The Baltimore show provided me with only two Greek coins. One I like and one I bought for poor reason - to be more like Steve. First is an AR Nomos of Thourioi, Lucania, 400-350 BC of the later type where the bull turns its face toward the viewer. This one is about as worn as you can get and still tell it has the turned head but it does have one bold eye. Compare another with the HP above the bull: https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=183611 It came out of Don Zauche's half price box for less than the name auction models with less eye appeal. I saw it there the week before at the Richmond show and no one bought it before I got it Saturday so it obviously was not good enough for anyone but me. The pitiful cries of the bull made me take pity on it and give it a home. Neither the bull nor I expected it to still be there on Saturday. The other Greek was bought just to prove to Steve that I was looking out for his interests but failed to find his desired Laodicea coin. This one is a Sinope and not as nice as the one Steve has already. If I had found a Laodicea I might have sent it to Canada for Christmas but it was not to be. Sorry, Steve, coal again this year. All the others I saw were Amisos or even worse specimens of common towns that issued the type. Even the worst one I saw had enough legend to show it was not a Laodicea. Somewhere on CT in the last week or so, Steve explained all this. Will I develop a desire to get the set. I hope not. The local club will not be chartering a bus for the next two Baltimore shows so my next show is Richmond in May unless I find one currently not known to me. I'll miss the show activity but my checkbook and wife are happier this way.
Even with the roughness, I like the Lucania. The Sinope is in about the normal shape of these coins. I have found it hard to find them in really good condition.
https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=145827 Well, look here. This one even looks more familiar but the coin looks more toned now than the CNG photo suggests. My photos show scratches much worse than theirs but the graffiti matches. I need to reshoot this one, too. I always enjoy finding my coins in their earlier life. CNG sale 215 was in 2009. I have no idea where it has been since then.
yeah, VERY different looking into those two pics. the toning doesn't isn't apparent at all the the CNG pic does it? looks like you had an awesome coin show!
That's what I was going to post - then saw your post. @dougsmit If you spread those purchases around you certainly helped make the show for some dealers.
Heavens, no. Most of the dealers have no use for the likes of me. I bought from three dealers (6 coins, 3 coins and one coin) but did not even look at 20 other dealers whose cheap coins were $500. I recall looking at one tray with half a dozen coins over $10,000. I looked at it because the dealer has been a friend for 30 years and does not mind talking to poor people who like coins. Harlan Berk had a table with all sorts of things in that bracket but I did not know the person at the table so got no conversation with my non-purchase. The ones that I really can't stand are the ones that offer $20 junkbox coins for $200 and try to convince new collectors that they are experts in all things coin. It takes all kinds. If all customers were like me, all those guys would be out of business long ago. My most proud achievement came back in the early 2000's when a dealer at Baltimore refused to sell me a coin saying, "If you are willing to pay that (marked price), it must be worth more." My web page then gave me a bit of recognition among people who did not know how to tell Eastern Septimius coins from the regular Rome ones. That is not always a good thing. My policy then, as now, was to answer their question honestly if they asked what something was but not to point out coins they offered for $10 that I would have bought for $20.
Wow, Mentor!! => you have great fricken taste in coins!! I'm flattered that we're trollin' for the same trophy fish!! => I love your coins so far ... I recall you saying that you bought 10, yes? (ummm, is that six so far?)
