Collectors who inspire you

[kirispupis]

While collections such as BCD are certainly awe-inspiring, I don't find it necessarily personally inspirational because they were primarily collected during a time when MOU's didn't exist and with far greater financial resources than I can imagine.

However, I have found the Plankenhorn collection very inspiring. While much of it was also acquired before the ancient coin trade became restrictive, it still gives me great hope for the future of my collection. In particular

• Gerhard Plankenhorn is a retired teacher and amassed his impressive collection on a reasonable salary
• He taught himself everything he knows and rose to become a respected expert in the field
• He even published a book of his coins - something I hope to do myself someday
• When collecting, he had a tremendous eye for coins and obtained a number of extremely interesting pieces

I've been lucky enough to obtain five coins previously from his collection. They are among my favorites in my own collection.

What collections inspire you? Let's see some examples!

Mysia, Artake
4th century BCE
AE 8 mm, 0.65 g, 12 h
Head of Artemis to right, wearing stephane and with bow and quiver over her shoulder.
Rev. A-P-T-A within the four spokes of a wheel.
Plankenhorn, Mysien, p. 26, 1 (this coin). Apparently unique.
Ex collection of G. Plankenhorn

 

Mysia, Perperene
4th century BCE
Chalkous AE 8 mm, 0.69 g, 11 h
Laureate head of Apollo to right.
Rev. ΠΕΡΠΕ Bunch of grapes on vine.
Plankenhorn, Mysien, p. 147, 11 (this coin). SNG Paris 2309. Stauber & Barth 10, d (this coin)
Ex collection of G. Plankenhorn

 

Mysia, Kisthene
4th century BCE
AE 16 mm, 4.15 g, 1 h
Veiled head of Demeter to right, wearing wreath of grain ears.
Rev. KIΣ Horseman, wearing chlamys, on horse galloping right, raising his right hand in salute; below, dolphin right.
Plankenhorn, Mysien, p. 70, 6 (this coin). SNG Paris 163-4. Stauber & Barth 6, l (this coin). Von Fritze 621
Ex collection of G. Plankenhorn

 

IONIA. Pedasa
Circa 4th century BCE
AE 10 mm, 1.58 g, 12 h
Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet.
Rev. ΠΗΔΑ-ΣΕΩΝ Owl with closed wings standing right, head facing.
H. von Aulock: Eine neue kleinasiatische Münzstätte: Pedasa (Pidasa) bei Milet, in: JNG 25 (1975), pp. 123-8
Ex collection of G. Plankenhorn

 

Ionia, Airai
Circa 375-350 BCE
Ae 13mm 1.80g
Obv: Laureate head of Apollo left.
Rev: AIPAIΩN. Owl standing right, head facing; astragalos to right.
Amandry, Une monnaie de la cité Ionienne d’Airai, 11-12; Imhoof-Blumer, Kleinasiatische Münze, Supplement p. 512, 1.
Ex Plankenhorn Collection
Ex Hauck & Aufhäuser 2000

[ambr0zie]

I got inspired by some members of CT initially (who migrated here, like I did). The order I will write them in has no particular importance. These are the ones who inspired me the most:

1. @DonnaML - without Donna's posts I am not sure if I would have started collecting and studying RR coins

2. @Roman Collector for his extended knowledge about Faustina I and II - inspired me to collect these ladies

3. @Ryro for attention to detail + similar interests in coins + provincial coinage knowledge. 

I have a large number of coins bought because I saw similar examples or I branched out a little being inspired by these three collectors. 

I am grateful to them but I just realized I could also sue them because they are the main reason I am spending large chunks from my budget monthly. 

Edited October 1, 2023 by ambr0zie

[JayAg47]

I would say mine would be @TIF @AncientJoe and @dougsmit. Each one of them have different approach to collecting, as far as I know correct me if i'm wrong. From collecting really (I mean reallly interesting coins as we can see at https://www.tifcollection.com/, or the spectacularly expensive ones from Joe's collection, to a more focused and informative collection of Doug, mostly the Severans. While I may not buy top dollar coins, I do like to hunt for the most interesting types within my budget, I could also say I'm inspired from @DonnaML's organisation and her elaborate write-up's but I'm just too lazy to do the same! 

[Al Kowsky]

The collectors-authors who inspired me the most were the late Michel Prieur & Richard McAlee. Both of these collectors had the bulk of their collections auctioned by CNG (Classical Numismatic Group LLC). Pictured below are photos of the books they authored.

Pictured below 4 of the coins that were once in their collections.

 

 

 

[Roman Collector]

Over the course of my career, I have found the following collectors to be the most influential.

• I had the pleasure of meeting Henry Clay Lindgren back in the 1990s when he attended shows in the Bay area as Antioch Associates. Of course, I have the three volume catalog of his collection. This was long before RPC online and back when Lindgren was an important reference to the Roman Provincial series. Few collectors -- certainly not me -- had access to SNG von Aulock or SNG Copenhagen. And forget owning the two-dozen-volume collection of BMC Greek. The main takeaway from Lindgren was not to be a condition crank, especially when it comes to the Roman Provincial series, and that too much attention to the Roman Imperial series and too much emphasis on grade leads the collector to miss out on some VERY interesting coins.
• In the early days of the internet coin scene, there was a collector named Heather Howard who was quite active on list servers and coin boards. I don't know what happened to her but I appreciated how she combined Imperial and Provincial issues of Elagabalus into a coherent whole that illustrated the history of the late Severan period. She was a lot like @TIF in that she acquired a lot of coins because the reverse type tickled her fancy.
• @TIF is a very clever, entertaining, and funny member of CT and this forum. She taught me about several interesting reverse types and encouraged me to broaden my collecting horizons from time to time in order to discover new types to acquire just for fun.
• I cannot overstate how much I've learned over the years from @dougsmit. I really learned to appreciate how to simultaneously be a general and specialized collector and to love researching the technical aspects of ancient coin production. If you haven't read every article at his web page, you should.
• Although @TIF encouraged me to broaden my horizons (because I do go down rabbit holes), @David Atherton and @Orfew validate my philosophy that rarity and completeness within a specialty are noble goals. I share their joy in flyspecking -- the joy that can be had from acquiring scarce varieties that went unrecognized by the other bidders at auction or were overlooked because they weren't FDC.
• And speaking of flyspecking, I want to give a shout-out to my online friends here at Forum @Ryro, @shanxi, @Marsyas Mike, and @Barzus for consistently posting interesting coins in write-ups of their own and for participating in discussions on threads that I have started. We all have that balance of general-specialized and understand the joy of the rabbit-hole.
• And in terms of scholarship, I want to acknowledge how @DonnaML leads by example. She and I have different approaches to collecting, but we share the same love of learning.
• Lastly, I want to acknowledge my friend in Yorkshire, Paul Dinsdale, and to @curtislclay for many online but off the forum discussions about Antonine coinage, especially about rare varieties and oddities within the Antonine Imperial series.

Edited October 2, 2023 by Roman Collector

[David Atherton]

Many of the collectors mentioned above have inspired me as well. Thank you to you all!

I would like to credit three collectors that haven't already been mentioned who have greatly inspired me as a specialist over the years.

@maridvnvm with his focus on the Eastern denarii of Septimus Severus has been an inspiration ever since I first viewed his online gallery on Forvm many years ago. https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/index.php?cat=10618

Barry Murphy also at one time collected denarii of Septimus Severus and shared his collection online. http://bpmurphy.ancients.info/  His website showed me what a useful tool a well curated online collection could be.

And lastly, I would like to give credit where credit is due - I wouldn't have half the knowledge about Flavian coinage I have today without the tremendous support and guidance from the eminent Flavian collector Harry Sneh. Sadly, Harry has passed on, but his collecting legacy and words of wisdom are still very much alive with me today. He is deeply missed.

Edited October 2, 2023 by David Atherton

[thenickelguy]

The majority of you people on Numis Forums inspire me. I can't even come close to reading all the things people post here. I've been a member here since nearly the very beginning and have learned so much from all of you. On the other hand, there is so much to learn. This place has grown by leaps and bounds and is an ever flowing source of entertainment and education.

Thanks everybody.

[Salomons Cat]

I'm not a specialist. Trying to collect all the rare variants that ever existed of a certain emperor would just be too overwhelming. For me, collecting coins is more about history, art and aesthetics. Condition rarity is more important to me than completeness or rare variants. In order to fascinate me, a collection doesn't have to be huge but I like it when it's harmonious and when I can see a connection between the single pieces. 

• @LONGINUS has a very harmonious and beautiful collection that I find inspiring (he has posted a picture here)
• I'm quite fascinated by @Prieure de Sions website with Commodus coins. Although it only features Commodus, these coins are aesthetically very appealing and usually in outstanding condition. I also enjoyed reading about Commodus here on numisforums (e.g. Hercules, Annona/grain market).
• One of the collections that has impressed me the most so far was from A. Lang. It was auctioned by Leu in 05/2022. The combination of coins in this collection is just incredible: condition, toning, centering, relief, ... - everything matches. I cannot recommend highly enough to take a look at the catalogue.

In the meantime, I have acquired some coins from these collections. I've already posted them a few times, so you might know them already.

Nerva. Denarius, 3.50g, 18/19mm. Rome, 96 n. Chr.
Obv: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II P P, laureate head to right.
Rev: CONCORDIA EXERCITVVM, clasped hands.
RIC 2, RSC 16. Ex GM 108 (2001), 1765. Ex A. Lang collection (not in auction). 

Commodus, as Caesar, 166-177. Denarius, 18 mm, 3.48 g, 12 h. Rome, 175-176.
Obv: COMMODO CAES AVG FIL GERM SARM Bare-headed and cuirassed bust of Commodus to right, seen from behind.
Rev: PRINC IVVENT Commodus, as prince of the youth, standing front in military attire, head to left, holding branch in his right hand and long scepter in his left; behind to right, trophy.
BMC -. Cohen -. MIR 342-14/15 (no example recorded). RIC -. Apparently unpublished with this bust type. 
Ex A. Lang collection.

Commodus. Denarius, 17mm, 3.11g. Rome, 192 AD. 
Obv: L AEL AVREL COMM AVG P FEL, wearing lion skin headdress.
Rev: HERCVL ROMAN AVGV. 
Ex Prieure de Sion (numisforums) and ex Noonans 03/2023, Graham Collection.

Crispina, Denarius, 18mm, 2.79g, 6h. Rome, 178-82 AD.
Obv: CRISPINA AVG
Rev: dis geni tali bvs, lighted altar
RIC Commodus 281; RSC 15; RCV 5999). Ex Prieure de Sion (numisforums), ex Noonans 03/2023, Graham Collection, ex Stanley Gibbons 1973

Edited October 2, 2023 by Salomons Cat

[El Cazador]

18 minutes ago, Salomons Cat said:

I'm not a specialist. Trying to collect all the rare variants that ever existed of a certain emperor would just be too overwhelming. For me, collecting coins is more about history, art and aesthetics. Condition rarity is more important to me than completeness or rare variants. In order to fascinate me, a collection doesn't have to be huge but I like it when it's harmonious and when I can see a connection between the single pieces. 

• @LONGINUS has a very harmonious and beautiful collection that I find inspiring (he has posted a picture here)
• I'm quite fascinated by @Prieure de Sions website with Commodus coins. Although it only features Commodus, these coins are aesthetically very appealing and usually in outstanding condition. I also enjoyed reading about Commodus here on numisforums (e.g. Hercules, Annona/grain market).
• One of the collections that has impressed me the most so far was from A. Lang. It was auctioned by Leu in 05/2022. The combination of coins in this collection is just incredible: condition, toning, centering, relief, ... - everything matches. I can cannot recommend highly enough to take a look at the catalogue.

In the meantime, I have acquired some coins from these collections. I've already posted them a few times, so you might know them already.

Nerva. Denarius, 3.50g, 18/19mm. Rome, 96 n. Chr.
Obv: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II P P, laureate head to right.
Rev: CONCORDIA EXERCITVVM, clasped hands.
RIC 2, RSC 16. Ex GM 108 (2001), 1765. Ex A. Lang collection (not in auction). 

Commodus, as Caesar, 166-177. Denarius, 18 mm, 3.48 g, 12 h. Rome, 175-176.
Obv: COMMODO CAES AVG FIL GERM SARM Bare-headed and cuirassed bust of Commodus to right, seen from behind.
Rev: PRINC IVVENT Commodus, as prince of the youth, standing front in military attire, head to left, holding branch in his right hand and long scepter in his left; behind to right, trophy.
BMC -. Cohen -. MIR 342-14/15 (no example recorded). RIC -. Apparently unpublished with this bust type. 
Ex A. Lang collection.

Commodus. Denarius, 17mm, 3.11g. Rome, 192 AD. 
Obv: L AEL AVREL COMM AVG P FEL, wearing lion skin headdress.
Rev: HERCVL ROMAN AVGV. 
Ex Prieure de Sion (numisforums) and ex Noonans 03/2023, Graham Collection.

Crispina, Denarius, 18mm, 2.79g, 6h. Rome, 178-82 AD.
Obv: CRISPINA AVG
Rev: dis geni tali bvs, lighted altar
RIC Commodus 281; RSC 15; RCV 5999). Ex Prieure de Sion (numisforums), ex Noonans 03/2023, Graham Collection, ex Stanley Gibbons 1973

Really nice Nerva

[hotwheelsearl]

I am inspired by guys who buy $50 and under coins. I can’t afford 100k coins, and never will… but I can still find good deals and appreciate the lesser products!

[LONGINUS]

Thank you, @Salomons Cat !  Your inspiring words give me wings. 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 3, 2023 by LONGINUS

[LONGINUS]

Great question, @kirispupis but I’m not going there. Too many to mention.

[David Atherton]

2 hours ago, LONGINUS said:

Great question, @kirispupis but I’m not going there. Too many to mention.

I will say this, your enthusiasm and eye-catching professional presentations are an inspiration. I always look forward to your posts.

Edited October 3, 2023 by David Atherton

[Prieure de Sion]

19 hours ago, Salomons Cat said:

I'm quite fascinated by @Prieure de Sions website with Commodus coins. Although it only features Commodus, these coins are aesthetically very appealing and usually in outstanding condition. I also enjoyed reading about Commodus here on numisforums (e.g. Hercules, Annona/grain market).

Thanks for the flowers 😉 

[Prieure de Sion]

19 hours ago, Salomons Cat said:

@LONGINUS has a very harmonious and beautiful collection that I find inspiring (he has posted a picture here)

Absolute - his pictures and presentations are ART WORK for me. 😍