Here are some tips for getting started collecting ancient coins.
- Immerse yourself in the stories. Read about the history, the people, the wards, the political events, etc., that occurred during the circulation period of your coins.
- Start with a period that fascinates you. For instance, the early Roman emperors, the Greek philosophy era, the Constantine era, the Byzantine era, and so on.
- Understand what makes a “good” ancient”. Become familiar with quality of strike, strike centering, what makes an attractive patina, and the quality of the coin metal.
- Choose an archival-safe storage method for your coins. For example, you can use 2×2’s in an album or a felt-lined coin tray.
- Research methods to identify fake coins. Only purchase from reputable dealers and sites (such as VCoins or Ye Olde Coin Company) to ensure that all your coins are genuine.
- Use online sources to fully attribute your coins. Wildwinds, VCoins, and CNG are great online resources for ancient coin.
- Investigate all aspects of your coins. What is the reverse? What does it symbolize? What is the translation and meaning behind the legends?
We also covered this topic in one of our weekly videos which you can see here: