r/AncientCoins • • May 07 '24

We've been getting a lot of new posters and commenters here lately. Welcome! (Everyone please read the full text inside)

141 Upvotes

Unfortunately, a lot of the new people here aren't familiar with the culture of this subreddit or the ancient coin collecting world in general.

A lot of the ideas that you are bringing to this subreddit -- especially if you're North American and also especially if you've been collecting modern coins for years, don't always carry over directly to the world of ancient coin collecting.

Our subreddit is configured so that people using low-age or low-karma accounts will not see their posts and comments appear here immediately after you make them. They are being set aside until a human moderator is able to review them manually. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.

The same is true of people who don't have much karma on this subreddit, even if you have an older account and have accumulated lots of karma on other subreddits. Part of this is because spammers, scammers, and trolls use newer, low-karma accounts, and part of it is to give you a chance to familiarize yourself with the culture of this subreddit.

We have also configured our subreddit to hold back posts and comments from accounts with a low Contributor Quality Score ("CQS") as determined by the admins of reddit. This takes into account your behavior on all of reddit. If you would like to find out what your own CQS score is please make a post on this subreddit -- /r/CQS. The result will be sent to you within seconds via private messaging, and no one else will be able to see what it is.

As you continue to participate here in good faith most of these limitations will eventually no longer apply to you, and you will be able to post and comment normally.



Thank you for your good faith participation here, and while I have your attention please allow me to remind you of this subreddit's few simple rules:

1) Civility is the price of participation here. Please act like adults and keep things pleasant.

We appreciate kindness and helpfulness here. We won't tolerate people bickering in the comments, swearing at or insulting others, etc.

We have a lot of people coming to r/AncientCoins from the world of modern ones. Please help them understand the differences and find answers to their questions without being a jerk. If you can't manage that we don't want you here, and you will be banned.

2) Unwelcome participants get banned.

Pursuant to Rule #1, the owner/founder/head moderator of this subreddit reserves the right to ban anyone at anytime for any reason he sees fit.

We very rarely ban real people - and we ban no one who is acting in good faith. We mostly only ban annoying bots, karma whores, griefers who post using numerous alt accounts, people who post coins that they don't own but act as if they did, people who swear at or are rude/insulting to others, and persistent trolls who disrupt our discussions.

3) Memes, joke posts & other shitposts may only be posted here on the last day of each month.

Fun is fun, but there's such a thing as too much of an execrable thing. Memes, joke posts, and other shitposts may only be posted on this subreddit on the last day of each Gregorian calendar month in your time zone.

Please don't try to sneak those kinds of posts in by flairing them as "educational" or anything else. If you just can't wait, please submit them over on our companion subreddit /r/AncientCoinMemes instead.

Ultimately, the mods of this subreddit may remove anything posted here at their discretion.


We ask that you please be patient with the process, as we check our queues several times a day. If you make a post or comment and it isn't immediately approved, PLEASE just leave it up and one of us will get to it as soon as we can. We are unpaid volunteers doing this on our own time.

Thank you.


r/AncientCoins • • Jun 12 '25

New rule regarding the use of ChatGPT, other LLMs, and the deceptive use of AI imagery on this subreddit

94 Upvotes

It has actually been a policy here for years that we don't permit ChatGPT-type posts. In the past they were usually just quietly removed, as were AI-generated images that were used deceptively.

It feels like we already have too many rules on this subreddit, but it looks like it's time to join other subreddits by implementing this one.

One issue is that these LLM generated texts aren't automatically vetted for accuracy, and some weird and unreliable stuff can creep in. Another is that they are based on plagiarism.

They often give results that feel like a bad student trying to pad out the word count of a writing assignment, and don't actually contribute much to this subreddit.

It seems like some people here, when they are bored, entertain themselves by feeding prompts into ChatGPT and then posting the results here. Sometimes they do this as conversation starters, but sometimes it feels like they are just trying to show off or something.

Speaking of plagiarism -- which is bad, it is fine to post a paragraph or two of relevant information here that you have found online, if you give appropriate credit and a link.

It's also fine to quote text from a relevant book or journal with appropriate credit. Many reddit users are more likely to give a brief glance at something that you have copied and pasted here than they would be to follow a link and read extensively off-site.

What's not great is if you post massive walls of text, unless the information is presented well and is relevant to our discussions, and not padded out.

If you feel that you simply MUST use an LLM for grammar and spelling purposes, do it well. Make it undetectable. Consider quoting Wikipedia or another reliable and curated online reference instead.

If you are using an LLM as a translator, that is fine. Just make it a translation of your own, unpadded words. Consider using DeepL or Google Translate instead.

Speaking of walls of text, I'll end here.

Thank you.


r/AncientCoins • • 2h ago

Dream Acquisition - Lysimachos Tetradrachm

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63 Upvotes

Feeling very lucky right now as I managed to bag a milestone piece for the collection through the Naville auction just gone. Lot 85 auction 104.

I could count on my fingers the types I was really interested in and I’m so happy I went for and won this one from Lampsakos. I’ve always considered the dies from that mint to rank amongst the best, especially for the obverses.

Yeah it has a few marks, and the flan is very slightly irregular, but feel this more than meets the overall great looks whilst not breaking the bank balance.

Will be sure to post a video along with my Ptolemy I Alexander Tet for a side by side comparison.

What do you think? Did I do well?

Kingdom of Thrace, Lysimachus, 305-281 Lampsacus Tetradrachm circa 297-281, AR 30.00 mm., 16.79 g.
Diademed head of the deified Alexander r., with horn of Ammon. Rev. Athena Nikephoros seated l., arm resting on shield, transverse spear in background; monogram to inner l.; in exergue, crescent l. Thompson 49.

Very fine.


r/AncientCoins • • 54m ago

Newly Acquired Constantius II Solidus

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• Upvotes

My first ever Solidus finally arrived today and I’m completely blown away by it, Constantius II minted in Antioch


r/AncientCoins • • 3h ago

My precious

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31 Upvotes

I might have shared this before, don't take it against me... But now in better quality. My first BC coin. It's from Bythinia, Prusias II. Having not known anything about Bythinia, the coin made me delve into history. The story behind it is amazing. But what I like the most about it is the beautiful Chiron, the king of Centaurs. I was always amazed by Greek mythology and all the creatures, especially Centaurs. Pls enjoy it as much as I am.


r/AncientCoins • • 13h ago

Non-Coin Antiquity Greek Apulian vase

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46 Upvotes

I would like to have a Greek vase in my collection of mostly Greek coins, but I don't have that much knowledge about vases. What do you think about the authenticity of this Greek Apulian with a woman's face? The seller asks $1000, is this reasonable? And the Roman greyware pottery jug? What would be a good price for that? There is also a Hellenistic megarian bowl that looks interesting. I hope someone with more expertise can help me. 


r/AncientCoins • • 10h ago

Help with possible authentic x forgery?

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8 Upvotes

Hello friends, I was offered these for a cheap price, but some really bothers me for the black patina/porous surface. Its a big lot with 30, I wonder if someone can give me their opinion...

No provence, found in a river, most look fine, these are the most oddly looking.


r/AncientCoins • • 6h ago

ID / Attribution Request Sulcus primigenius? or something else?

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3 Upvotes

This is one of my dad's earliest acquisitions. I have no clue of its provenance, its only identifiable features are (what seems to me) two oxen side by side and possibly a right-facing bust on the obverse(?).

All I could think of is of coins depicting the 'Sulcus primigenius', (roman foundational ritual of a settlement) which typically depicts two yoked oxen ploughing guided by some priest.

What I can make out as what could (I know it's hard to discern) be the outline of the emperor's bust seems rather 'archaic' to me, similar to some provincial issues I've seen (i.e. Caesaraugusta, Calagurris, etc).

I know it's all a big stretch because of how worn the coin is but I figured I'd might as well ask and see if anyone can provide any insight.


r/AncientCoins • • 11h ago

ID / Attribution Request Help ID

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8 Upvotes

Weight is 4.09g, unknown drachm. Anyone seen this type before, real or fake, and can provide me with a link/reference? Thanks


r/AncientCoins • • 1d ago

History in the palm of my hand—My favorite emperors.

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218 Upvotes

Happy Sunday ☕️ all. Finally getting around to starting Mary Beard’s SPQR.…


r/AncientCoins • • 11h ago

Authentication Request Does this coin looks authentic?

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6 Upvotes

r/AncientCoins • • 1d ago

Athenian denominations at the British Museum.

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65 Upvotes

So I had to go again to the British Museum and look for more coins and luckily I encountered a full set of Athenian coins ranging from the dekadrachm to a quarter of an obol.

Here we have:
1. Dekadrachm 460 BCE (with a full crest too 🤩);
2-3. The tets we all know and love, also from the 460s BCE;
4. Didrachm 460 BCE (I didn't even know it was a thing);
5-6. Drachms 425 BCE (cool to see in that pristine state);
7. Hemidrachm 425 BCE (if a didrachm exists why not having half a drachm too);
8. 1/4 of a Drachm 425 BCE (no clue how to call it);
9-10. Obols 425 BCE (cute little things);
11. Hemiobol 425 BCE;
12. 1/4 of an Obol 425 BCE (why even bother making something this small?)

I went as close as the glass panel and my phone’s zoom would allow. I'm really not a big fan of how the coins are displayed in the British Museum. You are quite far from the coins and, especially for the tiny ones, the details are hard to tell.


r/AncientCoins • • 1d ago

For Helios Day - Helios as depicted on the tetradrachms of Plato (Baktria)

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108 Upvotes

r/AncientCoins • • 14h ago

Authentication Request Help with identification

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4 Upvotes

I recently found this coin, but can’t seem to identify it. The fact of having animals on both sides looks a bit odd? It weighs 14,43 gram and is 2,7cm in diameter.


r/AncientCoins • • 1d ago

Happy Helios day! (“Sun”-day).

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80 Upvotes

Music choice is “Sis Puella Magica!” From the Madoka Magica Soundtrack.

  1. Rhodes Didrachm 275-250 BC. Obverse of radiant Helios with slightly turned head. Reverse of rosebud flanked by Phrygian helmet above name of magistrate. 20.4mm, 6.3 grams. S.5048,Ashton 187, SNG Cop.783, cf.SNG Finland 536

  2. Rhodes hemidrachm 125-88BC. Obverse of radiant Helios, reverse of rose with magistrate name above. 11.7mm, 1g. cf. SNG Helsinki 668, Jenkins Rhodian Group D series 98


r/AncientCoins • • 1d ago

Newly Acquired First coin show

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22 Upvotes

After redditors on here let me know how burned I got on my last coin, hopefully I did better this time. Athena was beautiful, for 1600 it was the most expensive but hoping I didnt do too bad. Grabbed a Tiberius and El Cazador for couple hundred each so no big deal I think they are cool. Never imagined buying one coin would turn into my next hobby. Slowly learning but its interesting hearing the stories of all these coins!


r/AncientCoins • • 1d ago

From My Collection Tried my best to capture the subtle toning on this Gordian III antoninianus

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47 Upvotes

r/AncientCoins • • 1d ago

Tetradrachm Identifocation

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18 Upvotes

Hi there, I wonder whether anyone out there might be able to identify this coin for me- whether it is legitimate and the story behind it. Thanks!


r/AncientCoins • • 1d ago

Auctions these past two weeks...

22 Upvotes

Is it just me or has the prices on ancients over the past 2 weeks seemed insanely high at these auctions? Anyone wanna take a guess as to why? When will this bubble pop? What do you all think?!


r/AncientCoins • • 1d ago

Information Request Bronze Disease? Or Patina?

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5 Upvotes

I’ve had these coins for about 10 years, acquired when I was just 11 years old. They’ve looked this way since I got them. Thank you for the info in advance!


r/AncientCoins • • 1d ago

Newly Acquired I just obtained these new coins

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35 Upvotes

Figured I would share my new purchases: a diobol from Milete and a half drachm from Tabaristan. What is really cool in my opinion is that between the minting of these 2 coins more time has passed, than between the minting of the half drachm and the present day.

The diobol was minted around 510-494 BC, whilst the half drachm was minted between 776-794 AD (I haven't been able to narrow down a more specific date). Crazy to think about. The diobol was surprisingly cheap as it only set me back 40 euros + shipping. Definitely one of the coolest coins in my collection. I am also trying to get a coin from every century, so these coins have brougt me somewhat closer to that goal


r/AncientCoins • • 1d ago

Lucius Verus? Identification Help

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5 Upvotes

I think this is Lucius Verus on the Obverse. I think the text starts with IMP CAES L. The problem is I can’t find an example with a matching reverse.

It is 18g and 32mm diameter.

I think the obverse matches RIC 1347:
https://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/lucius_verus/RIC_1347.jpg

I’m new at this and just thought I would see if anyone had ideas where else to look.


r/AncientCoins • • 1d ago

From My Collection My new heavyweight champion antoninianus :)

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72 Upvotes

I always find the weight range of Gordian III denarii and antoninianus wild. Some antoninianii barely make it to 2.5 gram, whereas others are 6.0+ grams.

Until now my heaviest Gordian III was 6.43 grams, but recently I won this beast of 7.34 grams at auction!


r/AncientCoins • • 1d ago

Authentication Request Confirmation if it’s a fake

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10 Upvotes

A seller sent me these pictures of a Lysias drachm and said it’s 1.53 grams. He’s not sure if it’s real or not but I believe it’s a fake because of the porous surfaces of the coin and a sort of fissure in the edge.The weight is also a bit on the lower side.

Any insights on its authenticity will be greatly appreciated.


r/AncientCoins • • 23h ago

ID / Attribution Request Halfway there..

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3 Upvotes

GLORIA ROMANORVM with a R in the right field on the reverse. Now, I'm trying to narrow down the obverse. Gratian? I think (true guess) that I see GR and NVSFAVG. I know there are plenty of pros who have eyes for worn legend identification. I'm getting there. Any help would be appreciated.