[Pretorian]

here is an authentic republican denarius, 84 BC. This one is not mine but I have exactly same coin in same condition in my collection.
Silver, 3.65 grams, 85-90% purity.

So... Lets play a game.. What would you give me for it ? A loaf of bread? Steak? A used shirt? Whatever it is , even if its a glass of filthy water , just type it in.

[AgentR]

I'd cut you a deal and give you a bushel of corn.

[Denny]

If I was just interested in the silver, $1.50.

But, wow what an heirloom. So, I'll give you $3.

[Novus]

A Denarius was roughly equal to one days' wage so in today's terms for real people it is worth about $100.

[Daculling]

1 five gallon bucket of grain.

[gnm]

Interestingly if I search on price it appears that a denarius is worth between US $80 and $150 in the coin markets so imagine that! It hasn't changed much.

-G

[Pretorian]

Well, it depends on denarius. They were minted for 400 years. Right now denarii of Gordian III ( around 240-246 AD ) are plentiful at $10-20, anf the upper prices of them are in tenths of thousands and more .

[Pretorian]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Daculling', '1') five gallon bucket of grain.

[Laughs_Last]

[deleted by author]t]

[Aimrehtopyh]

A pound of lentils or pasta or a jar of peanut butter or three shotgun shells or a quart of milk or ten home-rolled filter cigarettes maybe half a gallon of go-juice or a double A battery, or I could wash your cars windows or let you use my computer (and broadband) for about an hour.

[rogerhb]

You can have one thirtieth of some chap who claims to be the saviour of the world, or something, he's a bit odd.

[Pretorian]

Round 2.
This one is a bit heavier, a 4 drachms coin, 16.79g. About the same age- minted in october of 85 BC.
So... will we just multiply previous stuff by 4-5? Or what?

[rostov]

Maybe 5 bags (1kg) of white garlic so that I can melt it into silver pellets and reload for my 12ga against vampires....

Just joking.

Currently I'll offer 200 rounds of .308 fmj. In 5 years time maybe 50 rounds. Offer while stock (and times) last

[Aimrehtopyh]

One large can of coffee (39oz) or
25lb bag of edible salt or
430 old copper pennies or
3 cans spam or
3 rolls tin foil (50 sq. ft. ea.) or
two or three rounds of .50 BMG or
350 rounds of .22lr or
a hot shower a burger and a beer

[Pretorian]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Aimrehtopyh', 'O')ne large can of coffee (39oz) or
25lb bag of edible salt or
430 old copper pennies or
3 cans spam or
3 rolls tin foil (50 sq. ft. ea.) or
two or three rounds of .50 BMG or
350 rounds of .22lr or
a hot shower a burger and a beer

[Aimrehtopyh]

Ok, Ok, so it's a piece of art. Out of respect for art I'll throw in a box of crayons. Starving connoisseurs are so damn funny.

If somebody is offloading antiquities during an obvious crisis (personal or national) the buyer can expect to pay bargain basement prices right?

[Pretorian]

During national may be, doubt about personal. Last time you could get at a bargain was 1942 in Leningrad. But again , those 2 pounds of bacon were almost as rare as an old painting, so it was more like a good deal no more than that. And, there is a difference between 2 pounds of bacon and 430 copper pennies, which will not get you that bacon even now.

[max_power29]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pretorian', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Aimrehtopyh', 'O')ne large can of coffee (39oz) or
25lb bag of edible salt or
430 old copper pennies or
3 cans spam or
3 rolls tin foil (50 sq. ft. ea.) or
two or three rounds of .50 BMG or
350 rounds of .22lr or
a hot shower a burger and a beer

[Aimrehtopyh]

The copper in those pennies is currently equal in value to the silver in your 4 drachm coin, FYI.

This brings up an interesting point in regards to the preservation of art, culture and knowledge during a crisis. Let's say that you foresaw the burning of the library of Alexandria, but could only rescue $1000 worth of books. Do you rescue a single original copy from your favorite author or do you bring home cheap recent reprints of all his works?

This is an "equation" separate from the one I applied when calculating the barter value of your silver coin. If you are interested in preserving art you should be buying it not selling it. And when I'm buying, to me you are goodwill or a garage sale, not southebys.

A personal crisis can most certainly affect the price you can fetch. If the buyers at your art auction (or the guy at the pawn shop) get the idea that you're desparate and might be selling your grandmother next they are going to bid low. A personal crisis is just easier to hide from your buyers than a national one.

Mogambo on Kitco, trippy.

[Pretorian]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Aimrehtopyh', 'T')he copper in those pennies is currently equal in value to the silver in your 4 drachm coin, FYI.

This brings up an interesting point in regards to the preservation of art, culture and knowledge during a crisis. Let's say that you foresaw the burning of the library of Alexandria, but could only rescue $1000 worth of books. Do you rescue a single original copy from your favorite author or do you bring home cheap recent reprints of all his works?

This is an "equation" separate from the one I applied when calculating the barter value of your silver coin. If you are interested in preserving art you should be buying it not selling it. And when I'm buying, to me you are goodwill or a garage sale, not southebys.

A personal crisis can most certainly affect the price you can fetch. If the buyers at your art auction (or the guy at the pawn shop) get the idea that you're desparate and might be selling your grandmother next they are going to bid low. A personal crisis is just easier to hide from your buyers than a national one.

Mogambo on Kitco, trippy.