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 Replies: 52 / Views: 6,882 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3446 Posts |
Having recently suffered the 'Agony of Defeat' I have decided to style this Smackdown instead on a happier subject THE ODE TO JOYThose unforgettable moments when ..... The angels were singing The clouds parted The weather was WARM !! And if you listened carefully you could hear the chorus from Beethovens Ninth ..... you might have even sung along ! Maybe it was your first coin ! Maybe it was one you found (all you detector types) ! Maybe you had searched the ends of the earth for it (die match)! Maybe you found an extraordinarily rare sestertius of Gordian II misidentified (for ten bucks !) AAAAAARGHHHHHHH Or maybe it just really floated your boat for some other reason .... any reason at all. Of course you must tell us why it made you dance and sing Rules ..... same as ever Scoring .....same as ever Entries 2 per person (die match counts as one) Dating ..... Anything pre AD1453 Entries end 6PM EST Saturday February 1 For an example I have this Balbinus Sestertius Rv PROVIDENTIA DEORVM   I bought this from 'Herr' Lanz several years back. The euro was tottering during the banking crisis afflicting several Mediterranean Countries and I decided to keep an eye out for something 'real nice'. I did not expect to win the auction ...... but I did. The price was not cheap but I considered it 'under priced'. But what really made me want to sing was the strong feeling of doubt I felt for two weeks waiting for it to arrive. The photo in the listing showed a very black looking coin. It almost looked as if it were made of charcoal. I worried that it was mostly porous oxidation covering a piece of brass. When it arrived I fumbled with the packet ..... When I held it in my hand it was my favorite color ! Green I burst out in song ! The clouds parted and the birds were singing ! (mid December !) All was right with the world http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBlQZyTF_LYEdited by FVRIVS RVFVS
01/25/2014 1:17 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3446 Posts |
Just in case anyone is 'fuzzy' on this point .......
The tale behind the acquisition is a vital part of the entry. As collectors most of us have had a moment to remember. The reason for the euphoria must be made plain and the coin need not be special for any other reason than the moment it marks. But try to stick to the facts ...... this isn't supposed to be a class in creative writing (ie fiction).
Like trying to tell us you found a Gordian II for ten bucks ! AAAAAARRRRGHHHHH
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Quote:
Maybe you found an extraordinarily rare sestertius of Gordian II misidentified (for ten bucks !) AAAAAARGHHHHHHH  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
Eeesh. I need more than 2 entries.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
At the risk of being boring, I have to enter my Attica Owl and Carthage horse again. I have loved the Attica Owl for years, even before I knew is was a Greek coin! When I actually won one I was over the moon, and when it arrived, I could hardly bear to put it down. Coin 1   Coin 2   There is something about the horse that just sings to me. I love it's attitude. I have seen better examples but none have "called" to me like this done did. But I could do with another half dozen entries at least  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3446 Posts |
I especially like the Carthage AE. But how could I not !
The Attica owl is delightful. If not for my strict limitations on expenses I would want one too !
Maybe someday ...... when I grow up.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
I put a bid in on the owl not expecting to win. I think it is worth a lot more than I paid for it, but perhaps people were apprehensive because it was on ebay. At £255 it is my most expensive coin. I possibly overpaid on the Carthage horse at £56, but do you know, I don't care. No way will I part with it. I have an almost childlike joy when I get a coin that "sings" to me. It may be tatty and have no legends, but when that feeling goes, it will probably be time to find another hobby. Come on people, so far I am winning gold and silver here. Let's have a bit of competition :) |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
579 Posts |
Here are the two that have had me the most awestruck that they were mine. The first was originally Masis' coin and he made a post of it on this forum. It was a tetradrachm from Alexandria that had the eyes deliberately punched out on both the obverse and the reverse. The coin is of Nero which makes it possible that it was in an act of damnatio memoraie. It was also my first substantial coin purchase. I actually remember watching the ebay auction end while I was at work. I wasn't planning on getting anything done until I knew the outcome of this coin. I don't remember what I bought it for and I don't care it was worth it 100%. When it arrived I couldn't believe it. I held it in my hands for long I care to admit. It gave me a love for Alexandrian coins and was the coin that truly started me on my Ancient numismatic journey. It also rests on my desk right in front of my computer screen constantly accompanied by the next coin. The others beside it rotate out but these two are my main stays. Nero tetradrachm   The second I won in the Pecunem auction and was a Birthday present to myself. I remember I went to Central Canada Comic Con that day and the auction was ticking down while I was in line to get in. I was infatuated with the toning on this coin from the start. Someone else had bid with 5 minutes left in the auction and I was losing cell service in the convention center since everyone was using their phones. I sat by the window for the last five minutes of the auction to get reception to place my final bid. Thankfully it was Comic Con so there were nerds like me everywhere so I didn't really look out of place sitting by the window playing on my phone. For the first week I had this coin I probably put it under my desk lamp three times a day to look at the beautiful toning on it. It still infatuates me and as with the Nero is a mainstay on my desk. Postumus Anttoninianus   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
The Sidon Shekel a contender for one of the Thirty Pieces of Silver... From... https://goccf.com/t/134079&whichpage=1There I was true story, a cold November 16. I lifted my nose high into the air, took a deep sniff..I smelled it coming down the street, I smushed my cig ran around the house, there it was I was right....THE MAIL MAN! "Here you go Mr. Noob" (I have got to change my username). I bit the corner of the package tearing it open, and properly disposed of the "evidence" (receipt for $125). I darted down to my basement took two quick pictures took some fast measurements, emailed the photos to myself. Washed my hands, brushed my teeth and kissed the wife and baby and ran back to work...with this.... Phoenicia, Sidon AR Tetradrachm 28.5mm x 13.13g c.101-100 BC dated AI = yr 11 Obverse: Turreted, veiled, draped bust of Tyche Reverse: Eagle standing left on ships prow with palm under wing-(worn) SIDWNOS. THS.IAPAS.KAI.ASYLOY AI and monogram Z? ref# SG-5651  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3446 Posts |
I am a rather poor judge of silver coinage and I usually try to keep my opinions on them to a minimum.
But I do own one antoninianus of Postumus ...... HERC DEVSONIENSI. You will be happy to hear 'Whiz' that yours is of higher artistic style and much more detailed than mine ! As for Nero ...... believe it or not I owned a very similar one over 30 years ago (when I was young ..... and handsome too !) I believe I traded it with a pile of really nice 'stuff' for an Alexander Tet. Not the wisest exchange I ever made.
Mssr 'Noob' ...... I know precious little about these Phoenician types. But I will certainly take your word that you sang a few "Hallelujah's" on your way back to work.
You obviously plan on sneaking in a late entry to "Wow" the jury. See if you can find some bronze
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3446 Posts |
The last comment was in no way intended to disparage the Phoenician 'Tet' ..... merely suspecting you of resorting to some subterfuge !
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Pillar of the Community
United States
582 Posts |
 Illyria, Apollonia, 3rd - 2nd Century BC. Drachm. 18.03mm, 3.00g. Cow with her calf. / Double stellate pattern.  Maximianus (286-305 AD), Cyzicus mint. IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, radiate draped bust right / CONCORDIA MILITVM, emperor standing right receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter. 20 mm, 2.43 grams. RIC VI 15b,D |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
From..... https://goccf.com/t/157719Huge Show. There were many, many ancients dealers, well dressed many in suits and ties, selling coins tagged at a Gajillion dollars. A good majority with coins worth more than the Prius I drove up there. I would say most of the ancient dealers were "well known" and versed in what they sold. As for my self I was awed but not interested. (I really would have taken one of each!) Clad in my comfy jeans and Woody-wood Pecker T-shirt, I set out on my mission. That mission was to not leave the show empty handed. After about 3 hours of searching junk boxes and seeing what the "non ancient guys with ancients had" I found myself still empty handed limited only by budget. At this point I am feeling well frankly very poor. Parroozing the dealers, I sit down with at an empty table of one gentleman who has some super high grade Roman Republic and Parthian coins...Gorgeous but again out of my budget. Just as I was about to give up, the hair on the back of my neck stood up. I said to the gentleman, "You got Huns, Indians and junk?" He said, "Huns, I have one or two, but I collect those!" His Huns were nice but way out of my price range and one was right there and would have been coming home with me but then I knew why my hair stood up! As he dumped out his "junk", I saw something only me would see, he attributed the coin correctly but did not make the connection. Several Huge silver Indian punch mark coins. That's right HUGE PUNCHMARK coins!! I said that I didn't own any of the larger punch mark coins, and I wanted one of the three, after learning about my Hun interest I was able to strike a very good deal. This coin is one of two coins, I walked home with. Of the three I selected this one on a coin flip. The other one was triangular and a tad larger but had many punchs and the big punch has been obliterated by the centuries. So I opted for the one with the nice punch and surface. This is normally a $700 coin, procured by me for a very good deal. I routinely play with this one. Nepal, Janapada, Shakya Republic Anonymous ( c. 600-500 BC) Lifetime and Homeland of Gautama Buddha. AR Archaic 5 Shana 30.4 mm x 14.6 mm x 6.79 g Unifaced: Primary Punch- Two Crescents (one with a root) Five secondary punch marks. Note: Cupric Deposit on reverse. ref: Rajgor 534  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
great idea for a smackdown FR....but hard for me to pick two entries. same story for both coin really. when I began collecting ancient two years ago I dove into cleaning pretty quickly and cleaned quite a bit, I've since slowed down to a trickle. after a while, i'd had my fill of 4th century coins and mostly cull 4th century coins at that. but these were gems, and onesi got super excited about...excited over the course of months it took to clean it (i think it took me about 4 month or so for each)! the first before...a valens   after..   this one came out great also. I lost my original "before" picture, and took these about a month into the cleaning process...i could tell it was going to be a campgate as right away.   and about two months later...   Edited by chrsmat71
01/26/2014 12:21 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3446 Posts |
As it is too late for me to adjust the "Intro" section and add a second example of acquisition for your viewing pleasure, I will make this 'unofficial' entry in the sweepstakes. (not to be considered for any ranking) Through a conspiratorial relationship I have formed with another AE aficionado here in the forum ..... "We" have acquired several 'most excellent' pieces just today ! (Why fight over the same coins when a little co-operation is so mutually beneficial ?) Anyhow I digress ...... (so what else is new !) While my 'amigo' was doing rather nicely (even though low balling the low ball estimates I provided .....) I found myself getting 'hosed' (I am used to it ! In fact I expect it !) again and again (couple of times anyway) A bad head cold forced me from the battle and I retired for a needed nap (apparently sudafed allows me to breathe but sleep is quite another story). With a two hour wait before the next major encounter I gave my 'cohort' instructions to hurl a sizable 'snipe' on a most (positively) interesting target. I awoke 2 1/2 hours later and steamed myself in the shower. Made a cup of hot beverage and turned on ye olde computer. Bulls eye ! An overwhelming feeling of joy ! He paid about half of what I instructed ! Oh the warm fuzziness of it all ...... The sellers crumby pics mean I took a little chance on this. But I have    "High Hopes ..... I've got High Hopes" 
In case you don't recognize him that's 'uncle' CLAVDIVS ! Best of all its not the 'regular' issue sestertius of which I already have a rather 'buff' example of. RESTITUTION by Tito ! And it looks soooooo greeeeeeen. "So any time your gettin low
Stead of lettin go
Just remember that ant
Oops there goes another rubber tree plant"Edited by FVRIVS RVFVS
01/26/2014 8:09 pm
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
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Replies: 52 / Views: 6,882 |
Posted 01/25/2014 08:10 am
