What a difference large bronze coins makes

The coin to the left, a denarius, is pretty much the average size of the silver coins in my collection. It's thin, small, and at 3g not very heavy indeed. I thought my little old silver coins felt great in the hand. Well, ignorance is bliss.

I learned today holding my two new chunky bronzes that size and thickness do matter...and so does weight. Ok people, get your heads out of the gutter and allow me to explain...I'm looking especially at you @Smojo , LOL

Ptolemy III AE40, Gordian III AE sestertius, and Diva Faustina denarius


These massive bronzes may not be shinny, and may not be as eye catching as a shinny piece of silver, but they don't have to be because that's not their main charm. Please note that I'm not suggesting the style and themes depicted on them are not exciting...because they are. However, I believe the wow factor comes from the tactile feel of holding a large, substantial, heavy, and imposing chunk of metal in your hands. And that's something that most silver coins fail to deliver on. The tetradrachms certainly come very close though.


In this photo I'm holding the Gordian III sesterius and thinking "Oh my God, the feel and weight of this coin are amazing. It can't possibly get any better than this!



But then I held this massive fat ancient Egyptian hockey puck and said "Wow, just wow! What took me so long? This is incredible. I should have been buying me some of these large and sweet ancient bronzes years ago."

Don't believe me? Try one. If you are not blown away by the tactile feel alone (don't even analyze the fact that these beautiful bronzes have great artwork and are extremely wonderful works of art) then there is something wrong with you. These coins are truly a pleasure to own, and an even greater pleasure to hold.

 

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I couldn't agree with you more @Sallent....but large Tets are pretty cool too Uh oh, Are we back in the gutter again?!?

 

Yep, bigger is better, heh? Nice looking. Maybe now you'll stay away from my silver RR coins.

 

That's probably why most of my coins are bronze!

 

... why did you call-out "Smojo"?

 

@Sallent[/USER] get your hands on some nice Alexandrian Tet bronzes. Smallish in diameter but thick and chunky.
I am trying to reshoot some pics but here is an older pic that don't hurt the eyes to much.
Diocletian
20mm, 8.1g

Had a tech problem but think I fixed it

 

What about big gold coins?

Weight: 169.2 gm., Diam: 58 mm., Die axis: 12 h
http://currencies.wikia.com/wiki/Greco-Bactrian_20_stater_coin


(not mine yet)
I could melt it down for over $6000




But i have a few big bronze coins

84 grams + 46mm, (too big won't even fit in a coin flip)




38 millimeters and 23 grams,




36mm 17 grams




32mm 27g

 

Would you rather I had called you out? LOL. Was your mind in the gutter? I was just teasing Smojo. I'm sure he didn't take it personally.

 

You all know the nice clean me. Share a few pm's you find out I'm just another dirty minded old guy, lol

 

It's like a whole new real has opened!

I'll toss out a couple big 'ole bronzes to inspire your imagination:


Here's one from you boy, Gordian III:

 

I hate you ancient guys........you're too commingle, loving and understanding.......why do I like that guy that wants to build a wall?

Lovely photos fellows.........

 

@Sallent Its about time you come to the darker side. Large bronze coins are awesome, having a box of them is like lifting weights. Or a weapon, if you decide to throw it at someone.

Still small compared to some, but these are probably the largest coins I have.


35mm


29mm

 

For you @green18

 

Love the Heavy Bronze also...


Egypt Ptolemy IV 221-205 BC AE Tet 40mm 7.2mm thick 69.5g Zeus Ammon Eagle


Egypt Ptolemy III AE Tet 41mm 7.2mm thick 67.5g Zeus Ammon Eagle



RR AE Aes Grave Sextans 270 BCE 37mm 55.28g Dioscuri R and L




Roman Republic
Anonymous issue
Aes Grave Triens , Libral Standard
46mm, 90.3g, (OH! and 9.3mm THICK!)
280-276 BCE
Rome Mint
Obv: Thunderbolt; •• •• across field.
Rev. Dolphin right; •••• below.
Ref: Crawford 14/3; Haeberlin pl. 39, 7-10. Thurlow & Vecchi 3; Sear 538

 

Can't be......I'm eating 'Chinese' tonite......Love Bill though........

 

Mighty bronze is mighty.

 

I am a fan of big bronze.
RR as and semis
two aes grave and a nice sized aes rude

 

Wow, coin-gang ... what an amazing coin-thread (a bunch of great examples!)

=> ummm, here are a handful of my big, bronze and beautiful examples ...

 

I agree.

I discovered more than 25 years ago that, when it comes to ancients, my preference clearly lay with bronzes.

Nothing like the heft feel of a large bronze coin in hand. Also, for some reason I was more 'moved' by legends and devices engraved in bronze, than on silver.

Difficult to describe, really.

Today, more than 50 % of my roman coin collection is composed of 1st and 2nd. century sestertii.

 

I'll throw in this 'Provincial' since I primarily grabbed it because it was so BIG!!!



Bronze AE 34, Butcher p. 464 and pl. 29, 29 (same reverse die); SNG Cop 31; BMC Galatia p. 127, 23, VF, well centered on a broad flan, porosity and a few pits, Zeugma, probably struck at Antioch mint, weight 16.594g, maximum diameter 34.2mm, die axis 0o, 16 May 218 - 11 Mar 222 A.D.; obverse AYT K M AY ANTΩNINOC CE, laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder; reverse ZEYΓMATEΩN, tetrastyle temple, peribolos enclosing the sacred grove of trees, statue of seated Zeus within temple, disc on pediment, capricorn right in exergue; BIG 34mm bronze!