The Inside View - Salvete, Amici Rei Nummariae!

Greetings, friends of numismatic art! It is a pleasure to introduce myself in PCGS Insider on such a momentous occasion for both PCGS and the community of ancient coin collectors.

The "Tyrant Collector," tech mogul Dan O'Dowd, has dazzled the hobby with a series of museum-quality exhibitions, highlighting the intersection of individual personality, the projection of state power, and the propaganda value of numismatic art. In doing so, he upholds the finest traditions of our hobby: sharing coins, sharing knowledge, and sharing the passion for pursuing and preserving these "tiny treasures."

PCGS has been proud to partner with The Tyrant Collection by providing our industry-leading authentication, grading, and labeling services. In this issue of PCGS Insider, we celebrate the expansion of this partnership as we break new ground: grading and encapsulating timeless treasures from The Tyrant Collection, featuring ancient coins from the European continent.

This is not a sudden development; our entry into this field has been a long time coming. Indeed, collectors and dealers have repeatedly requested that we grade ancient coinage. In 2025, PCGS opened submissions in our Shanghai office for Chinese cash coins from the Emperors Shunzhi to Daoguang. In doing so, PCGS became the first grading service to offer a comprehensive guarantee for these issues.

We now bring that same level of expertise and surety to the coins of Caesar and Alexander, the Byzantines and the Ptolemies, the Frankish kings, and the ancient peoples of the Levant. Holding one of these coins is like holding history in your hands. With the added security of PCGS encapsulation, collectors can enjoy the peace of mind that their coins are authentic, accurately graded, and protected for generations to come.

Also in this issue is the PCGS debut feature by my longtime friend and professional colleague, Michael Markowitz. I have worked with Mike for more than 10 years, and few contemporary writers have had a larger impact on introducing a new generation of collectors to ancient coins.

Mike is a specialist in Byzantine coinage and has built an impressive collection, but his numismatic curiosity spans the entire continent. As his longtime editor, I can't tell you how many "curveball" topics I've thrown his way and Mike has never disappointed. As a fan, I can't wait to see which side streets our editor-in-chief, Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez, asks Mike to take us down in the future. Enjoy his article in this issue on the transition of coinage from ancient to modern. I know, I will.

Until next time, happy collecting!