Please Help A Noob, Need General Advice!

with Doug. But I would add to it by asking if you currently own any Ancients at all? If not, I might suggest you need to get to know a little about how Ancients should feel and look before you dive head first into the pool of water. Third and Fourth Century coins can be obtained at generally lower prices and will give you the chance to get to know the fabric of these coins. The Constantine era might be a good place to start.

I started many years ago with a goal of collecting a silver Denarius from each of the first 12 Caesars (Suetonius). I just bought the last of those 12 this year after 30 years. My second goal was like yours. To collect one of each of the recognized Emperors of Imperial Rome. I'm still working on that goal and probably will never complete it. In the meantime, I've branched out to collect many interesting reverse types and provincial coins of many of the Caesars, a few Republic and Imperatorial coins, and recently some very few Greek coins. All in all, I'm pleased with my collection, but I find something new all the time that catches my attention. It's never ending I do believe and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Good luck to you whatever you choose to collect and I hope you post any purchases here for us all to see and discuss. Happy New Year.

When I started collecting I bought whatever I could afford. The result? I have a decent sized collection that has many different types represented. While buying willy nilly (if you will) I developed a taste for what I wanted over time. Just recently I posted a thread detailing my decision on where I shall focus my collecting, which is coinage from the provincial city of Markianopolis.

I suggest this route. Buy what you can afford! Do not set any goals yet. Let your taste develop over time. I think you will be surprised on what your heart settles on. I know I can say that for myself! Of course, in the end it is entirely up to you. Just my personal experience. Most importantly throughout all of this, have fun!

My best advice - buy the book before the coin. If you don't want to spent out the wazoo on books then join the ANA, they do library loans to members for postage costs only and the librarians there can reccomend good titles for what you are lookng to study. You will save yourself money and disappointment by doing your homework first.

Being in the UK has some good advantages - we can buy detector found lots off of ebay. This is how I've started collecting - I've bought about 130 uncleaned coins up to now and I havent found a specialised area yet. I enjoy cleaning them, more than anything.

The advantages of this is that you learn the different types as you try and identify the ones you have and you get some interesting variety too - I've found a couple of rarities and many many different rulers in my lots.

Oh - and its dirt cheap. £42 for 108 uncleaned coins and I have some really nice stuff in there too.

I wanted to start out with Rome. I ended up very far away from Rome...deep central India..how did that happen?

There are coin shows all over the UK and frequently in London. Ask a local coin dealer or look on the web to find out where and when. Then walk the floor looking and looking, and occasionally asking questions and handling coins you might buy. Try to make a lap around the entire floor before buying much. Talk to anyone who seems happy to talk. You will learn a lot. There is no need to do much the first time. There will be many opportunities to spend your money.

I've bought from both of these sellers in the past and been happy. I also know for sure others on this forum have used these two before, you shouldn't have any problems buying from them.