Lets see your first ancient coins and how did you get into them? My first: Philip V of Macedon Attribution: SNG Copenhagen 1244 Date: 221-179 BC Obverse: Head of Zeus right, wearing oak wreath Reverse: B-A / Φ, Athena advancing right, brandishing spear and shield Size: 19.12 mm Weight: 4.25 grams Two months ago I had no idea one could collect things like this. I've always loved greek and roman history it just never occured to me that one could collect ancient coins. I always thought they belonged in a musuem its awesome to be able to own something that has so much history.
My first ancient purchase ... => just a random decision ($25, delivered) I never looked back ... Valentinian I, AE19 Valentinian I & Emperor with captive
Nice first choice. I went with a 'first ten'... To be honest, when I got them in hand I was so underwhelmed - smaller and grubbier than the pictures! - I didn't make another purchase for a year. Sometimes things just take a bit of time to grow on you. Now, well past my first thousand ancients, those first ten make me smile fondly.
My first purchases---about thirty years ago---were of lots of uncleaned bronzes from a company that once operated out of California...and quite a few were decent LRB's. I had already started with moderns and was astonished to find out so many 'ancients' were not only available but quite affordable.
Not bad for your first. Here was mine. It's been a long time since I bought it. Eugenius 392-394 AD AE 14mm 0.65 gm (Trier) Obv.: DN E[VGENI-VS] PF AVG; Draped, cuirassed and diademed bust right. Rev.: VICT[ORI-A AV]GG; In ex: TR; Victory advancing left. RIC 107.
I no longer own the first ancient coin I purchased, but I remember it well. I was at the 1986 ANA mid-winter in Salt Lake City and I was collecting Bust halves at the time. When I saw an elephant denarius labelled "mint traveling with Julius Caesar" I was hooked and began the conversion to ancients. BTW, it was a beautiful EF for $250...
my first 2, bought off ebay for 10 bucks each.... Constans as Augustus (337 - 350AD) Siscia mint. AE3 Struck - 334-335 AD. Obv./ FL CONSTANS PF AVG, laureate, cuirassed, draped bust right. Rev./ GLORIA EXERCITVS, two soldiers standing with spears and shields, two standards with "O" between, pellet ASIS pellet in ex. 18.1mm 2.0g RIC VII 238 Constans, AE3, Siscia. 346-348 AD. CONSTAN-S PF AVG, rosette-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right / GLOR-IA EXERC-ITVS, two soldiers holding spears and shields with one standard between them. Chi-rho on banner. Mintmark: BSIS dot in crescent 16.3mm 1.3g RIC VIII 99
Purchased here on cointalk from another collector. Septimius Severus (193 - 211 A.D) AR Denarius O: SEVERVS AVG PART MAX, Laureate head right. R:RESTITVTOR VRBIS (Restoration of the City), Severus in military attire, spear in left, sacrificing over a tripod altar with right. Rome mint, 201 A.D. 3.3g 18mm RIC 167a, RSC 599, BMCRE 202
July 2005 at a small antique shop in Stratford, England. I wasn't collecting anything at the time. It would be about five months before I picked up collecting US again, and then another six or so before I got my next ancient. Constantine I. Trier mint, 1st officina. Struck spring AD 317
Nor surprisingly I don't have a pic of mine, but also not unsurprisingly still own the coin. It was a pretty little 3/4 head Larissa bronze with pretty deep green patina. As pretty as this coin is, I am always surprised why I am not more of an ancient greek collector.
Still have it after 30 years! Bought in 1985 for $29 (not a good investment!): Valerian I, 253 - 260 AD AR Antoninianus, 21mm, 3.9 grams Obverse: IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG, Radiate bust right. Reverse: RESTITVT ORIENTIS, The Orient standing on left, presenting wreath to Valerian who stands on right. RIC287
My first siliqua, in 2011, was a siliqua of Theodosius I. It was so nice, not round, cut edges, I immediately think "I want it". And I decide to collect siliquae, And 5 year later,400 of it sisters joined it ! Silique, 378-383, C1 A/ D N THEODO-SIVS P F AVG R/ VIRTVS RO-MANORVM//AQPS Argent, 1.33 gr - 18 mm - 12h RIC IX 28d, RSC 56†d, MAR 782 Fiche de la monnaie sur la base Siliquae
you always remember your first hu? here's mine, an ebay 10 buck arcadius... almost 5 years ago now, doesn't seem like it.