Roman Gold Soldius Opinions!

[Guest JK]

Hi everyone!

I recently developed an interest in Roman Gold Coins (which alas cant be found on this site) and was wondering about purchasing my first one.

While surfing i found a wonderful Roman Soldius of the Emperor Valens, as found here:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...;category=47389

and here at retail price:

http://www.ancientart.co.uk/CJMartinCoins/...p;CurrentPage=3

What do you think of this coin and how much would it be worth in both cases?

Thanks for your time!

[Chris Perkins]

There is a token offering of Roman coins on the site, here:

http://www.predecimal.com/forsale/romanforsale1.htm

And a Roman coin book here:

http://www.predecimal.com/books/ccromanframed.htm

But you're right, no gold coins I'm afraid, because basically I don't know enough about them to be able to buy and sell them efficiently.

So I don't know anything about the coins you have linked to, except that the second one is of a vastly superior grade to the ebay coin. I would not expect the ebay 'Fine' example to fetch anywhere near that 'EF' second one, but I really don't know about Roman gold trends.

Chris Perkins

www.predecimal.com

[Guest JK]

Thanks for your reply.

The difference in quality between the two coins is noticable by the absence of the 'dressing' on the head of the ebay coin, and of course the extra detail in the retail coin.

How much do you think i should bid the coin on ebay upto? £200, £300 pounds? Or would purchasing the retail coin be a more wise investment, considering its quality.

I am hopeful when i purchase it, it will appreciate in value.

[Chris Perkins]

Well coin collecting of any kind should really be about what you want in your very personal collection, and the coins that give you pleasure to behold.

Far less important is the value, and future value. In fact many people that go into it for investment make grave mistakes without sufficient knowledge of the subject. You may just find that your coin skips along at the same rate as inflation, or like so many 80's US investors, that the value takes a nose dive!

I'm afraid I cannot tell you how high to go as I do not know too much about gold Roman coins, how much money you are able to spend on your hobby, or how comfortable you really feel with that coin.

You can of course be satified that if you do win it on ebay for however much, that the second highest was just a few pounds below you!

My advice, hold off a bit, get a decent book, read up and then come back to the one on the other website and search regularly on ebay.

Chris

[Guest J K]

Thanks for your advice Chris, i did some research on the seller and found out he owns the site: ancientart.co.uk, which seems genuine.

I actually won the auction for the coin on ebay and got it for £206, which is good considering the other two Roman Solidus sold for £350 a piece (although i think at a slightly higher grade)