Smoke
Ignore-Amus
OK since I had my little tirade about the net and doing research in everything one should buy, lets look at some different things that while not bonsai, will be instructive about how to purchase something and how to do the research. This will also apply to bonsai and they way one should go about looking for material.
Key word- Provenance:
Provenance, from the French provenir, "to come from", refers to the chronology of the ownership or location of a historical object.
Here we have six ancient coins:
Top left- Olbia Dolphin Money 600 BC Some of the first man made money on earth.
Top Center- Augustus Ceasar 27BC to 14AD First Roman emporor, loved by the plebes.
Top Right- Nero 54AD to 68AD Persecuted the Jews for burning Rome. Built a huge palace over the ashes, murdered his step brother, his Mother and his pregnant wife. Not very well liked by the plebes.
Bottom Left- Hadrian 117AD to 138AD Builder of a great wall in Northern England. Very well liked by the troops and the plebes. Dupondius coin in very very good condition. Fully legible lettering and struck very well centered. An exquistite coin, nice thin patina.
Bottom Center- Elagabalus 218 AD to 222AD Part of the Severan Dynasty. A Orichalcum coin, nice portrait and a real character. Of Syrian decent, not very popular with the plebes and was assinated by his own Preatorian Guards.
Bottom Right- Maximinus II 305AD to 312AD Another foreigner Emporor from Dacia. Reopened persecution of the Christians after a period of tolerance. A really nice coin with amazing detail for 1800 years old. Great patina and nicely centered for handstruck coins on an anvil.
So....here is the challange. You have $14.00 to spend. Each coin is for sale for $14.00, meaning you can only purchase one. Which coin is going to give you the best bang for the buck?
I have had this kind of experience many times at conventions. Maybe a $1000.00 budget and about $4000.00 I want to purchase. I have to make my 1K count, so I have to purchase the best values I can.
Have fun with this, be an ametuer sleuth and peruse the internet for clues. Go to ancient coin forums, there are about a gazillion. Which one will people pick? when you do pick one, give the reason why, there is no wrong answer, its all in fun.....except when I buy!
I have a few more games to play if this is desirable.
Key word- Provenance:
Provenance, from the French provenir, "to come from", refers to the chronology of the ownership or location of a historical object.
Here we have six ancient coins:
Top left- Olbia Dolphin Money 600 BC Some of the first man made money on earth.
Top Center- Augustus Ceasar 27BC to 14AD First Roman emporor, loved by the plebes.
Top Right- Nero 54AD to 68AD Persecuted the Jews for burning Rome. Built a huge palace over the ashes, murdered his step brother, his Mother and his pregnant wife. Not very well liked by the plebes.
Bottom Left- Hadrian 117AD to 138AD Builder of a great wall in Northern England. Very well liked by the troops and the plebes. Dupondius coin in very very good condition. Fully legible lettering and struck very well centered. An exquistite coin, nice thin patina.
Bottom Center- Elagabalus 218 AD to 222AD Part of the Severan Dynasty. A Orichalcum coin, nice portrait and a real character. Of Syrian decent, not very popular with the plebes and was assinated by his own Preatorian Guards.
Bottom Right- Maximinus II 305AD to 312AD Another foreigner Emporor from Dacia. Reopened persecution of the Christians after a period of tolerance. A really nice coin with amazing detail for 1800 years old. Great patina and nicely centered for handstruck coins on an anvil.
So....here is the challange. You have $14.00 to spend. Each coin is for sale for $14.00, meaning you can only purchase one. Which coin is going to give you the best bang for the buck?
I have had this kind of experience many times at conventions. Maybe a $1000.00 budget and about $4000.00 I want to purchase. I have to make my 1K count, so I have to purchase the best values I can.
Have fun with this, be an ametuer sleuth and peruse the internet for clues. Go to ancient coin forums, there are about a gazillion. Which one will people pick? when you do pick one, give the reason why, there is no wrong answer, its all in fun.....except when I buy!
I have a few more games to play if this is desirable.