New to CoinTalk but long time collector.

I'm fortunate to live near a very good coin shop. The owner has been a great source of knowledge as I've gotten back into the hobby. He may, very well, have some nice ancients available in his shop. I'll have to do some research. Thanks again!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Thanks everyone for the nice welcome!

I really like Tif's story of how she got started.

Every few years I get the fever that she describes and really get into it again. One nice thing I noticed is that I still get the same satisfaction from revisiting and holding coins I bought 20 years ago. The good ones don't seem to wear out their appeal.

Who also remembers their first ancient and how they got it?

John

 

My first ancient was a humble Falling Horseman type of Constantius II, for which I paid $7 a few years ago. I collected moderns in my 20's, but sold them off and didn't return to the hobby until I was in my late 40's. I started out with moderns again, but they just didn't hold the appeal of ancients. I love the archaeological aspect of ancient coins.

 

As a youngster, I was a Shakespeare fan. One of my favorite plays was the Death of Julius Caesar. I even named one of my sons Marcus Antonius. So it stands to reason that my first coin was a MA Legionary Denarius in 1981 or 82. I've been collecting off and on ever since. The internet has made it a lot easier to find like-minded collectors to share with, so I've been an avid collector for the past 5-6 years. This is my first Ancient which I still own today.

 

This hobby is as old as minting coins - wonderful to have new collectors. This is the single most important factor of our ancient hobby. Coins take you into history

 

My first ancient coin was the coin in my avatar. I bought it at the first numismatic convention I attended. This was way back in April 2015.

 

@ShaunB ancients can be explored on any budget. Don't be intimidated, just start small, learn the ropes, and then as your tastes and knowledge mature so will your collection. I started with the LRBs that Doug and others have mentioned. Also there are so many great resouces freely available on the internet to learn about your coins you can save a little from buying books! Anyway, since we're posting our "first" here's mine:



These were purchased in a group lot and came out to about $5.42 each.

 

A decision we each have to make is how to spend our budget whatever it might be. In my opinion jwt708 got a lot more for his $65 (do the math) than most beginners who buy a lot of 12 coins would but I'll use that as a starting point here. The decision is whether we might have preferred six, three or just one coin for that same $65. We even might suggest the option of holding off and spending ten times $65 on one coin but only doing it one tenth as often. It makes no difference as long as YOU like the coins you are collecting and not listening to someone (like us here) who each will have their opinions. I have quite a few late Roman bronzes in the $5-10 range. In the last year or so I bought a coin that was $65:
Apollonia silver drachm


and two coins that totaled about $65 (each in the low-mid $30 bracket):
a rather rare Septimius Severus denarius in so-so condition

and a drachm of Sasanian Khusro II


I could come up with other examples in other quantities that adds up to $65 but you get the point, I hope, that there are a lot of choices out there and only you can really know which one is most deserving of your cash. Certainly we will be happy to give our opinions but, in the end, you have to decide. What you will probably find is some coins costing $10 end up being as pleasing to you as others that cost $100. In the long run, it all averages out and you will enjoy the hobby more if you don't dwell on past triumphs or mistakes. Different people here will differ on which of my three above was the biggest mistake or greatest find. Such is life in this hobby. Enjoy.

 

Well said all! There are beautiful and historic coins available in all price ranges. It helps to know what is out there and what they usually sell for.

I also really enjoy the searching process. I look through many sources as I have time and pounce on things I have been looking for when I can. When you finally score something you have been searching for over 5, 10, 15 or more years it is tremendously satisfying. If you could just call up JC Penney and order an Elis Stater for $3.99 anytime you wanted it would not be nearly as much fun. It took me 20+ years to find this Stater and be able to afford it. I love the Elis series for the connection to the Olympics. The thought that this coin is very worn because someone got it while attending or participating in the Olympics and then carried it as a good luck charm the rest of their life really appeals to me.



Elis Stater
Obverse: Hera wearing a stephamos decorated with leaves
Reverse: Winged thunderbolt with FA (of the Elians) surrounded by olive wreath
From the 98th Olympics in 388 B.C.

I was told way back that a guy named BCD bought up all the Elis coins on the market and it was very hard to get one(?) Maybe things have changed in the last few years or maybe it is easier to search the whole world now to find things.

 

While I agree with the thrill of finally finding something long wanted, I get even more a thrill when I find something that I never dreamed existed but that seemed to fit my particular brand of strangeness or should I say specialty. I have collected coins of Septimius Severus since 1963 when I got one particular reverse legend that became very special to me. I never knew the legend also existed for Julia Domna so I was thrilled when I found one. It turned out that the coin was listed in Cohen in the 1880's from a specimen in Paris but I never knew about it until I found mine. I have seen no other.


A coin friend traded me a coin special to my technical collection that I never knew existed. There are many brockage errors and many flipover doublestrikes but this coin is a flipover doublestrike where the first strike was a brockage. Few people specialize in error coins but I like them especially when they are something I never knew existed. My treasure is a mess to most eyes.


What will be next? I have a want list but I hope it is something NOT on my want list because I have not had the thought to put it on.

 

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on a fantastic coin! I too love the Elis series - it's hard to top holding a coin used as currency at the original Ancient Olympics.

BCD did have one of the most comprehensive collections of Elis but they are attainable. I had been looking to upgrade one of my Elis staters for the past three years and finally decided to consign it to CNG for their next mailbid sale. Not 15 minutes later, I found the perfect upgrade which I purchased on the spot from a dealer at the show. Often, the coin will find you!

 

BCD bought up ALL the coins on the market, lol. The collection began being dispersed a few years ago and there are still plenty to be had. Does anyone know how many coins he acquired?

 

About 50,000. That seems like a large number, but consider that he amassed them over the course of 50 years. So, that's an average acquisition rate of only, uhm, 1000 coins a year.

 

Welcome @Theodosius !

I have some coins of Theo and Theo II but let me post something a little different (and not to mention A LOT rarer ), a coin of Theodosius's daughter Galla Placidia:

Galla Placidia, Western Roman Empire
AE nummus
Obv: D N GALLA PLA-CIDIA P F AVG, female, pearl-diademed bust right, wearing necklace and earrings
Rev: SALVS REI-PVBLICE around cross, T in left field
Mint: Rome (Mintmark: RM in ex)
Ref: RIC X 2111

 

May I suggest zumbly go into the business of issuing notes to spouses to the effect that 'only' 1000 a year is a reasonable rate of acquisition.

 

That is very cool..never seen one of Galla Placidia before...

 

Great idea! I'll get back to you on this one once my wife stops laughing at the sample notes I've come up with so far.

 

Happy wife, happy life. I am glad she finds it humorous rather than wondering if you are actually on track for a 1000 year. Who among us is over 100 coins so far this year? I'm at four so I don't need a note.

 

I'm at two, but I may still need that note.

 

A few more than two...but I'm ridding this stupid wagon right now