|
|
Reasons Why Ancient Roman Coin Collecting Is Such An Cheap And Interesting Hobby
Ever wondered what Emperors like Constantine the Great, Cleopatra or Julius Caesar looked like and wanted to hold something in your hand that may have been held by one of these Emperors or someone living during that time.
If you are someone who has an interest in the Ancient past or perhaps someone who just likes collecting historic antiques but your not willing to spend much money then you should consider taking up the hobby of Roman coin collecting.
There are a number of reasons why I prefer collecting Roman coins then other antiques including other ancient coins.
While other ancient coins can be interesting a very large variety of Roman coins exist due to the vast time and area that the Roman Empire covered. Countless coins were minted over the first few centuries that the Roman Empire existed and these coins reflect the time and location of the region.
Also its great to have a real portrait of an Emperor in your possession. Many emperors came and went and it was customary to inscribe the portrait of the emperor on the coins that were minted during their reign.
Collecting Roman coins can be a cheap hobby unlike other ancient coins created by the Barbarians, Greeks, Indians and Chinese.
This can come as a surprise to many considering how ancient these coins are. Yet they can be even cheaper then some of the modern day coins that coin collectors collect. There are two main reasons for this. Firstly as already stated the Roman empire was large and so there were a lot of coins minted. Many Roman coins are therefore not as rare as many believe. Another reason is that there are few collectors of ancient coins then modern coins. This makes the demand for them lower.
There are also less forgeries of Roman coins then other coins particularly modern day coins. This is largely due to the fact that they are less rare and expensive.
These coins dont just have historic and monetary value. They also have artistic value being beautifully crafted and containing a narrative or story of the area and period that they were minted.
The currency in Ancient Rome had intrinsic value as their coins were made from precious metals such as Gold and Silver. This can make the coins more special to collect but you should make sure you have a higher enough budget before collecting the Gold coins as these are significantly more expensive.
The Factors that determine the worth of a Roman coin
Prices for Roman Coins vary significantly and are due to a number of variables. The top two important are the grade of the coin when it was minted and the condition that the coin is in now.
The condition of a coin can depend on how corroded the coin has become while it has been in the ground or how it was stored.
The grade of the coin depends on the tools and experience of the person who minted the coin during the Roman period. These coins were made by hand and so are not always very well minted. They may be oval rather then circular and lack detail. This can happen if it was struck by dies that were worn down.
Trying to determine the grade of a coin can be tricky and occasionally you have to go with how appealing and detailed you think the coin is.
The third most important factor that determines the worth of a Roman coin is how rare that coin is. However rarity is less of a factor with Roman coins as it is with modern coins as Roman coins are so diverse and numerous.
Coin collectors are less likely to be competing for the same coin when trying to complete their Roman coin collection and each collection will be different. Also more people collect modern coins and so there is greater demand. Rare Roman coins do exist thanks to Emperors who had a short reign. Fewer coins would have been minted during their reign making them rarely and more expensive today.
Sellers of ancient coins will often use terms such as scarce, rare or very rare to describe a coin. Just because someone describes a coin as rare does not mean that it actually is. Unfortunately, some sellers will attach this label to ancient coins to attract novice collectors who do not know better. If someone describes a coin as rare or scarce does the person explain why the coin is rare? Does he give it an RIC number and explain the variety? If you are new to collecting ancient coins, you should not jump on a coin just because is it described as rare.
If you build up a collection of ancient coins you will be able to tell for yourself if a coin is uncommon, scarce or even rare.
Price of different Roman coins
Truly rare coins that are sort after will not sell for much less than $100, and often for much more. Hence, a coin of Constantine described as rare with an asking price of just a few dollars is very unlikely to be so. There are sellers on eBay who claim that their coin is rare, or they have only seen one in 10 years, but there is another one just like it being offered on eBay by someone else.
To get an idea of the diversity in price for different Roman coins, for $5 to $10 you can buy good quality coins minted under late third and forth century AD emperors.
For about $10-$20, you can collect a coin from the more famous 1st and 2nd century emperors, and of many later ones in very nice condition. In fact, for $20 a coin, you can quite easily assemble a collection of more than half of the emperors (over 50) in very nice condition with clear portraits and readable legends.
On top of this, there are numerous varieties available for each emperor. Of course, just as with modern coins, you can buy ones that cost much more; ones that are in better shape or are more scarce, but if you are just interested in decent coins and history then you may not have to look any further.
Why not occasionally purchase a more expensive and rare coin, or one of a high grade or condition made out of Gold or Silver. This could be very expensive but could be resold to a coin dealer for a good price. Some prefer cheaper coins that require some cleaning as it adds to the mystery and occasionally a rare and expensive coin can be found.
To sum up, purchase coins that appear to you personally. Every coin will be different. Choose the one that you think is better value for your money. You may even be able to resell such a coin later and make a profit. Occasionally buy a more expensive coin of a higher grade and condition. Dont worry about rarity too much but if want a rare coin you should make sure the coin really is rare by asking the dealer the right questions. This can save yourself a lot of money.
About the Author If you would like further information on the fascinating hobby of Roman coin collecting and how to spot fake Roman coins check out http://www.cheapromancoins.com which provides listings of genuine Roman coins for sale from genuine sellers
|
 |
Please Rate: |
|
Rating: |
 Processing ... |
(Average: Not rated) |
| Views: | 32 | |
|
| More Articles from Collecting | | |
| Top Articles in Collecting | | |
|
