# A question about collecting ancient coins **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 18, 2006, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-collecting-ancient-coins/353120 "2006-04-18T03:43:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-collecting-ancient-coins/353120/1 "2006-04-18T03:43:49Z")
I’m considering starting to collect ancient coins. I define that as pre-1400. So, of course I poke around eBay. How do I know if ANY of this stuff is real, or a dupe? For [example](http://cgi.ebay.com/HADRIAN-Ancient-ROMAN-Silver-DENARIUS-COS-III-Concordia_W0QQitemZ8407012869QQcategoryZ4734QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem). This sells for $ 149.00. Is it real? how can I know? I mean, it’s lovely. Imitations can be lovely, but a part - a huge part- of the allure to me is owning a tiny speck of antiquity. I am quite fascinated by very old things. Figured, without going broke, this might be a good way to start. I won’t be buying any $ 150.00 coins anyway, but how does one figure it out? Should I assume all of this stuff on eBay is counterfeit? Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-collecting-ancient-coins/353120/2 "2006-04-18T03:53:02Z")
I would defintiely start with a dealer. If nothing else, ask a lot of questions. You should probably buy from a dealer to start, if only because he’ll let you hold the coin before you buy it. I can’t really help you. I bought some fairly expensive stamps when I was younger, but I don’t know much about coins. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-collecting-ancient-coins/353120/3 "2006-04-18T04:32:11Z")
Try [these guys](http://www.dirtyoldcoins.com/)–they specialize in sending you uncleaned old coins. Clean 'em up and identify them yourself! They have tips and such on the site; you might have better luck hanging out with fanatic amateurs for a while to get the feel of things, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-collecting-ancient-coins/353120/4 "2006-04-18T04:42:31Z")
I should add that a handful of uncleaned coins are cheap! They cost very little, because there are tons of them and they’re not worth the effort for museums and such (you don’t get gold ones; those they keep). And they’re too cheap to bother to counterfeit, too–you don’t have to worry about figuring out fakes. The online shop also has some cleaned-up coins for a lot less than $150, but probably they just are more common coins or something… ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-collecting-ancient-coins/353120/5 "2006-04-18T04:43:16Z")
I am pretty sure a coin like that, from a Seller with a rating of 1071, 100% positive, is perfectly genuine. Buying from eBay is fine, but stick with well-known highly rated sellers only for a while. Also- pick a period if you’re really going to collect. If you just want a few cool old coins, then do like **dangermom** suggested, buy some & clean them yourself. Most will be small, well-worn roman bronzes, mind you. Several reputable ebay sellers also sell those kind of lots. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-collecting-ancient-coins/353120/6 "2006-04-18T12:20:10Z")
**dangermom** , I checked out that site. They sell a LOT of stuff besides coins. In fact, they sell one box of 10 coins for $ 40.00, and that’s it. The rest of the stuff is neato, but not coin. Interesting. They’ve clearly found a niche, though. I guess I shall chose a period- because that sounds like a logical way to proceed- and see what era catches my fancy. I am quite interested to learn HOW ancient coins were struck, no doubt I will find good articles out there on that topic as well. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-collecting-ancient-coins/353120/7 "2006-04-19T15:57:41Z")
**Cartooniverse,** the site isn’t easy to navigate, and I think you missed some. The box of 10 for $40 is a beginner’s set that comes with some tools and a CD with a database for identification on it. But if you look in [the right place](http://www.dirtyoldcoins.com/store/home.php?cat=1) in the store, they sell batches of coins from various locations for very little. They don’t make it easy for you to find, though. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-collecting-ancient-coins/353120/8 "2006-04-19T19:22:00Z")
You can find the same sort of lots on eBay: [http://search-desc.ebay.com/uncleaned-lot-coins\_W0QQfromZR41QQftsZ2](http://search-desc.ebay.com/uncleaned-lot-coins_W0QQfromZR41QQftsZ2) ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-collecting-ancient-coins/353120/9 "2006-04-20T01:50:54Z")
Thank you so much, I’ll go for some of this when I return home. Very cool ! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-collecting-ancient-coins/353120/10 "2006-04-20T04:09:28Z")
Here are some links to ancient coin collecting: [http://esty.ancients.info/numis/](http://esty.ancients.info/numis/) - lots of info, including buying from ebay [http://www.wildwinds.com/](http://www.wildwinds.com/) - more info on coin values and attribution [http://www.jaysromanhistory.com/romeweb/rcoins/rcoins.htm](http://www.jaysromanhistory.com/romeweb/rcoins/rcoins.htm) - another good starting site I’d also suggest [Ancient Coin Collecting](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0873495152/ref=pd_bxgy_text_b/002-8075376-4474406?%5Fencoding=UTF8), a good first book. In fact, I’d buy this book before any serious coin purchases, just to help solidify what you’d be interested in collecting. Arjuna34 ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2006, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-collecting-ancient-coins/353120/11 "2006-04-21T02:44:07Z")
Oh my GOD what a great site that first one is. I’m very grateful for this ! Cool !! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2006, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-collecting-ancient-coins/353120/12 "2006-04-21T12:24:30Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > I’m considering starting to collect ancient coins. I define that as pre-1400. Join a coin collector’s club, talk some, listen a lot. Then buy from reputable sources with guaranteed return/refund in full if not satisfied.