Greeks and Romans both began minting coins centuries before the birth of Christ.  Most experts agree that ancient civilizations minted coins as early as 600 BC.

Images such as birds, lions, horses, reptiles, fish, are commonly found on Ancient Greek coins.  The heads of gods and goddesses are also common, as they were an important part of Greek culture.  Many Ancient Greek coins are considered works of art, to say the least.

Many of the Ancient Greek coins were very small in size, though there value was high due to valuable metals that were used to make them.  A single small ancient Greek coin had a very large purchasing power in everyday Greek commerce.

Minting of Greek coins was a simple and low technology process.  In a small furnace the metal was melted just enough to make it pliable.  A balance was used to weigh coins and make them to the intended value.  An anvil was used to produce an obverse image.  The reverse was completed in a die press.

Once softened, the metal was placed on the anvil and the operator pressed the die on the reverse of the coin to imprint the second image.  The top of the die was struck with a hammer to help insure a good image or imprint on the coin.

While not commonly found in the United States, it is very common to find ancient Greek coins in various locations in Europe and the Middle East.  It is not uncommon in some places to literally find them in the ground with a metal detector.  Ancient Greek coins hoards and stashes are still found during excavations, and the result has been a large and thriving market place for ancient Greek coins.  Many of the coins in the numismatic marketplace today are in excellent condition due in part to their inherent durability.

It is not difficult to build a good collection of ancient Greek coins at a reasonable cost.  The supply is plentiful, which helps keep the cost down.  Be sure that you are dealing with a reputable coin dealer if you decide to purchase ancient Greek coins, as there are many known "fakes" on the market. 

A dealer that specializes in ancient coins will have the knowledge and experience necessary to certify the authenticity of an ancient Greek coin.  Be especially careful with regard to authenticity when buying ancient Greek coins in a so called Private Auction, as these tend to have little transparency with regard to the actual provenance of the coin.  Choosing a well known, experienced, reputable dealer will help you avoid building a collection of fake coins.