What is your oldest coin ?

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by offa the saxon, Aug 6, 2020.

  1. offa the saxon

    offa the saxon Well-Known Member

    This is mine a Darius siglos from circa 400bc from ancient Persia



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    Last edited: Aug 6, 2020
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  3. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    ..welp, that's purdy dang old!...:D..i've got a couple from that neck o de woods.. Persian Siglos 001.JPG Persian Siglos 002.JPG
     

    Attached Files:

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  4. medoraman

    medoraman Supporter! Supporter

    Whatever they declare the oldest I have a copy of. Right now I am pretty sure its the striated Lydian electrum pieces, but I have the first Chinese spade as well.
     
  5. ancientone

    ancientone Well-Known Member

    Oldest bronze
    onkia.jpg Gela, Sicily. c5th Century BC. 10mm AE Onkia
    Obv: GELAS, bull left; pellet in exergue.
    Rev: Head of river-god right; barley grain to left.
    Sold
     
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  6. offa the saxon

    offa the saxon Well-Known Member

    A nice Olbia





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  7. Pavlos

    Pavlos You pick out the big men. I'll make them brave!

    My oldest coins:

    [​IMG]
    Ionia, Phokaia. AR Diobol. Circa 521-478 B.C.
    Obverse:
    Head of a nymph to left, wearing sakkos adorned with a central band and circular earring.
    Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square.
    Reference: Klein 452. SNG Copenhagen 389-94. SNG Kayhan 522.
    1.32g; 10mm

    [​IMG]
    Ionia, Kolophon. AR Tetartemorion. Circa 530/25-500 B.C. Persic standard.
    Obverse: Archaic head of Apollo left.
    Reverse: Incuse square punch.
    Reference: Kim & Kroll pp. 84–103; SNG Kayhan 354.
    0.21g; 4.5mm

    [​IMG]
    Islands off Troas, Tenedos. AR Hemidrachm. Circa 550-470 B.C.
    Obverse:
    Archaic janiform head of Zeus and Hera.
    Reverse: T-E-N-E Labrys; all within linear square within incuse square.
    Reference: SNG Copenhagen 506-7 var. (differing legend arrangement).
    1.81g; 16mm
     
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  8. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Actually this one:

    Mark Antony

    ant1.jpg

    ant2.jpg
     
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  9. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Exact dates are difficult in the 6th century BC but the town of Sybaris was destroyed in 510 BC so these are in the running. Many archaic Greek coins are lucky to be dated within 50 years.

    AR nomos 550-510 BC
    g10086fd3393.jpg

    AR trias 550-510 BC
    g10085rp0521.jpg

    There are several differences in specimens of these that probably show a date progression but I am not aware of a work that discusses how to tell the early from the late or of hoard evidence that would help. I would appreciate hearing of these if anyone knows of detailed studies.
     
  10. robinjojo

    robinjojo Well-Known Member

    The oldest coin in the collection is a bit problematic in my case, but I would say this example is the best candidate, an Attica tetradrachm from the period of 500-490 BC, perhaps a little earlier (early 6th century BC).

    This particular coin, while typically crude, features a left-facing owl, and a completely reversed "AOE" (ΑOΕΝΑΙΟΝ). Whoever did the engraving for the reverse forgot a fundamental rule: always engrave into the die the reverse of the positive image in order to have the correct orientation for the struck coin. This is a very rare error.

    17.7 grams
    22.97 mm, 12 h.
    D-Camera  AtticaI tetradrachm, archaic, 500-490 BC,, 8-6-20.jpg
     
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  11. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    That would be this Ionian hekte, dating to 625-600 BCE. Below that is a companion contemporary counterfeit.

    Screen Shot 2020-08-06 at 12.03.55 PM.jpg Screen Shot 2020-08-06 at 12.04.21 PM.jpg
     
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  12. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    ApolloniaPontica 2.jpg
    APOLLONIA PONTIKA
    AR Hemiobol
    OBVERSE: Anchor, A in field
    REVERSE: Swastika with two parallel lines in each quadrant
    Struck at Apollonia Pontika, circa 500BC
    .28g, 6.54mm
    SNG BM 149; Moushmov 3146
    ex. Aegean Numismaics
     
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  13. happy_collector

    happy_collector Well-Known Member

    My oldest coin is an Attica tetradrachm. Off-centered, but affordable and without test cut. :)

    Attica009.jpg Attica Tetradrachm
    510-480 BC.
    Seltman Group G; Asyut Group IV; HGC 4, 1590.
     
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  14. tibor

    tibor Supporter! Supporter

    1204-toledo-obol.jpg
    This an Obol with the date 1204 in Roman numerals. At the time in Spain,
    they were using a calendar system introduced by Augustus Caesar.There is a
    38 year difference between the two. The date translates to 1166 A.D. I have
    undated Roman coins but none worth the calories to trigger the shutter on
    a camera.
     
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  15. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    I find it interesting that Western Countries feel that everything was invented in Europe or The Med. I find it myopic when considering Human History world wide. There were many Eastern or “Other” cultures using the concept of money through coinage. Sadly, we seem to think coins must be round. However, even in Western coinage during ancient times had square and irregular coins (I have seen a lot of ancient Roman coins that are a hot mess after manufacture, and Byzantines look and are shaped crudely.)

    INDIA
    [​IMG]'
    India Gandhara janaprada
    AR Bent Bar 11.3g
    650-600 BCE
    RARE two dots
    - also have on BOTH sides is VERY RARE
    [​IMG]


    CHINA FISH MONEY

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    China Zhou Dynasty 1046-256 BCE AE Fish Money 67mm 9.5g AB Coole Enc Chinese Coins 6920ff
    EX: @Ken Dorney

    West

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    Iona Kolophon AR Tetartemorion 530-520 BCE Archaic Apollo Incuse Punch 0.15g 4.5mm- SNG Kayhan 343
    Ex: @John Anthony

    Oldest Scarab (Represents Periods in Egyptian Culture when they had no Coins):

    These were worn as necklaces or bracelets as Talismans

    [​IMG]
    Egypt SCARAB Middle Kingdom 2065-1650 BCE Scarabaeus Sphinx

    Oldest Seal:
    [​IMG]
    Akkadian 2350-2200 BCE Cylinder Seal Buff stone scene hero wresting antelope winged lion Ex J Tabot with SCENE

    Oldest Relic Material:
    These are figurines carved from Russian Mammoth Tusks imported into and carved in China into Chinese Zodiac Figurines: I am Year of the Boar, my Wife is Year of the Rabbit...
    At the time, it was perfectly legal to own and transport Mammoth Tusk, as it was NOT an endangered species, rather it was Extinct. However, I understand NOW you cannot purchase nor transport them into the US. These are grandfathered.
    I purchased these on one of my trips to China.
    Estimated age of Mammoth Tusks: 55,000-60,000 BCE.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    Mammoth Tusk - Russia find China carved Chinese Zodiac BOAR and RABBIT. Estimated age of Mammoth Tusks: 55,000-60,000 BCE.
     
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  16. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    I've got a couple of these dolphins... My daughter's faves.
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    [​IMG]
     
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  17. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    Oldest dated coin is going to be this Gordian III dated to ANIII
    IMG_E6224.JPG
     
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  18. Clavdivs

    Clavdivs Well-Known Member

    upload_2020-8-6_20-58-35.png
    Mysia, Kyzikos. Circa 510-475 BC. AR Obol (0.79 gm, 13mm). Obv.: Forepart of boar l.; behind, tunny. Rev.: Head of lion l. in incuse square

     
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  19. tibor

    tibor Supporter! Supporter

    @Alegandron The tusks are 55,000 years old. When were the items carved?
     
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  20. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    20th Century. The Chinese import the tusks through the Land Port at Manzhouli from Siberia. Then trucked to South China to be hand carved. I bought these west of Guangzhou (Canton).

    Mammoth Tusk used to be a non-controlled commodity when I got them in the 90’s. They were considered extinct, and NOT an endangered species like Elephant Tusk. Since then, they are controlled, and you cannot legally buy them. I checked with Customs, they are grandfathered, and I can legally own them.
     
  21. tibor

    tibor Supporter! Supporter

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