Would appreciate help on Ancients for a gift

idunk

I would have an interest in this ebay auction as a gift for someone if the description is accurate regarding the history behind these coins. I know nothing about ancients and don't have time to do the research before the auction ends. Would appreciate any help. Thanks!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/THREE-KINGS-COINS-Own-the-Real-Nativity-Magi-Wisemen_W0QQitemZ200182791064QQihZ010QQ
categoryZ33834QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Sorry, not sure how to make it link direct.

lordmarcovan

Linked

I answered over on his Liteside post but of course my answer had a lot of "I don't knows" in it, so I told him to come here.

idunk

Thanks lord marcovan for creating the link......need to learn how to do that.

CIVITAS

Hi idunk,

It appears all three coins are authentic and properly attributed.

It's really hard to address his story behind the coins. The Nativity story is riddled with historical, scientific and common sense problems that tend to be ignored for the sake of a tradition started around the 6th century and compiled in the 14th century by a German cleric in Historia Trium Regum.

Like most marketing in ancient numismatics, the association of a particular coin to a certain event is typically a numbers game. This is especially true with Biblical coins. The "Tribute Penny" (i.e. Denarius of Tiberius featuring Livia as Pax on the reverse) is known as such because it was the most commonly available coin with a Roman Imperial portrait that fits the time period. "Widow's Mites" (bronze prutahs of earlier rulers such as Alexander Jannaeus) are a result of the same process. As for this guy's story, these three people were kings, they were from the east, and they all fit the time period. Any thing said beyond that is only speculation.

As for the coins themselves, as long as the reverses don't have any problems and are of the same grade as the obverses, his asking price for the group is pretty fair.

Hope that helps some.

idunk

Thanks Civitas - Good info and helpful.

theboz11

The three WISE men were not the kings of the surrounding kingdoms. They were astrologists following their reading of the stars. Other than that they look nice.

CIVITAS

<< <i>The three WISE men were not the kings of the surrounding kingdoms. They were astrologists following their reading of the stars. Other than that they look nice. >>



Just one of the many problems.