Just thought I'd throw these out there. Anyone else collect ancient artifacts? The first is an Egyptian Beaded Necklace about 2,600 years old (obviously not the string) and the second is an Egyptian Kohl Pot of similar age. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
WAY cool!!! I LOVE artifacts but going after coins always seems to deplete any reasonable budget I could put together...but I managed a few 'budget' items mostly as 'historical curiousities'----such as Roman fibulae (1st-3rd century 'safety pins').
I have to go not far from coins - to jewelry. I have a little from times of Kiev culture in silver XII-XIII c. AD, and this one from chernyakhovskaya culture (west of Ukraine). This is a moon amulet (lunnica) in gold III-IV c. AD.
I picked up Elagabalus with Astarte, along with a couple of Constantius II to depict the varying colors of the sand through the ages and places. Sorry I should have posted these in the Bronze Patina thread.
Interesting question. When I got started back in the 80's, most collectors of coins also had at least a small antiquity collection. Most ancient dealers also had a small to larger selection of antiquities. These days it seems most dont collect them, and most coin dealers dont sell them either. I speculate that part of it is the increase in the price of shipping. It is cost prohibitive, especially if the package leaves the US. I just sold a nice Luristan axe and a couple of coins. The shipping to Australia means that I actually lose money on the transaction. Bummer, but that is the risk. Here is a pic of some items I have (not all). I have posted before. What is my favorite? That little ceramic black cat my daughter painted and gave me for Christmas!
I got a few pieces of jewelry from the Roman era but nothing much. They do fascinate me but I collect too many things already. Cant really find the time or budget to start up another hobby.
I think this quote is part of the difference why many dont collect antiquities anymore. In the old days coins were just another antiquity and many collected in that general frame. Now people are more focused (either on coins and other items) and now there is a seperation. I'm not sure that is good or bad, just that it is. I have no idea if the markets are better or worse (I think the coin market is HUGELY higher now, the antiquity market HUGELY lower than it used to be).
I have always found ancient seals to be fascinating. The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore (one of my favorite places) has a great collection of seals on display.
Cool stuff everyone! I really like the Kohl pots in the OP @fred.lombardo102 ... I am going after small stuff: Egypt - Eye of Horus: Egypt Faience Eye of Horus Amulet ca 1070-332 BCE 3rd Int to Late Per - Blue glaze double sided Obv-Rev.jpg Egypt Faience Eye of Horus Amulet ca 1070-713 BCE 3rd Int Per - orange glaze Petrie Amulets plate XXV 19mm (Orange glaze earlier and more uncommon) Obv-Rev.jpg Weaponry: I know @TIF isn't in to this stuff, but she is already busted! I saw her pic shooting a rifle with her Dad... China Xinjiang Warring States Period 475-221 BCE Arrowhead socketed leaf shaped biblade w grooves nailhole bronze 36x10mm 3.9g.JPG Scythia 2 AE Arrowheads 7th-3rd C BC Trilobate Lower Danube 21-25mm O-R.JPG Roman Sling Stone 200 BCE - 400 CE Almond Shaped PB lead 34x14mm 42.4g.JPG Roman Sling Stone 200 BCE - 400 CE Almond Shaped PB lead 37x14mm 41.2g.JPG Sicily Mamertini 264-241 BCE AE Pentonkion Zeus Warrior Shield Spear Merc Samnites- Messana.JPG
MISC: The KEY to the Roman Empire was AFTER the Legions were done with their work, that BUILDING, ENGINEERING, FARMING, COMMERCE, etc. were firmly established. One key element was their development of a sustainable and versatile buiding material: CONCRETE. Without it, they may not have had the Empire. Rome ISCA Legio II Augusta 75-300 CE Caerleon Concrete 2 pcs 26x21mm ea.JPG Obtained in situ. LOL, wife found at beach close to me in NC... Sharks Tooth 43x29mm O-R.jpg Egypt Ptolemy IV 221-205 BC AE 37mm 42g Drachm Zeus-Ammon Eagle Tbolt SV 974 O-R.jpg
LATE EGYPT - Makedonon Occupation... Egypt Ptolemy I Soter Tet Obv-Rev Delta bankers marks.jpg EGYPT - SCARABAE Egypt Amenhotep III Scarab 1390-1352 BCE cartouch Neb Maat Ra 43.37g 45mm ex Gustave Mustake.JPG Egypt SCARAB Middle Kingdom 2065-1650 BCE Scarabeaus Sphinx O-R.jpg Egypt Scarab Pamai Pamay 830 - 773 BCE 8th Pharaoh of the 22nd Dynasty 960 - 766 BC High Priest of Ma'at..JPG Egypt SCARAB Seti I ca 1291-1278 BCE 19th Dynasty ex Zuzim.JPG Egypt SCARAB Thuthmosis III ca 1504-1450 BCE ex CNG ex Hendin.JPG
@fred.lombardo102 , Most of the scarabae are steatite (chalk, soapstone) and are roughly 15cm (basically the last joint on your finger) and light in weight. The first scarab is a denser stone and is a big one! It is roughly the SIZE of a Heart Scarab, but Heart Scarabae typically have nothing on the belly of the scarab...
I used to have some Roman artifacts a few years back, but I never really was that interested in that stuff as much as coins. Yes, it's neat to hold pottery or jewelry used by people 2,000 or so years ago, but in the end coins won out because I just can't afford to collect coins, guns, watches, and fountain pens, and add antiquities on top of that. My budget has it's limits. Having a child was the nail in the coffin for my small antiquities collection. It all ended up on Ebay so I could buy diapers, cradle, toys, clothes, etc. I've never taken up antiquities since then. I even had to give up some of my other hobbies or downsize them for a while thanks to the expenses of parenthood...not that I'm complaining.