You Guys Are A Bad Influence

I am sorry that my disease was contagious.

 

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@Randy Abercrombie - you have a great example of the coin. As folks above said, these were rare until a large number of came to the market in the last year or two. I bought mine this year. It has recognizable features, but is in poor condition due to bad dies, poor strike and / or wear.

It was advertised as from the big Owl hoard.

 

You are absolutely correct. Ancients are too much for one normal human head to contain. That is why we flock together here and help each other with the disease that afflicts each of us. That is also why some, myself included, have absolutely no use for people who come here and think they already know it all and are only interested in profiting off the people who know less than they do. Many of us see that in the 'modern' hobby and do not want it here. When you have a question about ancient coins, this is the place to ask it. If that question is how to fool someone into paying too much for nothing, you will not like the answer. They do not call this 'the Darkside' for nothing!

Did you notice that we did not argue that point? Do you suspect that being a bad influence is, in this case, taken as a compliment?

 

And it was in fact duly intended as a compliment!

 

Could always use another Randy on the board too

 

Good to know. I do find these coins fascinating...I just don't even know where to start. I do have some low end pieces that were given to me a long time ago. I'm sure they are worthless. But, I am working on coin my photography so maybe I will try some photos of those in the future and post them up to see what I have and maybe learn something about them.

I've been on CT for over a decade and never ventured into this "Darkside."

 

This is a problem sir. "Ancient" coins encompass such a HUGE variety it is very easy to get lost and give up. My suggestion is to grab a hold of something that interests you and read about it and get to know THOSE coins. Start small. Like a certain Greek city? Like a certain Roman emperor? Like religious imagery like the "hand of God" or portraits of Christ? For the latter I wrote an article on them that you may like:

https://6be88a1c-6568-4deb-8cbe-aa9...d/e7a338_d898ad37fc6444d6a6cde1b2c18beacc.pdf

No, I make no money if you read it, just suggesting a resource to see how you can narrow your focus. This is an article on 13 coin types that comprise a series. Narrowing yourself down and learn a small part will build up your confidence and get you started. There are other articles on our website you can choose instead.

My mind was REELING when I started. Then I picked up on Persian coins, got a little confidence, started learning more, and here I am. I still get horribly, horribly lost on most Greek issues, since I have concentrated on other series. "Greek" is a MASSIVE undertaking, something only professionals and the most advanced collectors can hope to master.

So, you aren't the only one overwhelmed. Need to know about Nabatean? Ask John. SS? Ask Doug. Each of us know a small part, which is why we band together to figure out something new.

 

Coin photography is another area we are happy to help with. Good photos of coins make it easier to answer questions about them.

 

Photography is a hobby of mine, I just haven't sat down and really worked with coins and made a good honest effort. I am actually in the process of playing around with the camera and coming up with a system that works for me. I'm going to post some of my collection on various threads here at CT.

Once I get a little more confident in it, I will try and image some of the ancients I have. I figure because their size and shape and relief is a little more dramatic than modern coins, they will probably be more challenging.

I also just (yesterday night) finally ordered a new camera which I have been saving for for quite a while. That purchase was for reasons other than coins, but it will be a nice upgrade for that too. My next purchase will be a 100mm macro lens which I think will be great for coins.

Just as an example, here is one I did last weekend. I think the results were pretty good but I think the reverse could be a touch sharper: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ca...ion-photos-mostly-german.360107/#post-4508378

 

+1

 

Really nice pickup!

These are fun because:
1) Who doesn't like archaic wads of silver with intriguing designs?
2) These were considered extremely rare until a couple years ago when a hoard of (thousands?) was found and dumped on the market - now most pieces trade at about $100-125 with only truly exceptional pieces going over that
3) There are many interesting varieties within this series - With and without lions, with and without field marks, with various spelling styles (or lack thereof)

I bought a lot of 10 of them last summer from CNG and picked this one out for my personal collection:


I just really liked the details in the shield and the detailed musculature of the legs in the triskeles!

I also have the more common wrestlers type


And just in case ancients weren't cool enough, here is an unassuming and tiny (9mm) bronze from Aspendos from the second century BC, featuring a shield (inscribed Πo) and triskeles


Except that it came mixed in with a bunch of post-Roman Vandal coins dating to the Byzantine conquest of Carthage, more than 600 years after it was struck! This reinforces that its important not only to study the coins themselves, but also the history and archeological contexts that tell us who used them, where, and for how long.

 

Welcome to the "Dark Side", the ancient of days. Seriously, that is a very nice piece for your first fouree into another world. And remember, "This is my hobby, I do it
for fun." Pass it on.

 

...poor Johnny had 3 legs.....but man could he run!

 

You might be interested to learn that this three legged design also appears on coins from the ISLE OF MAN too.

 

Me before my first ancient(5 mos ago).............Me now

 

...ancients can be ruff....><

 

Weight 2.69g
Diameter 18.3mm

Imperatorial coins
L. Cornelius Lentulus Crus and C. Claudius Marcellus Denar 49 BC Chr., Army mint. the Pompeian to Apollonia in Illyria. Triskeles with winged Medusa and corn ears / Jupiter with eagle and lightning bundle. Cr. 445, 1b; Syd. 1029 .; Fine, slightly bluish tint. Subaerat (fouree)

 

Hint: I ruin more photos using too harsh and too directional light and too fancy a 'plan'. More coins respond better to soft, diffused daylight through a north facing window than to a thousand dollars worth of studio lighting. I shoot RAW. If your new camera has that feature (software is free with Canons), try it.

 

@Randy Abercrombie and @CamaroDMD it's too late for you guys, you're done !
You will soon need your daily fix, or you will sweat, feel a pain in your stomach, be anxious and agressive. Maybe you already feel that from time to time, don't you ?

Welcome to the dark side, and nice triskeles BTW

Q