THE COIN COLLECTOR - World eBook Library

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VALUE OF COINS
The estimation of ancient coins of different countries
and periods depends on such a variety of considerations
and circumstances that it is almost impossible and
useless to attempt to form, for the instruction of the
younger school of collectors, a scale or standard for
judging either the merits or commercial worth of any
class of currency. The interest with which this pursuit
inspires those engaged in it is singularly diversified.
Some are governed by topographical, some by chrono-
logical, and others by internal lines and limits; and
the prevailing motive has, of course, a tendency to
render others of secondary weight and influence. One
man collects the coins of a particular country or epoch,
and does not study their preservation ; another looks
exclusively to the state of his acquisitions, and disre-
gards the places of origin, treating each item on its
own individual merits as a curiosity or work of art.
The choice of metals is a further contribution to the
wide diversity of taste and fashion in these matters
there are collectors of gold only, of silver only, and of
copper only. Then there are such as will buy a small
coin and will not entertain the notion of a larger one,
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