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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;jamesicus, post: 3323888, member: 14873&quot;]Like Bing I do not want to come across as a contrarian, but I just can’t fit what I want to say in Joe’s framework. So here is my response:</p><p><br /></p><p>I prefer coins that have been circulated and show the wear and tear of everyday use - but well struck with complete and readable inscriptions if possible. I do enjoy looking at very high quality coins however.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have disposed of most of my coins but not all of them. I have kept back a few coins that I have a special fondness for so that I may continue to pursue this hobby (in a more relaxed and limited way) that has provided me so much pleasure and enjoyment for most of my lifetime. I have planned this for some time and now that task is well on the way to completion. Paradoxically, I have recently purchased a few coins - but only to upgrade (in accordance with my criteria) one’s in my residual collection. Along the way I have disassembled my Britannic Tetrarchic and London Mint reduced folles collections almost entirely, along with most of my British Usurper Augusti coin collection plus several Julio-Claudian coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>I decided to keep a collection of twenty of my very favorite Roman Imperial coins - an Abafil tray full - mainly because I simply couldn’t bear to part with them (and I want to conduct more research on them). I have retained twenty coins that are especially concordant with my long-time criteria:</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Significant historical association</p><p><br /></p><p>2. Reasonably well centered strike</p><p><br /></p><p>3. Clear and complete inscriptions (as much as possible)</p><p><br /></p><p>4. Elegant and well formed inscriptional lettering</p><p><br /></p><p>5. Roman Britain (especially Claudian) connection</p><p><br /></p><p>My main goal has been to retain a very small “swan song” collection of coins that I can fondle and admire (which I do almost daily) and read about in my “golden years”. But the coins I have disposed of live on - on my web pages that is - that I frequently browse to renew acquaintances with old friends.</p><p><br /></p><p>To reiterate, I have always sought out and collected coins with significant historical association rather than just aesthetic appeal or completing sets of coin types. Condition of coins and appearance of surfaces has always been of secondary importance to me - and I do admire elegant&nbsp; inscriptional lettering.</p><p><br /></p><p>Added via Edit:</p><p><br /></p><p>I have reduced my reference library considerably - As with my coins, I have retained a “hard core” selection of books I especially treasure.</p><p><br /></p><p>My selection of twenty coins has nothing to do with current “minimalist thinking” -&nbsp; it is just coincidental.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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