I stopped by my local coin store yesterday to take a look around and they had a few Ancients that came in. Normally, I don't delve into the ancients, but I bought a few inexpensive modest pieces that I liked, to break the ice They are nothing special, but I like them and wanted to share them and hopefully get some feedback and some additional info on a few of them, as I slowly tiptoe into this arena. Thanks for any help or information you can provide. Judea
Nice beginning to your collection. The one with the Gorgon is from Amisos. Pontus, Amisos, c. 85-65 BC? AE 21.1 mm, 6.24 g, 12 h. Obv: Aegis, with Gorgon's head at center. Rev: Nike advancing right, carrying palm brance with filet, ΑΜΙ-ΣΟΥ across field, Monograms to left and right. Refs: Sear 3642, BMC 13.20, 77-78 (?).
Welcome to your new addiction . I've never before seen an NGC ancient slab without a grade. I mean, most of us don't care about someone else's opinion of grade but it is curious, given that NGC Ancients guarantees the grade but not the authenticity. Yes, I know that they rarely inadvertently slab a fake, but this is just bizarre. I wonder what it cost someone to have those coins slabbed??
I guess gradeless NGC slabs aren't new after all... I'd seen them and made the same comment in 2016. I just forgot. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-rare-titus-is-slab-free.286407/ https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-rare-titus-is-slab-free.286407/#post-2567759 https://www.cointalk.com/threads/as...ading-ancients-was-silly.285931/#post-2559624 I'm not familiar with the label designs used by NGC over time. Maybe the OP's coin was slabbed years ago and maybe NGC no longer offers gradeless slabbing. I don't see gradeless slabbing as an option on their overview of services.
The slabs look real new. The holograms etc are on The backs and look legitimately from NGC. I was wondering about the cost of stabbing them as well, as I paid less that what it would cost to slab them per coin
I would suspect that the gradeless slabs are worth more in the market today than the many of the same coins would be with appropriate grades. While people pay big premiums for slabs with high grades, a coin marked G, VG or F might bring less than one not marked. I am a little shocked that NGC feels necessary to play this game. Note the two here show numbers as part of the same huge lot submission. Their website instructs to call and ask about bulk prices. It would be interesting to see the price of 240+ Prutah slabs with custom Bible verse labels as compared to the value of the coins themselves 'raw'. Mine was $20 which I graded as 'not bad for these'. I'd rather have mine but thousands of people prefer plastic. That's why they make them both ways.
..kool ErR...as RC pointed out, the one with the Medusa flower is Mithradates VI, Pontos Amisos......
Welcome to the wonderful world of ancients!!! Here's a link to a great thread for newbies... Its a couple years old, but has some really great information in it. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ancient-coins-beginners’-faq-thread.324858/#post-3206941
No problem at all!! One of the things I love about the ancients forum is how friendly and helpful everyone is. You've stumbled into a very good place here...
Nice examples! Welcome to the world of ancients. This is my only prutah, Alexander Jannaeus, 103-76 BC. Judea, 103-76 BC Hasmonean dynasty AE prutah Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan) Jerusalem mint Obverse Hebrew inscription, Yehonatan High Priest Council Jews, surrounded by wreath. Reverse: Double cornucopia adorned with ribbons, pomegranate between horns. The script says: YHONTN = (Yehonatan); H= The; KHN = (Priest); H= The; DOL = (high); W = And, is missing by die engraver error. (HH)BR (consul); H= The; YHWDM (Jews). Good VF and exceptional for this crude issue. Rare 1.9 grams
