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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 1548265, member: 19463&quot;]There is a lot to learn about ancients and much of it is harder to accept if you already know the answers from modern coins.&nbsp; Yes, all ancients have been cleaned but not all have been cleaned equally well and not all can be cleaned successfully.&nbsp; While all coins may be collected in a wide variety of conditions and states of cleaning, prices favor coins with good eye appeal that look like they have not been cleaned but really they were just cleaned professionally as opposed to mutilated by beginners.&nbsp; I am not a good cleaner and improve about half of the coins I attempt (that means I ruin the other half or should have known better than to try).&nbsp; Many beginners clean coins harshly and love the results but most of us want nothing to do with their finest treasures.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>The other thing to learn is that there is nothing equivalent to the Red Book for ancients.&nbsp; As a result the same exact coin might be found in the stock of three different dealers for $10, $50 and $200.&nbsp; We each have to decide whether we want a coin at the price offered or if we want to wait for it to turn up in the stock of a dealer with lower prices or better grade coins for the same price.&nbsp; There are coins that show up in the market every decade or two so you might want to decide skip it or pay up now.&nbsp; Since there are so many varieties (over a million) and no one is trying to get them all you might get a rare coin for a low price because no one else wants it or you might get in a bidding war with three other buyers each determined to get that one and get it now.&nbsp; Mat is right about eBay (and all other venues) in that you never know whether the offerings will be overpriced, bargains, garbage or gems from one day to the next.&nbsp;&nbsp; Some dealers do figure that they can offer a bunch of $20 coins for $200 and the might find someone dumb enough to pay so one sale makes it worthwhile.&nbsp; Fakes exist.&nbsp; Buy from someone you trust. </p><p><br /></p><p>It is a great hobby but it takes a while to understand.&nbsp; I started in the early 1960&#039;s and haven&#039;t figured it out yet.&nbsp; Have fun.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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