Help Identifying Coin

Thanks for the HELP much appreciated.

mpdmedia: Basically, I agree with you. Nevertheless, ancient coins get sold just like any other numismatic material.

The situation must come down in the end to "caveat emptor". In Real estate, otherwise translated as 'buyer beware'. The obvious proviso is that there is no attempt by the seller to deceive.

So it comes to grading, but dealers still have to sell their stock, so they are obliged to grade, especially if an item is not illustrated. This grading becomes part of the overall description of the coin.

It often comes down to eye appeal with ancients, and the buyer makes his decision realtive to the overall description and the price.

Personally I like to see all ancient coins in the hand before making a decision to buy, except that if the dealer has a top reputation such as Heritage.

I have bought Roman and Greek gold from top London dealers in this manner. These coins were negotiated beforehand with photographs. This is why you can buy from the top auction houses with confidence.

As others have already said grading is not really of much use nowadays when everything is sold with a picture, not as good as seeing the item in hand but at least buyers can form their own opinions rather than trust a grade.

As far as values go its just like any other coins - supply and demand. A common, perfect coin of Constantine will be worth less than a barely recognisable coin from say Quietus. Constantine minted 300 million coins during his reign while Quietus was a usurper and minted very few.

Its too big a field really to suggest good areas to look for profitable coins apart from maybe concentrating on the coins of emperors who ruled for a short period of time - fewer coins means a higher value.

As far as the fakes go unfortunately nobody really knows how big the industry is. Fakers seem to concentrate more on the higher value more recent US coin but as good fakes are so difficult to find in Ancient coinage due to all the variations coin on coins who knows!

I had hoped to help but think I've just answered a question with a question!