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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;TIF, post: 3179719, member: 56859&quot;]Others (especially Doug) have already explained why RIC rarity ratings are of little consequence to collectors.&nbsp; The only thing it seems to be good for these days is marketing your RIC-rare coins to others who don&#039;t know that it means little.</p><p><br /></p><p>Also, even if the later volume RIC rarity ratings were accurate, is it really that special to have for example a Constantine I campgate, RIC VII Antioch 78 with a rarity rating of R4 when a gazillion other Constantine I campgates of Antioch (and other mints) exist?&nbsp; Without any context or explanation for the lack of specimens, what meaning does it have?&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>As for silvering, I have a handful of silvered coins purchased because I thought that was something desirable.&nbsp; I don&#039;t like the looks of them as much as the same coin which has lost <b>all</b> of its silvering.&nbsp; Unless the silvering is absolutely pristine, covering the entire coin, it loses considerable eye appeal.&nbsp; That&#039;s a matter of personal taste, of course.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here are three coins which have RIC rarity of R4.&nbsp; There were three in a small group lot I bought, primarily for the silvered campgate folles.&nbsp; Clearly the rarity rating is meaningless in this case.&nbsp; The silvering makes the coins difficult to photograph. You have to take steps to reduce glare when shooting them and then they just look speckled and weird.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Constantine I, RIC VII Antioch 78, SMATΓ, rarity rating &quot;R4&quot; </b></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/campgate6r-constantine-smantgamma-jpg.436938/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/campgater9-constantinei-smantgamma-jpg.436939/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/campgater3-constantinei-smantgamma-jpg.436940/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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