Inexpensive Ancient Coins

A small (15mm) copper commemorative struck immediately after the death of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great who reigned 307-337 AD. His head is veiled and on the reverse he is riding in a four-horse chariot. A tiny "hand of God" is reaching down to accept him into heaven. The mint mark, at the bottom of the reverse, is [S]MALB, which abbreviates "S(acra) M(oneta) AL(exandria) B," that is, sacred money of the mint of Alexandria, Egypt, second (B) workshop." Although very historical, it would cost only about $15-25.

A small coin (15mm diameter) of Honorius (western Roman emperor, 393-423 AD) struck in 402 AD. It celebrates the elevation of the one- or two-year-old (!) Theodosius II (reigned 402-450 AD) to co-rulership (with Arcadius) of the eastern half of the empire. The smaller Theodosius stands on the reverse between his elder colleagues.
Obverse legend: DN HONORIVS [PF AVG]
Reverse legend: GLORIA ROMANORVM
Mint mark: SMKA (Sacra Moneta Kyzicus A), sacred money of the Cyzicus (in Turkey) mint, workshop A. Another very historical coin costing about $20-$35.

Roman Emperor Diocletian (284-305 AD) on a thick, 19mm diameter, tetradrachm of Roman Egypt. The obverse legend gives his name and titles in Greek. On the reverse the "LA" means "year 1" (of his reign) and the "L" is not really an L, but a symbol abbreviating "year". The figure is Eusebeia (The Greek equivalent of PIETAS, Piety) dropping incense onto an altar and holding a box. Cost -- about $15-$25.

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