Posted 07/07/2009 6:45 pm
The best "beginner" books for ancient coins are the Wayne G. Sayles "Ancient Coin Collectiong" series. There are six volumes: volume I is a general introduction to ancients, II is Greek, III is Roman, IV is Roman Provincial, V is Byzantine and VI is "Everyone Else". They don't identify every possible coin you might find, and they don't give catalogue values, but they're an excellent introduction to ancients.
The only readily available "catalogues of ancient coins" are the books put out by David Sear, published by Spink. They're made in Britain, and rather expensive for the beginner. There are currently four volumes of roman, two of Greek, one (woefully inadequate) Roman Provincial and one Byzantine. I heartily recommend them, if you can afford them. The Roman catalogue used to be published in just one volume; if you can find a second-hand copy of one of these earlier editions, that's usually adequate for beginners.
As for definitions: While Rome at its greatest was always technically a "republic" in the sense that it had no king, it's coinage is historically divided into three periods: the "Republic" up to about 55 BC, where coinage was struck in the name of the civilian Consuls. From 55 BC to 27 BC the coinage is considered "Imperatorial" and was struck in the name of the various warlords and generals. From 27 BC to 498 AD, it is considered "Imperial". After 498 AD the coins are considered "Byzantine".
"Roman Provincial" coins are coins struck in the name of and for use in a provincial city, rather than for the Empire as a whole. In Roman times, for a city to be given permission to strike it's own coins was a symbol of prestige and a sign of Imperial favour. These provincial coins are often more crudely made than regular Roman coins, and the language on them is often Greek rather than Latin.
The only readily available "catalogues of ancient coins" are the books put out by David Sear, published by Spink. They're made in Britain, and rather expensive for the beginner. There are currently four volumes of roman, two of Greek, one (woefully inadequate) Roman Provincial and one Byzantine. I heartily recommend them, if you can afford them. The Roman catalogue used to be published in just one volume; if you can find a second-hand copy of one of these earlier editions, that's usually adequate for beginners.
As for definitions: While Rome at its greatest was always technically a "republic" in the sense that it had no king, it's coinage is historically divided into three periods: the "Republic" up to about 55 BC, where coinage was struck in the name of the civilian Consuls. From 55 BC to 27 BC the coinage is considered "Imperatorial" and was struck in the name of the various warlords and generals. From 27 BC to 498 AD, it is considered "Imperial". After 498 AD the coins are considered "Byzantine".
"Roman Provincial" coins are coins struck in the name of and for use in a provincial city, rather than for the Empire as a whole. In Roman times, for a city to be given permission to strike it's own coins was a symbol of prestige and a sign of Imperial favour. These provincial coins are often more crudely made than regular Roman coins, and the language on them is often Greek rather than Latin.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
With Sap though there was a book you can buy from FORVM ROMAN COINS,It's called "The Handbook of ROMAN IMPERIAL COINS" by David Van Meter also it covers from 27 B.C. to 498 A.D.It's not as pricey as Sears books and still gives you enough information on the coins though it does have a few gaps here and there It's still not a bad book to buy,anything out side of these dates I have posted you'll have to buy Sears.
