So with my job, two young boys, and school, I simply haven't spent much time really going over coins the last couple of years. Yesterday I got a chance to go through purchases for the last couple of years, put them in archival flips, etc. I have to say, it was a good time. While I tend to buy a pretty high quantity at times, I was very pleased with the quality of many pieces. I found a Vahran II that, while dark, it much better than my avatar. I found a spectacular high relief middle Sasanid that I didn't know they made in that high of quality. In total, I was able to fill up four red boxes of ancients yesterday and it felt good to do so. If you are a collector like me, its good to try to stop for a day and just spend all day playing with your coins. I am kind of looking forward to be able to get into my SDB one of these days. I have ancients in there I haven't set eyes on for more than a decade or more at this point. I know, at least for me, many times it is the thrill of the chase that we pursue with all of these sales available to us nowadays. However, once you own them, get more enjoyment out of your purchase and "visit" them from time to time. I know it lowered my blood pressure some just spending time with my little pieces of art.
Nice you see you enjoyed your "hoard" recently. I enjoy my collection about 1 or 2 days a week. Seems excessive, but they are relaxing.
Lol, kind of felt like a hoard I guess. My four year old came in, took a look, and asked me, "Daddy, does Mommy know you have all of these coins? Are you going to hide them?"
I still have some low end stuff in boxes from a few moves over the last 12 years. Every once in a while, it's fun to see what I forgot about. Recently, I found some Indian Jitals and a copy of Robert Tye's book. I may have been too ambitious thinking I could learn how to ID these, but it's something to add to my numismatic To Do List
every day. sometimes to look at my whole collection is a treat. it's like reuniting with old friends (coins).
Yes, this is a very good, valuable point. I have been so busy myself with job, family, and "hunting" down all the different Parthians for my collection that i have been too worried about the "big picture". Sometimes we need to slow down, look at where we have came, study, and appreciate the individual coins as opposed to always looking at the whole. At least thats the case with me!
I actually reviewed my whole collection a couple of days ago, going through all of my purchases over the past year as well as sorting through some of the remaining stashes of uncleans that I have. Was able to ID a new Licinius and Arcadius. Not too exciting actually, but kind of fun...
Unfortunately I've been tossing my coins into a box where they wait until I have time to catalog them. The box is getting kind of full! Soon I hope to get everything caught up.
I do catalog my coins when they come in (only about 50 coins behind!). Describing, picturing, weighing and measuring. But I often think I should occupy myself with what I have more, than acquiring new stuff. Playing with these nice shining things and putting them in the right rows of history.
I'm thinking of that exact same thing! I've been on a buying spree lately (at least for me) and I have been neglecting what I have recieved this past month. I think I'm going to have to do a little admiring, photographing, ID-ing, and sharing tonight and in the coming weeks.
I love to pull out my coins and enjoy them. Right now I'm enjoying this Licinius I that I pulled out of a box of ancients at the show a few days ago. It's not rare. It's not in any kind of mint-state. I was flipping through carded coins and it just caught my eye. I love the toning, and amazing contrast of the devices. Legends are pretty good, and for $20 how can you go wrong? The room was just LOADED with Morgan silver dollars...ya cant get a cool Morgan for 20, I know that!!
I almost always discover something fun when I go back and have another look at coins -- whether it's an interesting feature of a coin's flan, a funny-looking portrait, a lovely patina, an interesting reverse, and so on. I particularly enjoy looking for die-matches to published examples.
Sometimes we just need to throw them up in the air and pretend it is raining coins. Take care if you collect Aes Grave.
