My Top 10 Favorite Ancients

Seeing as how ancient talk has been slow on here, I decided to do a "My Top 10 Favorite Ancients" thread featuring obviously my 10 favorite ancients in my collection. I could have easly done 15-20 favorites but people seem to lose interest when it gets too long.

I will probably update this thread every 2 or so days. I will give a brief history on why it earned its place and its history on why I got it.

Several photos have been reshot just for this thread.

Lastly I am known for having a soft spot for the empresses but I have very few selected for my top 10.

I hope you enjoy. Onto #10!


#10.


KINGS of MACEDON. Perseus. 179-168 BC.
Pella or Amphipolis mint
O: Helmeted head of the hero Perseus right; harpa to right.
R: Eagle standing left, head right, on thunderbolt : B A P E around
6.9g
21mm

This coin earns the #10 spot for a couple of reasons. First, this is the very first greek coin I purchased when I started in ancients in middle of 2009. What attracted me to it was mainly its strike. I thought the obverse portrait was nicely detailed & I especially liked the eagle since they are my favorite type of reverses on moderns. This coin is also the first coin I bought from a dealer who would become one of my main dealers for my ancient purchases. So there is a lot of sentimental value to this greek bronze also. I dont own very many greeks but eitherway this remains one of my favorites.

 

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This is going to be a great thread.

 

It's a neat first! As I said before, I really like the style of the eagle.

 

I agree with Randy. This coin has a especially well done eagle 'different' than the usual.

 

I love the eagle!

You do realize that this thread is going to wind up costing me a lot of money. Thanks Mat.

Okay, bring 'em on. (I don't mind eating ramen noodles for a few months again).

 

#9. This coin was once owned by fellow CT poster, Stainless. He posted it as his new acquisition and I immediately fell in love with it. First, was because I never seen the type before & second I thought it was really cool how there was a "spot of gold" gilding. I immediately went on the hunt for one but none were as nice as this, most of the gold was worn off. If you know Stainless, you would know he likes to trade coins, so we worked out a trade and now this is in a collection that appreciates it more then just a quick trade. Plus I learned a lot about the Kingdom of Aksum just from this tiny thing.



Kings of Axum
Anonymous
AD 400-500
AE 14
O: BAC + ACA, Crowned bust right, holding cross-tipped scepter
R: +TOV TO APECH TH XWPA, Greek Cross; central punch-hole inlaid in gold, Inscription "May this (cross) please the country."
Munro-Hay 76, BMC Aksumite 316
0.75g


One of the most curious aspects of Axumite coinage is the use of gilding on some of the silver and bronze coins. The amount of gold used would not be enough to significantly change the value of the coin, and the reason for this labor-intensive process remains somewhat a mystery. It is usually found highlighting the portrait of the king or as embellishment of the cross, so it may serve the same purpose as gold tesserae in church mosaics and gold leaf on manuscripts--to reflect the Divine Light shining on the monarch and the church.

 

That is a very nice Axumite coin, certainly better than mine!

 

Very nice thread

Yes, this is a very nice thread. Now I am subscribed to it & look forward to Mat's countdown to #1.

 

Another cool one for the list.

 

Hi Mat
Congratulations for starting this Thread !
I have a question for the Thread Owner : would it be possible for the fellow ancient coins collectors here in CT to post also our Top 10 here or should we create our own thread ( maybe not so advisable considering the forum rules about avoiding multiple threads related to the same topic - or at least very close one )
We could have multiple horses running the same race
Thanks for your opinion and please go on feeding this one anyway !

All The Best
Philippe

 

#8. My way of collecting ancients is usually I focus on 1 emperor or empress & find the best one my $ for that particular subject. At this time it was Commodus. The main one I wanted was the Commodus clad in lionskin bust. If you know his history then you would know why. Needless to say I learned the majority were made with bad metal so most are rough & they aren't cheap. When I was about to settle on a generic Commodus with a "god" reverse, this coin popped up. I immediately knew this was the one I had to have. I loved how centered it was, the golden toning, condition and mainly the reverse, as it was different then the usual "God". Sadly this coin was over my little over my budget but thanks to layaway I was able to acquire it & I was glad to spend more to get something more special.



Commodus (177 - 192 A.D.)
AR Denarius
189 A.D
O: M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT, Laureate head right.
R: PIETATI SENATVS, CVPP, Commodus standing right, holding roll, clasping hands with senator standing left, holding scepter.
Rome mint
RIC III 194 cor, RSC II 408
3.649g

 

My favorite so far. Great eye appeal

 

Two part question

I didn't know the history but your post got me to snoop around the internet. Are you referring to Commodus delusion that he was akin to Hercules?

Where is the lion skin on the depicted coin?

 

Its not on this one. I think Mat was saying he wanted one, but they are pretty pricey in nice condition due to demand for the type. A nice lion skin is indeed pricey, since his delusion is pretty famous, (of course he also dressed up in even weirder outfits at times).

 

Surprisingly they seem to be cheaper then when I first looked. Ive seen them as low as $115 & thats for OK shape. Thought about getting one but still other coins I would rather have.

 

I don't remember Joaquin Phoenix having a beard in the movie

This is a great example of a Denarius, and a good to coin to spark up conversations. Someone said the worse thing Marcus Aurelius ever did was to make his son emperor :yes:

 

And Crispina & Lucilla were onto something as far as to get rid of him.They saw the future...it wasnt pretty...

 

Notice how Commodus usually looks tired on his coins. Being a god must be hard work.

 

Nice coins and that's great looking commodus.

 

#8 is the best for me so far....but I can't wait to see the rest.