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“Show me the money”: A look at investing in rare coins

“Show me the money”: A look at investing in rare coins

Having collectibles as an investment can be a great way to diversify your investment portfolio and minimize risk. The general rule of thumb is to invest in what you love when it comes to collectibles so that if your collection doesn’t realize a return, you still get to enjoy your collection.With uncertainty ever present in the public and private markets coupled with recession and other economic ups and downs, tangible assets, also known as hard assets, present a variety of options for investors who want to put money toward areas of their personal interest. These may include income producing assets such as timberland, farmland, and commodities of all kind.  For more general information on investing in tangible assets, click here. Collectibles are fast becoming a popular investment vehicle for those who have lost trust in the public stock markets or are tired of fluctuations. Tangibles allow an investment to appreciate in value over time, which appeals to investors; however, personal interest in a tangible asset remains the number one reason people choose to invest in collecting them. Rare coins are considered to be a commodity-like investment where sentimental value may exist, but coins are one tangible that can also produce attractive financial returns. Note that there is a distinction between coins as bullion and coins as numismatics. Bullion has a higher ‘melt value’ – the value the metal would be worth if melted down. Numismatic coins, because they are often much older and made of various metals and components, have a lower melt value and are worth less when melted then they are in coin form. The general rule of thumb is to buy bullion for business, numismatics for fun.

This is the second in an AIMkts® series providing an introduction into various subclasses of antiques and collectibles.  This installment:  rare coins.

Why rare coins? 

People collect rare coins for the same reason people collect art, says Ilya Zlobin, ancient numismatic coin expert, dealer and enthusiast of TrustedCoins.com. “Rare coins, especially of the ancient Greeks and Romans capture the feel and the art of the time period [like] statues and architecture that have long been lost to history…” Also, says Zlobin, there is a very high upside resale potential should investors make the right buy for the right price. “…Stories of exponential growth understandable stoke investor interest in the world of collectibles,” according to a 2012 Barclay’s report. However, “Relatively few wealth individuals own treasure solely for its financial characteristics. Investors that do seek financial returns on insurance from their treasure typically favor commodity-like items, such as precious metals, coins and jewelry.” Once nicknamed “the hobby of kings“, collecting coins has become an everyman’s game thanks to a rise in numismatic scholarship, education, access to information and a growing sophistication of the general public over the last 500 years and is popularly referred to as “the king of hobbies”. For the average person, owning coins make possessing a piece of history remarkably accessible, and for those with an interest in antiquities, coins are more accessible, in general, than larger, tangible asset investments. For beginners, collecting rare coins may seem daunting. Experts and experienced collectors offer this advice:

  • Specialize – Choose a particular emperor, denomination, theme or time period and use it to guide how you invest. Stay focused on a particular concentration and build within that. Financier Louis E. Eliasberg did just that and his collection got him listed among the world’s most famed collectors.
  • Scrutinize – Don’t just pick randomly from your choices. Know what you’re looking for and examine coins carefully to make sure they fit with the direction you’re taking your collection.
  • Study – Collectors shouldn’t just take the opinions or advice of sellers. Collectors should become experts themselves, studying up on values, denominations, rarity and other aspects of the area in which they intent to collection so as to make an informed decision when investing. Read trade magazines, talk to other collectors and learn what questions to ask. Never buy what you don’t understand. Study up on some coin collecting lingo here.
  • Start Small – Buying small will allow investors to start collecting without betting the farm. Buying large quantities of coins or buying high priced coins should only come with experience. While buying rare coins or coins minted with historically importance is ideal, amateur or inexperience collectors should never spend large amounts of money on coins they don’t understand. Collector and numismatics mentor Susan Headley notes, “If you can’t afford to shell out $2,000 [per] coin to buy…high grades, then buy common coins in the finest grades you can.”

Grading Adding to that advice, we caution all coin investors to know their dealer. Investing in rare coins is as much as investment as putting money toward any asset class – trust is key. As a purveyor of rare coins, Zlobin notes that the grading scale is subjective one, with Good (G) being the lowest, to Very Good (VG), then Fine (F) followed by Very Fine (VF), followed by Extra Fine (EF) and finally, a perfect mint-state called Fleur-De-Coin (FDC). The overall appearance of a coin and its appeal to buyers and sellers alike are all highly subjective matters and grading standards may vary. Well-known houses like Heritage Auctions provide some guidance and the Professional Coin Grading Service, among others, can give a point of reference as well, but keep in mind that very fine distinctions between coins will make a big difference in its worth, even thousands of dollars’ worth of difference for the smallest distinction. Subjectivity is considered to be one of the risks in rare coin investing. “With many dealers and collectors, the coin’s state of preservation and aesthetic beauty are of paramount importance. In other words a beautiful coin is more desirable, and also much rarer in that state of preservation,” says Zlobin. “There are other things that are important for ancient numismatic coins, too, such as centering, the artistic beauty of the strike and its sharpness. Ancient coins were struck by hand, so a coin in fantastic preservation that is nicely centered and of an interesting historical character, period or city would have higher value.” Speaking of risk… “Caveat emptor” says Zlobin. “Deal with people that provide a guarantee and a good track record with their coins [and] with people you know and trust. Always ask for the best possible price.” Just like any investment has inherent risk, coin collecting is no different. Are the risks any greater or less than investing anywhere else? Not if you invest in what you love, say collectors. “There are many reputable dealers out there,” says Zlobin “It is a very big advantage to deal with them, as many have knowledge and experience, and know that it’s just good business to sell only authentic coins.” However, the Federal Trade Commission has issued warnings to help protect consumers from fraud. Read the warning here. False claims about grading, current value and buy back options are the most common ways investors lose money when collecting coins. “Examine coins in person. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to make a practical decision about buying a particular coin based on a photo or a conversation with the seller,” advises the FTC. “Check out any coin dealers in a search engine online. Read about other people’s experiences. Try to communicate offline if possible to clarify any details. In addition, contact your state Attorney General and local consumer protection agency.” And always get a second opinion. Zlobin’s risk advice to investors is:

  • Always try to get the best possible price – Investing in rare coins doesn’t have to break your bank. Some dealers can give you breaks as the margins are often-times sufficient for everyone to be happy.
  • Be detached about the outcome of the deal – Do your best to secure a great deal, but be an investor that can also think as a collector. This way you win either way.
  • Keep records of how much you paid for a coin, and all receipts – This will give you a record of the coin’s grade, and purchase information.  Also, if you want to sell these investments and realize a profit, you’ll need to be organized.
  • Work with dealers willing to prove themselves – Some dealers provide a lifetime guarantee of authenticity, and some will issue certificates of authenticity.

Return on Investment In general, investors can expect rare coins to have an investment horizon similar to most other investments – one that will last for a few months to many years. “I have seen ancient coins sold at one major auction house, to be sold just several months later and for more money at another auction house,” says Zlobin. “Yes, it is possible to make money rather quickly with intimate knowledge of the market [but] the money in ancient numismatic coins is made during the purchase of the item. A good rule of thumb is to always do your research and know that you can at least get what you paid for the coin back… With uncertainties about the valuations of all the global currencies, it is a good idea to hedge your net worth with this being a great avenue for storing wealth. Numismatic coins especially may carry a higher resale value than gold or silver bullion, as they are not as prone to those specific market fluctuations.” There are professional numismatic reference sites, where investors can trace the price trends of many different coin types going back many years and get an idea of how certain coins will fare on the resale market. Although any investment carries risk, and although almost all dealers of any investment will tell you that “past performance is not an indicator of future results”, investors can make informed decisions about their coins by taking a look at how the pros have traced them through the years. Is collecting rare coins for you? So, who are the buyers of rare coins? For the most part, they are anyone who is interested in owning a tangible piece of history. “For ancient numismatic coins specifically, the historical value is very important,” Zlobin says. “For example, a Julius Caesar coin sells in any market in practically any condition. Another well-known name would be Alexander the Great.” Coin collecting, known as “the king of hobbies” is an investment almost anyone can make. For serious investors, coins are a tangible asset that will provide diversity in an investment portfolio and help hedge against inflation as the value of rare coins is generally stable. “A lot of people don’t know this, but ancient coins are actually quite abundant,”according to Zlobin. Some celebrities and many other famous individuals are known to be avid coin collectors such as J.P. Morgan, the Hunt brothers hockey great Wayne Gretzky, Buddy Ebsen (aka “Jed Clampett”), and Nicole Kidman. “Coins, especially numismatic coins, are a beautiful asset to have,” says Zlobin. “Think about how tough it would be to fit a huge painting or a statue or another heavy work of art in your pocket, but an ancient coin can be placed in your pocket, yet be worth quite a lot of money. So you can say the reason why coins are so popular is that they are the original form of money and will always have some sort of value, whether intrinsic or numismatic, or both.”

By Alicia Purdy, Contributing Editor, Accredited Investor Markets

Reprinted with permission from Accredited Investor Markets (www.aimkts.com)



Ancient Roman Camp Gate CoinsDownload this article by right-clicking here and selecting save as

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CHARIOTS as shown on Authentic Ancient Greek & Roman Coins for Sale on eBay

Ancient Greek and Roman Chariots on Coins

Biga Ancient Roman Chariot Coin

See the different types of chariots depicted on coins of ancient Greece and Rome

The ancient Greeks and Romans used the chariot for war, racing, processions and travel. On ancient coins, the chariot was featured being driven by emperors, important personages and even gods and goddesses. They were usually pulled by horses, but on ancient coins sometimes even by flying serpents and goats. There is a certain excitement associated with the chariot that is almost archetypal. The Latin word “carrus” is the root of the English word “chariot”. Imagine the excitement the ancient spectators would feel as they saw chariots racing around the Circus Maximus in Rome or even other parts of the empire. Chariots are a fascinating topic of study and collecting. See the sights and feel the feeling with these authentic ancient coins depicting the chariot here.

Click here to see all coins with a chariot.

Biga Ancient Roman Chariot Coin Triga Three Horse Chariot Ancient Roman Coin Triumphal Quadriga Four Horse Chariot Roman Coin Sol the Sun God in Four Horse Drawn Quadriga Chariot

Biga, Triga and Quadriga chariots on ancient ancient Roman coins. Biga means a two horse, triga means a three horse and a quadriga means four horse chariot.

A chariot pulled by goats!

By winged serpents, with this depiction of Triptolemus.

By even elephants! There is even a story about Pompey the Great who tried to use a chariot pulled by elephants for his triumphal march through Rome. It couldn’t fit through the gates though, so he had to get on a regular chariot pulled by horses. There was a Greek general who had a battle on the streets of one of the Greek cities he tried to conquer. One of his commanders tried sending an elephant through the doorway into the city. However, the elephant got stuck and the re-enforcements could not come for the battle. Also it was Seleukos I of the Seleukid kingdom, who traded the territories Alexander the Great won in northern India for 500 War elephants. Hannibal also apparently used the war elephants. Alexander the Great battled elephants in India mounted by archers. Interesting and exciting creatures elephants are!

Interesting type issued for Constantine, for his deification, where he is pictured taking a quadriga (four horse) chariot up to heaven with the hand of God accepting him.



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Article by Ilya Zlobin, world-renowned expert numismatist, enthusiast, author and dealer in authentic ancient Greek, ancient Roman, ancient Byzantine coins and beyond.

ANCIENT COIN TYPES Explained Guide to Roman Greek Biblical and Byzantine Numismatic Coins

ANCIENT COIN TYPES Explained Guide to Roman Greek Biblical and Byzantine Numismatic Coins

Educational Video to Learn How To Tell the Difference between the Varieties of Ancient Coins

There are a lot of beginner collectors of ancient coins that would like to learn what the different classifications of ancient coins. What I have seen with ancient coin collecting is that without proper guidance, the learning curve could be steep, before full enjoyment can be attained in the “king of hobbies”. The goal of this video is to explain the different types of coins, and what they mean. You can see in my eBay store: http://stores.ebay.com/Authentic-Ancient-Greek-Roman-Coins that I have classifications such as Ancient Greek Coins, Celtic Coins & Proto-Money, Roman Republic Coins, Roman Imperial Coins, Roman Provincial Coins, Byzantine Coins, Medieval coins. May this guide answer many of your questions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzhACrACbOs

You may also want to see the Ancient Coin Collecting Guide & How To Videos which is a Youtube playlist of all my educational videos about ancient coins. Below each video is a link to a corresponding article, many times showing pictures and descriptions of the coins illustrated in the videos. So I recommend using that as a great guide to learn more about the different types.


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Article by Ilya Zlobin, world-renowned expert numismatist, enthusiast, author and dealer in authentic ancient Greek, ancient Roman, ancient Byzantine coins and beyond.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzhACrACbOs&list=PL3dOqeLcLHYna6jl4_W5brq7ydWkewBdv&index=33

TOUR of ANCIENT ROME with PROFESSOR Exploring Colosseum Forum and More

Video Tour of Ancient Rome with Professor Exploring Colosseum Forum & More

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHlvqj3HD5s

Took tour with professional tour guide and published professor who lives in Rome and knows it inside out. This intimate experience shows Rome as it really is meant to be experienced with detours into “hidden gems”. He explained how the city went from the one of ancient times and how it was built up over time. The tour starts at the Colosseum and takes you through a detour to a preserved Roman buildings turned into a church. After which point there is a visit to the Roman forum, along which includes the famous Senate house where Julius Caesar got assassinated on the Ides of March 44 B.C. and the final resting place of his ashes in the forum. There was a visit the home of the vestal Virgins. Then of course we go to higher ground and see the palace that the Caesars lived in at Rome. Overall a breathtaking experience into the ancient past as cannot be experienced through just reading. It was a pleasure visiting these sites because I have been fascinated with ancient coins all of these years, and now I was able to have an even stronger understanding and appreciation of the subject.

For more great videos on ancient coins and history, visit my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/trustedancientcoins or my eBay store with thousands of ancient Greek and Roman coins: http://stores.ebay.com/Authentic-Ancient-Greek-Roman-Coins



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Article by Ilya Zlobin, world-renowned expert numismatist, enthusiast, author and dealer in authentic ancient Greek, ancient Roman, ancient Byzantine coins and beyond.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHlvqj3HD5s

Ancient Coin Collecting GUIDES Educational VIDEO ARTICLE Collection

Ancient Coin Collecting Guide 30+ Educational Video Collection

View All the Videos About Ancient Coins Talking About Various Topics of Interest in Ancient Coins


Click here to watch all the educational videos about coins

This is my collection of my entire works that I have done up to this point in regards to presenting ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine coins on video and explaining the historical context they have come from. This is an amazing way to feel the amazing history almost in your hands that may spark your interest in the various topics covered. It would be a great idea to save this article in PDF format with the link at the bottom of this post.

These videos are arranged in a YouTube playlist and when you go there you will be able to choose which videos would interest you, or you can let the whole entire series play one after another after another. This is a great almost “hands-on” way to learn the various topics covered in ancient coin collecting. Click here to start watching the collection. There are also links below the video that take you to an article for the video you are watching.

See Also:



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Article by Ilya Zlobin, world-renowned expert numismatist, enthusiast, author and dealer in authentic ancient Greek, ancient Roman, ancient Byzantine coins and beyond.

Coin Collecting Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OghpYB823Q

Expert Discusses ANCIENT COINS for a Collection & Alternative Investment

Interview with Expert about Ancient Coin Collecting & Alternative Investing

Great tips and information about the topic of ancient coins by Accredited Investor Markets Radio – a podcast about investing in alternative assets


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp4zNGnrx7M

Collecting rare coins, the once-named “hobby of kings” has grown to become the “king of hobbies”, with people from all walks of life getting into the game. In Episode 22, investors will learn the basics of numismatic investing with rare coins dealer and coin expert Ilya Zlobin of TrustedCoins.com. Accredited Investor Markets Radio host Chris Cahill has an in-depth discussion with Zlobin about ancient coin quality and factors that affect value as well as what the coolest coins are on the market right now.

About Ilya Zlobin

Ilya Zlobin is an expert, author, enthusiast and dealer in ancient coins. He has authored dozens of articles and videos regarding various topics in ancient coin collecting. Ilya is world-renowned for his knowledge in this field having worked with over 54,000 ancient coins and having over 10 years experience in this field selling and researching numismatic coins. He continues writing articles and making videos educating the public about the wonders of ancient coins. His belief is that anything worth doing is worth doing well. He has a selection of thousands of different ancient coins available through his website , http://www.TrustedCoins.com

Listen to it here:

See Also:



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Article by Ilya Zlobin, world-renowned expert numismatist, enthusiast, author and dealer in authentic ancient Greek, ancient Roman, ancient Byzantine coins and beyond.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp4zNGnrx7M

Chronological LIST of PEOPLE who were on ANCIENT ROMAN Coins for Sale on eBay

Chronological List of All Roman Emperors, Empresses and other Important Personages on Ancient Coins

A List to be used as a Guide to Putting Together a Collection of Ancient Roman Coins that Includes Names of People who Issued Coins, Including the Rare Ones!

Feel the past as you explore the ancient world through these historical ancient Roman coins of the emperors, empresses and important personages. Below is an almost complete list of all ancient Roman historical personages that have ever struck a coin. A challenge for some, who are willing to accept it, is to collect a single coin of every single emperor. This list is available inside my eBay as the ‘Collecting Guide Link‘. Some of these emperors are more rare than others, so you may want to be the first to buy them before they’re gone into a collection forever! Some people choose to take the route of building up a collection of every single emperor, or sometimes, every single emperor and empress, and it may take a lifetime, but the challenge is exciting. You can build up a collection without some or the rarer emperors and empresses in an affordable fashion for almost anyone. Some people value a collection of ancient Roman coins as more valuable as it takes time and effort to put it together. With the list below, you can search my ancient coins store and find the right coins out of thousands that are available! Just click on each one of the names and it will search it automatically for any examples that I may have available. Or download it, print and use it as a checklist for your collection. The benefit of this list is that you can use it to put together a collection quickly and easily



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Article by Ilya Zlobin, world-renowned expert numismatist, enthusiast, author and dealer in authentic ancient Greek, ancient Roman, ancient Byzantine coins and beyond.

 

COINS of SAINT PAUL the Apostle’s Travels Spreading Christianity Through Ancient GREEK and ROMAN Territories

Saint Paul the Apostle’s Travels Ancient Greek and Roman Biblical Historical Coins

Guide to the coins of the cities and territories St. Paul visited from cities of Ancient Greece to Rome

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyWvRoN_qUs

The Biblical Coins & List of Cities St. Paul Traveled Spreading Christianity

It was Paul that was responsible for spreading the Christian church around the known world then. The Apostle Paul was from Tarsus in Cilicia. He was born a Jew and followed the famous Rabbi Gamaliel. Tarsus at that time had a Jewish community living there.  On his way to Damascus he had a transformation. And the former persecutor of Jewish-Christians, decided to spread the new religion instead. His new name was Paul He revolutionized the Christian religion by having people not having to become Jewish first before becoming Christian. This led to the breaking of all ties between the Jewish Temple and the Christian Church. Apostle Paul may have traded in woven goods, and this may be the reasoning why he traveled around so much and did so many missionary activities. You may also want to read the biography of St. Paul on Wikipedia.The goal of this guide is to make it easy to learn about the ancient coins in circulation during the lifetime of Jesus Christ and the spread of Christianity. Many of the links included in this guide will take you to search my eBay ancient coin store

This is a list of all the cities and areas he visited on his travels. Most of these cities actually issued coins. If not the city, the coins of the area, province or region may be available to view. There are people, such as bible scholars and others interested in the topic, who put together entire collections that follow St. Paul’s four journeys. A coin of the area may also make a great gift for someone of the faith.

The cities that issued coins are easily clickable and you can actually see the coins from there, which are available for sale. Please note that it looks that eBay auto-corrects some spellings, so for some of the terms, you may need to click the [ Return to original search ] link to actually see the coins available, this is noted for coins of Philippi and Rhegion.

St. Paul’s 1st Journey (Acts: 13:1-14:28)

St. Paul’s 2nd Journey (Acts 15:36-18:22)

St. Paul’s 3rd Journey

St. Paul’s Travels to Rome (Acts 15:36-18:22)

TRIBUTE Penny Jesus Christ RENDER UNTO CAESAR Biblical Roman Coins Guide

Tribute Penny Render Unto Caesar Jesus Christ Biblical Coins

The guide to the ancient silver Roman coin described in the bible brought before Christ


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xP8i2TE6C0

The Most Likely Candidates for the Silver Coin Described in the Bible under Mark 12:14-17

Quoting the Bible:

“Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give? But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why temp ye me? Bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought it. And He saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto Him, Caesar’s. And Jesus, answering, said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s (Mark 12:14-17)”

Who the Caesars Were

Julius Caesar, the famous military commander and dictator of Rome was the originator of the name Caesar that the Roman emperors adopted. Augustus being an adopted heir of Julius Caesar, also took on his name. This was an important political tactic giving him the power of Julius Caesar as an adopted son. An adopted son would therefore carry the popularity that Caesar had. Augustus was Roman emperor from 27 B.C. – 14 A.D., officially. Upon his death, the next emperor was Tiberius. He, too, as later emperors assumed the title of Caesar in his name, especially written on coins. So therefore, Caesar was a name that many emperors assumed and put on their coins.

Types of Silver Coins bearing the name “Caesar” in Circulation during the Life of Jesus Christ

When the 1611 edition of the King James Bible was written, the term for Roman denarius whose Greek equivalent was the drachm was translated to the Anglo-Saxon penny as known to the British, which was their standard silver coin denomination at the time.

So we know three rulers who would have had a denarius silver coin with the name “Caesar” written on them. And they would be.

Most Likely Candidates for the Coin Described in the Bible

Quoting the section from Mark, “Whose is this image and superscription?”. We must come to the conclusion that the coin must, have a portrait of a ruler and also have a “superscription” or in other words the word Caesar in the title and be a coin of the denarius (or possibly drachm) denomination. Although the coins of Julius Caesar did exist in denarius form with his portrait, they are quite rare, and would not have been minted since 44 B.C., so likely would not be a common type of coin in circulation at the time, although certainly a candidate.

Then there are the coins of Augustus, who feature the word “Caesar” whom also had the denarius coin with his portrait and who issued a lot of them in his reign from before Jesus’ birth to his young adulthood from 27 B.C. – 14 A.D. So this would be a more likely candidate for the coin that was brought before Jesus Christ. Another point to be made is that the Augustus coins are much more plentiful in the times of Jesus Christ than the coins of Tiberius circulating in the area of Jerusalem.

And lastly, the most traditionally attributed coin as being the Tribute Penny is the silver denarius coin of emperor Tiberius, whom reigned 14-37 A.D. and also feature the title of Caesar on them. These would have been the most recently-minted coins in the context of the time period  described and therefore the most widely-accepted form of the Tribute Penny.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the coin that was talked about in the bible would have to have four characteristics.

  1. Would have to have been minted during the lifetime or before the birth of Jesus Christ.
  2. Would be silver and of the Roman denarius denomination.
  3. Would have the portrait of the Roman ruler on it.
  4. Would have the word “Caesar” in the inscription on them

So therefore they would be portrait Julius Caesar silver denarius coins, Augustus silver denarius coins, or Tiberius silver denarius coins with the inscription of “Caesar” on them.

Examples of the Ancient Silver Roman coins that could be described as the biblical Tribute Penny

Below are the three possibilities that fit the biblical account of the Tribute Penny, including the two most likely-ones, those of Augustus and Tiberius.

Julius Caesar portrait silver denarius coin from 44 B.C.

Notice the term “Caesar” on it’s obverse and incidentally the first time a living ruler’s portrait was placed on a coin.

Coin’s description:

Julius Caesar – Roman Dictator – Silver Denarius  Rome,  44 B.C.
CAESAR IMP, laureate head of Julius Caesar right; behind, lituus and  simpulum behind.  M METTIVS, Venus standing facing, head left, holding Victory and scepter,  resting elbow on shield set on globe behind her; in left field.

Roman Emperor Augustus’ coin from circa 2 B.C. featuring Caius and Lucius Caesars

Here is the second example cited in the article that I conclude could be the type described.

Coin’s Description :

Augustus – Roman Emperor: 27 B.C. – 14 A.D. Silver Denarius 19mm Rome mint: 2 B.C. – 2 A.D.
CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F. PATER PATRIAE, his laurel head right. C . L . CAESARES AVGVSTI F . COS . DESIG . PRINC . IVVENT., Caius and Lucius Caesars standing facing, shields and spears between them; above, between the spears, simpulum and lituus turned inwards.

Tiberius, Roman Emperor 14-37 A.D. silver Denarius ancient silver Roman coin that is the most popular and well-known “Tribute Penny” type

This is the coin that is most widely attributed to the coin described in the Bible by the scholars of biblical coins of the nineteenth century.

Coin’s Description

Tiberius – Roman Emperor: 14-37 A.D. – Silver Denarius 17mm Lugdunum mint: 14-37 A.D. THE BIBLICAL TRIBUTE PENNY Reference: BN II, 42, 28; RIC 95, 30. C 16
TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS – Laureate head right. PONTIF MAXIM – Livia seated right, holding spear and branch; ornamented chair legs.




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Article by Ilya Zlobin, world-renowned expert numismatist, enthusiast, author and dealer in authentic ancient Greek, ancient Roman, ancient Byzantine coins and beyond.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xP8i2TE6C0

Goddess of LOVE Aphrodite also Known as VENUS with EROS & CUPID on Ancient Greek Roman Coins

Venus Cupid Aphrodite Eros Ancient Greek and Roman Coins

Coins of the Goddess of Love and her Winged “Angel” of Love

Venus is the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. Cupid is the Roman version of the Greek Eros. Both of these colorful characters played significant roles in history. It was the judgement of Paris, naming Aphrodite the “fairest of them all” whom granted him the love of Helen; whose love launched the Trojan war depicted in the Iliad and the Odyssey. Other colorful characters of history such as Julius Caesar had Venus as the patron deity and claimed decent from the goddess herself. Both Venus and Cupid have been depicted on ancient coins of the ancient Greeks and Romans stretching from the B.C. times to even the mid-to-late Roman empire.  She was the mother of the Roman people through the link to her son Aeneas who fled Troy. Her functioned included those of beauty, sex, love, fertility and desire.

Cupid, Greek Eros, translating from Latin word “Cupido” which means “desire” is the god of erotic love, affection, desire and attraction in Roman mythology. He is often depicted together with his mother the goddess Venus.

See an amazing collection of ancient coins depicting her and search for coins  that depict both her and Cupid.

Coins Available for Sale:

Authentic Ancient Greek & Roman Coins Featuring Venus Aphrodite Cupid Eros

Being the patron goddess of Julius Caesar, Venus is depicted on many of his coins. However, she is depicted on many other ancient Greek and Roman coins of the ancient times. Many times, her son Cupid is included in her depiction. Venus is also sometimes featured holding the Golden Apple which Paris granted the goddess in the story of the Judgement of Paris. A story that echoes in eternity and associated with the Trojan war. On Roman coins she at times has various functions she does, such as VENUS VICTRIX, or Venus of Victory. The most likely attractive type of Venus to collect is the one that shows her from behind with her half-draped buttocks showing. Enjoy the selection of ancient coins I put together for your pleasure.

Roman Republic JULIUS CAESAR Family VENUS CUPID Mark Antony Silver Coin i46293

Roman Republic L. Julius L. f. Caesar moneyer
Silver Denarius 16mm (3.87 grams) Rome mint, circa 103 B.C.
Reference:  Julia 4; B.M.C. 1405, esc.; Syd. 593; Craw. 320/1
Head of Mars left, CAESAR behind, letter and dots above.
Venus Genetrix in biga left, drawn by two Cupids, before them lyre, letter and dots above, L . IVLI . L . F in exergue.
Family member of Caesar the dictator. Grandfather of Mark Antony. The Julia gens claimed it’s decent from Venus herself.

Roman Republic Julius Caesar Family Venus Silver Ancient Coin CONSIDIA 7 i45466

Roman Republic C. Considius Paetus moneyer
Silver Denarius 20mm (3.60 grams) Rome mint, circa 46 B.C.
Reference: Considia 7; B.M.C. 4090; Syd. 993; Craw. 465/4
PAETI behind head of Venus left, diademed and laureate.
Victory in quadriga left, holding wreath and palm, C . CONSIDI in exergue.

PLAUTILLA Caracalla Wife 202AD VENUS CUPID Ancient Silver Roman Coin i46570

 Plautilla – Roman Empress – Wife of Caracalla –
Silver Denarius 20mm (3.52 grams)  Rome mint: 202-205 A.D.
Reference: RIC 369 (Caracalla), S 7074, BMC 429 –
PLAVTILLA AVGVSTA – Draped bust right.
VENVS VICTRIX –   Venus standing left, leaning on shield, holding apple and cradling palm;  Cupid to lower left.

Venus in Chariot with Cupid 106BC Ancient Silver Roman Republic Coin i41974

Roman Republic L. Memmius Galeria moneyer
Silver Denarius 20mm (3.80 grams) Rome mint, circa 106 B.C.
Reference: Memmia 2; B.M.C. 1329-46; Syd. 574; Craw. 313/1b
Laureate head of Saturn left, letter or letter and dot below chin, harpa and ROMA behind.
Venus in biga right, Cupid flies above, L . MEMMI / GAL in exergue.Venus was the tutelary divinity of the Memmia gens.


JULIA DOMNA Silver Ancient Authentic Roman Coin VENUS Fertility Cult i26637

Julia Domna – Roman Empress Wife of Emperor Septimius Severus 193-211 A.D. –
Silver Denarius 19mm (2.97 grams) Rome mint 196-211 A.D.
Reference: RIC 580 (Septimius Severus), C 198
IVLIAAVGVSTA – Draped bust right.
VENVSFELIX – Venus standing left, holding apple and pulling dress.

Roman Republic 46BC Silver Coin Julius Caesar Family Gemini Venus Cult i28585

Roman Republic – Mn. Cordius Rufus moneyer, which may refer to the Julius Caesar family
Silver Denarius (21mm, 3.65 gm.) Rome mint: 46 B.C.
Reference: Cordia 1; S-440.Cr463/1. Syd 976. RSC-(Cordia)-1.
Conjoined heads of the Dioscuri right, each wearing pileus surmounted by star, RVFVS III VIR behind and below. MN . CORDIVS behind Venus Verticordia standing left, holding scales & scepter, Cupid on her shoulder.

Galeria Valeria 310AD Ancient Roman Coin VENUS Sexual love Cult i44272

Galeria Valeria – Roman Empress – Wife of Galerius – Daughter of Diocletian –
Bronze Follis 25mm (5.44 grams) Heraclea mint: 310 A.D.
Reference: RIC 50 (Heraclea)
GALVALERIAAVG – Diademed, draped bust right.
VENERIVICTRICI Exe: */HTΔ – Venus standing left, holding apple and raising skirt.

CARACALLA Silver Antoninianus Ancient Roman Coin ‘Venus the Victorious’ i46769

Caracalla – Roman Emperor: 198-217 A.D. –
Silver Antoninianus 24mm (4.66 grams) Struck circa 198-217A.D.
Reference:  RIC 311d
ANTONINVSPIVSAVGGERM – Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
VENVSVICTRIX – Venus standing left, holding Victory and spear with shield.

Roman Republic C. Norbanus 83BC Rare Ancient Silver Coin VENUS Commerce i28514

Roman Republic C. Norbanus moneyer
Silver Denarius (19mm, 3.80 gm.), Rome, 83 B.C.
Reference:  Norbana 2; B.M.C. 2770-2826; Syd. 739; Craw. 357/1b
Diademed head of  Venus right, C . NORBANVS below, number behind.
Corn, fasces and caduceus.

JULIUS CAESAR Lifetime 44BC Portrait Ancient Silver Roman Coin Venus Rare i46313

Julius Caesar – Roman Dictator –
Silver Denarius 19mm (3.89 grams) Struck February-March  44 B.C.
P. Sepullius Macer, moneyer
Reference: RSC 40; B. 48; B.M.C. 4175; Syd. 1074a; Craw. 480/14
CAESAR DICT PERPETVO, his laureate and veiled head right.
P . SEPVLLIVS MACER, Venus Victrix standing left, holding Victory and scepter, star set on ground to right.Probably the most famous portrait issue of Julius Caesar. This series illustrates the dictator’s break with the Roman custom forbidding the depiction of living individuals on the coinage, which may have contributed to the mounting fears (perhaps justifiable in retrospect) that he wished to do away with republican institutions and establish a new personal monarchy in Rome. These fears, combined with jealousy of his success and power, led to Caesar’s assassination on the Ides of March, 44 B.C. At the same time that the portrait subtly elevates Caesar’s status to that of a king, it also reveals his human frailty: the laurel wreath that Caesar wears was awarded to him by the Senate, but he reportedly wore it in public at all times in order to hide a bald spot.


JULIA DOMNA Septimius Severus Wife Silver Roman Coin Venus Love Cult i24607

Julia Domna – Roman Empress Wife of Emperor Septimius Severus 193-211 A.D. –
Silver Denarius 17mm (2.63 grams) Emesa mint: 193-196 A.D.
IVLIA DOMNA AVGV – Draped bust right.
VENERI VICTR – Nude Venus with half-covered buttocks standing right, leaning on column and with legs crossed, holding apple and palm.* Numismatic Note: Rare, type from the Emesan mint.


JULIA SOAEMIAS 220AD Elagabalus Mother Silver Roman Coin Venus Cult i21501

Julia Soaemias – Roman Empress Mother of Elagabalus, Roman Emperor 218-222 A.D. –
Silver Denarius 18mm (3.04 grams) Rome mint: 220-222 A.D.
Reference: RIC 241 (Elagabalus), S 7719
IVLIA SOAEMIAS AVG – Draped bust right.
VENVSCAELESTIS – Venus standing left, holding apple and scepter; star in right field.

JULIA MAMAEA Sestertius Big RARE Ancient Roman Coin Venus Cupid Erotic i46443

Julia Mamaea – Roman Empress wife of Emperor Severus Alexander 222-235 A.D. –
Bronze Sestertius 30mm (24.42 grams) Struck circa 222-235 A.D.
Reference: RIC 694 (Severus Alexander), BMC 190 (Severus Alexander), C 62
IVLIAMAMAEAAVGVSTA – Diademed, draped bust right.
VENERIFELICI – Venus standing right, holding scepter and Cupid; S C across fields.


APHRODISIAS in CARIA 3rdCenAD Boule Eros Cupid with Torch Greek Coin i44355

Greek city of Aphrodisias in Caria
Bronze 19mm (4.40 grams) Struck circa 3rd Century A.D.
Reference: BMC 32, 39. SNG von Aulock 2445
Є IЄPΑ BΟΥΛH, veiled and draped bust of Boule (the Council) right.
ΑΦΡΩΔЄΙCIЄΩΝ, Eros (Roman Cupid) standing right, holding torch.

CARTEIA Spain after 44BC Ancient Greek Coin of Romans Cupid Dolphin i37417

The city of Carteia (Roman colony founded in 171 B.C.) in Spain
Bronze Quadrans 18mm (4.36 grams) Struck after 44 B.C.
Reference: ACIP 2609; RPC I 116
Turreted head of Fortuna right; behind, trident.
Cupid riding dolphin  right.

Antiochos VII Euergetes 138BC Ancient Seleucid Greek Coin Eros Cupid Isis i36811

The Seleucid Kingdom
Antiochos VII, Euergetes (Sidetes) – Seleucid King: 138-129 B.C.
Bronze 18mm (5.60 grams) Struck 138-129 B.C.
Reference: Sear 7098
Winged bust of Eros ( Cupid)  right wreathed with myrtle.
Head-dress of Isis; on right, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ANTIOXOY; on left, EYEPΓETOY; MH monogram in left field, beneath, crescent and Seleucid date ΔOP (=174=138 B.C.)


Roman Republic Maxsumus RARE Silver Coin Cupid Eros Jupiter Cult Temple i34394

Roman Republic Cn. Egnatius Cn. f. Cn. n. Maxsumus moneyer
Silver Denarius 19mm (3.35 grams) Rome mint: 75 B.C.
Reference: Egnatia 3; B.M.C. 3276-84; Syd. 788; Craw. 391/2
Bust of Cupid right, bow and quiver on shoulder, MAXSVMVS behind.
Jupiter and Liberty within distyle temple, C . EGNATIVS CN . F . in exergue, CN . N . on
right, number on left.

ANTIOCHUS IX Cyzicenus SELEUCID KING 112BC Rare Ancient Greek Coin i23746 EROS

GREEK – Seleucid Kingdom: Antiochus IX Cyzicenus – King: 113-96 B.C. –
Bronze 20mm (4.94 grams) Struck 112-111 B.C.
Reference: Sear 7173; SNG Israel 2743; BMC 4.94,27
Winged bust of Eros right.
Nike advancing left, holding wreath; on right ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ; on left, ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤOΡΟΣ; in field to left, Seleucid date.


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Article by Ilya Zlobin, world-renowned expert numismatist, enthusiast, author and dealer in authentic ancient Greek, ancient Roman, ancient Byzantine coins and beyond.

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