Hello, i want to know what this coin is? i know its Greek, it weighs 6.42 Gr and i want to know if its worth anything: Thanks, Thomas.
It doesn't matter what it's worth -- in this case, very little because its patina has been stripped and its surfaces are rough and corroded. There are many questions this coin raises beyond "what is it worth?"; for example: Which city/authority issued this coin and when? Where is this city? What role did it play in ancient times? Who is that depicted on the obverse -- a deity or a real person? If a deity, which one and what role did s/he play in Greek mythology? Is there some reason this deity appears on coins of this particular city? Is there a connection between the geography and the mythology? There is a tripod on the reverse of this coin. What purpose did the tripod serve in ancient times? Why is it a common motif on ancient coinage? Does it say something about the purpose of this coin? THESE are the kinds of things that make ancient numismatics interesting.
It's a gnarly bronze of Kassander (Cassander), one of Alexander the Great's diadochi. That era of history is extremely complex and interesting and well worth learning about. In its current state it isn't worth much; learning about the history it represents would be significantly more enriching.
I know a young man, a brilliant numismatist, who was doing a die study of the coins of Cassander but had to give up numismatics because he could not make a living out of it. He now teaches Junior High School. Sad, isn't it?
I'm not sure. Teaching is a fine calling but if he is only doing it for the money, I'd rather he did something else and leave the schools to those who could get a better paying job but love teaching. I hope he is still pursuing his interest in Kassander since a lot of the legwork in a field like numismatics is left to amateurs now that museum professionals are graded on how well they create popular exhibits rather than how they add to the knowledge base. The days of public support for classic studies that don't draw big crowds seem to be going fast. That is sad but it is the way of our times. Perhaps the role of professionals in the field will now be concentrated on making the materials they hold available online to people who want to do the studies without chasing funding. That is sadder.
try this link: http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/macedonia/kings/kassander/t.html Where did you get the coin?
Whoa, there. I spent 43 years in the classroom teaching history and my collection of coins and artifacts was an integral part of that teaching. Over the years I have been able to allow thousands of young people to handle all kinds of artifacts from ancient coins to Civil War swords to WWII ration cards. I never saw teaching as a sad step down from any career.
The market for ancients is weird because it's so specialized. In general, an ancient coin is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. Seems like a flippant answer, but that's more or less how it is with less-than-mint state ancients. In the case of the OP, there is a lot of nice detail even though the coins has porous surfaces. Yes, it's been stripped recently, but it will darken nicely over time. I like it. I'd be thrilled if someone offered me $20 for it and happy if they offered $10--even though some dealers on VCoins would probably ask $100 for it--but I wouldn't sell it either way. To me, considering the history wrapped up in that coin, it's priceless. Keep it and start reading up on Alexander the Great and what happened to his empire after his death.
I agree. That coin is not in that bad shape. Much of the legend is legible (BASILEOS) and in time the surface will improve. The image on the obverse was originally a good strike. I used to give out coins like this to my students at the end of the year as prizes for doing well in the course. I don't know how many became coin collectors but I do know that many of the students displayed their coins and artifacts in their homes where they must have attracted favorable attention. If nothing else they must have reawakened good vibes years later. For us this well circulated brass may be just another $20 cull but for them it was an ancient treasure and a memento of a time when they were scholars.
I am in the middle of reading "The Silk Roads", which tells of Alexander the Great's exploits and times, as well as much else. I can highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in the history of these times. It can be downloaded free on the internet as a .pdf. This sort of stuff is our hobby and passion, and it is said the more you put into something, the more you get out of it.
There isn't anything wrong with making money and one of the reasons the "good" teachers often don't last is because it pays badly. I worked in the magnetic tape recording industry for 20+ years before getting laid off in my mid 50's. I was in central-coastal CA with no need for chemists around the area. I eventually started teaching par-time at a junior college, but with two high school daughters getting ready for college, I got a job teaching chemistry in high school which I did for 11 years. Why...for the money. Didn't mean I was a good teacher (I think I was) or a bad teacher, but it was something to do to stay in the area. Both daughters graduated high school and went to college to get Master's degrees.
Good for you and I'll bet your students benefitted from your choice as well. I loved teaching history and although I never got rich (in monetary terms) the income was adequate for my needs. It paid the bills, put a roof over my head, a car in my driveway, food in my stomach and my kids through grad school and every once in a while a new coin in my collection.
yup, and I got good reviews on RateMyTeacher (and an entry in the Urban Dictionary from one of my students under Dr. Wright)
