Special auction: Selections from the Frank S. Robinson collection

fsrcoin

When I started collecting ancient coins in the '70s, and then dealing, I decided to keep for myself only really good stuff. By now that's several thousand coins. Time to pare it down.

To decimate the collection in the original Roman sense, which meant executing every tenth man. I didn't do it randomly, but selectively.
So I brought all the coins home from the bank and reviewed them. Many I hadn't actually seen in decades. Choosing what to keep had often presented dilemmas in the past. One might be rare and interesting but not great in condition. Another with a lovely obverse but problematic reverse. And so forth. Inevitably, over 4+ decades, my perspective on such choices evolved. Always a "condition snob," that intensified.

Pruning the collection required forcing myself to make choices — a kind of "Sophie's Choice!" For example, no Caracalla denarius below EF would ever have been kept. But having over 30, I made myself take out a few.

Anyhow, every coin so chosen was previously deemed suitable for inclusion in what was conceived as a topnotch collection. Many are rare and unusual. One coming to mind is Lot 206, a Vespasian dupondius struck over Otho, with Otho's name visible! I loved this coin, don't recall ever seeing another like it, but decided to let it go because the condition is not wonderful.

I picked over 300 coins, and originally thought I'd put them all in a single sale; but then decided to spread out the fun, over three auctions, so each sale could include as well the more customary contents (many of which are very good coins too of course). Ones from my collection are designated with an "R" after the lot number. All are in my original, distinctive, neatly lettered envelopes, most with some price history noted.

The auction will close September 1, with 448 lots, including older non-ancient coins, some group lots, literature, and fixed price specials.

Find it at www.fsrcoin.com/f.html

You can bid simply by sending me an e-mail; or by phone, fax, or snail mail.

Also at https://www.biddr.com/auctions/fsrcoin/browse?a=1215

And https://emax.bid/en/auction/875

Remember that as always you can bid with alternates or a budget limit. And in recognition of the difficult times we are in, if you are experiencing temporary financial constraints, I can be flexible about payment arrangements, especially for my many good regular customers.

Also, if you could use some extra cash, I am always a good buyer, paying fair prices.

Best regards,

Frank S. Robinson

P.S. World coin pricelist has been updated to remove sold items: www.fsrcoin.com/135.html