Coin trade I saw on Reddit

[hotwheelsearl]

So this guy traded one roach for another. However isn’t the first one pretty rare and valuable? VIRT EXERC camp plans tend to be hard to find.

 

they both are poor grade though. I probably would have kept the first myself. 
 

[Kali]

So basically the collector traded a roach with 1 antenna versus one roach with the common 2 antenna.

1 antenna roaches are rare, but it's still a roach.😎

[JAZ Numismatics]

My question is: at what stage of decay does a coin become uncollectable?

[hotwheelsearl]

8 minutes ago, JAZ Numismatics said:

My question is: at what stage of decay does a coin become uncollectable?

Pretty much when it becomes a slick, probably. Cleopatra VII coins are almost always in very worn or poor condition and always sell for a ton

[akeady]

They're worse than the Colosseum coin of a few days ago 😄   Even I wouldn't keep either of them.

ATB,
Aidan.

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Me, neither, and I used to be the king of decrepit coins.

Both are infinitely worse than the $1.50 1990's as bulk lots I picked up.  They're comparable to some of the modern $3 lots, though.

[Amarmur]

In that condition, both are probably not worth owning in my opinion. 

[Salomons Cat]

I have to admit, my initial thought was aligned with @JAZ Numismatics’. But in the end, what really matters is that everyone is happy. If these coins bring joy, why should we say they’re not worth collecting?

[Amarmur]

12 minutes ago, Salomons Cat said:

I have to admit, my initial thought was aligned with @JAZ Numismatics’. But in the end, what really matters is that everyone is happy. If these coins bring joy, why should we say they’re not worth collecting?

I guess I'm viewing it from a perspective of my kids selling it in the future. Even if something is rare if it's in horrible condition selling it will be difficult. I have a Trajan column denarius in bad shape, and no one wants to buy it. It's fine if it brings anyone enjoyment but from my personal perspective, I feel bad when I spend a lot on an ugly coin even if it is rare (depends on what we are talking about). It's occasionally cool to spend a few dollars on a cool cull but only if it kind of serves its place in your collection, but I don't like seeing a cull coin next to a xf example, so I keep very few low-grade examples or keep them in a different part of my binder of ancients.

[Salomons Cat]

20 minutes ago, Amarmur said:

I guess I'm viewing it from a perspective of my kids selling it in the future.

Exactly from this perspective it might make sense to collect coins that cost barely anything, except shipping fees. Nobody knows if our heirs will be able to recover what we have invested. 

[CPK]

I wouldn't want either coin, but if I had to pick between the two I'd keep the Constantinian coin. It at least has some rarity to offer as an excuse for its poor condition.

[hotwheelsearl]

1 hour ago, Salomons Cat said:

Exactly from this perspective it might make sense to collect coins that cost barely anything, except shipping fees. Nobody knows if our heirs will be able to recover what we have invested. 

Almost certainly not lol. 

[JayAg47]

Damages don't deter me from buying coins, except the coin needs to be either extremely interesting or historically significant. At least the below coin has a certain eye-appeal with all the main elements present, but I would've passed up on it if it were to be totally worn slick or had bronze disease like the coins above. 

Valerian I, Seleucia ad Calycadnum

Obv. laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Valerian, ΑVΚ ΠΟ ΛΙΚ ΟΥΑΛƐΡΙΑΝΟϹ

Rev. Athena Promachos l. spearing at anguiped Enceladus who raises hands in resistance- ϹƐΛΕΥΚƐΩΝ ΤΩΝ Π[ ]ΚΛΥ(?) 253-260 AD 6.3 g SNG 1059.

 

 

Edited 21 hours ago by JayAg47