Hi all, I'm brand new to the ancient coin world. I've purchased some pre-cleaned ancient coins and I'd like to start putting them in flips/books with a little slip of info next to it. Right now, I'm just copying the basics from the listing where I purchased the coin. Based on this, I'm seeing this coin is from Nabataean Kingdom. The date is between 9BC and 40AD. It's from the Petra Mint (in Jordan). On the coin is Aretas IV Philopatri and his Queen, Shaqilat. Also, on the coin are crossed cornucopias. what I don't know is the coin's "value".. like.. 1 cent.. 1 farthing.. 1 ruble.. that sort of thing. How do I go about finding out? Also, is there any info you all usually add on your coin info slips? Thanks!
As long as the description you have is correct, it seems enough to catalogue it as such. The description gives its denomination as an AE (Copper) Unit which will also be good enough.
You can look at the way other dealers list the same type. Joe has good descriptions-- So the important stuff-- Bronze AE 19, cf. Barkay CN 186; Al-Qatanani 169; Meshorer Nabataean 114; BMC Arabia p. 8, 14; Huth 86; SNG ANS 6 1438, 3.885g, 18.7mm, 0o, Petra (Jordan) mint, jugate laureate and draped busts of Aretas IV and Shuqailat right, Nabataean initials het (Aretas) lower left (off flan) and shin (Shuqailat) lower right; reverse two cornucopias crossed and filleted, Nabataean inscription in three lines: TTRH / SQY/TL (Aretas Shuqailat, read right to left, two lines above between the horns, the last line below) I only include references on my flips if I have them.
Values on ancient coins are all over the map. With US coins, we at least have the Greysheet or the Red Book. For ancients, prior sales on auctions is about the only determiner. That is, as far as I know, but I'd be interested to see what others say.
He is talking about "value" in terms of denomination; not the coins worth today. Since we are not sure what the denomination of this coin was back in the day, it would be written as Ӕ 19 or insert what size in millimeters with Ӕ being bronze.
Hmm So, for most of the ancient coins, there isn't a "value" (because we don't know the history that far back..) so we mark the coins by Ӕ to represent that it's a bronze coin... and the number that goes with indicates the size of the coin? In the case of the coin I posted earlier, the size is "14" ? Did I do that right? (I got 14 from this)
Here is a screen shot of how I typically format my flips with the last two being the info for your coin. You fold the flips so there is info on front and back. With an 8 point font you can fit a lot of info. I usually only put one reference, the main, and will include a secondary if it offers more/different info. I also only use references I have checked; otherwise, what is the point? Also include stuff like where it is from or why it is interesting...like hoard coin or interesting provenance or unlisted etc...
Appreciate the visual - that's helpful! "No real need for that as people know (or should) what Meshorer 97 SNG etc." -- I don't know what that means?
Meshorer, Y. Nabataean Coins. Qedem 3. (Jerusalem, 1975). That's my point about not mindlessly copying and pasting references you don't have or even know what they are. My first ten years or so of collecting I was just happy to have basic info like ruler, dates etc; no need to bog down on references you don't have. Of course, some day you might have Meshorer and appreciate the reference for the future. My point is, well there is a lot to learn!
