Import Laws Australia

Just did a bit of research and seems like no. Although there is a ban on some sort of coins from certain countries which count as restricted goods. Might want to check up on that.

Thanks willyb searched online but couldn't find similar ones here is the one I am interested in any value guidance on it? Thanks. By the way ancients are significantly harder to price than more recent ones I mean what it has been 14 years since the price guide to macedonian coins was released.

CNG's archives are a great first stop when searching for prior sales.

Below are a bunch of them. I've posted three different links in case you are not familiar with searching CNG's archives. The results show up in up to three different sales types: from their coin shop (date of sale doesn't show), sold via e-auction, and sold via print auction (usually 'better' coins than the e-auction offerings).

The coin shop purchases have no buyer's fee. Their e-auction coins generally have a 15% fee, so factor that into the true cost. CNG's print auction buyer's fee is usually 17.5%

CNG coin shop comps

CNG e-auction comps

CNG print auction comps

For future reference, you search CNG's archives by clicking the "Research" tab near the top of their page. From there you can enter various search terms. Alex III tets were stuck in HUGE numbers, so you can get pretty specific with the search terms and likely get some hits. For less commonly seen coins, sticking with fewer search terms is better, although the hits are likely to include coins other than the ones of interest.

Regarding condition... it is so subjective. Best to use your own eyeballs, preferably seeing the coin in person, and then draw your own conclusions about condition (and therefore value). Generally speaking, I disregard any seller's estimation of condition unless it is by a major auction house, or I at least temper it with my own assessment.

Another good free place to search for comps is http://www.acsearch.info

There are currently no restrictions from a legal point of view (Customs or Quarantine) either on exporting ancient coins from America or importing them into Australia. Most of the blanket restrictions on the ancient coin trade are at the export-from-Eurasia and the import-into-America end. The worst you have to fear is payment of customs duties if the coins are worth more than $1000.

You might find some difficulty, however, with actual shipping, as USPS still has "coins" listed as a prohibited import into Australia. If you're buying from Heritage or another large dealership, hopefully they're big enough and have enough Australian customers to know the workarounds for this. Buying from a small American seller on ebay is definitely not recommended, whether the coins are ancient or modern.

As for the issue of the premium paid for "high-grade" slabbed ancients, most ancients collectors - especially here in Australia - don't know, don't trust and don't care about the American TPGs. They certainly wouldn't be prepared to pay a premium for a coin in one. Personally, I'd expect to pay a significant discount for a slabbed ancient, because I'd have to figure out a way to bust the thing open and house it properly.

Just noticed that I put the wrong reference number in my CNG search examples (Price 83 instead of Price 78)

But you now know how/where to look