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 Replies: 44 / Views: 2,884 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2480 Posts |
 Wheeee! I've gotten a friend interested in ancient coins and he wants me to find ~$3,000 worth of good coins for him. Coins that hold their value or are popular or are relatively easily sold should he decide to liquidate. So, I'm soliciting your suggestions.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
I suggest you be my friend!
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2480 Posts |
To clarify, he's paying for them, not me. So sure... gimme some money and I'll shop for you  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2100 Posts |
Does he want a range of coins or can you blow it all in a single purchase?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2480 Posts |
He didn't say and I'm debating the same thing. He's not a micromanager and doesn't want to be bothered with details.
If an opportunity arises for a spectacular deal on a single coin I may get it. My inclination is to get a small assortment though.
Edited by ThisIsFun
07/31/2013 09:33 am
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
OR, you could get 6kg of uncleaned ancient coins from the middle east. Sell uncleaned or clean the good ones and sell em seperately.
Or, you know, send them to someone who could clean em for you...ahem...
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2100 Posts |
The coins that are likely to hold their value better are at the higher quality end of the spectrum. Coins that are VF or lower can be less stable. EF coins are also generally easier to liquidate if necessary. It becomes a balance of how much time you wish to spend on it too. You could spend three to six months looking for coins that are bargains that would make a return but this would take time and effort. Alternatively you could look at blowing it all on a good grade Athenian owl though this budget still falss short of high end examples with full crest etc..
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
201 Posts |
If he is not interested in building a collection of coins then I think you may be better off making a single purchase. You could get something really special for 3k; a high grade portrait coin of Julius Caesar maybe or there are many beautiful greek options for that money. I like maridvnvms suggestion of the Athenian Owl or perhaps something from Sicily?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2100 Posts |
The alternative would be to pick out a larger number of pieces that are talking points. These would be coins that have an element of historical reference that the non-collector can relate to. A mid-range Julius Caeasr Elephant, an Augustus denarius, a decent Nero denarius or a bronze, a high grade follis of Constantine the Great (which would be relatively cheap) etc. In this way you could end up with a disparate collection of coins that someone who isn't a collector can relate to. The downside of this is that they might not be as easy to liquidate.
Edited by maridvnvm
07/31/2013 10:28 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
hmmmmm.....yeah, i'd go for a handfull or two of "ancient greatest hits" coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2480 Posts |
Martin and chrsmat, I'm thinking along those lines. A small selection of coins which non-collectors can relate to-- people they've heard of. Julius Caesar, Augustus, Alexander the Great...
Edited by ThisIsFun
07/31/2013 10:52 am
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2100 Posts |
You could get an Athenian owl with a test cut which has it's own additional story in why the test cut is there. That's something that people who I have shown my owls to are most interested in rather than anything much else about the coin. You can get some very nice ATG tets well within that budget. I have just pulled the trigger on a posthumus one on a whim.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
I tell you what would be fun and involve high end coins... put an emperor set together. I'm sure you could get the first 100 with corresponding empresses. Maybe use a couple of hundred to mount them. That would sell well at auction, I bet.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
I agree with Martin and Chris, he would get a better return if decides to sell them later on.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3446 Posts |
You need to determine just what exactly 'floats his boat'.
I assume from the budget that he probably would prefer quality over quantity.
Next you need decide if he is more impressed with glittery 'stuff' or will solid bronze be acceptable.
Personally I would recommend concentrating on a subject or era.
If you budget $500 per coin you could do the Julio-Claudian thing and pick up the first 6 Emperors
Julius Caesar
Augustus
Tiberius
Caligula
Claudius
Nero
With any luck you might have a few pennies left to pick up a 'relative' too
Livia
Germanicus
Drusus
Agrippa
The Julio Claudians are always desirable and easy to sell should the need arise and by concentrating the purchase you give the 'collection' some focus.
If you decide to go Greek well then things get both more complicated ...... and expensive !
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
I wish I was your friend with the $3000k. If I could go back in time to when I first started collecting with what I know now, with that kind of cash, I could do some serious damage. BTW- by introducing people to ancient coins, your making it tougher for us bottom feeders. You know more fish in pond, more competition. Luckly my collection interests have shifted to the never before seen and possibly never to be collected by anyone else....  Edited by Ancientnoob
07/31/2013 12:42 pm
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Replies: 44 / Views: 2,884 |
Posted 07/31/2013 09:13 am
