Log in or Sign up
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
Scared about collecting ancients
>
Reply to Thread
Message:
<p>[QUOTE="dougsmit, post: 3024864, member: 19463"]My advice to those new to ancients is to bring to the endeavor as few preconceived notions from you experience in modern coins as you possibly can. Most will cause you more trouble than they will do you good. Sestertii are great. Most we see sold are lower grade than recent modern collectors can tolerate. Silver coins are cheaper and more readily available in grades tolerable to the slab crowd. I suggest buying appealing coins that are available when they are available rather than saying "my next coin will be a Hadrian sestertius". I see no good in anything that will keep you from seeing coins you might not realize exist that might even be more appealing. After you have collected a while, you will have time to develop specialties based on a proper understanding on what they are and what specializing in them will mean. For example, a sestertius only collection will mean you will be competing with the big money collectors for nice coins of Augustus while you might be quite happy with more common asses. You will face the fact that there are no sestertii of a couple emperors before Gallienus but that is a minor matter many people face. </p><p><br /></p><p>I am in the minority in that I collect very generally but have, in the last 50 years, specialized in quite a number of things for a few years or decades. The one thing I consider most important is to buy coins that you like and not coins you think you need to buy because they fit some parameters which drive your collecting life but that really mean nothing to you. </p><p><br /></p><p>In the belief that good posts should include a photo I will show my earliest sestertius (a Caligula) and latest (Valerian). </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]752778[/ATTACH] </p><p>[ATTACH=full]752779[/ATTACH] </p><p>Best wishes for finding satisfaction in the hobby as you define it.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="dougsmit, post: 3024864, member: 19463"]My advice to those new to ancients is to bring to the endeavor as few preconceived notions from you experience in modern coins as you possibly can. Most will cause you more trouble than they will do you good. Sestertii are great. Most we see sold are lower grade than recent modern collectors can tolerate. Silver coins are cheaper and more readily available in grades tolerable to the slab crowd. I suggest buying appealing coins that are available when they are available rather than saying "my next coin will be a Hadrian sestertius". I see no good in anything that will keep you from seeing coins you might not realize exist that might even be more appealing. After you have collected a while, you will have time to develop specialties based on a proper understanding on what they are and what specializing in them will mean. For example, a sestertius only collection will mean you will be competing with the big money collectors for nice coins of Augustus while you might be quite happy with more common asses. You will face the fact that there are no sestertii of a couple emperors before Gallienus but that is a minor matter many people face. I am in the minority in that I collect very generally but have, in the last 50 years, specialized in quite a number of things for a few years or decades. The one thing I consider most important is to buy coins that you like and not coins you think you need to buy because they fit some parameters which drive your collecting life but that really mean nothing to you. In the belief that good posts should include a photo I will show my earliest sestertius (a Caligula) and latest (Valerian). [ATTACH=full]752778[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]752779[/ATTACH] Best wishes for finding satisfaction in the hobby as you define it.[/QUOTE]
Your name or email address:
Do you already have an account?
No, create an account now.
Yes, my password is:
Forgot your password?
Stay logged in
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
Scared about collecting ancients
>
Home
Home
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Activity
Recent Posts
Forums
Forums
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Posts
Competitions
Competitions
Quick Links
Competition Index
Rules, Terms & Conditions
Gallery
Gallery
Quick Links
Search Media
New Media
Showcase
Showcase
Quick Links
Search Items
Most Active Members
New Items
Directory
Directory
Quick Links
Directory Home
New Listings
Members
Members
Quick Links
Notable Members
Current Visitors
Recent Activity
New Profile Posts
Sponsors
Menu
Search
Search titles only
Posted by Member:
Separate names with a comma.
Newer Than:
Search this thread only
Search this forum only
Display results as threads
Useful Searches
Recent Posts
More...