Ancient coins are far more than a lucrative investment; they are a window into history. In an age when messages were still carried by runners, coins were part of the way people communicated. Roman emperors had their own images engraved on coins, and for some people, this was all they would ever see of their ruler. Coin likenesses have never been very exact, although in one very famous instance, they changed the face of history (Louis XVI was apprehended in mid-flight by French revolutionaries who recognized his profile from its representation on the currency).

Ancient coins were a way of demonstrating power. Rulers who wanted to appear more stable than they were struck coins with their image, assuming that once these started circulating, people would accept their authority. Having one's image on a coin immediately connoted power and legitimacy as far into history as the 18th century. Collecting such coins is a fascinating study in historical power struggles.

Coins gathered from ancient treasure hoards, as well as ordinary archaeological digs, tell us a great deal about the religious beliefs of the time as well. Early Roman coins feature portraits of the emperors, who portrayed themselves as living gods, Jupiter's representatives on earth. Temples or other sacred buildings were usually portrayed on a coin's reverse side, solidifying the link between church and state.

The provenance of ancient coins may also add value to your purchase. For example, owning a bag of ancient Roman coins unearthed from ruins near Mt. Aetna is not as historically interesting as owning a bag of ancient Roman coins unearthed from ancient Silk Road trails in Central Asia, or in the Nubian sands south of the Egyptian kingdoms. Coins or coin collections with documented histories will cost you more, but will increase the value of your overall collection in the long run.