Hopefully the title got your attention. I am a U.S. collector but have a few ancients. Can anyone help attribute and assign a "rough" value to them. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x275/clembo1872/scan0011-4.jpg http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x275/clembo1872/scan0012-3.jpg I bought that one locally cuz I though it was cool. Someone had actually attributed it in terms I don't understand. The second I bought on ebay as a lot of uncleaned. Was a lot of fun actually. Did the olive oil thing and got this: http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x275/clembo1872/scan0013-3.jpg http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x275/clembo1872/scan0014-2.jpg I have one more that I cleaned from a lot but didn't find it today. It's Roman (I believe) with the Remus and Romulus theme. Like I said I'm a U.S. collector but you people into ancients got it going on. So much history!
Clembo, The Partial Inscription search engine at www.wildwinds.com is your friend here. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/findstr.html Happy Hunting Ben
Nice coins, Clembo! I'm amazed you got that "uncleaned" coin so clean... I bought an uncleaned lot of eBay once as well, soaked them in olive oil, and ended up with a bunch of oily rocks... How long did you soak yours for, out of curiousity?
I could be wrong but the first one is Roman Egyptian, I think Phillip I (the Arab) AE drachm? from Alexandria. the second one is constantine (or his son Constantine II) but the reverse and mint mark I cant see.
I'm sure others here could tell you a lot more. As I stated I collect U.S. but the "lots" on ebay can be fun if you have a few bucks to spare. The first one I bought as you see it. The second probably soaked in olive oil for at least a week. Post a thread and ask the REAL experts cuz I sure ain't!
I agree with Drusus, probably a Philip I drachm from Alexandria and definately a Constantinian GLORIA EXERCITVS ae3. You can use this site to help with the attribution of the AE3. http://www.catbikes.ch/coinstuff/coins-ric.htm Aslanmia - eBay usually isn't the best place to get uncleaneds. Try vcoins or other dedicated ancients dealers for better coins AND better prices. Regarding the olive oil - it goes better on salad. Try to use distilled water and patience. :-D
I knew the experts would have a better answer! Have you ever cooked with olive oil after cleaning coins? ICK, YUCK, PTUII!
I found this guy to have pretty good deals on uncleaned ancients...good variety from your normal constantine and family...I have bought hundreds of uncleaned from him...on the whole I would say his lots are better than average...average being pretty poor http://www.ancientcoins.ca/
I have bought from them as well...I was not as happy with them as the other but still, decent quality lots...you wont get many blanks and partial coins and the like but...ACC sell the super crusty lots while all the CB lots I have bought always had some pre-cleaning. There can be benefits to buying the super crusties, while they cant assure you all the coins will be able to be identified as will semi cleaned, I have gotten some real good surprises like coins of Probus, Aurelian, Gallienus, etc...as they cant check and pull all the better ones as easily. All the same, both are good, honest, sellers IMO.
Geez, how good can they be... they don't even have "Silver and Gold coins found!!!" on their home page. But seriously, I did the uncleaned coins once and didn't like it much. I'd much prefer to buy my ancients outright (sans-dirt) from a dealer or fellow collector.
Absolutely understandable. And Drusus, I can understand what you mean. What I like is the variety commonbronze has. They even have medieval and Celtic coins!
Just to add to the above identification, it was minted in the regnal year 5 (249 AD), his last year of rule (and life).
