Advice On A Gift

to the community

Greek coins tend to be expensive, you might be able to find something in bronze for that price, but if your looking for somethin in silver your going to pay more

Here is a site with numerous reputable dealers that you should be able to find what you are looking for.

http://www.vcoins.com/en/coins/ancients.aspx

I would recommend a Thrace, Cherronesos AR Hemidrachm, 400 - 350 BC; it is Greek, it is Silver and you should be able to find one within your budget.

You should try to find one with as much detail and as well centred as possible, it is a coin that has fairly wide appeal in its design and is common enough it won't cost the earth. It is iconic enough he should know what it is.

There may be others but this springs to mind as a coin meeting your criteria. I agree with the sentiment above that Vcoins would offer your safest and easiest method of finding and purchasing such a coin.

Personally I think they are both overpriced tiny little coins. But I am a 'cheapskate'. I just looked on ebay and typed in Sicily. Sicily is generally acknowledged as having produced some of the finest 'Greek' coinage. I saw some very attractive 4th century bronzes being sold by dealers with scores around 9000 with 100% positive feedback and currently going well under $100. No guarantee where the auctions will end but you might watch a few and see if you can snag something larger than a shirt button for your Mr Franklin !

I would suggest a coin from the time of Alexander the Great, perhaps a silver drachm or a bronze coin?
You could get a much nicer bronze coin than mine below, or the silver drachm for $100. There's a whole lot of history behind Alexander the Great.

This coin cost me just $40; there are nicer examples


This silver drachm of Alexander III is on vcoins for ~$100


I spent about $100 on this coin from Greek Sicily with Artemis and a lightning bolt:

They are nice coins that can still be bought for nice prices.

As the Philosopher once said "Knowledge is good". You have been vague except for the era (pre Philip II) Knowing who the 'Hero'is might mean we could direct you to his doorstep ! I was curious as to your specifying the period so closely yet no geographic area. Knowing the recipients ethnicity or 'inclinations' would help. I recommended Sicily because they are fine pieces. But Cyprus or Spain or Iran or any number of places might be more to his/her personal preference. The more we know the better the directions will be ! It does occur to me that perhaps when you say Greek you are intending to specify Greece proper. "Greek" coins were produced in more than 'half' the known world ancient world. Maybe I just missed the message so to speak !