Do you have coins that you consider irreplaceable for some reasons? Such as their condition, story, etc. It also doesn’t have to be expensive or even be the only or one of few known examples. I don’t have any that I consider irreplaceable, although there are couple of coins that I could never buy it for the price I once bought them for!
Of all the ancients I own, I would say the very first ancient I ever bought qualifies. Weirdly, I could be offered millions of dollars for it and a huge part of me would decline it, stupid huh? Septimius Severus (193 - 211 A.D) AR Denarius O: SEVERVS AVG PART MAX, Laureate head right. R:RESTITVTOR VRBIS (Restoration of the City), Severus in military attire, spear in left, sacrificing over a tripod altar with right. Rome mint, 201 A.D. 3.3g 18mm RIC 167a, RSC 599, BMCRE 202
I personally don't believe that's "stupid" at all, and I believe by viewing your choice, you're "well informed". JMHO
This one only because of the provenance: VESPASIAN Æ Dupondius OBVERSE: IMP CAES VESP AVG P M T P COS V CENS, radiate head left REVERSE: FELICITAS PVBLICA S-C, Felicitas standing facing, head left, holding caduceus & cornucopiae Struck at Rome, 74AD 10.2g, 28mm RIC 716, (RIC [1962] 555), Cohen 152, BMC 698 Ex: J.Q. Adams lot 785 of the John Quincy Adams sale (Stacks, 1971) purchased by Christian Blom. Chris sold it to Mendel Peterson of the Smithsonian Institution (it comes with his tag) who sold it to Gene Brandenberg, Trojan Antiques.
That's "Brandenburg". I had a moment there where I thought my uncle had been an ancient collector, unknown to me. But I looked up this Gene Brandenburg, and while the name and region match, the ages don't.
Easy choice for me! @dougsmit gifted me this and probably 10 more coins in 2019 or so and his investment into me opened a new avenue of collecting! One or two of the bronzes I gifted to a friend who was just starting. Paying it forward is vital to continuing the hobby and responsible practice for decades to come.
Some of you have heard this before. I received a Twenty Cent piece in change one day back in the 50's. It was an 1875 S. The old vegetable vendor gave it to me instead of a Quarter. My mom let me keep it even though I came home 5 cents short. I am passing along some of the stuff I don't want to be mishandled in our estate. A few days ago, I gave it to our youngest son who was born in 1975. And he knows the story.
Aside from a couple of coins handed down through generations, this ancient is my first ever. As such, regardless of condition, commonality etc, it is one I will never part with
Here's my irreplaceable jewelry piece, I still don't know if I'll have it separated or not, I like it the way it is! Hungary, Charles VI gold ducat 1738-KB, King standing right holding orb and scepter/Madonna and Child, KM-306.2!
Yes. Way back in the day, I was fortunate enough to snag an XF-45 1915-S Indian Head $10 for not too much over melt. Definitely one of the scarcest and under-appreciated dates in the series, once the usual suspects of 1933, 1930-S, and 1920-S are excluded.
Absolutely not stupid at all. Many of the things I collect have sentimental value in some way. Great looking coin too!
I own a coin of this type. However, I absolutely LOVE the patina on yours. Probably my favorite color of patina when I can get it!
I cannot say that any of my coins are completely irreplaceable. Eventually when I finally decide to put the collection back on the market they will all go. However I will miss some more than others. There are some that are among my favorites because they represent something to me personally. Ar Tetradrachm of Prolemy I as Satrap of Egypt Memphis 322-321 BC In the name and types of Alexander the Great. Obv Head of Beardless Herakles wearing lions skin headdress. Rv. Zeus Aetophoros seated left. Price 3971 CPE 1917.20 grms 29 mm Photo by W. Hansen Even before I had expanded my ancient coin collection to include Greek coins i liked this type. At the time it was considered to be a lifetime issue and of all the coins minted by Alexander I thought that this type was the nicest. Naturally attributions change and even though at the time I had picked it up at a Frankfurt Numismata in 2014 I knew that it was posthumous I still liked and wanted the coin.
I suspect several of my cast bronze coins would be hard to replace. My current favorite is a recent purchase. Anonymous. Æ Aes Grave Dupondius Circa 230-220 BC, Semi-Libral standard. Volaterrae (Etruria) mint. Obv - Janiform head of Culsans, wearing pointed petasus Rev - Club; I I (mark of value) across field; ethnic around velaθri. reverse Etruscan retrograde legend - FEΛA-OΔI / IΔO-AΛEF
Here is my irreplaceable coin, a 1795 Draped bust silver dollar that has been in my family for over 100 years. In the 1950s I asked my grandmother if she had any coins. She brought a cigar box with the dollar and lots of large cents. My dad, a coin collector, kept them for 25 years, then I got them.