Here's a *really* old coin (just won it from Heritage!)
dan1ecu
Posts: 1,573
It's not the most valuable piece, but I think it's got character! Check out the date on the slab... neat! It's my first ancient coin.
Ancient copper
Dan
Ancient copper
Dan
0
Comments
How is the Ancient coin market?
Dan
mcinnes@mailclerk.ecok.edu">dmcinnes@mailclerk.ecok.edu
What I do know is this: If a particular ancient coin is valuable and desired someone may dig up a clay pot full of them tomorrow. Since numbers minted (hammered?) isn't usually known it's difficult to guess on how many are out there waiting to be found.
I've heard running around Turkey with a metal detector is a sure way to invite trouble from the authorities.
Very nice. I don't know much about the ancients, but someday I want to get the Owl & the Turtle coins.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
<< <i>I've never understood the economics underlying ancient coins. Why is it many of these coins, thousands of years old, can be had for a song? Are they simply not rare? For example, I wonder how many examples of the Greek coin are known to exist today, and how the population compares with modern U.S. coinage. >>
Ancients require the collector to do some real work. There is more than just grade to worry about. The collector has to evaluate the quality of the engraving work, the quality of the planchet, patina, if any, and address the issue of authenticity. This is not like collecting Morgan dollars!
There is also the issue of reference books. Most reference books on ancients are quite expensive. This stops many casual collectors from getting further involved.
Ancients struck in brass or bronze are a special challenge for the typical US collector because of surface appearance. Someone who is used to collecting "65RED" Lincolns and Indians is likely to have real trouble adjusting to the appearance of ancients.
Tom
I still think you can't beat that purchase for $29 bucks!!!! Congrats
<< <i>I've never understood the economics underlying ancient coins. Why is it many of these coins, thousands of years old, can be had for a song? Are they simply not rare? For example, I wonder how many examples of the Greek coin are known to exist today, and how the population compares with modern U.S. coinage. >>
It is simply supply and demand. You ask "how many of that greek coin exist today?", well it is probably considered to be a common coin so say two to three thousand (probably at the low end of that range). Compared to many key US coins these ancients are much scarcer. The problem is that there is maybe one collector of ancients for every thousand collectors of US coins. There may only be 500 collectors who need one of those 2000 examples of that coin. Hence the low price.
<< <i>VF-30? That looks like an AG to me. Cleaned & corroded, should be in a bodybag. How'd that get in a slab? >>
This comment is an excellent example of my earlier point.
Tom
<< <i>Ancients require the collector to do some real work. There is more than just grade to worry about. The collector has to evaluate the quality of the engraving work, the quality of the planchet, patina, if any, and address the issue of authenticity. This is not like collecting Morgan dollars! >>
Which is to say, the collectors of ancients generally have a vastly greater appreciation of history and the IQ to match.
Apropos of the coin posse/aka caca: "The longer he spoke of his honor, the tighter I held to my purse."
Come on over ... to The Dark Side!
Tyler