Why don't you collect ancient coins?

Good stuff guys, thanks! Maybe, just like it takes an odd type of person to collect coins, it takes an even odder type to collect ancients.

 

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I don't qualify odd per say, but rather adventurous and willing to broaden numismatic horizons to a largely overlooked pursuit.

 

I'm guessing you've ignored the large gorgeous well-stuck silver ones with tons of allegorical themes on them.

Not everyone has the mental capacity to appreciate history, linguistics and culture, I guess.

 

Ha, you're funny. NJHS and all "A" student, and I don't have the mental capacity?
I gave my reason why I don't like them, it has nothing to do with me not liking history. I believe every coin tells a story, and has some history behind it, I don't like ancients because they are crudely made, round pieces of what looks like to be clay and dirt.

 

Silver and gold coins look like "clay and dirt" to you?

lol, well then, can't argue with creative interpretation of reality.

 

I believe you will become a target for our ancient educational campaign. Oh, I would ponder that perhaps you are correct in asserting that certain ancients are rather crude and unbecoming, but others, notably the classical Greek coins from 500 BC - 350 BC have inspired coin design ever since, notably early 20th century American coins, and commemorative coins, as well as coinage on up to the present day in Europe.

For example, the barriers betwixt purely numismatics, and that of artistry are blurred with such pieces as this:



Ugly, crude? Rather the product of a very talented engraver in the ca. 317-289 BC era Syracuse, Sicily. Not merely a coin, but an expression of culture.

 

Now now, play nice! Both of you have a point. Tmoney, most of the ones you've seen probably ARE little lumpy things. But you've probably seen a bunch of mine, and I'm the first to admit I love lumpy little things! Heck, there are even some actual clay tokens made in ancient Syria that I would die to have a specimen of.

Still, MissSasha is right, that's an over-generalization. There are PLENTY of beautiful little pieces for very reasonable prices.



TMoney - still think they're all lumpy clay things?

The appropriate response is, "But that's obviously much more expensive!" Of course it is! But how much would you pay for a gold buffalo? 1200? More for an MS-70 I bet. This one cost only 3800. Two and a half buffalos.

 

Stop posting that coin! Before I come and take it from you.

 

Actually it is a coin I wished I had purchased when it was for sale on Vcoins years ago. I have kicked my bum ever since for not purchasing it. Owning it would be like owning a Vermeer or Rodin for me.

 

Still not liking them. Uneven edge to the coin. Don't find the coins really that appealing. I will admit that it is pretty cool to see some gold ancients, never seen those before. I guess they only appeal to a certain group of people, (and that has nothing to do with mental capacity )
I'm glad you can find elegance in all the ancients y'all collect, and fun in collecting them.

 

I collect all coins. I only have a few ancients but I would buy more if I knew more about them and knew I was getting a reasonable price on a particular coin. It's easier to get fixated on U.S. coins because there is just so much more information readily available on them and such a vast supply of them for sale. Let's face it; when you walk into a coin store or coinshow in this country, or even just browsing listings on Ebay, 90% of the stuff for sale is U.S. in origin. Medieval coins are nice too. That Armenian silver coin depicted in my avatar was one of the first coins ever given to me as a child and still resides in my collection (of course there isn't a whole lot of information out there on it).

 

No but most ancients you see aren't these beautiful, amazing, coins with vibrant colors. What we, the non-ancient collectors see, is dirt. We see dirty, once harshly cleaned coins that look absolutely worthless to us, because we are used to certain things. (Could be beautiful, lustrous, gold indians like I collect, could be the amazing toners that Lehigh collects... etc.)
Like I said, I'm glad that y'all can find elegance in ancient coins, and have fun collecting them.

 

I'll take it as a compliment that the only thing you can complain about the is the uneven edge. I'll get you yet!

But have I really not posted mine enough?

 

Don't really look in the ancient section, I lurk in the Coin Chat and U.S. Coin Forum, and occasionally the Paper Money Forum. You can post ones that look like ugly dirt, ugly clay, or uneven edge, poorly designed/strike/colored, whatever it may be, you can't convert me. LOL

 

Okay T-Eagles, you are going to be a challenge, but you will cave, believe me.

 

Remember, most of us on here are Americans and we tend to have a narrow focus when it comes to historical matters of the world. And coins are a matter of history.

 

NOOO! You can't make me! I don't wanna!
It took Lehigh a while to get me to like Jefferson nickels, but it will take you guys forever, and then some to get me to like these pieces of dirt

 

Your going down, Classical Greeks will be in your dreams soon.:thumb:

 

They will never replace my gold indians...

 

I think i have to agree with T$ i dont think i could ever get in to collecting clay either not to say you guys are wrong... But to each their own