Posted 07/25/2018 09:47 am
A dime sized pre-200 AD gold coin is going to weigh 8 grams; a Greek stater, Roman aureus, Kushan dinar, or Persian daric. Nearly all of them will cost upwards of $2,000. The affordable coins will be extremely tiny, highly debased, or both.
Some of the most affordable gold coins:
- Indian gold fanams; about 5-7mm and 0.3g, minted from the middle ages to modern times. These can be bought for as little as $20 or as much as $100.
(That one is actually of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, from the early 1800s, but fanams stretch back to about the 1200s.)
- Kidarite debased gold dinars. Nice large hefty coins about the size of a quarter, but only like 5-30% gold. Depending on the fineness and rarity, they can cost between about $50-200.
(Durla Deva; I bought that one for $75, which is not typically repeatable.)
- Late Roman or Byzantine gold, which come in full, half, and third solidii (Solidus, semissis, tremissis). You can get solidii in nice condition for only about $300-500. Tremisses are widely available, and can be bought for only about $150.
- Indian medieval gold comes in a wide variety in several denominations. They are not popular, and you can get them pretty close to melt, in some cases.
(Chandellas, Madanavarman 1/4 dinar; about 13mm but only cost $100)
-Islamic dinars are so common that typical bent/holed specimens only cost melt
- Lower grade/problem Greek electrum can be as cheap as $300 for a ~10mm coin
- Extremely early (pre-600 BC) Ionian electrum protocurrency is extremely tiny, but a 6-8mm coin will only run you about $200.
If none of those suit your fancy, an XF stater of Alexander the Great will set you back "only" $2,000!
Some of the most affordable gold coins:
- Indian gold fanams; about 5-7mm and 0.3g, minted from the middle ages to modern times. These can be bought for as little as $20 or as much as $100.
(That one is actually of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, from the early 1800s, but fanams stretch back to about the 1200s.)
- Kidarite debased gold dinars. Nice large hefty coins about the size of a quarter, but only like 5-30% gold. Depending on the fineness and rarity, they can cost between about $50-200.
(Durla Deva; I bought that one for $75, which is not typically repeatable.)
- Late Roman or Byzantine gold, which come in full, half, and third solidii (Solidus, semissis, tremissis). You can get solidii in nice condition for only about $300-500. Tremisses are widely available, and can be bought for only about $150.
- Indian medieval gold comes in a wide variety in several denominations. They are not popular, and you can get them pretty close to melt, in some cases.
(Chandellas, Madanavarman 1/4 dinar; about 13mm but only cost $100)
-Islamic dinars are so common that typical bent/holed specimens only cost melt
- Lower grade/problem Greek electrum can be as cheap as $300 for a ~10mm coin
- Extremely early (pre-600 BC) Ionian electrum protocurrency is extremely tiny, but a 6-8mm coin will only run you about $200.
If none of those suit your fancy, an XF stater of Alexander the Great will set you back "only" $2,000!
