Millimoo

As a rule, if the coins are sold blind, "1 from the 10,000 in the picture" they will more than likely be rubbish. Try to find someone selling a small group, where you can see the picture of the coins being sold, and try to buy some with as much detail as possible. If you stick with this, you will probably end up with some nice, recognisable, small bronze Roman coins, not really worth a great deal, but dripping with History. Every now and then you will find something a little bit special, maybe a rare reverse, or one of the lesser know emperors - but you need to be able to ID the coin first - so go for the detail! Most of the really cheap bulk lots come from the Balkans, they have ALL been sorted through, there will be NO gold, No silver and very few larger Bronze denominations. If you are going this way, it's best to find the guys who have bought the bulk lots of the nicer bulk coins from the Balkan dealers, rather than the cheap bulk lots! If you look around, especially at US ebay, you will find a couple of decent sellers of this kind. I'd recommend you first buy Chris's Roman Bronze book too at £6 it's a bargain, as you will need to know what you are looking at and what you are looking for! Dave

Hi Fraggle, Chris, David Sear has written many books on the subject. These contain great introductions, lots of additional information, many line drawings and valuations. The most recent single volume dates back to 1988 but has recently been reprinted by Spink: Roman Coins and Their Values, the 4th Edition ISBN: 0713478233, approx £35 This has now been replaced by a (planned) 4 volume set. The first 3 are published, the 4th due in a year or so: Roman Coins and Their Values: I The Republic and the Twelve Caesars 280 BC - AD 96, 2000 approx £45 Roman Coins and Their Values: II The Accession of Nerva to the Overthrow of the Severan dynasty in 235, 2002 approx £65 Roman Coins and Their Values: III The accession of Maximinus I in AD 235 down to the assassination of Carinus and the accession of Diocletian, 2005 approx £55 Another book to consider is a large glossy colour single volume by Rasiel Suarez called Encyclopedia of Roman Imperial Coins (ERIC), ISBN: 0976466406 2005 approx $75 Roman Imperial Coinage published by Spink is the definitive reference of its age. Volume 4 has 3 parts bound into 1, and Volume 5 is split into 2 parts, making 11 Volumes in total. In 10 parts, it took 71 years to complete from 1923 to 1994. Hope this helps! Dave

Hi Chris, Yes, the coins circulated for a long time, especially the early ones with a high silver content. Sorry, I don't know of any professional coin cleaners, but I'm sure they are out there. Dave

Looks like a silver Domitian Denarius, probably Minerva standing left. Can you confirm the size? Value is difficult, but if it cleans up ok, probably £20-40 ish!

I forgot the book edit! I'll have to add it in. Many thanks for all your help - I'll look into the picture upload too. Any problems, please let me know! Dave

Dear All, I have been working on a numismatic book review website for about 3 months, and I think it’s just about ready for the real world. It's at:- www.numibooks.com I could do with just a small number of people to have a look at it, register if you would like, read about books, add books and add some reviews? I could really use the feedback, what is good and what is bad, what works and what doesn’t! Any help would be gratefully appreciated! Many thanks, Dave Millington

Thanks for the input! I've added some help on searching. I left the search wide open, so if you enter "British" in the title, you get all books with British anywhere in the title + the same for authors. I'll keep making improvements, and adding books! Any cover pictures, ideally about 200 pixels wide would be gratefully appreciated, especially old and out of print books! Dave

Sorry Geordie, I've fixed the links. Thanks for looking at the www.numibooks.com and for registering - and thanks to custard for the book reviews - the first by an "outsider"! Any comments on functionality, anything that does not work - or any suggestions would be very welcome! I'll try and run a few competitions in a month or so - 100'th review or best review or something - give some books away! Thanks for the help! Dave

From an unlikely start, this has to be the most interesting discussion on any of the boards! Geoff, where is the fish and game shop in Stockport? Dave

I've just got a coffee from the machine at work, like you do, and got a really dodgy looking £1 in my change. It's a Welsh Dragon one, with very child like writing in Welsh around the sides. The ridges around the sides are and the bust and reverse feel very flat. Comparing it to another £1 welsh, the writing around the side wobbles up & down, rather than horizontal, and there is little detail on the Queens hair etc. I've no camera at work, so no pictures until tonight. Any thoughts? Dave

I won’t ask what you were doing in the woods.

Thanks for that chaps - I've just noticed that the writting is upside down too. I'll keep my eyes peeled now for more! I'll have to drink more coffee! If either of you want it, you can gladly have it either FOC or just cost! (I guess cost is not right as it probably cost about 20p to make) Sylvester, you get first shout, after that it's heading to Chris! Dave

The side - not a great picture!

Ok, some Pictures. 2 coins for comparison Both the same weight - so maybe it's just worn?

Sounds like it's building up nicely! Can I recommend "Emperors don't die in bed" by Fik Meijer? I guess I don't need to tell you what it's about, but I think it will be right up your street! Dave

How's the Roman collection doing? Any focus, or plans or just seeing where it takes you? Dave

In the Romans, I've spotted a Roman Antoninians of Tetricus I 271-274 AD CRB318, plus a City Commemorative, but the rest are a little worn. Dave

Thanks Chris! It's on its merry way! Dave

I've just listed on ebay a fantastic high quality poster of the English Monarchs from Egbert through Elizabeth II represented by coins! English Monarchs Poster I'll drop the postage by £1.50 for any forum member! (Just let me know at checkout) Dave

Sounds like RIC 0577b "136 AD. IMP CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG, laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder / PONT MAX TR POT COS III S-C, BRITANNIA below, Britannia seated facing, holding long scepter, large shield to right." Does it look like this?

Sounds like an bronze As, probably RIC 0577 or RIC 0577b On the reverse, can you see Britannia seated, holding a long transverse scepter or a scepter & a large shield to right? As Chris says, the Britannia coins are usually valued by UK collectors, but it depends on condition. Dave

Do any of you know about coin insurance? Is it easy enough to sort out, what information do you need to provide, and are there any reliable brokers out there? Many thanks! Dave

They sound very impressive - anyone got a picture? Dave

I've not posted for a while, but wanted to share this wth you - my first "modern" English coin - I got a Second World War £2 Silver Proof from my young son for Father's day! And very nice it is too! You might get me interested in this new stuff after all!

I'm here too. I seem to remember that it did the same last year, especially with Ancients (not sure about other coins) I just put it down to the clocks changing, the weather warming up, post Christmas Visa bills to pay. I think this time of year people actually go out & do stuff! It's rubbish for selling stuff, but there are bargains to be had! Dave