Your First Ancient Coin

Post your first ancient coin here. It can be any kind of ancient coin! Thanks Noah

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

The first ancient I ever purchased was this Probus coin. A little serendipitous, I liked the portrait and it cost me next to nothing. The reverse has some problems, though.

 

Licinius I ...RIC#155 variant (misspelled name)

 

A Gordie III that I sold years back, originally purchased for $30. However, here is a similar Gordie:

 

My avatar coin -- a tribute penny:

 

My first was a LRB, a gift from @Sallent



Coin #1


Roman Imperial


Constantine II, as Caesar 317-337 A.D.AE Follis. 325-326 A.D. Antioch Mint Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust, l.CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB CCampgate surmounted by two turrets, star above; In ex.: SMANTSPROVIDEN-TIAE CAESSRIC VII 65


Thanks,
Jacob

 

My first ancient was a roman bronze too. Then chinese cash.

 

Constantius II, bought unidentified (with several other LRB) at $3/coin, c. 1993.

 

I took a chance on a lot of 4th century Romans. I haven't researched them yet (have only had them for a year, lol), but from comments that I have received, I did ok for $45. Was never quoted an approximate value, though.

 

AE as of Severus Alexander.

 

Mine was also a Severus Alexander

Severus Alexander denarius
Obv:– IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, Laureate head right
Rev:– MARS VLTOR, Mars advancing right, holding a spear and shield
Minted in Rome, A.D. 232
References:– RIC 246, RSC 161a

 

i'm not real sure what, other than a bronze, my 1st ancient was.. and my 1st silver was a Alexander drachm, which i gave away a few years ago to a friend as a gift.

 

It seems everyone's first ancient coin is Roman.


Thrace, Chersonesos, 400-300 BC, 2.2g AR hemidrachm 12.5mm
Obv: Lion forepart
Rev: Quadripartite incuse square, X and bee
BMC Thrace pg. 186, 49
Edge cut
Purchased from Herakles/Perry Siegel at a coin show in September or October of 2000.

 

This is my first, a Trajan ....and the Bag o Romans win came right about the same time.

TRAJAN AR DENARIUS, 114 - 117 C.E.

RIC 318, RSC 154, Very Fine, 19.2mm, 3.59 grams
Obverse: Laureate draped bust of Trajan to right, IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC around
Reverse: P M TR P COS VI P P SPQR around Fortuna seated to left, holding rudder in right hand and cornucopia in left, FORT RED in exergue

 

These are my first TWO ancient coins, both gifts from my grandfather in 1978. Both were in a coin purse belonging to my grandmother, whose parents immigrated from Greece in 1906. They were mixed in the purse with late 19th century modern-Greek coins. Both are presumed field finds by one of my great grandparents! On left, a broken AE Antoninianus of Trebonianus Gallus. On right, AE Antoninianus of Valerian I. These started me down my path...




My first ancient coin book soon followed. I wanted to understand the coins I'd been given, and in 1978 the internet was not an optional knowledge base.

 

My first Ancients were Athenian and Makedown:


Makedon Alexander III AR Drachm Suse


Athens Owl 16.8g 22x6-5mm


Athens Owl AR Tet 17.4g 20.4mm x 7.5mm edge-crud


Athens Owl AR Tet 17.3g 22.9mm x 6.8mm thick crud


Athens Owl AR Tet 17.2g 22mm x 6.7mm thick

 

Here's mine, acquired in 2014 from Heritage. This is what started it all! Pamphylia, Side AR Tetradrachm, 16.30 gm. 1st century B.C. ex. Dimitriadis collection.

 

I don't have pictures of my first ancient coins, but here is the first ancient I bought (at a whopping $12!). Ancient Chinese coins got me serious into ancients about 5-6 years later.

Probus antoniniaunus.

 

Wow, These are AWESOME!