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 Replies: 15 / Views: 1,381 |
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Valued Member
Ireland
86 Posts |
So after several weeks of presing F5 on the parcel tracking page of the USPS website, my first consignment of ancient coins finally arrived from Thrace and Macedonia (via North Carolina). As my camera is currently broken, and my phone a brick with buttons, I'm gonna post the pictures of the coins from the site I bought them. The first is a Macedonian Kingdom Silver tetrobol, c. 451-413 BC. Horseman on the obverse, forepart of roaring lion on the reverse.  The second is Silver hemidrachm from Cherronesos, Thrace. Dates from c. 400-350 BC. Obverse is lion with head turned back left. Reverse quadripartite incuse square, wth pellet X and amphora in the sunken quadrants.  They set me back quite a bit (probably too much considering I've just finished college and currently sans emploi!), but I wanted to buy something that really appealed to me to start my collection. So I did!  The age of both coins really appeals to me...it's incredible that Pericles was likely alive when the first was minted, and the other pre-dates Alexander the Great. Pretty mindblowing stuff. They're a lot smaller than I had anticipated, but sure that only aids storage.  I wanted to get somethign really old initially, and I have, so now I'm looking at other themes. Anyhoo, hope you guys like. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Quite nice. I love the tetrobo and I own a Cherronesos hemidrachm different from yours. These are very nice first coins I must say. Congrats. Now, welcome to the Dark Side. You are now hooked!!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Those two are very interesting!  I have a Cherronesos hemidrachm too, with a different symbol--a bee. Someday, I'll get some more.  Edited by DVCollector
08/24/2012 11:27 pm
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
These are really very nice for your first purchase.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
einhard =>  I think you have great taste in coins (I love the old Greek coins as well) ... DVC => that's a great coin!! (beautiful lion)  |
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Valued Member
 Ireland
86 Posts |
Thanks for all the replies guys. I've set my self a limit of a purchase once every six months, so I don't think there's any fear that I'll be hoarding all the coins anytime soon! Although I craftily placed no limit on how many coins I can buy on each purchase. I was struck by how small they were when they arrived first. I was like, Hey, where's the rest of my feckin coin?! But I actually like their size. They're so delicate. I don't know what I want to go for next...I'd like someday to add one of those owl ones from Athens but that's a longer-term ambition (although I did do the Lotto tonight! ). I'd like to move onto Roman coins too, start in the Republican era and move onto the earlier emperors, but really have no idea at the moment. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Quote:
I've set my self a limit of a purchase once every six months I'd go mad  |
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
=> yup, every six "days" sounds a bit more reasonable!!  |
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Valued Member
Ireland
86 Posts |
Ah but I'm a poor student. If I were to give up beer, it might be every 3 months, but much as I like collecting, I don't like it that much! Once I snare myself a job though, I anticipate that period coming right down. |
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
Ahhh yes, the age-old question: "Partying versus collecting coins" Well, let's break it down, shall we? Booze = immediate good times and random mayhem with sporadic results (I've met and kept many a good friend/mate while enjoying this money splurge) ... Coins = an interesting hobby and a potential future investment (keeps you out of trouble and yields a capital investment) ... Hmmmm? => obviously, two very different/polar sides of the ol' life (life-money) spectrum ... => Well, I've discovered that an equal sampling of both should deliver the desired results => a fun life and a great hobby!  Edited by stevex6
08/25/2012 7:21 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
 beer and coins.....i need a little of both. Edited by chrsmat71
08/25/2012 7:49 pm
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
My-oh-my => that's a beautiful coin, Dawg! |
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Valued Member
United States
209 Posts |
Nice coins, a decisive introduction to the hobby! That is a tough choice. If you are at all interested in roman coins, you could always buy (can't believe I am actually saying this) cheaper beer and use the savings to buy some uncleaned coins. If it works out well, you will be too entranced by the awesomeness of watching history emerge from the grime to notice the sour aftertaste of the beer.
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
Excellent coins -- although I know nothing about ancients -- I am partial to coins with animals on them.
I, like you, make a couple of largish purchases each year. But since I need something to fill the months in between purchases I search through my husband's pocket change for error coins and I buy an inexpensive coin once in awhile (something foreign with an animal on it).
But those really nice coins -- worth the wait to be sure.
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Replies: 15 / Views: 1,381 |
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Posted 08/24/2012 10:54 pm
Your coins are very nice, very old and I would love to have them. I have a hemi-drachm and it was one of my first coins. They are both exceptional it their artistic style and age in the extreme. Cudos to you. I'm glad you took to the Greeks 
-but upset that now there is another person after the acient coins....*Get'em guys! He's after the coins*
