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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Carausius, post: 3323723, member: 76440&quot;]My focus is Roman Republic, so whether I need the type is the first parameter.&nbsp; While I make exceptions, I try to buy the best condition I can comfortably afford with attention to centering, strike and surfaces.&nbsp; Style is a factor, though often less so for Roman Republic than for Greek coins.&nbsp; Finally, I try to buy coins that look like they&#039;ve been above ground for many decades - i.e. old collection toning - and that may have an old, undiscovered provenance.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Not really a major concern. Since I keep my collection in a safe deposit box, I&#039;d like to remain within a size that will fit in my box.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I try to avoid want lists.&nbsp; Instead I try to buy opportunistically as good coins (meeting my above criteria) are available.&nbsp; Want lists cause me to make concessions that I sometimes regret or to skip other buying opportunities that I might regret.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Not applicable&nbsp; - see above!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Presently, I&#039;d say 70-30 in favor of auctions.&nbsp; 20 years ago, it may have been the other way around.&nbsp; The internet and frequency of auctions has changed the dynamics.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Daily.&nbsp; My coins are in the Bank, but I maintain a collection database with photos.&nbsp; I&#039;m often working on the database, inputting new coins or updating old ones.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Quite a lot of time, actually.&nbsp; It&#039;s become a virtual second hobby for me.&nbsp; I do this partly out of interest in knowing the collectors and dealers that have handled and appreciated my coins in the past, and partly out of concern about governmental interference with collecting ancient coins.&nbsp; I generally buy coins for which I think I can find an old provenance&nbsp;&nbsp; Then the hunt is on!!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I own many many numismatic books and old auction catalogues.&nbsp; I have all the current &quot;standard&quot; references for my areas of interest, as well as many historic references (such as Babelon, Cohen, Sydenham and BMCRR for Roman Republic).&nbsp; I also have books on ancient history for my periods of interest - i.e. certain vols of Cambridge Ancient History, Plutarch, Livy etc.&nbsp; I have a large library of ancient coin auction catalogues to aid my provenance hunts.&nbsp; Most are pre-1970 and contain strong offerings of Roman Republican coins.&nbsp; I sometimes use online sources for auction catalogues also, though I really prefer working with books.&nbsp; I even have books about numismatic books, such as bibliographies and numismatic literary histories, that can be very useful as well.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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