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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;lrbguy, post: 3134971, member: 88829&quot;]I appreciate this question from Martin.&nbsp; He is a specialist who really studies detail in coins.&nbsp; I am sure he will resonate to what I want to say for myself.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>I need to preface my comment by observing that I am no longer a beginning collector searching for a collecting rationale.&nbsp; My collection has evolved as a diverse assemblage with numerous subcollections devoted to different things.&nbsp; They vary not only by topic, but also approach.&nbsp; I say I don&#039;t collect Greek, but I do have specialized collections of Olbian dolphins, countermarked Persian sigloi, eagle and dolphin coins of Istros, and I cast longing eyes at the lion fractionals of Chersonesos (for the reverses).&nbsp; Those collections vary from a couple of dozen to a couple of hundred examples, and they do not have a uniform code of acceptability.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Here are a couple of dolphins, collected for shape and size, that might leave you shaking your head:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]800385[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Pretty much the same can be said of my collection of Roman provincials, for which the standard tends to be a bit higher in general than the Olbian pieces, but probably not as high as for the Greek silver.&nbsp; For Roman imperial I collect only silver through the third century and mainly bronze thereafter.&nbsp; For that my standards are highest.&nbsp; But why?</p><p><br /></p><p>I do not have a one-size-fits-all standard of acceptability.&nbsp; How far down in grade is acceptable depends entirely upon how I want/need/expect the coin to function in my collection.&nbsp; An illustrative example came up in <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/which-way-is-she-facing.319727/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/which-way-is-she-facing.319727/">another thread</a>.&nbsp; I have nearly 20 denarii of Julia Paula, but this coin I do not own:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]800367[/ATTACH] </p><p>This coin has a good portrait with little wear and is mostly well struck except for a bit of striking flatness at the base of the obverse portrait and top of the reverse.&nbsp; If all I wanted was an affordable example of one of the coins of Julia Paula that portrays her well, this would fill the bill nicely.&nbsp; But my interest in this coin centered on a feature that was made obscure by the striking defect.&nbsp; Participants in that thread convinced me that I am better off without that coin.&nbsp; In that they reminded me of one of the main principles that guide all of my collecting of ancients:</p><p><br /></p><p>When condition prevents me from a clear look at the details that matter to me, details which mean something to my collection, then I will pass on the coin, irrespective of price.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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