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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 2700399, member: 19463&quot;]Today&#039;s mail brought four coins I bought as a group lot.&nbsp; I don&#039;t usually go for lots when they are illustrated only with one photo showing a pile of one sided coins but This one had a coin I really hoped was what I wanted and three that looked decent so I put in a bid and won.&nbsp; It turned out that the one I hoped would be what I wanted was not but the group certainly brought up some points I believe could be of interest to new collectors who have asked how select their next coin.&nbsp; One way is to let the fates make the decision for you and buy a group lot.</p><p><br /></p><p>I cheated.&nbsp; After collecting these things for a long time I was able to identify the side that did not show on three of the four.&nbsp; The one I missed was the one I wanted.&nbsp; It still is a decent coin but one no one wanted.&nbsp; All four are common coins and really have no connection that might make them desirable for a specialist.&nbsp; The lot would seem best for a new collector who would be unlikely to have any of them and who would like to have some things for a general collection of common coins.&nbsp; All these are common.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>After they arrived I accidentally found one of the coins (the exact specimen) online.&nbsp; It turned out that all four failed to sell in a European auction that some of the people here believe to be a good source.&nbsp; New collectors may find it interesting to ask why these did not sell last November when offered singly but why I found the group wort owning even if I could only see one side.&nbsp; </p><p>[ATTACH=full]607664[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>First is an antoninianus of Tacitus from the Lugdunum mint that was shown in the photo by the reverse PAX PVBLICA.&nbsp; It looked well struck so I could only hope the obverse was also.&nbsp; Lugdunum tends to have decent workmanship so I got about what I expected.&nbsp; Nice beard.&nbsp; The coin failed to sell with a starting price of 80% of the 75 pound estimate (plus 15% , + postage).&nbsp; I would not pay that much for it either.&nbsp; Would you?</p><p>[ATTACH=full]607665[/ATTACH] </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Next is a decent example of the Trier mint Constantinopolis Commemorative which failed to sell for 30 pounds (plus the same fluff).&nbsp; I don&#039;t think many people looking for a coin like this patronize big deal auctions and this one just was not something that appealed to the bidders.&nbsp; Is it worth 30 pounds?&nbsp; Not to me.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]607666[/ATTACH] </p><p>Third is an AE3 of Crispus from the London mint with the vota altar reverse.&nbsp; I am a little surprised no one wanted it because many UK collectors like coins from London mint and this one is is well struck.&nbsp; You even can see the details on the lobe on the reverse.&nbsp;&nbsp; I guess this one is just so common (RIC C3) that everyone has a handful and the estimate of 50 pounds was nothing they found attractive.&nbsp; I liked the large flan and the way the shield was only half cut in the die.&nbsp; It might look better if on a smaller flan.&nbsp; Adding nothing but something I find interesting that new collectors need to learn is the dot in the middle of I and S on the reverse.&nbsp; You will not find this listed in the catalogs because it is just a central dot in the die that was used to lay out the circle of dots.&nbsp; There was one of these on every die made but 99% of designs have something (portrait, figure) in the middle of the die that erased it.&nbsp; The dot remains only con coins that have a space in the middle.&nbsp; Every so often we have someone declare that this makes their coin a rare and unlisted variety.&nbsp; Nope.&nbsp; I would not have paid 50 pounds here either so it is no surprise that it went unsold.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]607667[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>The last coin is the one I thought I wanted.&nbsp; The cataloger said it was Trier mint and I wanted the type with two victories but no column because of the overstruck coin I showed here last week.&nbsp; This is a nice coin just not the right coin.&nbsp; I was shocked when I saw that the solo estimate on the coin was 150 pounds (plus fluff would be a minimum bid of over $190US).&nbsp; The coin simply is not that nice.&nbsp; Even if it did not have that edge irregularity -- even if it did not have extra deposits .... really? On the other hand, the portrait is quite decent (not barbarous) and fits my collection quite nicely.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>As a lot the four were started at $60 but hammered at $110 which works out to $34 each postpaid.&nbsp; You will pay extra if you want to select your coins from the high end material.&nbsp; If what you want are some decent looking coins you can show people who know nothing and don&#039;t mind the fact that they are common, perhaps you should check out the bulk lots offered by some auctions.&nbsp; Just be smarter than I was and identify what is included correctly.&nbsp; I might add that some sellers would place the good side up in such a group trying to fool the fools who bid in their sales.&nbsp; That works just once.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Show your bulk lot purchases and sight unseen coins.&nbsp; You wouldn&#039;t be willing to send a hundred dollars to someone and say, &quot;Buy me something I&#039;d like.&quot;&nbsp; Or would you?&nbsp; That would take all the fun out of it but bulk lots can be fun if you retain a little control over what they contain.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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