I'm sure many of us have coins that we dream about and think of owning in the future, but are crazy expensive/rare or in some way else is unobtainable for the time being. I have quite a few, but just felt like sharing the four that are more prominent in my mind: Majorian, one of the many Western emperors after Val III. Unlike the rest of them however, he was a brilliant military officer and government official who sought to bring the empire back from the brink: (both from CoinProject.com) Romulus Augustus, last Western Roman emperor: (from Wildwinds) Odoacer, Romulus Augustus's successor and first barbarian king of Italy: (from CoinProject.com) (from Wikipedia) A 40 nummi of Theohadad, one of the finest issues imo produced by the Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy: (Remembered I had it in my PB, but can't remember it's original source) Feel free to post your dream coins!
Those are all pretty nice coins you have in your dreams. I'm not sure I dream of owning any particular coin, but let me think on it a little.
GETA. As Caesar, 198-209 AD. AV Aureus (7.14 g, 7h). Struck 207 AD. P SEPTIMIVS GETA CAES, bare headed, draped, and cuirassed bust left / PONTIF, COS in exergue, Bacchus and Ariadne seated left; herm behind, panther at feet of Bacchus; in background, Silenos, satyr, double-flute player, and two maenads. RIC IV 33; Calicó 2897 = Biaggi 1260 (same dies); BMCRE p. 243, *; Cohen -; O. Voetter, Sammlung Bachofen von Echt (Vienna, 1903), 1766; Sir Arthur Evans Collection (Naville III, 16 June 1922), lot 102; Kent & Hirmer 392 (this coin). Superb EF, underlying lustre, light scratch in exergue on reverse. Bold high-relief portrait. Extremely rare, one of four known. Ex Triton IX, Lot 1526, Collection of a Perfectionist (Leu 87, 6 May 2003), lot 66; E. von Schulthess Collection (Hess-Leu 17, 23 March 1961), lot 274; 1901 Karnak Hoard(?). This aureus features one of the most unique and distinctive reverse types in the Roman Imperial series. The coin was part of a special donative issue celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of Septimius Severus and the tenth of Caracalla, of which only four examples (see above), all struck from the same dies, are known today. The scene of Bacchus and Ariadne's marriage is well represented in Roman paintings, engravings, and sculpture, and was chosen for this issue as Bacchus was the patron of Geta. Ariadne, the elder daughter of King Minos of Crete, fell in love with Theseus of Athens and assisted him in slaying the Minotaur. For her reward, she was abandoned by him on the island of Naxos; Theseus then returned to Athens, and there married her younger sister, Phaedra. According to the commonest version of the myth, Bacchus, in the company of his Maenads and satyrs, were traversing the island when they happened upon her. The god rescued Ariadne and took her to be his consort; the diadem she wore at the ceremony was subsequently placed in the heavens to become the constellation Corona Borealis. Phoenicia, Byblus Uzzibaal AR Shekel 365-350 13.28 g. Galley l. with helmeted hoplites, holding shield; below, winged sea-horse; above, which z / o in Aramaic characters. Below, murex shell. 'zb'l mlk gbl in Aramaic characters Lion attacking bull SNG Copenhagen 132. SNG Fitzwilliam 6028. Betlyon 14 var. Old cabinet tone and extremely fine Information at: http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/cm/g/gold_dinar_of_ardashir_i.aspx ZEUGITANA, Carthage AV Stater Circa 350-320 BC Wreathed head of Tanit left, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace Horse standing right on single ground line, three pellets on exergue line Jenkins & Lewis Group III, 113-114 (dies not listed) Lustrous EF 9.30g ex. Triton V Sale, 16 Jan 2002, lot 1546 Just a few that I really like...
Any medieval coin would be cool to me...I don't really have any coins from that time period yet. (ok, maybe 1 or 2, but they aren't in very good shape!)
Though I have very few in my collection, I have always found ancient coins fascinating. Particularly the the coins that started it all the Lydian electrum single sided staters. I have no idea what these are worth, but I would love to add one to my collection someday.
Phoenicia, Sidon. Ba`lshallim I, c.420-410 BC. AR Double Shekel (27.18g). Galley left, with row of shields along bulwark, before embattled city wall with five crenellated towers; in exergue, two lions facing outward. Reverse: King of Persia and driver in chariot left, drawn by three galloping horses; below, incuse goat running left, head reverted; around, double border of dots; all within circular incuse. Betlyon, ANSMN 21, 6. Exceedingly rare and probably the finest known specimen. Nearly Extremely Fine. . The majestic defensive walls of the great maritime city of Sidon are viewed here as they would have appeared in the late fifth century BC. Probably the oldest of the Phoenician cities and reputedly the mother city of Tyre, Sidon became subject to the overlordship of the Persian kings in the second half of the sixth century. Its celebrated fleet provided the principal naval contingent for Xerxes when he invaded Greece in 480 BC. Kraay suggested that the obverse scene could depict the commissioning of a new galley by the king before the walls of the city, while the heraldically disposed lions below are symbolic of the king's enemies. The reverse shows the King of Persia being driven at high speed in a three-horse chariot. Provenance: The Hunter Collection
I am not picky any old Aureus from Augustus to Marcus Aurelius will do. But not Commodus I don't like his portrait.
I've tried and failed a few times to get an EID MAR. At the moment, there are none coming up for a while according the auction houses I've asked, but I'm still searching.
Although my collection's theme doesn't cover this coin, it's also one that I've coveted for a long time, due to its place in history memorializing an event that changed the course of the world. So nice of another member to insult your choice and vulgarize it with a juvenile bodily reference...