Greek coins are available for every budget

By Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) ……



As we saw in the last column, ancient Roman coins offer some unexpected opportunities for collectors at most every level of budget. This month we’ll focus on similar bargains available in the field of ancient Greek coins, many of which are available for $100 or less.

Just as last time, we’ll start with group lots offered at auction, which can be an excellent way to add to your collection at a low average price. Here are four examples from recent online auctions.

Shown above is an interesting mix of Greek silver and copper coins from independent cities and kingdoms in Asia Minor. Most of the lot’s 16 coins are shown in the photo. It sold for about $225 USD – only $14 per coin.

This group of Greek silver fractions includes a variety of types. Most were struck at mints in Western Asia Minor during the fifth and fourth centuries BCE. The lot sold for just over $300, making it an average of about $24 per coin.

Five square bronzes from Eastern Greek and Central Asian kingdoms were offered in the lot shown above. It realized about $175, breaking down to about $35 per coin. The condition of the six large Greek coins shown above – five being silver, one being billon – is not high, but neither was their price. The lot sold for a touch more than $350, making it about $60 per coin. To most collectors, this would represent excellent value for large ancient Greek silver coins. Thankfully, not all budget-priced ancients come in large lots. Below are some excellent examples of interesting and historical Greek coins and the prices they realized. This silver tetrobol of the Chalcidian League, issued at Olynthus in Macedon, c.432-348 BCE, shows the head of the god Apollo and a cithara, a musical instrument. It realized the appropriate price of about $65. This silver triobol (or hemidrachm) of Sicyon, a city at the junction of the Greek mainland and the Peloponnesus, was issued between c.350 and 280 BCE. It shows a dove and a mythical beast, the Chimaera. Because of its modest condition, it fetched about $70.