Unearthing Rare Treasures: My Numismatic Journey
July 1, 2025Featured: My Middle Age Coin Collecting Adventure
July 1, 2025
So there I was, scrolling through my endless to-do list, when I thought, “Why not try that AI image generator everyone’s talking about?” Three minutes later, I was tumbling down a rabbit hole that perfectly mirrors the weird and wonderful world of ancient coin collecting. As someone who’s handled more crusty old sestertii than I can count, I never expected that playing with AI prompts would reveal so much about our hobby – from the comedy of family life to the delicate dance of handling fragile flans. Let me share how this wild experiment unfolded and what it taught me about our shared obsession.
When AI Met Ancient Coins
My first prompt? Simple: “painting of a male ancient coin collector.” What came back had me choking on my coffee. Instead of a modern collector, I got what looked like a 15th-century Flemish money changer with a face like a slapped haddock, clutching coins straight out of a Dutch Golden Age painting. The AI took “ancient” literally – applying it to the guy, not the coins! I immediately imagined the caption: “Great Uncle Mortimer’s last photo before vanishing with his prized collection.” Any collector who’s lost sleep cataloging die varieties knows that feeling!
The Prompt-Tweaking Tango
That initial disaster made me tweak my approach. Swapping “male ancient coin collector” to “male collector of ancient coins” gave me:
- A caveman-looking fellow in what resembled Bedrock’s first coin shop – complete with a club-wielding spouse advancing menacingly (I nearly fell off my chair laughing)
- An elderly gentleman where “ancient” clearly meant his age, holding coins suspiciously like modern fakes
I discovered that adding details like “bored housewife” or “angry holding a pie roller” spawned even more absurdity. The AI kept turning pie rollers into typesetter’s ink balls, proving technology amplifies our hobby’s inherent humor – especially when spouses enter the picture. My own wife’s patient eye-rolls during my coin hunts suddenly felt very familiar.
Real Life Between the Flans
Those AI-generated partner showdowns? They struck a nerve. One image featured a wife wielding what looked like an antique pie roller, which instantly reminded me of a coin in my own collection. Beyond the laughs, it got me thinking about the unsung heroes in collectors’ lives. My wife couldn’t care less about Gordian III’s reign, yet she once surprised me with his sestertius after consulting dealer friends. Let’s face it – our coin obsession beats raising pythons or blowing paychecks at the track!
From Pixels to Pocket Change
This whole adventure circled back to a real coin I’d almost forgotten. Back in 2012, I scooped up a tiny ancient from VCoins – just 14.5mm across and weighing less than half a gram. Its wafer-thin flan made my thinnest Byzantine tremissis look chunky! That AI pie roller image? It could’ve minted this fragile beauty. Most coins this thin arrive bent or cracked, but this little survivor was pristine – and a steal at $25. Which brings me to:
- Condition Matters: With tissue-thin coins, inspect like a hawk under magnification – hairline cracks love to hide
- Dealer Digs: Reputable sellers often undervalue these fragile gems – patience pays off
No digital creation beats that thrill of holding history in your palm.
Lessons From the Coin Trenches
After this tech detour, here’s what I’d tell fellow collectors:
- Play With Tech: Generate historical scenes for fun or education – just know your prompts better than your Byzantine emperors
- Handle With Care: Treat thin flans like eggshells – gloves and acid-free holders are non-negotiable
- Hunt Smart: My $25 gem proves bargains exist if you stalk dealers patiently
- Share the Passion: A little enthusiasm goes miles – nobody wants “mystery bronze” in their stew again!
In the end, this AI experiment reminded me that while tech brings fresh laughs to collecting, it’s the tangible coins and their stories that truly connect us. Whether you’re chuckling at digital blunders or marveling at a fragile flan, our hobby remains one glorious, unpredictable adventure. Keep digging!
