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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Hrefn, post: 8253815, member: 115171&quot;]As a young man, I was a first time visitor to a major coin show.&nbsp;&nbsp; I expressed my interest in Byzantine coins to a dealer who handed me a coin, and asked if I had an example of Basil the second.&nbsp; The coin depicted Constantine VIII.&nbsp; I politely replied “That’s interesting.&nbsp; I would have thought this was from his brother, Constantine the eighth.”&nbsp;&nbsp; I went on to acquire many beautiful coins from that dealer in the following years.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Years later, I came to wonder whether he made a legitimate mistake, or was vetting me.&nbsp; Perhaps I looked a bit young to be buying Byzantine gold.&nbsp; Perhaps my interest was frivolous and a waste of his time, or worse perhaps I planned some sleight of hand to pocket a shiny gold piece.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>It must be tough to sit on the dealer’s side of the table.&nbsp;&nbsp; Some caution when an unfamiliar collector approaches would be imperative, yet being dismissive or curt with a potential customer who doesn’t fit the stereotype could cost one a sale, as well as being unjust and unkind.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>I assume all dealers subject each person who stops at his or her table to some sort of mental calculus to estimate the customer’s seriousness, honesty, and the potential for a sale.&nbsp; Assuming there are no serious female numismatists would be a bad algorithm, though.&nbsp; I am sorry that happened to you, [USER=72154]@trish.[/USER][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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