What draws a Coin Collector to Ancient Coins?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by fretboard, Aug 19, 2019.

  1. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

    I've always been amazed by Ancient coins, I like them a lot! :happy: Below is a pic, I know, most likely a fake but still a good looking Thrace like coin. :D So, how did you start collecting Ancient coins, what was it that drew you into that coin type? I really like the gold Ancient coins but they are really pricey. ;) If you have any Ancients, please post pics! :D


    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ancient-Gr...ia-Pontika-c-350BC-rare-XF-bonus/264434010168
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  3. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    I got sucked in after my coin roll hunting dried up. I had a few ancients that were sent to me in a trade but I was really intimitated by them. I decided to start looking into them more and got swallowed up. The people on the ancients forum here were super friendly and really helpful. I've now got my son interested and we both like to look at ancient coins.

    Here is my first one:
    Constantine AE follis 326-327 AD RIC VII 200,B SIS Dot.jpg

    Here is my newest addition:
    Syracuse AE19 Poseidon.jpg
     
  4. happy_collector

    happy_collector Well-Known Member

    Collecting ancient coins is fun. I got drawn in by their historic content (like the Owl), and the chunky feeling of holding these coins. Gold coins are too pricey for me also. Started with low-quality tetradrachm, and slowly branching out.

    Here is one of my latest purchase. Earlier Owl tetradrachm.
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  5. Nathan401

    Nathan401 Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

    It was posts on CoinTalk that led me to ancient coins. F83ECBB2-C1F2-4229-9736-F261785719CA.jpeg 96E0170A-880F-44BB-85DB-EBC63097BE26.jpeg
     
  6. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

    Super cool looking coin! I just looked at other tetradrachms on the bay, pretty pricey coins! :D Hopefully other collectors will post some more pics! ;)
     
    happy_collector likes this.
  7. Treashunt

    Treashunt The Other Frank

    what?
    amazement.

    I can't understand how a 2,000 year old coin could be found in such high grades.
     
  8. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

    I can't understand how that Thrace I linked keeps getting more bids! :D Does it look real?
     
  9. Paul M.

    Paul M. Well-Known Member

    No, it looks super fake to me, but I’m not an expert on them. I think the style is completely off. They are heavily faked as well, for some reason.

    As for what draws me to ancient coins, the same as any other coins: history, art, science, economics, etc. In addition, there is so much more variety in ancients, simpler grading, being able to touch the coins without worrying about killing their value, and less of a crazy market (though this is a double edged sword).

    There’s nothing that compares to this 94 gram chonker (Ptolemy II AE octobol) in my eyes, and it cost me a lot less than some of my more modern coins.

    63223CBB-AA66-48EE-9F5F-7EABB9871326.jpeg 421EFAFB-91F8-4D70-AC1E-2394F0AD68A3.jpeg

    What's not to love about an actual, circulating coin that weighs as much as a cell phone? :)
     
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2019
  10. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    The original coin posted in this thread is a highly faked and I wouldn't buy it from a random seller on eBay. There are several places to look for fake coin databases, using the search here in CoinTalk ought to turn up the links.

    I've always been interested in ancient history but I never even considered ancient coin collecting until I came to this forum. I never even knew it was possible. I started with moderns but grew bored with them. Because of how they're made, they're all the same. A mint set of Franklin's will all look alike. A mint set of late Roman falling horseman types will all look very different, even though they're the same type of coin.

    I don't like how moderns must be a certain grade to be considered collectable. I don't like slabs, flippers, and the profit chasing in moderns. I like holding my coins! I like the mystery that often accompanies collecting ancients. I like learning about ancient cultures and civilizations. I like the fact that I don't know what the next coin I'm going to buy looks like because I have no idea what every coin minted in the ancient world looks like.

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  11. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    What draws a Coin Collector to Ancient Coins?

    The same thing that draws any collector to anything - the flavor ;)

    Chocolate and vanilla is omnipresent in all things - it's one of the great truths.
     
    happy_collector and Paul M. like this.
  12. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    What draws a coin collector to ancient coins? The designs and the history behind them.
     
  13. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    I am still an avowed US coin guy that has not been real happy with the direction and incredible costs that have taken hold of the US coin market. But I still have them in my blood..... I went to a show early this year and saw this Anonymous Follis. The bust of Christ just blew me away. Since then I have purchased five more. So maybe I have a dark side streak in me after all.
    D9BE6BED-3EE5-42FD-9E92-CF67A4964EC5.jpeg 4AD9C159-BDC5-4730-A659-1AEB2EB273AB.jpeg
     
  14. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    That's a great bust of Christ! Mine is not as nice:

    [​IMG]
     
  15. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    Very nice and I think we all have a bit of the dark side in us, maybe I should say the true collector has the dark side in them. I have a few of them but I don't think my Christ follow is as nice as yours.
     
    Randy Abercrombie likes this.
  16. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

    Super great looking coins up there, easily I can see the draw! :D I just looked up the JESUS CHRIST "King of Kings" coin, also selling for some very solid prices! :D Very nice, 94 gram chonker as well! ;)
     
    Randy Abercrombie likes this.
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