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Coins: Ancient

A coin is usually a piece of hard material, generally metal and usually in the shape of a disc, which is issued by a government to be used as a form of money. Along with banknotes, coins make up the cash forms of all modern money systems. more...

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Coin Appraisals

Coins are usually used for lower-valued units, and banknotes are usually used for the higher values; also, in most money systems, the highest value coin is worth less than the lowest-value note.

Collecting coins

See Coin collecting and Numismatics for more information on the collecting of coins, bank notes, token coins and Exonumia.

The value of a coin

The market exchange value of a coin comes from its historic value, and/or the intrinsic value of the component metal (for example gold coins, silver coins or platinum coins).

However, in modern times, most coins are made of a base metal and their value comes strictly from their status as fiat money. This means that the value of the coin is decreed by government fiat rather than agreed by the people, which really makes it less a coin and more a token in the strictest sense.

To distinguish between these two types of coins, as well as from other forms of tokens which have been used as money, monetary scholars have defined three criteria that an object must meet to be a "true coin". These criteria are:

  1. It must be made of a valuable material, and trade for close to the market value of that material.
  2. It must be of a standardized weight and purity.
  3. It must be marked to identify the authority that guarantees the content.

By the above definition, the invention and first known usage of coins comes from the Kingdom of Lydia circa 643-630 B.C. Under three generations of Lydian kings, the money of Lydia gradually moved from being lumps of electrum (a naturally occurring alloy of silver and gold) to coins of a guaranteed weight and purity, marked with the seal of the King. True coins also developed very close to this time frame in both India and China.

Read more at Wikipedia.org


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Spc Ihnasyah Hoard Alexandria, Constantius Ii Royal Ontario Museum Anc10354Spc Ihnasyah Hoard Alexandria, Constantius Ii Royal Ontario Museum Anc10354 $24.90 Eretria in Euboia for the Euboian League 190Bc Bull Ancient Greek Coin i56092Eretria in Euboia for the Euboian League 190Bc Bull Ancient Greek Coin i56092 $202.50 Was: Previous Price $750.00
Septimius Severus 193Ad Nicopolis ad Istrum Dionysus Wine God Roman Coin i45235Septimius Severus 193Ad Nicopolis ad Istrum Dionysus Wine God Roman Coin i45235 $40.50 Was: Previous Price $150.00 Parthia Kings King Vardanes I Silver Drachm 40 - 45 Ad XfParthia Kings King Vardanes I Silver Drachm 40 - 45 Ad Xf $144.99
Constantine I-Siscia-Royal Ontario Museum-Ihnasyah Hoard-Roman-Anc11085Constantine I-Siscia-Royal Ontario Museum-Ihnasyah Hoard-Roman-Anc11085 $23.90 Indo-Sassanian "Sri Ha" drachm, western India, 8th-10th cent Ad Silver Coin RareIndo-Sassanian "Sri Ha" drachm, western India, 8th-10th cent Ad Silver Coin Rare $3.00
*Lucernae* Gratian Ae23. Siscia Bsisc. Reparatio Reipvb. Beautiful portrait!*Lucernae* Gratian Ae23. Siscia Bsisc. Reparatio Reipvb. Beautiful portrait! $40.00 Odessos in Thrace 281Bc Great God Derzelas & Apollo Ancient Greek Coin i37799Odessos in Thrace 281Bc Great God Derzelas & Apollo Ancient Greek Coin i37799 $60.75 Was: Previous Price $225.00
1800-Year-Old-India-Ancei nt-Samant-Deva-Bulls-And-H orse-Coin-Ex-Rare1800-Year-Old-India-Ancei nt-Samant-Deva-Bulls-And-H orse-Coin-Ex-Rare $0.99 Lot of 5 Scarce Emperor Carausius, Antoninianus, Ex ForvmLot of 5 Scarce Emperor Carausius, Antoninianus, Ex Forvm $8.27
* Bilbiles * Victorinus Ae Antoninianus Invictus Cologne* Bilbiles * Victorinus Ae Antoninianus Invictus Cologne $12.00 * Bilbiles * Gallienus Ae Antoninianus Grifo Apollini Rome* Bilbiles * Gallienus Ae Antoninianus Grifo Apollini Rome $20.00
Lampsakos in Mysia 400Bcgorgoneion Thyrsos Poss Unpub Ancient Greek Coin i56093Lampsakos in Mysia 400Bcgorgoneion Thyrsos Poss Unpub Ancient Greek Coin i56093 $67.50 Was: Previous Price $250.00 Ancient Chinese Song Dynasty Coin,960-12 With Story,Album & CertificateAncient Chinese Song Dynasty Coin,960-12 With Story,Album & Certificate $12.79
Fa-Sas0155- Lot of 6 Sasanians with 2 Khusro I 531-579 Ad, 2 Khusro Ii 590-628 AFa-Sas0155- Lot of 6 Sasanians with 2 Khusro I 531-579 Ad, 2 Khusro Ii 590-628 A $250.00 Antioch in Seleucia 2-3CenAd Boule Council Four Column Temple Greek Coin i44350Antioch in Seleucia 2-3CenAd Boule Council Four Column Temple Greek Coin i44350 $121.50 Was: Previous Price $450.00
Juba Jr Ancient Roman Greek African Silver Denarius Ngc Xf MauritaniaJuba Jr Ancient Roman Greek African Silver Denarius Ngc Xf Mauritania $355.00 Spc Ihnasyah Hoard , Rome, Constans , Royal Ontario Museum Anc11533Spc Ihnasyah Hoard , Rome, Constans , Royal Ontario Museum Anc11533 $24.90
Alexander the Great Iii Ar Tetradrachm 336-323 Bc - Certified Ngc Choice VfAlexander the Great Iii Ar Tetradrachm 336-323 Bc - Certified Ngc Choice Vf $435.00 Alexander Iii the Great 323Bc Nikokreon Salamis Cyprus Rare Greek Coin i57912Alexander Iii the Great 323Bc Nikokreon Salamis Cyprus Rare Greek Coin i57912 $256.50 Was: Previous Price $950.00
Ancient India Later Mauryan 250 - 100 Bc Mauryan Copper Punch Mark CoinAncient India Later Mauryan 250 - 100 Bc Mauryan Copper Punch Mark Coin $0.99 1800'S Barclays Copies Of Ancient Greece / Egypt Coins Gold And Silver Coins1800'S Barclays Copies Of Ancient Greece / Egypt Coins Gold And Silver Coins $150.00
Ancient Roman Empire, Bronze coinAncient Roman Empire, Bronze coin $4.25 Was: Previous Price $5.00 Ptolemy Iv Philopator 221-204 B.C. Kyrene Mint; Nice And Scarce Coin!Ptolemy Iv Philopator 221-204 B.C. Kyrene Mint; Nice And Scarce Coin! $150.00
Alexander the Great Iii Ar Tetradrachm Coin - 336-323 Bc - Certified Ngc VfAlexander the Great Iii Ar Tetradrachm Coin - 336-323 Bc - Certified Ngc Vf $395.00 Argos Acarnania Ar Corinthian staterArgos Acarnania Ar Corinthian stater $229.00
10 Slabbed Ancient Roman Constantine the Great Coins Nice Quality c 330 Ad 1910 Slabbed Ancient Roman Constantine the Great Coins Nice Quality c 330 Ad 19 $13.25 Anaktorion Leukos Ar staterAnaktorion Leukos Ar stater $349.00
*Lucernae* Constantius Gallus Ae19. Siscia Asis. Fel Temp Reparatio. Lovely!*Lucernae* Constantius Gallus Ae19. Siscia Asis. Fel Temp Reparatio. Lovely! $35.00 Latin Rulers of Constantinople 1204-1261Ad Byzantine Coin Jesus Christ i33230Latin Rulers of Constantinople 1204-1261Ad Byzantine Coin Jesus Christ i33230 $23.76 Was: Previous Price $88.00
Bithynia Kalchedon Ar tetradrachm- unpublishedBithynia Kalchedon Ar tetradrachm- unpublished $499.00 *Lucernae* Magnentius Ae17. Victories. Vot V Mvl X. Super top barbarous!*Lucernae* Magnentius Ae17. Victories. Vot V Mvl X. Super top barbarous! $60.00
Ancient India - Indo Sassanian Empire (3-4 Centuries) Silver DrachmAncient India - Indo Sassanian Empire (3-4 Centuries) Silver Drachm $0.99 *Lucernae* Constans Ae20. Rome N/Rp. Fel Temp Reparatio. Emperor on Galley*Lucernae* Constans Ae20. Rome N/Rp. Fel Temp Reparatio. Emperor on Galley $45.00
Ancient Byzantine Coin - Jesus Christ; Attributed To Basil Ii 1003-1025 A.D.Ancient Byzantine Coin - Jesus Christ; Attributed To Basil Ii 1003-1025 A.D. $225.00 Smyrna in Ionia 75Bc Apollo Poet Homer Odyssey Iliad Ancient Greek Coin i55946Smyrna in Ionia 75Bc Apollo Poet Homer Odyssey Iliad Ancient Greek Coin i55946 $94.50 Was: Previous Price $350.00
India Ancient - Chola Empire - Octopus Man (985-1014 Ad) Copper Drachm Rare CoinIndia Ancient - Chola Empire - Octopus Man (985-1014 Ad) Copper Drachm Rare Coin $0.99 2000 Year Old Ancient Kshtrap Silver Coin Ex. Rare Coin2000 Year Old Ancient Kshtrap Silver Coin Ex. Rare Coin $1.25
Constantine I the Great 325Ad Council of Nicaea Heaven Gazing Roman Coin i57922Constantine I the Great 325Ad Council of Nicaea Heaven Gazing Roman Coin i57922 $229.50 Was: Previous Price $850.00 6 Silver Denarius: Severus, Sev Alexander, Hadrian, Faustina Jr, Vespasian, Pius6 Silver Denarius: Severus, Sev Alexander, Hadrian, Faustina Jr, Vespasian, Pius $21.50
Constantine I-Cyzicus-Royal Ontario Museum-Ihnasyah Hoard-Roman-Anc11030Constantine I-Cyzicus-Royal Ontario Museum-Ihnasyah Hoard-Roman-Anc11030 $13.90 The Madonna and Child Silver Denier Coin 1540-1600 A.D. Austria-Hungarian EmpireThe Madonna and Child Silver Denier Coin 1540-1600 A.D. Austria-Hungarian Empire $40.00
Lot of 2 Coins Midievel Æ Ar Silver & Bronze - Metal Detector Finds Holed #4AnLot of 2 Coins Midievel Æ Ar Silver & Bronze - Metal Detector Finds Holed #4An $7.99 Spectacular Augustus As Aes green patinaSpectacular Augustus As Aes green patina $350.00
Roman Marcus Aurelius Sestertius Caesar 22,19 g / 33 mm Ant1032.17Roman Marcus Aurelius Sestertius Caesar 22,19 g / 33 mm Ant1032.17 $34.09
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Prices current as of last update, 03/29/17 1:10am.

See also...
Byzantine, Coins: Ancient
Celtic, Coins: Ancient
China, Coins: Ancient
Greek, Coins: Ancient
Islamic, Coins: Ancient
Medieval, Coins: Ancient
Other, Coins: Ancient
Persian, Indian, Asian, Coins: Ancient
Reproductions, Coins: Ancient
Roman: Imperial, Coins: Ancient
Roman: Provincial, Coins: Ancient
Roman: Republic, Coins: Ancient

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