Interviewing... 'Nikodeimos'
Interview #9, talking to a professional numismatist who worked as senior numismatist for a major auction house in Switzerland for nearly three years, soon to be the curator of a major European coin cabinet…
Where did you buy your first coin?
Like one of the other collectors interviewed here, my first two coins (bought together, two Constantinian period folles) were bought at the Tourist Info near the Porta Nigra in Trier, Germany, in 2013. I had just completed a course at university on numismatics and was really excited that they appeared to sell real coins. I took them to my professor – he confirmed that they were real, and an elderly gentleman who happened to be present advised me where I could buy more coins. From there, the hobby really kicked off. It was the first time my girlfriend (now wife) and I went on vacation. I’m sure she stills somewhat regrets going to Trier.
What sort of coins do you collect?
I exclusively collect ancient coins with old pedigrees. The cut-off is the Second World War, but I particularly like pieces with provenances dating back to the Belle Époque (1880-1914). One of my best pedigreed pieces is an 8 litrai/didrachm of Gelon II from the collections of Hyman Montagu (1844-1895), John Ward (1832-1912) and the Metropolitan Museum (along with other, more recent provenance).
What’s the last coin you bought?
The last coin I bought was a provincial bronze of Severus Alexander from Korykos, from the collection of Edoardo Levante (1932-2007), deaccessioned from the Bibiliothèque Nationale in Paris and from the collection of William H. Waddington (1826-1894), French career diplomat and prime minister. His second wife wrote letters about their life as diplomats which were later published, giving a fascinating insight into his life (along with rare mentions of his numismatic activities!)
What advice would you give to someone keen to start collecting?
‘The bitterness of poor quality long outlasts the sweetness of low price’. Of course, when starting out with a low budget, you need to make compromises – that’s fine. But generally speaking, it’s better to, say, buy a nice denarius for $100 than three mediocre ones for $30 apiece. Quality usually means higher grade. For better or worse, collectors are obsessed with grade – only pieces of considerable historical interest or exceptional pedigrees might be excused. This is also important to consider when comparing prices. I’ve seen plenty of novice collectors comparing their own pieces to pieces on the market of the same type but costing much more. Sometimes, it might be a case of things being overpriced, but more often there’s a marked difference in quality not immediately obvious to someone starting out. All this talk of quality aside, I think it’s important for a collector starting out to experience many different coins of different types (Roman, Greek, Byzantine, etc.) and it’s definitely acceptable to buy a few pieces of lower quality when starting out, just to get a feel for things, especially with a limited budget.
Have you ever made a mistake collecting (if so, what)?
Not really. One of the big advantages of collecting coins is that they can easily be consigned to auction once you’re looking to sell (especially if you buy nicer pieces). You might lose some money, but you might also gain some. Most hobbies only cost money, so I’m never too worried.
What’s your dream coin (ie if you could have any, what would it be)?
My dream coin is a drachm from Klazomenai sold with NAC (Auction 84, lot 653) in 2015. That auction is a bit of a special one for me, as it was the first time I bought a coin costing over $1000 (a tetradrachm of Antimachos I). I was so thrilled following the auction online that I decided two things. That I would become a serious collector, and that I would work as a professional numismatist. Both have worked out! As for the drachm, it’s just such a stunning piece. Klazomenai produced some very beautiful coinage in the 4th century BC and this coin is beyond doubt one of the finest to survive. The head of Apollo is exquisitely rendered and the swan, the city’s badge, is no less beautiful. It has an exquisite pedigree too, coming from the Pozzi and Kunstfreund collections. Of course, such beauty carries a hefty price, and it was sold for 190,000 CHF. Who knows what it might bring today!
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