Roman Coins - Am I stupid or what?

its4real

Okay - don't laugh...
I bought some of those "uncleaned coins" and have been soaking them in olive oil for days. With a little scrubbing - all kinds of details are coming out on them but I am beginning to think that I will NEVER know what I have.
Most of them are too small and too hard to read - although the amount of detail is amazing. I have a few that are VERY HEAVY - and a few that are very light. All of them have what appears to be the head of a "Julius Ceaser" type on one side and the reverse side has usually a hunter looking person holding a spear and some killed game (that's what it looks like anyway).
I am not a coin expert and don't pretend to be - and I certainly can't read greek or roman.
Has anyone had some experience with these types of coins and is there a market for them?
Thanks in Advance,
Mike

JeffinMich

You might want to try asking this question on the World and Ancient coin forum, or as we refer to it "the Darkside".

canadiancoinguy

I spent $60 in "uncleaned" Romans, and I only have 1 that I have identified 100% sure, and several that I'm 90% sure. Probably better off buying identified cleaned stuff, unless you want to spend alot of time learning, as those Romans issued many different types from various mints thoughout the empire.

I think the legendss are in latin.

From what you say, I'm guessing you might have some examples of 2 soldiers, 1 standard, or something along that line. One of the more commonly found coins in cheap (under $4 each) "uncleaned" (many are cleaned, then re-dirtied) coin lots. Most of those Romans are of Constantine I (the great), and his sons. (Constantine and sons probably make up 50%+ of the coins in regular $1/2 uncleaned lots)

dbldie55

Just need to know an expert. One of my college professors is considered one. He always goes through the ancients my local shop gets, you wouldn't believe how fast he can determine whether they are real or fake, what they are, and if they are valuable.

jtryka

I bought some of these from eBay as well, some cleaned up really well, but I have a few more still soaking. But like you, I have not idea what I have, but they are kinda cool!

Placid

There are several online sites with info.
Here is one.
Link

DanC

Since I'm a noob - hopefully you guys will cut me some slack, but I seem to remember the Roman coins in particular were minted by the HOARDES over the centuries, and used as currency all over the world....

I guess what I'm asking is - aren't they pretty common - as in (not rare) rather than (not interesting)?

You'd think something so old would be quite valuable, and I imagine if they are in good shape.

edit:
amazing what a difference omitting the word "if" out of a sentence makes.

Placid

I often see some gold ones like this on teletrade. They usually get bid up to around $350.

Heritage also had alot of roman coins some gold and some silver in the ana ny auction. Some went pretty cheap and some pretty high.

jtryka

Cool site placid, now I have a project for the holiday weekend! I bet that gold coin was small, I hate small gold coins! Why couldn't the Romans make double eagles?