Frequently asked
If your question is not here, write to us: we would rather answer once too often than once too few.
No. The records give everything you need to decide: emperor, denomination, mint, measurements, catalogue reference, and the coin can be turned in three dimensions before you buy.
If you want to understand what you are looking at, the articles in the Learn section are written for exactly that.
With a bronze. Sestertii and nummi are broad, heavy and pleasant in the hand, with the finest portraits at the friendliest prices. A silver antoninianus with a sharp portrait is the other good way in.
The criterion that matters most at the beginning is not rarity: it is that you like the portrait.
Price depends on the rarity of the type, the state of preservation, the crispness of the strike and the provenance. Every record gives those four elements, so you can compare with what is offered elsewhere.
We are always happy to discuss it before you buy.
Every coin follows the same procedure before entering stock: measurements recorded, strike examined under a binocular lens, attribution established in the catalogue, provenance researched. The detail is on the Method page.
They are grades on the French condition scale, from most to least worn: B, TB, TTB, SUP, SPL, FDC. TTB is the commonest grade on the market.
A whole article in the Learn section covers it, including what the grade does not tell you.
Yes, on request, including edge views or close-ups of a particular detail.
The three-dimensional view is built from photographs of the coin itself and reproduces its relief and proportions faithfully. It is an aid to deciding, not a contractual document: if a detail worries you, ask us for a photograph.
From professional dealers, public auctions and old collections. What we know of a coin’s history is written on its record; when it is unknown to us, we say so.
Any coin of uncertain origin is set aside, in accordance with French regulations on the circulation of cultural property.
Never. Aggressive cleaning destroys the patina and the original silvering, and costs the coin much of its value. Dry dusting is enough.
In a capsule or tray of neutral material, away from damp and temperature swings. Avoid touching the surfaces: hold the coin by its edge.
You add the coin to the cart and pay by card on a page secured by Stripe, where your delivery address is requested. We confirm by email.
Yes, for up to seventy-two hours. Write to us with the reference and we will take it off sale while you decide, or while you seek a second opinion.
We ship within the European Union. Outside the EU, customs formalities and cultural-property export rules make delivery too uncertain for us to commit to.
The law protects you. For a distance purchase by a private buyer, the French consumer code provides a fourteen-day right of withdrawal from delivery, with no need to justify yourself and no penalty. The coin must be returned in its original state and return postage is yours to pay, unless stated otherwise.
Our detailed terms will appear on the legal notice page; in the meantime, write to us before committing.