Just bought my first 2 ancient Roman coins...I've caught the bug.

This one is a Roman Denarius featuring Marcus Aurelius
and...
this one has Diocletian on it

I don't know much about the coinage of ancient Rome yet, but I think that the dates of these coins are represented by the ruler depicted on them. Can anyone confirm this? Hopefully I'll enjoy my new collecting habit and I'm really excited about learning about the stories that they wished to spread on their coinage.

 

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Welcome to the party!

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/

 

Congratulations on these two new additions.

Marcus Aurelius (161-180 C.E.)
Diocletian (284-305 C.E.)

 

Don't let it go!



Welcome to ancient coin collectimg!

 

Congrats!

 

...if this gif is from U.S.A. I can understand why ye like guns so much...

 

ahaha .. that's too funny><

 

it ain't a bad bug to catch.. you'll most likely remember those 2 coins the rest of your life.

 

Welcome to the forum! You’ll be inspired to learn more about ancient Greece and Rome by posts that you read here. There are two ways that you can approach it. You can read up about a period of Greek or Roman history that interests you and then shop for a coin from that period. Or—you can find a coin that appeals to you visually and purchase it and then read up about the period from which your coin came. I personally follow the second method more often than not.

 

Cool first ancients @ValpoBeginner

 

I think we've talked before...maybe? I grew up in Crown Point - my father had a business in Valparaiso and my grandparents lived there. Hope to see you post some more.

 

Your Marcus Aurelius is a very special type. The reverse legend at the left is RELIG AVG and the figure shows Mercury who only rarely appears on Roman coins. The coin is associated with thanks given to Mercury for his services in 'The Miracle of the Rain'.
http://www.livius.org/sources/content/cassius-dio/dio-on-the-rain-miracle/
http://www.brill.com/marcus-aurelius-rain-miracle-and-marcomannic-wars
http://www.richardcarrier.info/archives/12480

Rather few beginner coins have this much history and controversy attached.

 

Glad you called that out!

 

Thanks very much for the links. The Carrier article is very well done. I enjoyed it very much. Thanks also for the link to the Kovacs book.

 

I guess I'm more of a 1st method kind of guy, unless I'm at a show. Then looks are all I go by as far as desirable pieces. The first ancient coin that I saw that really pulled me in was one depicting the colossus of Rohdes. Talk about visual appeal. Too much dough for me at the time, considering all the coins I needed to get for my dime collecting ventures.

I have been reading some of the feature articles on the main coin talk page and that really got me interested in the stories behind the coins

The reason I chose these two coins is because I've always liked Marcus Aurelius' approach to life in his mediations; and Diocletian for his amazing palace in what is now the Croatian town of Split, (hoping I got the right ruler for the palace). Thanks alot for the welcome. Its a whole new world of grading that I'm going to have to learn; But I'm really in it for the history.

 

Wow, cool thanks for the info and links. These are the kinds of sites I'll be using to interpret the meanings.

 

Diocletians Palace as it is today, a truly awesome public space on the Coast of Croatia. If you are ever on the Adriatic, do yourself a favor and stop here!

 

Welcome @ValpoBeginner . Thanks for sharing your treasures.

 

You started your ticket to the roman coins world very well! Welcome!

 

Congrats !