E Bay Roman Coins

Do you have a link you could post?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI...150055548962

Here is the link to the item you mentioned. What a laugh!

Sadly, for many folks, uncleaned mystery lots like this from sellers like this are their first, and last, foray into ancient coins - sad, because they become disillusioned when the reality of what they receive fails to match the hype.

Here are some common myths busted:
Myth: "Completely unsearched ancient coins - straight from the hole in the ground to you". Now, that's always going to be a lie. What, did they blindfold the people who dug them up, or something?
Fact: if you buy lots like this, there are going to be a dozen or so handlers between whoever dug them up and you. And you're going to be the "last in the pecking order". You might indeed find something special, rare or valuable - but it has to be something those other dozen people who saw your coin before you somehow missed seeing. It's not going to happen often.

Myth: "There might be GOLD in them thar coins!".
Fact: Gold coins are found in hoards, but they never, never end up in bulk mystery lots. Gold is kind of hard to miss, and gold coins never, as I understand it, go all "crusty" so you can't see the gold underneath. You'll sometimes see feedback saying "I found Gold!". Those buyers are either sadly misinformed about a brassy coin they find like this fellow, shill bidders, or have been feedblackmailed into saying that. As whisk implied, very few ancients sellers make a habit of giving away $1000 gold coins for $19.95.

For a much more realistic example of how these things are supposed to be sold, check out Forvm's uncleaned coin lots.

So go ahead and buy bulk lots of uncleaned ancients, for the thrill and mystery, if you like (personally, they're not my thing) but don't be sucked in by the hype some sellers resort to.

Thing I like is all the PICTURES he has of romans - its like a storybook or something!!! and that will make me want to BID !!! hahaha

But wouldn't it be nice if he could just include one small silver piece in with the rest of the worthless copper he's selling to all these new collectors..and tell them what they are getting...makes me sad to think what will happen when they go to try and sell this stuff.