A few days a friend asked me if I wanted to the Westchester, NY coin show and I reluctantly agreed. I really didn't want to risk driving the hour change only to find the hall lined with US and Bullion dealers. I suppose I could have looked up who was going and figure out if it was worthwhile to go. (A chance to hangout with a fellow online coin member was more than worth it.) So together we made the journey.
We entered the room and there was maybe 30 dealers and there where many empty tables, I would say maybe half the room was occupied. After speaking to a few dealers it seems a lot of the big names with the big ticket items where waiting to go to the Bay State Show in Massachusetts next week. With that information the pickings were even slimmer.
The first table we went to was one of my buddy's bullion buddies, I smiled and nodded as they chatted about dings on cheeks of US Gold coins.
Then I had a very interesting interesting experience at the second table I went to. I found a dealer who who I have done business with before and has some stuff I am interested in." I spotted among his goods a very nice Shapur III and a very nice Naresh. Scarcer Sassanian kings. We spoke briefly about these scarce emperors and he wanted reasonable money for the two. Then after I had isolated the two pieces and obtained prices for the lot and each one individually, I explained that I wanted to look around a bit. Then the dealer informed me that there were only a few crappy ancients being offered on the floor and that he had the good stuff. I nodded and in my mind sought to confirm his assessment of the floor. I shook hands went on my way.
I went around the show and saw many very crappy ancients, complete with BD and a lot of lower grade LRB. Then after about an hour Collect89 and I headed over to Eye Appealing Coins. I have done business with these guys several times before and they aim to please. We pretty much hung out with these two guys and Error Dealer next to them. I went through many, many, many ancient coins of all kinds and levels of quality. We certainly had very mutually informative conversation on ancient coin types, cultures, conditions, market and collector interest changes. At the end of the day I would have just bought of each been done with it, but it doesn't work like that when I am awake.
I spotted about 6 coins that had an awesome price vs. condition vs. appeal factor. 2 were out of today's budget, and one found a good home.:banghead:. Out of the four remaining coins 1 was a high grade SMATA Posthumous Constantine reduced follis and the other was a high grade FEL TEMP, with guy on the ground in a seated position. These two where throw backs.
That leaves us with the two coins Ancientnoob went home with...
Drum Roll:
The first one I spotted was the first coin I saw in the box.
Asia, Bactria
Kabul, Afghanistan
Antialkidos (BC 115 - 95)
AR Drachm 16 mm x 2.12 grams
Obverse: Diademed bust of king right, Greek legend around: BASigma;ILambda;EOmega;Sigma; NIKHPhi;OPOY ANTIALambda;KIDelta;OY
Reverse: Zeus enthroned three-quarters left, holding sceptre in left hand,
Winged Nike holding wreath in right hand, forepart of elephant at left
monogram at right, Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa jayadharasa amtialikidasa.
Reference: MIG 275b, Bop 9A
Note: Dark Toning. High relief coin.
The second coin is a Roman Coin for those of us who appreciate the east. This is a ruler whom there seems to be no shortage of.
Roman Empire
Valerian I (AD 253-260)
Samosata, Turkey (Submerged by the Ataturk dam. AD 1992)
AR Antoninianus (s. AD 255/6)
22 mm x 4.22 grams.
Obverse:Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG Reverse.The Orient standing right, presenting wreath to Valerian, standing left and holding scepter. RESTITVT ORIENTIS
Reference: RIC 287. C. 189.
Note: Dark toned. Nice portrait.
Posted 04/12/2015 04:17 am
