Interviewing... 'lhevae'
Interview #12, talking to an amateur numismatist from Belgium, always interested in history and old coins, but only seriously collecting since 2017…
Where did you buy your first coin?
Since I was a child, I've had an old box full of coins that were given by family members and relatives, so I didn’t really buy my first coins. That being said, the first coins I actually bought were a handful of world coins from an antiques market in Brussels (Place du Jeu de Balle) when I was about fourteen.
What sort of coins do you collect?
Even though I initially started collecting "seriously" with Roman coins of the third century, my collection is now focused on three main themes : ancient Chinese, feudal Belgium and Celtic coins from Gaul. This is quite diverse but I like it that way.
What’s the last coin you bought?
A Double Sterling from Hainaut in the name of Margaret of Constantinople, struck in Valenciennes c. 1269-1280.
What advice would you give to someone keen to start collecting?
Learn about the coins! It is much more rewarding to collect coins while being truly aware of the history around them. I think you can only fully appreciate a collection when you have done as much research as possible on what you're collecting. Another piece of advice: scout around a bit, you'll discover types of coinage and parts of history you probably did not have in mind, and that might end up being your thing.
Have you ever made a mistake collecting (if so, what)?
I’ve definitely made several mistakes : buying fakes (not many, at least), buying coins I regretted buying later, and passing on coins I definitely should have bought. These were, however, learning experiences, and with time you'll learn to avoid such mistakes as much as possible.
What’s your dream coin (ie if you could have any, what would it be)?
This is a tough question, as there are many coins that are incredibly appealing and interesting, but way too rare and expensive for me to get someday. So it is quite hard to pick one. I would rather pick a coin that stays within the realm of reachable, in the long term: a Lion d'or heaumé of Louis de Male (reigned 1346-1384), which is a just a marvellous coin from a fascinating period!
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The Thursday interviews are always so interesting and informative. Thank you to both the interviewer and the interviewees for their insights.