[hanamizu]

I sometimes think it would be spiffy to have a coin from ancient Rome or Greece, but it seems as though the cost would be ... daunting. Maybe I’ll have to have a look.

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Not at all daunting. Decent dime-sized bronze coins of Constantine I (first Christian emperor) can be had for less than $10. Beautiful larger coins—half dollar sized coins of Nero or Augustus from the time of Christ, for less than $100. The older Roman coins are much more artistically done than the later ones.

Greek coins, often very beautiful, and coins from Alexander the Great can be had for less than $100 as well. As with anything, the more famous/infamous the Roman emperor will command a higher price. Some emperors ruled for weeks, their coins are great rarities and cost like it.

But even a tatty late Roman empire coin is over 1500 years old—you close your eyes and try to imagine what that coin has seen, what it paid for. It can be money well spent just for that experience.

[Daffynition]

Or go to any ancient archeological site in Turkey.

Local kids have pocketfuls of *ancient* coins they will sell to unsuspecting Western tourists.