So I was just looking around at some of the offerings for one of these king Herod the Great "prutahs" I guess their called. Possibly wanting to get one from the first king as maybe my first ancient. The condition of most I've looked at leaves a lot to be desired. Full designs seem rare. Are they actually rare or just not as often for sale? What is there to know? I'd like to get one that doesn't just look like a corroded rock. I'm looking at the ones with the anchor and crossed cornucopias but I'd be open to others. I have no idea what the values are or how many are estimated to exist. Or even how many types there are or what would be the most desirable type to own. I'd like to get one with half way clear designs. Preferably graded.
Bronze prutahs/Widow's mites are extremely common, even those in nice condition. Most prutahs are inexpensive, there's no need to have them graded. These coins tend to retail for less than the cost of grading them. Most ancient coin collectors don't concern themselves with slabbing coins. In fact, many ancient numismatists crack coins out of the slabs and keep them raw. Unlike US coins, an ancient coin's grade isn't as important as there's factors that more heavily affect an ancient coin's desirability and value (strike, provenance, die artistry, centering, planchet quality, overall eye appeal etc.) Buying a slabbed prutah just means you're needlessly overpaying for an otherwise common, low value coin. Besides, NGC's policy doesn't guarantee the authenticity of ancient coins unlike modern coins. Sure, NGC wouldn't knowingly slab fake ancient coins, but they aren't liable in the rare case they do slab a fake coin. Incitatus Coins (Steve McBride) is selling a bunch of Herod prutahs for $20-$40: https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/in...rchDateType=0&store_order_by=&solditems=False
Thanks for the advice. I went ahead and bought a raw one off V-coins for half the price of a graded one I was looking at that wasn't as nice. Good info.
Ok, time for show and tell. This arrived from the other side of the World today. I was surprised it only took about 11 days. It looks nicer in hand than the close ups. I was happy with it because the anchor side had the full circle of dots and the cornucopia side almost showed the full circle. As mentioned, this is my first ancient. It's how I imagined a 2000 year old coin would look.
Ancient coins are fascinating. CT got me started on them. I now have a bunch of them. I buy the ones that excite me. Congratulations on your coin. It’s one I would like to have one day.
That's a nice example. The patina, strike and contrast are very good. You'll find, if you haven't all ready, that ancient coins are a world separate from world or US coins. Encrusted surfaces, uneven strikes and off center strikes and other environmental effects of burial, including corrosion, for the vast majority of ancients are the norms. What else would one expect of coins that are thousands of years old? It is a wonder for me each time to hold a coin that old, with all of the history behind it, beckoning us to enquire more about history and the individuals behind it. They have certainly been a prime catalyst for my investigations and information searches for topics as diverse as Athens in the 5'th century BC, Alexander III and his successors, the Roman Republic and Imperial Rome, and the Byzantine emperors. Much information has been obtained through searches online and through the knowledge of members of this and other forums, a truly rich and fulfilling experience that I hope you will experience on your journey through the world of ancient coins.
