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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 3222801, member: 19463&quot;]furryfrog02 went to Baltimore on Saturday.&nbsp; </p><p><a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/first-4-from-baltimore.326063/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/first-4-from-baltimore.326063/">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/first-4-from-baltimore.326063/</a></p><p>I went on Friday.&nbsp; He took his sone who has school on Friday; I went with a bunch old old guys (in a vanpool) who wanted to go on Friday.&nbsp; I really wanted to meet the frog family but we were both controlled by circumstances.&nbsp; As a result, I visited the dealer ff02 mentioned but saw the coins before they did.&nbsp; I wonder, if the dates would have been reversed, if I would have seen the three coins below.&nbsp; Would they have appealed to a pair of frogs? </p><p><br /></p><p>The dealer in question has been a friend of mine for thirty years.&nbsp; He never sells ugly or cheap coins but somehow at this time he had a small collection beneath his usual standards.&nbsp; In other words, he had coins I could afford.&nbsp; Long ago, I learned a good place to buy lower value coins is from a dealer who wants to be rid of such things.&nbsp; The dealer did not understand why anyone, especially anyone who has collected long enough to know better.&nbsp; I selected three coins and paid the asking price of $13 for the bunch.&nbsp; I know these are not great condition coins but each has something that makes them a step above the average piece of junk.&nbsp; One of them would be my entry if the contest were still going.&nbsp; The other two .... should I be embarassed?&nbsp; Most of you would be.</p><p><br /></p><p>The first is just a low eye appeal, poorly cleaned antoninianus of Gallienus with victory reverse which in that grade would be worth no more than what I paid except for the additional detail on the reverse of two captives seated back to back with a globe between them.&nbsp; Notice the globe even shows astrolabe like bands.&nbsp; The legend is VICT GERMANICA.&nbsp; Yes, it is at best a $5 Gallienus unless you like little details.&nbsp; I hope to upgrade it someday.&nbsp; Maybe I can get one twice as good for four times the price???</p><p>[ATTACH=full]839373[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>The second coin is a campgate of Licinius I from the Rome mint.&nbsp; It has rough surfaces again from poor cleaning or burial in unfortunate soil conditions.&nbsp; I would not have paid the $5 for it except it is the variety with VIRTVS AVGG reverse legend and I did not have one of those for Licinius. Maybe I can upgrade that one, too.&nbsp; For now, I am happy with the coin.&nbsp; Don&#039;t pay $100 for this sort of coin but I&#039;ll enjoy having it even if condition collectors would not. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]839374[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>For the record, the dealer identified three coins in the group that were fake.&nbsp; The original owner had marked the envelopes NG for &#039;no good&#039;.&nbsp; They were both correct.&nbsp; The rest of the group were good IMHO.</p><p><br /></p><p>Last and lowest price of the three is an Alexandrian tetradrachm of Carinus with eagle reverse.&nbsp; While it has good detail, it is only lightly toned after overly exuberant cleaning.&nbsp; It will look better when I have passed away but I did not find it as offensive as the seller did. I wonder if he noticed that it is the type with additional reverse legend ΛΕΓ Β ΤΡΑΙ honoring Legion II Traiana?&nbsp; I always wanted one of these and I don&#039;t care what color it is. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]839377[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>I feel a little guilty taking these before the frogs got to see them but I won&#039;t be sending these to them this week.&nbsp; Another time guys.&nbsp; Check your mail for substitutes.&nbsp; I hope you enjoyed the show as much as I did.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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