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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,558 |
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Valued Member
United States
253 Posts |
Hey Guys- While cleaning out the garage today I found about a 4-inch stack of old ancient coin sales mailers from the 1980s. This was one of the only ways we old farts were able to buy ancient coins before the internet. We got one of these each month in the mail from our sellers. Grading was MUCH stricter then then now. We also did not worry about fakes! Here are some examples- Pics first and then sales prices. Please note: I have included a pic of a real ugly guy from Parthia- last pic. $150 in 1984- worth more now?  Later-        |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
That is a real ancient catalog.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36745 Posts |
The good old days! Nice find, and it didn't cost you anything.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
987 Posts |
Very interesting!
Thanks for sharing!
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Moderator
United States
34410 Posts |
Thanks for sharing this. Quote:
We also did not worry about fakes! I'm not sure exactly when I started to worry about fakes, but it was sometime in the 1980s I think. "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1120 Posts |
I thought coins back in those days were more expensive. Hasn't the internet brought down prices?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Except for the sestertii, I think prices haven't moved much in absolute terms, which means that in terms of 1980s USD versus 2010s USD, most of these have lost about 2/3 to 3/4 of their value.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
616 Posts |
Quote:
in terms of 1980s USD versus 2010s USD, most of these have lost about 2/3 to 3/4 of their value Isn't that true for the coin collecting hobby in general? My impression is that unless you are collecting the very high-end stuff, everything else declines in value. Last year I sold off my American collection that I put together as a kid. I had the original flips with the prices I paid on them. I noticed that I was lucky to get the price on the flip - the price in the late 70s. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
I had been under the impression that ancient coins had been trending generally upward. Maybe it is just a few series - go take a look on Wildwinds for any of the Severan denarii. For ebay sales from the early 2000s, you'll see common reverse types in XF that sold for $8-15... today they would be $30-50 coins. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1120 Posts |
Finn, kinda makes sense now. The internet has (I assume) brought in more buyers/collectors, which means more bids, which means, higher prices.
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,558 |
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Posted 10/08/2018 3:46 pm
