My Insights on Overpriced Ancient Coins

I’ve spent years puzzling over ancient coin prices, and it’s wild how some common pieces still command sky-high tags. In my own collecting, I’ve scratched my head at certain coins while finding real steals elsewhere. Here’s what I’ve learned about spotting overhyped ancients and finding true value.

Coins That Make Me Scratch My Head

Some ancients consistently seem overpriced to me, often because they’re surprisingly common or riding collector hype waves. Here are the usual suspects from my experience:

• Athenian Owl Tetradrachms: With tens of thousands floating around, I’m amazed they still hit 500+ euros at auctions. Massive hoard discoveries only deepen the mystery.
• Alexander the Great Tetradrachms/Drachms: These flood every sale, yet prices haven’t budged. I’ve trained myself to keep scrolling unless it’s a rare variant.
• Tyrian Shekels & Tiberius ‘Tribute Pennies’: Biblical connections pump up values, but their actual scarcity doesn’t match the hype. I’ve found better deals on similar-era coins without the markup.
• Lydian Staters & Persian Darics: These gold coins sometimes hit 50K, though I’d value them closer to 5K given how many turn up. Recent hoards haven’t cooled the market like you’d expect.
• Tigranes II Tetradrachms: That big hoard surfaced years back, yet prices hold firm. As someone who loves the design, I’m holding out for a better deal.

Why Do These Prices Stay High?

From what I’ve seen, collector frenzy is the real driver. Popular coins like these spark bidding wars, much like modern rarities. Hoards play tricks too – dealers often drip-feed coins to prop up prices, which explains why abundance doesn’t always mean affordability. Honestly, most ancients feel underpriced compared to U.S. coins; even if they doubled, they’d still lag behind. Before buying, I always cross-check auction records and references like RPC Online to avoid overpaying for common types.

My Trajan Coin Score

I recently grabbed a Trajan Alexandrian tetradrachm at a bargain because it didn’t sell initially. If it’d been priced lower, someone else might’ve snatched it before I spotted its rarity – it’s a contested variant with the ΒΑΛΑΝΗΟΥ legend. This coin sparked a fun debate: is that building a bathhouse or a shrine? Some experts argue it’s a temple to Zeus Heliopolitanus from Baalbek, pointing to architectural details like the pediment. I lean toward the shrine theory myself. Either way, its provenance from the Wetterstrom and Garrett collections adds serious appeal. This experience taught me to dig into references like Emmett’s catalog and really study design details before pulling the trigger.

How I Hunt for Fair Deals

To avoid overpaying, I’ve developed a few habits:

• Watch for Hoard Impacts: When a major hoard surfaces (like those Athenian Owls), I wait for prices to settle – patience usually pays off.
• Verify Rarity Claims: I cross-reference RPC and auction archives. Coins with unique dies or legends often justify premiums, but common types rarely do.
• Seek Underappreciated Gems: I’ve found undervalued treasures like Valerian-era aurei that sell for thousands but would cost five times more if they were U.S. coins. Always verify authenticity though!
• Shop After Auctions: Target unsold lots like I did with my Trajan coin. Sellers often lower reserves, giving you another shot at a fair price.

While some ancients might seem overpriced, that eureka moment when you uncover a true bargain keeps me hooked. Trust your instincts, do your homework, and happy hunting!