Why Illyria Apollonia bronze coin? Well, the Illyria Apollonia bronze coin stands as a testament to the cultural and economic vitality of the ancient Greek city of Apollonia, located in the region known as Illyria
Pick up an ancient coin and turn it over in your hand. You can almost feel the miles it’s traveled — through markets, along trade routes, maybe even across battlefields. I remember the first time I held one; it was a worn Roman bronze. Nothing rare, nothing valuable in money terms, but I couldn’t stop staring at it. Someone in a toga, two millennia ago, used that same coin to buy their daily bread.
Ancient coins aren’t just bits of metal. They’re history you can touch. Some were struck to celebrate a victory, others to honor a god, and plenty just kept everyday life moving. This guide is my way of sharing the basics (and a few secrets) of ancient coins — where they came from, how to identify them, and how to start building your own collection.
Most people are surprised to learn that coins didn’t start in Greece or Rome. They began in Lydia (modern Turkey) around the 7th century BC. These first coins were rough little lumps made from electrum — a natural gold-silver mix — stamped with a simple design. No portraits, no fancy imagery, just a mark saying, “This is worth something.”
The Persians picked up the idea next, producing gold darics and silver sigloi that traveled across their empire. Once coins existed, they spread like wildfire.
If Lydia invented coins, the Greeks perfected them. Cities competed not just in trade and war, but in the beauty of their coinage.
Athens had its famous silver tetradrachms with Athena on one side and an owl on the other — the owl being a nod to wisdom.
Corinth went for Pegasus, the winged horse, paired with Athena’s head.
And Syracuse in Sicily? Their decadrachms show such exquisite detail you’d think they were engraved yesterday.
Greek coins were often local in pride and story — you could tell where a coin came from just by the symbol on it.
After Alexander the Great marched across half the known world, coins bearing his image popped up everywhere — even in places he’d never set foot. His successors, like the Seleucids and Ptolemies, issued their own coins, still in that Greek style but adapted to their kingdoms.
The early Roman Republic struck silver denarii and chunky bronze coins called asses. Designs often honored Rome’s gods or great families. Once Augustus became the first emperor, coins changed forever. Portraits of the ruler became the standard, with the reverse side telling the empire’s latest news — military victories, building projects, political promises.
Gold aurei were high-value coins, silver denarii were the everyday workhorse, and bronze sestertii filled the gaps for smaller transactions.
Even after Rome “fell” in the West, the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire kept the coinage going for another thousand years. The gold solidus became one of the most stable currencies in history. By then, Christian imagery replaced pagan gods, reflecting the empire’s shift in faith.
When you start collecting, you’ll quickly notice ancient coins fall into a few broad categories.
Greek – Celebrated for their artistry and city-state pride.
Roman – The most varied, covering the Republic, the Empire, and provincial issues.
Byzantine – Rich in Christian imagery and gold coinage.
Others – Persian, Celtic, Illyrian, Chinese, Indian — each with its own flair.
Gold – Prestige, wealth, and power. Often high purity and struck for major transactions.
Silver – Everyday commerce and military pay.
Bronze/Copper – Market stalls, local purchases, and the coins most people actually used daily.
Each culture had its own system.
Greek: obol, drachm, tetradrachm.
Roman: as, sestertius, denarius, aureus, solidus.
Byzantine: follis, histamenon, miliaresion.
Ancient coins weren’t cranked out by machines. They were struck by hand — literally. A blank metal disc (the flan) was placed between two engraved dies, then hit with a hammer. That’s why no two ancient coins are perfectly identical.
Greeks favored high-relief designs; Romans produced faster but kept the detail; the Chinese often cast coins in molds instead of striking them. Each method left telltale signs that can help with identification.
This is the fun part — detective work.
Start with the Portrait
Is it a god, an emperor, or a symbolic figure? Hairstyles, crowns, and even facial hair can tell you the era.
Read the Legend
Those Latin or Greek letters aren’t just decoration. They spell out names, titles, sometimes even the mint city.
Study the Reverse
The reverse tells stories: battles, gods, temples, even promises of peace.
Check the Metal and Size
Heavier gold or silver coins were higher denominations; small bronzes were for everyday markets.
Look for Mint Marks
Tiny letters, often at the bottom of the reverse, can pinpoint where the coin was struck — “ROM” for Rome, “ANT” for Antioch, and so on.
(Link this to your “Identifying Roman Coins” guide for deeper details)
If you’re just starting, you don’t need to spend a fortune. My first coin cost less than a dinner out.
Tips:
Pick a focus — maybe a single ruler, a metal type, or a time period.
Start with common bronzes to learn the ropes.
Read before you buy — a little research can save you a lot of money.
Where to Buy:
Reputable dealers, auction houses, coin fairs, and trusted online platforms.
Avoiding Fakes:
Learn the common signs — casting seams, wrong weight, suspiciously perfect surfaces.
Ancient coins have survived thousands of years — they’ll outlast us if we treat them right.
Store in acid-free flips or trays.
Keep away from moisture.
Don’t polish — you’ll strip away history (and value).
Bronze coins need regular checks for “bronze disease,” a green powdery corrosion that can spread.
Coin collecting is much more rewarding when you share it. Forums like CoinTalk, NumisForums, and even dedicated Facebook groups are full of people happy to help identify coins, swap collecting stories, and share finds.
Every ancient coin you pick up is a survivor. It’s been buried, handled, lost, found, and now sits in your hand — the latest chapter in a story that began centuries ago.
Start small, keep learning, and before long, you’ll have not just a collection, but a personal museum of history.
