Why don't you collect ancient coins?

When I was a little kid, maybe 6 years old max, I remember going to a flea market to get wheat cents. I saw some Mercury dimes there and distinctly remember thinking "that's dumb. who would ever want to collect anything but pennies?"


Here's an UGLY s.o.b.

Its technically a token. I'm writing my senior thesis on these, attempting to challenge earlier scholarly thought by making the case that its not just an admissions ticket, but actually a low value token currency!

 

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Absolutely beautiful. LMAO! That is the ugliest thing I've ever seen.
You thought Mercs were dumb? How could you? LOL! We all have our own opinions, and that is what makes coin collecting so fun. It is a diverse hobby, and there will always be an opposing opinion towards your own, no matter what.

 

I can only trace my ancestor history back to the Swedish/Scandinavians, (1850), I have no idea where they come from. The Romans seemed to be brutal and ?. I certainly hope that I didn't descend from those crazies. lol And the term 'Greek' just makes me shudder. lol

 

If you keep showing that, I will comne and take that from you while you are traveling to get the silver

stainless

 

Valuable? Si? No? Mucho Dinero?

 

Si Es Mucho Dinero!!!!

 

I like it!

Ca we have more history on the use of the "token" (where, how, why, what for, etc.), please?

 

Valuable, yes, but thats not the only reason why I would love to own one. it's also a solidus with a Go-Hard design


I guess, for me, why I like ancients is because when I look at US coins, and world coins...they are just run offs of the ancients...The history is good, and the culture is better, but the art is amazing. Notice how no US or modern world coin can come close to competing with the best of ancient coins. It is not even a contest

put it this way, would y'all rather own one of the first St. Gaudens, or the modern bullion gold? I think you get my point.


stainless

 

So not a whole lot of money. Alrighty good to know
And yeah I can kinda see what you are getting at there. Still not converting me though..

 

I only paid $700, it could probably get 900 something in the right venue.

 

That is quite a bit. More than my MS62 $2.5!

 

If I may, how much was that?

 

I got a great deal, $500 for it

 

Good stuff! You can get Byzantine solidi for less than that. But I opted to save and wait for a worn profile-bust late Roman one.

(I'm not one for Santa)
http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/glennwoods/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=7476

 

Lead Roman Tessera, 1st cent. AD
obv: Fortuna standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia
rev: LAT
reference: Rostowzew 2330

I'll have to tell you what I told stainless - wait till I finish the paper.

This is my Problem Statement section:

 

Your right, didn't hit vote now...

 

Hmm, your Viking ancestors were pillaging practically all of Europe, from Ireland to Russia up until only about 700 years ago, far more recent than those filthy Romans or Greeks

 

I didn't vote because I do collect ancient, and medieval. Here are two of them :


Roman empire : Severus Alexander
Denarius minted in Rome in AD 225
IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, Laureate head of Severus Alexander right
IOVI VLTORI, Jupiter seated left holding victory and spear
3.26 gr
Ref : RCV #7873, Cohen #97


Dombes : Gaston d’Orléans (1627-1650), Ecu d’or - 1641
Atelier de Trevoux
+•GASTO•FR VN•REG•VSVFR•PRIN•DOMB•G•
+ : DOMINVS•ADIVTOR•ET•REDEM•ME•1641:
3.31g -
Ref : Divo Dombes # 177 var, Friedberg # 129

 

I've spent 50+ years learning about US coins and still have a looooong way to go and not enough years left to get there.
No chance of me starting at the beginning on something new.

But I do have one ancient.
Knowing the source I have reasonable confidence it's real.
It's described as:
"ALEXANDER THE GREAT SILVER DRACHM - GREEK, MACEDONIA 337-332 BC"
Apparently that's Hercules and I have no idea what's on the reverse since it's mounted (the clear blob at 4 o'clock is glue).

Opinions about authenticity, grade and value would be greatly appreciated.

 

The size would nail down the denomination, but it appears to be a drachm of Alexander the Great. All the important information is on the reverse. Can it be unmounted?