My First Ancient

I bought my first ancient today, enjoy

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

That's a nice coin. Love the Roma portrait on this issue.

L. FLAMINIUS CHILO ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS FLAMINIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: ROMA; helmeted head of Roma right, ROMA behind. Denomination mark X before
REVERSE: L. FLAMIN below, CILO in exergue; Victory driving galloping biga right
Struck at Rome 109-108 BC
3.75g, 19mm
Crawford 302|1 / Sydenham 540 / Flaminia 1

 

Welcome, what type of denarius is it and where did you get it? I can't read the legend in the reverse.

Here is a similar type. An M. Cipius M.F. denarius

 

Ah, thanks Bing. I really didn't know what type it was, with biga being such a prevalent theme in RR coinage.

 

As with many Greek and Roman coins, there are certain features which help make them identifiable. In this case, the Roma portrait is fairly distinctive (now watch. My ID will be wrong and make me look like a fool)

 

I got it form Ancient Imports on Vcoins, this was the listing:

Attribution: Crawford 302/1; Flaminia 1; Sydenham 540
Date: 109-108 BC
Obverse: Head of Roma right in winged helmet, ROMA behind, X below chin
Reverse: Victory driving galloping biga right, holding reins and wreath; L.FLAMIN below horses
Size: 18.74 mm
Weight: 3.79 grams

 

So I was correct. Really @Aunduril, that is a very nice RR coin whether it's the first or one of many.

 

Nice first ancient. Can't go wrong with a republic!

 

Very nice coin Aunduril, with great toning.

 

What a great start. Nice first coin.

 

Thanks, hopefully it will be one of many

 

Great starting point, poised between ancient Greece and Imperial Rome, and a classic type.

 

How did you get interested in ancient coins?

 

Very nice!

 

Nice, I have one too

 

I started collecting coins about age 7, mostly US coins and foreign. I have always been interested in medieval and ancient coins, but back then never really go into collecting them. Then due to college I got out of coin collecting for about a decade. When I recently started again I found CT and started reading up on ancients, decided to start looking into them and here we are.

 

As you can tell by the number of us who have the type, it is not terribly rare and reasonably popular. It is a good choice for a first coin. I did not get mine until I had been collecting about 50 years.


An interesting thing about ancients is that all are distinct in some way. Of those shown here, mine has the worst face on the charioteer but shares with yours the presence of the chariot wheel. Yours has the weakest reverse legend but the most bold obverse X specifying the coin is a denarius. When shopping for coin #2, consider what you want, what you must have and what you can live without. What is next for you? There are ancients to fit each of us. Welcome aboard!

 

A very respectable first ancient. Welcome to the club!

 

Welcome @Aunduril
I agree with the folks above, RR denarii are great for new ancient coin collectors. You can buy some well struck and preserved coins if you do a bit of research and look in the right places.
Mine -

 

@Aunduril

Very nice first ancient coin. Welcome. There are many helpful people here so please do not hesitate to ask questions.