What Interests You Most About Ancient Coins?

History (including age), Variety which links to the diversity of Design (with some of them pretty unique).

What are some examples of that Ancientnoob? I really know nothing about ancient coins. That sounds cool.

Well the best way to discuss this is sitting side by side with an album of coins a stack of old books, recopied manuscripts and some cold ones, but I will do my show you a few!

These guys...

Often attributed as a silver drachm of the Turko-Hephthalites, Nomadic tribal rulers of what is now Afghanistan. This historical describes these people as illiterate and savage. Surprise, surprise in the last few decades someone figured out that the coins tell a different story. What we have here is a huge silver coin with a gold plug that was counterstamped for an unknown purpose and by unknown people. The coin is dated year 65 of the Post Yazdgard Era c. AD 700. The coin has three languages on it, cursive Greek, middle Persian and Brahmi an Indian script. Made in the Sassanian style. The king pictured is Vasu Deva.





This coin here was minted around the 8th century in Java for what purpose, your guess is as good as mine. The Empire of Sailendra, Java, Bali and the Eastern Archipelago.





This coin is from the States of Pyu a powerful Buddhist and Hindu Kingdom in what is now Myanmar, Thailand and South Vietnam. The coin dates to the destruction of Sri Ksetra c. AD 832, the city was over run by Nomads and coinage fell out of use until it was reintroduced during the period European colonization. Its a huge silver coin 35 mm x 10 grams. These coins developed independent of older nation but is thought to be modeled on Gupta Gold coinage from India but that is a guess at best.




This coin exists as a single denomination from the kingdom of Harikela and Arakan in what is now Bangladesh and western Myanmar. The coin says Harikela in Brahmi script on the obverse. The coins are rare and are found quite scattered suggesting that trade was carried over water rather than land. Approx 33 mm x 5.6 grams.







This is a Silver shekel of Carthage minted in North Africa, silver coinage is extremely rare for Carthage. All precious metals and jewelry were confiscated by the Romans and after 3 wars (Punic Wars) The city was destroyed and the entire populous was enslaved or put to the sword. These are just a few examples.




Most collectors here collect Greek and Roman, all of which are very cool, but I am trying to collect at least one of each of the Empires of Old, if you like obscure stay tuned.

many factors for me, history..but I couldn't collect them if I couldn't afford them, so price as well. the art is great also, and the variation. many things.

but I've learned more ancient history in the three years I've collected coins than I learned in the 40 years of my life before collecting.

The history. I love ancient coins first and foremost because I love ancient history, and being able to hold something from that era in my hand is invaluable. The aesthetics are very interesting in their own right, but the history is what does it for me. I've learned about cultures and leaders I never would have known about if not for studying ancient coinage, as well.