Reference Guides, Ancient Coin History & Attribution

          PRACTICAL GUIDE
        

How to Identify Roman Coins

A step-by-step method. Portrait, legend, denomination, reverse type, mint mark, and catalog reference, the same sequence a dealer uses to attribute an unknown coin.

~15 min read

          PRACTICAL GUIDE
        

Roman Mint Marks

Decode the letters in the exergue to find which mint struck your coin. Interactive decoder plus the full mint table.

~8 min read

          27 BC – 14 AD
        

Augustus Coins

A historical reference. The most politically calculated coinage in Roman history, 794 types across 13 mints, from common Lugdunum denarii to gold aurei.

794 types 349 with images ~25 min read

          69 – 79 AD
        

Vespasian Coins

A collector’s reference. Flavian dynasty founder, the Judaea Capta series, and 1,595 types across 16 mints, from common denarii to the most famous commemorative coins in Roman numismatics.

1,595 types 533 with images ~25 min read

          98 – 117 AD
        

Trajan Coins

A collector’s reference. Optimus Princeps: the Dacian Wars series, restored coins programme, and 1,046 types from the reign that brought Rome to its greatest territorial extent.

1,046 types 838 with images ~25 min read

          161 – 180 AD
        

Marcus Aurelius Coins

The philosopher emperor’s coinage as a crisis diary: the Parthian war, the Antonine plague, the Marcomannic campaigns, and 1,819 types with Faustina II and the consecratio.

1,819 types 657 with images ~23 min read

          117 – 138 AD
        

Hadrian Coins

The first bearded emperor and the travel series: provinces, armies and arrivals across 6,652 types, with the Britannia sestertius and the connoisseur EXERCITVS bronzes.

6,652 types 1,538 with images ~23 min read

          306 – 337 AD
        

Constantine I Coins

A collector’s reference. 4,096 types across 17 mints, the most prolific coinage of late antiquity, from common folles to scarce gold solidi.

4,096 types 1,540 with images ~25 min read

          6th century BC – 1st century BC
        

Ancient Greek Coin Identification

A practical guide. Denomination systems, city-state iconography, Hellenistic ruler portraits, legend reading, and which catalog references to use: BMC, Price, SNG, and more.

~15 min read

          PRACTICAL GUIDE
        

Coin Collection Insurance

How to insure a numismatic collection. What documentation specialist insurers require, how to prepare an itemized inventory, and how NumisLens helps.

~10 min read

          REFERENCE
        

Ancient Coin Valuation

What an ancient coin is actually worth and how to find out. Fair Market Value vs replacement vs liquidation, condition’s exponential effect on price, where to find honest comparables, and when a professional appraisal is worth it.

~12 min read

          DENOMINATION
        

The Greek Drachma

The silver backbone of the Greek world. Weight standards, obol fractions, city-state and Hellenistic royal drachms, and the most affordable entry into ancient Greek silver.

~9 min read

          DENOMINATION
        

The Tetradrachm

The great silver coin of Greece. The Athenian owl, Alexander types, the Sicilian masterpieces, and the Ptolemaic and Roman provincial issues, with how to buy one safely.

~9 min read

          GREEK SILVER
        

The Athenian Owl

The most famous ancient Greek coin. Athena and her owl, the Laurion silver behind the Athenian empire, the four collecting eras, what an owl costs, and how not to buy a fake.

~10 min read

          GREEK SILVER
        

The Syracuse Decadrachm

The coin many collectors call the most beautiful ever struck. Arethusa and the racing quadriga, the Demareteion, and the signed dies of Euainetos and Kimon, with what a genuine one costs.

~9 min read

          69 – 81 AD
        

Judaea Capta

Rome's victory over Judaea, struck in bronze, silver and gold. The palm and the mourning captive, the fall of Jerusalem, Vespasian and Titus, the denominations, and what a real one costs.

~9 min read

          GREEK / HELLENISTIC
        

Spartan Coins

The city that refused to use money. Why Lakedaimon rejected coinage, the fabled iron currency, the first Spartan silver under Areus I, and the affordable bronzes of Lakedaimon under Rome.

~8 min read

          REFERENCE
        

Roman Coin Denominations

The full list of Roman coins by metal and value: aureus, denarius, sestertius, dupondius, as, antoninianus, follis and more, with the brass-versus-copper question answered and each linked to the catalog.

~10 min read

          PRACTICAL GUIDE
        

How to Tell If a Coin Is Silver

Five non-destructive tests: weight and density, the magnet, the ring, the fineness mark, and the acid test, plus why ancient silver coins behave differently and need a different approach.

~8 min read

          DENOMINATION
        

The Roman Denarius

Rome’s silver workhorse for four and a half centuries. Republican and Imperial issues, the long debasement, the Tribute Penny, and how to build a denarius collection.

~10 min read

          DENOMINATION
        

The Stater

Where coinage begins. The Lydian electrum original, Persian darics, the gold of Philip and Alexander, and the silver Corinthian stater, with the metal that decides everything.

~9 min read

          DENOMINATION
        

The Aureus

Roman gold from Caesar to Constantine. The Augustan standard, the long decline that ended in the solidus, and the hard truth about buying the most forged coins in the field.

~10 min read

          DENOMINATION
        

The Follis

Late Rome’s bronze and the Byzantine coin it became. Diocletian’s follis, the AE1–AE4 catalogue puzzle, and the great M-marked bronze of Byzantium.

~10 min read

          AUCTION RECORDS
        

Most Expensive Ancient Coins

Ten record auction sales, from the $6M Pantikapaion stater to the EID MAR aureus and what happened to it. A market history in ten coins, and what they tell every collector about rarity, condition and provenance.

~14 min read

          REFERENCE
        

Biblical Coins

The four coins every collector eventually owns: the widow’s mite, the tribute penny, the Tyrian shekel, and Judaea Capta. What each is, what to look for, and what a real specimen costs, cheapest first.

~16 min read