Ancient Coins

When I started collecting ancient coins I was stunned you could just, like, buy them. On ebay, via auctions, etc.

Ebay, however, is full of fakes, and as a new collector you have no means of spotting a fake coin unless it's very obvious. So where do you go?

Vcoins

Vcoins is a sort of marketplace for ancient coins, where trusted dealers list their coins for sale. Almost every dealer there provides a lifetime guarantee that their coins are genuine, and will take back a coin if it's fake.

You can find coins in all price ranges - from 10 dollar late roman bronze coins to gold coins costing thousands of dollars.

Recommended :)

Another Philip I Arabs for the collection :) Common but in good shape

This coin is a tetrachalkon from Rhodes struck between 229 and 205 BCE. It's a pretty special coin - and I'll try to explain why :)

Coins from Rhodes typically feature a rose on the reverse (back) - this is a play on words because the Greek work for rose is Rhodon - and Helios the sun god on the obverse (front). In fact, Helios was so important to Rhodes that they built a huge statue honouring him - the Colossus of Rhodes - on the entrance to the Harbour. It was 33 meters tall, roughly the same size as the Statue of Liberty today, and is recognized as one of the original wonders of the ancient world.

This particular issue features Zeus, though. Why? Well, around 226 BCE Rhodes was struck by a devastating earthquake which toppled the statue and destroyed much of the city and harbour. This was a significant event, and Greek states from all over the Mediterranean sent help and offers to help rebuild the city and raise the statue again.

According to Strabo, the statue had broken off at the knees. An oracle was consulted, and told the citizens of Rhodes not to rebuild it, and so they turned down this part of the relief effort.

The most important and riches of Greek kings at this time was Ptolemaios III of Egypt. In fact he was so generous that the Rhodeians must have wanted to honour him in some way.

And so they struck this coin - you see, Egyptian coins at this time almost always featured Zeus on the obverse in a very recognizable style which is replicated here. It is difficult to explain the obverse motif without this Egyptian connection, at least.

I bought this coin some 6 years ago, and I don't see many of them around. It wasn't particularly expensive, but it has a special place in my collection because I find the circumstances for it being struck so fascinating.

Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus right

Reverse: P - O, Rose with bud to right. Control: TE to left

18mm, 5.73g

Ashton 234; HGC 6, 1469.

HADRIANVS - AVGVSTVS, laureate bust right, drapery on left shoulder

COS - III, Roma standing right, holding spear and parazonium

RIC II 160

Bought in 2017 for 25 GBP

Roman coinage from the punic wars is interesting, but quite a bit rarer is coinage from Carthage before it was razed. They minted quite exquisite coins in gold, silver and copper. Below is an example of such a copper coin!

30mm, 17.4g Obverse: Head of Tanit left, wearing wreath of grain ears and single-pendant earring.

Reverse: Horse standing right, palm tree in background to left, ligate Punic T and S below.

MAA 84b, Muller Africa, 154 - SNG Copenhagen 341-3 VF

Obv: L AELIVS CAESAR. Bare head right.

Rev: TR POT COS II / CONCORD. Concordia seated left on throne, holding patera and resting elbow upon cornucopia.

RIC 436 (Hadrian).

Weight: 3.23 g. Diameter: 18 mm.

Lucius Aelius Caesar (13 January 101 – 1 January 138) was the father of Emperor Lucius Verus. In 136, he was adopted by the reigning emperor Hadrian and named heir to the throne. He died before Hadrian and thus never became emperor. After Lucius' death, he was replaced by Antoninus Pius, who succeeded Hadrian the same year.

A Latin alphabetic inscription on the coin bears the name "Esunertos," which can be translated as "mighty as the god Esos," (also spelled Esus) the statements said. The name itself is Gaulish

The head of Athena and an owl near an olive branch.

Credit: Laura Lipcsei / Royal Ontario Museum

This is a follis - a silvered bronze coin, although the silver is almost worn off here - struck in the city of Nicomedia, now Izmit in Turkey, around 310-311 CE.

Maximinus - called Daia - was the nephew of the emperor Galerius, but a series of complicated political decisions and maneuvers by Licinius I, Constantine, and his uncle ultimately led to his rebellion. Licinius quickly defeated him in two set battles and had him and his family executed.

Maximinus II is a fairly easy emperor to collect, his coins are common and readily available in good grade, althoug perhaps not exactly as common as his rivals Constantine I and Licinius I. Only in bronze, though - silver and gold coins were in this period infrequently struck and this makes them rare and expensive.

Folles from Nicomedia sometimes, like in this case, feature a CMH written as a ligature after the reverse legend. We don't know why - it could be a mark of value, it could be a shortened epithet honouring the emperor.

Obverse: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINUS PF AVG, Laureate bust right

Reverse: GENIO AVGVSTI CMH

6.78g and 22mm

RIC VI 66c

Obverse: CAESAR AVGVST PONT MAX TRIBVNIC POT, Bare head left.

Reverse: P LVRIVS AGRIPPA IIIVIR AAAFF. , Large S C

12g and 27mm

RIC 427

This coin still features the name and titles of the moneyer (P Lurius Agrippa) on the back, in the republican tradition, even if Rome is at this point quickly transitioning into the principate.

His title of Tresvir Monetalis (IIIVIR) - properly tresviri aere argento auro flando feriundo or three men for striking silber, gold and brass - means that he was one of the officials appointed as mint magistrates for the year 7 BCE. This moneyer comes from a family (Lurius) of little renown, and so very little is known of him. He would have been around 30 years old when he held this office.

From a cointalk discussion:

The other contemporary familiar Lurius was Marcus, cognomen not clearly recorded, who played a crucial role of Commander of the right wing of the Caesarean fleet under Octavian at least up to the battle of Actium in 31 BC. If Publius was approximately 30 in 7 BC, then he would have been a young child at the time of Actium, consistent with being a child of one of the top Caesarians, who were mostly young men.

CAESAR-DICT • PERPETVO, veiled and laureate head of Julius Caesar right / P • SEPVLLIVS downward on right, MACER downward on left, Venus standing left, Victory in right hand, scepter in left; shield at feet behind. P. Sepullius Macer, moneyer. Crawford 480/13. Sydenham 1074. RSC 39. Good fine ex CNG 482/352

Issued from February up to the assassination of Caesar on March 15, 44. This coin represents one of the late lifetime portraits of Julius Caesar, with the title of a 'Dictator for life'. These portrait series were issued in large quantities to pay the troops gathered for Caesar's intended Parthian campaign. His assassination on the Ides of March prevented these plans. P. Sepullius Macer was the most prolific moneyer of 44 BC, striking the widest variety of Caesar portrait issues. Caesar is shown wreathed, sometimes also veiled, and his titles given as CAESAR IMP and CAESAR DICT PERPETVO, as seen on this specimen. The reverse image of Venus includes a number of minor design variants. The varying quality of portraiture and strike likewise indicate great haste of manufacture, perhaps in preparation for Caesar's projected Parthian war.

Notice the weight, which is not abnormal for denarii from this age. They slimmed down considerably after Augustus' reforms.

This particular specimen isn't in the greatest shape, nor in the worst. It retains all its core identifying features, like the veiled portrait of Caesar (one of the most important and iconic in ancient history, given its context and lead-up to his assassination), his controversial title(s), name, and origination of his gens in the depiction of Venus of which he claimed to be a direct descendant.

All in all, a coin worthy of addition to any serious collector's hoard in my opinion.

Apologies for the title, but that's exactly what this coin depicts.

L. TITURIUS L.F. SABINUS. Denarius (89 BC). Rome.

Obv: SABIN. Bareheaded and bearded head of King Tatius right; monogram to right.

Rev: L TITVRI. Two soldiers, facing each other, each carrying off a Sabine woman in his arms.

Crawford 344/1a.

Condition: good-very fine.

Weight: 3,7 g.

Diameter: 19 mm.

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The "Rape of the Sabine Women" is a legendary event in the early history of Rome, where the first generation of Roman men, lacking wives to establish families, organized a festival and invited neighboring Sabine people. During the festivities, the Romans abducted the Sabine women and forced them into marriage. The act led to a war between the Romans and Sabines, which eventually ended when the Sabine women, now wives and mothers of Roman children, intervened to broker peace, effectively merging the two communities. This narrative, albeit fraught with violence and patriarchal dynamics, was traditionally interpreted as a foundational myth explaining the growth and consolidation of Roman society.

PTOLEMAIC KINGS OF EGYPT. Ptolemy III Euergetes (246-222 BC). Ae Tetrobol. Alexandreia.

Obv: Diademed head of Zeus right, with horn of Ammon.

Rev: ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ.

Eagle, with closed wings and head right, standing left on thunderbolt; filleted cornucopia to right; EP monogram between legs. Lorber B371; Svoronos 974; SNG Copenhagen 227-9.

Condition: Near very fine. Weight: 42.91 g. Diameter: 38 mm.. avF

This wasn't even the biggest or heaviest coin the Alexandria mint produced, if you can believe it.

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Zeus-Ammon is a fascinating result of religious syncretism between the Greek and Egyptian cultures. The deity represents a blend of the Greek god Zeus and the Egyptian god Amun (or Ammon). This syncretic deity emerged during the period following Alexander the Great's conquests, which facilitated cultural exchanges between Greece and Egypt.

Obv: D N VETRANIO P F AVG. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.

Rev: CONCORDIA MILITVM / A - Δ / •TSA•. Vetranio standing facing, head left, holding labarum decorated with christogram in each hand; star above

RIC 135. Condition: Very fine. Weight: 6.43 g. Diameter: 23 mm.

Vetranio was a brief actor in the complex theatre of the Constantinian dynasty around 350 AD. Thrust into power by his troops amidst a period of political turmoil, he was a placeholder more than a ruler, swiftly yielding his title to Constantius II. His reign, though short-lived, reflects the tumultuous politics of the time and the military's significant role therein. Vetranio's peaceful cession of power helped to avert potential military conflict, aiding in a smoother transition of authority during a delicate period in the Roman Empire's history.

Mesembria, originally a Thracian settlement known as Menebria, became a Greek colony when settled by Dorians from Megara at the beginning of the 6th century BC, and was an important trading centre from then on and a rival of Apollonia (Sozopol).

Remains from the Hellenistic period include the acropolis, a temple of Apollo, and an agora. A wall which formed part of the fortifications can still be seen on the north side of the peninsula.

Bronze and silver coins were minted in the city from the 5th century BC and gold coins from the 3rd century BC. The town fell under Roman rule in 71 BC, yet continued to enjoy privileges such as the right to mint its own coinage.

It is now the city of Nesebar in Bulgaria. If you're European you might know it better as the city just south of Sunny Beach.

I don't actually remember when I bought this coins, but I've always really liked the design. The Crested Helmet is, of course, one of the most recognizable ancient Greek symbols, and I also like the symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing reverse with MEΣΑ inside the spokes of a wheel.

This is a fine little bronze issue struck in Antioch in modern day Syria under Flavius Delmatius, a Caesar of the Roman Empire and member of the Constantinian dynasty.

Delmatius was the nephew of Constantine I. His father, also named Flavius Delmatius, was the half-brother of Constantine and served as censor. He was the brother of Hannibalianus.

On 18 September 335, Delmatius the younger was raised to the rank of Caesar, with the control of Thracia, Achaea and Macedonia. He died in late summer 337, killed by his own soldiers. It is possible that his death was related to the purge that hit the imperial family at the death of Constantine, and organized by Constantius II with the aim of removing any possible claimant to imperial power other than the sons of the late emperor.

Obverse: FL DELMATIVS NOB C

Reverse: GLORIA EXCERCITVS, two soldiers standing facing each other, each resting on spear and shield, a standard between them

15mm and 1.35g

Alright - time for some coin deals. I mostly know Roman & a bit of Greek coins, so here are some coins under 50 dollars which I consider "deals".

Roman Coin deals

• Antoninus Pius denar with a lovely portrait for the price
• Nicely centered Caracalla-denar
• Heavy Galerius-follis with a fine portrait
• Chunky Diocletian-follis from Antioch
• Heavy Maximianus Herculius follis in an characteristic style
• Lovely sand-patinated Licinius bronze coin
• Perfectly round Licinius II follis in an interesting style
• Licinius I with a really really pretty reverse

Greek Coin deals

• Rhodes-hemidrachm with a rose reverse
• Alexander the Great bronze issue
• Very very old lion/star silver coin from Miletos
• Bronze coin from Pergamon featuring Athena
• Helmet/spear coin from Macedon under Kassander
• Ariobarzanes I, King of Cappadocia

Enjoy!

Obverse: IMP CM Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, cuirassed bust with radiate head right

Reverse: DACIA , Dacia standing left, holding draco standart

I have a couple of these silver coins celebrating the (re)conquest of Dacia, modern day Romania, under Trajan Decius.

Dacia had been invaded by the Carpi from the 230s and forward, until the Philip I sent Decius to deal with them around 245 AD. He finally stabilized the area around 248 AD, and his troops then acclaimed him emperor.

A short civil war ensued, Philip was killed near Verona in AD 249, and Decius was recognized by the Senate. He would rule for only a couple of years as he and his son were killed by Goths at the Battle of Abritus in 251 AD.

Dacia is holding a so-called Draco-standart, which was apparently a dragon-like battle-standard used by the Dacians. When they attacked on horseback, the flow of air would create a sort of frightening howl. Dacian horsemen were also used in the legions, and famously a company of Dacian horsemen with a Draco-standard were stationed in the UK close to Wales.

Some people believe that the legend of King Arthur the Dragon grew from these Dacian knights being the only law and order around after the Romans left. Who knows, maybe they inspired the Welsh dragon too.

Julian was the last non-Christian ruler of the Roman Empire, and attempted to revive traditional Roman religious practices at the expense of Christianity. This caused him to be remembered as Julian the Apostate by the church.

Obverse: Helmeted, diademed and cuirassed bust l., holding spear and shield.

Reverse: VOT/ X/ MVLT/ X X in four lines within wreath

I have this coin noted down as RIC VIII 220, but as it goes I haven't verified it :) It's fairly small at 17mm and 2.51g, but that's normal for the issue.

I've always been partial to Julian, if only because he was by all accounts a clever and honest man. It's interesting to toy with the idea that things might have gone differently for Christianity or the Empire if he hadn't died after only 2 years on the throne from wounds sustained in battle against the Sasanids.