Thanks Gary,

You are far more numismatic inclined than I ever guessed. I'm sure the knowledge you acquired about old coins in Germany puts you among some of the most knowledgeable here in the states. I became fairly well versed in American coinage back in the late 70s reading Coinage magazine and finding articles about coins somewhat fascinating what others found mind-numbingly boring. There is a lot of history there, lurking behind the world's currency.

I always got a kick over the stories of folks finding lost treasure. Whether it be gold or silver doubloons off the Florida Keys or off the Gulf of Mexico, the romance of finding lost history was appealing. Much like archaeology or the appeal of being a scholar/treasure hunter like Indiana Jones, the lure of seeking the past was what attracted me to study coins. The recent film National Treasure taps in on this intrigue. And getting rich in the process of the adventure certainly wouldn't hurt. I haven't read the mag in over a decade and a half, but I suspect it's still much the same.

The examples of the ship coins are nice. I hadn't seen the Rhode Island coin yet. Overall, the recent change in American coinage and currency has been good and long overdue. European paper currency with their beautiful watermarks and multi-color imagery has always been a favorite. The appeal of metal and its more substantial nature though has kept me from really getting into paper currency, though the potential for sheer artistry exists in greater quantity with paper.

I bought my Roman coin at a coin shop near one of the Roman ruins in Frankfurt. I figured if an ancient coin purchase had a greater likelihood of being legitimate, that was the spot. I had visited the Saalburg Roman Fort museum nearby earlier and seeing all the artifacts from daggers and swords (better not tell Publius) to shoes, keepsakes and coins was absolutely overwhelming and awesome. Nothing can inspire a purchase of an ancient artifact like a trip to a museum. This was around two decades ago, but the world's most restored Roman fort is still standing and receiving visitors.

I'll have to remember to consult you if ever I contemplate another ancient coin purchase. Being able to spot the less professional counterfeits, needless to say, would be quite a plus.

;-)