I have developed a series of videos on YouTube which we hope you find interesting.
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Scamming - The Eides of March
I have put together a short video on the scam which annoys me the most, the Eid Mar denarius minted by Brutus just after he had murdered Julius Caesar in the forum. Whilst on the run with his army, he minted the now infamous coin with the dagger and "EID MAR" legend. Now, to my knowledge there are only about 100 of these in existence, and those that occasionally do crop up sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars (the last was about $800,000).
And yet today there are 27 listed on eBay (yes, I counted!) - selling from 79p through to £850. All claim to be the real thing, but clearly they aren't...unless one has slipped through, in which case someone is going to make one heck of a deal!
Click on the images to play the video
Elagabalus - what do his coins tell us?
Was he ahead of his time or just a madman? Elagabalus has always been regarded as one of history's "baddies" but was he that bad or was he just very unusual for his time? He certainly challenged contemporary roman thinking, and yes, he did walk backwards dragging a rock to represent the sun (!). Dressing in womens clothing, marrying a man and wanting to be referred to as "my lady" was just too much for roman society, and he (and his mother) paid the ultimate price for it.
George III's Cartwheel Twopence
The Cartwheel Twopence was the heaviest coin ever minted in the United KIngdom, and yet today it remains one of people favourites. Clunky, battered and impractical, we all love it! Why was it created, by whom and and why did it only last for one year?
Watch out for fakes!
Ancient Roman and Greek fakes are everywhere, and we have all fallen victim at some point. This video shares some tips and recommendations to help you keep your money safe!
George III's 'Spade' Gambling Tokens - what on earth are they?!
There is a great deal of confusion about what George III's gambling tokens are - are they fake golden guineas, replicas or even coins at all. In this video we explain what they are, why they were minted and why they are fun to own.
The Lusitania Medal - The true and bizarre story
On 7th May, 1915 a German u-Boat torpedoed the liner Lusitania as it travelled from New York to Liverpool, killing over 1,200 people. The Germans felt they had given the allies adequate warning and even had a medal commissioned to 'celebrate' the event, but the rest of the world were appalled. The British felt the medal was a perfect propaganda tool to exploit the brutality of the enemy with the "cold blooded murder" of innocent citizens, and had 250,000 produced to be sold for the ally war effort.
Why you should collect roman coins today!
Collecting Roman coins is a fascinating hobby that offers a tangible connection to ancient history, allowing enthusiasts to hold pieces of the past and unravel the stories of one of the greatest civilizations in human history. It provides a fascinating blend of art, history, and discovery, inviting collectors to explore diverse designs, iconic figures, and the intricate details of ancient Roman culture.
Did this coin kill Julius Caesar?
Julius Caesar's decision to place his portrait on Roman coins, defying centuries of tradition, symbolized his perceived elevation to monarchical status, stoking fears among the Senate of his growing power. This coin represented everything the senate feared, and resulted in his brutal murder in 44 BC.
