CPK

I know, I just thought the high buyer's premium is where CNG made their money. Say the coin hammers for $300. With the buyer's premium, CNG is already taking in $50 - $60 on top of that. I would have thought that that would be sufficient, and they wouldn't have to take an additional $45 from the seller yet. But whatever, it is what it is.

Love Calvin and Hobbes comics! Here is my formulaic, cliche, inexpensive, but fun coin for this morning:

Wow, that is a beautiful example!

They charge an 18% - 20% buyer's premium on top of the hammer price. I would have thought that would be enough without having to cut in even further. Well, it's good to know! Thanks everyone!

So you're saying that whatever the hammer price is, they take 15% of that and then you get the rest? If my coin hammers for $300, they take 15% of that ($45), and I get $255?

And another inexpensive but interesting and quite nice LRB. Just finished photographing, researching, and attributing this one. I think I've got it right. Researching coins while listening to Beethoven's 3rd Symphony (Eroica) - on a Friday evening to boot - what a pleasant way to pass the time. 🙂

Hello everyone! I was wondering if any of you have ever consigned any coins with CNG, for auction? If so, what was the submission process like, fees, etc.? I'm thinking about options for selling some coins and was wondering if they'd be a good choice. Thanks!

At least you eat well! 😉

Next: Lifetime issue of his pa.

I'm a beginning collector myself, and I fully understand how overwhelming it can feel! I enjoy history from all periods, and I own a wide range of coins from ancient Greek to Late Roman Empire with everything in between. I own a handful of ancient Chinese coins as well. Byzantine is still on my list to get. My advice would be, don't try to settle down and collect just one type, or one time period, etc., at least not yet. Buy whatever appeals to you - whether it be for the history, artistry, or both! Find interest in coins you've never thought much about (such as Chinese coins for me) and buy a few examples. Eventually, you'll likely settle down and develop some specialized interest, but now is the time to expand your knowledge and experience! Early Roman Empire is a good place to start (albeit a little more pricey) since most people are familiar with the names/places (Augustus, Caligula, Nero, et al.). Also, the letters on the coins will be familiar even if one doesn't know Latin. Greek coins are also full of history and artistic beauty. Of course, many of them will be a little pricey too, although good deals can be had. Late Roman coins can be had for less than the price of a fast-food meal. To me, they aren't as artistically pleasing (some notable exceptions, of course) but there is still a ton of history and fun in collecting them. Probably your biggest advantage in starting your collection is being a member of this forum! There is a wealth of great info here and tons of great people who are always willing to share their knowledge with new guys. (Speaking from experience here. 🙂 )

@Ryro has the answer! Those books were made for just such a beginner. I own two of them and I have more sitting in my cart on VCoins. They are great books, filled with interesting and useful information.

Such beautiful artifacts @DonnaML! Thank you for posting! I especially like the bronze eagle. Do you know what its purpose was? Was it just a decorative piece, or is there some other religious/ceremonial significance?

Fun idea! I just brought up the folder with all my photos, closed my eyes, and put my finger somewhere on the monitor. This is the coin: Purchased from Sahar Coins last year. Last year a friend of mine was assigned to give a two-part topic series on the Fall of Jerusalem at our church. He and I both enjoy history, and I thought it would be cool to have a small display of artifacts from the time period on display during/after the topics. So this was one of the first things I purchased, a First Jewish War prutah. A week or so later I bought another one, not quite as nice. I also bought an oil lamp, a Roman sling bullet, and a Roman arrowhead, all from 1st century Judaea. My friend bought a little working model of a ballista which I put together the night before his talk. We had a number of other early Roman Empire coins as well. I typed up a paper giving the historical information on each artifact and printed them on antique-looking paper. It was fun to put together, and everyone seemed to enjoy seeing and handling the artifacts. The comment I most heard was, "I had no idea you could just buy things like these! I thought they were only in museums!" 😁 As a matter of fact, this is what really got my started collecting ancient coins.

The gold cup and plate are a bit over the top...the ring, though, I have to admit, is kinda neat.

Hello and welcome!

That's an amazing collection! Thanks for the links - I will definitely be giving them a look! You have a lot of very nice bronze weapons. And I also like that barnacle-encrusted fragment of an amphora!

Largemouth horse? Nice coin. 🙂

So many stunning coins lately!! That is a gorgeous shekel, congrats on the acquisition!!!

Ooh that's a beauty! Lovely luster it has! 👍

Athenian gold?? Eid Mar denarius?? Alexander the Great gold?? I am speechless at some of the incredible coins some of you have!!! 🤯 How can I post a coin now? 😜 Narrowing it down to just one is hard...hmm...I'd say it would have to be this Augustus tetradrachm which I just posted in another thread: I'm interested in all periods of ancient history, and my collection includes coins from ancient Persia, Greece, Rome, and China. So far, I haven't focused exclusively on one category; if a coin appeals to me, chances are I might buy it. That said, like many beginners, I have naturally gravitated to early Roman Empire coins because of the familiarity we have with the names, places, and dates from the New Testament. Obviously, Augustus is of particular significance as being the emperor during Jesus' birth and early life. He is also mentioned by name in the NT, in what is probably a very familiar passage to a lot of you and one we hear often around Christmas time: LUKE 2:1 KJV "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world..." (kingjamesbibleonline.org) Of course, Augustus is of immense historical importance quite apart from his connection with New Testament history. He was the eventual victor in the terrible, long and bloody civil wars which saw the destruction of the Roman Republic and the emergence of the Imperial Roman Empire. Under his authority, Rome entered into a new phase of expansion and growth which lasted for centuries, and its influence reaches to our times. In addition to the history, I also happen to like large silver coins, and when I saw this one come up for sale I did not hesitate! The portrait is beautifully struck and well-preserved, though a bit off center; the reverse is equally pleasing, with sharp detail. Both sides are pleasantly toned as well. A winner in my book! I won't post photos, but second place would probably be my Trajan sestertius, and third would be either my Tiberius denarius or my Athena/owl tetradrachm.

Better and better. The new design looks great! Thanks for the effort you've put into this @Restitutor!

That is a masterpiece of artistic engraver's talent! Where's the picture from?

Very nice coin, and thank you for the interesting write-up!

I hope that some of you aren't getting tired of seeing this one but I can't pass up an opportunity to post it. 😉 Next: Another silver Augustus coin but not a denarius.

@Troyden I don't really have an answer to your flan question...but wow! That is a beautiful coin! I'd love to add a Julius Caesar "DICT PERPETVO" denarius to my collection some time. Along with about a hundred other coins. 😄