In addition to my own shopping list, I am (happily) the designated shopper for someone else. He's not interested in them like I am but for whatever reason wants to have an assortment. I bought these two coins and plan to keep one for myself. Which would you keep, and why? (attributions per seller) Coin 1: KINGS OF MACEDON. Alexander III 'the Great' (336-323 BC). Tetradrachm. Odessos. 16.5 gm, 29.5 mm Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress. Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ. Zeus seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; ΔH left, monogram under throne. Price 1180. Coin #2: THRACE, Odessos. Circa 120-90 BC. AR Tetradrachm (32mm, 16.70 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; ΔH above knee, monogram below throne. Price 1180; Callataÿ group 1, dies (D2/R3); Topalov, Odesos 67. Good VF, toned, reverse die shift.
I'd keep #1. Sure it looks to have a bit more wear but Zeus looks like he needs to eat some extra muffins in #2. Plus the surfaces just look nicer in the fields compared to #2. I also dont like the die shift on it.
Do you have them in hand? Because I don't think the photograph does the second coin justice. It's very harshly-lit.
i like number 1 also, nice sharp detials and reverse legend. number 2 is still a sweet coin for sure, i'd love to have it. good point JA.
I do have them in hand and they look very much like the photos. #2 has a more matte/subdued appearance and #2 is shiny. #2 does look very nice in person. I like the reverse of #1 and the obverse of #2. I tend to agree with Mat about not liking the die shift. Prior to jumping ship to ancients I was knee-deep in US classics, where a die shift would be a desirable thing! Having to adjust my thinking. I'm pretty sure I'll keep #1 and I suspect he'll think #2 is the better coin anyway. (Shiny! must be better!)
I agree with Doug. Could be the images, but coin 1 looks to have the nicest surface and sharper detail.
Ahh...the thinking of modern collectors, lol. Agreed about the die shift being a good thing with moderns. I actually dont mind it on some ancients, it just depends on the eye appeal. On this particular coin, I dont find it attractive. BTW the eagle in #2 looks scrawny like zeus. #1 the eagle is large and proud.
I love errors on ancients but, while modern varieties may be tiny little variations, an ancient error really has to be spectacular before it stops detracting from the value of the coin and starts adding value to even that small percentage of us who like such things. Mainstream, high grade collectors will never like an ancient error and we weird ones will turn up our noses at minor doubling. I think I'll bore the old crowd here and start a separate thread on errors. Hopefully there is someone else here who likes the odd things.
