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 Replies: 51 / Views: 5,432 |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
What you are doing is precisely the the way I became interested in Roman coins initially. Get as many books out of that library a you can and read them. It will cost you a bit of time, and so you may be a bit scarcer on the CCF for a while, but if you do, but it will be worth it.
At least reading the library books won't cost you much.
The best value for money reference book for Roman coins that you can get at the moment is David Sear's 'Roman Coins and Their Values' 1984 ed., It is a single volume reprint, but it is currently available. It comes with a red dust jacket. Sear's four volume set is a bit much if you are also interested in other areas of numismatics, as I am.
I recently acquired the two volume set of Sear's 'Greek Coins and Their Values', but I have had a copy of Seltman's 'Greek Coins' for many years.
Actually, I have a niece who has just been awarded a pHd for a thesis on Roman sociology. SHE knows her way around the collection of Roman coins at Macquarie University! Will probably end up writing a few books on things Roman to add to their library.
Edited by sel_69l
04/13/2012 09:00 am
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Pillar of the Community
 Australia
4411 Posts |
Thanks for the advice Sel! Its much appreciated. I am thinking of trying to collect emperors to start with: that is one of each (i know some are too expensive). Next pay I'm going to try and order a nice judean coin and then another emperor. Is this a good way to collect romans or is there a better way do you think? Also suggestions for the next emperor ( was hoping around $50 for a nice silver coin)?
Edited by enworb
04/13/2012 09:33 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2596 Posts |
I think that if you buy some better coins of the common emperors to start with that should keep you happy and your collection growing at a steady pace without breaking the bank.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I have a slim about volume (about 60 pages), that specialises on Biblical coins only, but I cannot find it just now. Will post some info. on it when I find it.
When it comes to acquiring ANY coin I am an opportunist. If a piece interests me I will consider buying it.
Always ask myself three questions:
1.) Is it a fake?
2.) Does it interest me for whatever reason?
3.) Is it good value for money?
Actually, I collect all coins ancient to modern, all centuries, all cultures.
Edited by sel_69l
04/13/2012 10:00 am
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
4411 Posts |
Jwharper, sel, anyone
The gordian antoninianus which I purchased is from which mint and between which years?
Are the years 243/244 correct? Because I dont have a book yet I have been scouring vcoins for comparisons and it appears that all those similar to mine have different legends on the reverse so I cant work out the mint this way.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Have a look at the 'WILDWINDS' site. there a lot of coins to troll through, but you should find a match with your coins.
The dates can be usually tracked down but mostly, the mint is not noted on the coin. Coins in this period usually don't carry mint marks, and so the mint has to be identified by style, which can be quite uncertain to distinguish mint from mint. Some issues came from one mint only, and this is usually given in the information on the Wildwinds site, when it is known.
Without a book reference, I would imagine you will end up consulting the wildwinds site quite often.
However, sooner or later, you will need at some books to study and review the develoment of Roman coinage.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2596 Posts |
On many of my larger coins the legend has the tribunicuan power, imperatorial acclamation or the consulship with the number of these they held. If you know what year they held these titles then you will be able to figure out around what year the coin was minted. Sometimes they will have a combination of these on the coin so it helps to know the years for each. There are many reference books out there that can be picked up for around $20-$25 that will come in handy. I personally like the books by david sear & Wayne G. Sales, these books usually come with more then enough info to get you started.
Edited by jessvc1
04/14/2012 06:49 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
Quote:
The first coin is Philip I AR Antoninianus. Antioch mint, 244 AD. IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS P F AVG, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right, PM below bust / VIRTVS EXERCITVS, Virtus standing right, holding spear & resting hand on shield, RIC 74. Worth in this condition around $30-$35 We will all have differing opinions on values of coins depending on how much we want a variety. For example your Philip is a rather nice example of the rare variation with the PM under the bust rather than at the end of the obverse legend in line with the rest. When I bought my first one back in 2002, they were going for about $150 but there has been a hoard recently so you see them a lot more often now for under $100. $35 is a deal I could not pass up even though I already have two of the Virtus type with PM under. Many people agree with me that Antioch mint coins are better than Rome mint so you will have trouble finding equally nice examples of the other two reverses from this group for that price. In my book, you did very well. I foyu have further interest in Philip, you may visit my page on him: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/do.../philip.htmlIf you want to see a lot of coins of Philip and his family try this site: http://ettuantiquities.com/Philip_1/I might point out that this page just links to its author's collection in various categories but if you put in the work to figure out his organization you can see over 300 coins. On several occasions I have posted here that I do not suggest buying a lot of books. I believe beginners in the first stages of learning can find enough to make their heads hurt online for free and some of the better books are just plain expensive for what they offer. Part of this is my dislike for the theory that something is true just because it is written in a book and suspicious just because it is posted on the Internet. I own several hundred coin books and suggest you will, too, if you stick with the hobby. What I suggest is that you use some restraint and critical selection skills before buying too many books. I agree the one volume Sear Roman is a nice thing to have. Also please understand that there is no do-all, be-all book on ancient coins. Do not get thrilled or upset when you discover that you have a coin not listed in some catalog book. That is just part of the game. There are a million variations of ancient coins and probably several hundred coins that exist in only one known example. This is not a hobby where you can build a complete roll set of key dates bust by sending a check to a super-store. Enjoy. |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
4411 Posts |
Im going to check the library for a vloume of david sears tomorrow but if they dont have it I think i'll pick one up in a week or two. Whilst I have found much information on the web its always nice to have it in one spot.
The wildwinds site is fantastic though sel. Using that I now believe the gordian III is actually RIC 142 not 140 as jwharper kindly pointed out. The reverse legend reads FELICITAS TEMPORVM rather than just FELICIT TEMP.
Edited by enworb
04/15/2012 01:24 am
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Yes, I checked my Sear (1974) a couple of times before posting.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
Libraries and local bookstores are probably most likely to have some of the six volume series by Wayne Sayles. These were sold in the mass market rather than through specialty coin publishers. I do recommend the Sayles books but warn that they are not catalogs so they will do nothing for those of you who live for attaching catalog numbers to coins. They are, however, good for understanding what ancient coins are and why you might like to collect them. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...sayles+coins |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I have two of Wayne Sayles' books:
Ancient Coin Collecting 11: Numismatic Art of the Greek World and,
Classical Deception: Counterfeits Forgeries and Reproductions of Ancient Coins.
Unfortunately, Sayles does not arm the reader with practical knowledge on how to examine a coin to find if it is a fake.
For that, I direct you to the 'tesorillo' site. It is in Spanish. It is a bit hard to read, because there is only a machine translation into English, but it is of great value in arming the reader against fakes.
ValiantKnight originally posted the link. That is how I found the site.
Edited by sel_69l
04/15/2012 05:51 am
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
4411 Posts |
Just checked the library at the university and it looks like numismatics isn't as popular as it once was. The most modern book I could find was a 1995 reprint of david sears ancient greek coins and their values.
There seems to be several books around the 1970's by Seaby. Is anyone familiar with him? I'm looking for a book with information rather than value so having outdated values doesn't bother me.
If you guys think a slightly older book such as this will still be accurate enough then id rather go for that and pay nothing for the time being, although I would like to have my own books later.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2596 Posts |
It helps to read as much as you can. Books usually provide information about the emperor, legends and mints.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I invested $140 on a reprint of Sear's double volume of Greek Coins and Their Values less than a month ago. (total 1080 pages). They replaced my 1966 very slim single volume Seaby's Greek Coins and Their Values.(218 pages 8 plates)
OK, so the prices may be way out. Not a bother, if you read Sear's books in conjunction with the 'VCOINS' site, which has current coins for sale.
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Replies: 51 / Views: 5,432 |
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Posted 04/13/2012 09:24 am
