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 Replies: 28 / Views: 8,567 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
It is a fact that any ancient in presentable condition that is connected to a big name known to people who don't know history (Caesar, Alexander, Jesus) won't be cheap. They may be common but the demand from people who don't want 99% of the other ancients make the most common coins (owls, Tribute Pennies) ridiculous. I suggest becoming a stronger student of history and appreciating the coins that you have to be 'in' to appreciate. Forget Caesar, Caligula and Nero; study Trajan, Diocletian or Theodosius. Forget Athens and all other large Greek silvers until you are rolling in cash. The exception is Constantine the Great. He is a major player in history and issued millions of coins including some that can be obtained cheaply in good condition. There is another thread here recently showing his death commemoratives including a guest appearance by the hand of God. That one should be expensive but it is not. (Sorry I can't show one but I already posted a suggestion; someone will.)
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Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
I am studying history as I realise that the celebrities cost more money and that the unheard of people still have interesting history.
BTW my Hadrian denarius doesn't say the mint in the description; could anyone tell me where it was minted? (I don't understand what all those letters mean yet)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
The vast majority of Hadrian denarii are Rome mint. The exceptions are Eastern mints which are not 100% certainly attributed to cities but Antioch is always a suspect. No coin has a mint mark so it is a matter of style attribution. Eastern coins are popular and sell for a premium so all this adds up to a 99.9% likelihood you have a Rome coin sight unseen. Yours is 100% Rome (and a perfectly nice coin - congratulations).
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Your coin was struck at Rome circa 120-122 AD. I am having trouble with the reading and dating of Greek coins, but for me, Roman coins seem rather easy.
PM= Pontifex Maximus
TR P = Tribunicia Postestate
COS III = The third consulship.
When there is a number provided such as the COS III, we can find that Hadrian held this title in the years 120-122 AD. Many times the TR P will be followed by a number with the same results.
I highly recommend a small book titled "Reading and Dating Roman Imperial Coins" by Klawans. It will help you out tremendously.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
An absolute must? I'm biased to this, but one group of uncleaned ancients. It teaches you about the coins and shows that very very few coins are in such good conditions as the coins about here. You learn things you would overlook normally whilst IDing your hunks of worn out metal and its very cheap to obtain quite a large amount of them.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
Thanks JW and Doug, while you were writing that I managed to uncover the mint from searching "Beast Coins" for RIC 83 but your info was still noteworthy.
The explaination of the letters is helpful also so thanks for sharing your knowledge...and yes I know I will need more books, I will get some soon I promise!
I am making an effort to try and teach myself the Cyrillic and Greek alphabets...it isn't sticking so far but maybe it will be useful longterm.
Ben, I fully agree with you that some uncleaned would teach me something...also collecting seems to be mainly a cerebral activity so it would be nice to actually have something to do! I hear many people destroy their firt few attempts with this but I have been following uncleaned threads when I see them and maybe I will give that a try some day.
Edited by DavidUK
09/01/2012 8:34 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
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They may be common but the demand from people who don't want 99% of the other ancients make the most common coins (owls, Tribute Pennies) ridiculous. Yeah--I know, but I had wanted an Athenian owl tet for some 30 years, never thinking it possible. Sometimes you just have to get what makes you happy, price be damned. But, I'm way too frugal to make an impulse purchase--it took 4 months to find one I liked. I bet for everyone, there is a coin they want over all else. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
An impulse purchase is rarely as good as a purchase that you take 4 months to make. If you are constantly looking at coins you either find an example which is nicer to the eye or better value than if you make an impulse buy. Of course you can get lucky but buying well demands you aren't in too much of a rush and that you don't let your heart get in the way of your head.
I am happy you found your owl tet, and I am thinking if it took you 30 years I cannot blame you for the rise in price... I think it is a pleasing design but unless I have an unexpected windfall there are other coins that I would prefer to own for less money first; if we were all the same wouldn't the world be boring?
Keep those suggestions coming too! Any coins that I am impressed by I am making notes!
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
This coin always seems to be a favourite among the ancient gang ... Moesia, IstrusAR Drachm 400 - 350 BC Diameter: 19.52 mm Weight: 4.75 grams Obverse: Two male heads facing, the right inverted. Reverse: Sea eagle flying left, attacking a dolphin  NOTE => ummm, but just in case this first coin of mine is considered a mere "Tribute Penny", then I'm also gonna post this Diocletian, because dougsmit mentioned that somebody should post a Diocletian ... DIOCLETIANAntoninianus 284-305 A.D. Rome Mint. Struck ca. 290 AD Diameter: 22mm Weight: 3.81 grams Obverse: IMP DIOCLE TIANVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right. Reverse: IOVI FV LGERATORI, Jupiter standing facing, head right, preparing to hurl thunderbolt; at feet to left, eagle standing left, head right; XXI �" in exergue. Ref. RIC V 168 var. (unlisted officina and with eagle) ... too bad about the flan crack  
Edited by stevex6
09/02/2012 1:48 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
As your from the UK I think these guys from the Britannic Empire are an affordable and interesting must David: Carausius - 286--293 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carausius Allectus - 293-296 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allectus Expect to pay £30-50 for decent examples, poor ones are out there for about £10 - I should add I think both the above pics are better than 'decent'. Also if your just beginning reading up on the history (it takes a lifetime, enjoy it, this is a hobby after all!) this is a nice small area that is manageable and not to daunting to complete, just two Emperors, 10 years and a couple of invasions  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
I am not surprised that Istrus coin is so popular...I just searched for one on Vcoins and the only one as nice as yours was £295...(pictured) Its possible to get a half decent one for £100 though so with searching maybe it is affordable.  Similar coins with the twins also from Thrace (which is relevant to me as my girlfriend lives in what used to be Thrace near Plovdiv which is marked on ancient maps as Philipopolis) Some of the descriptions say it is rarer if the left face is inverted is there truth in that? Bobby your suggestions are certainly affordable and I will have fun learning about them :) Edited by DavidUK
09/02/2012 3:19 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Quote:
An absolute must? I'm biased to this, but one group of uncleaned ancients. I agree with Ben on this one - everyone should try this once to decide if they either love it or hate it, a very good suggestion  Quote:
Bobby your suggestions are certainly affordable and I will have fun learning about them :) Glad you like the idea - small chunks are the way to go I find with the history, it can swamp you if your not careful and become a chore. I found after a couple of years I was able to start putting the pieces I had learnt together and got a bit of context. Reading the threads on here is very useful too. Please don't think I'm being patronising but I don't know how much you do know, all I will say is the only stupid question is one not asked. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
Well I have fairly good memory retention and I watch lots of documentaries...so the history I am picking up pretty quickly...I am a novice to ancient coins though and I am not afraid to ask questions.
I just read your wiki links, I knew about this story from somewhere previous and now I can put the names to it :)
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Replies: 28 / Views: 8,567 |
First Page
Posted 09/01/2012 7:58 pm
