If you collect US coins, but you're ready to start a new collection, it's time to consider expanding into ancient coins. Coins have been minted for thousands of years, and many of them are available for collection, especially ancient Greek coins. If you've never collected ancient coins before, you may have some questions. Here's some information regarding the collection of ancient coins to help you get started.
Ancient Coins Don't Have to Be Expensive
If you've never collected ancient coins before, you may be worried about the cost. After all, many antiquities are hard to come by - and quite costly when they are available. However, most ancient coins are easy to come by. That's become vast quantities have been found during archaeological digs, as well as by treasure hunters. Because of those discoveries, ancient coins aren't as expensive as you might think. In fact, they're a relatively inexpensive way to obtain a piece of ancient history for yourself.
Authenticity Needs to be Certified
Like most artifacts, ancient coins can be authenticated through a process of certification. If you're going to begin collecting ancient coins, you need to ensure that each coin you purchase has gone through the certification process. If a seller can't provide you with a certificate of authenticity for their ancient coins, it's best to shop elsewhere.
Make Sure Your Coins Are Truly Ancient
When it comes to collecting coins, it's important to know just how old "ancient" actually is. To qualify as ancient, a coin should have been minted sometime during the first five centuries, A.D. Ancient Greek coins date all the way back to the 1st century B.C., beginning with the Hellenistic era. When looking for ancient coins, you want to find those that were minted during the first several centuries.
Avoid Cleaning Your Own Ancient Coins
If you're going to collect ancient coins, you'll want to provide the proper care. While you may clean the coins in your current collection, greater care needs to be taken with your ancient coins. In most cases, ancient coins will have been cleaned prior to being offered by their current owners. However, if you happen upon an uncleaned coin, don't attempt to clean it by yourself. Ancient coins should only be cleaned by highly-trained professionals. Improper cleaning techniques or the use of harsh chemicals will ruin your coins.
Now that you're going to start collecting ancient coins, use tips like these to enjoy a successful start.
