Author Topic: My First Electrum (Read 3960 times)

Molinari · « **on:** May 21, 2017, 07:06:42 pm »

Won this guy recently and was excited to finally get my hands on it today. EL hekte from Kyzikos featuring Acheloios Aisepos as a man-faced bull.

Jay GT4 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 21, 2017, 07:58:18 pm »

Wonderful! I love the MFB! I've been threatening to get an EL fraction for some time. This is making me want one even more. Congrats, it's beautiful.

Molinari · « **Reply #2 on:** May 21, 2017, 08:09:06 pm »

Thanks, Jay. Kyzikos has some really amazing coins. I could definitely see myself buying more of these EL. The hekte is small enough to be affordable but large enough to be desirable.

Enodia · « **Reply #3 on:** May 21, 2017, 10:10:43 pm »

wow, great MFB! how big is it?

you guys are really "movin' on up", with both of you getting into gold lately.
there seems to be a lot of electrum on the market recently, and i've been tempted to dabble myself. but for now it'll have to remain "the stuff that dreams are made of".

congratulations on a really nice coin Nick!

~ Peter

Molinari · « **Reply #4 on:** May 22, 2017, 08:03:54 am »

The trick is to marry rich

It is a hekte, so about 11mm and 2.5g. I definitely splurged on this one, but who would appreciate this more than me?

I can definitely see myself buying more ancient gold. It gives you a nice warm feeling of comfort and security deep inside.

Jay GT4 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 22, 2017, 08:28:28 am »

My precious!

That's great! You should put that in your gallery.

Arados · « **Reply #6 on:** May 22, 2017, 08:55:48 am »

Be careful not to lose "the one coin" Nick and be aware of gold fever.

Congrats.

Meepzorp · « **Reply #7 on:** May 22, 2017, 09:06:55 am »

Hi Nick,

Congratulations!!!

Meepzorp

orfew · « **Reply #8 on:** May 22, 2017, 09:28:28 am »

Superb coin. Congratulations on a great acquisition!

quadrans · « **Reply #9 on:** May 22, 2017, 12:55:19 pm »

Great find and very nice piece...

Congratulations Nick..

Regards
Q.

djmacdo · « **Reply #10 on:** May 23, 2017, 08:30:15 am »

A great coin and better in your photo than in the catalogue photo.

Mac

Molinari · « **Reply #11 on:** May 23, 2017, 11:49:57 am »

If it is indeed ancient, it is a masterpiece, IMO. My friend said it could be 17th century, however.

Meepzorp · « **Reply #12 on:** May 24, 2017, 10:27:42 am »

Hi Nick,

If that is true, then it would be similar to a Paduan sestertius.

Meepzorp

Molinari · « **Reply #13 on:** May 24, 2017, 11:25:05 am »

Personally, I think it is ancient and from the classical period. Times like these I wish I were rich. But if I were, would I appreciate the piece as much as I do?

Joe Sermarini · « **Reply #14 on:** May 24, 2017, 11:44:20 am »

Please DO NOT use the quote feature when responding to the post immediately above yours. Please use the quote feature only when responding to an earlier post and you are concerned that your post might be confusing without it. I "fixed" a few posts above.

Jaimelai · « **Reply #15 on:** May 24, 2017, 01:38:16 pm »

Very cool coin! Congrats!

Enodia · « **Reply #16 on:** May 27, 2017, 11:38:47 pm »

Quote from: Molinari

I definitely splurged on this one, but who would appreciate this more than me?

Nick, do you remember this thread from about 4 years ago? (reply#22)...
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=89609.msg558587#msg558587

"when you wish upon a star..."

~ Peter

Molinari · « **Reply #17 on:** May 28, 2017, 11:10:09 am »

Oh yes. And maybe one day I will get the stater!

okidoki · « **Reply #18 on:** May 29, 2017, 05:08:08 pm »

very nice indeed these MFB gold or not, Gold is always special i think

peterpil19 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 30, 2017, 11:43:25 pm »

Beautiful coin! A well deserved addition to a special collection that is the envy of everyone (or at the very least, me!).

Thank the heavens that ancient silver coins are affordable. I might stick with bronze and silver for a while longer. I love bronze coinage but bronze disease terrifies me and I have treated coins which are never the same again afterwards. This is why I have a preference towards silver. I have only owned 1 ancient gold coin (byzantine) which I sold off many years ago as I rarely collect Byzantine coins.

Slightly off-topic: I have not done the arithmetic across a large sample range (and it would be interesting to do so) but from what I have seen, ancient gold coinage seems to be consistently sold for more than its bullion value. I could be wrong about that as this is just my perception based on accumulated observation not data - so do not hold back in telling me if you think I am completely off the mark. I am curious why gold coinage would be worth as much as much as it is? It is never an (ethical) option to melt down an ancient coin for its gold so why would the underlying bullion value be a factor? Or is it that gold is simply more desirable to collectors and adds to the collectible value of a coin even if the underlying gold value itself will never be realised. Out of curiosity, has anyone observed what happens to the values realised for ancient gold coins when gold prices rise and fall - do they follow and to what extent? It would be interesting if this data has been tracked to see how much a premium gold attracts vs. the overall collectible value of the gold coin itself...

Peter

Enodia · « **Reply #20 on:** May 30, 2017, 11:56:36 pm »

i'm not sure i understand your point. it seems to me that most, if not ALL ancient coins sell for more than their melt value.
$50 for a typical bronze coin is not an outrageous price, but the value of the metal in that coin is minimal. and there are many, many tiny Greek silver fractions which can easily fetch over $100 but contain only a dollar or two of bullion value.

maybe this is a discussion which needs its own thread?

~ Peter

peterpil19 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 31, 2017, 12:34:33 am »

Hi,

I don't think you understood me.

I don't think bronze and silver are directly comparable as their bullion values are comparably tiny to their realisable value.
Whereas in gold it is a much greater % of the coin's realisable value.

Happy to start a new thread if that helps.

Didn't intend to hijack this one!

Peter

Molinari · « **Reply #22 on:** May 31, 2017, 08:01:20 am »

Thanks for the compliment about my collection!

I think you nailed it here: "Or is it that gold is simply more desirable to collectors and adds to the collectible value of a coin even if the underlying gold value itself will never be realised. "

stevex6 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 20, 2017, 08:40:50 pm »

Congrats on that very cool OP-addition, Molinari (yup, a man-faced bull coin is always a total winner) ... and the gold just makes it that much sweeter

Molinari · « **Reply #24 on:** June 20, 2017, 08:42:17 pm »

Hey Steve! Thank you, nice to see you here at Forum!

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Author Topic: My First Electrum (Read 3960 times)