Ancient Coins

Physical identification

Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic and other ancient coinage. Record dimensions, weight, manufacture, surfaces, repairs, labels, mounts and inscriptions before cleaning or treatment.

Key cautions

• Identify mint, ruler, denomination and metal.
• Ancient coins can fall under cultural-property restrictions despite portability.
• Cleaning and tooling can materially change surfaces.

Provenance and lawful movement

Ask when the object first appeared outside the ground, who owned it, where it was located, how it left its likely source country and whether the seller warrants good title in writing.

Authenticity and conservation

Condition and authenticity can be intertwined. Artificial deposits, modern joins and restored surfaces may disguise manufacture. No single photograph, certificate or test proves the complete history of an object.