Matthew Anderson | 
06 29th, 2009| 
Ever wondered what Emperors like Constantine the Great, Cleopatra or Julius Caesar looked like and wanted to hold something in your hand that may have been held by one of these Emperors or someone living during that time.
If you are someone who has an interest in the Ancient past or perhaps someone who just likes collecting historic antiques but your not willing to spend much money then you should consider taking up the hobby of Roman coin collecting.
There are a number of reasons why you should consider collecting Roman coins then other Ancient Coins.
Unlike other ancient coins there are a wide variety of Ancient Roman coins featuring many different Roman emperors. This is due to the vast time and area that the Empire covered. Countless coins were made between the 1st and 5th century over a large area of the world which the Roman Empire covered and these coins reflect the location and period that they were minted.
Also its great to have a real portrait of an Emperor in your possession. Many emperors came and went and it was customary to inscribe the portrait of the emperor on the coins that were minted during their reign.
Roman coins are the least expensive of all Ancient coins. Other ancient coins include for example Greek, Barbaric, Celtic, Parthian, Nabathaean, Islamic, Indian and Chinese.
In fact they are less expensive to collect then many modern day coins which can come as a surprise to some. As already stated the Roman Empire was large and existed over a long period of time. Therefore there were a lot of Roman coins and so they are not as rare as some may believe. Also fewer people collect ancient coins then modern coins and so the demand for them is lower.
There are less fake Roman coins the other coins such as modern day coins. This is largely due to Roman coins being less expensive and rare.
These coins dont just have historic and monetary value. They also have artistic value being beautifully crafted and containing a narrative or story of the area and period that they were minted.
The currency in Ancient Rome had intrinsic value as their coins were made from precious metals such as Gold and Silver. This can make the coins more special to collect but you should make sure you have a higher enough budget before collecting the Gold coins as these are significantly more expensive.
What determines the worth of a Roman coin
The price of a Roman coin can vary radically and is due to a number of factors. The two most important factors are how the coin was minted and the condition that the coin is in.
The condition of the coin depends on how the coin was stored before being found or how tarnished the coin has become due to minerals in the ground.
The grade is determined by how the coin was minted during Roman times. These coins were hand made and so are not always very circular or detailed. A Roman coin can be less detailed and of less value if it was struck by dies that were worn down.
How you grade the coin can sometimes be problematic and sometimes you just have to estimate it based on how appealing or detailed you think the coin is to your own eyes
The third most important factor that determines the worth of a Roman coin is how rare that coin is. However rarity is less of a factor with Roman coins as it is with modern coins as Roman coins are so diverse and numerous.
Coin collectors are less likely to be competing for the same coin when trying to complete their Roman coin collection and each collection will be different. Also more people collect modern coins and so there is greater demand. Rare Roman coins do exist thanks to Emperors who had a short reign. Fewer coins would have been minted during their reign making them rarely and more expensive today.
You should be wary of coin dealers that use terms such as rare or very rare to describe a coin. A coin that is described as rare may not necessarily be rare. Some of those who are new to coin collecting will be misled by such claims. If someone describes a coin as rare you should determine how rare and why the coin is rare. Does the dealer of the coin give an RIC number and provide the range. Do not be tempted to purchase a coin just because someone describes it as rare.
If you become a professional coin dealer of have even just built up a collection of ancient coins determining whether a coin is rare or not will become much easier.
How much should you spend on a Roman coin
Do not purchase a Roman coin if it is described as rare and being sold for less then $100 as it is unlikely to be rare. Rare coins will not sell for less then $100. Some eBay sellers will claim that their coin is rare and you will not see another like it for years yet you find the same coin on eBay sold by someone else.
To get an idea of the range in price for Roman coins, for $5 to $10 you can purchase good quality coins manufactured under late 3rd and 4th century AD emperors.
If you were willing to pay $10-$20, you could collect a coin from the more well-known 1st and 2nd century emperors. Maybe some later ones in good condition. If you were willing to accumulate a collection of over 50 emperors in good condition with clear portraits and readable legends this should cost approximately $20 a coin.
On top of this, there are numerous varieties available for each emperor. Of course, just as with modern coins, you can buy ones that cost much more; ones that are in better shape or are more scarce, but if you are just interested in decent coins and history then you may not have to look any further.
Why not occasionally purchase a more expensive and rare coin, or one of a high grade or condition made out of Gold or Silver. This could be very expensive but could be resold to a coin dealer for a good price. Some prefer cheaper coins that require some cleaning as it adds to the mystery and occasionally a rare and expensive coin can be found.
To summarize look for coins that you find appealing and from a period you find interesting. Perhaps you want like collecting coins from famous emperors or you are interested in Biblical coins. If you do purchase a more expensive coin dont worry about rarity too much but purchase a coin in good condition and grade. If you purchase the coin from a coin dealer dont forget to do some research first and ask the right questions.