Collector Nation Podcast: Ancient Coins, Julius Caesar & the Overlooked Side of Collecting | Dean Kinzer
Release Date: March 10, 2026
Host: Ryan Alford
Guest: Dean Kinzer, Founder & President of Kinzer Coins
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into the world of ancient coin collecting—a niche overflowing with history, artistry, and accessibility, yet often overlooked by collectors drawn to modern cards or sneakers. Ryan Alford welcomes Dean Kinzer, an ancient coin dealer and educator, to explore what makes holding a 2,400-year-old coin a "holy sh— moment," why provenance and storytelling matter as much as rarity, and how even collecting ancients is surprisingly approachable for newcomers.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Origins: Family Traditions Shape Collecting Passions
- Dean's collecting journey: Inspired by his father's eclectic collections (which included 13 Yugos, baseball/football cards, and ancient coins), Dean was "blown away" by how meaningful and satisfying ancient coin collecting became, especially compared to other collectibles.
“He was probably the world’s largest organized hoarder... I always mention this because people always get a kick out of it. He collected cars, but not the cars you would think of. He had 13 Yugos… He was an avid dealer of baseball cards and coins for a long time... wasn’t unique to go to a baseball card show and pick out some coins.” —Dean Kinzer [03:01]
2. Ancient Coins as Accessible History, Not Just Artifacts
- Entry-level collecting: Coins like Widows Mites, Constantin the Great, or bronze Alexander the Greats are often just $40-50, offering affordable access to significant history.
“What you’re holding in your hand are three...common coins that are very collectible...Constantine the Great, who legalized Christianity...A widow’s mite from the Bible...and a bronze from Alexander the Great, history's most important guy...each one of those is very affordable.” —Dean Kinzer [07:15]
- Accessibility vs. other artifacts: Unlike priceless artworks, ancient coins let people “own a piece of history” without massive expense.
"It felt like an accessible way to own a piece of history and a really cool way to learn about it." —Ryan Alford [06:32]
3. Age, Scarcity, & Value: Understanding the Market
- Not always about rarity: Large quantities remain due to prolific minting (especially with bronze coins and Widows Mites), so entry points stay affordable.
“Widow’s mite...there’s probably hundreds of thousands of them. So, you know, it’s not impossible to think that as many people that wanted one could have one.” —Dean Kinzer [13:57]
- Value factors: Value is driven by condition, historical importance, who appears on the coin, and the story it represents—sometimes more so than sheer scarcity:
“If an American coin from 1804 is worth $10 million, why isn’t a coin with Julius Caesar’s face on it...? ...That’s part of the reason, because I know collectibles, I know how expensive they can get based on rarity and demand, and I feel like these coins are a valuable collectible.” —Dean Kinzer [13:02]
4. Grading, Authenticity & Trust in the Market
- Grading parallels: Coins are slabbed and graded by NGC (Numismatic Guarantee Corporation) with a scale similar to sports cards, providing authenticity and confidence for buyers.
“NGC is...the primary grader when it comes to ancients...pretty understandable grading scale, 1 through 5 and almost baseball card-esque grades.” —Dean Kinzer [09:52]
- Cost: Grading an ancient coin runs ~$70, somewhat comparable to cards. [12:01]
- Provenance: Many coins are traceable to legendary collectors (including JP Morgan and John Quincy Adams), and provenance can be as meaningful as the coin’s subject.
“Every time it went to auction, it was documented...sometimes the person that owned it is as interesting as the coin itself.” —Dean Kinzer [24:40]
- Dealer guarantees: Dean highlights the value of buying from reputable dealers who guarantee authenticity throughout the coin’s lifespan.
5. Stories & Artistry: Coins as Tangible Narratives
- Ancient artistry: Coins from Greece and Rome display high artistry, sometimes surpassing later coins in detail and execution.
“Some of the coins from ancient Greece, from as far back as 600 BC...are artistic and beautiful...absolutely works of art...the coins got worse over time...it’s kind of a lesson in how the world has worked over time.” —Dean Kinzer [16:18]
- Rich storytelling: The images, inscriptions, and context become keys to understanding entire civilizations.
“These coins were minted by people 2,000 years ago. And you’re...getting to read their message. They’re telling you something about why it’s important, why you should know about them.” —Dean Kinzer [33:19]
6. Notable Coin: Julius Caesar Breaks Tradition
- Julius Caesar as turning point: Dean’s favorite coin is any Julius Caesar portrait, since Caesar was the first living Roman to put his face on coins—profoundly shifting what coins represented, from deities to individuals, and leading directly to his assassination.
“Julius Caesar...puts his face on the coin...along with...‘dictator for life.’ So what do you think that meant to Romans, right? That was a marking point in history—after that, all emperors did it. That really changed coinage.” —Dean Kinzer [27:00]
7. Sports, Pop Culture & Relatable Entry
- Sports connections: Ancient coinage also features athletes—wrestling, boxing, Olympic themes—creating bridges for sports card collectors.
“There’s a lot of sports themes...there are coins with ancient boxing gloves—so you can actually hold a piece of boxing history from 2,300 years ago...” —Dean Kinzer [19:02]
- Trendsetting potential: Widespread interest could be sparked by influencers, jewelry trends (wearable ancient coins), and better education.
8. Practical Advice: Getting Started
- How to begin: Try an affordable, graded “late Roman bronze” or similar safe entry point ($40–$50) and join community groups for learning and connection.
“Grab a Constantin LRB that’s $40 in a slab and see what you think of it...not a huge expenditure, not a huge risk...very affordable.” —Dean Kinzer [37:35]
- Focus on education: “All of my effort is towards the education of people...so you can understand and see how it relates to today.” —Dean Kinzer [35:56]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
“To hold something that old and to know what it's gone through, it's kind of an enlightening experience that I feel like is a holy sh moment.”
—Dean Kinzer [01:06 & 40:59]
“This is 2,400 years ago. It's hard for me to...we think we’re so sophisticated...but they were minting some coins 2,400 years ago.”
—Ryan Alford [15:39]
“Ancient coin collecting has been around since ancient times. Augustus was an ancient coin collector...there's enough history to understand what was minted, how it was minted.”
—Dean Kinzer [22:16]
“If you like sports or if you like music, there are coins you can collect...a Kythera, which is a predecessor to the guitar...there are a lot of different avenues.”
—Dean Kinzer [19:02]
“You can't go to the Coliseum in Rome and chip off a piece...but you can buy a coin.”
—Dean Kinzer [33:58]
“What do you hope a new collector feels? Probably ‘holy sh—.’ To hold something that old...is a mind-blowing experience.”
—Dean Kinzer [40:59]
Suggested Entry Points for New Collectors
- Late Roman bronzes: Affordable, common, and historically significant. [37:35]
- Constantine the Great, Widows Mite, Alexander the Great bronze: Each is affordable ($40–$50) and offers a gateway into tangible history. [07:15]
- Join a community: Participate in online forums or podcasts (like Dean’s Ancient Coin Hour) to learn, ask questions, and build trust. [35:56; 39:20]
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Timestamp | Segment | |:-------------:|------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:06 | The “holy sh—” moment of holding an ancient coin | | 03:01 | Dean’s collecting roots and family story | | 07:15 | Explaining the coins’ history and entry-level collecting | | 09:52 | About NGC grading for ancient coins | | 13:02 | Value factors: rarity, stories, and demand | | 16:18 | Artistry & evolution of ancient coin design | | 19:02 | Sports on ancient coins — bridging modern interests | | 22:16 | Trust, authenticity, and provenance in the market | | 27:00 | Julius Caesar’s portrait — why it’s a turning point | | 33:19 | How ancient coin collecting could grow in popularity | | 35:56 | The Ancient Coin Hour — education & resources | | 37:35 | Practical entry-level advice for new collectors | | 40:59 | What Dean hopes new collectors experience |
Where to Learn More
-
Dean’s channels:
- Kinzer Coins Website
- Social Media: @kinzercoins (educational content, updates)
- The Ancient Coin Hour podcast
-
Collector Nation
- Website
- Instagram: @ryanallford
Final Thoughts
Dean’s passion for ancient coins is infectious. He demystifies this corner of the hobby, emphasizing that you don’t have to be rich or a historian to start. Ancient coins are uniquely situated to bridge the world of collectibles and history—offering both personal and educational value to anyone willing to give them a closer look. If you’re searching for a collectible that carries 2,000 years of stories in the palm of your hand, this episode just might inspire your next “holy sh—” collecting moment.