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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Valentinian, post: 2833747, member: 44316&quot;][USER=76329]@GerardV[/USER], welcome to ancient-coin collecting. I bought my first ancient over 45 years ago and I still find them fascinating. Every coin type has a story and the stories are all complex enough to take substantial enjoyable research to uncover. </p><p><br /></p><p>This is in contrast to some areas of coin collecting where you figure out the grade and check off the acquisition from a list and move on. In those areas there is little to learn, except how to grade, and little to study and learn that is not well-known. You buy the coin and you are done. (How sad!)</p><p><br /></p><p>Not with ancient coins! I just wrote up a 5x8 card of information (with photo) on a 24 mm coin of Hadrian from Chalcis:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]668614[/ATTACH] </p><p>You&#039;d have to be pretty deep into ancient coins to even know where Chalcis is (It&#039;s in Syria). I expect a beginner would not even care--it is too obscure. I point this out merely to emphasize that even a long-time collector has things to learn and enjoy. I bought this coin without a &quot;MS&quot; grade; I liked it. That was enough. For those of us who collect ancients, and you are now among us, there is total freedom to collect what you like--whatever interests you. I will spare you the details of why this coin is very interesting (to me). The ID is</p><p>Hadrian, 117-138, this coin probably struck in 117. </p><p>Sear <i>Greek Imperial Coins</i> 1236. Butcher, <i>Coinage in Roman Syria</i>, Chalcis 15.</p><p><br /></p><p>By the way, I am far from done studying this coin. A saw a note that said King Herod had some association with Chalcis. I&#039;ll look into that. Where is Chalcis located in the war now going on over there?&nbsp; I&#039;ll look into that. See that Delta as the last letter in the wreath?&nbsp; I&#039;ll look into that. I know enough Greek that I recognize the &quot;X&quot; in the first line as a Greek &quot;chi&quot; which begins the name of the city, XALambdaK... [Chalc...], but what is the Phi-Lambda which begins the reverse legend? I&#039;ll look into that. </p><p><br /></p><p>[USER=76329]@GerardV[/USER], I don&#039;t expect you to be interested in my coin of Chalcis. I expect few CoinTalk ancient-forum members would be interested. The series of Roman provincial coins like that one is not easy to understand and everyone begins with simpler series, like Roman imperial or Greek coins. But, we can all agree that ancient coins are interesting and, if you are inclined to learn, ancient-coin collecting is not a subject where you check the coin off a list and you are done--there is no end to the learning and enjoyment.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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