Your First Ancient Coin

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Ken Dorney, Jan 3, 2017.

  1. Ken Dorney

    Ken Dorney Yea, I'm Cool That Way...

    Not sure if this has been done before (probably), but how about we post our VERY first ancient coin (assuming we still have them). But, how about further. How, when and under what circumstances did you buy that coin? What drew you to it, what was the reasoning? Why on earth did you buy the thing?

    My coin:

    00013x0.jpg

    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

    It was about 1985 or 1986, cant remember. I was at our local shopping mall which had an antique show going on. Amazing as our town then was uber small and just a backwater (still is). Walking around as a teenager, there it was: A guy with a couple trays of 'old' coins. I saw all these amazing things! I cant remember what he had, just what I bought. I settled on this simply as it was what I could afford at the time. I was entranced that I could buy something so old, so cool, so amazing, and silver to boot!

    The price was $29, a small sum in those days for a poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks (but I got my first job at 14 as a fry cook and had what I considered then as TONS of money). I remember leaving the table, he put the coin into a paper bag on which I immediately began scribbling notes and crude math figures, trying to see exactly how old it could be! Amazing! Honestly its amazing that I kept the thing as my interests instantly went wild, and soon after I became a dealer (which for those who know, most personal collections dont survive). But I did keep it. Sentimental. Though my wife calls me a 'hoarder', I am certain my 'hoard' will bring her monetary solace when I am long gone!

    Post your first coins and their stories!
     
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  3. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Been done many times.

    My first, bought here from another collector on CT who doesn't post anymore. Paid $50. Was floored with how something so nice was done 2000 years ago. My oldest coin before was was an 1818 half cent from childhood.

    Refuse to part with it even though I have others of this emperor.

    [​IMG]
    Septimius Severus (193 - 211 A.D)
    AR Denarius
    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.
    Rome mint, 201 A.D.
    3.3g
    18mm
    RIC 167a, RSC 599, BMCRE 202
     
  4. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    Cool thread even if it has been done before! I bought this roughed up little beauty from Vcoins back in 2011 for $35. I was completely new to ancient collecting at the time and was dumbfounded that you could get an ancient Roman piece of silver for so cheap! Still floors me considering the prices of some modern coins that are not as scarce (*cough* Morgan Dollars *cough*)

    It's an Elagabalus Antoninianus from 218 AD

    IMG_3615.JPG

    Attribution: RIC IV 1
    Date: 218 AD
    Obverse: IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS AVG, Radiate draped cuirassed bust right
    Reverse: P M T-R P COS P P, Roma seated left on shield holding Victory in right hand and sceptre in left
    Size: 21.9 mm
    Weight: 4.5 grams

    This is not one of my better coins anymore but will dutifully sit in a place of honor in my collection as long as I am still around to collect :)
     
  5. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    I bought my first coin at my first coin show in April 2015. I had read many sources including online sources for several months before deciding to buy my first ancient coin. FAC was a great resource for me. So after several months of research and reading I finally had my first ancient coin.

    So my first ancient coin was an Otho denarius. It is still one of my favourites.

    otho combined.jpeg
     
  6. ToughCOINS

    ToughCOINS Dealer Member Moderator

    I've never owned one. A man's got to know his limitations . . .
     
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  7. Nemo

    Nemo Well-Known Member

    I wonder how many people started collecting ancients with such an excellent coin? My guess is very few!
     
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  8. Pishpash

    Pishpash Well-Known Member

    No idea. I started buying uncleaned lots (mostly culls), I remember the first coin I could identify, it was a Diocletian. I was thrilled to bits.
     
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  9. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    My first ancient coin was purchased from Henri Delger of Old Roman Coins in March of 2003.

    This is the actual photo of the coin he used on his website.

    V772.JPG

    Vespasian
    AR Denarius, 3.40g
    Rome Mint, 75 AD
    RIC 772 (C3), BMC 161, RSC 366
    Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
    Rev: PON MAX TR P COS VI; Pax, bare to the waist, seated l., holding branch extended in r. hand, l. hand on lap

    I was doing research about the Roman monetary system when I stumbled upon Henri's online store quite by accident! The coins were amazing and I wanted one. I've always had an interest in the Flavian period, so I choose a denarius of Vespasian. Soon after that first purchase I had to have a denarius of Titus and another of Domitian. After that I wanted another and then another ... I was hooked and haven't stopped since!

    I still have the above Vespasian Pax denarius. A fine example of the type.
     
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2017
  10. Deacon Ray

    Deacon Ray Artist & Historian Supporter

    Great topic, Ken! My first ancient coin was actually a box of 14 Holy Land coins (with a certificate of authenticity) that I spotted in an ad in the back of a history or archeology magazine back in 2005. It was sold by The Royal Mint in Great Britain.

    COINBOX.jpg
     
  11. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    1981 was the year. I was looking through some coin catalogs with a colleague and saw an add for Roman and Greek coins. I "telephonically' contacted the dealer in New York (I don't recall the dealers name) who sent me a catalog list of coins and prices without images. My eyes landed on Mark Anthony Legionary denarii and I knew I wanted one.

    Some background:
    When I was a kid, I belonged to an acting troupe call Restoration Arts Theatre. We did mostly Shakespeare plays. I played Hamlet in the play of the same name, and Mark Anthony in the Death of Julius Caesar. As a married adult, I named one of my sons Marcus Antonius. So you see I had to have the coin struck by his legions.

    Marcus Antonius Leg XI.jpg
     
  12. Ed Snible

    Ed Snible Well-Known Member

    Not counting a few uncleaned lots this hemidrachm is my first:
    cherson-both.jpg

    Purchased from Perry of Herakles Numismatics in October of 2000 at a coin show.

    I had previously purchased a few uncleaned coins on eBay and a seller had invited me to the show. I had previously only seen Greek coins in books. I really liked this one for the animal design and the incuse reverse with bee.
     
  13. Smojo

    Smojo dreamliner

    Mine is probably the least exciting. I've had it out a few times recently & thought about snapping a picture, but I haven't.
    Was purely curiosity. I was starting to bore of my still incomplete moderns. It was 2013 or maybe 2014 don't remember but I can look it up. I love history mainly 200BC thru around 300AD.
    So it kinda seems fitting that my first was a "widows mite" & really one of the better ones I've seen.
    Thanks to our Deacon Ray, I've been browsing a few Prutahs around Herods time & watching a couple in an auction at this time. If the price is good I'm sure I'll snatched up a couple.
     
  14. Yankee42

    Yankee42 Well-Known Member

    IMG_8417.JPG
    M. Porcius Laeca Denarius
    125 BC
    18 mm, 3.88g

    Bought from a fellow CT member in 2016 because it caught my eye.
     
  15. non_cents

    non_cents Well-Known Member

  16. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    A really cool first coin. I love the Roma republic denarii. One of my favorite designs on the obverse of a coin either ancient or modern. I am in the market for one of the Dioscuri version of these but I haven't found one that speaks to me yet. One day...
     
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  17. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    My first were actually FIVE. Including FOUR Athena Tets and an Alexander III Drachm.

    I purchased them from a friend back in the early '90's who owned a Stained Glass Shop with a few ancients in his cabinet. We talked a lot about ancient histories, and came to learn he had a very extensive collection of ancients. He was about my age, and had been collecting Ancients for years. He let me buy these, and several others for a "song", because of our friendship. Sad to say, he passed a couple years later from a very painful and debilitating bone disease.

    upload_2017-1-3_19-38-26.png
    upload_2017-1-3_19-39-38.png

    I took a lot of Ancient History courses in University, and really enjoyed Ancient Greece and Makedonon history (yeah and a lot of Roman courses too...) I particularly enjoyed Alexander III the Great and the impact he made on the known world. My undergrad degree is in Finance, though...

    They aren't "super" by most Ancient collectors standards, but they mean a lot to me.

    It helped me really understand that the coins carry an enormous amount of history, both because of its mintage and because of the wear and tear. The wear of people transacting them in trade and exchange... trade is the vitality of humans.
     
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2017
  18. HonestScript

    HonestScript Active Member

    Here is my first Ancient Coin, I won it in a free giveaway drawing.
    Ken's giveaway drawing, that is.
    Estimated to be worth one billion gagillion fafillion dollars.. ;) IMG_2795.JPG IMG_2810.JPG
     
  19. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    Very sorry to hear about your friend but at least you have these amazing coins to remember him by. Adds an even deeper meaning to the already cool history of them.

    I love the Classic Athenian Owls. I was over the moon when I got my first Tetradrachm.

    IMG_3616.JPG
     
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  20. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Beautiful Owl! Nice job! Now, FREE that BIRD! :D

    I am still very happy with my Athenian Owl Tets... yes, they have a deep sentimental value.

    Historically, I REALLY like the Banker's marks all over mine... proven as coinage. Also, I understand having the bankers marks on ATHENA herself is a no-no, as you do not want to upset the Goddess! So, perhaps they traveled OUTSIDE the Greek World, and were proven elsewhere that they did not care about upsetting Athena!
     
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  21. Smojo

    Smojo dreamliner

    @Alegandron at least you took useful courses. I took philosophy & business management. Today I build airplanes. Sure the philosophy I use to see what someone is up to or just mess with their heads. But other than that pretty useless, lol.
    I think it's philosophy that drives my Greek part of collecting.
     
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