~ LordM Box of 20 archive, 03/17/15

lordmarcovan · March 16, 2015 2:35PM

In 2013, I decided to pare down my collections and simplify to just one single "Box of 20" for everything, hopefully to focus a bit more on quality than quantity. Still, pursuing quality is an ongoing challenge on my budget.

The idea is a freestyle "Box of 20" collection with no parameters or restrictions except that the coins must be certified and the collection is limited to twenty pieces. (When one comes in, another must go out.) Otherwise, anything goes. In a way, I have narrowed my focus by limiting myself to just twenty slabbed pieces, but on the other hand, I've opened up my horizons to pursue whatever catches my fancy, be it ancient, medieval, modern, or even some tokens and medals. It sort of feels liberating to be freed of the constraints of collecting "sets"- now I can collect what I like and not be a slave to any predetermined "structure". But as the coins get nicer, I suspect it will become more and more difficult sentimentally for me to stick to the "one in, one out" rule.

Ancient Greece (Thessaly), silver "Rhodian Mercenaries" drachm struck by King Perseus of Macedon, ca. 175-170 BC

Ancient Roman Republic: silver denarius of moneyer L. Furius Brocchus, ca. 63 BC

Ancient Roman Empire: silver denarius of Septimius Severus, ca. 193-211 AD

Ancient Byzantine Empire: gold tremissis of Justinian I, ca. 527-565 AD

England (Anglo-Saxon): silver penny of Aethelred II (978-1016 AD), struck ca. 997-1003 AD

England: silver Short Cross penny of King John (1199-1216), struck in the name of Henry II, ca. 1205-1207

Italy (Venice): silver grosso of Antonio Venier, ca. 1382-1400

Great Britain, silver "South Sea Company" shilling of George I, 1723

USA: copper Draped Bust large cent, 1803 (small date, large fraction)

Great Britain: gilt copper proof halfpenny of George III, Soho Mint, 1806

USA: gold Liberty half-eagle, 1842-D (small date)

USA (Syracuse, NY): brass merchant token, A.C. Yates Clothing Emporium, ca. 1850s