dragonwalker

@Roman CollectorYes, I see what you mean. When looking at the higher price ranges like you said I found a nice example such as: https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/tom_vossen/165/product/augustus_27_bc14_ad_ar_denarius_371_gm_185mm_lugdunum_mint_struck_2_bc4_ad_ric_207/1864346/Default.aspx I really like how the detail in the hair on the bust comes out. Now the above Augustus is graded by the seller as a VF, if I compared it to a less popular emperor but still one of the 12 emperors like Vespasian like this one for example: https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/savoca_gmbh__co_kg/234/product/vespasian_6979_denarius_rome/1879565/Default.aspx Which one of the two coins over time will see greater appreciation in value? I know this calls for some guess work but what has the pattern been over the years? Aside from my interest in the coin, I'd like to think that one I purchase will have some greater value in the future. While browsing around I also saw on the other side a lot of coins for very cheap $35 which might just be a fun thing to get a few coins and see where my interest goes. What could this seller mean by "housecleaning lot"? Does that mean it would require cleaning to look like the pictures above. Does this price sound right for a lot of 7 late Roman coins? https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/david_connors/41/product/7_later_roman_bronze_ae/1904715/Default.aspx

Thank you everyone who responded. @ambr0zie The fact that the example I provided is a common example is actually fine with me because that presumably means the prices will be that much more reasonable. Although at an auction I may get a better deal I don't think I can reasonably be in a position to judge value well enough not to end up overpaying in an auction so I am very inclined to purchase at a fixed price where I have an opportunity to research and asks people's opinion. I misspoke about non-silver denarius, I meant to say an alternative if my budget is to low is non-silver coinage still under Augustus. Thank you for the link. @John Conduitt That's interesting there are that many varieties under one ruler but not completely surprising considering his long rein. Is there a website where there are photos of all the variations and provides some general sense to their rarity? I do not expect that I can master all the nuances between the value of particular variations as I'd sooner buy a coin first. @sand When I say Caesar Augustus I do mean Augustus, adopted son of Julius Caesar. This is mainly because from what I have seen, a denarius of Julius Caesar could be many multiples more expensive for an equivalent Augustus. Let me know if I'm wrong and it's possible to have one in the quality I'm looking for at around $200?

I've always had a bit of an interest in collecting coins but I haven't gotten serious about it. I've recently thought more about acquiring some nice examples of Roman imperial coins that I find interesting. I've watched some videos online about various strategies and tips on starting a collection and the background of ancient coin collecting. I don't see myself getting a large collection but a few pieces. In particular it would be great to get a semi-decent silver denarius during the rein of Caesar Augustus (not posthumous and preferably with a bust of him on the obverse). I've looked on various sites recommended to me like Vcoins and there are some interesting examples. One of my big concerns as a huge amateur is getting a fake so I know eBay is not advisable and because dealers on Vcoins have a reputation to maintain, I'm likely to get a real coin. I'm not sure if this applies if I'm getting a slabbed NGC coin on eBay though. Not fully understanding the basis of valuation is another big issue because I'd like to get a coin worth its value. My budget might be low because I'd like to keep it around $200 and I'm seeing few nice examples in that range. My first question is what is a sweet spot for what I'm looking for? What are some sites that I should check out? If you guys think my budget is unreasonable then in order of other preferences I'd be looking at non-silver denarius. Here is an example of a coin that somewhat approximates what I'm looking for: https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/savoca_gmbh__co_kg/234/product/augustus_27_bcad_14_denarius__lugdunum/1783141/Default.aspx However I'm hoping to get something with a more crisp obv. Let me know what my best options are and any I may not be considering.