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I ignored one of my own rules about duplicates
SmEagle1795
Posts: 2,199 ✭✭✭✭✭
Normally, I try to avoid duplicates in my collection but recently I couldn't pass one up. Both coins are Sextus Pompey denarii of the "filial loyalty" variety.
I've had the first coin for a while and was mostly attracted to it for its obverse, a strong portrait of Pompey the Great with subtle details like wrinkles around his eye. The reverse also has an interesting style, with the left and center figures being particularly well struck. The third figure is off the flan, but that is very often the case on this issue, a result of attempting to fit a large design on a small coin. It hasn't bothered me, mostly because better centered coins don't come up very regularly and when they do, they tend to be from a few dies wherein the design is compressed, which I don't find as aesthetically pleasing.
My newest coin has a nice obverse, with a well-struck legend but not quite as nice of an overall style. The reverse, however, is what really sold me on it. I've never seen an example that even comes close to this complete and well-composed of a reverse. It's unfortunate that we can't split coins in half and reconnect them!
It brings me to a bit of a precipice: I have thus far avoided duplicates in my collection but this may be an instance where each coin is significantly different enough to justify keeping both. I'm still not 100% decided either way but I'm leaning toward keeping the pair, but trying to prevent it from becoming a trend which results in opening the floodgates of duplicates when I'm attempting to build a comprehensive rather than specialized collection.
My first:
My new example:
Post your duplicates, and before/after upgrades!
I've had the first coin for a while and was mostly attracted to it for its obverse, a strong portrait of Pompey the Great with subtle details like wrinkles around his eye. The reverse also has an interesting style, with the left and center figures being particularly well struck. The third figure is off the flan, but that is very often the case on this issue, a result of attempting to fit a large design on a small coin. It hasn't bothered me, mostly because better centered coins don't come up very regularly and when they do, they tend to be from a few dies wherein the design is compressed, which I don't find as aesthetically pleasing.
My newest coin has a nice obverse, with a well-struck legend but not quite as nice of an overall style. The reverse, however, is what really sold me on it. I've never seen an example that even comes close to this complete and well-composed of a reverse. It's unfortunate that we can't split coins in half and reconnect them!
It brings me to a bit of a precipice: I have thus far avoided duplicates in my collection but this may be an instance where each coin is significantly different enough to justify keeping both. I'm still not 100% decided either way but I'm leaning toward keeping the pair, but trying to prevent it from becoming a trend which results in opening the floodgates of duplicates when I'm attempting to build a comprehensive rather than specialized collection.
My first:
My new example:
Post your duplicates, and before/after upgrades!
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I can see how they complement each other, really, and why the reverse on the second example was a "must have".
Duplicates in an ancient coin collection are not quite so dull as when someone has duplicates of a more modern coin, since the ancients are all as individual as snowflakes, so to speak.
(PS- one member here has a "Box of 20" collection... of twenty 1964 Kennedy halves! I had to scratch my head. Thought it was a joke at first.)
a fantastic portrait of Pompey and then the other with this very busy reverse design entirely on the coin and in excellent condition
They look slightly different in their state of preservation and appearance leading one to make the argument that while they are the same type coin, both or worthy to be in the same collection without concern of calling one a duplicate.
Just trying to offer assistance. I have several coins of the same date in various grades and technically do consider them to be duplicates... but that is me and I am certain it is a minority view which is okay be me.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Cheers,
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But even if they were duplicates, so what?!? A nice coin is a nice coin. Do we collect hole fillers, or do we collect nice coins? If budget is a concern (as it likely is for all of us in varying degrees), then we should raise funds by clearing out the lesser coins (not necessarily duplicates). Or, my preferred way of raising funds is to not tell the wife how much I spend.
EVP
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
It will now be that much harder to hold myself back from buying duplicate Tarentum nomoi... curse the engravers for making an attractive series!
Quite obviously, SmEagle1795's collecting targets include absolute top quality coins and a broad focus on select main types. An enviable trade-off...
Cheers,
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