You can have any one ancient coin but...

Oh No . I could not , there are too many stories connected to my coins . With only 1 coin I would no longer be an enthused hobbyist I'm thinking .
Besides , I don't sell mine even though I've traded some now and then .

 

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I ,for sure, could not do it.

I’m very grateful for each and every coin In my collection. To give them up for one, impossible! I don’t even know if I could trade one of them.

Some of them, like my AE shekel of Jerusalem and Herod 8 prutot, are probably ‘once in a life time chance ownership’ for me.

But, it’s a very interesting hypothetical thought.

Erin

 

My dream coin is @AncientJoe 's Vespasian, sadly, my entire collection wouldn't raise enough! So I am happy to keep my collection as it is. At least I can keep them at home and handle them whenever I want.

 

Nope, couldn't do it. I have a scattered mind and can't just focus on 1 coin being in my collection, I like to have many that I enjoy.

I have no problem parting with some if it's going to something better or a run of the mill upgrade of the same type.

And really there isn't "one" coin I can single out I would want.

 

I think it would depend on why you collect ancient coins in the first place.

If you collect ancient coins purely as an investment, you'd probably jump at the chance to have all that money in one coin, and then move on to other objects to spend your money on, since there really isn't any personal attachment to the coins.

If you collect ancient coins for the history behind them (and other reasons already stated above), I would think every coin in your collection is there for a more personal reason than its monetary value or rarity. Your collection is more like a story you're writing, as personal to you as a journal.

 

I disagree, this would be a very dangerous choice to consider if looking to "invest" in coins. All it takes is a couple more examples of the same type surfacing from some old European collection or being found in a hoard to make your investment worth a fraction of what it was.

Most collectors buy and sell pieces every once in a while to make room for new acquisitions or to prune coins that no longer fit. While the proposed thought experiment in the original post is a drastic form of this, there is merit in looking at a collection as not only the final coins but the journey the collector took to get there.

It's fair to assume collectors care deeply about the coins they own: if they are willing to sell a large number of their prized coins for a single one, that is an interesting narrative and shows the lengths collectors are willing to go.

 

AJ is dead on point, giving up your existing collection for a 'single coin' is a risky gamble. Why would you do it????
Myself, I have 850 AV coins, most are MS. Out of these 3 are unique/ 10 less then 3 known/ 100 less then 10 known. Of course as AJ stated, a hoard could be found at any time/ or some where in a safety deposit box of a long deceased relative/ or some where unknown(to auctioneers) in a collection. It was the same story with my butterfly coll./ a species thought to have been extinct, somehow is found to be alive and well. So, prices would plummet....
But, the main point of collecting is to have the pleasure of looking at your treasures (everyday as I do) looking up the history behind each piece, the thrill of the auction, when you win your lot.

Of course had this question have been put to me when I was 19/ I would have given up my meagre coll. for that FDC Aureus of Saturninus featured in NFA auction at that time. AND I would never ever sell it!
John

 

Well said. Very much my feelings.

 

This is an interesting thread but not for the obvious and stated reasons. Obviously these threads take a life of their own and go into directions that the original poster likely never imagined. I might pose a question or two for input. There are obviously a couple of major thoughts on selling and why. Well, actually there are many, but I'll try to put my attention deficit spin on this.

Why sell any coin in the first place? That answer has many responses and most which we can all either sympathize with or relate to whether we have considered or already done so.

But then considering the above what is the timing? Old age, need of money, need to upgrade or change directions of collecting? Just what motivates us?

For me, here is the breakdown, though I list it in no particular order consciously:

Age. While I am considered 'young' by some I have been at this some 35 years or more. I am something of a realist. I understand that the end can come at any time, and as the years pass the likelihood of my being here on earth diminishes exponentially. So, I may sell due to age.

Money. Yes, most of us have to deal with this. Cash ebbs and flows. Often we feel that a lack of cash is paramount. It is true, some individuals have no lack of money and of course that can direct whether or not they may or may not sell. I have done this myself.

Upgrade. Too obvious. Lets delve deeper.

Who wants them? Well, my kids could care less about coins. On occasion they think they are kind of 'cool', but they dont see what I do and likely wont. Maybe. Who knows? I have hope.

Hmm. I thought perhaps there might be more to explain (at least from my side), But I'm not sure. Its that attention thing I mentioned. I have lots to do, so need to wrap this up and let others contribute.

I'll leave it this way. Personally, I will sell my collection (hopefully before my death). Why do so? Obvious reasons, mostly listed above. I'd give my kids the chance to pick some things as a reminder of me. But the rest...I'd like to see them go to others who appreciate them like I do. I'd also like to use the proceeds to do as I see fit. Charity? Travel? Who knows, I havent gotten that far just yet.

What do you all think? What are your plans?

 

Well stated Ken. Here is my slightly modified and updated response based on an earlier posting I made here on Coin Talk:

The time has come to dispose of most of my coin collection. Not all of it, for I intend to keep back a few coins that I have a special fondness for so that I may continue to pursue this hobby (in a more relaxed and limited way) that has provided me so much pleasure and enjoyment for most of my lifetime. I have planned this for some time and here on the cusp of my ninetieth birthday (after collecting Ancient Roman Imperial coins for almost eighty years) the task is well on the way to completion. Paradoxically, I have recently purchased a few coins - but only to fill in spots in my retained collection. I have disassembled my Britannic Tetrarchic collection and my London Mint reduced folles collection almost entirely along with most of my British Usurper coin collection plus a few Julio-Claudian coins.

I decided to keep a collection of twenty of my very favorite Roman Imperial coins - an Abafil tray (or rather a plastic flip page) full - mainly because I simply couldn’t bear to let them go. I have retained twenty coins that are in accordance with my long-time criteria:

1. Significant historical association
2. Well centered strike
3. Clear and complete inscriptions (as much as possible)
4. High quality inscriptional lettering
5. Britannia connection

My main goal has been to retain a very small “swan song” collection of coins that I can fondle and admire and read about in my “golden years”?

I have always sought out and collected coins with significant historical association rather than just aesthetic appeal or completing sets of coin types - condition of coins and appearance of surfaces has always been of secondary importance to me (although I have purchased fine quality coins whenever possible and I do admire beautiful inscriptional lettering). Fortunately there is, and always has been, room for all collecting interests and specialties in this hobby.