Tyrants of the Golden Horn dominated the convention floor. Asserted to be "The World's Most Valuable Private Coin Collection" the museum presented a full set of what we call "Byzantine" coins of Constantinople and the Eastern Roman Empire. The set began with the partition under Diocletian, through the Fall of Constantinople and concluded with modern issues. Of necessity, most of the coins were classical, what are properly called "Romaion" through to Constantine XI Palaeologalus. I also stopped to say, "Hi" to ancients dealer Jonathan K. Kern. As one element of show security, there was a sheriff's deputy at the door. He was a squared-away young guy, no beard, no tats. As I was passing him, someone asked him for directions to some dealer's booth. Of course, he did not know. When they were gone, I told him that I was at the show to judge the Exhibits but that my degrees are in criminology and I stood a lot of posts not answering questions like that. He said that he never thought much about coins but now he might be interested in some Romans. I said my good-byes and continued interviewing people on the floor. I picked up a flyer and a card from The Classical Numismatic Group and at Allen G. Berman's table, I bought a nicer Claudius II Gothicus for $6. Coming around to the front again. I gave the material to the deputy. I asked him what his first gun was. (He was eight. His father gave it to him for hunting.) "This is like that," I said. "Start here," I said, "with the coins you can learn from," indicating Allen's leaflet, "but with your regular income you can plan to buy these coins," -- CNG -- "for your retirement." Sign me, G. Marius Mercurialis.
