Which would you rather own for the money?

spoon · May 22, 2007 10:57AM

Coin A is listed at $1650. Coin B sold for $1700, plus 20% juice.

Coin A: SICILY, Syracuse. Philistis, wife of Hieron II. 275-215 BC. AR 16 Litrai – Tetradrachm (26mm, 13.01 g, 6h). Struck circa 218/7-214 BC.

Coin B: 1972-S 1C MS67 Red PCGS. (sorry for the horrendously large pic!)

TwoKopeiki · May 22, 2007 11:02AM

How can you even ask such a question !?

I'll go with the tetradrachm.

coinkat · May 22, 2007 11:03AM

I still have 4 rolls of unc 1972-s Lincolns I bought in 1972 from a Bank... have I got a deal for someone...

Stork · May 22, 2007 11:05AM

Rats my post was eaten...what I said was..

Is this a joke

?

Coin A rocks!

Cathy

coinkat · May 22, 2007 11:10AM

coin A looks like a CNG picture

RareBronzeCollector · May 22, 2007 11:13AM

<< <i>How can you even ask such a question !?

I'll go with the tetradrachm.

>>

Unless this was a RHETORICAL QUESTION........ I which case NO answer is necessary ( my thought anyway...)

ajaan · May 22, 2007 11:34AM

Unbelievable if I hadn't seen it.

MacCrimmon · May 22, 2007 11:38AM

<< <i>I still have 4 rolls of unc 1972-s Lincolns I bought in 1972 from a Bank... have I got a deal for someone...

>>

CK, I'll pay you $2.00 for your Lincolns..................

Spoon, you should be banned.

trozau · May 22, 2007 11:46AM

No brainer:

dan8402 · May 22, 2007 12:01PM

Can I just say that there is no way I would ever think about the Lincoln? I'm not a huge fan of the Tetradrachm either, although I can appreciate why people do like it. I would take the money and buy Swiss silver instead

spoon · May 22, 2007 12:10PM

Ahh, my faith in humanity is restored

newsman · May 22, 2007 1:45PM

I would rather have found the Lincoln in a roll, slabbed it, sold it and used the money to buy the tetradrachm or some other real coin.

lordmarcovan · May 22, 2007 2:06PM

Don't let Cladking see this thread.

It does seem a no-brainer, doesn't it?

But that is why we are Darksiders, and there are Litesiders. To each his own.

If that question were a no-brainer to everyone, nobody could afford the Greek coin, because it would cost a million bucks, and the Lincoln would be worth one cent.

koincollect · May 22, 2007 2:14PM

1jester · May 22, 2007 3:58PM

Well, since it appears that the Greek coin would grade out at a max of MS65, I'll have to go with the MS67 Lincoln....

FilamCoins · May 22, 2007 6:52PM

<< <i>Well, since it appears that the Greek coin would grade out at a max of MS65, I'll have to go with the MS67 Lincoln....

>>

Buy the coin, Jester, not the plastic!

ccrdragon · May 22, 2007 11:37PM

um, teacher, is this a trick question?!?!?!?!?

rhound1977 · May 23, 2007 1:07AM

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Gotta be nuts to pay that for a 35 year old one cent...

BS · May 23, 2007 1:41AM

I already have a few ancients, so I'll go with the Lincoln cent.

ozzysdad47 · May 23, 2007 3:00AM

The Ancient, of course............. Being as it has far more history and a story to tell........ I've got the Lincoln story down pat , The ancient to have survived in that condition for so long is amazing. Eventually that shiny little cent will be green with envy.

Zoins · May 23, 2007 3:57AM

With all the preference for the tetradrachm, is it interesting that the Lincoln sold for $1700 plus 20% juice, but the tetradrachm hasn't sold for $1650?

7Jaguars · May 23, 2007 4:27AM

I think what besides this particular contrast is interesting is the general one: it seems that much more can be had in terms of beauty or rarity in going to ancient or foreign than sticking with the US. Can you imagine after paying the 1700 for the Lincoln that a roll quantity should come up or, heaven forbid, this specimen develops a spot???

Zoins · May 23, 2007 4:30AM

<< <i>Can you imagine after paying the 1700 for the Lincoln that a roll quantity should come up or, heaven forbid, this specimen develops a spot??? >>

At least 2 people probably can. While the tetradrachm is nice, it's uncertain anyone can imagine paying 1650 for it.

Though I agree that one can get rarer and more beautiful coins by going to the darkside.

7Jaguars · May 23, 2007 6:26AM

Z, you are probably right about at the two people, but I wonder if some of these grade crazies really think about what (and how much) they are spending for what somebody else's opinion of this point would be - say 66 Red vs. 67 Red.

Q. David Bowers has recently written some guest columns in Coin World with a similar opinion...

Zoins · May 23, 2007 6:37AM

I don't know that much about ancients so here's a question. Why would a coin from Sicily have Greek letters? I believe Hieron II was allied to the Romans. It also seems that Hieron II has a reputation for being a tyrant though that might be in dispute.

Is there an active club for collectors of ancients?

7Jaguars · May 23, 2007 7:11AM

Yes, the Greeks settled in Southern Italy setting up various colonies as city states that warred with each other and even some of the mother Greek cities with various alliances, etc.

Yes, I think you should look at the Celator some time which is a very good magazine. I have to admit that I have not kept up with this aspect of coins (ancients).

CIVITAS · May 23, 2007 7:16AM

If you'd like a free copy of the Celator, let me know.

Same goes for any other forum member.

Zoins · May 23, 2007 7:23AM

Thanks for the info 7Jaguars. Seems like collecting ancient coins would be a good way to study and learn about that period of time. I think many of the Founding Fathers of the US studied the Roman Republic. I picked up a book on Cicero a while back but never got around to reading it.

Which would you rather own for the money?

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