Cheers to the top 10 coins of 2017!

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Quant.Geek, Jan 2, 2018.

  1. Quant.Geek

    Quant.Geek Well-Known Member

    Well, I am going to post my top ten coins of 2017 in random order. Can't really decide on the order :rolleyes:, so here goes:

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    Bruttium, the Brettii: Anonymous (ca. 214-211 BCE) Æ Double – Didrachm (Scheu, Bronze 1; HN Italy 1975)

    Obv: Helmeted head of Ares left; two pellets to right, grain ear below
    Rev: Nike standing left, erecting trophy; cornucopia between

    [​IMG]



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    Sicily, Syracuse: Hieron II (275-215 BCE) Æ Hemilitron (BAR Issue 62; CNS 195 Ds 42 R1 8; HGC 2, 1548)

    Obv: Diademed head left; wreath to right
    Rev: Warrior, holding couched lance, on horse prancing right; monogram to lower right; IEΡΩNOΣ in exergue

    [​IMG]


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    Sicily, Syracuse: Hieron II (275-215 BCE) Æ Litra (BAR Issue 60; cf. CNS 197; HGC 2, 1550)

    Obv: Head of Poseidon left, wearing tainia
    Rev: Ornamented trident head; flanked by dolphins downward, ΙΕΡΩΝΟΣ beside base

    [​IMG]


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    Egypt, Alexandria: Hadrian (117-138 CE) BI Tetradrachm, RY 10 (Köln 897-8; Dattari (Savio) 1522; K&G 32.339; Emmet 905.10)

    Obv: AVTKAI TPAIAΔPIACЄB; Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
    Rev: Draped bust right of Ammon, wearing horn and disk; L ΔE-KATOV around

    [​IMG]


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    Thracian Kingdom: Lysimachos (306-281 BCE) AR Tetradrachm, Abydos? (BMFA 839; Müller 342)

    Obv: Diademed head of deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon
    Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAΧOY; Athena seated left, holding Nike and resting elbow on shield at side, spear leaning against far shoulder; in inner left field, eagle standing right

    [​IMG]


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    Macedonian Kingdom: Philip III (323-317 BCE) AR Drachm, Colophon (Price P44; Muller P51)

    Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress
    Rev: ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ; Zeus enthroned facing left holding eagle and scepter, lyre in left field, monogram below throne

    [​IMG]


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    Roman Imperial: Constantius Gallus, as Caesar (351-354 CE) Æ Centenionalis, Heraclea (RIC VIII 84; LRBC 1894)

    Obv: D N CONSTAN-TIVS NOB C; Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right
    Rev: FEL TEMP RE-PARATIO; Soldier standing left, holding shield and spearing fallen horseman; shield on ground at right; Horseman turns to face soldier, and extends left arm; Γ in left field; SMHΔ in exergue

    [​IMG]


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    Byzantine Empire: Constantine VI & Irene (780-797) Æ Follis, Constantinople (Sear-1598; DOC-7)

    Obv: Crowned bust of Irene facing, wearing loros and holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter
    Rev: Crowned bust of Constantine facing, holding globus cruciger; pellet to left; to right, cross above pellet; in exergue, large M between X N and above A

    [​IMG]


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    Roman Triumvirate: Mark Antony (Autumn 32-Spring 31 BCE) AR Denarius, Patrae? (Crawford 544/23; CRI 359; Sydenham 1227; RSC 37)

    Obv: ANT AVG – III·VIR·R·P·C; Praetorian galley right
    Rev: Aquila between two signa; LEG IX across field

    [​IMG]


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    Abbasid: al-Muktafi (289-295 AH) AV Dinar, Misr, 292 AH (Album-243.1)

    Obv: لا اله الا الله وحده لا شريك له
    Obv Outer Margin: لله الامـر من قبل ومن بعــد ويومئذ يفرح المؤمنون بنصر الله
    Obv Inner Margin: بسم الله ضرب هذا الدينر مصر سنة اثنين و تسعين و مائتين
    Rev: لله محمد رسول الله / المكتفي بالله‎‎
    Rev Margin: محمد رسول الله ارسله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله ولو كره المشركون

    [​IMG]
     
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  3. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    Wonderful group of coins. I can see how it would be difficult to rank them. I especially like the first Hieron II. There is some real artistry to that coin.
     
    panzerman, Curtisimo and Quant.Geek like this.
  4. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    Holy cow! You know...about the way you posted them, I think I could just as easily label them 1 - 10 and call it a day! What a great year for your collection!
     
    panzerman, ominus1 and Quant.Geek like this.
  5. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Some extremely nice coins. Of course, my favorite is the Legionary Denarius. Great detail!!!!!
     
    Quant.Geek and galba68 like this.
  6. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Very nice, all with great detail and eye appeal. Congrats on great buying.
     
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  7. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    Very nice! Some outstanding coins!
     
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  8. Quant.Geek

    Quant.Geek Well-Known Member

    Thanks guys! The worst part of this is that were 10 more coins that could have easily made the list, especially some of the Byzantine coins I acquired. Compiling this list was not easy...
     
    ominus1 likes this.
  9. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    It never is, especially since one acquires all their coins because they like them for one reason or another
     
    Mikey Zee, Quant.Geek and ominus1 like this.
  10. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    very true Bing. We all have different favorites and that also makes it more diverse and interesting:)
     
    Quant.Geek likes this.
  11. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    Great coins @Quant.Geek! My favorites are your Lysimachus and the Herion II. Both beautifully executed portraits. Congrats :)
     
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  12. chrsmat71

    chrsmat71 I LIKE TURTLES!

    Multiple metals, cultures, and eras! Just what I like! Lysimachus tet is KICK BUTT For sure, but that MA denarius is sharp, and the Greek AE lead off was pretty sweet!

    Nice group!
     
    Last edited: Jan 2, 2018
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  13. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 Well-Known Member

    The Brettian is my favorite! These are usually found as slugs or very rough. Fantastic coin!
     
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  14. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    All are wonderful. Each more beautiful than the rest.
     
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  15. benhur767

    benhur767 Sapere aude

    Wow. Amazing coins. I'm partial to the Antony and the coin with the trident on the reverse.
     
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  16. TheRed

    TheRed Well-Known Member

    If you would like I'll volunteer to put them in an ordered list. Just mail me the coins and I'll study, observe, contemplate, reflect upon, and otherwise devout my time to the coins. Them once I've made a list, after 25 or so years, I'll send them back. Such coins deserve a thorough review after all.

    The Lysimachus is gorgeous, and I really like the litra and hemilitron Hieron II. What fantastic coins, congrats on a great year.
     
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  17. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

    I think , each coin in its own way is beautifull to look at, historically significant! Plus your layout/ writeup are first class. Thank for showing them to us. I hope you have a great 2018 coin year!:happy:
    John
     
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  18. Quant.Geek

    Quant.Geek Well-Known Member

    Thanks John. I spend a lot of time transcribing coins using unicode and I try to perfect it each time. There is some joy in deciphering the alphabet, typing it unicode and then posting it. You really appreciate these little works of art when you can read the legends!
     
    panzerman likes this.
  19. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    That’s one heckuva top 10... all killer, no filler!
     
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  20. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    Excellent coins
     
  21. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Fantastic set of coins there. It's hard to pick a favorite. Here's one of my 2017 Byzantines of Michael II the Amorian.

    amorian1.jpg

    amorian2.jpg
     
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