Trip to Israel

Hi Coin Talk buddies. I am leaving for Israel Tuesday, July 21. Any tips out there on buying ancients? I have already identified a dealer in Jerusalem and been in contact with him by email. My itinerery is 4 nights in Tel Aviv, 3 in the Galilee, and 5 in Jerusalem. Any help would be appreciated.

 

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My only experience with Israeli dealers is online, so I can't help you there. But I will say that I envy you your trip, and wish I was coming along! Safe and pleasant travels!

 

I don't know of any dealers in Israeli. but just remember not to buy in the market place, most coins are made for the tourist, something that looks real! when you get back make sure you post for us your trip and any coins you pickup. love to see and hear about it!!

 

Have a great trip Arturo! Post 'bout it and show us yer' coins when ya' get back!

 

I would love to go, but with the world political environment, I'll probably never make it. Safe trip.

 

Thanks, guys.

 

I know a shop in Tel-Aviv, it is a known, trusted, large one, as far as I know. Can send you details in private.

There is something else that could help you. I got a privately issued catalog of Israeli numismatics. Among useful information it got plenty of pages with coin shops ads, with phones and addresses. Some of them I know/heard of, some of them are completely unfamiliar to me. If you`re interested, I can get you the names/addresses/phones.

I don't know which ones are into ancients since I do not collect ancients almost at all.

 

Good luck on your travels ...

Yah, but sorry => I don't have any dealers on my list that live in Israel (I hope that you find some sweet ancient coins ... I'm always jealous of people going on trips)

The only advice I have is => try to avoid the shops that sell this sweet rare ancient coin ...





... I hope you have fun

 

A dealer I have dealt with before for Judaean coins is L. Alexander Wolfe. He is based in Jerusalem, has an IAA license, and will get all your export paperwork in order for you and he is very knowledgeable and will not sell you a counterfeit. One thing you should keep in mind is that IAA export approval can take several days, it took around a week last time I ordered from Israel, so you will want to make sure you find a dealer who will ship the coins to you if the paperwork takes too long. Good luck! I look forward to seeing what you end up with. Here are a few of my Judaean coins and all of these types should be relatively easy to find in Israel if they interest you:


Hasmoneian Kingdom of Judaea, John Hyrcanus I AE Prutah. 135-104 BC. Obverse: 'A' monogram, YHO(HH)NN("Yehochanan") H("the") KHN("Priest") H("the") GDL("high") W("and") (HH)BR("Council") H("the") YHWDYM("Jews") Paleo-hebrew within wreath. Reverse: Double cornucopia adorned with ribbons, pomegranate between horns, border of dots. Jerusalem mint. Hendin 1131. Meshorer TJC A



Alexander Jannaeus. 103-76 B.C.E. Æ prutah (16.2 mm, 2.74 g, 12 h). Legend between rays of star with eight rays within diadem / BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY, inverted anchor. Hendin 1150;


Judaea. First Jewish War. Struck year two 67/68 A.D. Obverse: Rimmed amphora with paleo-Hebrew inscription YEAR TWO. Reverse: Vine leaf on small branch with tendril, paleo-Hebrew inscription FREEDOM OF ZION. Hendin 661


JUDAEA. Herodian Dynasty. Agrippa I (37 – 44 A.D.) Æ Prutah, approx. 17.1 mm, 1.93 g. DATED "YEAR 6" = 41/42 A.D. Obv: "BACIΛEWC AΓPIПA" (of King Agrippa), fringed, umbrella-style canopy. Rev: Three ears of barley and two leaves, flanked by date "L S". Hendin 1244.

 

Slightly off topic but what is IAA paper work and is that something that applies to Israel?

 

IAA is Israel Antiquities Authority. They are the ones who approve all legal exports from Israel. When you legally export an item you get an export certificate with a photograph of the item. I've posted a scan of one of mine below

 

Good luck. I know a couple of coin collectors in Haifa but I don't know of any physical coin shops.
Israel is a wonderful country with wonderful people

 

have a good trip

 

Long time ago, I bought from a guy with last name of Kogen. Don't remember city though.

 

Shalom.. Happy coin hunting!

 

Please contact me privately: www.artscoins.com

 

Interesting. I have a coin from Kogen in my collection:

 

Thanks for the explanation @red_spork