Cold Steel Gladius Machete, Black

Cold Steel Gladius Machete, Black

Product Description
Derived from the sword used by Celtic tribes of ancient Iberia (Spain) and adopted by the Roman Legions, the Gladius, with its long, narrow point and wasp waisted blade, was the scourge of the battlefield and often the last thing seen or felt by Rome’s enemies. Ever popular, the Gladius is still in demand almost 2000 years later and is one of Cold Steel’s most frequently requested swords to make, so they decided to offer a modern version of this ancient classic in a very affordable machete/sword format.

Price: $28.20

If youve ever wondered what Roman Emperors like Julius Caesar, Nero or Constantine looked like or wanted to own something that may have been held by one of these historic men or someone living during that period then consider this.

If you are someone who has an interest in the Ancient past or perhaps someone who just likes collecting historic antiques but your not willing to spend much money then you should consider taking up the hobby of Roman coin collecting.

There are a number of reasons why you should consider collecting Roman coins then other Ancient Coins.

Unlike other ancient coins there are a wide variety of Ancient Roman coins featuring many different Roman emperors. This is due to the vast time and area that the Empire covered. Countless coins were made between the 1st and 5th century over a large area of the world which the Roman Empire covered and these coins reflect the location and period that they were minted.

Also its great to know what the Roman Emperors looked like. It was common practice during the time of the Roman Empire to inscribe the portrait of the Emperor on the coins that were minted during their reign.

There were many Ancient coins created by the Greeks, Barbarians, Celts, Indians and Chinese but Ancient Roman coins are the most in-expensive of all of these.

Collecting Ancient roman coins is less expensive then collecting modern day coins because more people collect modern coins then Ancient coins so there is less demand for them. Secondly as I have already stated the Roman Empire was vast covering a large area and over a long period of time. Because so many Roman coins were minted they are not as rare as some may believe.

You are less likely to come across a fake Roman coin then other coins. Roman coins are less expensive and rarer so there is less of a motive to forge them.

Another reason Roman coins are great to collect is that they do not just have historical value but also artistic value. These coins were cleverly and beautifully crafted and tell a story from the time and area that they were minted.

Roman Coins had intrinsic value. Unlike coins today these coins were made from Gold, Silver, Bronze etc. Should you have a higher budget this gives you the chance to collect the more special and rarer Gold and Silver coins which were worth many more times their weight in those metals.

Factors that determine a coins worth

The price of a coin ranges significantly due to a number of factors. The two biggest factors being the condition the coin is in and the grade of the coin.

Condition of the coin is dependent on how eroded the coin has become while it was in the soil or how it was stored before being found.

The grade is determined by how the coin was minted during Roman times. These coins were hand made and so are not always very circular or detailed. A Roman coin can be less detailed and of less value if it was struck by dies that were worn down.

Determining the grade of a coin can be tricky and sometimes you simply have to go with how appealing and detailed the coin is to your own eyes.

Another factor that determines a coins worth is how rare that coin is. Rarity is less of a factor in determining a Roman coins value then modern day coins.

More people collect modern coins and therefore there is greater demand for them. Also because modern coins are less varied then Roman coins the value of a modern coin can be driven up if collectors are trying to complete their collections. This is less of an issue with Roman coins as the variety is much greater and collectors are less likely to complete their collection. Each collection will be different. Rare Roman coins do exist however. If an emperor was only in power for a short period of time less coins are likely to have been minted during his reign. These coins are harder to find and cost more.

You should not be tempted into purchasing a coin just because a coin seller describes the coin as being rare or very scarce. Coins that are described as rare are often not rare at all. If you are new to coin collecting then it is easy to be tricked by such claims. You should ask a number of questions if someone is selling what they describe as a rare coin. Does the dealer provide the range or RIC number for the coin. Dont buy a coin because it has been described as rare. You should look at other factors and ask questions first.

Once you become more experienced it will be much easier to determine yourself if a coin is uncommon, scarce, rare or very rare.

How much should you spend on a Roman coin

Do not purchase a Roman coin if it is described as rare and being sold for less then $ 100 as it is unlikely to be rare. Rare coins will not sell for less then $ 100. Some eBay sellers will claim that their coin is rare and you will not see another like it for years yet you find the same coin on eBay sold by someone else.

To give you an idea of the variation of price for Roman coins, for $ 5-$ 10 you can buy decent quality coins issued under a number of the late-3rd and 4th century AD emperors.

For approximately $ 10 – $ 20, you should be able to collect a coin from the more recognized 1st and 2nd century emperors, and many later ones in good condition. In fact you could collect about half of the emperors of which there is about fifty with clear portraits and readable legends for about $ 20 a coin.

There can be a large variety of coins for each emperor. Some will be in better condition, or more rare, but if your interested in purchasing decent quality coins and you dont want to pay too much you may not have to look much further.

You could occasionally splash out on a rarer coin which catches your interest or one in much better condition. Or even a Gold or Silver coin worth more then their weight in these precious metals. Some people are attracted to coins that are dirty or not fully legible as it can add to their mystery and even lead to a rare and expensive find.

To sum up, purchase coins that appear to you personally. Every coin will be different. Choose the one that you think is better value for your money. You may even be able to resell such a coin later and make a profit. Occasionally buy a more expensive coin of a higher grade and condition. Dont worry about rarity too much but if want a rare coin you should make sure the coin really is rare by asking the dealer the right questions. This can save yourself a lot of money.

Hod Hill hilt
The Hod Hill sword, in the British Museum.
By R0ssc0 on 2015-01-20 16:28:27