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 Replies: 26 / Views: 3,028 |
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New Member
Australia
45 Posts |
I have made a list of ancient coins for a beginner ancient collector, it covers the major geographical areas of ancient world. I know that one should focus on coins that they like and type-sets for ancient coins can be highly subjective compared to modern type-sets, regardless I made this, and want to know your opinion on what some other areas/coins that are affordable and interesting for an ancient beginner (who already has some background knowledge on numismatics in general). This is my set: 1. Greek- an iconic drachma of Alexander III 2. Roman- an Imperial denarius 3. Persia- a coin from any of the Achaemenid/Parthia/Sassanians 4. A coin from the city of Alexandria 5. A coin from Judea 6. A coin from Byzantium 7. Arabic/Islamic coin 8. India- preferably a coin from a native Hindu kingdom 9. Chinese cash coin 10. Medieval Europe (can be from a region of your interest, I chose England). The coin set below is worth around 200 usd.   |
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Moderator
 United States
187544 Posts |
Impressive!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Very nice. Quote:
your opinion on what some other areas/coins that are affordable and interesting for an ancient beginner Well, you've got Roman Imperial and Provincial, so a drachm from the Republic may be in order. Also, post-Alexander Greeks - they come in all price ranges based on what you are after: Asia Minor or Seleukid or Ptolemaic or Bactrian. I think that, in a general set like this, I'd be sure to include a Sassanian drachm, rather than clumping the Sassanians into a general Persian grouping. I say that because their rise to power was such a political and cultural rupture. I would also include a "Turkoman figural" bronze coin: Zengid, Artuqid, or Seljuq. Edited by Kamnaskires
01/27/2021 09:12 am
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Pillar of the Community
 Spain
2752 Posts |
Neat idea!..... Agree with Bobs additions plus maybe and Iberic coin and a Celtic would add a bit more depth? Love the diverse look |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Impressive start, don't forget the Indo-Greeks, Scythians, Mongols, etc.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6514 Posts |
Awesome collection.
Cool premise.
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Pillar of the Community
Sweden
2124 Posts |
Excellent choice of coins! I would agree with Palouche, add Iberic and Celtic coins, there are affordable, beautiful coins available there.
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5172 Posts |
Neat! IIRC there's a CCF member (forgot the nick) who's doing a One From Every Culture set, and it looks a lot like that except more granular. "From the city of Alexandria" is a weird qualifier and intersects with some of the others. Would a 5th century Roman bronze from the Alexandria mint count? What about a 6th century Byzantine one? Also, Greek coins have a lot of neat variety that doesn't involve Alexander III in any way. If I wanted to get an Ancient Greek coin I'd probably be looking for something that wasn't an Alexander III drachm. (Though admittedly IIRC they are one of the cheapest options in silver drachm size.) Sadly I still don't have anything from the Achaemenids, Parthians, or Sassanians. I hope to get some of those coins some day. I'm not sure what your Indian coin is. I have this, a bunch of debased Bull-and-Horsemen, one or two Soter Megas coins in terrible condition, and not much else; again, hope to get something better eventually. Possible expansion options: - Central Asia (Chach, Sogd...) - Celtic (including Iberian) - Roman provincial (intersects with Alexandria) - Russian wire money (arguably not very ancient) I can think of a bunch of other options, but for the most part they're sub-branches of already listed ones and/or don't really come cheap. |
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1303 Posts |
Sadly, and often most overlooked in my opinion, are the Nabatean coins. You can get them easy enough and the bronze are quite a finite set. Like the Judea coins they fall outside the normal Greek/Roman provincial categories although both groups did fall under Rome eventually. http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/his_nabateans.html |
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5172 Posts |
Quote:
You can get them easy enough and the bronze are quite a finite set. Could I have a link? I've got about half a dozen types of Nabataean bronzes and I'm wondering how much is still left. I'm not sure why I didn't mention Nabataea in my original expansion suggestion. Possibly because I thought it was too minor of a state. A more generic "not quite Roman, not quite Greek, not quite Persian, not quite Egyptian" group could've been convenient, but IIRC it would for the most part have just included Nabataea, Judea (already listed for other reasons), and a few assorted types from elsewhere (mostly very obscure and/or very rare). |
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1303 Posts |
Well for this purpose the cornucopia or Nike bronzes are the easiest to get. So beyond what is on Wildwinds you have to go to the literature: This woman below says there are 344 coins in the catalog apparently published in 2020: (The reason I mention them at all is so many groups are Greek ruled and then Roman affiliated. But these Aramaic speakers like the Judeans are a more unique genesis of their coinage. There is also a good Coin Week discussion.) https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Bo...rp1-_-title2https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/...-nabataeans/ |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1316 Posts |
Maybe a Celtic something that predates the Roman arrival?
But a very cool set! Maybe I should do something like this with my 12 year old to make history more intriguing than Anime on the tv.
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Moderator
United States
34393 Posts |
@ag, I agree that this is a neat idea. One thought that I have is rather than expanding outward to ever more minor dynasties, consider starting to go deeper in just one or two areas. For example, you might discover that you really enjoy all of the intrigue and court politics of Imperial Rome that comes with collecting different emperors. Or perhaps, you dig deeper into the hammered coinage of England. In the end, there is no "wrong" answer and collecting what you like is a very personal opinion. I hope that you will keep us updated as you progress in your collection.
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
A nice introductory example set of ancient World coins.
Could also include Bosporus and Cappodocia early post Roman coins of Europe, early Burmese coins, coins of the Indian Magahda Murayan and Kidarite kingdoms, the Chola Kings of Ceylon.
Combined with other suggestions for inclusion, the set of coins pictured could well double in size. Need lots of research before extending into these areas.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5238 Posts |
I have had this same notion for quite some time, but it never got organized properly. I am thinking of one for every major dynasty/ kingdom/ empire, which would be more than yours which are on a much broader scale. Lacking a precise definition of any of these terms, how about enough coins so that 90% (or some other %) the population could have handled them?(for those that used coins).
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Pillar of the Community
United States
901 Posts |
I would have to include something Ostrogth or Vandal  OSTROGOTHS. A.D. 493- 553. 20 Nummi or Half Follis (23x24mm 6.5gm) Municipal issue. Rome mint. INVICTA ROMA, helmeted and draped bust of Roma right. REV: Palm tree; to left and right, eagle standing outward, heads facing inward; in ex. •XX•. COI 83 (Athalaric); MEC 110. Ex Numismatik Naumann, Auktion 69 (2 September 2018) lot 453; Numismatica Ars Classica 93 (24 May 2016), lot 1119; Numismatica Ars Classica Autumn 1995, lot 711.  VANDALS. Municipal coinage of Carthage. Circa 480-533 Æ 42 Nummi (27mm 12.7g ). Class 1. Carthago standing facing, crowned with corn wreath and holding three grain ears in each raised hand; N X LII, above; all within laurel wreath with large central jewel. MEC 34-38; BMC Vandals 3. Edited by Victor
01/28/2021 10:36 pm
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Replies: 26 / Views: 3,028 |
Posted 01/27/2021 08:56 am
