What were the world's oldest coins? Learn why the first widely recognized struck coins emerged in Lydia and Ionia in the late seventh century BC, why they we...

Which ancient coins are the most famous? Explore the Athenian Owl, Alexander tetradrachm, Croeseid coinage, Syracuse dekadrachm, Pantikapaion stater, Caesar ...

How did Augustus use Roman coins as political messaging? Explore DIVI F, the Julian Star, AEGVPTO CAPTA, Gaius and Lucius, religious imagery and republican t...

Hadrian coins explained: learn about Rome's traveling emperor, his famous province and travel series, bearded portraits, denarii, sestertii, provincial bronz...

Augustus coins explained: learn how Rome's first emperor used denarii, bronzes, cistophori and provincial coinage to communicate victory, succession, religio...

What can you build with $250, $500, $1,000, or $5,000 in ancient coins? Use these sample collecting plans to balance historical importance, condition, variet...

Nerva ruled from AD 96–98 after Domitian's assassination. His adoption of Trajan stabilized the succession, while his short reign produced distinctive denari...

Marcus Aurelius ruled from AD 161–180, wrote the Meditations, and governed through war and the Antonine Plague. Learn why his denarii, bronzes, and provincia...

Antoninus Pius ruled from AD 138–161 during one of the Roman Empire's most stable periods. Learn about his succession, the Antonine Wall, and why his denarii...

Trajan ruled from AD 98–117 and brought the Roman Empire to its greatest territorial extent. Learn why his denarii, bronzes, and provincial coins make one of...

My grandfather collected Morgan dollars. My dad chased baseball cards, coins, cars, fossils, and history. After he died, the ancient coins he left behind cha...

Who were the Nezak rulers of Afghanistan, and how can you identify their coins? Learn about the debated chronology, the distinctive bull-head crown, Middle P...

Ancient South Arabian coins explained: explore the silver coinage of Saba, Qataban, Hadramawt, Ma'in and Himyar, why many early issues copied Athenian Athena...

Julian II coins explained: learn why Julian was called the Apostate, what he tried to change about Roman religion, what his famous SECVRITAS REIPVB bull reve...

Roman coin debasement explained: learn why the denarius and antoninianus lost silver, how military spending and monetary instability interacted, what Dioclet...

Dean Kinzer joins historian Ben Sawyer on The Road to Now to explain ancient coin collecting, Roman debasement, Julius Caesar’s lifetime portrait coins, auth...

What is the so-called Star of Bethlehem coin? Learn what the Antioch ram-and-star bronze actually depicts, Michael Molnar’s 6 BC astronomical theory, why the...

What is a Byzantine anonymous follis? Learn when the series began, why the emperor’s name disappeared, what IC XC means, how Classes A1, A2 and later types w...

Mithridates VI coins explained: learn about the Poison King of Pontus, his three wars with Rome, his royal portrait tetradrachms and gold staters, affordable...

Aurelian and Vabalathus coins explained: learn why Antioch paired Rome’s emperor with Zenobia’s son, what VCRIMDR and AVG mean, when Palmyra openly broke wit...

Byzantine follis coins explained: learn what the large M means, how Anastasius I’s AD 498 reform worked, how to read regnal years and mint marks, why Justini...

Ancient coins are generally legal to own in the United States, but ownership and importation are different legal questions. Learn how U.S. cultural-property ...

What are the best genuine ancient coins under $100? Compare beginner-friendly Roman bronzes, Judaean prutot, Greek bronzes, Byzantine folles, and Roman provi...

Why can genuine ancient coins cost less than modern collectibles? Common types often survive in large numbers. Learn how supply, rarity, condition, metal, de...