Ancient Coins.....The Good , The Bad, The Ugly + Questions

Purple73 · February 13, 2005 7:49AM

Would someone like to fill me in on the three topics in the title? It's really appreciated!

Just looking around on this forum kinda got my attention. Pretty cool looking coins. Especially this one. Man, this is one awesome coin!

So I went over and checked out Ebay just to see what certain coins looked like. I went through a few of the choices there and pick the a few that I liked. (I already know the hazards of E-Bay, I just went there to look and see)

I like these era's(europe)

Byzantine
Medieval
Roman: Imperial, Provicial, Republic.

I would have no problems dropping that kind of money for this coin. Provided if I knew what the hell I was getting into.
Byzantine Gold Coin

What books would you suggest?

What do you think of the coin in the above link?

Who deals in these era's of coins? Got links to websites that have a good reputation?

Do coins Break down into denominations like U.S. coinage?

Do you Collect by sets or is it just a pick and choose sort of collecting?

Pricing books, What would you suggest or are they simply no good?

I like the Gold coins like this one, Awesome Coin! but do not want to limit myself to just that.

Here is another That Blows my skirt up:
Roman Coin

And 1 More:
Roman Republic

I want collect my U.S. Coins but go into something else too. I tried Getting into collecting 2 dollar bills but I just can't get into paper money for some reason. Nice thing to collect , it's just not for me.

Anyway Thanks for reading this post and thank you for answering any of my questions.

PURPLE!

ajaan · February 13, 2005 8:01AM

I can't make any specific remarks about the coins you linked, I know very little about Ancient coins. But I do know one has to be careful buying them. There are many, many counterfeit ancient coins out there. I'm sure someone else here can make specific recommendations.

PuddlePirate · February 13, 2005 11:26AM

Purple73 - I will have to get back to you with a booklist. A good site from "here" would be Civitas (civitasgalleries.com). I've bought several peices from him and his prices are very reasonable and his pictures are accurate. On EBay I've had very good service and quality from AAH - Ancient Auction House - be picky and patient, be prepared to drop some serious money for Greeks. Roman Imperials are generally very reasonable pricewise while the Republics can get pricey. If you are buying uncleaned beware of any claims for "gold found". I have cleaned thousands of "Romans" and over the years have found only a few gold coins of about 8-10kt purity. Silver occurs at a rate of about 2 pcs per 50 or so. Most peices are bronze with some copper upon occassion. Bronze when first scrubbed clean can look like "gold" to the novice and hence the "claims" for gold being found.

Most of my ancient collection has been personally cleaned by me. I have a great fondness for Ancient Greek Coinage yet most of my collection is Roman Imperial. The Coinage of the Ancient period dealt more with "weight and purity" than denomination. Because of that it is common to find peices that have been shaved. Well Centered Fully Struck coins are the rarity, the coinage was hammered out one at a time by slave labor and quality was not an issue. Flan tears, off centered and double strikes are common as are test cuts, counter and over strikes so don't be fooled thinking you have a rare "error". The coded "AE" is a reference to SIZE broken down by mm ranges. Generally AE1-4, yet sometimes you will see the odd AE22 description for a 22mm diameter coin ect.

As for collecting - that is your call. The Roman era runs an easy 750 years and is extremely varied by ruler, temple, private moneyers, provence and "special" events. The Greek era runs from around 750 BC to the "Roman Ascendence" and then you have the "asian" greeks and the colonies, the east and western roman empire ect. and God help you if you journey into Persia following Alexander the Great

For myself a "projected" goal is one Extremely Fine or better for each Ceasar and one Extremely Fine for every Greek City State of the Pre Roman Era. It is SLOW going but a great challenge.

As for Pricing - GOOD LUCK it is all over the map.

As for the Roman that "blows your skirt up" - Crisp Hard Black Patina's make me smile - the coin is most probably silver and looks excellant - it should go for about $75 USD although someone may get "lucky" and snatch it a bit lower. Hope this helps some. I'll post a book list for you when I get home, there are several other sellers here who deal with them in much greater detail.

AndyBruce · February 14, 2005 2:40AM

Hi Purple - with regards to the books for the Roman period, the main ones that come to mind are by David R Sear. You're welcome to read a short description of these - just click on the Books link in my sig.

Also, just recently got stock of Roman Base Metals 2005 - again have provided a short description in the Books link.

Hope this is of help.

Cheers

Andy

coinmickey · February 14, 2005 4:12AM

Hi Purple:

Those coins are somewhat common.

I think AndyBruce had the best advice- invest in the Sear books and learn about Ancinets before you dive in. Ancients is a huge category, encompassing Roman, Greek and Byzantine, among others. Within those three main categories you have sub-categories (Roman Imperial, Roman Republic, etc.). I don't collect the Greek coins precisely b/c they require a vast amount of knowledge. I'm also more interested in Roman history anyway. But I hope you get the point.

So, you should get the Sear books and even if you don't read every page at least you'll understamd what you are getting into. It's a great area of coinage but be careful. But as Ajaan pointed out- it is rife with counterfeiting.

Have fun and good luck!

Purple73 · February 14, 2005 5:51AM

HOLY SMOKES!

I checked out that site PuddlePirate gave me and LOOK AT THIS!

TEUTONIC ORDER of Knights

Paul von Rusdorf Prussia 1422-1441 -- #ME9665
AR Schilling 21mm. 1.51g. Marienburg mint

Master's arms surmounting cross pattée.
MAGS-TO PA-VLVS-PRIM

Order shield surmounted by Greek cross.
MONE-TA DN-ORVM-PRUC

EBRC 276; Saurma 5024/2657

VF. Partial weak strike.

hyperizer · February 14, 2005 9:32AM

I just got started in Ancients, but I've had good luck with Harlan J. Berk and Freeman & Sear. It's worth it to make offers, since their prices can be a bit high. Sometimes they have exclusive items on VCoins too.

hyperizer · February 14, 2005 9:36AM

BTW, I picked up the first Sayles book and Sear's Roman Coins and Their Values Vol. 1 and I've been focusing on Republican denarii without Roma on the obverse (as well as a small type collection of the most famous Greek designs).

PuddlePirate · February 14, 2005 2:01PM

It is REALLY NICE to have a few others around who like ANCIENTS.

I just got my CD download back. I'll be posting some pictures in a bit, unfortunately my home computer doesn't have the memory to process the pictures so I have to have someone else do it for me until my upgrades come in. All the same, some pictures are on the way.

AndyBruce · February 14, 2005 5:41PM

As well as the books for sale (Roman and Greek - both by David R Sear), we have a few Ancients on the site too.

Please feel free to have a browse: Ancients Link

Cheers

Andy

Purple73 · February 15, 2005 7:45AM

Thanks guys for all of the replies so far!

I think Imma shift gears though and go with Crusaders. After looking around I like them the best over anything else I have seen. Crusaders are prolly an underdog area like Half-Dimes in the U.S. coin Forum.

Can anyone give me a break down of ways to collect these? I was at a site and I saw Crusaders by State. Being new I have no Idea what this is. I figure it would be similar to U.S. Token collecting. It's not a series but pieces from all over.

Anyone fill me in on this?

Few Other things come to mind about collecting these though. Kind of a Pros and Cons thing.

1) How available are these? If they are not as readily available as Roman coinage than I may stay with the Romans

2) Price of Crusaders Vs. Price of Roman Coinage

3) Being new to this I don't wanna Get into something way over my head. Would Crusaders be that way? Would Roman Coinage be that way?

PuddlePirate I'll be waiting on those pictures

Andy Bruce Any books out there just for Crusaders?

One last Question:

Can I have your oppinions on Tuetonic coin that I posted? I would really love to have that one. Anything I need to know about that coin as far as condition or anything else?

The dude wants 60.00 bucks for it and I'm willing to give that up so long as it is fair price. Comments anyone?

Thanks!
PURPLE!

AndyBruce · February 15, 2005 7:52AM

Andy Bruce

Any books out there just for Crusaders?

Hi Purple - sorry, not that I can think of!

Cheers

Andy

farthing · February 15, 2005 12:20PM

Can't help you much on the price of that coin but this book on eBay may be of interest.

Purple73 · February 16, 2005 7:38AM

Thanks for the link to the book!

Aethelred · February 16, 2005 8:02AM

By all means buy the Sear books and a few of the books by Wayne Sayles before you drop any serious money on ancients!

Aethelred · February 16, 2005 8:10AM

BTW - Just as a heads-up, I plan in listing the following two coins on eBay either Thursday or Sunday, both are ICG certified:

Nero AD 54-68 Fine:

Roman Republic EF: