[ancients] A disappointing mixed lot.

I don't think dealers are bidding on those large lots, at least not when the prices get close to retail. I opened an eBay store out of financial necessity: I've got a family of six to support, and I really shouldn't be spending any money on hobbies whatsoever. So my aim has been to make collecting a self-sustaining endeavor.

I scour eBay for coins that fly under the radar, look for sales on other sites like vcoins, numismall, budgetancients, etc., and make a lot of low-ball offers. Most are rejected, but some aren't. I get to enjoy all the benefits of collecting, however temporary they may be: the coin is bought, delivered, I research it, photograph it, post it here, discuss it, and off it goes to the store.

I don't want to deal in coins, mind you, but it's the only way I can afford the hobby. And it doesn't much matter to me if a coin sells or not - I already have a profession that sustains us all. Maybe someday I'll be able to keep everything I collect, but that day hasn't come. In the meantime, trading is my only option.

 

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Most of us that came over from CCF have made the same observation, but this is the way CT is set up and they have valid reasons not to change it. It seems to work just fine, but we've taken to beginning our threads with the identification "Ancient" just to make it easier to identify.

 

I like it since I am not strictly an Ancient coin collector. I also like to pick up Canadian and World coins. It is sort of all in one for me. I occasionally check the sales but I haven't in a long time simply because I shouldn't make any more random purchases. Abstinence stops new coin babies right?

 

But I like coin babies!

 

My first thought on seeing the lot with 751 antoniniani that Doug had mentioned was - would anybody but a dealer buy a lot with 454 Gordian III antoniniani in it? And then I thought, would even a dealer want that??

 

You'd be surprised. I'll bet medoraman bought the whole kit and kaboodle. That's right up his alley.

 

I watched online last year as a load of silver ants went for about £60GBP each with a US and Russian competing for every lot...there were thousands of coins, but noone else got a look in!
There are 2007 Gallic ants for sale and the minimum bid price is £1.50 with an estimate of £2.50 per coin!! Most look like the dregs from a sorted Gallic hoard and many are barbarous....I really will be shocked if someone starts the bidding off at $3000. I got to pick from a decent gallic hoard and took the good coins, I paid £2 then, but they were authenticated and had good hoard provenance. Many have silvering still present, as per the above....much better than the coins on CNG, I think.

 

Like JA, I collect a few very choice coins, but sell most of what I buy to fund this .....I'd love to post pics of coins I have bought , but as many will be sold, i dont want it to look like a selling ad for my coins....i certainly do not want to break the rules either, so..........Is it allowed.?

 

Only glanced at the sales section 2 or 3 times. Its not easily visible for me (I just stick to the ancient/world section so that might have to do something with it), so I usually forget about it.

 

I post all the coins I've bought - after all, I've collected them. The only thing the mods frown on is open solicitation, which belongs in the selling forums. Even if I've sold a coin and a discussion ensues concerning the type, I still post it as a coin that I've traded. Things are very relaxed around here.

 

ok John, thanks. I suppose people can make their own choices as to whether they go looking for the coins when they go on sale....most of mine go on ebay UK, but I will not advertise the fact unless members ask or PM me. One complete member, from CCF gave me a torrent of abuse for posting pics of coins I had bought to sell, even though I had not offered them for sale to anyone! he accused me of being a dealer........uh ......yes.....and.....your point is??

 

Buying, selling, and trading coins have ALWAYS been a part of the hobby. It's just not a big deal. Some members have links to their eBay stores in their signatures, and this forum has plenty of dealers on it, with internet and brick-and-mortar shops. I think the mods just want to keep the trading in one place for the sake of efficiency.

 

I agree, trading and coins sort of go hand in hand really