Ancient - NYINC 2014 - Greek Champions

Well I don't know if you guys had fun but I had a blast. This was by far the largest show I have ever been too. There was an incredible amount of dealers in about 5 rooms. The place was packed. Collect89 and I got to the show just after opening on Friday via the train from Connecticut.

Upon arriving at the show we met up with TJ coins, who had a set items for his ancient and copper US collection. Collect89 was hell bent on fine ancient Greek coins aiming, for a few types on a growing list. I was going too go through the inventory of every table until I found something I could not live without in my budget. The next goal was to find the CNG table (where ever that was.) We found it, and had to opportunity to meet (Ardatirion). They joy of having coin friends all under one roof.

Near the end of the day with my comrades, I was still empty handed, and not from lack of inventory. There were dealers from every conceivable location with all the treasures of antiquity laid out to handled and enjoyed. Can you believe they a (European seller) would let me hold...I believe it was $ 75,000 to start?, right guys?

This thing is a Syracuse Dekadrachm, from the 5th/4th century BC. 43 grams of silver. I still can't believe they let me play with it. Anyone notice the drool spot on the reverse, J/K.

There were coins of all the obscure empires in history, but everyone knew what their coins were worth and expected just as much. I still did not plan on leaving empty handed. I had the option to pick a coin up that I had won at auction sometime earlier but the coin arrived at my house while I was talking to the dealer (HJB.)

That was this...I went unopposed in the bidding...who here can say steal!!!! There was another one in like/ lesser condition at the show for $650....I soooo did not pay $650.

Odessos, Thrace
Pontic Kingdom
Mithradates VI
83-82 BC
Second Mithratic War
AR Tetradrachm 29.5 mm x 15.97 grams
Obverse: Bust of Mithradates VI of Pontos as Alexander III of Macedon as Hercules, clad in a lionskin headdress with wildman hair.
Reverse: Zeus Enthroned holding a scepter and an eagle outstretched. LA monogram, WDH mintmark [BA]SILWS [AL]EXANDOY
ref: Price 1191
ex. HJB 2014


Scholars agree that the bust is that of Mithridates VI of Pontos. These were minted in Odessos, Thrace sometime between 120-70 BC this particular coin was minted around 83/2 BC to finace the 2nd Mithratic war with Rome. Which ended in retention of the Pontic Kingdom and the expulsion of the Romans from the Province of Asia. Mithridates VI would be ultimately be defeated by Pompey the Great, and would ask for his friend to kill him by sword at the end of the third Mithratic War. He could not kill himself by poison, since he had given himself small doses of poison his whole life to guard against possible assassination.
For me I could not live without a Greek tetradrachm of one of the last Hellenistic Kings and the most successful to stand up to Roman Imperialism. A very cool and unique oober later Alexander type style coin.

on the way out of the show I had to make a last minute decision and procure this from the Forvm table....glad I had my comrades there to say yea, get that one!

Pergemaene Kingdom
Pergamon, Mysia
Attalos I
241-197 BC
AR Tetradrachm 28.5 mm x 16.28 grams
Obverse: Diademed bust of Attalos I right
reverse: Athena Seated with wreath outstretched resting on Gorgon shield. Bee Device left field, Bow device right field. Mono grams. Greek Legend-PhILETAIPOY
ref: Westermark group VIB, SNG BnF 1623 ff, BMC Mysia p. 117, 43 ff. (same as Eumenes II)
Note: FORVM ancientcoins NYINC 2014


Attalos I destroyer of the Gallatians (Celts/ Gauls). He sided with Rome.

 

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Oh how I wish I'd been there! Glad you had fun. Do you have pictures of the show?

 

We really couldnt get many pictures it was very crowded and its hard for people to step away from tables and such for obvious reasons. It was a very nice building. Are you familiar with The Waldorf Hotel. Ha they even had a picture of the Shah of Iran when he stayed there.

 

I am holding a Syracuse dekadrachm right now! A hefty 42 gm of... something. A fake from that last large mixed lot. Since I'll never own a real one, I'm happy to have it

 

Nice post. You had the dekadrachm in your hand & didn't make it out the front door with it?

I got three new Greek coins at the show & will strive to get photos taken soon.

 

Thanks for the write up & you got some wonderful coins. Its a shame many of the east coat dealers, who mentioned in the OP I buy from *cept cng, too rich for me*, never do shows here at long beach.

Jencek & Musa are the only regulars in LB, about it out of the dealers I buy from online.

 

Wow Masternoob, these big show's a bit overwhelming. i would of loved to see your eyes, like a kid in a candy store. your coins are awesome. you have great instinct and good detail to your write up. Well done young Man, well done. Three Thumbs up..

 

Admittedly, I needed my comrades to evaluate the the price vs. the reverse lamination damage on the reverse of the second coin. Initially I was not overly thrilled with the trough spot on the reverse, but with the devices intact for the price I got it for it was worth it.

 

Sounds and looks like you had a pretty successful show (however, there was a definite shortage of side-stories involving you guys drinking wine out of a priceless kantharos and/or needing to fence your coins for bail-money?)

just jokes => Noob, it sounds like you had fun (I'm jealous ... congrats)

 

Steve- You don't know the half of it...

 

That's the half we want to hear. Spill!!

 

I'm glad you were able to see their dekadrachm. It is a stunning denomination - the $75K price is from a fixed price list from Nomos/CNG so that's as high as it's going to go. I considered buying it as I saw it at the show as well and quite like it, but, it was last sold in October for a fair amount lower and I'm not willing to go quite that high for it.

 

Those of you who are not in the market for a Syracuse, Sicily, dekadrachm of 400 BC can join me in a Syracuse, New York, dekadrachm of 1898 AD issued as an advertising premium by the Stearns bicycle company of that city along with their mail order catalog of very high end bicycles. I believe I am correct that their "Yellow Fellow" bicycle new in 1898 sold for more than a real ancient dekadrachm would that year. Mine was $6.50 postpaid on eBay a couple years ago but it is not the sort of thing eBay would understand. They bring more elsewhere.
http://www.cngcoins.com/Search.aspx...1&SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_2=1&VIEW_TYPE=0

 

Wow, dougsmit, that is a very interesting piece - very cool!

 

Ancientnoob, nice overview of the show. Soo0 man cool coins! It was great to meet you in person!

Here are the pics of my new Caligula that I got at the show:

 

Nice coins AN! 2 Thumbs Up!!
I really like the Mithradates VI.

 

Here is a Philippi from the show.
Victory on globe rt. / 3 Military Standards COHOR PRAE PHIL
20 mm; 6.4 grams

 

Thanks for the report! I'm sorry I couldn't join you guys. Great coins, everyone.

 

Collect89 it was good to meet you at the show!

 

Thanks for the Shapur I Nate! I amenjoyin it!
Here are my pics of it
Gotta dig the guy who captured a Rom Emp.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shapur_I
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerian_(emperor)