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 Replies: 11 / Views: 2,775 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
In my never ending quest for numis-oddities and gnarly coins, I came upon the first struck coins of India c.600-500 BC. According to a an expert in the field of Indian numismatics who is also one of the sellers I do business with quite often, indicated in his listing that a few hoards of these have been found in the last century but very very few of them have made it onto the open market. I am torn between two of these pieces, the expert seller has one, a marvalous example with nice toning and a strong punch mark strikes on the obverse?. He wants a tough price of $195, and many of his other listings are more than fairly priced in my opinion. 12.5mm x35mm @ 11.44g fine silver  Seller #2 Is a former collector liquidating part of his collection and I have done business with him many times before. He also prices coins rather inexpensivly and have purchased my fabulous elephant coins of Apllodotos and Menader from him. His bar is shorter and wider...15mm x 27mm and is 11.04g fine silver, his looks a bit cleaned and has uneven toning but he only wants $100, both coins are of the same time and of the same purity. (Supposedly) I believe him. These coins like pretty much all other coinage became debased over time and this often helps with dating them. My dilemma is which to buy, spend more for a slightly bigger and more evenly toned example or spend nearly half as much for a slightly weaker example from a former collector. What would you do?  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5155 Posts |
WOW! 17 views 2 are mine and noone would give there Two Cents...or (hemiobols in this section), I am surprised! Come on guys help a brotha' out! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
hmmmmm...don't know AN. both seem are out of my league...but the second coin just looks like a hunk of metal to me. the first looks nicer, but man you could get a some sweet coinage for 200 bucks. i'd pass on both I think(even if I did have the cash to blow).
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
I was thinking that too...but I am I still open to suggestion... I have been eye balling another Indo bactrian tet. I was thinking...but I am into the Archaic coinages...and this one I suspect is quite rare...I am glad you chimed in, there was a lot of views and yet no one would give opinion either, and that surprises me!
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Two interesting pieces which I've never seen or know anything about. I don't think you are going to find much informaton on these pieces, and many people that know anything about them. They are unique but without any provonance I would have to pass on these also.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Interesting take ski...also considered....Thank you! The first seller is an expert in the field...so I can trust him 100% I have seen his collections and reference quoted by others in the study of Indian coinage. He did provide somemore information on the punch mark design which, many have been cataloged....Maybe that helps....rarely do I have get coins with Prov.....In the future hopefully the very distant future....Ex-Ancientnoob will be good enough for the general populous of ancient coins collectors. :-)
Edited by Ancientnoob
11/19/2012 8:01 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Where is Doug, Sap and Sel when you need them? They know everything about everything and I know Doug must have one, he has one of everything!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
I have passed on these being of the opinion that I see too many for sale to justify the price asked. They may be rare but it seems few people want them here. There are smaller fractions if you feel the need for the type but I don't have them either.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
I am surprised Doug, you have nearly one of everything- it is a bit steep for a bent bar but its really neat being first coinage of India and all. I suppose there is no great text or portrait on the them, and seems rather crude, but it is big Archaic coinage. Have you seen alot of these?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1316 Posts |
Anoob, nice chunk of Silver, I think its a cool coin...or money....  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
These dont really float my boat either...
On the toning issue I wouldnt worry about the second, if you leave it in the air all silver tones (as I know from pollishing the inside of a silver display many times... those near the light bulbs so they are warm end up the same colour as the first bar within a few months particularly in a humid environment)
Having said that these are not very artistically pleasing, have little relevance to the coins I collect (maybe they were traded like coins but they look to fall more into bullion to my thinking) and for the money there are other more interesting buys out there.
Maybe I have it wrong but my gut instinct is that their lack of appeal just makes them poor value for money despite their rarity.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
I am going with you guys opinions and passing on this one, I will continue looking for some bigger...ugh nicer fish to fry!
Edited by Ancientnoob
11/24/2012 8:07 pm
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Replies: 11 / Views: 2,775 |
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Posted 11/19/2012 6:24 pm
