Coins and Paper Money -> Coins: Ancient -> Roman: Republic
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Roman coins were originally made in either silver, bronze or gold.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
Related Posts -
Greek Coins Coins and Paper Money -> Coins - Ancient -> Greek Coins 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...... -
Buffalo Nickels Coins and Paper Money -> Coins - US -> Nickels -> Buffalo (1913-1938): 1913-19, 1920-29, 1930-38, Mixed Lots The popular US coin called the Buffalo Nickel was only minted from 1913 to 1938, but it quickly became one of the most popular coins and certainly one of the most collectible....... -
Gold Eagle Coins Coins & Paper Money -> Gold -> American Eagle Gold Eagle coins are American currency, first released in 1986, that contains the stated amount of actual gold weight claimed in troy ounces, with a silver and copper alloy added to make the coins less soft and more wear resistant. The...... -
The Benefits of Getting Kids into Coin Collecting Parents will often push kids into different forms of collecting, like coin collecting, because they understand the significance of the hobby. Each type of collection has specific benefits, benefits that can give your child far more than simple monetary value. There are a wide variety of benefits to be had...... -
The Rare Coin Collecting Debate Those who are thinking about getting into coin collecting are going to have to make a somewhat serious decision about their collection. These collectors are going to have to start to think about rare coins and are going to need to decide whether or not they plan on taking their......
Related Websites -
How to Increase Gold Coin Values for Profit Coin collecting has been a hobby since the 1800s. The hobby was something which was started by the wealthy as a way to hold on to certain coins which they found interesting or attractive. The poorer class could not take part because they needed every cent and half cent so...... -
How to Start Coin Collecting The hobby of coin collecting often starts at a very young age. Children are fascinated by the different sizes, colors and feel of coins. If they show an interest in collecting coins, parents should encourage them to pursue the hobby. A child might start out by collecting coins from their...... -
Finding Coin Dealers in Your Area There are plenty of different coin dealers that are going to be within a reasonable distance from where you live. The trick is to be able to identify these different coin dealers. While some work out of actual offices and public buildings that operate as stores, others operate in the...... -
Coin Collecting: The Hunt for the Coin The biggest thrill of coin collecting comes in the form of the actual hunt and chase for the coin itself. There are plenty of coin collectors who thrive on the thrill of the chase, spending hours upon hours looking for one particular coin. There is plenty of excitement and joy...... -
The Importance of a Coin Price Guide When someone is just getting started in the world of coin collecting they need to be sure to have several helpful tools at their disposal to help them. This is because navigating the coin world can be a difficult and challenging task when you are just getting to know the......
