Coin collecting is becoming increasingly popular as a hobby and a part time business. People collect and trade Roman coins for many different reasons. Some admire the beauty, others like the history surrounding them, and some use it as an investment vehicle. No matter what your reason for collecting ancient Roman coins, it is very exciting to hold a coin which was once held by a Roman Soldier 2000 years earlier!
Many of the most collected Roman coin are the ones which were struck before, during, or just after the death of Jesus Christ. People can correlate the coins back to the Bible such as the Widows Mite which was mentioned in the Bible. Some people collect various coins which depicted their favorite Emperors or coinage from different regions of the Roman Republic. The Romans made their coins out of gold, silver and bronze and some people collect them based on the type of metal used.
In addition to being used for their monetary system, Roman coins were used to celebrate various ideas or to convey a meaning. Some depicted images to celebrate the gods of the time such as the Sun God and River God. Other coins have faces or images of the Rulers and Emperors of the day. Symbols, flowers, snakes, Pegasus, and Medusa were also put on coins. These ancient coins show the views, beliefs and leaders of those times.
Some of the most collectible Roman coins are the ones which were made out of precious metals; Gold (aureus) and Silver (denarius). Many of the Roman Gold Coins had the head of Caesar or another Emperor on it and most were minted or struck at the Constantinople Mint. The Silver Denarius coins were very common and over the years the silver content varied and became debased – much like our modern coinage.
Collecting Roman coins can be started on a limited budget and slowly built into a valuable collection which can then be sold or traded. Some hobbyists buy an assortment of unclean coins and enjoy cleaning and researching them, hoping to find a rare gem. Whether you choose to collect certain rulers, various metals or regional coins, make sure to select roman coins in good condition. Not only is collecting and trading roman coins a profitable hobby, it is also exciting to know that the coin in your hand may have last been used by a Roman Gladiator.
Source by Mark Ralph
Collecting and Trading Ancient Roman Coins
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