Ancient Silver Drachma

[Camu Mahubah]

I was looking at these coins in an advertisement in Nat Geo. I showed the wife and she took the magazine from me and read the article. She tells me this cain't be true! 2000 years old for $50. I'm no serious coin collector but once in awhile I become intrigued. I dare say this coin is intriguing! I just wonder how they are able to sell it such a modest price. Did they find a hoard of them in some ancient tomb? Are they common?


http://www.govmint.com/item/Ancient-Silver-"Kings"-Drachma-Coin/COFC/

 

[tom slick]

reproduction?

 

[moribundman]

Those are not uncommon coins and the condition dictates the price.

 

[Pablo]

I have a couple from when I was a kid. As mori said they are fairly common.

Cool to have something that old, but I would settle for some gold doubloons ca 1600.

 

[hate2work]

Camu, you say this cain't be true, but in fact it cain be true LOL

Mori mentioned that the condition determines the price, but in this case it's the demand, or lack thereof, that is keeping these coins so cheaply priced.

 

[crinkles]

i never trust the autenticity of these coin ads in magazines.

If it were real, why would they use such blurry ad-speak about where they're from and how they were discovered?

"This special offer of Ancient Silver Drachmas from the time of Christ is made possible by a recent discovery. The quantity is strictly limited and once they are gone, there is no telling when, or if, any more will ever be found."

well yeah, tell me more...

 

[Quest]

I take on crinkle's stance on this subject matter.

If they make a public broadcast on mass media (incl. magazine pages, etc.), most likely they aren't that valuable or at least they aren't worth the price they are asking for on the media.

Seriously, anything that is public-facing usually requires a bit of scrutiny for almost all advertisements of some kind are composed of words from spin doctors, and theirs usually comes with a goal: to get your money, period.

Q.

p.s. mama has been right all along that: "if it sounds too good to be true, most likely it is..."

 

[greenaccord02]

They're quite common. The price most likely represents the silver content more than the rarity.

 

[JHZR2]

they are routinely found, buried, throughout eastern Europe.

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
they are routinely found, buried, throughout eastern Europe.


Shouldn't you say Asia Minor?

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: hate2work
Mori mentioned that the condition determines the price, but in this case it's the demand, or lack thereof, that is keeping these coins so cheaply priced.


Demand depends on condition in the case of common coins.

In the case of very rare coins (and other collectibles), condition becomes less important in the sense that you may not find any in better condition. That rare piece, even if heavily worn, will still be in high demand.

 

[Camu Mahubah]

I figured they must be relatively common for them to be on sale to the public. The part that mesmerizes me is the fact that 2000 years ago these coins were used to gamble, pay tolls, and buy chickens! Some brawny soldier wearing Roman armor could have bought some gorgeous gal in a toga a drink with my drachma!

Just the fact that actual hands from that long ago touched them makes me want one. Wifey has a really nice curio and she said I could have a shelf. I was thinking of a few coins, some seashells, an assortment of fossilized shark teeth, and maybe a Lara Croft figurine.

I think I'll scratch the curio and coin idea altogether. Unless I can find a jadebuddha!

 

[moribundman]

Camu, while I can't get to like the term wifey, it's constant use is a bugbear to me, I can only agree with your train of thoughts regarding the intangibles represented by an ancient coin. Who made it, who touched it, in what kind of dealings was it used, how did it end up where it was found? It is an artifact, a piece representing the past. Whether the coin is in perfect shape, or whether it is a rare one, is more of a collector's concern. As Indy would say, "It belongs in a museum" (or in appreciative hands).

Silver drachms and tetradrachms are, or at least were, so common, many ended up, along with many other silver and even gold coins, being made into coat buttons in Europe during the late 19th century and well into the 20th century.

 

[Shannow]

Never know, an Australian Aborigine could have handled it.

http://www.awarenessquest.com/gympie.htm

 

[moribundman]

That would increase the coin's value!

Regarding the link: That coin looks to be of Atlantean origin.

 

[Camu Mahubah]

Originally Posted By: Shannow
Never know, an Australian Aborigine could have handled it.

http://www.awarenessquest.com/gympie.htm


Wouldn't you like to know the whole complete history of that coin! From smelting to amateur prospectors finding it.

And okay moribundman, I ain't gonna use the bugbear term no more!

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: Camu Mahubah
And okay, moribundman, I ain't gonna use the bugbear term no more!

I believe it when I don't see it.

 

[Camu Mahubah]

I didn't know it effected you that badly! I guess the ga ga goo goo signature should have been a hint.

 

[moribundman]

I'm know for being too subtle.

 

[Camu Mahubah]

I'm know for being centimental about worthless drachmas! :2cents: