Why Are Ancient Coins Weirdly Shaped?

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Would you like to support the channel and my work? 💰 Help the Channel by "Buying me a Coffee": www.buymeacoffee.com/classicalnumismatics Consider buying some channel Merch! You get a cool T-Shirt or Mug and you help me make more Ancient Numismatics content. Thank you! leob.creator-spring.com/

[@user-dx6bv2pe1s]

Interesting, and well presented

[@sebastianmaharg]

Bravo. Those closing remarks are superb. Couldn't agree more.

[@haltersweb]

This is why I love your channel, and respect you so much as a collector. You collect from a story-teller mindset. You are a sleuth looking for clues to the history of the kingdom. You can take the same coin, group it with another set of coins and uncover an adjacent story to the one you are sharing with us today.

[@mvsh]

I like your channel, and every time I watch a video I'm surprised how little subscribers you have, you really deserve more!

[@SeeJayCampbell]

Brilliant video! I have one of those large Ptolemaic copper coins and I had no idea about the backstory

[@nazarnovitsky9868]

Thank You very much for this new video! 😊

[@homerj806]

Yes I do. The oddest shape happens to be a Claudius Gothicus. That Antoninianus happens to be oval shaped. The other is a Victorinus which is multi side. It looks like someone trimmed it down the bronze planchet to make it fit the weight it is suppose to be.

[@ChuckHackney]

No nothing about this subject but love learning about this. For me it is the artwork and the messages in the coins that fascinate me. Question to anyone: when in ancient times, medeival, rennaissance whenever, did paper money first become popular and in use?

[@hridgreximp6194]

Very clear explanation, just a few small additions I would make. I believe that modern coins are in most part descended from medieval coins when considering the manufacture of the flan. Modern and medieval blanks are stamped from a sheet ensuring the most uniform shaped while ancient flans are cast. The cold striking method also ensures less flan cracking while ancient coins are struck when the flan is red hot and soft likely increasing the chances of the metal cracking.

[@Taxidermymuseumandsales]

So informative! I am just beginning to collect ancient coins and this video was the best lesson I have learned. Thanks so much

[@randyg4713]

I have a few coins with beautiful busts of the emperors that I got a significant discount on because of flan flaws or being oval. For me they put a smile on my face every time I look at them regardless of the fact they aren't perfect circles.

[@wollin20]

The level of craftmanship of ancient coins is such that modern fake coins are generally quite easy to distinguish, because either they were made by some modern tools (and it shows) or (if they use ancient technics) they don't reach the quality (and often weight), not to mention that their dies don't exactly match any other known ones. Of course, this is not rocket science, but it works 99,9% well.

[@DieLuftwaffel]

Awesome informative video! Very happy to follow this channel. Thank you!

[@christophermbeattie3528]

I have a beautiful king orodes ii that the obverse is almost halfway off the coin. There is so much detail on the reverse and obverse that’s showing that I feel it’s one of my finest pieces

[@wollin20]

I love weird shapes on ancient coins, as long as the design is intact !

[@rjmcshane6258]

Thanks for the video. Just got a drachme of antigonos the cyclops. I loved your description of the hardcore veteran.

[@delavalmilker]

Your concluding statement sums-up perfectly why you "can't judge a book by its cover", when it comes to ancient Roman coins.

[@danielralston7182]

Good, Bad or Ugly I love them all! ❤ A piece of history everyone.

[@leslieturcotte9401]

Love your videos! I collect them for the history!Theres nothing like holding a coin in your hand from the time of Augustus😊

[@caracallaavg]

Love the in-depth exploration of the technical process, Leo! The gnarliest coins I own are the silver kopecks of muscovite czardom. Somehow they look more primitive than the lydian coins, but still cute

[@ramgu2005]

Very nice video. Best wishes!

[@Numischannel]

Hi Leo the collar was invented by French engineer Aubin Olivier, who also mounted the first mechanised mint, c.1550, the "Moulin des Étuves" (Paris), with machinery invented by some Max Schwabb from Augsburg.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Im always delighted with the abundance of knowledge you present us, Damian! :)

[@ghostofaforgottenweedle]

I have a very oddly shaped NEPTVNO coin by emperor Gallienus. I like how it's not looking like the others.

[@Matisto1]

Great episode, thanks for posting!

[@NAPNYC4938]

Exceptional! One of my favorite Samnium coins of Cales has a large "horn" sticking out. I guess it's a casting spruce. I've always wondered. Thank you!

[@mariostegaru578]

Simply beautiful explanation wich make us feel happy collecting valuable coins. "One man's trash is another one's treasure" I've got the same ptolemy! Thank you!

[@cosmo9925]

I have two Roman coins, a pretty clean Denarius with Emperor Trajan on the obverse with no errors other than a tiny crack and a bit of wear from circulation, and Claudius Gothicus one that looks real similar to yours, the strike seems a little weaker on mine, but it makes up for it by being surprisingly round, like a misshapen circle rather than an oval, but still ugly nonetheless lmao. It’s funny how different they look. One is silver and made at the empire’s height, and the other just bronze and looks so depressing in comparison, made at one of the empire’s lowest points. It so interesting to see the story each coin tells.

[@BygoneUser1]

I always thought it was interesting how the supposed 'double denarius' often drops below the weight of a regular denarius during the crisis of the 3rd century. I have some Lugdunum mint coins from the period, and they are often barely over 3 grams of billon... I can't imagine you felt very good being paid with these coins : ) There are some great insights in this video, much like the other one on a similar subject a few years back ! (ps. I love how you can feel the nubs for the lanes through which the metal flowed on sestertii)

[@AConcernedCitizen420]

Imagine holding those dies that many times! Look at both sides then tossing them from one side to the other depending on how good or bad the strike came out! While they’re hot?! 🧐

[@GordonGrant-o1h]

Great video thanks Leo👍

[@goldgeologist5320]

Excellent presentation!

[@humble1437]

Great video. All of my Tetricus I coins look like that.

[@LongLivedCoins]

Im not sure why I cant get buy a coffee to work but - great video

[@FrancoisHelmie-so7gn]

Very informative. Thank you. I thought some of the defects on the coins were purposely made as a result of debasement.

[@johnlee4897]

Another highly informative video. Superb. I know you dislike graded coins but I did have my Byzantine solidus coins graded by NGC. They graded the strike as 5 out of 5 but surface as 2 out of 5. I'm assuming this is due to 1400 years of wear?

[@matttroughton]

Antioch is such a nice mint in the late third century the best Claudius Gothicicus and Gallienus definitely come from there any idea on the mint from the misshapen one? Double strikes also seem fascinating

[@Gamerdude497]

Do you guys think $220 is a fair price for a Ptolemy III tetrople?

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Depends on the style, the condition, the weight, but thats definitely in the high end of even the best prices

[@Peter_Scheen]

I have a coin from the French revolution. So worn down that you can not even confidentially say what year it is. But it tells a story. The defects, worn down, very small screw indent caused during the production, tell about how poor they where directly after the revolution. I love it and will never sell it.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Thats the awesome thing about collecting old coins. A coin being worn might detract a bit from its visual appeal, but they are soooo much more than that.

[@andrewkrzykowski3489]

You have a wonderful enthusiasm for your subject which all true coin "nerds" will enjoy and appreciate. Great informative video. Andy

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Thank you for the kind words Andy! Glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@osseftw12]

Thank you for another insightful video! I just got myself a tetradrachm by Philip I Philadelphos which is a bit bent (but still a gorgeous coin!). Do you know what causes this wavy flan as it was described?

[@bvds2007]

A true numismatist!

[@antonio4782]

Excelente video,unas piezas preciosas y muy interesantes,junto a una explicación genial, enhorabuena,un fuerte abrazo.

[@thatoneguy7191]

I've got an ancient follis with a brockage error

[@Jim-re3sr]

Great video

[@oldplucker1]

It is all about keeping the work to a minimum because the value is only in the metal. If they made them all perfect then the coins would cost ten times more than the metal content. Same with ring money, the important bit is the weight of the metal and fast cheap production. The rough nature of ring money identifies it because other rings for jewellery or horse tack would be much more symmetrical but cost much more than the metal. So if it is ancient and irregular it could well be currency!

[@Kokuto_Cinoten]

Ptolemy Coins = Reese's Cups 😄

[@hawkuser604]

I have a Byzantine coin that I brought back from the Balkans about 20 years ago .. Romanus III (1028-1030 AD) SEAR# 1822. I checked the weight and dimensions and it seems dead on as authentic. I just have no idea how to get it authenticated and graded. I am not a professional collector, I just checked it against what I found online as best that I could. It was gifted to me by a local family that we helped through some hard times while I was there a NATO security member. Can anyone guide me as to how to get it checked out?

[@213thAIB]

Send it to NGC.

[@hawkuser604]

Thanks. Do you have a link to their official web site? Always lots of shady stuff out there. I have heard of them before.@@213thAIB

[@modus_operandi2508]

​@@hawkuser604it's called the internet.....learn how to use it yourself 😂😂

[@hawkuser604]

That wasn't very nice. God forbid ask somebody for help. Yes, I did find their contact info.Thanks for taking the time to reply. I usually send someone a helpful link if I have information for someone instead of a smart assed remark.@@modus_operandi2508

[@LongLivedCoins]

🍯🍯🍯🍯🍯🐝🌻 Great video!

[@sandiepaul9421]

Ugly is in the eye of the beholder!!❤❤❤😊

[@alexpearce13]

The concentric rings on the Egyptian coin look more to me like casting artifacts. I think that's because they appear to be raised to me, maybe that's the lighting.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

They are flush with the surface

[@jonathannwonye2754]

When you get a perfect circle it makes it lighter perfect level ask forest cook

[@jonathannwonye2754]

I'm buying all the slaves I know contradiction.

[@tuongtang8974]

Can you do next about Chinese cash coin and the method of product for them

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

I discuss the method of making chinese cast coins in my "Coin Manufacture" video, you should check it out :)