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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 1679505, member: 19463&quot;]This thread has brought up several interesting points on the philosophy of collecting ancient coins.&nbsp; Some of us value smooth surfaces above &#039;grade&#039; or lack of wear.&nbsp; I certainly would rather have a F-VF Crispus or Delmatius than an EF of the same coin with rough surfaces.&nbsp; In my mind, coins wear naturally but the porosity or roughness created by improper cleaning or burial in soil polluted with chemical fertilizers is just not appealing.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Another difference we have is the relative values of what and when we buy coins.&nbsp; I have a want list but most coins I buy are targets of opportunity - things I happened upon that struck me as worth having even though that morning I did not know on that morning that I might be buying it that afternoon.&nbsp; Others of us go to a coin show certain that we will buy a specific coin to fill a specific need.&nbsp; If we go with the idea of buying a Crispina we will not consider a Lucilla and certainly not consider a Caligula even if we find a great bargain on a real beauty.&nbsp; I&#039;m currently on vacation and happened across a decent as of Tiberius which I did not have.&nbsp; Now I do.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>&#039;When&#039; also applies to price.&nbsp; People like medoraman and I already have &#039;enough&#039; coins so we are not likely to buy something not very special for twice what we consider a fair price.&nbsp; In fact, a coin has to be a little special or we will not pay half of a fair price.&nbsp; Beginners with six coins are more likely to feel driven to buy number seven even if the price is more than what we might find the coin if we spend a year looking.&nbsp; I rarely pay &#039;fair&#039; prices for coins.&nbsp; If something is a special want and not likely to show up again anytime soon, I may pay double retail.&nbsp; If it is not special to me and something that I don&#039;t mind never owning, I&#039;ll expect it to be 1/4th retail.&nbsp; Many of my common, ordinary, boring coins (I have at least a thousand) came to me in groups containing something I did want or in moments of weakness when I felt like I wanted something new and forgot that I would regret the purchase before the sun sets.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>When we give advice on this venue, we each assume that you are more like we are than is probably the case.&nbsp; I hope you each will find a way of collecting that serves you well and allows you to be happy with what you buy.&nbsp; Moreover, I hope I have enough sense to stop buying things I don&#039;t want at prices I didn&#039;t want to pay.&nbsp; After all these years, I doubt that I will wise up completely.&nbsp;&nbsp; Avoiding the regrets we get when we buy wrongly or leave behind things we wish we had bought is the hardest part of the hobby for me.&nbsp; I wish you well.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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