This is a pic of a coin I just overpaid for at an auction. I didn't care, I would have bought it at almost any price. My mother passed away just 6 days after my son was born, a few weeks ago, and this obverse looks like her 20 years ago. Thereverse of a greyhound was fitting since she used to adopt rescued greyhounds. Its weird how something like this can just pop up out of the blue. Even the moneyer name of Postumia was eery. This one is for you Mom. Chris Edit: I should add photo courtesy of CNG, Attribution is: C. Postumius. 73 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.98 g, 9h). Rome mint. Draped bust of Diana right, with bow and quiver over shoulder / Hound advancing right; spear below. Crawford 394/1a; Sydenham 785; Postumia 9. Good VF, toned. FWIW.
Wow Chris, that is a touching story. That coin is now a priceless piece in your collection. The emotional attachment to certain coins is a very powerful thing. Thats a pretty coin also. I have a couple myself with sentiment like that.
Congrats on winning it. It really is a nice piece from the photo. The connection you have on it makes it even more special.
What a wonderful story and a nice looking coin. I love to hear about what peoples collections mean to them not just what they are worth. A large part of my collection was given to me by my father. He now suffers from Alheimers but, on good days can still tell me where most of his coins came from. Those conversations are worth more than gold, silver, or key dates will ever be. Sent from my PD_Novel using Tapatalk
That coin is always going to bring you back memories (good ones). Beautiful coin and congratulations on winning it.
Great coin and reason for getting it! It also kind of ironic we were just talking about what we associate with coins.
mine was a 1941 netherlands zinc 2 1/2 cents, i searched for years and years for this coin and had never seen it offered for sale either on auction lists or dealers lists, i had every other netherlands zinc coin but this one. i would have paid anything just to add it to my collection but to no avail. then earlier this year i found the elusive coin in EF condition in a box of coins at a flea market, i would have paid whatever the guy wanted and when he said 10p i almost did cartwheels in celebration. sometimes it's not an ultra rare coin you want and i still rate it as one of my best ever finds.
My condolences for your mother's passing and congratulations on the birth of your son. (never imagined I would ever say both in the same sentence to anyone). Taking all that into consideration, I don't think it's possible that you overpaid for this coin, now or ever. Sometimes it's not so much coincidence, but change of focus that makes something "pop up". Maybe you passed one of these coins on a dealer's table before but never even looked in its direction. This day was different. What we "notice" is only a small fraction of what we actually pick up with our senses. It all filters through unconscious channels... and what has significance at that time is noticed. There is just way too much stimuli out there to pay attention to everything. Chalk it up to the old "sensation vs. perception" talk.
Thanks guys, I am just relieved the auction is over and its now mine. There is a little plastic bank made in the 60's I think that is the only thing I want from her house. I was 5 and kept my "precious" coins in that bank, and later she put all of the coins from her birth year in there. I just want the little bank and label all of her coins as hers, and put this one in there with them. I hope the post was not too sappy, but I had never bought a coin like that before, and I admit it was somewhat emotional. I am not sure why, but brought up emotions I haven't dealt with since the funeral last month. Chris
It's all good, don't worry about it. We here understand that grieving is not easy and takes a heck of a lot longer than a few days, weeks or even months.
Medora, I offer my condolences on the passing of your mother. Rude of me not to say so earlier. Numismat nailed it; you were in tune for that coin.. it will always have that sentiment for you. And that is a good thing. Grieving takes it's toll, takes on many different faces, and keeps on surprising one for, well, for.. a while. Hang in there. Sincerely, Linda
To my way of thinking yours is the best reason for collecting coins. Over the years, my least enjoyable memories of the hobby relate to the jerks, dealers and collectors alike, that care nothing for the coins but only for their value on the market and how they can trick some sucker into paying more than he should for some piece of metal. Worst, I am looked upon as a wheeler-dealer, a smuggler and the kind of guy whose tables Christ kicked over just because I collect coins. I guess we apples who hang around in barrels with rotten fruit need to expect some bad stuff will rub off. Your post reminds me that we are not all moneychangers. Yesterday the mail brought the latest auction list of one of my favorite dealers (I have a dozen favorites, at least). This is the one that decorates his pages with cute sayings on occasion including one he recycled for this latest list: "Love your coins for what they are, not for what they are worth." Frank S. Robinson
You have to love Frank's quotes. I think I first read that in his book, "Confessions of a Numismatic Fanatic". One of my favorite book btw, I highly recommend reading it at least once. I usually reread it about once a year.
