What's the best book for IDing Roman coins?

[Fraggle Rock 0]

Good morning!

I'm a new collector of Roman coins, and I have bought the silver and base metal books from Chris Perkins, which are great.

But a lot of the coins I'm considering buying aren't in those books. The face of the ceasars/emperors are featured in the books, but frequently the reverse isn't featured in the particular listing.

This means that I can't really get a realistic idea of the value/cost of the coins.

Is there a book I can get which features all coins complete with both the obverse and all reverses? I guess it's going it cost me, but hey! If I didn't like throwing money away I wouldn't collect coins.....!

Cheers,

Fraggle

[Chris Perkins 228]

Don't forget that in the Books where 'Allegorical types' is stated, the coin could have any one of a number of reverses as features on page 4 and 5.

I don't think I've found one that isn't covered yet in the books. Most of the allegorical types are worth about the same.

[Guest Guest_Fraggle Rock_I'm_a_Gue]

Don't forget that in the Books where 'Allegorical types' is stated, the coin could have any one of a number of reverses as features on page 4 and 5.

I don't think I've found one that isn't covered yet in the books. Most of the allegorical types are worth about the same.

Thanks for your reply, Chris.

I can't find the list of Allegorical types on page 4 and 5. It goes straight from the "Alphabetical index of imperatorial and imperial coins" into the Didrachm period, then the named coins of the Roman Republic, then the Imperatorial Period, then the Roman Empire.

Am I looking in the wrong place?

Cheers

F

[Chris Perkins 228]

Sorry, I was referring to the Base metal book!

The silver book doesn't refer to Allegorical reverses much, although I suspect if you find one that isn't listed it'll be around about the same value as any godess type.

To be sure, you'll nead the Sear range of books, published by Spink.

[Guest Guest_Fraggle Rock_I'm_a_Gue]

Thanks for that, Chris.

Where can I get hold of a copy? Can anyone supply the ISBN, or perhaps even supply the book direct?

Is there anywhere on the internet where I can go to try and ID coins?

Cheers,

Fraggle

[Chris Perkins 228]

I always use forumancientcoins.com ( I thik that's the URL). I know the proprietor, as he buys books from me.

Then there's also wildwinds.com that's good too.

Both sites have a huge database of coins and images.

For the Sear books, do a search on Amazon, they have them.

[Millimoo 0]

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

[Chris Perkins 228]

I was hoping you'd come along Dave!

[Fraggle Rock 0]

Many thanks for all your help, Guys.

A beginner like me is so frightened of getting stung for £100 when a coin is only worth half that.

I'm looking on vcoins.com quite a lot. Is that a good place to buy? Or can you recommend any other places with variety and good prices?

Cheers,

Fraggle

[TomGoodheart 400]

Well, assuming you've already checked out Chris' selection here at Predecimal and his link to Vale coins, generally I find Vcoins has a decent selection, but prices vary a lot depending on the dealer. For example, Mike Vosper's prices are always competitive but Antony Wilson's (York Coins) are a bit high.

I have always found Andy Bruce's site( Online Coins) has a wide selection at all prices (although Roman coins aren't my area).

What I tend to do is to do an image search on the net, (I find Altavista better than Google, though recently I've found my searches sometimes hijacked by Yahoo!search which is c**p) then save pics of coins that interest me (with dealer, price and date details) so I can compare later when I find something I like. What you want is a really good example for a bench mark (plus price). Something like Roman coins you'll probably be spoilt for choice. Don't forget auction houses too! Good luck!

[TomGoodheart 400]

Rereading my posts (which I should obviously do more often!) I am concerned I may have done Antony Wilson a disservice! What I meant to say is that, for the sort of coin I buy, I have found MV's prices generally lower than AW's. But then one is based in New York, the other in Norfolk etc, etc. What I didn't mean to say is that AW's coins are overpriced which, upon revisiting my post, I feel could have unfortunately come across.

So just to clarify, I have bought from York Coins in the past on more than one occasion and was happy with the coins and with the prices I paid. I was also more than happy with the service I received, which was excellent.

No two dealers are likely to ask exactly the same for a coin. What's important is to find a dealer you can trust to give good service and whose coins are as described.

Hope that's clear and sorry if there was any misunderstanding.

[Chris Perkins 228]

Just because you've noticed he's now a member you felt you had to do a bit of brown tongueing!

[TomGoodheart 400]

Not at all Chris. I hadn't got round to checking if he was a member yet. He brought the post to my attention and I did think I'd not been fair.

Besides, I may want to buy something from him again! (Hi Antony! )