So at a local coin show, I went up to a table with ancients and browsed the cheap bins. To my surprise, I ended up buying a couple. I have no clue what they are, except that my dad says he remembers spending these :devil: But now I call upon you guys to help me with determining the origins of these little things. After the coins are posted, I'll show a pic for size comparison I apologize in advance for the rugged pictures. These coins are TINY! Coin #1 Copper #2 Copper with lots of verdigris :yes: #3 Copper #4 Copper #5 Silver And the coins next to a US dime for size reference
The top one is Kushan circa 80 AD. I believe the figure is Wilma Tycho (excuse the spelling). Here is mine..
The first one is, like Ripley said, is a bronze drachm of Vima Takto - one of the earliest Kushan kings to strike coinage in his own name. The fifth is a silver drachm of the Indo-Skythian king Azes. Others can easily ID the late Roman stuff, so I'll leave it to them. Are you hooked yet?
Dang Bill, beat me to it. I wanted to be the one that answered the weird ones. Btw Cazka, the Romans are pretty rough. I hope you didn't spend much on them. Similar late roman bronzes, but in much better collectible shape, are available for not very much money. Its a common misunderstanding. People think, well a coin is REALLY old so I should expect a coin to be corroded or otherwise damaged. Nope! We are actually stricter then modern collectors in grading, and nearly all ancients are available in nice, clean, high grades. About the only exception to this statement I believe would be some medieval coins. I have never seen most Sogdian type coins in really good condition, so if you wish to collect them you have to collect deficient coins.
Close, but it looks like Cazkaboom's coin doesn't have the diadem (headband), which means whoever was on it didn't have the title of Augustus, which Constantius II had when this coin was made. It would therefore have to depict Constantius Gallus (Caesar from 351-354) or Julian II (the Apostate, Caesar from 355-360) before he was crowned as emperor. Regarding #2 and 3, this site will be extremely helpful for identification. I can give a little help on them if you still need help later.
Oh never, I paid about $2.50 each. I am not particularly fond of dumping a bunch of money into something I know nothing about. And thanks for helping me out, guys. I'm liking them, but still have a lot to learn before I start collecting.
And this is one scenario where the egg came first. I bought these coins to make me want to learn. It is how I got started in each and every series of US coins I haven't and may never finish. I buy one or ten at low prices, learn to grade, learn average prices, learn their history, then start collecting. I think this should be everybody's approach to this stuff.
Of course. I buy coins all of the time I don't know much of the history about to make me want to learn more about it. My only suggestion sir is you would be better off buying a non-corroded coin unless you know that is the only way they are found. There are so many millions of ancients out there, and you will always appreciate quality. I like your approach of starting with less expensive coins, just making a slight modification.
