What would you suggest I buy for my 1st Ancient Coin?

Great-looking coins! Well centered, high grade--you'll be happy with these for years to come!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

It's okay to live modestly so that you can buy nice ancient coins.

 

Just be careful of your budgeting.

LOL, I would not even feed that to my dog... Blue would not approve...

 

Congrats, Nyatii ... nice first blood

Hmmm, you went the Roman route, eh? (the sucklin' wolf is a classic ... always a winner)

=> I can't wait to see your first Greek coin!!



Sidenote: the Milkbone Assorted Flavours are fantastic when dipped in coffee

 

I looked at the Greeks, and know I need one. Something about breaking the 2000 year barrier. But I sure do love these.

 

You can break the 2000 year barrier (I use the BCE cut-off), with Roman Republican issues also... some really cool varieties there. And the Greeks had wonderful "art" on their coins. Personally, I am more into the Historical aspect vs. art aspect of collecting.

 

Thank you to the Valentinian poster. I saved your posted site for future use. I am very slow about entering a different part of numismatics, but think your advice pages will be very useful. thanks again.

 

Welcome, mate!
First of all: buy a good book about coins.
Second: an Augustus denarius... the first roman emperor!
Have fun!!!

 

I just started myself and you mite what to check coin size the pic always seem to make them look bigger

 

I did notice it. Luckily early on. I was looking a nice coin with lion and boar on it, then discovered it was the size of eraser head.

 

Sorry, 20$... just an Augustus coin...

 

In other words, it was a big one. The fact is that many ancients, especially precious metal coins, were not all that large. Some of us like the little guys but I do understand the appeal of big hunk of silver. There are small silver coins from 500 BC that usually sell in the $50 range while most larger ones will be later, lower grade or pricey. Early large coins tend to be thick so they may disappoint if you were looking for a silver dollar.

I was going to suggest a Miletos Lion like the one below which is about 10mm and a couple are on eBay now for under $50. There are some for more, too. There are always coins offered for more. Perfectly centered ones may be worth more.


A popular big silver is the Thasos tetradrachm (half dollar size) but they can be crude, low grade and ugly if under $100. Fakes exist.



A step up in every regard might be a posthumous tetradrachm of the Alexander the Great types. Lifetime ones tend to be thicker and more expensive but some later ones are spread out so they are good size. They will probably be four times as expensive even if a little worn.


The other option is to swallow hard and buy what you want. That is how I ended up with two of these Sybaris bulls (half dollar size). At some point you can decide if you want 20 $50 coins or one $1000 coin. I'm not telling you which way to go and will point out that both is an option if you are not all that into eating, etc. Enjoy the decisions.

 

nice group of first ancient coins nyatii!

 

If you mainly are a US collector, decide your price range and buy one that is presentable to you that you would like to show friends and relatives. Not one you can only make out with serious observation or research ( that can be later). Yours, and your friends/family reaction , whether oh hum, or wow! will set the pace for the future involvement in collecting the more diverse specimens. Sometimes a Bright BU 1937 cent or 1943 Mercury dime will enthuse more than a vg 1922-D cent. My son took the foreign/ancient/medal route at first, and then I woo-ed him back to both with a nice shiny Morgan Jim

 

Nyatii, congrats again on your new OP-additions!

 

Congratulations on the first ancient purchases! Very coincidental, as I was just about to post my own very first ancient purchase. Don't want to steal your thunder on this thread - might make my own - but I am very pleased with my Sasanian Drachm!

 

Congrats on your first purchase, and its a nice lot of coins. It never hurts to get a few bonus coins too.

 

@Victor_Clark is a stand up guy! Your purchases are very nice and forget about those moders, mine are getting sold off!

 

I haven't quite decided to add one of the small guys. Some of them are really nice looking. How did anyone carry those little pieces of silver around without loosing them? I can imagine someone kicking around in the gravel with his sandals looking for his stash, after finding a hole in his money bag.

I banned myself from buying for 24 hrs. Ha!

So far, I've only used my college fund, grocery money, retirement fund, and thought about borrowing from the neighbors. My next step seems to involve finding a buyer for my kidneys.

Actually, I'm trying to show restraint, and only pick pieces that not only interest me on a visual level, but which I will enjoy researching. What looks like nicer quality pieces for the limited amount I can spend on them.

I just wanted everyone to know that I have read and re-read your postings to this thread many times, and appreciate the advice and knowledge you have imparted, and am trying to put it to use appropriately.

 

Great choices. And kudos to Victor for encouraging a new ancients collector.