Ancient Coin Collectors - Does Your Collection have a "theme."

I refuse to be classified as ancient. Maybe experienced?

 

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Thats why I went with lucilla/crispina. An easy set to build. Doubt I will go for the rarer differences like juno without peacock or diana lucifera looking right instead of left.

 

my idea of a victory set is any augustus with victory on the reverse. nike... not roman, i don't want it. ok, i might get an example of a common, inexpensive type only because it is from b.c. (i assume, but i don't know). victory is easy to identify for me, and that makes me want a set of some type (no need for a full legend to identify). i can't tell mars from an augustus on a reverse by the portrait alone. but victory is obvious to me. plus i can research what the victory represents, which is a bonus for me. coin + extra historical knowledge = happiness. will i ever own every single victory reverse ever? no. but i'm not worried about a "complete set." i don't collect for anything other than holding a piece of history.

 

I find myself specifically drawn to things that are poorly studied. I think it's because I really do enjoy cataloging pieces that others can't. So I collect the tesserae. Obscurity was an undercurrent in my other areas too. I had studied imitations of Claudius, as well as later imitations of the Claudius II and Tetricii, but realized I couldn't do any ground breaking work without working closely with or being a metal detectorist. And when I collected Chinese, I loved trying to classify the ubiquitous wu zhu coinage.

Realizing that you can define your collection is but one step in many. For me, it went like this:

- decide not to collect key dates, due to cost
- realize that the only physical difference is a tiny letter/umber, abandon collecting by date completely
- realize that the same is true of different coinages, collect absolutely whatever pleases me
- diverse, interesting collection
- discover that, while high-power, diverse collections are noticed when they are sold, only the truly in-depth collections are noticed for years after. (ie, BCD, Bonhoff, etc)

 

The theme of my collection is "Chaos." A collection comprised of lydian siglos' to byzantine cup coins. Of course I wouldn't be keeping true to my theme unless I had half of them scattered throughout the house in random packaging, without being identified. On a serious note, lately I have beeing tring to put together a decent biblical set. Alexander the Great Tetradrachm, Tetradrachms of all 4 of his generals, (lysimachus, kassander, seleucus, and ptolemy), siglos of xerxes from the book of esther, a decent shekel of tyre, a tribute penny, a widows mite, and a few others. I only have kassander, and the shekel of tyre to go - then "MY" biblical collection will be complete. Far from every coin of every ruler or people ever mentioned in the bible but it is an example of each. My main intention is to use the collection as a historical/physical witnessing tool toward biblical skeptics and young christians to supply them with a physical foundation for their faith.

 

What do people collect?

A long time ago members of the Moneta-L list responded to to the question "What is your speciality" and I assembled some answers here:
http://esty.ancients.info/numis/collect.html

It is part of my larger site for beginners:
http://esty.ancients.info/numis/
About 2/3 the way down page two I respond to the question "What do people collect?"

 

=> animal-coins

whether they're Greek, Roman, Byzantine ... and/or even Canadian

=> the animal coins seem to rock my boat!!

:mouth:

 

Good links Warren. Thanks

 

Boy that was a trip down memory lane, with names bringing back memories. I remember that thread.

Btw, i can date that thread from Howard Cole's response. Most people don't remember, and maybe howard doesn't, but he was a pretty serious parthian and sassanid collector before catching "elamite fever" lol.

 

I've got coins from several eras and cultures in ancient history (mostly Roman), but my focus/specialty right now and what I am most interested in are the little bronze Roman coins of the 5th century AD, and coins of the Germanic kingdoms (Vandals, Ostrogothic etc.). I am really fascinated by the history of the Roman Empire and its barbarian foes during this era (my favorite in Roman history). Don't have a whole lot but I will accumulate more in time.

 

I collect what appeals to me at the time.

 

The coins that make it into my collection must pass this rigorous checklist..

 

Chris Mat: which comes first?

 

they battle it out...


cost: lets go see if we can find something reasonable at vcoins.
cool: ok, sounds great




cool: a bactria eucratides square coin...that is AWESOME!
cost: we can't afford that right now, remember car insurance is due this month!

 

... cool always wins!!

 

Don't worry about bills they will be back next month.

 

That's the problem with money - if you don't spend it, it'll just accumulate.

 

well, i just went to vcoins and spent more money than i should have.

i hope you're all happy....







i know i am.:yes:

 

atta boy ... who needs car insurance, right?!!

Hey, you can always take the bus ...

 

I'm focusing on Non-Classical Civilizations, although anything that is interesting to me is added.

However, if I had a larger budget, I would focus on Carthage, Roman Republican and the Punic Empire. Great stories there... especially because I love the history of the Punic Wars, along with much of the Roman Republic.