Last Ancients For Awhile

With what's going on with the USPS and so forth, I have chosen to take a break from buying new ancients.

Below are two coins I have had for quite some time & the last ones I will be posting for the time being.


Arsakes XVI (78 - 61 B.C.)
AR drachm
O:short-bearded bust left wearing diadem, hair covering ear; single-pellet-ended torque; circular border of pellets.
R: Archer (Arsakes I) seated right on throne, holding bowfive-line Greek inscription with left two lines read from inside = ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΘΕΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ
Margiane Mint
19mm
3.93g
Sellwood 30.20


Licinius I (308 -324 A.D.)
Æ Follis
O: IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS PF AVGG; Laureate bust right.
R: IOVI CONS-ERVATORI AVG; Jupiter standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, leaning on scepter and holding Victory on globe in right hand, eagle holding wreath to left on ground // HTΔ
Heraclea mint, 15-316 A.D.
4.26g
22mm
RIC VII Heraclea 12, p. 543 (unlisted officina)

 

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yea man don't buy more I decided the same because you know, now we might lose job and we need save cash to survive the covid. Job market seems aweful so I also save my money. My last coin will be next month in an auction and I am done with coins for life.

 

I like that Licinius, thanks for posting it.

 

I still have some coins en route from Europe. It's going to take awhile, I'm afraid.

 

If anything, I have received better mail service since Covid has been on the scene but I do not buy from Europe. I plan on taking a break after 1 September until after the elections so my coins do not get lost in the pile of junk mail expected in the next two months. The post office employees have it bad enough without my business right now. If I see something from the US/Canada dealers, I might go for it but that is my current plan.

 

Lovely coins @Mat

I hope that you do not plan to take a break from the boards as well.

 

@Mat.....Very nice Licinius!.....
In the last couple of days I was thinking about buying a coin from an American vcoins dealer by layaway?...You guys and girls have a much clearer idea of what's happening or going to happen on the other side of the pond over the next few months...Do you think it's a bad move ?......
I must say I'm really sorry about the unknown your all going through at the moment over there and hope things improve swiftly!.....

 

I wouldn't know, I haven't bought from overseas in a few months. Maybe someone else can answer that.

 

I am bummed folks are losing confidence, and not buying anymore... I regret @Mat and others are having to stop buying. I really enjoyed the posts of new coin to everyones’ collections.

I am hoping things will change soon, for the better.

I am hoping we can all chuckle again, and let all these problems be behind us

 

Stay-at-home is what got me started on this hobby. Binge watching archeology shows led to interest in the coins.

Nothing I have purchased was from overseas so I can't comment on that.

 

I'm a big fan of USPS - I think they do a great job, but I have noticed a slowdown for USA mail the past month. And weird routing - a book I bought one state over, went east instead of west, then north. It has now been in three states and yet not mine. Really, I could've walked over and got it faster.

Over the past three months, I've bought four from Europe and they all got here within a month or less, which is quite good (France, Germany, Czech Republic).

 

I am in Canada and shipping times seem to be minimum 3 weeks now from the USA (which is crazy) and nearly 5 weeks from Europe.. but on the bright side they are all reaching their destination... although four are still on their way (in two shipments) - so fingers crossed.

This arrived yesterday from Europe (4.5 weeks shipping):

Maximianus (286-305). Æ Follis. Cyzicus, 295-6. R/ Genius (29mm)

 

Are you taking about domestic postage? I have a lot of coins and a few political items this summer and have had no problems. I hear that imports are another issue.

 

Nice way to end a series see next time. Thanks

 

Both great coins, that drachm is awesome!

Yeah, the mail is worrisome at the moment (among other things).

 

Nice additions @Mat.

Not quite sure what you mean, but I'm guessing the postal service is suffering from the covid going on? Is it an option for you, to ask the seller to use another service? Too bad you have to take a break, but understandable of course. You don't want a coin to go missing!

Twice I received a coin from the US, I think it was fedex, and UPS. Or just fedex...? But that was before covid though. I tend to avoid sellers from the US. Too high handling costs.

 

@Mat , I'm sorry to hear about your decision and look forward to your new purchases once you've started back up again.

Personally, I haven't noticed any slow down with USPS domestic mail. International is a smidge slower I suppose, but nothing to worry about. I recently had a package from France take 3 weeks with Registered International Mail - which was not unusual prior to Covid-19.

 

I've continued buying coins from overseas and don't have any plans to stop. Just yesterday I shipped a coin to a member here who is overseas. Things have definitely been slower, but I'm not convinced things will actually be getting lost. If they are, they're going to be insured, so it won't be the end of the world.

 

@Mat, nothing wrong with taking a break & a clean one at that

My decision to buy only from UK auctions to avoid any international postal issues came back to bite me in the ass.
The coin ( purchased April 17 ) spent 2 months in lockdown, was lost within 48hrs of release & another 2 months later i still have no idea when it will be resolved

So much for playing it safe

 

That is an excellent Parthian @Mat. A lesser seen king at that. Nicely centered, which is kind of a miracle in and of itself and nice grade on top of it.

The Licinius is pretty great as well. Normally the coins of the Tetrarchy are pretty beat up and yours is very nice.

I think that my service with shipping has been slower within the US than from outside. Most of the auction houses in Europe seem to be using DHL or FedEx more since their mail systems had weird shutdowns or restrictions. And with those the price is obviously sucky but getting my coins in five days is okay.