A feast set before a starving man

That's the thing with e-bay, don't be in a hurry. If it doesn't meet your criteria, if you have any doubt, wait. There will be another along. I know some people get sensitive about asking about coins up for bids, but if you have any doubts...ask.

 

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This hobby is addicting, just take it slowly. Trust us, buying 12 coins a month is fun but... ah who am I kidding?

 

Loolll

 

To clarify, it's considered bad form by some to ask questions about a live auction that might drive up bidders for that auction. A good compromise is to find two or three folks on this board whose opinion you respect and personal message them about a coin at auction that you are considering. That would avoid the public attention-getting. Of course, you might hope that the people you contact will not be interested in the coin, but that is unlikely in the first place.

As far as eBay purchases go, I still buy plenty of coins of eBay, but I have literally looked at thousands of coins. I would caution an inexperienced collector against buying pricey coins off of eBay without consulting a more experienced collector. While even common coins are now, sadly, being counterfeited, I think coins under $50 are much safer. For example, right now there are plenty of manus dei Constantine coins that you like on eBay for under $30 in decent shape. If you saw one you liked, I wouldn't hesitate to get it. I, as well as several others I'm sure, would be happy to offer our thoughts on the coin under consideration.

Of course, this coin is common enough that VCoins also has affordable examples. Just search "hand of God" and sort them from lowest to high to find the least expensive coin that means your collecting criteria. That's how I do it, at any rate.

 

Awesome coin, Ancientnoob!

 

@Theodosian -

@Deacon Ray, don't you have at least one of these Hand of G-d coins yet?

 

I have a few

 

I’ve had my eye on them but I haven’t made the purchase. It is only recently that I’ve relaxed my Judaean only rule.

 

I see, @Deacon Ray. I have noticed two types. There is one with the outstretched hand from above and there is another style with the hand getting ready to place a wreath or crown on the head of a person. I am only interested in the ones not depicting the crowning or wreathing of a person. Do you like both versions? If they had one with the Hand of G-d crowning King David or King Solomon, that would be great.

 

These are completely different coins from different periods. On the chariot type, God is welcoming Constantine to Heaven by reaching down from a cloud. The wreath type is later when the rulers were all Christian and claiming that their reign was endorsed by God. The one below is Arcadius from Constantinople mint.


A thousand years later, Germany issued coins with just the hand and no king. By that time the symbol was common enough in art that everyone knew what it meant.
Halle, Bavaria AR heller 13th century AD

 

Ahhh! I understand! Very interesting. Thank you for explaining that @dougsmit. Also, the German coin is not bad looking.