Recently, I bought a series of denari that were probably part of a bracelet (or something else). One of these denari (actually, the reason I bought it) was this this one: It's corroded, shows pitting, there's silver solder on the sides (where the coins were soldered together). It's a coin with issues. But its scarce, and I like the reverse. Just curious about your collection logistics: suppose you would have a coin with these issues: would you keep such a coin, or sell it and wait for another?
I have plenty of coins with 'problems' of one sort or another that I am happy to keep purely based on some form of irrational attachment. Do you feel any sort of attachment to the coin? Also numismatics to me includes the various uses coins have been put to over the years, and the various ways coins have been faked, etc. I actually would like a few coins that have been used for jewellery in my collection.
Of course keep it! It might never be worth a lot of money, but you are a collector and if you like the coin it deserves a place in your collection. The history and creative use of the coins might be the reason you end up pulling it out to show someone that otherwise might not be into coins at all. Looks like a fun coin to own!
When it comes to the question whether I should buy a coin or not (or at least, try to place the highest bid ), I consider the following factors: Desirability (how much do I want this type) Eye appeal (do I think it looks pretty) Rarity: does it appear often in auction/sales, so if I miss this one, is it reasonable to expect another one appearing within the following months Availability: a coin may appear often, but if its a very popular type (Atthens Owl, Caesar's portrait, etc) the availability is less due to popularity and higher revenues Flaws: every flaw imaginable, such as die-flaws, strike-flaws, or, if one is really into that, lack of provenance Financial possibilities: we all want that coin if XF, or even higher, but my bankaccount thinks differently How one weighs these factors is strictly personal. So, if you want this specific type - and we all know these types are desirable and can get expensive - how many flaws can you accept?
Thanks all for the comment. I'm especially interest in the rationale or the motivations, such as written down by @Limes. So, if you would keep (or discard) this coin - or encounter a coin with problems - what is your strategy?
Now that you actually own the coin, the question is no longer whether to acquire it or not, but "Should I divest myself of this coin or keep it?" Do you have a reason to get rid of it? Is there some reason it can't join the other items in your collection? I found this as of Julia Domna in an uncleaned lot some twenty years ago. It's still in my collection. It's actually harder to replace (not that I've been actively looking) than you think and it's kind of fun to have "the lowest grade coin in my collection that was still 100% identifiable." Julia Domna, AD 193-217. Roman Æ as, 13.49 g, 27.6 mm, 5 h. Rome, AD 198. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: CERES S C, Ceres standing left, holding corn ears and long torch; altar at feet, left. Refs: RIC 870; BMCRE 781; Cohen 19; RCV 6636; Hill 346.
Hmmm... tough call. On the one hand, it's rather rough. Not absolutely awful, however. And on the other hand, it's a neat type. I really like the galley reverse. Maybe keep it until a better one presents itself? Despite the roughness, it has its charms.
This would be my approach. Keep it, but take what the market gives you. In other words, if you run across another example in better condition at the right price, only then consider replacing it. But don’t sell coin #1 until you have the new coin in hand. I made a mistake several years ago of selling my Julius Caesar Aeneas denarius to fund an upgrade. The upgrade was lost in the mail from Spain. I got my money back, but by then I had sold coin #1. I would much rather have had the coin, at least at the time. (Eventually I used the money to get a Julius Caesar portrait denarius, so there’s a silver lining.) What I’m saying is, a coin in the hand is worth two in the bush, or something like that.
To add to my other post: I personally would discard this coin. Why? Because I am willing (and able!) to afford a better type. But again, this is my personal opinion and my personal circumstances that leads to this conclusion. You should be happy with your collection and that happiness should be decisive in your decision I think. So, you could keep it and sell it once you have acquired a better one, as mentioned by Gavin Richardson above. But that's of course up to you
This is actually what I (probably) will do. I've sold a couple of coins thinking that I will find a better specimen eventually. Usually however, I find something else and forget about the coin.
My collection is mostly low-grade, so I'd definitely keep it - especially for the intact galley on the reverse and a respectable portrait. I like it! The main reason I ever want to get rid of a coin is because I paid too much for it - for some reason this spoils it for me and I am never entirely happy with it, even if the coin itself is decent. A collector's quirk, I suppose.
@Marsyas Mike this is very recognizable. I finance my collection entirely by selling some coins. This is an aspect of the hobby that deserves more attention, imho. It has resulted in many interesting contacts with collectors, and a healthy collection budget.
I have not sold any of my coins. However, there have been many coins that I have not bought. IF I had bought that coin, I would keep it. However, since I do not really focus in Roman Empire, I probably would not have seen / searched for it that I WOULD had bought it. If it were food, and you were starving, my advice would be critical. Life is a conundrum. When we deal with luxury goods ... then it becomes purely your taste. Ergo, I cannot give you any of my advice.
Out of curiosity, is this coin part of lot of several coins, or was it purchased as a single coin? What was the cost? The denarius is nice in terms of strike, well centered (nice portrait and galley), but has the issues mentioned. I would be inclined to keep it, but then over the course of decades of collecting I have not returned very many coins at all.
I'd keep it. The factors for me: 1. it's got eye appeal - good portrait and reverse 2. the flaws - i actually like coins with flaws because that's a signal that it's been floating around and handled by many people over the years. For me flaws like jewelry markings, holes, and countermarks are all triggers that make me wonder what people had the coin and what they did with it. There's the original generation who would have spent the coin - what did they buy? what work did they do to get the coin? Then there's the generations in between - was it kept by another collector of ages past? If it was jewelry, who wore it? Was it part of their day-to-day wear or was it for special events? Where did they wear it? Who gave it to them? Who made it into jewelry and how did they come by it? 3. if you bought it to begin with there must have been something about it that you liked. Caveat: I'm terrible about selling any of my collection things - i'd generally rather give them away unless i need the money for something. That said i did sell most of my magic cards a couple of years back, but i still kind of miss some of them and i know i put WAY more money into them than i made back. But i'm also not good at selling or negotiating and i know that about myself. So if i sell something i might regret it either miss it or feel like i ripped myself off. Whereas if i give things away then i perceive it differently like i've just passed along my excitement or happiness to someone else and thus i can view parting with it as a happy thing instead of an investment thing.
