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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Al Kowsky, post: 3896091, member: 97383&quot;]Have you ever overpaid for a coin you really wanted? I&#039;ve fallen into that trap more than once <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie5" alt=":confused:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. Several years ago I was determined to get my hands on a coin struck under Constantine I, with the reverse type of <b>BEATA TRANQVILLITAS</b>. The coin type had to depict Constantine I wearing the crested helmet. These coins are very common, almost as common as Lincoln wheat ear pennies (ironically they are about the same diameter and weight as these pennies) <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie52" alt=":hilarious:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. The example I wanted had to be in <u>mint state</u>, an excellent strike with all lettering visible, as round as possible, and having an attractive uniform patina <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. The criteria I demanded greatly narrowed down the scores of these coins I had seen <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie100" alt=":wideyed:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. Nice examples of these coins were available in the $30 - $50 range, but all fell short on at least one criterion <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie3" alt=":(" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. While browsing through a Heritage auction nearly two years ago I spotted a slabbed example of the coin that met all my criteria <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />, pictured below. With spirited bidding I won the coin for $119.00, including the buyers premium. Immediately after winning the coin I felt foolish for paying so much for it <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie80" alt=":shame:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />, but justified the purchase considering someone paid at least $50 to get the coin slabbed. </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1027382[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1027383[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1027384[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>This year I&#039;ve noticed choice mint state slabbed examples of this coin type fetching over $200.00 at auction <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie57" alt=":jawdrop:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. Last Thursday I spotted a coin at the Heritage weekly auction almost as nice as my example and decided to track it for reference, see photos below. The coin sold for $312.00, including buyers premium <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie9" alt=":eek:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />! Should I now feel vindicated for my purchase nearly two years ago, or just acknowledge there are other collectors just as foolish as me <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie98" alt=":wacky:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />....</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1027385[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1027386[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1027387[/ATTACH] Photos courtesy of Heritage Auctions.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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