I posted my first ever post a few weeks ago about wanting my first coin, a “larger” Arethusa or an Alexander and received a lot of insightful feedback - so thank you. Sure enough I haven’t been disiciplined with logging on to the auction sites as the clock winds down, and even when I tried to follow the bidding (as I saw in a recent CT forum post) the bid estimates seem low and auction sale prices seem inflated, at least for the overvalued kind of pieces I was first drawn to… Anyway - I changed course and narrowed down my first purchase choice to be one of either three specific Augustus’ and one Livia - I decided on the lucky one today - went to pull the trigger, and, alas, it was recently sold right out from under my nose! The price was great for me, the coin measured 22mm which was large enough for me to be satisfied with as a display piece… and now I think I have my heart set on a similar example of the same coin. So the other 3 contenders be damned. Hopefully I’ll post again in a few weeks with the treasure in my hand. But for now, without further ado, here’s the one that got away for $110…
Sorry you missed it! I know the feeling. I wasn't interested in buying it but I do remember seeing that one come up thinking it was a good deal. Hope you have better luck with the other option!
Nice coin. Sorry you missed out on it. I wish I'd seen it myself! Are you sure it was only 22 mm.? That sounds much too small for a dupondius.
I had seen this coin on Vcoins, too, and decided to stay away from it because to me, the obverse looked suspiciously tooled. Maybe you are lucky that someone else bought it.
In the interest of experiencing worthwhile learning experiences, lets recap three rules: 1. Always deal with 'reputable' sellers - not just for the time being but as a life long experience. Send some nice guy's kids to college; let the disreputable crowd take out student loans. 2. Never post to any online resource about a coin of interest to you while it is not yet in your hands. This rule has two benefits. First, it prevents someone else seeing that it is an interesting coin and bidding/buying it. Second you avoid wrongly accusing someone else who does buy the coin of 'stealing' it when they may have been watching the coin longer than you have. I don't recommend posting about a lot even after you paid for it because a less than 'reputable' sellers might decide to sell it for more to someone who contacted him after you paid. This happened to me several times in the last decades including two separate incidents in 2016 when the seller claimed the lot was sent and lost in the mail. One they refunded. One not. BTW, 2016 was the last time I have had any contact with this seller and any of his countrymen. Whether he is a crook or his country has 'problems' with mail makes no difference anymore. 3. The time to buy a coin is the first second you see what you want. If you have doubts about the thing, buying it is likely a mistake. I have posted a 'fixed price' coin here that I had ordered and paid via Paypal within thirty seconds. I have later heard from several people who said they would have bought it but I got there first. If you find a coin worthwhile, consider the possibility someone else might, too. I'm not suggesting buying wildly and paying ridiculous prices for just any old coin but there are times that you need to act or blame no one but yourself when the coin finds another home. I fail to see anything special about the coin in question here but I am no specialist/expert in that period. 4. (a bonus) Learn from mistakes. Make a different one each time rather than repeating behaviors that did you poorly in the past. There are certainly enough mistakes available that we do not need to repeat.
Yes, please, for all of our sakes, try to adhere to #2. I have seen too much drama otherwise. Once at an old fashioned coin club someone was talking about an upcoming auction listing. He didn't win the coin. About a year later another member forgets and brings that coin he heard about and bought out from the other member's nose. The first member quit the club. I post, (maybe erroneously), sometimes after I won and paid for a coin but has not been delivered yet, but try to never post about an open auction. I love CT and you guys, but simply know it may be too much temptation for someone if I do. Best to talk about coins we own rather than tempt fate with such drama please.
I am no expert on tooling but I can tell you I have had numerous dealings with NeroNumi, and he has always been fair and honest. With all due respect to Orielensis (who I'm sure is much more knowledgeable than I am), I don't think you should be labeling the dealer disreputable on the basis of a single critical post.
In the interest of fairness: I am definitely not an expert. Also, I have nothing negative to say about the seller, whom I never dealt with, and I might well be mistaken about the coin. It’s just that the area around Livia’s/Iustitia’s face looks somewhat smooth and more clearly defined to me than the rest of the coin, but it is certainly possible that this is just the picture. For me personally, it was reason enough to not consider buying it. Others might disagree. In general, it is necessary to point out that opinions about the definitions of tooling, smoothing, and cleaning differ. When in doubt, it doesn’t hurt to politely ask the seller what exactly has been done with the coin. If they don’t know or react weirdly, you have at least learned a lesson.
I'm not sure "stolen" is really the appropriate word here. You hesitated and someone else bought it first. It happens. Frustrating perhaps, but it happens.
Hey everyone! Sorry, I'm late to the party Check out my new Livia Augusta: Wasn't that expensive and is now my second of the Livia as Justice types: ... oh, wait. I stole it?
I'm just being silly. Though, it did draw extra attention to the item, which I did Google search and came up with nothing. But I don't see signs of tooling from the pics. Just one side looking like it took less wear and tear from the elements.
I was also eyeing that Livia AE when it was listed on Vcoins I recently bought this budget quality Julius Caesar denarius before anyone can “steal” it:
