Interviewing... Myself
I’ve decided, prospectively, to chat to all sorts of coin collectors about their experiences with the hobby. To give you an idea of what these short interviews will look like (or maybe just because I wanted to give it a go), I’ve started with myself. Each will feature responses to the same six questions, which I answer below. And if you’re a numismatist interested in a short written interview of your own, feel free to contact me at ancientnumisuk[at]gmail.com.
Where did you buy your first coin?
I bought my first coin of numismatic interest at a car boot sale in France. It was a holed French coin, maybe around eighty years old, and attracted my attention because the seller had wrapped a tissue through it and tied it in a knot so it functioned as a ball. He said that playing with this was one way children kept themselves occupied during the war. My first ancient coin was a birthday gift, probably when I was ten. It was just a low-grade late Roman bronze, but I found it so special to be able to hold/own something that was used thousands of years ago, and make out the portrait of an emperor long gone.
What sort of coins do you collect?
Initially, I collected all sorts of coins: ancient and modern, whatever took my fancy at the local shop. Slowly, however, I became more and more focused on classical (ancient Greek and Roman) coinage. Now, I’m especially interested in Greek silver from the archaic and classical periods. Two areas I’ve focused on specifically are Corinth and the series of electrum hektai at Mytilene (although a decent collection of the latter would unfortunately be prohibitively expensive).
What’s the last coin you bought?
Recently, I saw this bronze sestertius of Marcus Aurelius for sale (as an auction) on eBay. The condition isn’t great, but it features a pile of arms on the reverse, commemorating victory over the Sarmatians (hence the DE SARMATIS legend). Even the exergue is creatively formed by a spear! I managed to win it for about £10, which I think was a nice deal for such an interesting historic type.
What advice would you give to someone keen to start collecting?
Be patient. Even though, compared to other areas of numismatics, ancient coins are rare, there are still a large number of them available. Auctions, many online, come and go all the time and unless you’re after a particularly elusive type, the coin you’re looking for will inevitably turn up again. It’s much better to wait until you’re comfortable that the coin is right for you instead of spending money on something you’ll regret down the line. Sometimes difficult to do, definitely, but worth it (in my opinion).
Have you ever made a mistake collecting (if so, what)?
Yes, plenty! When I was starting out, for example, I bought lots of coins on eBay, most of which turned out to be inauthentic. I went for them because they looked cheaper than would be expected, but they ended up being too good to be true. Nowadays, I think I’ve handled enough coins to start buying on the site again, with much caution (but there are still so many overpriced/fake coins that I think it’s a minefield for any beginner unless, maybe, you stick to sellers recommended by other experienced collectors).
What’s your dream coin (ie if you could have any, what would it be)?
It’s difficult to pick a favourite, but I absolutely love this large silver Dekadrachm (42g+) of Acragas, in Sicily. Undoubtedly one of the finest works of art in numismatics, it is believed that both obverse and reverse were engraved by famed celators (Myron/Polycrates). As Harlan Berk mentions, in ‘100 Greatest Ancient Coins’, the obverse works to simulate motion (with eagle representing sun and crab symbolic of sea) while the reverse features eagles “so realistically rendered that one can almost imagine the exuberant cry of the bird with its head thrown back”. With its excessive rarity, too, it’s incredibly desirable, so is one of the most expensive ancient coins available… one can dream!
Thanks so much for reading! If you liked this post, you can receive articles as they come for free (including interviews like this one) by using the button below. Let’s give ancient coins the attention they deserve! :)