Adding a new dimension to something is always a prescription for making any venture more exciting and interesting. Is there anything that can make coin collecting more exciting it would be the pursuit of a rare ancient coin? No, this does not mean you are chasing a lost coin through the plot line of an adventure film (although it would be even more exciting if you did!) what it does mean is that seeking a coin that is from antiquity would greatly increase the uniqueness and prestige of a coin collection.

When you purchase a rare ancient coin you are not only purchasing the coin itself you are acquiring the history that the coin represents. While the ancient Greece of history’s past has long disappeared gaining possession of an ancient coin bearing the image of Alexander the Great allows this ancient civilization to live on. In a way a rare ancient coin is the legacy of the civilizations which minted it and as long as the coins endure then the civilization that spawned them lives forever as well.

Uncleaned Ancient Coin

Of course, the costs associated with acquiring a rare coin can be expensive but sometimes it is not as expensive as one would initially assume. In fact, many of these rare ancient coins can be purchased for a fair price and often that price becomes a discount as the value of the coin increases as it ages. This can add a unique and novel dimension to coin collecting that brings with it many unique rewards.

If you can not purchase an actual rare ancient coin there is also available the opportunity to purchase any one of a number of masterfully crafted reproductions of these rare coins. In actuality, some of these reproductions look almost like the real thing. This, however, brings us to our next point which is to be sure to avoid purchasing fake ancient coins that are pawned off as the real thing. The easiest way to avoid this would be to stick with an honest and reliable dealer who has an excellent track record for providing legitimate coins and has developed a solid reputation in the marketplace.

But, regardless of whether or not you possess original or reproductions of ancient rare coins the ultimate goal is to have fun with collecting this coins and taking pride in your collection. Many ancient rare coins can facilitate both these goals and this is why collecting such coins is so very rewarding.

What a pity as the Byzantine Empire was a powerful – yet mostly benign – empire that brought a certain measure of stability to the European region during a time period that was stoked by instability and lawlessness. Much greatness came out of the Byzantine Empire not the least of which was the establishment of a currency. Now, while currency is designed for function and not form it is pretty difficult to not tip one’s hat to the brilliantly designed gold coins of the Byzantine Empire.

The design and look of the Byzantine gold coin was modeled after the gold coins of the Roman Empire. Now, while it is safe to say that a tremendous amount of artistry went into the look of Roman coins the Byzantine gold coin was an even more unique and brilliantly designed currency. This is why there remains significant interest this very day in acquiring reproductions of these legendary and unique coins. Originally referred to as the “histamenon nomisma” coins these are among the most prized coins in collectors circles.

Byzantine Gold Coin

In addition to the artistry of these coins there is unique historical significance associated with them as they were the very first coins to feature the likeness of Jesus Christ on them. These coins are incredibly rare and while there is interest in the reproductions there is also serious interest in the original gold coins of which there are very few in existence with the bulk of those remaining in existence being only recently uncovered in excavations in the Middle East.

These coins are oddly designed in the shape of a “C” but the design does not detract from the look of the coin. Instead, it enhances their look. As previously mentioned, the one side of the coin features the image of Jesus Christ and the reverse side of the coins feature a well crafted image of the Byzantine Emperor. It has been said that this dual imagery is designed to create an impression that the law is governed by divine and secular order. This speaks much of the ideologies and thought processes of conventional wisdom during the era of the Empire. They are also incredibly striking to look at and this is what makes these coins so highly prized by collectors the world over.

If anything can greatly stimulate interest it is uniqueness mixed with scarcity. This is the most apt description of Byzantine gold coins and this description ties greatly in to the highly desired collectible nature of this wonderful coins.

An ancient Greek coin is a great piece to add to your collection, since it is different than most coins found in common modern coin collections. Although they may look sloppy and not as detailed as current modern coins, each ancient Greek coin was handmade and released into circulation.

The earliest Greek coins are called Archaic, and were produced before the 5th century B.C. They are characterized by thick, lumpy pieces of metal, which are stamped with a simple punch mark on the reverse side of the coin. The design punched into the coin is called the type, and the early pieces commonly contained a picture of a sea turtle. They were typically made out of silver, and are available in several different weights that represent the early denominations used by the Greek.

Although an ancient Greek coin can date back as far as 600 B.C., the most common were minted in the third and fourth centuries A.D. Copper was commonly used for the coins minted between 200 and 400 A.D., and coins began to take on a more circular shape with designs on both sides of the coin. Coins took on various designs and pictures during the earlier time periods, including portraits of famous emperors and symbols representing the locations the coins came from.

One ancient Greek coin that is popular amongst collectors is a small silver piece, which was minted in the second century B.C. It contains the head of the sun god Helios on the obverse side, with a rose on the back and the name of the individual who minted the coin. It is about 15mm big, and was most likely minted on the mainland, although similar to coins minted on the island of Rhodes.

Ancient Greek coins also depict various animals, such as lions, turtles, and even horses. The animals are usually on the reverse side of the coin, with a picture of a god or emperor on the obverse. Battle scenes and men in their battle uniform are also commonly used, and mostly seen among coins minted between 200 and 400 A.D.

An ancient Greek coin can be found in silver, copper or gold, with gold being one of the rarest coins to find. Although they may look fake because they are not round, Greek coins were minted much differently than what we see today. Being hit with a hammer and a stamp to give the coin a design would sometimes change the shape of the coin, which was later corrected by striking the coins inside a circle frame to prevent changes in shape from occurring. Because a wide variety of ancient Greek coins were minted thousands of years ago, new pieces are still being discovered. Although some pieces are harder to find than others, adding an ancient Greek coin to your collection can be inexpensive.