I've been trying to figure out what a good price range of coins I should start on... I would have liked to get a coin of each ceasar/emperor but I've quickly learn many are why out of my price range.. Should I just go with the cheap ones ($50 or less)..sounds like a good way to start but I've read they not even worth that money and better to save up to get better ones (I could always buy the cheap ones whenever..they will always be there..) The expensive ones, $1000 and up, I would have to save a year or more.., which the problem is that I wouldn't know if I was getting ripped off or not, also its hard to save up a year just for 1 coin..most likely the wife would find the money and spend it and I would end up pennyless and coinless! How about the $100-300 dollar coins? I'm guessing these are not likely to be faked? Thanks!
There are fakes in all price ranges. The real trick is to use trusted dealers and don't spend a huge amount unless you have a good feel for the series. As for whether cheap coins are "worth the money," that largely depends on what your intention with them is. Are you trying to invest? If so, then the more expensive ones are probably a better bet. However, keep in mind that ancients are trickier than modern coins in this respect, as there aren't standard price guides, and some guy in Bulgaria could dig up a hoard of just about any coin and flood the market. Do you want the coins for the history, art, or simple love of coins? In that case, there's nothing wrong with going cheap. The issue is simply whether you enjoy the coins or not. You may very well buy coins that others wouldn't touch, but as long as you like them that shouldn't matter. Personally, I've never spent more than $30 on a coin. You can take a look at a decent amount of what I have here for an idea of what you can get. I've managed to get some coins that most collectors would agree were pretty good for what I've paid, and I've got some that have little value due to being broken, but I'm fond of them, anyway. You'll find some people who have collecting strategies like mine, and others who'd call almost everything in my collection junk. What you think is really up to you. As you are new at this, I would recommend staying away from the really expensive stuff for now. As you look at and handle more coins, you'll get a better feel for what you really like and what's important for style and condition, and you may find that you no longer like some of the earlier stuff you got. Many people also become rather specialized in certain periods, emperors, mints, and/or other factors as they learn and collect more, and many simply no longer value having coins of many of the emperors that they cared about early on. This isn't to say that everyone does this, but you should probably wait to make sure of what you like before you spend the big bucks.
Thanks! I'm interested in history especially Rome and not *really* into coins for investing.. but of course, if needed to be sold, then it would be nice to recoup some money. I like that on www.forumancientcoins.com you can put your gallery there..i will have to sign up..
There are very very few emperors that require serious money to obtain. A portrait Julius Caesar, (and he technically wasn't an emperor), Otho, and just a couple of others I believe. Most emperors can be obtained pretty cheaply depending on your insistence of metal and level of preservation. I agree with the above advice. Do not spend any serious money until you get to more advanced collecting. Spend some time getting "easier" emperors and get to know Roman coinage. Many US collectors getting into Ancients feel a draw to form a "complete" collection of all Roman emperors, and want to acquire the "key" coins. Most ancient collectors do not have this view, and end up specializing in a certain area. "Keys" are not a very common thought in ancient collecting. Collect what you like, if you want one of every emperor, cool. First you need to decide who even qualifies though. Seriously, there is not a sanctified listing, its kind of up to you.
For me I try to keep my ancient's budget under a $100. The most expensive was $90 and cheapest was $23. If there is a ancient that you really love and its something you really wouldnt mind owning, get it if you can afford it. Ive done it to two already. Sometimes the cheaper ones are better then a $225 one. Its all your preference.
A lot of what you pay for ancients depends on how set you are to have a particular coin. If you decide that your next coin will be a certain thing and you will pay what you must to get it, you will probably pay top dollar. If, however, you look at what is available for a reasonable price and select something that you would not mind having, you can do better. Some dealers at shows have a half price box where they put things that for some reason did not sell at their original price and they want to get rid of it to free up the cash to buy more popular stuff. If you are hoping to make money on coins you will probably do better buying a few very expensive coins of people you have heard of (Julius Caesar) but I have more fun with junk that will never sell to anyone but cost me the same as a fast food meal. I offered opinions on the matter on a page I did back in 2001. Today the prices are higher (perhaps 50% more???) but the concept is still valid. Buy what you want but want what you buy. http://dougsmith.ancients.info/acmshow.html At the last show I attended I bought coins ranging from $5 to $40. There are a couple in the $10 range I wish I had left behind but the overall experience was a good day. $25 to $100 will get you a good variety of decent looking coins.
Btw, NGC does offer a certification / grading service for ancient coins. You could limit yourself to only buying certified coins OR you could take a little risk and submit them after you buy them.
You could, but just be aware that slabbing ancients does not add value to most of us, and can actually destroy value. Look at Doug's pic above. That is what most of us think of slabs. Personally I will not buy a slab unless for sure I know I will have enough time to crack them open later. I heard CNG last year attended an auction that the collector had spent the money to have all of his ancients slabbed. I believe they bought about half the auction, then had an intern spend the next week breaking all of them apart....... CNG is a wonderful company, and so are a great many large, well known ancient firms. Buying anything from them will virtually guarantee authenticity. Ancient collectors like history, holding history in your hands, doing die studies and examining the coins under microscopes. We handle our coins much more than US collectors I guess.
That sounds like very good advice for people who are experts in the field. I merely dabble in ancients, however, and will continue to rely on NGC to ensure I'm not getting taken for a ride.
The coin I sawed out of the slab was $10 which was about what similar coins I had seen 'RAW' were selling for. I believe NCG will be correct on most of their slabs but some other brands are worthless. You are more likely to be taken for a ride buying a slab from a crook than a RAW coin from a trusted dealer (Forvm, VCoins etc.).
That is completely understandable Mac. I just wanted to point out that if the OP buys from trusted sources there is little if any chance of forgeries, probably lower than a slabbed coin. I have seen so many mistakes and suspect coins in the ancient field slabbed I am leery of what protection they offer. Plus, if the coin is not slabbed then you have the joy of actually holding ancient history.
