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 Replies: 22 / Views: 12,517 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1411 Posts |
Zenoctilles:  to CCF! I am also looking into purchasing some ancient Roman coins soon. Sel: Calgary Coins is my closest coin shop that I'm looking to buy the Roman coins from. I'm pretty sure they aren't counterfeit due to their article on forgeries. Also; What books on ancient coins would people recommend? |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
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One of the highlights of my collecting experience was to spend a day in the safe room of the Coins and Medals Department of the British Museum.  Wow--I cannot begin to imagine what that was like! No doubt, an unforgettable experience. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Windchild: With your luck, you have certainly fallen on your feet! I have read all of their very good web notes in relation to fake ancient coins. It seems to me that these guys know their stuff.
Take the time to have a good read of ALL of their website.
If you build an interest in ancients that is likely to extend over decades as I have, it would be in your interest to build a numismatic relationship with them and get to know the ancients guys within their business.
That sort of numismatic relationship has helped me a great deal over the years in Sydney.
The first specialist book I bought on ancient coins was 'Roman Coins and their Values, way back in 1974. My copy has been referred to so much as a quick reference, that it has just about fallen to pieces!. I have since bought the latest one volume edition reprint, which first appeared in about 1984.
Actually, I now have about a dozen specialist books on ancient and medieval coins of all cultures up to about 1,000 AD.
Edited by sel_69l
07/04/2012 07:27 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1315 Posts |
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New Member
 United States
2 Posts |
I just looked up a list of local coin dealers in my area and none of them deal with ancient coins of any kind - mostly US, unfortunately.
What good dealers do you guys recommend?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Vcoins is probably the best list of dealers around the world. If you do decide to go to ebay anyhow, there are a few good, trustworthy, honest dealers there as well.. I would recommend Den of Antiquity, Mastermust, Lucernae, Forum coins, Palma Collections, Ancient Treasures, romae_aeternae_numismatics, Frank Robinson, and HJB Coins to name a few. I have never been disappointed from any of the above, nor have I ever had any doubts about authenticity. Everyone of the above guarantee the coins they sell to be genuine. Good luck. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
I suggest v coins. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4981 Posts |
as everone has said, you've come to the right place. I don't think I would have really got into ancient coins if I hadn't come by this forum.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
I have only just started, so I'm not one to talk, but in my experience, the cheapest coins I've seen have been at carboot sales. You can barter and pick out specific coins and good quality. Just find a coin dealer and put on some puppy dog eyes.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
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carboot sales I can only surmise this is what we call garage sales here in the U.S. Not too many Ancient coins being sold at garage sales that I've seen. I did find a couple at an estate sale a couple of years ago. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Jwharp, carboot sales are a lot different. The local one here is every sunday and theres usually 100-200 stalls selling. We have a regular coin seller that goes there (the was another, but I havent seen him, he was an old guy so he may have retired..). If you need something its there - If it costs too much on ebay, find it there. Books are usually 50p each, for example. And furniture if £5-10. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
It has been my experience that ancient coins offered by other than coin dealers (meaning flea markets - I never saw one in a yard sale) tend to be grossly overpriced. The reason is usually that sellers have no idea that ancient coins exist that are not completely corroded wrecks and believe that anything that old must be worth big money. That is why you can get a decent but common coin for under $10 from a dealer like Bargain Bin but will be asked $20 to $50 for a rotten one from an antique shop or flea market. I just sold a pile of better than average junkers (not survivors of uncleaned ravaging but things I had accumulated in duplicate. Some went for $5; some for $10. The buyer is a small dealer who will double the price and sell to customers that don't know where to shop for better coins for the same price. Flea market dealers can buy a Red Book and have an idea how much to sell their US junk for but most are completely clueless whether to sell a late Roman bronze for $2 or $20. Some will mark them at $50 and figure some fool might pay. Suggestion: Buy ancient coins from an ancient coin dealer or even from other ancient coin collectors who have things they have 'outgrown'. Flea Markets are fun and you will find bargains mixed in with the overpriced junk. I generally see 10,000 assorted items and buy one or two. Have you really seen enough decent ancient coins there to make it a worthwhile source? |
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Valued Member
Canada
88 Posts |
Just wanted to say hello to the "experts" in here.
I have loved Roman history for as long as I could remember. Last week friend of mine, who is a Ancient Civilizations teacher brought me some Roman coins. I have to admit that I could feel history through those coins and wondered who might have held them 2000 years ago. At that moment I was hooked.
I took the plunge and bought some hoard coins from Crusty Romans and can't wait for them to arrive.
For me the adventure will be in the discovery of the coins and linking them to their past. I will be bringing some of the coins into the school so the "ancient civs" class can be a part of the experience as well.
I know I'll be leaning on the experts in here for advice in the near future and hopefully after a while I'll be able to contribute a little myself.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Zenoctilles: Nothing wrong with buying from a via the 'net from a recognised dealer, just don't go ebay, according to Sap's instructions. Buy a couple of different coin magazines that have advertisements from dealers in ancients. Also look up recognised dealers in ancients via the 'net. I have never dealt with them, because I am in Australia, but try Calgary Coins. They would be very trustworthy because they have openly published information on fake coins as well, they are a very good educational read. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
549 Posts |
There are many good introductory web sites. I wrote this one: http://esty.ancients.info/numis/I'm a big fan of books, and I recommend some ancient-coin books on pages linked to that FAQ site. Many public libraries have some and university libraries are likely to have some. |
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Replies: 22 / Views: 12,517 |
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Posted 07/04/2012 03:15 am
