I have always wanted to add some Ancients to my collection. This all started a long time ago when I came across a few at a thrift shop. Though I did purchase them, those turned out to be counterfeit. The only thing holding me back from purchasing online for now was that I wanted to get a feel for them beforehand. Well when the NYINC was in town I decided this was where I can see and hold some in my hands to get to know them. Well anyway, here are my first ancient coins Greek : Macedonia Antigonos Gonatas AE18 Obverse : Helmeted head of Athena right Reverse : Pan erecting a trophy Size, Weight : 18mm, 5.2grams Still trying to figure out the year.
This might be hard to see Greek : Macedonia Ampipholis AE21 Obverse : Winged Head of Gorgoneion face Reverse : Athena standing left, holding Nike, spear and shield Size, Weight : 21mm, 8.1grams Date? it states it 1st century B.C but from what I could find online. it states 1st-2nd century A.D So here it goes. I don't know if I have a thing for torturing myself. But I like to give myself a challenge and collect things a bit more out-of-the-ordinary thats why I chose Greek Ancients. But these are hard to find any info. on them. I may have bit off a bit more than I can chew. If anyone can add more info. or correct me feel free to do so.
Well greeks are tougher than Roman typically. I like the gorgon head on the second one especially. I believe if you are only going to collect "greek" references will be tough. Its such a huge field. The main "greek" coins I collect are Parthian, Elamite, and Nabatean, all of which I own the specialized references for.
Your coin is from 277 - 239 BC ID - SNG alpha bank 1020 or SGCV II 6786 F weight 5.858g Maximum diameter 18.6 mm Athena facing right in a Corinthian helmet Pan erecting trophy ANTI Struck under King Antigonos II Gonatas (who was killed in battle by a bolt through his neck at the battle of Thebes) Nice coin :hail: [TD="align: center"] During the siege of Thebes, Demetrius repeatedly forced his men to attack the city at great cost, even though there was little hope of capturing it. It is said that, distressed by the heavy losses, Antigonus asked his father: "Why, father, do we allow these lives to be thrown away so unnecessarily?" Demetrius appears to have showed his contempt for the lives of his soldiers by replying: "We don't have to find rations for the dead." But he also showed a similar disregard for his own life and was badly wounded at the siege by a bolt through the neck.[/TD] BB56647. Bronze AE 18, SNG Alpha Bank 1020, SGCV II 6786, F, Macedonian mint, weight 5.858g, maximum diameter18.6mm, die axis 270[SUP]o[/SUP], 277 - 239 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right wearing crested Corinthian helmet; reverse B - A, Pan advancing right, erecting trophy, ANTI monogram between legs, helmet left, lagobolon right;
Nice first ancient purchases. Most often you see newbies to ancients get common constantines or his kids but you jumped right into greeks, decent ones no less. Congrats.
