New to cointalk - this is my first post, really enjoying all of it and scrolling through v coins, finding collectors personal webpages, etc - all a lot of fun so thank you all. im looking to acquire my first coin - so far my heart is set on either an Alexander iii Heracles type coin or an Arethusa - my price range is fairly modest ~ $200. But I want a sizeable coin -hopefully in the mid 25mm size range - My question - I’m not seeing any Arethusa coins that large - if I keep looking will I find one? thanks!
Arethusa is famously depicted on Sicilian staters/tetradrachms - which are the size you're looking for. But $200 won't bring you close to one of those. Think $2000.
Welcome to Cointalk, @vincentsandcoins ! Large silver coins showing Arethusa will be tetradrachms from Syracuse, Sicily. These are far more expensive than 200 USD in pretty much any condition. If you are still looking for an Arethusa coin in this budget range, you can either search for a bronze coin or a silver obol from Syracuse. Neither of them will be as chunky as you wish for. Alexander III coins, on the other hand, are within your budget. 200 USD will buy you a terrific drachm (c. 17mm) or a very worn tetradrachm (c. 25mm). I'd recommend doing either the former or spending some 50 USD more to get a still worn but attractive Alexander tetradrachm like, for example, this one. Here are my Alexander drachm and tetradrachm. The drachm was far less, the tetradrachm more than 200 USD. Alexander III "the Great," Kingdom of Macedonia, AR tetradrachm, 325–323 BC, Amphipolis mint (under Antipater). Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin. Rev: ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, rooster standing left. 26mm, 17.17g. Ref: Price 79; Troxell 1997, issue E3. Ex CNG, e-auction 376, lot 47; ex @Tiberius collection; ex AMCC 1, lot 39. Alexander III “the Great,” Kingdom of Macedonia, AR drachm, 334–323 BC, Sardes mint. Obv: Head of Heracles right, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev: AΛEXANΔΡOY, Zeus seated left, holding eagle and sceptre, monogram left, club right. 16.5mm, 4.02g. Ref: Price 2550.
One can find a problem Alexander Tetradrachm for $200, but even then one has to wait around for one to show up.
There are some nice bronze coins from Syracuse with Persephone, Artemis, or Apollo that might be more in your price range. Ancient Greek coins tend to be more expensive than ancient Roman. There are many very attractive and reasonably priced Roman coins to be had. The more time you spend browsing and learning the more happy you'll end up with your first time purchase, as most of us who did it the other way around can tell you.
A few important things to keep in mind about Alexander the Great coinage: 1) His coinage is extraordinarily common, so don't overspend because the next auction will have another 20 to choose from. 2) The coinage in his name was struck only during the last few years of his rule... and then for about 150 years after. Lifetime Alexander coinage is plentiful, but still commands a hefty premium versus the ones struck in his name in 280 BC. 3) If we are to believe the rumors online, the current coin market is a result of millionaires looking to stash some money in assets that will hold or appreciate in value as inflation ramps up and the stock/crypto markets go bonkers, and they use things like Alexander tets like some silver stackers have bags of silver dimes. Keep this in mind as you shop; the increased prices are hopefully a temporary bubble. I only have two Alexander type coins now - a lifetime tetradrachm that set me back about $500 and that I keep displayed on my desk to admire daily And a posthumous drachm that was actually minted by the Macedonian king Antigonos I - this one was a lot find that averaged out to $35 /coin. Regrettably I had a couple dozen Alexander drachms that I sold for $30-50 each, which was the going rate back then. They would be worth about double that now.
Though, the massive Sicilian masterpieces of her are pricey, there are plenty of cool and affordable ones as well. All under $200: (Debate whether it's her or Persephone) Well over $200:
Where you made a mistake is waiting to start collecting until 2022. Each of my Syracuse tetradrachms (early and late styles) was under $200 but time travel tickets to the 1990's might add enough to the final bill that you would not complain about exorbitant shipping charges currently in fashion.
I got this Syracuse tet (Hieron I, 478-467 BCE) for about $350 all in, but that was back in 2017, and it was hard to find one that cheap then. (The missing horse heads helped!) Now, probably impossible - at least in decent condition. You should be able to get a decent non-lifetime Alex tet for around $200, but only at auction. Check out biddr.com and numisbids.com, they both have a nice search function and cover a LOT of auctions.
