Your top purchases of 2015

I enjoy the posts of people's top purchases of the year, and most of the posters here deserve their own thread, I thought I would start a joint thread for those of us who are perhaps not purchasing as much as others. Anyway, I'll start out with my top 5, and everyone else please add your top purchases for 2015!

No. 5

I snagged an almost complete run of British Proof sets from 1980-2010 at a local coin show. Paid face value for the coins! Okay, not ancient, but one of my collecting areas.

No. 4

Kingdom of Macedon
Alexander III (the Great), r. 336-323 B.C. (c. 325-315 B.C.)
Pella Mint, AR Tetradrachm, 25mm x 17.1 grams
Obv.: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin
Rev.: ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, holding eagle and sceptre, ΣΙ in left field
Ref.: Price 236, Mueller 1397.
Purchased this from RedSpork, and fills the spot for a lifetime Alexander Tet I've wanted (granted, with the dating of this coin, it may have been minted after his death, but may have been minted during his life too. That's good enough for me right now).

No. 3

Norman Kingdom of Sicily
William II, r. 1166-1189 A.D.
Messina Mint, AE Follaro, 16.7mm x 1.7 grams
Obv.: + OPERATAT IN VRBE MESSANE outside, O / REX W / SCOVS in center (OV ligate)
Rev.: Arabic legend"al'malik / Ghulyalim / al-thani" (King William 2nd) in center, "bi-amr al-malik al-musta'izz" around edge
Ref.: MEC Italy III 401 ff., Biaggi 1233
Sadly, my only medieval coin of the year, and not even English! However, as I stated in the thread for this coin, the ruler under which this coin was minted has a special interest for me.

No. 2

Persian Empire
Darius I to Xerxes II, r. 485-420 B.C.
Sardes Mint, AR Siglos, 14mm x 5.5 grams
Obv.: King running right holding spear and bow
Rev.: Incuse punch
Ref.: Carradice Type IIIb, Group A/B (pl. XII, 17).
Still love the punchmarks on this coin - fills the spot of the Persian Empire for my history of the Silk Road series

No. 1

Kingdom of Bactria
Menander I r. c. 165/55-130 B.C.
AR Drachm, 13mm x 2.4 grams
Obv.: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ / ΜΕΝΑΝΔΡΟΥ. Diademed bust of the sovereign right, coat fastened on the right shoulder
Rev.: (Maharajasa tratarasa / Menamdrasa). Athena Alkidemos standing left. Monogram 'H' in right field
Ref.: Bopearachi, Ménandre (I) Sôter, 67.
I purchased this Menander coin to essentially celebrate the end of the school year. I love the details of this coin, and the historical significance of Menander AIDS in the appeal of the coin.

 

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Bonus:
Coin collecting isn't my only hobby. I collect comic books as well, and managed to snag a nice run of early Amazing Spider-Man (#28-40)

 

Great stuff, I especially like the Menander I. Just look at Athena's ample bottom.

I see where Kim Kardashian gets it from

 

You just gotta love that Bactria Drachm.

 

Nice, I have #2 through #197, even the death of Gwen Stacy and 1st Punisher. Still need #1

 

As my daughter says, you sure have many cool stuff!

 

My favorite is the Siglos.

 

Ill add my two Cents. Here are the top 2 of the year. I know I didnt overspend on them either.

 

Great stuff!!

I like the Spiderman comics and the sweet reverse on your Bactria example!!

 

yes it is, and is that the Lombardi trophy hes holding?

 

Here would be mine.
Semi-Key date

 

Thanks guys! Post your top purchases as well!

 

I can't post pictures but I can describe.
#1 My first Ancient Coin purchase
#2 My next 8 Ancient Coin purchases
#3 PCGS MS-64 Peace Dollar 1934-D Small & Large Dates
#4 Finishing my 2nd completed circulated Peace Dollar Set (Fine or better)
#5 1932-D & 1932-S Washington Quarters in VG for $50.00

I've bought so many other coins and so much bullion I've lost track.

 

Excellent top 5 FN!

man, look at those buns on athena....hubba hubba.

your norman william ii post inspired me to purchase a coin this year!

 

CAPPADOCIAN KINGDOM: Ariarathes V
AR Drachm
OBVERSE: Diademed head of Ariarathes V right
REVERSE: Athena standing left, holding Nike & resting hand on grounded shield, HDI monogram in outer left field, PAFI monogram in inner left field, HF monogram in outer right field, date GL in exergue
Struck at Cappadocia, Year 33 (= 130 BC)
4.2g, 18mm
SNG Copenhagen Suppl. 673–678. Simonetta p. 24, 20b

PHOENICIA ARADOS
AR Tetradrachm
OBVERSE: Turreted, veiled, and draped bust of Tyche right
REVERSE: Nike standing left, holding wreath and palm frond; in left field, ZOP (date) above Aramaic B above ΘЄ; all within wreath
Arados CY 177 (83/82 BC)
14.91g, 27mm
Duyrat 3536–49; HGC 10, 72; DCA 772; BMC 239

APAMEIA, PHRYGIA
AE23
OBVERSE: Laureate head of Zeus right
REVERSE: APAME to the right, cult statue of Artemis Anaïtis standing facing, magistrate HRAKLEI EGLO to left
Struck at Pergamon 133-27 BC
8.38g, 22mm
SNGCop 183.1; BMC Phrygia p. 77, 48

M FURIUS Lf PHILUS ROMAN REPUBLIC
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Laureate head of Janus; M•FOVRI•L•F around
REVERSE: Roma standing left erecting trophy, gallic arms around, ROMA to right, PHLI in ex.
Struck at Rome, 119 BC
3.81g, 18.35mm
Crawford 281/1, Syd 529, BMCRR (Italy) 555, Furia 18

L COSCONIUS MF ROMAN REPUBLIC
AR Denarius Serratus
OBVERSE: Helmeted head of Roma right, L . COSCO . M . F around, X behind
REVERSE: naked Celtic warrior (Bituitus), brandishing a spear & holding a shield & carnyx, driving a racing biga right, L LIC CN DOM in ex.
Struck at Rome, 118 BC
3.72g, 19.13mm
Cosconia.1. Cr.282 / 2

TI QUINCTIUS ROMAN REPUBLIC
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Bust of Hercules left, wearing lion's skin headdress, club over shoulder
REVERSE: two horses left, rider on the nearer horse, dot X; TI Q and rat below, DOS.S in incuse on tablet in ex.
Struck at Rome 112-111 BC
3.92g, 18mm
Cr297/1;Quinctia 6

SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS I-I laureate head right
REVERSE: SAECVL FELICIT dot,
seven stars & crescent
Struck at Emesa, 194-195 AD
2.95g, 17.5mm
RIC 417

GORDIAN III
AR Drachm
OBVERSE: AY K M ANT ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC CE, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: MHTPO KAIC B N, Mt. Argaeus, ETΔ in ex
Struck at Cappadocia, Caesarea, Year 4=A.D. 240-241
2.96g, 18.6mm
Sydenham 603d

OTACILIA SEVERA
Æ Sestertius
OBVERSE: MARCIA OTACILIA SEVERA AVG, diademed and draped bust right
REVERSE: SAECVLARES AVGG, SC in ex, Hippopotamus standing right, head raised
Struck at Rome, 248 AD
18.6g, 30mm
RIC 200a, Cohen 65
ex Warren Esty

VALENS
AV Solidus
OBVERSE: DN VALENS PER F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: RESTITVTOR REIPUBLICAE, Valens standing right, holding labarum in right hand & Victory on globe in left, cross to left. Mintmark star ANTE star
Struck at Antioch, 364 AD
3.6g, 19mm
Antioch RIC 2d,xxxvii-5

 

Great coins! Better books! Man I love Comic Books. Jeeze Mat, I think you and I would get along just fine.

 

I've been working on a full run of Amazing Spider-Man for a while - nearly have from 300 to present, but I've been trying to focus on 30-130 (the Gwen Stacy years)

 

gold strike for bing in 2015!





yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeha!

 

Where did you find my picture??????

 

Very nice. Still holding out for one more coin till I post mine