YN Spotlight: Marc Vazsonyi

Marc Vazsonyi may be all about ancient coins, but he didn't start off collecting coins struck during the millennia of yore. When he started his numismatic journey at the age of seven, he was focused on building a collection of Lincoln Wheat Cents. "I was fascinated by their unusual design and the concept of rarity across different years and mints. During this time, I acquired them through both circulation and coin roll hunting."

Vazsonyi says his grandmother was very influential on his early numismatic explorations. "From when I was a young age, she showed me old silver and gold coins when I visited her in Switzerland, which sparked my interest in world coins." Now 21 and a senior at the University of Kentucky, the intern for legendary numismatic researcher and dealer Jeff Garrett at Mid-American Rare Coins has become fully immersed in the exciting world of ancient coins. "I have become more involved with dealing in ancient coins on my own and attend a handful of coin shows each year to conduct business. Last year, I gave a talk at my local coin club on ancient coins."

But why ancients? "My interest in ancient coins began after receiving a late-Roman bronze as a Christmas gift from my sister. It was a small, crude coin, but I was amazed by the fact that I was holding a nearly 2,000-year-old coin! After this, I was hooked and began my journey studying and collecting Roman coins." After spending a while collecting U.S. and world coinage, Vazsonyi says he "found ancient coins to be the pinnacle of art and history in numismatics." He goes on to add that the history and artistry of ancient coins is fascinating, providing what he calls a tangible link to some of the most notorious rulers and civilizations in all of history.

"I consider ancient coins an integral part of the hobby as they are the foundation of everything numismatic related! Ancient coins are a tangible connection to the dawn of money and have been collected for thousands of years." Ancient coins also represent the first days of the numismatic hobby. "One of the earliest accounts of an individual collecting coins was the Roman Emperor Augustus, who was known to gift rare and foreign coins (likely Greek) during festivals."

Coins of the ancient realm are referenced in everything from the Holy Bible to action and adventure films, and they are also used or depicted in various art mediums and even household and commercial décor. "Ancient coins are appealing to non-collectors due to their remarkable artistry and fascinating history. They serve as a tangible link to the ancient world and offer an unusually accessible way to hold history in your hands. For anyone interested in history or art, ancient coins become a direct link to the stories and people that resonate with them the most."

The realm of ancient coinage is vast, with coins from Greece representing a large share of the catalog. "My favorite area of ancient coins is Greek coinage, particularly that of the archaic period. I find the highly stylized artistry of this time to be very charming." One of Vazsonyi's favorite coins is his hemidrachm from Dikaia, which was struck circa 490-475 BCE. "The archaic depiction of Heracles on the obverse exhibits the typical 'archaic smile' of the period. To me, this coin is a miniature work of art from 2,500 years ago!"

As many would imagine, to really get into collecting ancient coins, you also must know some stuff about the ancient world to understand the designs, symbols, and messages on coinage of the period. "Ancient coins do require having more knowledge than modern coins. However, I find this to be the fun of collecting ancient coins." Vazsonyi admits that he was intimidated by ancients before he began collecting them, but he found studying them to be enriching and rewarding. "In my experience, jumping in head first is the best way to get started!"

Even those who feel they have the inclination and curiosity to study and explore ancient coins might wonder if they have the pocketbook to match. But it's a misnomer to believe that all millennia-old coins are automatically expensive. "Ancient coins are also surprisingly affordable, with late-Roman bronze coins readily available under $5. Additionally, silver Roman denarii and Greek drachms can be easily had for less than $100. These are great ways to get started in the hobby without breaking the bank."

He advises other young numismatists who want to get started in ancient coins to simply start looking at them. "Whether in a book, online, or at a coin show, any exposure is the best way to start. When I started out, I began by flipping through the pages of Handbook of Ancient Greek & Roman Coins (by Zander H. Klawans, Whitman Publishing) and researching types I found to be interesting." He also recommends checking out videos on ancient coins that can be found on YouTube and the American Numismatic Society digital project known as Online Coins of the Roman Empire, among a multitude of other websites. He explains, "We are very fortunate to have an abundance of excellent resources available online that aid in learning and research, but these are free and easy to access."