Curtisimo Posted November 3, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted November 3, 2022 The sugar rush from Halloween is over so it is officially time to get Saturnalia season kicked off. This is a tradition that many of the regular posters here have been doing for years but this will be the first year here on NumisForums. @JAZ Numismatics and I agreed last year to host in alternating years and since he hosted last year it is my honor to host once again this year. I also plan to host Saturnalia on another forum and there may be some overlap if we have an odd number of people. Most people here are posters on both sites so this shouldn't be a problem but if you would like to restrict your pairing to NF only please let me know in your PM. Also, please help me keep this thread relevant with a periodic "bump" so that everyone who might want to participate will get a chance to.Guidelines and Instructions Send me a private message with your name and address After a number of people have sent PMs I will begin pairing up and I will respond to your message with the name and address of the person you will be sending a gift to. The pairings will be random and anonymous. The cutoff date for entry will be Dec. 2, 2022. Saturnalia officially starts on Dec. 17 so try to get your gift out in a timely manner, especially if you are shipping internationally. If you are willing to ship internationally please let me know in your PM. In the past the typical gift has been in the $20 to $50 range.. Everyone who enters will get a gift. If you haven't received a gift by Christmas please send me a message. Io Saturnalia everyone! 13 2 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryro Posted November 3, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted November 3, 2022 Yeeeeeaaaaaaauuuuuuussssss! Io Saturnalia! You rock Curtisimo the great! PM incoming 10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qcumbor Posted November 3, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted November 3, 2022 (edited) Yeepee ! That’s one of the things I was waiting for the most ! Thanks Curtis for putting this up again !! PM will follow soon Io Sarurnalia ! Q Edited November 3, 2022 by Qcumbor 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qcumbor Posted November 4, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted November 4, 2022 That's not a lot of people jumping on it so far ! I would have imagined hordes of volunteers fighting to be first in lane 😀 Q 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniard Posted November 4, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted November 4, 2022 Yep I'm in....I'll send a pm this weekend.... Just to help bump this thread here's my gift from last year ( still don't know from whom?) Toning nicely in my display cabinet... SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Antioch. Gordian III, AD 238-244. AR Tetradrachm, 28mm, 13.7g, 6h, struck AD 238-240. Obv..Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev..Eagle standing facing with spread wings, head turned to left, holding wreath in beak. //SC McAlee 862.....Prieur 279. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted November 4, 2022 · Member Share Posted November 4, 2022 I received the handsome coin pictured below from the last Secret Saturnalia, but it appears I won't be joining the current one 😞. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor kirispupis Posted November 4, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted November 4, 2022 Not sure why there aren't as many participants. I'm excited to participate this year. Last year I was too new to ancient coin collecting and was worried what to buy. This year, I'm anxiously awaiting news on who I'm given. General question for those who have participated before: I plan to examine past posts from whoever I'm given. Is it best to find something in his/her collecting area, or is it better to deliberately send something outside of it? The challenge with purchasing within a collecting area is that - unless it's Hellenistic coins from 350-250 BCE, I'm unlikely to have anywhere near the knowledge of that person and, given the budget, I'll likely pick up something he/she already has. If I purchase something outside of the collector's area, the risk is I'll send something he/she doesn't care for. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryro Posted November 4, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted November 4, 2022 26 minutes ago, kirispupis said: Not sure why there aren't as many participants. I'm excited to participate this year. Last year I was too new to ancient coin collecting and was worried what to buy. This year, I'm anxiously awaiting news on who I'm given. General question for those who have participated before: I plan to examine past posts from whoever I'm given. Is it best to find something in his/her collecting area, or is it better to deliberately send something outside of it? The challenge with purchasing within a collecting area is that - unless it's Hellenistic coins from 350-250 BCE, I'm unlikely to have anywhere near the knowledge of that person and, given the budget, I'll likely pick up something he/she already has. If I purchase something outside of the collector's area, the risk is I'll send something he/she doesn't care for. I always try to get my giftee coins in their wheelhouse. I've been given coins outside of my collecting. And though I appreciated the thought it didn't make me start enjoying the type anymore. I'd rather have a duplicate of a type I like (and even if it's from the same dies I don't know that any ancient is a true duplicate) than a new coin that I don't. And I also like to give a few coins to spice up their holiday. Here's one of my favorite portraits (and it's just a hair of the dog) that @bcudagifted me 2 Saturnalia back: 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted November 4, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted November 4, 2022 (edited) I imagine it will pick up as we go along. I’ve been getting a steady amount of PMs rolling in. Keeping this thread bumped will be a big help. I posted this in the “General” section and I do wonder if we have people who only follow specific sub-forums who haven’t seen it. 22 hours ago, kirispupis said: Is it best to find something in his/her collecting area, or is it better to deliberately send something outside of it? I would say that there really is no “better” way to approach this as both strategies are good ones. I’ve received gifts that fall into both categories and have liked them all very much. I think it’s the spirit of the exchange that makes it fun more than the gift itself. Edited November 5, 2022 by Curtisimo 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryfrog02 Posted November 4, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted November 4, 2022 Io Saturnalia! I was hoping this would happen over here. I loved it! I didn't see the thread until now. Is there perhaps a way to sticky it so it can get more eyes? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airhead1983 Posted November 4, 2022 · Member Share Posted November 4, 2022 Holy cow! I can finally participate this year! I’ve been wanting to for years. I am so excited! Erin 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPK Posted November 4, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted November 4, 2022 Sounds like fun! PM sent. Thanks @Curtisimo for hosting! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire Posted November 4, 2022 · Member Share Posted November 4, 2022 Missed the last 2 years of secret saturnalia, wont be missing this years! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted November 4, 2022 · Member Share Posted November 4, 2022 5 hours ago, kirispupis said: Not sure why there aren't as many participants. I'm excited to participate this year. Last year I was too new to ancient coin collecting and was worried what to buy. This year, I'm anxiously awaiting news on who I'm given. General question for those who have participated before: I plan to examine past posts from whoever I'm given. Is it best to find something in his/her collecting area, or is it better to deliberately send something outside of it? The challenge with purchasing within a collecting area is that - unless it's Hellenistic coins from 350-250 BCE, I'm unlikely to have anywhere near the knowledge of that person and, given the budget, I'll likely pick up something he/she already has. If I purchase something outside of the collector's area, the risk is I'll send something he/she doesn't care for. In the few times I participated I never tailored the giveaway to what a person collected. Some times it's better to give something new to a collector & open new vistas. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniard Posted November 4, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted November 4, 2022 I personally feel that when you receive your gift it's quite "special" as it's been chosen for you, whether it's outside your collecting area or not, by a fellow collector probably whom you've never met... I'll send something nice and hopefully interesting enough for the recipient to hold onto... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenickelguy Posted November 5, 2022 · Member Share Posted November 5, 2022 (edited) Does it have to be an ancient coin? I don't have many and those I do are pretty much commonplace compared to what the collectors here seem to have. I wouldn't want to be a downer. ( I got coal and onions when I was a little kid for Christmas one year and never got over it. ) I can come up with something else nice in the 20-50 range. And by the way, you mention Jaz Numismatics. I have been trying to contact him. If you can relay a message, tell him to read his CT mail. Thanks. Edited November 5, 2022 by thenickelguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerosmyfavorite68 Posted November 5, 2022 · Member Share Posted November 5, 2022 I'm very Nero Wolfe-ish about going to the post office, as I really hate going there. Can one do it the easy way, and have a vcoins dealer send it directly to the person? If I participate, I'd try to figure out what the recipient's collecting tastes are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValiantKnight Posted November 5, 2022 · Member Share Posted November 5, 2022 7 hours ago, Nerosmyfavorite68 said: I'm very Nero Wolfe-ish about going to the post office, as I really hate going there. Can one do it the easy way, and have a vcoins dealer send it directly to the person? If I participate, I'd try to figure out what the recipient's collecting tastes are. If you’re in the US just schedule a pick up online on the USPS website and they’ll have no problem picking up the package you’ll be sending. Although if you don’t feel comfortable leaving it in your mailbox until the mail truck arrives then that’s understandable. I’m in by the way @Curtisimo. Thanks for hosting again. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerosmyfavorite68 Posted November 5, 2022 · Member Share Posted November 5, 2022 I'm in. I already have started perusing coins in that general price range, on vcoins. It would be a help if when signing up, the giftee could provide a snippit about likes and dislikes, as I don't want to buy something which they would dislike. Also, large coins, small coins, silver, AE? I'm more of an ancient coin omnivore, so I'm not too hard to please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted November 6, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted November 6, 2022 Thanks all who have sent in messages so far. I will probably wait till the beginning of the week to do the first round of pairings to give folks a bit more time to see this thread. On 11/4/2022 at 7:28 PM, thenickelguy said: Does it have to be an ancient coin? I don't have many and those I do are pretty much commonplace compared to what the collectors here seem to have. I wouldn't want to be a downer. ( I got coal and onions when I was a little kid for Christmas one year and never got over it. ) I can come up with something else nice in the 20-50 range. And by the way, you mention Jaz Numismatics. I have been trying to contact him. If you can relay a message, tell him to read his CT mail. Thanks. This is a good question. Secret Saturnalia has traditionally been restricted to ancient and medieval for this group but on this site we also have folks who specialize in world coins and I would not want to preclude them from participating. I would say gift what you feel comfortable with. If you are not sure it may be worth doing a bit of research on the post history of the giftee if you decide to participate. Also, JAZ will periodically take breaks from forum participation. I am sure he will be back around. I think he has a VCoins store presence and you could possible message him through there. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted November 6, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted November 6, 2022 I am going to go ahead and bump this thread again. @Restitutor, any chance of getting a temporary sticky for this thread until the entry period closes on Dec 2nd? 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerosmyfavorite68 Posted November 6, 2022 · Member Share Posted November 6, 2022 It will be fun! I'm possibly the only one going the direct vcoins route (saves me shipping it and it gives me the chance to send a nice coin which I have no attachment to), so (in one case) don't panic if an unexpected vcoins package comes in. To avoid disaster, I'm only choosing between the dealers whom I know don't take forever and a day. On 11/4/2022 at 11:56 AM, Ryro said: I always try to get my giftee coins in their wheelhouse. I've been given coins outside of my collecting. And though I appreciated the thought it didn't make me start enjoying the type anymore. I'm of similar thought. I'm always grateful for the coins which I receive on birthdays and Christmas, and 90% of the time they're a hit, but I remember one year where I got a Leo AE4. While I was grateful for the thought, and it provided me a with a Leo (another box checked), it got tossed in a basket. Ditto the Crispus. The good ones (like the Octavian-Julius Caesar heavy dupondius and the super-nice Ptolemy Tet) far outweighed the duds, though. Even the 'duds' were picked with love. The local coin shop probably had a cruddy selection that year. However, outside the wheelhouse (within reason) can also work both ways. It could potentially be very neat and open new vistas of interest. I prefer to play safe, however, in the coin which I give. Assuming it is still there when I get the info, I already picked out one! I've selected several backups, just in case. My personal buys have been all over the place, as I'm an (ancient) coin omnivore. About the only ancient coins which I have near nil interest in are small AE Ants and LRB's (and I'd define an LRB as post-Maxentius), save for the AE1's and AE2's. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryfrog02 Posted November 6, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted November 6, 2022 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shea19 Posted November 6, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted November 6, 2022 I’m in too…thanks for putting this together Curtis! Haven’t been able to post much over the past few months (I have a lot of new additions that I need to share soon), but definitely wouldn’t miss Saturnalia! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qcumbor Posted November 6, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted November 6, 2022 Here's what my Secret Saturn sent me last year. To this day I don't know who was behind SS. I got something very different from what I collect and am very pleased with my gift : it's mind opening and above all, someone put a lot of thoughts and love into giving it away Q 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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