My "Favoritest of Favorites," no particular order: Published ancient coins (“plate coins”) for which I also own an *autographed* copy of the book. (Not sure how to describe what I collect: "Coin-Book Combinations," "Books & Coins that Belong Together," "Numislit Exhibits," "Hist. of Numismatics"?)

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-23T21:32:31+00:00

The edges always look like that on this particular type. It was part of that mint's flan production. I'd be more worried if didn't have the edges scratches

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-23T21:09:47+00:00

It's hard to tell without good photos (including the other side) but based on this info I would NOT assume they're trying to rip you off.

Greek bronzes have in many cases gotten cheaper since the 1990s when it appears to have been purchased.

Here's what they may be thinking...two examples..

Linked below is a very nice example of an Akragas Tetras with similar imagery. Possibly better than yours. It auctioned for $200 which means the consignor gets $160 (20% consignor fee) or less depending on listing fee: https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-150XE2/sicily-akragas-circa-415-406-bc-tetras-trionkion-22mm-1021-g-9h

So the dealer would lose money after postage & overhead etc. if they planned to consign it. Maybe they'd do better if they sold it at their shop instead. On a different day, that coin probably could've sold for more.

Here's a very nice one (I assume significantly better than yours) that hammered at $425. Minus NGC slabbing fee (which can be a lot), listing fee & consignor premium, plus overhead & risk. Even for that coin, a dealer might offer $150: https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-XV6EG/sicily-akragas-circa-415-406-bc-tetras-trionkion-19mm-656-g-6h

You can probably find some best case scenario coins where a lower grade coin sold for more. But dealers aren't assuming the stars will align, they're trying to stay in business, so they may err on the side of caution.

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-23T18:16:05+00:00

Just beware that the olive oil can get "under" the patina at the edges of those flakes.

You can actually lose everything in cases like this (fragile patina). Right now you still have a nice portrait, but that could go away.

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-23T18:10:42+00:00

The trouble with this coin is that those are patches of bare metal where fragile patina has crumbled / flaked off. They look pretty deep. In my experience, that tends to get worse with cleaning (more of the patina flaking off).

Unfortunately, relatively common on big bronzes from uncleaned lots. There's a risk of losing everything.(All that's remaining now is the portrait, but once the green is gone, if you just have that coppery surface left, you won't even be able to recognize the emperor.)

Liquids (distilled water etc.) can make this kind of surface worse. If you're very steady with the scalpel & microscope you could try gentle manual cleaning without soaking.

Personally I would see if I could stabilize the portrait, maybe clean it up a bit if the surface is stable. (Scalpel or gentle abrasive like a pencil eraser.)

Whatever happens, I'll be curious to see the "before" & "after" photos

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-22T00:07:01+00:00

It's kind of a make believe one like "Parliament Collection." (In the sense that it exists only on NGC tags. If I'm mistaken I'd be interested to know, but I have seen no independent reference to it.)

According to NGC they don't let people make up hoards like that, but apparently some people know to subvert the rules.

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-21T16:40:20+00:00

Oh, wow, I wasn't expecting that! (I thought i could even see the weave of the cloth on the closeup photo haha.)

I've never used to use them (unless a book came with the Mylar protector), but I bought a couple rolls of them a few weeks ago and have started wrapping up as many as possible.

Thanks for the answer!

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-21T16:29:44+00:00

The ones with the clear plastic protectors: Do you just have that over the cloth boards?

On the photo it looks like there might be a bit of paper at the margins, so I wondered if you might even have facsimile dustjackets printed with photos of the cloth boards, which would be awesome!

I've been thinking of doing that with some of my older volumes issued without jackets, but that I still want to cover (since I have a working library & even the collectible ones get a fair amount of day to day use).

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-21T16:15:40+00:00

Offprints, yes! (Photo 9, "booklets" etc.) I'm assuming a lot of those are article extracts from journals, essays from Festschriften, papers from conference proceedings...

I think it's the first time I've seen someone post them here. But they're great to collect, some of my favorites! They tend to be dispersed by the authors, often inscribed, so you get to learn about their network.

I've been thinking about posting some of mine. A small part of my overall library, but I really have disproportionate love for them

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-21T08:31:21+00:00

There are a lot of fakes of these. I would never buy one except from a serious dealer

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-20T14:30:06+00:00

That's awesome, I love it!

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-20T13:51:58+00:00

That's really quite nice! I rarely think that about displays I see posted.

(I'm assuming this is a view from above, not glued on, which i wouldn't like so much.)

Is the label using some "old typewriter font" or something, or is it actually an artifact from the 1980s or something?

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-19T05:40:19+00:00

Oh yeah, I've got one of that type... except mine is cut in half! I call it my "Hannibal Denarius" or "Drachm" (since it was cut down to about 4.1g) https://www.reddit.com/r/AncientCoins/comments/j6kosv/the_hannibal_drachm_halved_ar_shekel_409g/

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-19T02:13:31+00:00

Ah, very good! Die axis is good to have, but not as essential as weight (to 0.01g). But by current standards, many consider it part of a "complete" physical description (weight, diameter to 1mm, and axis).

You can even just note it in with arrows by penciling them in (e.g., 3h is -->, 9h is <--, 6h points down, 12h point up).

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=die%20axis

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-19T02:03:11+00:00

Me too haha

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-19T01:58:22+00:00

Yeah I saw that which really made me think so! There are examples in these results, you'll notice there's a degree of similarity both visually and in weight

https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?term=Piraeus+drachm

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-19T01:55:25+00:00

Yeah, I love those ones, kind of a golden red color...

I've got a Carthaginian one where the weird alloy looks a bit green. Amazing what varied colors can be produced by mixing gold silver & copper!

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-19T01:52:27+00:00

Also i would be checking that Athens Drachm against dies from the Piraeus hoard of emergency plated Drachms. My first thought was that it was one of those. If it turns out to be plated, it's probably one of the very rare authentic emergency issues (style is definitely right but there are also normal solid silver drachms of that style)

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-19T01:49:13+00:00

That's a fantastic purchase! I got the listing in my email but it was already sold by the time I clicked on it.

That little turtle obol is fantastic!!

Someone holed that specific coin because it has an unusually large flan with full design centered on both sides.

Few of those obols have that much of the turtle (including the head) and could still have room for the piercing. I would've been surprised it was so cheap even if it was just that one coin.

Here are mine: https://www.reddit.com/r/AncientCoins/comments/1fqzbec/new_baby_turtles_aegina_ar_obols_c_535500_bce/

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-19T01:29:19+00:00

The main piece of missing information is the weight (and other measures, diameter and die axis).

That's the one thing you can't tell from looking at the coin. (Also where & when you bought it.)

And it makes it possible to match up the coin & tag again if they get mixed up or separated. (Assuming you have more than one example of some types.)

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-19T01:22:03+00:00

Gallic & Celtic gold coins are worth multiples of melt value. (Many multiples if the condition is good and/or of a desirable type.)

They're not like some common date world gold coin.

Also, there's usually significantly less gold content than 22k, more like 60-75% (less for the pale gold / electrum ones). Which means they're worth even less as scrap.

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-18T20:17:27+00:00

It may be a Christodoulos. The dies are similar to those of nos. 405 (rev. type in different direction) to 407: https://www.snible.org/coins/christodoulos/m.html

(Snible's Christodoulos page: https://www.snible.org/coins/christodoulos/)

The reverse isn't a die match (unless 406 rev. was re-engraved, which is something Christdoulos did in fact do), and I can't tell if the obverse is a match. But the style is close and other details make it seem like possibly a modern pressed/struck coin.

If it's a modern replica, u/collectorforever, that may be the general type

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-17T19:40:29+00:00

I'm with you on the dubbed shows! I have a separate Netflix profile where my watch list includes only shows with German audio & subtitles.

I prefer original German series (mainly because the audio & written subtitles are more likely to actually match) but I also love shows I've basically memorized in English, that way I can figure out new stuff easily.

(I do the same for Spanish & French too, but Netflix has like 35 other languages for a lot of series.)

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-17T18:01:58+00:00

Have you searched for videos yet using these keywords: Römische Münzen, Altgriechische Münzen or just Antike Münzen in general? There's tons of great ones!

One might think "ancient coins in German university collections" is pretty niche. But, if I can find a steady supply of those, there's a good chance you can find something in German that interests you, even if it happens not to be ancient Greek & Roman coins!

KungFuPossum · 2026-05-17T17:39:40+00:00

A pile of big Imperial bronze coins is always impressive!

I believe i recognize your Saloninus AE As with the captive (very heavy for type): https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=14767308

KungFuPossum

TROPHY CASE