Post the first ancient coin you ever purchased

We did this once before but I searched for a long time & couldn’t find the original thread. That’s no problem. Let’s do it now. Please post your first ancient coin or tell us about it.


Constantine I
AE3 or AE4
307-337 AD
Obv: CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG, diademed bust right
Rev: GLORIA EXERCITAS, two soldiers standing to either side of one standard. SMANA in Exergue.
Grade: EF with good centering and legibility
Other: Constantine I. RIC VII Antioch 86.

Although I was given a widow’s mite around 1964, the first ancient coin that I purchased was this Constantine I in 2010. When I got the Constantine coin, everyone at CT was quite helpful & they allowed me to enjoy the fun of learning about my new coin. Doug Smith explained that the SM means something like “sacred money”. The AN means Antioch where the coin was struck. The final A is a Greek numeral for the workshop within the mint. Other CT folk gave me recommended Web links & reading.

What was your first ancient coin?

 

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Septimius Severus (193 - 211 A.D)
AR Denarius
Rome mint, 201 A.D.
O: SEVERVS AVG PART MAX, Laureate head right.
R:RESTITVTOR VRBIS (Restoration of the City), Severus in military attire, spear in left, sacrificing over a tripod altar with right.
RIC 167a RSC 599 BMCRE 202
3.3g

 

Here is my first. It is a fake. This is why I now buy graded

 

My first ancient coin purchase was a batch of uncleaned coins. Things escalated quickly.

 

My first coin was so long ago---but not quite 1964--- that it's almost impossible for me to recall which actually was the very first since they constituted numerous 'uncleaned' ancients. Back then, you could even luck out and have a few denarii or Sestertii included in the mix. Probably the best of those were bronzes of Numerianus and Procopius.

 

When someone buys his first ancient coin, well he's probably a beginner. Thus, the sellers or many of them will notice this, and they'll probably try to sell him fakes. Frankly, that's what happened to me earlier ten years ago. But I didn't and will never give up. I now own many hundreds of genuine ancient coins. I do owe CT a lot and much more.
Charles

 

i picked this coin up on ebay for 10 bucks, and another for my dad for the same price. that was fall 2011 i think. he was collecting some US stuff at the time, and i had just found out that you could get roman coins for less than 1 zillion dollars. didn't spark much interest with dad, i've been going every since. in hindsight, wasn't a good idea to start off with ebay...but got lucky i guess.

 

+1

 

The M. Tullius denarii, and yes, forgive my sins for it is slabbed. I was an ignorant young man just 4 days ago. Anyway, I should be getting it in the mail in the next day or so.

 

1980/81 (I think) was the year I first purchased an Ancient. I was living in El Paso, TX and stationed at Ft Bliss at the time, of that I am certain. I do not recall the name of the company from which I bought the coin, but it was a large company out of New York which sold from catalogs.

MARCUS ANTONIUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: ANT AVG III VIR R P C, Praetorian galley, thyrsos behind prow
REVERSE: LEG XI, eagle between standards
Patrae 32-31 BC
3.05g, 16mm
RSC 27

 

And I vividly remember my second coin purchased near the same time from the same dealer:

AUGUSTUS
AE Quadran
OBVERSE: SISENNA MESSALLA IIIVIR, altar
REVERSE: APRONIVS GALLVS AAAFF around SC
Rome 5 BC , Moneyers Apronius, Galus, Messalla, and Sisena
3.0g, 17mm
RIC 463 or 200 in Old RIC

 

TIF said: ↑
My first ancient coin purchase was a batch of uncleaned coins. Things escalated quickly.

That was one nice batch of uncleaned coins.

 

This coin (the actual one, I still have it), about 1985, $29 (super expensive then, I got scammed).

Valerian I, 253 - 260 AD
AR Antoninianus, 21mm, 3.9 grams
Obverse: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG, Radiate bust right.
Reverse: RESTITVT ORIENTIS, The Orient standing on left, presenting wreath to Valerian who stands on right.

Reference:
RIC287

 

My first purchase were these 12 bought in an unseen lot here at CoinTalk from a respected member in January 2013. I didn't buy my next until 16 months later!

 

I love this set of coins. What a great start.

 

Well, this baby was actually my first ancient coin ... but sadly, I was collecting moderns at the time, so I traded it for a 1937 Canadian Silver dollar (man, I love that silver canoe!!)





... who knew?

 

^^^

 

I bought several uncleaned lots, and then many junk coins. The first coin that sent me into a spin was this one.

 

Next time you want to do any trading, you call ME first, got it? ME.

I would have given you TWO Canadian silver dollars.

 

Thanks John!

Below are the two coins that completely changed my collecting habits...

Septimius Severus , AD 193-211
AR Denarius, 3.3g, 20mm; 1h; Rome, AD 209
Obv.: SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right
Rev.: PM TRP XVII COS III P P; Neptune standing left, holding a trident, foot on globe


Philip I, AD 244-249
AR, Antoninianus, 3.7g, 21.5mm; 1h; Rome, AD 247
Obv.: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG; radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right Rev.: P M TR P IIII COS II P P; Felicitas standing left holding caduceus & cornucopia

I'm actually contemplating selling some of my U.S. to fund more ancients!