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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 2721364, member: 19463&quot;]The general style here was issued for about 200 years.&nbsp; Experts divide them by small details of style and fabric into quite a number of groups which vary greatly in price and scarcity.&nbsp; I wish I had a &#039;complete&#039; set of styles to demonstrate the point but the fact is that a coin needs to be one of the recognizable styles or it is very suspect.</p><p><br /></p><p>Pishpash is pretty close when she says the nose and crest are hard to get on the same coin and you will pay a premium for a coin with most or all the crest.&nbsp; The things were made in good silver so they are quite soft and wore easily.&nbsp; You have to decide whether you value centering, wear, surfaces or style most.&nbsp; A &#039;perfect coin in each of those respects will be very, very expensive.&nbsp; It is a lesson in compromise.&nbsp; I always say that there are three factors on common but popular coins:&nbsp; What you want&nbsp; --- When you want it --- How much you want to pay.&nbsp; You can select two of these as long as you are very flexible on the third.&nbsp;&nbsp; Most of us end up with coins that are not exactly what we wanted, not exactly when we wanted it and not as cheap as we had hoped.&nbsp; At any given time there are a thousand owls for sale somewhere.&nbsp; All you have to do is find the one that fits.&nbsp; In addition to the tetradrachms, there are smaller fractions which are much less common and much less popular so not as expensive as one might expect given their scarcity.&nbsp; Few beginners want anything but the tetradrachm.&nbsp; Test cut coins are common and unpopular.&nbsp; Ancient but unofficial coins exist in good silver and silver plated.&nbsp;&nbsp; I do not consider this to be a good coin for collector&#039;s new to the hobby unless they are willing to work closely with a dealer worthy of trust and willing to pay a heavy premium for these services.&nbsp; It will take a while to learn what you need to know to make a good selection (one that fits you, not me) all on your own.</p><p><br /></p><p>I second TIF&#039;s suggestion that you read Reid&#039;s pages. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I do not mind wear or cuts as much as most people.&nbsp; </p><p>[ATTACH=full]616630[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]616631[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]616633[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]616634[/ATTACH] </p><p>[ATTACH=full]616637[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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