I once bought a
French denier of Louis XV from a dealer's tray. It was not in a
flip or 2x2 holder and instead of getting one from the dealer (which would just be wasted because I have my own cataloging method) I just put the coin in my pocket and drove
home but when I got there it was not in my pocket anymore. I looked everywhere, retracing my steps through the house and back out to my
car. I found nothing. I went through the
car ever so carefully, looking in the seat, under the seat, on the floor behind the seat, etc., etc.
Still, nothing. I drove back to the
coin shop where I'd bought it and scoured the street where I'd parked. Nothing. I retraced my steps into the
shop. Nothing.
So I gave up. Not an expensive coin but one I wanted. I was quite unhappy for a while but eventually I thought of it no more.
Then, about two years later, while travelling, I
had left my
car with the hotel
valet. When he brought my
car around and I gave him a tip, the
valet handed me something in return: my lost denier! He
had found it on the floor of the
car. I can only imagine that it
had somehow gotten into the seat as I drove
home the day I'd bought it and it took that long for it to
work its way out.
Since then, I have let dealers I've bought from put any loose coins in
flips for me!
Fortunately, I've never
had this happen with any of my
ancient coins or, indeed, with any other coins. I have dropped a few
LRBs in my office over time, though. They vanish into the pattern of the Persian rug on the floor and I have to get down on my
hands and knees and feel my way around for them. Hardly worth the effort for some of those tiny little Arcadiuses and AE 4/5s of the
Constantine boys, but I do it anyway!