My First Ancient Coin - Yea!!

Unusual pick for a first coin !
It is a nice example of a later emperor when much of the bronze coins were quite hastily made with little attention paid to quality.

One of the most exciting things about being a beginner collector is the learning that follows. Almost all the people who we find on coins have some sort of story to tell. Some are heroic and some are not so heroic.
Honorius existed in a sort of "Limbo". There wasn't much good about him but nothing terribly rotten either. He ruled for 28 years so we can't call him a complete failure. But given the changing times he found himself in the middle of he seems to have been paralyzed by his own fears and the ambitions of people around him.
If you have some patience you need read The Decline and Fall chapters 29-33

"His subjects, who attentively studied the character of their young sovereign, discovered that Honorius was without passions, and consequently without talents; and that his feeble and languid disposition was alike incapable of discharging the duties of his rank, or of enjoying the pleasures of his age. In his early youth he made some progress in the exercises of riding and drawing the bow; but he soon relinquished these fatiguing occupations, and the amusement of feeding poultry became the serious and daily care of the monarch of the West, who resigned the reins of empire to the firm and skilful hand of his guardian Stilicho. The experience of history will countenance the suspicion that a prince who was born in the purple received a worse education than the meanest peasant of his dominions, and that the ambitious minister suffered him to attain the age of manhood without attempting to excite his courage or to enlighten his understanding. The predecessors of Honorius were accustomed to animate by their example, or at least by their presence, the valour of the legions; and the dates of their laws attest the perpetual activity of their motions through the provinces of the Roman world. But the son of Theodosius passed the slumber of his life a captive in his palace, a stranger in his country, and the patient, almost the indifferent, spectator of the ruin of the Western empire, which was repeatedly attacked, and finally subverted, by the arms of the barbarians.
In the eventful history of a reign of twenty-eight years, it will seldom be necessary to mention the name of the emperor Honorius."

BTW You made an excellent choice for a first purchase
Antonio is quite pleasant to 'speak' with and if you message him will no doubt be helpful in his suggestions.

I would add that combining the shipment with a few others is almost expected. He won't mind if you spend two weeks low balling some auctions !
In fact he would appreciate the attention.
You would be surprised at the things you can win at $5 if you make enough attempts !

Beware of silver coins ! They can be like a narcotic and arouse passions that cause a steady heart to beat too fast.
The beauty of silver can be captivating and can blind a mortal man !

Stay cheap for now
If you must buy silver coins then try and avoid the ones that glitter and sparkle too much .......
They can make a fool of any man.

Bronze has a more sublime beauty
And finding the little gems is the great challenge

No, Arael. The friend I referred to lives closer to Los Angeles, and I live nearer to Riverside. So, same state, both SoCal, but not all that close. I know what you mean though. I don't have any resources near me (no LCS, no Shows, clubs, etc). And that's why I feel so fortunate to have found CCF.

What I lack in local support and interest, CCF and the new friends I've made here have really filled the void. Jack

Sel - Great advice which I will most certainly follow. Thank you for taking time out to guide a beginner. You folks have provided me with solid advice and perfect suggestions for my next purchases.

It is somewhat breathtaking to actually hold something in your hand that is an actual "silent witness" to history. As I follow up on yours and others suggestions, I'll learn a lot about the various emperors, their strengths and weaknesses. My sincere thanks, Jack

FVRIVS - is this the book you're recommending:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...tartIndex=50

Thanks, Jack

Sel - Thanks for the guidance. The analogy helps put things into perspective. Truth be told, I don't as yet have a "direction." I'm very much like a kid in a candy store, so the lesser expensive coins would be more logical and it seems that means probably, for now, bronze/copper examples.

When I began collecting US coins I began with modern issues and gradually branched out with early 20th century coins. Because I knew that date/mint sets of type coins was not practical financially for me, I approached them by purchasing one or two of several issues. That may be my most prudent approach to ancients as well. Again, thank you sincerely. Jack

There is an adage among the collectors of ancients that is still good advice even in the age of the internet: buy the book, then buy the coin.

Most newbies discover that most Greek coins worth looking at are also way outside their budget. Go for it if you have the time and patience to build a collection at the rate of one coin per month. Few do.

I am going to assume that your adventures in Ancients will start with imperial Roman coins. (Republican denarii are fascinating, but can get pricey too in better grade.)

As a beginner/newbie you are still trying to get the "lay of the land" and that means you need to see things in the "big picture" setting that a one volume catalog of ancient coins can provide even faster than online searches. Catalog sites, like Wildwinds, are a great supplement because of the enormous wealth of images, but with a book you can jump around faster.

Hands down one of the first books I would recommend for you is the 4th revised edition of the book Roman Coins and their Values by David Sear, published by Seaby. It is being updated in a multivolume format, so the single volume is cheaper than it was (used) and better for your purposes anyway.

If you think that learning how to read coin legends and identify a coin by its inscriptions and images is part of the thrill, then a close companion to the catalog is the guidebook by Zander Klawans Reading and Dating Roman Imperial Coins.

Let your imagination soar for a while and don't lock in on any one coin type, even though the lowly late Roman bronzes may be what you buy most often. But since you asked, I want to make one comment on the lot of coins you linked to the list. At the early stages of learning how to read coin inscriptions, you should stick to buying coins with clear details and legible legends. Another aphorism among collectors is: buy the best you can afford. That can be tough to do, but there is a corollary that is often harder to practice - don't buy what you can't decipher. As your skill grows you will be able to read coins that no beginner can handle. But for now, resist the urge to add volume.

That said, collecting by the pictures is a common shortcut way to start. Loads of enjoyment can come from that approach too.

In the end, do what gives you the most satisfaction. And do keep coming to the CCF forum and other online groups. Welcome aboard!