Coin Auctions? (Ancients)

I've been collecting ancients for a long time now and have yet to buy from any of the online auction houses. While there are some that you can find good deals, most I find are overpriced. As a rule I pretty much stay away from auctions. Though I do buy from ebay from time to time. I am confident enough that I can spot most fakes that are offered there and most of us here are aware of who are good dealers and who are not. Now a days I buy most of my coins from Vcoins. If you haven't checked them out yet I recommend that you do.

Ancients cover a large area and time frame. From Spain in the West to China in the east with everything in between from the 5th century BC to (approx) AD 1000 !
You might want to try and pick out something which intrigues you somewhat. Most people have an attraction for Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great. Caesar will drain your checkbook but 'Alex' can still be had for a relatively modest amount (bronze around $25 and silver for under $100). You might pick a geographic area or a place which interests you (Egypt, Sicily, Spain, Afghanistan etc). It does help to have some grasp of ancient history too. Knowing something about the time period helps you appreciate the 'relic' you hold in your hand.
Personally I advise new collectors to try and avoid coins that 'glitter'. Nothing says "I am 2,000 years old" than a bit of green patina ! Besides many dealers charge too much money for the pretty ones that sparkle. Stick with bronze for starters although if you really need a Roman Republican denarius try and control your impulses. Prices for Republican silver have gotten rather high in recent years.
For 'Bang for the Buck' a nice sestertius of Antoninus Pius (all time Mr Nice guy) or a large Ptolemaic bronze from Egypt can be had for around $50. By large I mean roughly silver dollar sized and weighing in around one ounce. You can impress your friends for less than it would cost to take a date to a movies.