The artistic quality ranges from the beautiful commemorative scenes depicted on Republican denarii and bold, lifelike portraits on sestertii of Nero, Antoninus Pius, and Julia Domna to the carelessly engraved portraits and crude reverses sloppily struck on ragged flans during the reigns of Gallienus and Claudius II Gothicus. Many Byzantine and late Eastern Roman Empire coins have stick figure portraits and reverses that look like they could have been drawn by children. Learning to read the inscriptions can give us a sense that these real people living so long ago felt and thought and hoped for some of the same things we still do today. We can read the familiar letters because the letters are our very own alphabet, which was brought very close to the form it is today by the Romans. We also see some of the roots of our own language in the Latin words.
Most people are also surprised that many ancient Roman coins are so inexpensive.
Many ancient coin dealers will be glad to show the newcomer to the hobby what they have in their stock and there is usually little pressure to buy, but much encouragement to learn. They seem to be a little more honest and friendly than many other dealers in collectibles who are only after your dollar. The home page for this entire site.