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 Replies: 19 / Views: 22,749 |
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Valued Member
Canada
88 Posts |
Another question for the experts here.
Can anyone recommend a reputable seller of uncleaned Roman coins?
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
449 Posts |
Edited by Coinage123
01/13/2013 09:04 am
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Chaimaira is fgood, excellent customer service, but pretty expensive. I got some good coins though. I was looking for a forward facing bust and they dug one out for me, very good service. I did, however, receive a few junks. It was made up for byt he rest though. Email ahead and ask politely if you're looking for any specific designs and I'm sure they'll be able to do something for you. Personally, I buy all my coins from detectors selling their finds on ebay these days. |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
449 Posts |
Quote:Personally, I buy all my coins from detectors selling their finds on ebay these days.  Definitely the best way to buy, however Hatter might have difficulty as hes based in canada  . Us folk in the UK are quite lucky to be able to buy 'direct from source', i.e the metal detectorists themselves. |
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Valued Member
United States
80 Posts |
What is your motivation for wanting to buy uncleaned Roman coins? There is no such thing as a "reputable" seller of uncleaned ancient coins. The only source for such things are illegal archaeological digs, often from places in the Balkans. These operations destroy archaeological information about the item, and often finance various organized crime groups. Coins sold as "uncleaned lots" have been cleaned already, and picked through for better-quality items. There are other reasons for avoiding these things, but I am NOT an expert on this. I do read the blog of an archaeologist who writes about the antiquities trade, and who has a lot more information about this thing than I do; this link should give you multiple reasons for avoiding uncleaned lots of ancient coins http://paul-barford.blogspot.com/se...?q=uncleaned |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
There is a lot more to it than that. Many coins are found in areas that ain't archaeologist dig sites. And those that have found a lot of coins have reported their finds and have found many places that were studied that may not have otherwise been found. A lot of coins found and stored in a museum will be in buckets, and stored in other ways and never fully studied such as amateur numismatists would, even professionals. You can also read articles at the ACCG to read the other side of the debate and learn more. http://www.accg.us/home.aspx |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
speaking of the antiquities trade, I like UK dug coins because I know these are always dealt with properly.
Also, I have some ancient egyptian stuff which was sold on the streets of cairo to one of my long dead relations (or so I'm told). That's definitely been done illegally, which is quite sad. But they need to be authenticated, I have my doubts about their authenticity.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
842 Posts |
Rasiel Suarez over at dirtyoldcoins.com has always impressed me with the quality of the uncleaned coins he sends me. Every one so far has been fully attributable, and they are not really that expensive. He throws return buyers a bone every once-in-a-while which is really cool.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
I haven't bought any uncleaned coins in a long while, when I did they all came from sellers on e-bay.
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Valued Member
 Canada
88 Posts |
Thanks for the information. To those in the UK is there any way for a novice collector to contact the "European detectors" directly.
I cannot wait to begin my adventure with these coins. I am trying to acquire as much info as I can right now.
The people on these threads have been awesome.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4971 Posts |
I've only purchased off ebay also. I only buy them if I can see the actual coins also, prefer a front and back view. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
I recommend going onto the UK ebay and looking about. But hey, dont start sniping my lots! Metal detector finds which are described with strange titles have done me well - I paid £1 per coin for a lot a while ago, which is comparatively steep compared to other purchases - but its description meant that nobody noticed all the really nice stuff and there was a lot fo it (marcian, hadrian, loads of 5th century stuff) Tips: You live in America, so anything that finishes at a good time for you is good - it means you have a good chance of getting it cheap. My cheapest buys have finished at silly-oclock when nobody is bothering to check ebay or are sleeping or eating. Havign that happen int he US means only US buyers surfing the UK ebay will be about to snipe it. |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
449 Posts |
Quote:
Also, I have some ancient egyptian stuff which was sold on the streets of cairo to one of my long dead relations (or so I'm told). That's definitely been done illegally, which is quite sad. But they need to be authenticated, I have my doubts about their authenticity. Similar story here  My great great Uncle was the Viceroy of Cairo and when he visited my great great grandparents he brought loads of Egyptian furniture over(brass tables, chairs, tobacco jars and stuff). He also brought over a big box of decorated brick work which I would guess is pretty ancient(They now take pride of place in my Grandparents loft gathering dust!). Supposedly some 'really old coins' also came over however I am not sure how true that is. I have not seen/found them . |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
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Valued Member
Canada
88 Posts |
My motivation for buying uncleaned coins is really quite simple- for the fun of it.
I have the time and resources to do it as a hobby. It also gives me a chance to touch history. I am an avid reader of all things Roman.
Patience is something I have and while the coins are going through the process of revealing themselves I can educate myself along the way.
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Valued Member
Canada
88 Posts |
One thing I forgot to say is that I really like the sense of community on these threads.
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Replies: 19 / Views: 22,749 |
Posted 01/13/2013 09:22 am
