Nice Harlan J. Berk Article

Here's the story... I tried to convince Harlan not to include the "Sulla's Dream" type as one of the 100 Greatest at all. I had various reasons, but mostly I knew we had no photo of a really 1st rate example (hardly any of which exist!) and wouldn't be able to find one. Sure enough, the day the book was scheduled to go to press, just a big empty space where the pic was supposed to be. So I dropped everything at the office, raced home to get my car (well, as fast as you can "race" on the el) and safe deposit box key, raced to the bank to get my coin, raced home to drop off my car, got back on the el, ran from the el to the HJB office and breathlessly handed my coin to our photographer...

The problems with my coin are all about the metal and very harsh destructive cleaning. In its defense, it isn't really very worn at all, is reasonably complete and reasonably well-detailed. I've never been quite sure why I didn't return it, but it's probably the only example I'll ever own. Being in the book has no doubt enhanced its value.

Phil Davis

 

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Thanks for the story! I'm glad the entry made the book in the end. I just read it again and had a look at the picture... it's really not that bad .

 

Another fact is that some designs stand up to wear and corrosion better than others. Certainly there is no doubt that this is a Sulla's Dream coin but appreciating what is going on in the design is lessened by the surface deterioration. On the other hand a Brutus EID MAR can be worn down to outlines and still tell the tale. People will pay more for an EF of either but the need for full detail is different.

A coin on my want list that will never be filled is the Provincial showing Noah and his wife in their 'Ark'. The highest part of the design is the front of the box where the letters NOE appear. The coin is rare in any grade but examples with full NOE strike me as worth a lot more than the difference between VF and VF+ might suggest.
http://www.ancientcoinage.org/noah-and-the-flood.html

 

Never heard or seen those type before, that would be pretty amazing to own.