels...
    Target shooting. Rifles and handguns.

    My Blue makes all the collecting decisions :D ... she is “hanging in there”, happy as can be, but I worry about her dysplasia and manage her pain. She has massive “separation anxiety”, and is always at my side - Whether at the business or at home.

    Her tail is always a-wagging, and she truly has a smile on her face all the time.

    Happy Dawg.
    [​IMG]

    Kindest to All,
    Brian
     
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2020
  16. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    LOL, my wife is Susan, also. Had several horses growing up, and even had a few when I expatted in the UK for a few years.
    I bust out laughing when I read this. “I git it!” LOL
     
  17. kevin McGonigal

    kevin McGonigal Well-Known Member

    Well, I love writing about interesting topics, like myself. Very senior citizen, started collecting in the 1950's with stuff out of circulation (found a 42/41 dime in 1961).I bought first ancient in 1961 from Gimbels, a nice denarius of Nerva for $10 and kept collecting through college, major in the Classics and history, entered teaching, 43 years in the classroom where my collection was put to much use. Traveled quite a bit when younger and never once left what had been part of the Roman empire. I have done much historical reenacting and until recently was a docent at a state historical site. Now I pretty much stay at home and periodically annoy fellow numismatists.
     
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  18. almostgem

    almostgem Junior Member

    Started collecting coins after going on strike with Eastern Airlines in 1989. Was working as an aircraft mechanic and ended up in Hawaii working for Aloha for 3 months, while my wife stayed with the house, and a relatively new puppy. I wanted to get her something nice, and knew she had a couple of coins that were given to her by her father. So went into a coin store in the Ala Moana shopping center and paid WAY too much for an 1882S Morgan dollar in MS64. That is also where my handle comes from. In earlier times I couldn't afford the jump from MS64 to 65 and purchased most coins in almostgem. As far as collection is concerned, I collect primarily 19th and 20th century US, Morgans, Peace Dollars, and just finished a set of Washington Quarters all in MS 64 and above. Also a smattering of other types of halves , quarters, nickles and dimes. Also are starting to get quite a few early commemoratives, but still far from a complete set. My wife also collects coins, but prefers coins she can hold in her hands, so most of hers are Fine to VF and ungraded. She also has a great interest in gold coins and has complete sets of 10th and 1/4 ounce eagles, and world gold coins depicting animals of one type or another. I have also gotten her started on some graded gold early commemoratives, gold dollars, and fractional california gold and us gold type coins. She completed a US Type set not too long ago and refers to it quite often. We also collect us paper money, primarily small size nationals, and large size silver certificates. Really should have bought a nice set of educational notes several years ago when they were only a "little" out of reach.
     
  19. kevin McGonigal

    kevin McGonigal Well-Known Member

    I understand what you means about the kids getting degrees you did not. My wife and my daughters all have their doctorates. I never got one. If mail comes to my house with doctor on it, followed by the last name only, I have no idea to whom it belongs except that I know it's not for me.
     
    7Calbrey, jamesicus, Kentucky and 5 others like this.
  20. thejewk

    thejewk Well-Known Member

    I'm a 36 year old living in the UK. I studied literature at University and have been a lifelong lover of books, particularly fiction by idiosyncratic pioneers like Joyce, Beckett, Pynchon and Borges. I also have a specialist interest in the translations of the Thousand Nights and One Night. My happiest working days were spent managing a library in a busy high school and sixth form.

    Music has always been a big part of my life, and I play guitar decently and I played alto saxophone in a post punk group for a few years doing local gigs.

    Unfortunately I developed ME (CFS) and although I tried to manage it alongside work for a number of years, it increases in severity to the point where work was no longer possible.

    While working at the school I ended up becoming involved in a group with an Ancient History teacher where we read and discussed Homer, and through casual conversation became interested in reading Herodotus. This led me down a path of exploring the classics, which led to philosophy.

    I discovered Stoicism somehow, and after devouring every word I could find in the subject, decided to attempt to take on board what seems to me to be a very sensible and happy philosophy of life.

    Naturally, Marcus Aurelius' little book became a constant companion quickly, and while researching his life I came across images of his coins. The rest is history.

    Numismatics is a fantastic hobby for someone with a limited energy pool, because unlike most other activities, I can stop at any time that I need to without any negative consequences. A coins doesn't care if it has to wait a week for attribution. Thanks to the internet I can do everything from the sofa, or bed if necessary. It has also afforded me another area for social interaction which is greatly appreciated.
     
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  21. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    ...people say i'm no good, crazy as a loon....i get drunk in the mornin', get stone in the afternoon...kinda like my old blue tick hound i like to lay around in the shade...i ain't got much money, but i damn sure got it made...:D
     
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