Greek Coins

Coins and Paper Money -> Coins – Ancient -> Greek Coins

Greek CoinsAs 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

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • athenaEarn a Profit Collecting Rare Coins If you are looking to earn a profit with a unique type of collection, then one of the collection options that you may want to consider is rare coins. When you are collecting coins for the purpose of an investment, then it is probably going to follow that you are......
  • oldcoin4 Ways to Figure Out Coin Value Coin value is one of the many important factors you must take into account when thinking about your coin collection. You need to think about how much the coin is worth to you and how much the coin is going to be worth to others. These emotional and physical values......
  • worldofcoinsThe Art of Ancient Coin Collecting Coins have been treated as a method of currency for as many as thousands of years now. Collecting these little pieces of ancient history has become an extremely popular past time among many people. For many people, the idea of ancient coin collecting has become a true passion as well......
  • rupeeindiaFinding Great Coins at Coin Auction There are many different ways you can add coins to your collection. You can purchase them through other collectors. You can purchase them through coin shops. You can even have them handed down to you from people you know including family members. One of the ways which is becoming more......
  • Rare CoinsRare Coins Coins and Paper Money -> Ancient Coins -> Persian, Indian, Asian 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......
Blog Traffic Exchange Related Websites
  • ancientcoinPreparing For a Coin Collecting Convention A coin collecting convention is a great opportunity for both coin sellers and coin buyers, as there will be people looking to both sell off their unwanted coins and pick up the coins they have been searching after. You can easily come away from a convention with the coins that......
  • goldcoinTips for Looking For Gold Coins Every serious coin collector has a specific type of coin that they look for. Some look to collect the same type of coin across the currencies of different countries, like those who look to collect gold coins. There are plenty of coin collectors out there who are looking for gold......
  • numismaticmuseumathensgreece3 Signs You Are in a Good Rare Coin Store There are quite a few places you can choose to purchase a rare coin from. One of the places where many people will frequent to buy the coins that they want is a rare coin store. This is a great location to be able to find the coins that you......
  • coinstacksCoin Collector Shop Myths Coin collector shops can be intimidating places for those who are unfamiliar with them. These coin collector shops are filled with various types of currency, with staggering numbers of both old and new currency sitting around the store. If you have never been in a coin collector shop, you may......
  • savethequeenTop 3 Places to Find Rare Coins for Sale If you are into coin collecting, you are always on the lookout for the next great addition to your collection. While you may have some dedicated sources that you always turn to when you are looking for a great coin, it is important that you look in more than one......
Online Stores

Email Updates

budget circulation coin auctions Coin Collecting coin collecting software coin collection coin collections coin collector coin collectors coin dealers coins coin shop coin shops coin value collecting coins collections commemorative coins counterfeits currencies currency currency collection double eagle face value Foreign Currency Gold Coins hobbies mint mint condition money numismatics obverse old money paper currency paper money paper money collection rare coin Rare Coins rarity saint gaudens selling coins silver coins silver dollar united states mint US Coins us mint