Ancient Coins

Ancient coins can still be found today by digging in the right places.  But, it is much easier to buy them from someone who has dug them up and cleaned them.  Often they come up in a clump, and it is not really possible to determine what one has until they are cleaned.

When ancient armies marched, the soldiers required pay.  And, when an army fought, there was no bank, just a secret place in the ground to hide one's treasure.

Unlike most other coins, ancient coins can be too good.  They were not struck by modern minting equipment, rather they were struck by a person with a set of dies and a hammer.  In fact, there are reports of portable mints where the minter followed the army.


268 AD. Ancient Roman Coin Emperor CLAUDIUS II



Of course, like any other branch of coin collecting, a good reference book can be quite valuable.

Handbook of Ancient Greek and Roman Coins: An Official Whitman Guidebook

And, they can be certified with Certificates of Authenticity by reliable services.  We do not know which services are reliable for ancient coins.


Ancient Rome: Bronze Imperial Coin