Roerbakmix's top 10 coins of 2019

Although I've been collecting coins since I was a kid, 2019 marks my first year as a serious collector, that is, the year I discovered ancient coins were a) obtainable for a reasonable price and b) so much more interesting and diverse than the coinage of The Netherlands (which was my primary collection). Being such a novice collector, I feel a bit hesitant to post my top 10, but in the last year I've learned the friendliness of this community (also, I'm currently recovering from a small surgery and don't really have anything else to do).

Some coins have been posted before, some haven't. Anyway, here is my top 10:

10. The first coin is this Nerva denarius, which I bought as a brown slug (cleaning process described here):

ROMAN IMPERIAL, Nerva
Denomination: AR denarius, minted: Rome, Italy; 98 AD
Obv: IMP NERVA CAES AVG GERM P M TR P II: Head of Nerva, laureate, right
Rev: IMP II COS IIII P P: Clasped hands holding aquila set on prow, left
Weight: 3.17g; Ø:1.8mm
Catalogue: RIC II 49
Provenance: Found near Tongeren (2017, Limburg, the Netherlands), ex private collection; acq.: 12-2018

9. This Gros Tournois was found Friesland, The Netherlands. It was bent, and unevenly patinated (restoration process described here) After @seth77 went in depths with this coin, I became more interested in French medieval coinage, and medieval coinage in general.

FRANCE, Philipe IV (1268-1314)
Denomination: Gros Tournois, minted: France; ca. 1305
Obv: Short cross within circle, inner circle legend + PHILIPPVS REX, outer circle legend +BNDICTV : SIT : NOME : DNI : NRI : DEI : IHV XPI
Rev: Castle + TVRONVS CIVIS, in outer circle twelve circles with fleurs-de-lis, resembling the 12 deniers worth of silver
Weight: 3.14g; Ø:25mm
Catalogue: Duplessy 214, Ciani 206, Lafaurie 218
Provenance: Found near Burgum, Friesland. Ex private collection. ; acq.: 08-2019

8. This Alexander III (non-lifetime issue) is so nice to hold in hand. The patina is wonderful, and the amount of history that this coins resembles is fascinating.

KINGS OF MACEDON, Alexander III of Macedon
Denomination: AR drachm, minted: Colophon; 323-319 BC
Obv: Head of beardless Heracles right wearing lion skin headdress
Rev: ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Zeus seated on stool-throne left, eagle on outstretched right hand, sceptre in left hand. Two symbols: lyre (Left Field), A (Beneath Throne)
Weight: 4.06g; Ø:1.8mm
Catalogue: Price 1769
Provenance: Ex private collection; acq.: 04-2019

7. Though this coin has been in my collection for almost a year now, I only recently discovered it is a mule (i.e. obverse and reverse mismatch). This is probably an unique coin, and having read @TIF's story on how this fourree could have been minted, it definitely made my day.

ROMAN IMPERIAL, Trajanus
Denomination: Fourree AR denarius, minted: ; Uncertain
Obv: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P, laureate head of Trajan to the right
Rev: AEQVITAS AVGVST; Aequitas, draped, standing left, holding scales in right hand and cornucopiae in left
Weight: 2.43g; Ø:1.9mm
Catalogue: Unpublished variant
Provenance: Ex priv col; acq.: 12-2018

6. This denarius of Macrinus was found in The Netherlands, near Nijmegen. I made me realize once again that history can be found only a few centimeters beneath the soil. It also introduced me to the poor fate of Macrinus and his son.

ROMAN IMPERIAL, Macrinus
Denomination: AR denarius, minted: Rome, Italy; 217-218 AD
Obv: IMP CM OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, bust of Macrinus, laureate, cropped beard, cuirassed to the right.
Rev: SALVS PVBLICA, Salus, draped, seated left on throne with high back, feeding out of patera in right hand snake coiled round altar and holding sceptre in left hand
Weight: 3.45g; Ø:1.8mm
Catalogue: RIC IV 86
Provenance: Found near Nijmegen (Netherlands), ex private collection; acq.: 09-2019

5. This tetradrachm of Azes I / II was one of my first ancient coins. It's silver, large and heavy, and portrays a king on a horse. What's not to like?

INDO-SCYTHIA, Azes I or II
Denomination: AR tetradrachm, minted: uncertain mint; 35-12 BC
Obv: BASILEWS BASILEWN MEGALOU AZOU (Greek; The great king of kings, Azes). Azes on horseback right, holding whip; monogram Kharosthi letter "GA" or "GAM" before.
Rev: MAHARAJASA RAJADIRAJASA MAHATASA AYASA (Karosthi; great king, king of kings, Azes the Great), Athena standing right, right hand extended, holding shield and spear; monograms to left and right.
Weight: 9.55g; Ø:2.5mm
Catalogue: MAC.2360; Senior 98.353T
Provenance: Ex private collection; acq.: 12-2018


4. After more or less accidentally acquiring three AR pennies of Aethelred II and Cnut (the latter turned out to be extremely rare, and was sold at CNG), I became interested in the Anglo-Saxon coinage and early medieval coinage in general. First, Aethelred II:

ANGLO-SAXONS, Æthelred II (966-1016)
Denomination: Penny, minted: England, Winchester, Moneyer: Ælfsige; 978-1017
Obv: +AEDELRAED REX ANGL. Head of Aethelred II, draped, to the left.
Rev: +AELFSIGE MO PINT. Voided Long cross without inner circle.
Weight: 1.74g; Ø:19mm
Catalogue: Spink 1151
Provenance: Ex private collection; acq.: 05-2019

3. This was followed by five sceatta's, of which I like this plumed bird variant the most (it looks so alien). Also, sceatta's were minted in The Netherlands, and thus fit well in my 'homecountry theme'.

ANGLO-SAXONS, Annonymous
Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series E, Primary ('Ashton Rowant') phase, plumed bird var. L (Type 6).), minted: Possibly Dorestad (The Netherlands); 695/700-710/5 AD
Obv: “Plumed bird” right; pellet-in-annulet below beak
Rev: Standard; pellet-in-annulet at center and in corners, separated by either double- or triple-pellet groups; lines in margin
Catalogue: Continental series E, Primary ('Ashton Rowant') phase, plumed bird var. L (Type 6). Abramson 87.10; SCBI 63 (BM), 312–7; North 49; SCBC 791
Provenance: Found in province of Zeeland (the Netherlands) 2018. Ex private collection; acq.: 11-2019

2. Thus having sceatta's and Anglo-Saxon pennies, I was looking for a nice Carolingian coin. I then found this extremely nice coin of Heinrich II (unfortunately, this coin was minted just after the decline of the Carolingian empire - story written down here. Hopefully, my 'Roerbakmix's top 10 2020' will include a Carolingian )

HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE, Heinrich II (973 or 978 - 1024)
Denomination: AR Pfennig, minted: Regensburg (Germany), mintmark ELLN; 985-995 AD
Obv: Retrograde +• HENRICVS V, cross with two pellets and one annulet within circle
Rev: REGINA CIVITAS, around temple facade, ELLN (mintmark) within
Weight: 1,69g; Ø:230mm
Catalogue: Variant on Hahn 22 c 2
Provenance: Metal detecting find near Kalkar, Germany; acq.: 10-2019

1. This final coin is one I absolutely adore: the Celtic war stater, minted during the invasion of Julius Caesar. Just imagine some meeting of Celtic tribes, where they decide to join in their resistance to a foreign invader ... The Ambiani Celts were Belgic people of Celtic language. In 57 BC, when Julius Caesar started his Belgic campain, they were able to muster 10.000 armed men. However, when Julius Caesar came close to their capital Samarobriva (probably the modern Amiens), they submitted to Caesar. This gold stater was probably minted to finance the war against Julius Caesar.

CELTS, Ambiani celts
Denomination: AV stater, minted: Ambiani region, (current France, near Amiens); 58-55 BC
Obv: Blank
Rev: Disjointed horse right with remains of charioteer above; crescent above pellet below, intertwined lines pattern in exergue
Weight: 6.02g; Ø:17mm
Catalogue: Evans 1864 Pl.B8; Scheers 1977 series 24, class IV (type)
Provenance: Ex private collection (Found in France, ca. 2000); acq.: 08-2019

I'm looking forward to another year on CT (and to new acquisitions!)

 

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The article I wrote for Koinon II will add some insights about the political and monetary context of early 14th century in northern France and Flanders, although the focus is on the denier rather than the gros tournois.

 

Roerbakmix, The Celtic AV Stater is a real gem ! Is that a period mount for hanging on the obverse at 6:00 o'clock ? If so that makes the coin extra special .

 

Congrats on your collecting year! You have several coins that are not in my collecting area and I enjoy learning a bit about coins from you.
My favorite is the Heinrich II.

 

An interesting and diverse bunch of favorites! Well done! I nope 2020 is good to you and your collection.

 

I agree, but I like many of your coins.

 

Very interesting variety of coins. Great start with ancients.

 

I'm impressed Sir !
Such a variety for a first year of collecting ancient is amazing. I like many of them, well done
I wish you the best of collecting for 2020

Q

 

..enviable coins sir..and quite a feat of cleaning...

 

Very nice and varied coins @Roerbakmix. I like that some of your coins have been found in the Netherlands

 

A wonderful selection of coins.

Unsurprisingly, you medievals are my personal favorites. As you know, I love the Heinrich II and the Aethelred II, and the sceattas are fascinating.

In all the simplicity of its design, the Ambiani stater is just stunning. What a beautiful piece!

 

Great buying Roerbakmix, I like the fact you have a coin from so many periods of history. Congrats on picking up so many fantastic coins.

 

Great selection @Roerbakmix (i still think your nickname is quite funny), and a very varied collection. I like your Macrinus coin for the portrait, and its really cool you have a few coins with the NL background!

 

Really nice selection of diverse coinage Well done! I really like the Medieval coins. I wish you a great 2020 coin year!
John

 

Aethelred does it for me!...Lovely coin!

 

Less then a year and you're doing the Dark Side like a Sith. Awesome!!

I like all of those but agree your top 4 are the top 4.

Here's a Carolingian denier (Louis I, the Pious, 814-840):

 

Congrats on your first year as "serious collector" - the medievals all look exotic to me, especially the Æthelred II. The cleaning of Nerva (brown slug) is amazing. A gold stater that was probably minted to finance the war against Julius Caesar....Looks like a great year to me. Best wishes for a great 2020!

 

Love the coins @Roerbakmix! The Anglo-Saxon coins are excellent! Glad you not only joined the dark side, but us bastard children in the medieval playground

 

What an interesting group of coins, 3 and 4 are awesome!

 

A neat selection!