Difficulty In Collecting: Ancients VS. U.S. Coins

That's a good point. I've mentioned something like this before. When you collect US coins, the idea of a set is very rigidly defined, usually by Whitman or Dansco or similar. But with ancients, unless you have an unbelievably large budget, you have to pick and choose, defining your own set as you go.

 

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I collect u.s. and world coins still though I'm not so active, but I dont have many worth showing. Another thing I like is that its ok to have a lil dirt on your ancient coins

 

Love the response my man.
(The token ain't too bad either.)

Now, I have to agree 100% of what you are saying, in H.S., kids learn about U.S. history, and modern Geography, Culture, and Economics, rarely does the subject of Ancient Rome come up.
I think location comes in to play though, when it comes to knowledge of Ancient Civilizations, the rulers, and the coinage. So it might be harder for a kid in Greece to collect Morgan Dollars, versus coins that date back way in the day. A point that has already been brought up in this thread.

But, in U.S. coinage it can be the same way, many collectors don't just go by the little $3 folders you can get at Hobby Lobby or a Coin Shop made by Whitman, a lot of people are loose cannon collectors, who don't like to play by the rules, they by whatever they feel like, and staying in their own budget, they define their sets by key coins that they can put other coins around.

Love that first one!

 

That's a mighty fine looking pair of Romans, randygeki.

The two standards shown on the upper one display different awards. This indicates that the coin is "probably" saluting two Cohorts of a particular Legion. "Probably" for valor following a successful campaign.

The lower coin is more interesting. Not only does it show two standards, it also shows a Legion banner between the standards. Because the standards show differing symbols [awards], this suggests a Legion having a long history, having campaigned in more than one theater of operations. It also could represent that a Legion was newly reformed from the remainder of two that were badly mauled. Need the Legion number to more fully understand the history involved.

Legion banners habitually show the Legion designation [e.g., LEG XXIV} and it's motto [e.g.,FIDELITY]. Don't see them on your coin. Wish it were so. To us ex-lifers, interested in military history, your two coins are simply beautiful. Thanks for sharing them with us.

 

To me, this is like asking "Which is better - Italian food or Thai food ?"
Why even ask ? They aren't mutually exclusive; I can enjoy both.
Further, to approach your question one must define the term "harder". If one takes it to mean "difficulty in completing the entire set", they are both impossible so it's a tie.
It's meaningless to compare one nation's 218 year coinage history with the combined 4000 year history of all nation's coinage. A more reasonable comparison is a complete set of US coinage versus a complete set of a single ancient kingdom's coinage; the unattainable complete US set is typically much more challenging.

 

Ive seen alot!! Maybe your not looking hard enough!

 

Actually, T-money, there is an enormous difference. There is far more authentication of US coinage. Ancient collectors are much more resistant to change, and too many are fighting the inevitable "Ancients in slabs" tooth and nail.

The forgery / counterfeit problem is much worse in ancients. There's no telling how many "authorities" on ancient coinage have counterfeits in their collection. While one can say "it's the same in US collecting", it isn't. There is a major difference of extent, just like a 10% chance of cancer is very different from a 0.01% chance of cancer.

 

Why even ask? Maybe because I thought this thread would be fun, and I would enjoy seeing other people's responses. Screw that though.

You got me there.

 

Italian food, definatly.

 

both u.s. coins are ancients are faked, and yeah, there are alot more fake ancients, but theres alot more obvious fakes too, that are easier to spot than a silver round. Someone new to U.S. coins can be easily tricked with a morgan round just as easilly as someone new to ancients can be tricked with a tourist fake ancient. There is also alot off fake u.s. Slabs though, and bogus grading companies which get alot of people


edit: just to add there are alot of well done fakes too.

 

I disagree entirely. The problem is no worse with ancients than with any other type of coin. Granted, the authentication methods are different. Yes, there may be numerically more counterfeits, but the vast majority of these are pathetically obvious to a collector with as little as a few hours experience. Yes, there are some extremely difficult, "Omega" quality fakes among ancients. But with a good head, these will not generally be a problem to the collector.

Sand-cast Caligula sestertius:


Machine-struck Antoninus Pius denarius:


These are equal in quality to the most obvious fake trade dollars.

One last thing in response to the authentication issue. For US coins, TPG's offer buyback guarantees. The trusted ancient dealers all offer unconditional returns in the event of questionable authenticity. Its the same deal, just without the middleman.

 

Thats a crack at me huh!! lol