Good ancient coin book?

cascade · June 9, 2008 11:31PM

I did a search here for several variations of "ancient coin book" and found nothing! So I guess I'm the first one to ever ask for an opinion here on a good ancient coin guide!

I would like to collect some ancients, so I need to learn a bit and understand how they are valued, as well as learn about fakes. I notice that anything ancient that interests me if closer to $100 or more then the usual $10-$50 I spend on my nicer coins.

I did stumble upon that fellows site that attributes ancients (last name start with an s) from some other threads here. He also has books, but the publish dates on them are very old. Maybe not so much has changed in ancient collecting since the 60's?

CIVITAS · June 10, 2008 4:08AM

The "Ancient Coin Collecting" series by Wayne G. Sayles is an excellent place to start for basic information. It's a 6 volume series, but each volume stands alone. Vol I is a broad coverage of the field of ancient coins. I think II is Greek Coins. III is Roman Coins. etc. He also has a book "Classical Deception" which is about the history of forgery, not really a counterfeit detection guide, but contains useful information nonetheless. We carry most of these books. I don't know if they're on our website at the moment. Ancient coin price guides are largely useless. You're better off browsing http://www.vcoins.com to see what's available and for how much.

BigAlan · June 10, 2008 12:24PM

If you are looking for a "Redbook" typt book for ancients, there ain't one.

As noted the Sayles book are good general starter books.

cascade · June 10, 2008 1:01PM

Thanks guys! I didn't think there would be price guides, I'd just like to learn a bit and maybe collect a few. Maybe something more like a nice bathroom read. I',ll try the Sayles books.

Kurt4 · June 10, 2008 2:12PM

I have the Sayles books and can highly recommend them. I also like "Ancient Greek & Roman Coins" by Zander Klawans. The Klawans book gets thrown in my messenger bag when I'm out and about.

Dentuck · June 10, 2008 10:55PM

Sam, give 100 Greatest Ancient Coins a whirl:

100 Greatest Ancient Coins (Harlan J. Berk, 2008)

BigAlan · June 11, 2008 6:20AM

Van Meter The Handbook of Roman Imperial Coins is a nice guide to the ID of Roman coins. It gives a rough guideto the value/rarity of them, and it is cheaper than many of the others, much cheaper.

coinmickey · June 11, 2008 6:40AM

The David Sear books on Roman coins are very well done and quite handy.

500Bay · June 11, 2008 6:51AM

The 100 Greatest Ancient Coins is a good coffee table book.

The one I refer to most often, but it is a bit pricey is:
COINAGE AND HISTORY OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

Vagi, David
Fitzroy Dearborn, 2000, 2 volumes, 656, 638 pages, well illustrated, valuations.

cascade · June 11, 2008 7:45AM

Thanks for all the recommendations!

I ordered the first volume by Sayles on amazon. I'll start there and try another book or two if I get sucked in

ColinCMR · June 13, 2008 7:30AM

i agree with BigAlan

<< <i>Van Meter The Handbook of Roman Imperial Coins is a nice guide to the ID of Roman coins. It gives a rough guideto the value/rarity of them, and it is cheaper than many of the others, much cheaper. >>

svessien · June 19, 2008 10:39AM

In addition to the books already mentioned, I would recommend "Coinage in the Roman world" by Andrew Burnett and/or "Coinage in the Greek world" by Ian Carradice and Martin Price.

Aethelred · June 19, 2008 11:40AM

If you are wanting to get your feet wet, the best place to start would be "Handbook of Ancient Greek & Roman Coins" by Zander H. Klawans. This edition is two of Mr. Klawans' books combined into one. When I was a young Turk just getting into ancient coins you had to buy one book on Greeks and one on Romans (I still have both of those old, well-worn books). I think the new edition is about $14.95 and perhaps less on Amazon. Countless collectors and dealers got their start with the Klawans books.

cascade · June 20, 2008 2:05AM

Thanks! I think it's time to try another book. The Sayles book I bought started off pretty good, but the history lesson is burning me out already. Too much info in a rapid fire style. The info on minting of ancients was cool though.

Dentuck · June 21, 2008 2:35AM

Two new books from Whitman Publishing (to be released later in 2008) are Collecting Ancient Greek Coins (Paul Rynearson) for beginning and intermediate collectors, and the Guide Book of Overstruck Greek Coins: Studies in Greek Chronology and Monetary Theory (David MacDonald) for more advanced students.

Aethelred · June 24, 2008 10:07AM

<< <i>Two new books from Whitman Publishing (to be released later in 2008) are Collecting Ancient Greek Coins (Paul Rynearson) for beginning and intermediate collectors, and the Guide Book of Overstruck Greek Coins: Studies in Greek Chronology and Monetary Theory (David MacDonald) for more advanced students. >>

Sounds interesting, I'll keep an eye out!

Good ancient coin book?

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