Poll: What is Your Main Ancient Collecting Focus Area?

My type of Coin-Buddy!

 

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Although most of my coins are Roman Imperial, lately I have been collecting by theme and this sometimes crosses the different groups you mentioned. For example, I collect the 12 Caesars and 11 of them are imperial coins but the Julius Caesar is imperatorial. I collect coins of the family of Eleanor of Aquitaine. While these are medieval they can be both French and English. The last focus I have is a collection of coins of historical figures dramatized by Shakespeare in his plays. So this takes me from Julius Caesar Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra up to Henry VIII.

In short my overall focus is coins of historical figures throughout the ages with a concentration on interesting themes.

Here is a coin that while provincial comments on both imperatorial and imperial times.

Augustus and Julius Caesar (a Saturnalia gift from @Ryro ) One scholar believed that this coin was a restitution issue under Domitian. (Yet another link to one of my collecting themes)

 

There are so many ways to collect - that is the best part of our hobby. I will never have a 12 Caesars collection in silver - not a goal of mine as it doesn't really fit with where I want to focus my resources.. but that does not mean I can't admire and admittedly drool over some of your acquisitions! Always great to see your coins Orfew!

 

Actually I have three main interest areas Greek, Roman Republic and Imperial. I would consider each to be roughly equal, so in some sense this poll was difficult for me. I picked what I picked because for the last few years the bulk of my activity has been in Greek coins and less so in the other two areas.

 

I collect too generally to select one of the provided categories. If I had the option, the area of greatest interest to me is what I call 'technical' collecting. This centers on coins that illustrate something about the way they were made. Some of these are errors but many reveal something about normal, everyday mint operations from alloy, flan preparation, striking artifacts, die failure, patina, crystallization, test cuts, damnatio and a number of things that escape my mind until a coin comes along that seems educational in a new way. Some of these coins will have interest in more traditionally appreciated ways while others are faults to most collectors.

 

I voted "Oriental Greek", just because that's where the Parthian coins are usually listed in auction catalogues, but I would have preferred the option to vote for multiple areas. I've been expanding recently into other areas of "Greater Persia" from the Achaemenids to early Islamic, and many of these coins have no discernible "Greek" influence. I also like coins that show multiple cultural groups interacting, and that's part of the appeal of this Phoenician bronze of the late Achaemenid period (c. 350 BC). The galley is extremely Phoenician, while the king in chariot could hardly be more Persian.

 

I couldn’t really go any other way than ‘Asian’ coinage! While my interests range from Late medieval to cast roman pieces and everything in between, the bulk of my collection and knowledge finds itself under this umbrella. We are definitely a minority here, but I am proud to be part of the four percent together with @TypeCoin971793! As for a single coin that would represent my collecting-interests; how about a nice hollow handle? (Don’t mind my grubby paws ).

 

Historical Coin-Buddy!

 

LOL, never say you won't. I never thought that I would really collect any Empire coins... for funzies, I now have over 150 different Roman Rulers.

 

I moved on from oriental Greek to India. It is a niche i feel comfortable with, coins are still cheap and there are lots of things to be discovered.
Having not much competition has advantages. Not many viewers will recognize a coin like that below as rare, as it has so many common look-alikes.

 

No simple answer for me, either, but as for ancients (not counting medieval = after 500 AD! That should be another poll) in the last years my volume of Provincial Romans leapt up, closely followed by 4th century Romans. But if you make me choose between a nice Sasanian coin and a siliqua, or a better Provincial, I'll choose the Sasanian. So I voted Provincial Roman, but with a dubitable heart.

This is a recent acquisition, a silver obol of Shapur II (309-379), quite rare. Obv. Head right with hairball-topped crown and pearl net. Taurine symbol in front. Rev.: Fire altar with assistants. Bust of Ahura Mazda, facing right, in flames above the altar. 22 mm, 0.52 gr.



And to square it out, here is one of the many very nice provincials I bought in 2018. It's from the Stevex6 collection - he's still sadly missed by many here.

AE tetradrachm Gallienus. Alexandria year 12 = 264/265. Obv. Laureate and cuirassed bust r. Rev. Eagle standing facing, holding large wreath with spread wings; date L IB in upper field. 22 mm, 8.78 gr. Emmett 3809. Collection A Menagerie of Ancient Animals & Awesomes (=Stevex6). Also ex-Frank S. Robinson.

 

..i guess at the moment i'm concentrating on Roman imperial(which should also include provincials), but i like it all...

 

i like that! i've got a Nerva AeAs from Antioch comin'..i like those large SC babies..^^

 

Since I had to pick one...I picked Provincial. I am a generalist collector so picking one is a challenge.

 

My primary collection aims are Roman Imperial and Gadhaiya Paisa coins. If disaster struck and I had to liquidate most of my collection, most of the Romans would go before the Gadhaiya, so I chose Indian.

 

Playing around with polls I determined there is a maximum number of 10 alternatives...I could have used 15 easily for this one.

 

I specialize in 12th century Byzantine, this has been my focus for almost 20 years. When I started collecting I started with Roman Imperial.

I once asked a small handful of Byzantine collectors where did they start when collecting ancients , most said Roman Imperial. I would bet that would be true for most but not all ancient collectors. They started with Roman Imperial and then branched to another focus.

 

I failed to recognize it in Deyell, Mitchiner or Tye. Did I miss it or do you have another source that I don't?

 

I like Roman provincials because they cover very wide parts of the Globe and too many nations. Thus you could learn more about their cultures and ways of living.
You could also review History while merely enjoying the fun or hobby of Numismatics. Not to forget that some rare coins may depict hidden History which can't be seriously studied due to lack of documents.