Affordable collecting options/themes

I like your thinking

 

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+1 on Pish & Cucumbors suggestions. I'm starting out on collecting ancients and those 27 - 28mm tetrarchy Folles tend to be quite reasonably priced in great condition. For me it's been a great theme and vehicle for learning about collecting and purchasing ancients.

 

I remain of the opinion that money spent on a hobby should be looked at in the same way we look at lunches and entertainment. You do not plan to see it again. If you look at coins as a budgeted investment, you are likely to buy coins you think you should buy rather than coins you want. I should not tell you how to conduct your hobby. I guess I am unusual in that I do not feel the need to spend every cent available every two weeks so I also feel OK about splurging a couple times a year (usually when I go to a coin show). If you are in a poverty period, it might be best to spend a little on a book and read it while the budget piles up to a point you can buy what you want whether it is $5 or $500. Of course you could just study online materials and save the book costs. It is quite possible to enjoy the hobby not ever buying an expensive coin but only if you believe it is. Frank Robinson said, "Love your coins for what they are, not what they are worth."

The above message was brought to you by a guy currently on a serious guilt trip after buying his most expensive coin ever.

 

The key word in the above sentence is "investment." If you're really looking at ancient coins as an investment rather than a hobby, then you'll understand the perspective of Doug's statement.

But an alternative perspective is that as a new, eager collector (rather than an investor), you're much more likely to over-enthusiastically outspend your budget because you want to buy everything you like. In these circumstances, a budget is a helpful thing and in many cases will keep you focused on buying coins you truly like rather than just want to have. Budgets are especially necessary if you're bidding at an auction rather than purchasing from a dealer. Just don't be so penny-pinching that you let a really desirable or hard-to-find coin get away just because it's a budget-breaker.

Finally, it's always good advice to "...not feel the need to spend every cent available every two weeks..." Patience is a HUGE virtue when collecting ancient coins.

 

A 1,100 Anniversary of Rome coin? Around $20. No need to spend hundreds on the 1,000 anniversary to get an anniversary coin. Just got this one today

 

These are good points. I really don't buy for investment - I buy what makes me go "wow"... Either a coin that is beautiful, one that has a story behind it, or a rare emperor that helps me complete my set (to the extent that is possible).

Keen to see this expensive new coin of @dougsmit

 

Eh? What's this most expensive coin yer' talking about Doug? Please tell...

 

Yup. This got me looking at these again. Roma Num has quite a few in stock at the moment. I just go this for a shade under $200.

Maximianus AE Follis. Cyzicus, 297-299 AD. IMP CMA MAXIMIMANVS P F AVG, laureate head right / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left pouring libation from patera & holding cornucopiae, KE in ex. RIC 12b. 9.16g 30mm ex Roma Numismatics

 

That's a beautiful coin and an equally beautiful pic. I can take or leave the floating-reflection background, but that's just a matter of taste. You've really captured the color and character of that coin.

 

Smeagol => hey, I hope that you have a lot of fun on your trip ... oh, and I wouldn't worry too much about the ol' coin-budget until you get back from The Turkmenistan Ritz

 

Thanks. I looked at many. I was in the process of buying a coin from another dealer on VCoins and it literally sold while I was looking at it. I hit the button to buy and it came up as sold suddenly. Overall it was as nice as this one, but only $85...someone grabbed a nice coin cheaply.

I would like to take credit for the photo, but that is the Roma photo. I extended the black border and added the reflection. I agree that the display format is a matter of taste. However I have never liked the flat appearance of most photos. I have been trying to figure out how to standardize my photos for awhile. I liked the way Roma photographed some of his coins for auction and have been waiting to do something similar with mine. Then I saw AJ's and I decided I had to do something about my photos.

I like artsy coin photos in general (if that's what you can call it.) I think coins should be treated like any other work of art, well represented in a photo when you can't have it in hand. This was quick to do and it hit 90% of what I wanted.