In this article we are going to know about Top 8 Rare and Precious Ancient Coins That Are Great for History Lovers to Collect .
Collecting old coins from history is a very fun hobby for many people across the world. Very old ancient coins often have cool stories behind them about time periods and leaders long ago. This article will talk about 8 awesome rare and expensive ancient coins that make for great additions to any coin collection.
Why Do Many People Enjoy Collecting Historical Coins?
Old coins were created hundreds or even thousands of years ago in ancient civilizations. Each coin has traveled a very long journey over many generations to still exist in good condition today.
Rare historical coins often have unique and interesting stories behind them too. Like what images and words are stamped on them, what materials they are made from, or how much they were once worth when they were originally used as money all that time ago.
Some people today collect ancient coins just for enjoyment and learning the stories. Some do it as an investment hoping to sell them for more money later as they gain value. Others may want to preserve history. But most agree the very old age and history makes most coins fascinating all by itself too.
8 Rare and Precious Ancient Coins That Are Great for History Lovers to Add to Any Collection
Here are 8 rare, high value, and historically important ancient coins that collectors want most to own:
1. Silver Tetradrachm Coin of Seleucus I Nicator
- Ancient Greek silver coin first minted around 300 BCE
- Features images of both the Greek god Zeus and Seleucus I Nicator, the founder of the Seleucid Empire which ruled parts of the Middle East and Central Asia after the death of Alexander the Great
- Represents the very first coins ever issued by the Seleucid rulers
- Only a small number of these coins are known to still survive today
- Worth at least $3,000 USD or more per coin currently
This extremely rare Greek coin was created not long after Alexander the Great’s death and the fall of his vast empire. It immortalized in silver Seleucus establishing his own new ruling dynasty in the Middle East, which went on to last nearly 250 years after his death.
2. Silver Denarius Coin of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius
- Silver coin issued by the Roman Empire between 161-180 CE during rule of emperor Marcus Aurelius
- Features a portrait image of Marcus Aurelius himself on the front
- Was widely used as a standard currency coin across the territories of the ancient Roman Empire
- Higher graded coins with sharper images can sell for $700+ USD today
This silver Roman coin served as common money under emperor Marcus Aurelius who was known as one of the most respected and moral leaders Rome ever had. The coin gives us a glimpse of daily economic life using his image as currency across the mighty ancient Roman imperial lands 1800+ years ago.
3. Silver Drachm Coin of Alexander the Great
- Ancient Greek silver coin first issued around 336-323 BCE following the ascent of Alexander the Great to his Macedonian throne
- Bears a profile portrait depicting Alexander himself on the obverse side
- Minting of the coin marked the beginnings of his conquests across Greece, Egypt and ultimately creating a vast empire stretching into India
- In sound condition these iconic coins sell for upwards of $2000+ USD frequently at auction
This iconic coin was one of the first to depict the young new ruthless king Alexander III following his rise to power. It is forever tied to his persona as coins like these funded his armies’ near decade long campaign conquering the vast Persian Empire and lands even further east before his untimely death.
4. Roman AE Follis Coin of Emperor Constantine I
- Bronze Roman coin issued under rule of Emperor Constantine the Great between 308-337 CE
- Features portrait of Emperor Constantine on obverse and altar with inscription on reverse
- Marked major turning point for Roman empire as Constantine decriminalized Christianity leading gradually to it becoming the state religion
- More unique rare variants can sell for $600+ USD
This humble bronze coin was minted as Rome transitioned leadership from Diocletian to Constantine I “The Great” who famously made Christianity legal across the Roman Empire after winning control in a civil war. This helped set path for Christianity becoming globally widespread in the centuries after Constantine’s rule ended.
5. Ancient Egyptian Gold Octodrachm Coin from Ptolemaic Kingdom Era
- Ultra rare ancient Greek Egyptian gold coin issued around 217-221 BCE by Ptolemy IV royal dynasty
- Features images of both King Ptolemy IV and his sister Queen Arsinoe III as dual monarchs
- Only a couple dozens specimens are known to still survive today
- Worth well over $100,000+ USD currently due to tiny supply
This substantial gold coin is a rare snapshot into the immense wealth and influence commanded by the incestuous royal Ptolemaic dynasty that ruled over Egypt for 3 centuries as descendants of famed Greek Macedonian leader Alexander the Great’s top general Ptolemy I.
6. Byzantine Empire Gold Solidus Coin of Emperor Justinian I
- Gold coin issued by the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire under rule of emperor Justinian I approximately between 527-565 CE
- Iconic imagery of Emperor Justinian in military armor and plume on obverse with Angel facing on reverse
- Facilitated trades in the Byzantine economy and helped fund Justinian’s ambitious campaigns seeking to reunite former Western Roman Empire provinces
- Top graded specimens can fetch $10,000 USD+ at coin auctions
This Byzantine gold coin was minted under Justinian I’s reign when he sought to restore the prior Roman empire’s footprint. Currency like this solidus coin helped finance Justinian’s armies as they conquered territories spanning from North Africa to Italy and waged campaigns against Persian Sassanid Empire.
7. Ancient Bronze Prutah Coin from 1st Century Judaea Region
- Extremely small value bronze coin issued around 30-35 CE from province of Judaea in Judea under Roman empire rules
- Named after the famous Biblical account of the ‘Widow’s mite’ where Jesus saw a poor widow contribute two small copper coins to temple treasury
- Bears ancient Jewish symbols like the chalice and trumpet
- Historically significant to Jewish people and early Christianity making them popular to collect
This tiny coin was the same kind of basic small value currency referenced in the Christian Bible by Jesus in his teaching about the donating widow, giving it wider cultural familiarity. The coin itself was likely a common low denomination coin used by regular citizens locally in Judea around time of early Christianity.
8. Ancient Roman Empire Gold Aureus Coin from Reign of First Emperor Augustus
- Valuable gold Roman coin first issued after 27 BCE under Rome’s first emperor Augustus
- Featured portraits of emperor Augustus who ushered in the 200+ year Pax Romana era of stability
- Helped standardize more consistent purity gold coins echoed in later roman emperor gold coinages
- Very hard to find today leading high priced value over $50,000+ USD
These substantial pure gold coins were minted under Rome’s first emperor Caesar Augustus whose immense wealth funded transformation of Rome into an imperial superpower. Augustus’ coinage reform helped popularize using gold coins which gave rise to similar gold solidus coins circulating widely through 3rd century CE.
Final Thoughts
As you can see from these examples, rare and precious ancient coins often have amazing backstories while also growing in financial value too. I hope reading about these 8 gives you inspiration to maybe start your own historical coin collection! Or maybe you just gained new appreciation for an iconic coin from the past. There are lots more unique ancient coins out there to discover and research. Read more about collecting and history bookmark our website Coins of Time