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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 4841651, member: 19463&quot;]If cheap is the important feature look for coins that admit to have being removed from jewelry.&nbsp; This worn Theodosius II solidus shows four prong marks and cost very little over melt when I got it years ago.&nbsp; Melt was lower then.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1169452[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Do remember that the cup shaped coins are alloyed with silver (electrum) in varying degrees so what looks like gold is not always pure.&nbsp; This Michael VII is sort of gold but the alloys varied from time to time.&nbsp; They are under $1000 even in decent shape.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1169455[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Finally, like the Theodosius, the most common Byzantines like this Focas with a little wear and some scratches are not popular and not expensive beyond their gold content.&nbsp; People who buy gold tend to want MS coins so a VF can be reasonable.&nbsp; At today&#039;s melt, this coin is a bit under $300.&nbsp; I paid $115 in 1992 but that was over melt then. I hope no one is melting these but I could not buy enough at melt to save many.&nbsp; </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1169458[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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