Gift idea (ancient)

nags

I have little to no knowledge of ancients and need some assistance. My son wants a "Roman" coin for his birthday. He enjoys my U.S. collection and seems to have a genuine interest in the hobby. I'd like to find some larger ancient coin with plenty of detail which a youngster would find interesting. I don't think it needs to technically be Roman. Any suggestions? I'm kinda looking in the $100-$150 range if that is a possibility. Thanks for any help you can offer!

bronzemat

Whats attractive is if you get a coin that roman, its possible your son may find an interest in roman history and would wanna read up on the history of the person on the coin or the god. Greeks are fun cause they are old but some areas there is only scant info on them.

Maybe check out roman Sestertius or a Tetradrachm. At that price range you would get either with good detail. Search the site Vcoins and skim around to see whats available in your budget.

You know what your son likes and if he enjoys your U.S. coins, a tetradrachm with a eagle on the reverse might be just the thing. Or if he likes your coppers, a sestertius is big and chunky with lots of detail.

Roman provincials are interesting too but can be a turn off to folks new to ancients.

CIVITAS

We've got a few that might fit the bill:

Antoninus Pius

Lucius Verus

Maximinus I

Free shipping to forum members too.

Stork

Before reading all the responses I was going to suggest Civitas. One of my sons and my DH have at times expressed similar wants/interests and I bought them each something from Josh. My DH will never be a 'serious' collector, but I have hopes for the young one some day.

NiceCurrency

nice big bronze or brass roman pieces with good detail for the money like Josh just posted I think make the most sense

the maximinus thrax that he posted by accident as "Philip I" could be fun as sources say he was a giant of a man, not to mention a "barbarian" that made his way to the throne

CIVITAS

<< <i>nice big bronze or brass roman pieces with good detail for the money like Josh just posted I think make the most sense

the maximinus thrax that he posted by accident as "Philip I" could be fun as sources say he was a giant of a man, not to mention a "barbarian" that made his way to the throne >>



Oops, yes, Maximinus I. I was working fast. Good eye.

TPRC

Great suggestions. Along the way, buy him a book as well. That could prove more valuable than any single coin. I am reading Sayles Ancient Coin Collecting Volume III, second edition, The Roman World.....a surprisingly easy read and a bargain at about $25. Or buy all three. And you can still afford a coin on your budget.

Enjoy!

nicholasz219

I'll throw my two cents in here. I have always had super positive experiences dealing with Josh at Civitas, so I also heartily endorse him as someone you should buy from when talking ancients. Also, he has a nice inventory of a broad range of Roman coins at low to medium cost, so if your son gets bitten hard by the ancient bug, you can support his interest without going broke.

I love the big copper pieces Josh suggested but a different tack may work as well: a book, a denarius and a couple of common Constantine I bronze pieces. A big nice piece is a heckuva way to start a collection, but there is also much value in showing your son that the smaller bronzes are fun and affordable to collect on an allowance even. The reason I am thinking along these lines is that if you have sort of a hard ceiling for your budget, if you spread that money out a bit you can get him a good book to read and learn more and to also use to create a wish list. You could also get a pretty cool denarius like a Septimius Severus, Caracalla, Phillip (good idea above) or something like that for about $50-75. Then add maybe a common bronze of Augustus from the provinces, some bronze Constantine I coins (camp gate especially) and maybe antoniniani from Gallienus like some of the zoo series. This way you help him with learning and a great nucleus of a collection.

Whatever you decide to do for him, he will be thrilled. You inviting him into your hobby as his father will mean the world to him. Any coins or books or combo will always be "coins that my father got me." You can't replace that with anything.