Thanksgiving provides an opportunity to reflect on the last year with gratitude. It was a year marked by joyful moments & unexpected challenges. To contributors to this ancient forum: a thanks for shared interests, ideas, history and coins. Nov 17th is my fifth anniversary of joining CoinTalk and I used the date to reflect on the year and post my annual top 10 (you can vote for your favorites in the poll). Top 10 lists are a CT tradition which always brings a wide variety of interesting types and an opportunity to celebrate collections of all types. Romans loved a good feast and they constantly offered sacrifices to the gods. This RR denarius recalls a scene before the Battle of Lake Regillus (circa 496 BC), where the moneyer's ancestor A. Postumius Albinus, in command of the Roman army, defeated the Latin League, led by Tarquin the Proud, former king of Rome. Before the battle, the Romans sacrificed to Diana. For more see: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/of-greeks-and-cattle Marcius Porcius Cato described a Spring ritual of gratitude to Jupiter before the planting of millet, panic grass, garlic, and lentils. The Romans also valued taking time to express gratitude: "CXXXII. The offering is to be made in this way: Offer to Jupiter Dapalis a cup of wine of any size you wish, observing the day as a holiday for the oxen, the teamsters, and those who make the offering. In making the offering use this formula: “Jupiter Dapalis, inasmuch as it is fitting that a cup of wine be offered thee, in my house and in the midst of my people, for thy sacred feast; and to that end, be thou honored by the offering of this food.” -Cato the Elder, On Agriculture, CXXXII Closer to our Thanksgiving celebration as a harvest festival, the Romans celebrated the new vintage with Meditrinalia on October 11th. "In the month of October, the Meditrinaliae ‘Festival of Meditrina’ was named from mederi ‘to be healed,’ because Flaccus the special priest of Mars used to say that on this day it was the practice to pour an offering of new and old wine to the god, and to taste of the same, for the purpose of being healed; which many are accustomed to do even now, when they say: Wine new and old I drink, of illness new and old I’m cured." -Varro, On the Latin Language My Top 10 for 2023 are posted here for your entertainment: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/2023-top-10-ancients Post a favorite coin from 2023, an ancient source on gratitude or anything else you find interesting or entertaining. Best Wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving!
Man, hard to choose. All fine examples. I suppose if I have to pick one it would most likely be the Q. Crepereius M.f. Rocus, Amphitrite & Neptune. Happy Thanksgiving to you and all.
I like: Egypt, Alexandria. Dattari. Hadrian (Honorable Mention #1) Gaul, Massalia, AR Drachm Roman Republican Coins, Q. Crepereius M.f. Rocus, AR serrate denarius Since the Honorable Mention coin isn’t in the poll, I also cast my third vote for the Cassius (so #1, 2, and 3 in the poll). This is my favorite 2023 ancient addition.
@Sulla80 My vote goes in 100% for #0 - Troas of Abydos Tetradrachm- such an iconic coin, great pickup from Roma XXIX. Lot 179 was one of the targets, but I ultimately went for the portrait on lot #181 and was a lucky winner) Congrats on this wonderful acquisition
Looks like we are more than once bidding on similar coins - congrats on #181 - I also had several as target and was happy to come away with this one. I do like your gold elephant! a nice pickup - so far no Imperial aureii in my collection.
Really hard to choose 3 out of your ten, they are all real beauties, though finally I voted for #2, 3 and 7. Happy Thanksgiving to you and all as well
