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 Replies: 16 / Views: 766 |
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Valued Member
United States
81 Posts |
We buy ancient coins for many reasons: investments, fill openings in our collection, rarity, historical interests, geographical connections, etc. But have you ever bought a coin only because it was beautiful, only because you saw it as a piece of art?
As I fall deeper into this hobby and view more ancient coins, I see many coins that don't fit any of my collecting criteria, but I almost pull the trigger because the obverse and/or reverse has a beautiful portrait of a mythological figure, historical person, and/or scene?
I don't have photos handy, but I'm sure you're all familiar with the Alexander the Great tetradrachm and the Athens Owl. Neither of those relate to my 12 Caesars collecting, but I found them stunning to look at.
How about you? Please post photos!
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Moderator
 United States
33143 Posts |
An interesting question @floyd. This Cistophoric Tet doesn't fit well into my collection, but was so cool looking that I was glad to pick it up. Here is a link to the thread: https://goccf.com/t/318471  "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Moderator
Australia
16340 Posts |
Quote:
We buy ancient coins for many reasons: investments, fill openings in our collection, rarity, historical interests, geographical connections, etc. But have you ever bought a coin only because it was beautiful, only because you saw it as a piece of art?
As I fall deeper into this hobby and view more ancient coins, I see many coins that don't fit any of my collecting criteria, but I almost pull the trigger because the obverse and/or reverse has a beautiful portrait of a mythological figure, historical person, and/or scene? I am quite the opposite, int he sense that every single one of the 500+ ancient coins in my collection, I bought because I "liked the look of it", or liked the history and story behind it. Then, once I started assembling a bunch of them, I thought about themes and sub-collections within the broad "ancients" category I might try to focus on. But as a general rule, all additions to my collection have been "Art (and history) first, theme second". OP asked for pics. How about the coin I use as my avatar? It is a didrachm from Rhodes, circa 300 BC. It was amongst the first ancient coins I ever bought, and certainly was my most expensive single coin I had bought up to that point. Here's a closeup, of both sides:  Does it fit into any of my collection sub-themes? Well, no, apart from my very general "one coin from every single ancient Greek city-state" collection. But I liked it and bought it, because it combined "beautiful art" with "interesting history and story".
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7162 Posts |
Either by luck or "great minds think alike" I was also preparing an example (though a medieval) like spence's with a snake. Not bought for beauty but (like Sap) for interest. This Milan grosso of 5 soldi struck under Galeazzo Maria Sforza barely fits one of my collecting themes. I picked it up because I couldn't resist the combination of imagery and information it contains.  The right image should probably be considered the obverse, as the legend begins on that side, and the design there is why I couldn't resist the coin. While there is no lack of swords, shields, spears, helmets and armor on medieval coins, I'd never seen this before: what looks to me like three flaming arrows with buckets attached. The CNI says "I tre tizzoni con le secchie" which comes up in Google translator as "three embers with buckets." The legend begins with a tiny bust of St. Ambrose, then G3 M SF VICECO DVX MLI V for Galeazzo Maria Sforza Visconti Fifth Duke of Milan ... Galeazzo's father Francesco Sforza had married Bianca Maria Visconti, the only legitimate child of Filippo Maria Visconti, the last of the Visconti rulers of Milan. So Galeazzo Maria was the first in the combined Sforza-Visconti dynasty. On the reverse is the heraldic device of the Visconti family, the crowned biscione, a large viper from which a child is emerging (or, depending on your sources, being eaten. Nice thought ... that your family was born of a poisonous snake). The legend continues with Galeazzo's remaining titles PP ANGLE Q3 CO AC IANVE D. I can't quite figure the "ANGLE Q3" but the PP CO should be Count of Pavia, and IANVE D is Lord of Genoa. Edited by tdziemia
06/05/2025 3:42 pm
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Valued Member
 United States
81 Posts |
Love these coins! I think that's why ancient coin collecting is so appealing to me and maybe others, you can enjoy the hobby for so many reasons: artistic/aesthetic value, historic value, geographical importance, cultural value, etc. Holding an ancient coins conjures so many conversations!
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Moderator
United States
164145 Posts |
They are wonderful examples!  |
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Moderator
United States
33143 Posts |
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Moderator
United States
164145 Posts |
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Here is one more coin that I bought more for beauty than because it was a great fit in my collection: Very nice!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7162 Posts |
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Here is one more coin that I bought more for beauty than because it was a great fit in my collection I can see why 
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Valued Member
United States
81 Posts |
That lion is stunning! I can see why you bought it!
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Valued Member
Portugal
478 Posts |
I did and do. But I have been tending towards the quaint and the crude, seeing beauty on some of those. Hammer struck coins in the modern era, like the non mughal indian coins. Or the more abstract post western roman empire gold.
I like that cistophoric tetra.
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Valued Member
France
299 Posts |
I certainly bought the majority of my coins (Greek coins actually) because I considered them as tiny works of art. I buy them as I can buy other works of art, and for the same reason. Additionally, because I do philosophy, objects from Ancient Greece elicit in me a particular emotion.
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Valued Member
United States
81 Posts |
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...objects from Ancient Greece elicit in me a particular emotion. I completely agree! Holding an object that was likely held by a Greek or Roman soldier or maybe even Julius Caesar is a profound feeling.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3262 Posts |
It's dark but I like this Carthage Pegasus.  "Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
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Pillar of the Community
2206 Posts |
These are very nice/interesting for the many reasons noted.
I've been tempted several times to consider bidding on something that catches my eye.
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Valued Member
United States
81 Posts |
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I like this Carthage Pegasus. I was thinking it might be a fun ancient coin collecting theme... all coins representing Pegasus. I think there are quite a few!
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Replies: 16 / Views: 766 |
Posted 06/05/2025 07:56 am
