With my last couple of purchases, I have found out that I still know absolutly nothing about ancient coins. So, After I pay for the coins I still own, I won't buy anymore until I learn about them. Problem is, I don't know where to start. I will still be on here, and will still collect franklins. I feel I know enough (but will learn as i go) about them and haven't made a bad purchase with those. So, until I know what I'm doing, ancients are on hold. stainless
You will definitely enjoy your coins more if you know more about them! I have been collecting for many years, and probably still spend as much on books as I do on coins. I have almost six feet on my shelves devoted to my numismatic interests, and that is not counting my journals! You might also want to find what period interests you most, or what historic figure interests you most, and then narrow your research and collecting. After almost ten years, I started focusing on just fourth and fifth century Roman coinage, until I finally narrowed down to collecting bronze coinage of Constantine I. Cheap uncleaned coins can also be a fun and easy way to learn. and I used to advocate that everyone should spend a bit of time with them. You really develop your attribution skills with them. Wayne Sayles has a good series for beginners and Van Meter is probably the best single volume for new collectors of Romans. There are also many websites about ancient coinage, including mine!
Ancients are an item better purchased on a venue like Vcoins.com, and not eBay in the main. I have bought cheap ancients on eBay whence I was sure of what I was getting, but Vcoins sellers are held to a higher standard than eBay sellers. You might indeed pay a higher price on Vcoins, but you know the seller stands behind the coin. Live and learn, if I had given up everytime I learned something the unfortunate way, I would have cast off this otherwise wonderous hobby years ago.
Good Idea stainless! Ancients are something I want to get into, But I dont even know a lick about them, I hover in the world coins forum though. Read, Read, Read to be honest.. This is what my bed side table looks like...
Please do not lose heart, stainless. I have been collecting and researching Roman coins for sixty eight years and have found it to be a rich and rewarding hobby. Might I suggest starting out by collecting the coins of Constantine the Great (and his family) -- they are plentiful and readily available at very reasonable prices ($25-$50 will often purchase a very nice coin). They are also very historically interesting. The advice given to read and research is certainly valid -- I recommend you visit Victor Clark's most excellent Web site (URL in his post above) relating to Constantine the great coins. You might also check out my own Constantinian Web page Stick with it please, stainless! James
