Last Updated on June 21, 2019 Posted by Colonial Acres Coins
Coin collecting is one of the oldest hobbies on record. Coins as currency have been around for centuries and in Europe, it is not uncommon to find coins that date back to Roman times. But even more interesting than that is the fact that coin collecting also dates as far back as Roman times.
Rome’s first emperor, Augustus, recognized the value of collecting rare and interesting coins and owned a collection of coins depicting the greatest generals of the classical world. The Italian poet Petrarch collected coins on his travels and in more modern times, King George III also had an extensive coin collection and encouraged the nobility to do the same. Soon impressive coin collections were seen in stately homes across England.
United States Presidents, Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, all had a keen personal and professional interest in coin collecting. Hollywood actors who have embraced the hobby include Joan Crawford, Kate Hudson, and James Earl Jones. In more recent years, coin collecting has become part of a diverse investment portfolio and some of the world’s wealthiest families have priceless coin collections.
Importance of ancient coins goes far beyond their monetary value
Collectible coins are not just significant because of their rarity and investment value but also because they shed light on a country’s past. It is often through coins and their depiction of rulers that historians are able to gain a clearer understanding of history and the role that certain individuals played in it. One such example is the coins that depict the image of Romano-British emperor, Carausius. Carausius was a powerful naval general who fled to Britain from Rome and in AD 286 ruled his own British empire with Londinium (modern-day London) as his capital. As part of his rule, Carausius minted his own coins – some of the first Roman coins minted in Britain. Carausius was murdered by his finance minister, Allectus, and his name was all but erased from history. It is mainly through the coins that survived from his reign that his story has been told and his name included in the annals of history. Since these coins were minted in England, it is extremely rare to find them anywhere in the rest of the Roman world, making them highly sought after by coin collectors.
Coins have also been used as political tools for centuries. After his victory at Hastings in 1066, William the Conqueror ordered new coins to be produced and issued across England, each coin represented over a day’s wage for the average soldier. The production and distribution of these coins helped cement his rule and William the Conqueror’s precious silver pennies are some of the most popular medieval coins amongst collectors.
Coin collecting remains popular today
Coin collecting may have its roots in ancient times but it remains a popular pastime today for many reasons including, the rarity of many coins, the history attached to them and their investment potential. The great thing about investing in coins is that you can invest as much or as little as you can afford to, and you can grow your coin collection at your own pace. There are many old coins to be found at flea markets and estate sales and if you know what to look for you may just find a rare gem. Colonial Acres can help you start your coin collection and we sell a wide variety of old and new Canadian silver coins, as well as many other collectable coins. We can also advise you and answer any questions that you have about coin collecting and how to value coins.