Coins you will never sell

Actually, the ONLY coins that I would sell were Christmas gifts when I was a kid, mostly common stuff like British Sovereigns, French 20 Francs, coins that would grade EF....all these I put in a Stack`s auction and with the $ bought a CH UNC. 1751 Chile AV 8 Escudos Fernando VI of Spain. My first really nice coin!

 

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$100 MILLION would be SWEET. I could fulfill my dream collection of getting MS Aurei of every emperor, empress, usurper, plus all the AR Denari. Then have enough leftover for impressive beauties from other time periods, also couple frame off restored corvettes, 1967 427-400HP version, 1958 283-283HP....both roadsters with automatic powerglide.

 

This is the sad part. Far too many people don't cultivate a family member, or friend to take care of a collection when the collector transitions to "the great bourse floor in the sky."

That leaves a collection to either rot and slowly get dispersed after being foisted upon an unwilling family member, or sold off for next to nothing.

 

I have always tried to include my business card when I sell coins especially those that are to be gifts.

This is good business sense but more than that it fulfills what I consider to be my main duty to my community. I serve as a place where those with coins can liquidate what they often know nothing about with some peace and confidence.

I'm not just a supplier for collectors but a clearing house for all things numismatic. I have always bought everything down to the last Chuckie Cheese token.

I guess that is why I am still in business after all these years with a solid and hard earned reputation.

 

I will not be selling this collection or any part of it nor willing it to any family members. If I'm still a member of this forum when I'm near the end of my days—I might be giving it to someone here—but don't hold your breath!

 

Absolutly gorgeous Anglo-Gallic! I have been lusting after one of those for a few years now (and it will be several years before I have the disposable income to afford one...)

 

The crazy thing about this coin....
I only got it by luck, I scrolled a Gallery 51 past auction, to my utter surprise, this coin did not sell for opening bid of 2500 euros. This auction site is just as strict on grading as CNG. This coin was described as a perfect coin, as struck. So I bought it after market Heritage had a slabbed MS-66 that was not as good as mine.

 

We can always count on @Deacon Ray to make our pictures look like they were created by a three year old with a Fisher Price camera.

 

I wasn't sure I wanted to chime in on this thread as I think the topic is really quite broad. One might ask 'why would you sell?', or 'when will you sell?'. Many of us have various reasons behind what we do and each situation will be custom to all of us.

For me: Yes, I have sold coins from my collection. For the most part I have regretted all of those sales. In some cases the type has never re-surfaced, there has never been a better one come to market, the example I sold has not come back to market, I bought at $100 and a replacement now is $2,000, etc.

So for me, I suppose I would explain why and when I will indeed sell (or have sold). In the past there have been series I have lost interest in. Mostly modern and medieval. I once had a good size collection of Chinese, ancient to medieval. I lost interest and sold most, but there was a small core of a few dozen I just didn't want to pass on. Various reasons. Extremely high grade, some unique or so rare I wont see them again. I see no need to sell them anytime soon.

I have also sold off mistakes. Why did I buy a tooled coin? I dont know, but I have and regretted it. So, I sold the two examples I had. Not a bad number.

At this point in my life I have no interest in upgrading what I have (and thus selling said duplicate). If I buy it I like it and either wont do it again or the duplicate has some other aspect the other example does not. So at this time why and when will I sell?

Unfortunately, like so many others, my kids have absolutely no interest in coins (though my daughter has shown a budding interest in history, so who knows? I may pass them to her. But if not, well, my plan is to pass them on before I do! I will collect happily until the time has come.

What time is that? For me, I am well aware of the average life expectancy of the American male. I figure I will cash out 10 years before that date and enjoy what time I have left with the proceeds. I figure I have roughly 15 years left to collect (and not to sell) before I do indeed sell.

I understand this model is not for everyone. The sales record is full of examples of big time collections that came up after one has passed. Usually this means that the collector was of sufficient means that the proceeds of a potential sale meant little or nothing to them. But for me, of modest and humble situation, I will sell them off at some point!

 

..."it gets the hose again". lol

 

I would never sell any coin given to me or any Biblical coins that I have.

I feel very honoured to be the custodian of these pieces of ancient history.

Erin

 

Very nice!! That sounds like a steal to me

 

I'm grateful to you for being willing to sell your excellent coins, Ken! You provide ancient coin collectors an awesome and trustworthy resource!

 

I wasn't sure I'd ever find a Laelianus in my very limited price range and I was able to swoop in and get this dirty old bird (probably due to the hole in the bottom of his face) for only a couple months worth of my coining budget. Sadly, none of my friends get why I would be so excited about getting such a dirty flawed coin (living in Utah with a love of ancients can be depressing). Yet I still smile wide pulling him out of my limited collection to "show him off" here.

 

You can't go wrong at buying a Laelianus (still on my list)

Q

 

A coin I would never sell?


Domitian Caesar
AR Quinarius (Broken), 1.04g
Rome mint, 75 AD
RIC V791 (C). BMC V158. RSC 634.
Obv: CAES AVG F DOMI COS III; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: VICTORIA AVGVSTI; Victory std. l., with wreath and palm
Acquired from GB Collection, June 2016

Not because I wouldn't want to, but because it would be a hard sell! I fear it will be with me for as long as I collect.

 

I don’t think I’ve even seen anyone here show a Laelianus before. A keeper for sure!

 

I collect for historical reasons and not really as a numismatist. I could not part with any of my coins. I plan to keep them until I pass, then have them go on to my Grandchildren.

That being said, I also recognize there are potential issues in life that can change that premise. In reality, albeit they are not an investment, the collection could be a store of wealth in case of an emergency or catastrophic event.

Besides the Roman Republic, I collect some out-of-ordinary niches, so I could not part with any or all of them (I am approaching 1,000 Ancients):

ETRURIA:

Etruria Populonia AR 1 As 0.60g 10.0mm after 211 BCE Male Head L - Plain Rev Vecchi 3 68-70 HN Italy 181 EXTREMELY RARE

CARTHAGE:

Carthage - Zeugitana AV 1-10th Stater-Shekel 350-320 BCE 0.94g 7.5mm Palm- Horse Head

CAPUA:

Campania CAPUA AE Semuncia 216-211 Juno Xoanon Hannibal capital Italia SCARCE

.
.
.
Etc... ad nauseum...

 

Well said, Gerard! I have family members who would be willing to respect my collection after I've returned to the dust but none who would actually continue to build on it. I think my Judaeans have more value as a collection than as individual coins. It would be okay if my collection ended up in my niece's china cabinet I suppose. She may occasionally take some of them with her to show her Sunday school students. Eventually they'll wind up in the hands of one of the in-laws who'll try to pawn them or sell them on eBay. I'm with Mr. @dougsmit (h) in that I would like them to go to someone who has a genuine interest in them for their historical and numismatic significance and not just thinking in dollar $igns. So far the only folks who I've encountered who fit those criteria are the contributors to this forum.

 

I'm lucky when it comes to passing on my coins because my son remains interested. As expected, he is drifting away as he hits 14 years old, but his eyes still light up when he sees a coin that interests him. He also has taken a liking to attributing coins. I think that part of things plays into his inquisitive nature. That bodes well for him coming back to the hobby when his teen/young adult years are over.

My bet is that @Deacon Ray will find someone who loves his coins as much as he does. A collector with his level of passion has a way of pulling people into his orbit. It's a form of "coin collector gravity" -I'm trademarking that term that several people here possess.