New To Ancients Need Some Advice

For number 3, if you are not averse to copper, I suggest you keep an eye out for a nice follis like this one:


That set me back just over $100, but if you settle for a slightly lower grade, you will find a lot to choose from, as it's fairly common. It's a nice sized coin, 6 grams. You can find it by searching on Sear 1813. I think Sear 1867 is even larger, and you get a "two-fer" with Christ pantokrator on one side, and Mary "orans" (praying) on the other: https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=l...940&lot=1206
Something with a nice portrait in silver or gold will be a lot more.

For the third crusade, you might consider picking up a coin of one of the European rulers (or all three!) who led it. Probably a small silver penny / denier / denaro of any one of them would not be terribly expensive, in average collectible grade (just a thought). I would look for that on VCoins or MA-shops.

As you know, ancient coins are a vast subject covering over a thousand years and numerous cultures. There are online sources and reference books. Those who want to start collecting ancient coins can get reference books, guides to ancient coins, those by David Sear, books by Wayne Sales, Guide to Biblical Coins by Hendin, etc. You can find some on Amazon new or used. There may be a library in your area that has some of these.

In my opinion for those who collect ancient coins there are a few that are "must haves" like an Athenian owl tetradrachm, a Roman silver denarius, coins mentioned in the Bible like a Jewish widows mite (lepton), etc. Your want list is exactly a "must have" list :).

Many collectors choose a specific culture, ruler, city mint, time period to collect. For me, years ago I decided to collect at least one coin from every city in the Bible that minted coins and late Roman coins that had Christian symbols like the Chi-Rho which began with Constantine I. Ancient coins from the major cities like Rome, Corinth, Athens, Ephesus, Jerusalem, Alexandria etc. are common. But some city coins are very rare, only striking coins for a short time.

In addition to CCF, here are some online places to buy, read the descriptions and info:

1. Vcoins.com
2. acsearch.info
3. Sixbid.com
4. biddr.com
5. Lateromanrronzecoinforum.com
6. MA-shops.com
7. Major museums have online coin data bases like the British Museum and the ANA.
8. There may be a coin club or coin store in your area, people who know about ancient coins.
9. There are ancient coins on ebay but be careful of fakes. Buy from experienced trusted dealers. Several CCF members sell genuine ancient coins on ebay.

Thanks Spence. Does that auction site vet coins for authenticity? Or is it a very hands off auction site?

Thanks. Definitely some beauties and I feel like there will be less competition for Roman and Greek coins there as opposed to mainstream auctions like heritage.