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 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,454 |
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Pillar of the Community
778 Posts |
Many years ago, mis-struck coins were consider to be worthless by knowledgeable collectors. They wanted only those coins which were near perfect.
This was particularly true with those who collected Ancients. Consider, they said, that all were struck by hand, so many 'bad' coins can be expected. "Error" Ancients are junk, to be relegated to the back of the drawer.
Do all Ancient coin collectors still feel that way? (A double struck Tetra)Bill
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CCF Sponsor
United States
702 Posts |
I'm not a serious ancient collector, Bill, but I do enjoy them from time to time. And my impression is no, people are more interested in errors now than they ever have been that I recall - even in the field of ancients.
For what it's worth, I know the snooty collectors with the gigantic budgets will always want the perfect examples but as for me, bring on the bargain stuff - you can learn WAY more from imperfect coins than you can from perfect ones!
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
856 Posts |
Though I'm not an ancient collector (I just about squeeze into 'late-mediaeval') I do try to buy coins that are as trouble free as possible.
However double striking, uneven flan thickness (leading to 'weak' areas where the design isn't fully struck up), off-centre strikes are all par for the course, so naturally I have some examples of each!
The only 'errors' I do aim for are those that are recognised already, such as mis-spelt legends which are the result of a die sinker making a mistake, as opposed to double striking.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2885 Posts |
Quote:
I know the snooty collectors with the gigantic budgets will always want the perfect examples I wouldn't like to generalize or put down collectors like that just because they want good examples. |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
I find the mis-struck coins very interesting and unique.
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Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
Some of the coins I find most enjoyable are double struck or overstruck.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4966 Posts |
I'm with med and ski, and I think it's safe to say many ancient collectors are also. I really like overstruck and counterstamped coins, especially byazntine coverstrikes, but those aren't errors I suppose. I don't like coins that are struck off center as much, that's one error that does put me off a bit.
i enjoy a good "blundered" legend however.
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Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
Here the reverse of my favourite double struck Roman coin:  |
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Pillar of the Community
1121 Posts |
Med, I LOVE that coin. It (subtly) says "There is only one of me, and you have it." (The reason I like them.)
I am with Chris (totally). I like some (not all) of the double-strikes, and I am put off by the 'off-centred' strikes. If I have one, I keep it. If I have two and one is better centred, the off-centred coin goes.
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Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
Thanks - I like how the hoofs in front of the heads of the horses create a 'wild' image. Personally I don't mind off-centre strikes as long as the key design is not disturbed. Here two examples of coins I recently posted in the GTE thread:   Adds to their 'uniqueness'. Edited by Medieval
01/18/2015 05:10 am
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
856 Posts |
Mmm .. I guess it's down to personal preference! This coin for example...  ..has interesting double striking to the legend but, although I quite like the serpentine doubled O on the reverse, is only acceptable because the portrait and shield are clear. Had the doubling affected the main details I'd probably have felt very differently and might not have bothered to buy it. But that's just my view ..  |
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Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
Any serious double strike (like on my coin above) would render pre-modern English coins nearly unrecognisable.
And collectors, who focus on the more modern coinage (like your Charles I or even later), value double strikes only if they create a more valuable variety.
So, yes I can understand your viewpoint even though I do not share it.
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Replies: 11 / Views: 1,454 |
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Posted 01/17/2015 12:56 pm
