One of my goals is to get a USA or International coin before 1800. I know that may not be so difficult, but is one of my coin collecting goals. Having said that I am curious with this bunch (ya you guys) what is the oldest coin you have. Any history to it?
Just a few days ago there was a nice post (with pictures even!) listing 5 oldest coins. I think it can't be any farther back then page three. (It didn't get as many responces as I was hoping it would get, I was enjoying reading it) My oldest is circa 300 BC... really old coins aren't that hard to find or expensive...you can do it! I never thought I would get older then the 1830s but once I got onto the forums last year I nabbed a coin from 1797, then I discovered ancients! Now, that coin from 1797 which was the oldest thing I had ever held, does not even rank in my Top 5 oldest, and barely even makes it into my Top 10. (ranked 8th) US coins from the 1700s...highly priced...world coins...not so much so. It's really amazing to hold something that old and just study it. Here is a scan of my 1797 coin. I paid $18 for it. Not sure if those are scratches or planchet adjustment marks...I don't care, I love it anyway!
world coins from the 1700's especially later in the century are fairly easy to come by and much less expensive than their American counterparts. I would focus there if I were you, or you could go much further back and perhaps tackle an ancient coin.
Euboia, Histiaia AR tetrobol Histiaia, 3rd cent. BC head of nymph Histiaia r., wreathed in vine, hair rolled IΣTIAΩN nymph Histiaia seated r. on galley, stern ornamented with shield S 2498 stainless
My oldest coins are ancient Roman, the oldest 2 being from the 2nd century B.C. My oldest American coin, which is my oldest coin with an actual date on it, is an 1831 half dollar.
Here's mine, a 1783 1/2 Reale from the shipwreck El Cazador. Bought this from Mel Fisher's store about six years ago. Common coin with a neat story. Guy~
