“Ancient coins” is a term used to describe coins from the very beginning of coinage through to the medieval period (i.e. circa 650 BC to 500 AD).
Romanorum only sells ancient coins - mainly Greek and Roman, but also Celtic, Byzantine, Parthian and sometimes Medieval. We do not stock coins of the ancient East (i.e. China and India), nor do we stock any modern coins (i.e. after the Renaissance.)
Why should I collect ancient coins?
Ancient coins are literally unique ‘pieces of history’. These bits of metal are thousands of years old and were handled by real ancient people, whether they be slaves or emperors, merchants or soldiers. Ancient coins were all hand-made (by slaves) and every coin is different – no two are exactly the same. People collect for artistic, investment or historical interest. Frequently these ‘artworks’ depict ancient events and mythology.
Where do you get your coins from?
90% of our coins are obtained from overseas auction houses – dealers with many years experience specialising in ancient coins.
They are in museums - many museums. But the Greek and Roman economies lasted thousands of years and were spread over a wide area. Museums cannot cope with the amount of coins found. These coins are frequently found in hoards and can number in the thousands. Many of these hoards are found every year in Europe. The museums often take the pick of them and the rest are up to the finder to sell as he or she sees fit.
How do I know they are genuine?
Our reputation depends on our good record, based on our experience and knowledge – Romanorum has been dealing ancient coins for over ten years. Most fakes can easily be detected, however extremely good fakes can slip by even the most diligent expert. Some fakes are contemporary (i.e. they were faked in ancient times) and can be quite collectable. We only purchase our coins from extremely reputable sources that have many years experience. Having said that, any coin ever purchased from us can be returned (and fully refunded) if it is ever proved to be a fake. That’s a lifetime guarantee. Romanorum is also a member of ANDA (Australasian Numismatic Dealer’s Association) and we subscribe to their Code of Ethics (see www.anda.com.au).
Firstly, let us know you want it. Either ring us up, or send us an email. We will reserve it for you pending payment and remove it from the website. You can pay for a coin via a variety of methods: cash, personal cheque (made out to ‘Romanorum’, with address and licence number printed on back), bank cheque, money order and Paypal (payer id: sales@romanorum.com.au). However, we do not accept any credit cards due to the extremely high fees for a business of our size. Credit card payments can only be accepted through a Paypal account (see www.paypal.com.au).
We mail anywhere in Australia for $5, regardless of the number of coins. Books and antiquities, however, cost $10 within Australia, due to the extra weight/packaging.
Yes – a coin can be returned for any reason, indeed without a reason, within 7 working days of purchase. However, any coin that has been proved to be fake, no matter how many years ago you purchased it from us, can be returned for a full refund.
Occasionally we do buy ancient coins from customers, provided there is sufficient providence and we will certainly refuse any coins that we deem to be counterfeits or if we are not 100% comfortable with their authenticity. As we purchase coins to sell them on, we may not be able to offer the best price for you, and a better bet may be to auction them.
No, we do not have a shopfront. We are purely a mail order business and do not have the facilities (or insurance!) for people to stop by and browse.
Then where can I see what stock you have?
We issue catalogues every quarter (usually mailed the first week of March, June, September and December). Our catalogues provide quality photographs and descriptions of our most recent and available stock. After the catalogue has run, we upload the details of coins to this web site (www.romanorum.com.au) where people can browse the coins and purchase them.
Can I subscribe to your catalogue? Does it cost?
Yes, anyone can subscribe to receive our catalogue by mail and yes, it is free. However our catalogues are quality productions and we can only afford to supply you for a reasonable time without receiving any return.
Books are available for every area and angle in ancient numismatics. Ask us for recommendations for your area of interest. David Sear has published a great set of works covering most areas of ancient coins and giving approximate values (Greek Coins and Their Values, Roman Coins and Their Values, Byzantine Coins and Their Values). Each volume is packed with information of historical and numismatical interest. The Celator is a monthly magazine for collectors of ancient coins and also has many useful articles.
What I want isn't on your website, what can I do?
Let us know! There is a huge variety of ancient coins and our stock reflects our interests and the known interests of our clients. It is in no way indicative of the almost infinite variety out there. Let us know the coins you are after, your desired minimum grade (e.g. Fine or Very Fine etc) and the price range you are willing to spend on the coin. Bear in mind we can't just order the coin from our suppliers like businesses in other trades, ancient coins come and go depending on the supply. Alexander drachms might be readily available one year because of a recent hoard discovery, but by the next year have returned to their normal scarcity. However, we enjoy searching for particular coins and we have our own database for keeping track of such "want lists".