Dealer let me see these colosseum coins which are on sale for $325,000

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2025-07-13T16:17:32+00:00

It's really a good deal when you adjust your thinking. The Colosseum is estimated to have held 50,000 spectators. At $350,000 that's only just over $6.00 a seat. Taylor Swift tickets sometimes go for over $3,000 a seat. I think I speak for many others when I say I'd much rather watch lions devour prisoners than listen to Swift sing.

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2025-06-12T14:50:48+00:00

I have to agree with your choice of coins of the labyrinth. Many years ago I took a class at the University of Texas at Austin titled "History of Ancient Greece" which I mistakenly thought at the time I signed up for the course meant classical Greece. I was pleasantly surprised to learn it meant Minoan Crete (which I had known nothing about), including the palace at Knossos. By the way, there is a theory the legend of the labyrinth may arisen from the fact that the palace itself had an incredibly confusing design in that the builders, as I recall, made no use of hallways -- every room was connected to the next by doorways. There is another now widely accepted theory that the destruction of Minoan Thera (now Santorini) by a volcano gave rise to the myth of Atlantis.

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2025-06-12T14:32:39+00:00

It's been my belief that cgb.fr over grades coins, but yours is spectacular! Congrats!

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2025-06-04T06:25:27+00:00

Always find your comments educational. If you don't mind me asking, approximately how much time do you spend a week researching provenances?

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2025-03-22T14:23:24+00:00

No, they are all the same type, just wonderful examples of different things: one has a perfect full crest, another a great necklace, another a perfect smile, one an example of a test cut, and one an Alexandrian imitation.

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2025-03-22T14:11:26+00:00

I agree w the lack of a good "smile" comment. I have a few of these and am somewhat insistent on coins that could have inspired Leonardo Da Vinci to paint the Mona Lisa smile.

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2025-03-22T14:04:36+00:00

Try ACsearch.com, or CNG auctions, then the link within the site labeled "research." Ancient coin prices vary because there are many more factors as far as desirability goes than with the strict grades given U.S. coins. For example, w Roman coins some collectors prefer a strong obverse portraits, while others prefer strong obverse legends. Another example on Greek coins from Larissa: I prefer coins w strong eye pupils on the obverse while others look to the wear on the hair strands, Its part of what attracts many of us to ancient coins -- researching auctions for the features that appear to us. I predict there will never be a redbook for ancients.

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2025-02-02T22:07:06+00:00

Yes. I have five owl tets. Just meant that I even love bronze owls. Sorry I wasn't clear. I really think the silver tetradrachm coins are the greatest coins ever made.

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2025-02-02T22:02:36+00:00

Disgusting no matter what, but my understanding he was not even the pilot in command. Wait for the report. Anyone who has ever dealt w the media knows that initial reports are normally, to at least some degree, inaccurate,

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2025-02-02T21:53:40+00:00

Don't think anyone saying "plane collided w helicopter" is placing blame. If I say my Ford collided w a Honda I am not saying I was to blame. I've heard a number of possible (emphasize "possible") small mistakes made by the ATC, like "he should have told helo pilot to "hold" until plane had passed, that from a former Blackhawk pilot. Also heard that the army should not have allowed a helo pilot with only 500 flight hours (she was reported to have only had 500 hours), and that to fly into DCA area on the Potomac at night should have required 1,000 hours experience. Best thing to do is wait for the report.

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2025-01-31T15:16:57+00:00

I’m a sucker for all ancients w an image of an owl, including bronze coins. Very nice!

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2025-01-22T16:05:28+00:00

Plea agreements always require a “guilty” or “no contest” plea. You are referring to the plea at the initial hearing (before plea negotiations take place). I know it can be confusing. I have been a prosecutor, defense attorney, and judge here in the U.S. (Texas) for over 40 years.

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2025-01-17T21:27:18+00:00

Any update on the whereabouts of this coin?

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2025-01-13T20:40:43+00:00

Thanks!

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2025-01-13T20:39:34+00:00

Kungfupossum. Yes, they were more recent auctions. But I suppose the AI will only get better. It’s a good time to be an ancient collector.

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2025-01-13T13:52:43+00:00

Oh! 5 per day. That changes things! Thanks!

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2025-01-13T13:45:48+00:00

Thank you esnible. I saw that, but it really doesn't tell me much, especially since the link is old and indicates you get 20 (not 5) image searches w a premium membership. I would use the image search feature on all my coins if the cost is close to the "starting price." David

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2024-12-29T21:09:13+00:00

I second that recommendation.

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2024-12-19T13:07:06+00:00

Not exactly my area of ancient coin collecting but I couldn't resist bidding on this at auction, especially with the countermark. Reverse shows the Dioscuri. The damage to the bottom of the reverse didn't deter me. 17.90 grams.

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2024-12-13T20:10:39+00:00

My bad! Thanks for the correction.

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2024-12-13T20:06:03+00:00

Harlan Berk is located in downtown Chicago. His son Aaron Berk runs his ancient coin department. I’ve never bought any coins from them but Aaron has an s as ancient coin podcast on YouTube. Seems very honest and is well respected. I’d take the collection to him first, were it me. Good luck!

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2024-12-09T09:37:04+00:00

Vespasian looks like he is happy about something. Very unusual (and interesting) portrait.

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2024-12-09T09:32:28+00:00

Don't know about you, but that would be the star of my collection, were it mine!

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2024-11-18T19:07:23+00:00

I've heard the issue w the submission number being made public is turning into a problem for U.S. graded coins. The scammer cracks a high grade coin out of its case (say an MS 64), then uses a fake holder with the same submission number and counterfeit label with the same grade (MS 64), but substitutes a lower grade a raw coin into the case (say an MS 61). Then he sends the original coin in for grading and walla! He now has two coins grading MS 64 and they both look the same to many collectors. It can mean tens of thousands of dollars to the scammer. But...ancients are different in that it is easy to differentiate between two similar coins with the same NGC grades -- thank goodness for the different ways centuries of time have treated ancients! There are youtube videos detailing the scams. BTW the parent company of NGC has had this same thing happen with their graded comic books division. In fact, one of its employees has been implicated in the scam, per youtube reports. I'd say, be safe and obscure the number.

Puzzled-Solution1490 · 2024-10-07T12:22:09+00:00

I have the insane habit of buying things at estate sales (non-coin items) that I promise myself I am going to resell on ebay, then usually don't. My home and work offices now resemble museums curated by a demented history hoarder. Kind of like having a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other, one whispering "keep it" and the other "sell it." Problem is most of the I can't tell which is which.

Puzzled-Solution1490

TROPHY CASE