Just bought my first ancients

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by C-B-D, May 27, 2015.

  1. C-B-D

    C-B-D Well-Known Member

    I've been wanting to do this for a while. I am a U.S. coin guy. But I had a little money and wanted to dive right in and start learning. So I picked 10 coins that "spoke to me" from a well known ancients dealer, and made the purchase. Now it's time to learn (more than just the description provided by the dealer). Special thanks to @John Anthony, who pointed me towards this dealer about a year ago when I approached him about how to safely begin looking into ancients.

    Does anything stand out to you about these coins? Surfaces, detail, etc? What do you like about them?

    I love them, but need to research them fully now that they're mine. Some I paid as low as $15; the most expensive one was $69. Any thoughts you have are welcome.


    1. Constans, 337-350 AD, Two Victories Reverse
    Constans, 337-350 AD. AE 15mm, Two Victories Reverse.jpg
    2. Constantius Gallus, Caesar 351-354 AD Constantius Gallus, Caesar 351-354 AD. AE3, 18mm.jpg
    3. Constantine I, 306-337 AD Contantine I, 306-337 AD. AE Follis.jpg
    4. Crispus, as Caesar, 317-326 AD Crispus, as Caesar, 317-326 AD. AE 19mm.jpg
    5. Gallienus, 253-268 AD, AR Antoninianus. Pax Reverse Gallienus, 253-268 AD, AR Antoninianus. Pax Reverse.jpg
    6. Licinius I, 308-324 AD Licinius I, 308-324 AD. AE Follis.jpg
    7. Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis. Carracalla. 198-217 AD Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis. Carracalla. 198-217 AD. AE 27.jpg
    8. Numerian, 283-284 AD Numerian, 283-284 AD. AE Antoninianus.jpg
    9. Postumus, Romano Gallic Emperor, 260-269 AD Postumus, Romano-GZallic Emperor, 260-269 AD. AR Antoninianus.jpg
    10. Probus, 276-282 AD Probus. AD 276-282. Antoninanus, Adventus.jpg
     
    Last edited: May 27, 2015
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. Aidan_()

    Aidan_() Numismatic Contributor

    Congrats CBD! Welcome to the Dark Side. ;)
    I like number 5 for the slight toning, gives it more character, and 7 'cause its got a nice detailed eagle on it.
     
    C-B-D likes this.
  4. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Nice lot for starting into ancients. I will go out on a limb and say the $69 one was the Marcianopolis, Caracalla?
     
    C-B-D likes this.
  5. ken454

    ken454 Well-Known Member

    very nice selection!
     
    C-B-D likes this.
  6. Mikey Zee

    Mikey Zee Delenda Est Carthago

    First of all, WELCOME!!

    Second, I love all of your coins---all are extremely attractive, well struck and centered---- all exhibiting exceptional eye-appeal----not to mention a terrific assortment of Emperors and mints. I'd love to have any and all in my collection!!

    Obviously, there are many ways to research and attribute Ancients, just as there are for moderns. Wild Winds.com and acsearch just to mention a couple:

    http://www.acsearch.info/search.htm...1&ot=1&images=1&currency=usd&order=0&company=

    http://www.acsearch.info/search.htm...1&ot=1&images=1&currency=usd&order=0&company=

    I'm sure many of the 'guys'---there are both male and female members in our little group---will comment shortly and offer their opinions and assistance...

    GREAT purchases C-B-D!!!
     
    Okidoki and C-B-D like this.
  7. C-B-D

    C-B-D Well-Known Member

    You are correct! That was the most expensive one. The rest fell between the $15-$35 range.
     
  8. C-B-D

    C-B-D Well-Known Member

    Thanks! Number 5 was definitely in my top 3 as well!
     
    Aidan_() likes this.
  9. rugrats2001

    rugrats2001 Seeker of Truth

    Why the mystery? Who is the dealer?
     
  10. C-B-D

    C-B-D Well-Known Member

    Praefectus Coins... found on Vcoins.com
     
    Mikey Zee likes this.
  11. rugrats2001

    rugrats2001 Seeker of Truth

  12. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    They are good to deal with. I have gotten many coins from them.
     
    C-B-D likes this.
  13. John Anthony

    John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

    A wonderful set of coins, except the Numerian and Postumus are a little too rough for my taste. It could be the pics though - Praefectus' coins are much brighter in hand, his pics are rather dark and dreary.

    The ants of Postumus during his earlier reign were of better silver and the portraits were struck hard and crisp. Here is one of mine...

    postumus.jpg

    At any rate, a nice collection, and since you're a dealer I'll say you probably won't have any problems trading them for a profit IF you get some brighter, sharper images of the coins. But your photography is always excellent, so I have no doubts.
     
    dlhill132, Gil-galad, stevex6 and 4 others like this.
  14. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Welcome to the dark side, C-B-D, and congrats on your first ancient buys. My first purchase about 3 years ago was also a group of 10 coins. I was completely clueless and without a doubt you've done much better than I did. Your coins mostly all have good detail, decent surfaces and centering, and you've got a nice variety of rulers and types as well. A lot more than I can say for the group that I bought!

    To my eye the Postumus seems the weakest because of the poor surfaces, which is unfortunate if only because it detracts from what I think is the best portrait face of the 'Crisis of the Third Century' period. Get yourself a better Postumus already!

    Just kidding about that last statement :D... eventually we all get around to buying better coins the more experienced we become and the deeper we delve into the incredibly diverse and absorbing world of ancient coins.

    I'm interested to see what your next purchases will be. Buy them soon, and show us pics! :)
     
    Mikey Zee and C-B-D like this.
  15. C-B-D

    C-B-D Well-Known Member

    Believe it or not, most of these I am keeping until I find ones that are more sharply struck. And the ones that do get sold won't be so until I've educated myself on their history.
     
  16. C-B-D

    C-B-D Well-Known Member

    The Postumus was $15, and I couldn't resist at that price.
     
  17. John Anthony

    John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

    I believe it. I've read many of your posts in other forums - you're obviously one of the dealers that is truly interested in numismatics as well as trade.
     
    Ancientnoob likes this.
  18. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Welcome to the dark side. Those are all pretty nice coins, many of which I would like to have. The portraits on the first five are excellent in my opinion.
     
    C-B-D likes this.
  19. chrsmat71

    chrsmat71 I LIKE TURTLES!

    welcome CBD! some cool new coins, i really like the gallienus...that's nice. the late roman bronze is solid (i need a good constantius gallus myself...i'd take that one for sure.)
     
    C-B-D likes this.
  20. Okidoki

    Okidoki Well-Known Member

    ancients rock
     
    stevex6, Ancientnoob and C-B-D like this.
  21. rzage

    rzage What Goes Around Comes Around .

    Nice coins CBD , they're like Busties , quite addicting . I'm always looking for Roman Republican coins when at a show or go into Harlen Berks . Though I really want a nice Greek coin next . 1st I need to get a good book though .
     
    Ancientnoob likes this.
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page