My Favourite Ancient

[krasnaya_vityaz 0]

Some of you whom know me from other boards(no comment) know that I have varied interests in numismatics. One area I have always shied from until the last year have been ancients. One thing I have come to surely appreciate with ancients is that there is a level of artistic merit attached with these pieces that is not found on other coins.

For one, the creators of these coins were not consumed with keeping coins flat, they often had high features which gave greater depth of design, and more of a 3-D effect that makes them more attractive in my opinion.

This is not my most expensive ancient, yes I have more expensive ones, but they are more common Athens coins etc. But this is one of my personal favourites.

This coin is from Syracuse Sicily, and was minted during the reign of Agathokles(317-289 BC) The obverse has Artemis(Diana to the Romans) and the legend "Soteira" - savior, and then on the reverse the fascinating winged thunderbolt with the legend Agatholeos Basileos - King Agathokles.

[Guest Nice Coin]

Nice ancient.

[Sylvester 15]

I too find ancients fascinating, and i like them for the same reason you do the depth of the design. And that coin of yours is a real stunner. The obverse has a lovely textured surface for the age.

Although i'd have to admit the verdigris on the reverse irks me a little, but it's not too off putting.

Ancients i like but i've yet to actually buy one. Basically because i'm really trying to cut down and secondly because if i do get started on them, you never know where it'll end.

An Athenian Owl though is most definately on my want list. I suspect when i do finally buy one that'll be it... the ancientits will have snagged me.

[krasnaya_vityaz 0]

I still like my Syracuse bronze a bit better. Hopefully soon, probably later on this fall I will be parting with all of these high dollar coins.

[Sylvester 15]

Hmmm!

Don't set me off!

(I've ruined enough keyboards with drooling over coins).

[Art 0]

Great ancients. It's an area of collecting that calls me often, but alas it remains rather low on my priority list.