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 Replies: 28 / Views: 8,564 |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
Lets make some suggestions for good value for money ancient coins that you think every collector should own.
If you can post pictures lets try to submit one per person, lets try not to repeat any type, lets add any detail or historical point of interest and a rough price range for each coin!
I will start with my only ancient coin, I thought it was a must have because Alexander the Great is a MASSIVE historical figure!
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Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
 Alexander III., 336-323 BC. Sardes, 323-319 BC AR-Drachm Ov.:Head of Herakles r., wearing lion skin. Rv.:Zeus Aëtophoros std. l., monogram above bee in l. field. Price 2628; Müller-:. 4,25 gr - 17 mm I received this coin today... the first thing that struck me was the reverse was stunning...the second thing was that the portrait was a bit more toned than was showing on the photo...the third thing was that it really is quite a small coin. I guess all that means I will have to save my money and purchase a tetradrachm of similar design. This one cost me £95, there are many cheaper and many more expensive. Edited by DavidUK
09/01/2012 10:31 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
When one thinks of the Roman Empire, what's the first name that comes to mind? Is it Augustus? How about Nero or Hadrian? I don't know about everyone else, but I think of Julius Caesar. So it would seem that an obvious must have coin for any collector of Roman coins would be JC. Portrait coins of JC are expensive, but that is a must have in my opinion. However, there are other JC coins which are desirable. Since I just posted my only portrait coin in the latest smackdown, here is another coin that is sought by many collectors. This is the first coin struck in the name of Julius Caesar. The symbolism on the obverse apparently alludes to the conquest of good over evil, Caesar's victory over the Gauls, while the reverse refers to Caesar's possession of the office of Pontifex Maximus. Mine is broken, but, hey, it's what I could afford.   JULIUS CAESAR Denarius, RSC 49, struck 49/8 BC OBV: CAESAR in exergue, elephant right, trampling on serpent REV: Simpulum, sprinkler, axe and priest's hat |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
I'll suggest a 'negative' rather than a positive. Don't limit your collection to just the standard Ancient Greek and Roman Coins. Keep an open mind to the fact that a lot of civilizations issued coins way back then. Some you have never heard of and could be very educational and some made history books mostly as the enemies of your favorites from Greece and Rome. I'm not suggesting that everyone should have this coin but that every collection should include a few coins that are neither Greek nor Roman but still ancient. My example below is a Sasanian drachm of Shapur I (241-270 AD) best known for capturing the Roman emperor Valerian and using him as a footstool. There are thousands of other ancient coins of 'other' civilizations. I recommend you keep an open mind to getting a few of them to spice up your assemblage of late Roman bronzes or high dollar Greek silver.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Something from Rhodes would me a must have for any ancient coin collection. These coins often fit under the high dollar Greek Silver category. If you look around you might get a deal one. They are cool coins from a popular Greek City. Rhodes is generally made famous for its large Bronze statue called the Colossus of Rhodes, thought to have depicted Helios. The coins often have a 3/4 front facing Helios and a Hibiscus (ROSE) on the reverse. here is mine... AR Didrachm (6.64g) 387-304 BC  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
Nice coins...price ranges for a typical example of each coin? I am aiming at purchasing 1 coin a month with a limited budget and so asssembling over a long time period a nice little selection of 15-20 historic/iconic coins.
I agree with the point that one shouldn't stick just to Roman and Greek, I have been having fun finding out about some pretty obscure and long extinct cities and cultures recently.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2100 Posts |
Athens owl Tetradrachm  Masses made, various styles. Prices range from about $200 through to $,000s for an EF example with no cuts or bankers marks. Martin |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
The Julius Caesar coin I presented should go for around $200 in poor condition to $2000 in VF condition.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
I love the owl but I wouldn't class it as affordable... I have been looking lots at these recently and they seem very desirable so any good examples seem to be all the money. It is no problem for me to find nice desirable coins which are in the $300+ range (Corinthian silver stater springs to mind), the challenge I am having is finding $50-$100 coins which are interesting, preserved, historically relevant and nicely aestetic.
Julius Caesar I agree is a must have, but not only are they expensive they aren't so numerous that I am likely to stumble across a really good value one.
I realise what a money pit ancients are, but often I saw people saying that ancient coins don't have to be expensive...I am hopeful someone will be suggesting some of those ones also, not every coin I own needs to be precious metal either...
Keep the suggestions coming though, just because I can't afford all of these coins doesn't mean they are any less interesting!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
I love the owl but I wouldn't class it as affordable. It's an iconic coin that got me interested in collecting as a kid. For years, I considered it out of my reach--until I started pricing individual coins. I spent more than I had budgeted for mine, but it's a coin that I'll always enjoy--and never regret. Not to be redundant, but here's mine, and earlier issue than Maridvnvm's  Another iconic coin are those of Alexander the Great. This one was attributed as Alexander III 336-323 BC, AE17, 5.67 gr, Sear 6739. It's more affordable--$48.  Edited by DVCollector
09/01/2012 4:43 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
DV Your owl is lovely too... but really I conssider it out of reach unless I have a very good turn of fortune (really my sense of money is corrupted, when it comes easy it goes easy and when it is a struggle to get it then I give that much more thought to keeping hold of it)
The second coin though, thats a good one since it shows the club and the bow that Heracles always carried in the stories of his 12 labours, it is affordable too...I am making a note of that catalogue number since I think thats a coin I will probably get at some stage :)
Sorry to ask so many questions but in the description you say "AE17" does that mean bronze 17 mm?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Thanks--I consider the Alexander coin a good deal; it turned out better than the seller's pictures. Quote:
"AE17" does that mean bronze 17 mm? Yes, Ae is short for the Latin word for bronze, Aes. Greek coins commonly go by metal and diameter. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1411 Posts |
A high grade Constantine the Great, the Emperor who legalized Christianity.
A Widows Mite, referred to in the bible.
And, for Brits, a Londinium mint Roman follis.
All of which can be had for under $20 per coin!
Edited by Windchild
09/01/2012 5:17 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Since you are from the UK, you are most probably interested in coins having anything to do with the Roman invasion(s) of Britain. Perhaps an interesting figure would be Hadrian for obvious reasons. You can find many Hadrian coins under $100 and probably many of those under $50. Here is a Sestertius I was able to buy for $59 including the shipping:   Sestertius, RIC 970 struck at Rome, 128-134 AD OBV: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P P, laureate bust right, draped far shoulder REV: HILARITAS P R S-C, COS III in ex, Hilaritas standing facing holding palm & cornucopia, two small children flanking her I own five silver Denarius of Hadrian, all of which I obtained under $30. From Hardrian you could look into the British Invasion coinage of the late third century. Say Maxmianus. Coins of this type should be much cheaper I would think. |
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Valued Member
Canada
472 Posts |
If you like large, good grade coins that can quite easily be purchased for a very decent price, I suggest the tetrarchic folles. Diocletian...  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
I think you are doin well to get a silver Hadrian coin for under $30 now... I just ordered my second ancient coin:  Hadrian AR Denarius -- P M TR P COS III Hadrian AR Denarius. AD 119-22. IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate bust right, draped left shoulder / P M TR P COS III, Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae. RIC 83. 3.13g, 20mm, 6h. Very Fine. I do very much like large well preserved coins that can be bought cheaply so that is a good choice Dionysos...I know nothing of how Diocletian fits into the scheme of things but that is half the fun in ancients (revising ones knowledge of history) I will also check out your suggestions Windchild :) Edited by DavidUK
09/01/2012 7:04 pm
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Replies: 28 / Views: 8,564 |
Posted 09/01/2012 11:41 am
