Here for your amusement is the result of my stumbling into ancient coins. After reading half a dozen books on the subject to find out what appealed to me I picked up a couple of bronzes:

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Ptolemaic Kingdom
Ptolemy IV Philopator 222-204 BC
AE 33 of Alexandria
Diademed head of Zeus right / Eagle standing on thunderbolt left, cornucopiae at left.
SNGCop.212, Sv.993
VF, brown patina, chipped - $100

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Sicily, Syracuse. Hieron II,
274-216 BC. AE 26.
Diademed head of Hieron I, sigma beneath / Lancer, AP monogram below.
SNGANS.945v, aVF, dark brown patina. - $135
$235 for the pair, marked down from $270. Excuse the poor images; my scanner doesn't handle relief well. The dealer, a specialist in all things ancient, had quite the stock.
What do you think about these pieces? It wouldn't be distressing to learn I overpaid as this is my first entry into what I hope will be a rewarding journey through ancient history.
Also, please recommend helpful references on Greek and Roman - especially those that deal in depth with historical context.