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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Ed Snible, post: 3596219, member: 82322&quot;]I use the Augustus Coins web site.&nbsp; It is a great resource!</p><p><br /></p><p>What I liked about Spring&#039;s book is that the author supplies a photo and a bit of text.&nbsp; Without a picture and a story my brain refuses to &quot;download&quot; the information into my memory.&nbsp; I also like to know the human, rather than the corporate, author of the catalogs.&nbsp; Few catalogs name their author.&nbsp; Lanz does (or did).&nbsp; People often tell me who wrote particular catalogs, but it never gets written down.&nbsp; A historian is needed to reconnect the firms with the people.</p><p><br /></p><p>Valentinian&#039;s text for Helios is &quot;The firm opened in 2008. Coins are very well-photographed in full color, without enlargements, illustrated throughout.&nbsp; Descriptions are in German. Coins tend to be moderate value with numerous usual high-value exceptions. There are interesting collections offered, not just nice coins. Their Byzantine coins include excellent AE.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>This is an excellent summary of the catalogs but lacks a story.&nbsp; Without a narrative I tend to get lost in the details when I am not in front of my computer.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Helios story is a side note in Hillel Aron&#039;s <i>LA Weekly</i> story at <a href="https://www.laweekly.com/the-downfall-of-an-ancient-coin-dealer-who-defrauded-customers-of-millions-and-lost-a-bronze-head/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.laweekly.com/the-downfall-of-an-ancient-coin-dealer-who-defrauded-customers-of-millions-and-lost-a-bronze-head/" rel="nofollow">https://www.laweekly.com/the-downfall-of-an-ancient-coin-dealer-who-defrauded-customers-of-millions-and-lost-a-bronze-head/</a> .&nbsp; This article quotes Rob Freeman accusing Helios of &quot;... improprieties of some significance ...&quot;.&nbsp; Apparently [four] Athenian decadrachms ... bought by Helios’ managing director ... and at least one ... later turned out to be a fake&quot; according to Ira Goldberg.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Helios web site is long gone.&nbsp; Luckily archive.org saved it at <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111010143122/http://helios-numismatik.de/detail_html.asp?nid=265&amp;lid=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111010143122/http://helios-numismatik.de/detail_html.asp?nid=265&amp;lid=1" rel="nofollow">https://web.archive.org/web/20111010143122/http://helios-numismatik.de/detail_html.asp?nid=265&amp;lid=1</a> .&nbsp; By December 2014 the web site goes dark.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Helios web site never named who was behind the firm.&nbsp; That information is given in <a href="https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/6796525/coins-freeman-sear/2" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/6796525/coins-freeman-sear/2" rel="nofollow">Freeman and Sear FPL 13</a>.&nbsp; I&#039;d like to quote that information here, but if I do this thread may become a top search hit for the name.&nbsp; Both employees of Helios now work for Solidus, and they may not want Goldberg and Freeman&#039;s accusations as top hits for their names.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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