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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 7932327, member: 19463&quot;]While we have been shown a nice variety of folles of the Tetrarchy, we might point out to those new to the series that care needs to be taken to select coins which have prices that match their conditions in several respects.&nbsp; These large coins were not as easy to strike as the old-style antoniniani and many show some weakness in some part of the design - often part of the body of Genius.&nbsp; While all are collectible and beautiful, don&#039;t pay a full price for a coin that is missing full detail on the head, body or legs of the standing figure.&nbsp; You may not agree but I prefer a coin with a little wear to one poorly struck and missing, for example, the head of Genius even if that coin is slabbed as mint state.&nbsp; Another consideration which carries some differences of opinion is silvering.&nbsp; All of these coins were issued with a thin silver wash on the surface and many, today, still carry some or (rarely!) all of that silver.&nbsp; When a coin has lost part of its silver, I believe it makes a great difference which part remains.&nbsp; A blotchy mess of random silver just does not have the eye appeal of a smooth and even surface with no silver at all.&nbsp; It is your money; spend it on coins that you find appealing for whatever reason makes sense to you.&nbsp; My samples each made it into my collection but most have a &#039;situation&#039; or two that required a &#039;discount&#039; to be considered.&nbsp; Do we collect these by mint, by grade (wear), by style, by absence of faults or by price?&nbsp; Beginners need to decide or at least be aware that there are several things to be considered when shopping.</p><p>Diocletian, London, mostly decent but has some wear </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1371689[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Diocletian, Trier, poorly struck on Genius but I favor left facing coins and the part silver is not terribly distracting to my eye. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1371690[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Diocletian, Heraclea, retaining a lot of silver but has lost enough to have a &#039;salt and pepper&#039; look - acceptable? </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1371691[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Maximianus, Antioch,&nbsp; weak on thighs and overall coarse texture - evenly faulted - Is that better than having some stronger parts and some weaker? </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1371692[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Constantius I, Lugdunum, with excellent laurel wreath detail and top half of Genius detail but it has a very weak bottom part of both sides due to uneven strike. Do you know this series well enough to miss the LA in exergue?&nbsp; Would you rather have a similar but opposite coin with strong exergue but no head on Genius AND the obverse strike reversed as well?&nbsp; I bought this coin from Victor Failmezger for $10.&nbsp; We both thought that was fair.&nbsp; </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1371693[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Constantius I, Alexandria, is missing all the silver making it prettier than a blotchy coin but has a disturbing double strike on the obverse.&nbsp; The little wear on high points emphasizes the pebble-beard but keeps the coin from being highest grade. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1371694[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Galerius, Alexandria, shows the opposite situation.&nbsp; A lot of silver remains but there is poor detail on high points and an overall grainy texture to the metal.&nbsp; Which is the better coin - this below or the one above?&nbsp; I know you want everything and some of you can afford to wait and pay that bill.&nbsp; For others, choices are to be made.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1371697[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Galerius, Aquileia, shows a terribly weak strike on Genius&#039; head (who cares about the weakness at obverse bottom?) but an exceptional strike on the rest of Genius from chest down.&nbsp; This coin has part silver but most on the face is still pleasing.&nbsp; There is a lot of trade-off here but I bought the coin because it is ex. John Quincy Adams collection.&nbsp; Some would, some would not.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1371695[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>I maintain there&nbsp; is no right answer but there definitely is a wrong one. Don&#039;t buy/bid on coins without considering all the factors.&nbsp; Pay for what you are getting, not what some seller claims is important to him.&nbsp; A gem, perfect coin of any of these types could bring the total of what I paid for all of these.&nbsp; The gem will be easier to resell for some price (up or down?).&nbsp;&nbsp; It is your choice.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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