The third period is the Hellenistic period, which drew out until the Romans preoccupied the Greek world in the 1st century BCE. The Greek cities extended in order to create their own coins for additional cities under the rule of Rome. These coins were each completely handmade, and they depicted a wide variety of different scenes, buildings, figureheads and symbols.

All of the Ancient Greek coins were created by hand unlike how modern day coins are made. Ancient Greek coins were eventually invented in a kingdom known as Lydia, which is now known as Turkey, during 620 BCE. When the Ancient Greeks began to create Greek coins from the very start, these coins had a number of different figures, inscriptions and symbols that were specifically designed to exemplify the independence of the poleis.

Even though the Greeks were under the command of Hellenistic kings or autocrats, the Greeks were always generally independent in nature. Their coins were a great way for them to substantiate their independence throughout their history. In other words, Ancient Greek coins are a symbol of independence among a people that struggled with independence for many centuries. Ancient Greek coins are made up of historic pictures and symbols and are now perceived as being artistic, lending to the history of a true art. The examples of the oldest Greek coins are capable of including a lot of sanctified temples and buildings, and this permits individuals to understand how grand those buildings once were in Greek history and lore.

Greek coins, then, were a lot more than a simple system of commerce or a collection of carved or stamped metal. The purpose of Greek coins had so much more to do with independence and religious pride, meaning that they are extremely meaningful as history of art, and the history of a people that struggled for independence and flourished for many years despite being under the rule of others, including Hellenistic kings and the Romans. If you are looking for a type of collection that you can be proud to have in your possession, consider collecting Greek coins so that you can learn the history of a unique people and revel in the signs and symbols of their fight for independence. The more you learn about Greek coins, the better you will be able to benefit from collecting these unique coins.

Photo Credits: I likE plants!

Originally posted 2009-07-24 05:27:24. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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money -> Coins-World -> Gold

Gold is one of the most popular substances in the world, and rare gold coins are highly sought out by collectors, not just for the precious gold content, but because of the rarity of the coins and the designs themselves. How do you know if a gold coin is actually rare, or just old? First of all, if you’re shopping in online auctions, which is actually a good place to find coins, decide that you won’t get too excited by every auction that claims its coins are rare.

“Rare” is actually a flash-word in online auctions, designed to get people to view the auction. If you browse the site a while, you’ll find items listed as “rare” and “hard-to-find” that you can probably purchase anywhere with very little effort. This practice has made the word rare almost meaningless on eBay and other online sites. So to find truly rare gold coins, you’ll need to do a little research on the coin that’s offered in the auction, as well as into the seller’s past auctions.

Have a look at the seller’s feedback. Does every auction represented there shout “Rare!” from the rooftops? Also, you can search on the specific coin that’s offered to see which others sellers offer it and what they have to say about it. Then you’ll want to research the coin online to find whether its truly rare, or the use of the word was just an advertising tactic. Truly rare gold coins won’t be found in hundreds or sometimes even dozens of auctions at one time, because of their rarity.

Even reputable online shops that deal in gold coins will exaggerate the use of the word “rare.” If you search on “rare gold coins,” for instance, you’ll come up with hundreds of dealers that don’t really happen to have any rare gold coins for sale, but newly released ones. They’ve simply used “rare” as keyword to rank higher in the search engines when someone’s looking for a rare coin, in the hopes of attracting that customer’s business with their new coin selection.

Your own interest in rare gold coins and a little time spent searching can help you find the right coins. You’ll also get a good idea of the price you should pay for one, judging by the median amount charged by many different dealers. Also do a search on eBay for closed auctions that featured that item, and you’ll see about how much you might end up paying if you should purchase from an auction.

Some of the most rare gold coins from the United States were minted before 1933. Liberty gold coins minted throughout the 19th century, and the Saint-Gaudens gold coins and Indian gold coins minted from the early 1900s to 1933, are some of the best rare coins available today. They’re prized, not just for their gold content and their rarity, but their beautiful designs, with the Saint-Gaudens considered one of the most beautiful American coins minted to date.

Originally posted 2008-11-14 05:34:49. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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There is something very special about rare coins. No matter where in the world they came from, they usually have a very rich history and collectors will search to the ends of the earth to find that special rare coin that will complete their collection. Many of these coins will go at a premium price at auction, worth far more than they ever were when they were in circulation. Let’s look at a few of the different types of rare coins.

First up, you have rare coins from ancient civilizations. Whether it was an early coin from Mesopotamia, a Grecian coin or a Roman coin, these are usually the most valuable. However, they are also the ones that may be copied. If you see a lot of coins and the seller claims that they are all authentic, but the price seems too low, you may want to rethink your purchase. Truly ancient rare coins are typically very expensive. It is all too easy nowadays to replicate these coins and mass produce them.

Next, look for coins that are oddly shaped or made from rare materials. This shows that they were handmade and are typically older in origin. These are not very easy to find, but Greek coins are the perfect example of this. These rare coins were handmade and will frequently be just a little off of perfect. Some may even include the maker’s signature or mark, and these are very valuable indeed.

Other rare coins that are fun to collect coincide with specific eras in history. For example, many collectors look for coins produced during the French Revolution. This was the time period when the first Marianne’s were made, and they are incredibly collectible. Other examples would include confederate coins, from the US civil war, or coins that were produced by governments that are now extinct.

Whenever you are shopping for rare coins, it also pays to look for any errors that may be present. These are usually incredibly valuable, and although they are hard to find, it is very special when you do come across one. Examples of error coins include coins that are missing something from a design, or ones that may have blatant errors. Examining coins for these flaws is always interesting.

The rare coins that are the most valuable are usually the ones where only a few are left. Using the Morgan Silver dollar as an example, there is one variety where only a handful are accounted for. This gives collectors a challenge and the ability to experience the thrill of the hunt as they try to uncover that incredibly rare coin.

If you have not yet begun collecting rare coins, it’s a good idea to start thinking about which era or type of coin you might be interested in. For example, many collectors start off by picking the year they were born, or the coin that commemorates an event that is special to them. Once you get started with rare coin collecting, you’ll see just how exciting this hobby can be.

Originally posted 2008-08-29 05:00:33. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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As a link to the ancient world, coins are an incredibly popular way to capture this history. Thanks to the minting process and the metals that were used, we can still enjoy many ancient coins today. Greek coins are increasingly becoming more popular and their unique designs enhance any coin collection. For those that are looking to collect these coins, but are uncertain as to whether or not they are dealing with an authentic collectible, there are a few guidelines.

1. Check the Wear

An ancient coin will understandably look a bit old. In many cases, you are dealing with coins that were produced thousands of years ago. If the Greek coin you are looking at it is shiny, or has no visible signs of wear, there is a good chance that it is not authentic. Most collectors do not restore these coins since their wear is a sign of their true age. If you do find a coin that is in remarkable condition, there is a chance that it is authentic, but the chances are few and far between.

2. Check the Back

Ancient Greek coins will typically have a name engraved on the back, but it won’t be of a king or of anyone incredibly important. Instead, in this culture, it was customary for the person that actually minted the coin to put their own name on it. This was a unique practice and it offers a great way for the average collector to be able to authenticate a Greek coin. Since the vast majority of these coins bear some sort of engraving on the back, this will help you determine whether or not the coin is authentic.

3. Check the Design

Minting equipment was understandably not as advanced as today’s equipment and that means that very often, the designs on Greek coins will not be perfect. This is actually desirable and if you do find a coin that is too perfect, it is a major sign that it may not be authentic. Take the time to thoroughly examine the coin. If you cannot spot any flaws, there is a very good chance that it is not authentic.

4. Check the Certificate

Many ancient coins that have already been authenticated will have an accompanying certificate. While this can of course be forged, you can follow up with the person that did the appraisal and authentication. If you cannot contact them or they do not have any knowledge of the coin you are dealing with, it is best to save your money and find another Greek coin to buy.

5. Check the Shape

Last but not least, coins made during this period were quite often not perfectly round. Look for a slight deviation on your Greek coin. If it is slightly off, then this is a very good sign that it is authentic. Remember, many of these Greek coins were hand made, one at a time and whenever you are dealing with that kind of process, the chances for imperfections are very high.

Originally posted 2008-08-22 05:00:37. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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When it comes to collecting coins or paper money, many prefer to go straight to roman coins. These are highly historic collectibles that may actually be worth a good deal of money and many are quite rare. When you consider the fact that the coin had to survive for thousands of years, it’s easy to see why they are so popular, and why many can fetch such a high price at auction.

Roman coins were originally made in either silver, bronze or gold. Golden coins are considered to be the most rare, and are very hard to find today. However, a few collectors have managed to create quite a private collection of these rare coins. Silver was the most commonly used metal for coins in the period and during 200 B.C., the majority of coins produced were made of this material.

Interestingly enough, many Roman coins are actually made in the Greek style. This has been attributed to the fact that many Romans were doing business with Greeks, especially in certain parts of Italy, and they needed to have coins that would be acceptable to those that they were doing business with. Whatever the real reason might have been, it is obvious when you look at Roman coins that Greek designs did have a big influence on the finished products.

There are many different denominations of Roman coins, but drachmae are the most common. These were used by even the every day people in the city and for many workers, this was their daily wage. Many thousands of these coins were produced, and if you do find a Roman coin today, it will most likely be a drachmae since they were the ones that were the most mass produced. They were usually made of silver.

Bronze Roman coins are quite popular among collectors and while they are rarer than silver coins, they are not worth quite as much as their golden counterparts. Bronze coins were typically used for smaller denominations and were very common during the height of the Roman empire.

If you are looking to collect Roman coins, it is important to make sure that you are dealing with authentic pieces. The coins should not be perfect, in fact, they will have some oddities with their shape. This is due to the fact that the coins were all made by hand during this time period and it was natural that they would not be perfectly round. Most Roman coins will have the relief of an emperor, and this is a great way to tell just how old the coin may be.

Once again, the relief will not be perfect, and you should be able to tell that the coin was handmade. Roman coins that have survived throughout the years may be a bit dull in appearance, which is a good indicator of their authenticity. If you come across a coin that is simply too shiny, you may be dealing with a counterfeit.

To protect yourself when collecting Roman coins, it is always best to get an appraisal before you buy to ensure that they are authentic.

Originally posted 2008-09-05 05:00:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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