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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;robinjojo, post: 4666978, member: 110226&quot;]I agree.&nbsp; There are factors that determine a coin&#039;s desirability that go beyond the issue of rarity.&nbsp; But I also think a key factor is a collector&#039;s proclivity to favor certain factors, such as artistry, patina, execution of the strike, flan shape, surface condition, etc. </p><p><br /></p><p>The fact is, though, that certain coins have an almost universal appeal, especially to non-collectors, such as the Athenian tetradrachms from the 5th century BC.&nbsp; They carry with them the history of one of the pillars of western civilization, an appealing design and a good heft in the hand.&nbsp; I think these qualities go a long way to explain the seemingly insatiable demand for these coins, in light of the vast inventory of available coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>Now, the issue of rarity is, I think, one of importance to the collector who specializes in a given field of ancients.&nbsp; Depending on the field, very rare examples can be obtained at very reasonable prices, while in others, such as Athenian tetradrachms, the cost of obtaining, say, a Starr III or IV owl can only be accomplished by breaking the bank, assuming that one has a bank large enough to break.</p><p><br /></p><p>So, here are three owls, ranked in rarity.&nbsp; Which one is more appealing?&nbsp; It&#039;s in the eye of the beholder.</p><p><br /></p><p>Athens tetradrachm, after 449 BC.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1150824[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Athens tetradrachm, heterogeneous, 3rd century BC, with vines on reverse.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1150826[/ATTACH]Imitation of Attic tetradrachm, South Arabia, Kingdom of Ma&#039;in, folded flan.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.romanumismatics.com/catalogue_images/auction/xlarge/16291.1.2_1.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>I must say that I found the last coin quite appealing, in its own way, not long on refinement, but charming in its crude way, and as a collector of imitative coinage, a key acquisition for me.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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