First year collecting top 10 + a new coin

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Yorkshire, Dec 6, 2019.

  1. Yorkshire

    Yorkshire Well-Known Member

    Well I think I've done fairly well for the first year on a budget as well. I set a goal at the start to get a coin of Alexander the great but was getting outbid on all my attempts so I've put that off for now plus I'd prefer a macedon shield instead of the Hercules drachm/tetradrachm.

    This was hard to rank my coins in order but I think my newest is my #1 for now. My 2020 goal is to start on some byzantine coinage (really would like to find a overstrike like @dougsmit gordian III overstrike) and some crusader coinage (on the look out for Guy De Lusignan)!

    #1
    I bought this today, couldn't say no after seeing it. I want to finish the Constantine family soon. Also missing the RIC for this (and theres another goal for 2020, some RIC books).
    upload_2019-12-6_5-16-1.png
    Constantine II
    OBV: Laureate bust of Constantine facing right.
    REV: PROVIDENTIAE CAESS/Camp gate with row of dots in top layer
    ESIS (cresent) in exergue
    18.29mm
    3,16g
    RIC 216

    #2
    As you will see with my list I like animals on coins :D
    [​IMG]
    ILLYRIA, Dyrrhachion
    229-100 BC
    AR drachm/victoriatus, issued under Xenon and Pyrba-, magistrates
    3.18g
    17mm
    Obv: ΞΕΝΩΝ, cow standing right, looking back at suckling calf standing left below, above, eagle standing right with wings open
    Rev: ΔΥΡ, ΠΥΡ-ΒΑ, and club around double-lined quadrilateral containing stellate pattern
    BMC 112
    From the JB (Edmonton) collection

    #3
    This was my first auction win at the beginning of collecting. The reverse is what led me to bid on it as I never saw it before.
    [​IMG]
    Constans AE Centenionalis
    OBV: D N CONSTANS P F AVG
    REV: FEL TEMP REPARTIO
    Trier Mint mark
    346 AD
    21mm
    4,28g
    RIC 224

    #4
    A coin I got from Mike Vosper, listed as very rare saw it on his sale so took it for a very good price.
    [​IMG]
    Probus Antoninianus
    OBV: IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right. Wide ties
    REV: ADVENTVS PROBI AVG, Emperor riding left, right hand raised, left holding sceptre; captive at foot
    R star stigma mint mark - Rome
    278AD
    24mm
    RIC 160Ff; MPR287(1ex.); NOT in PROBVS.NET

    #5
    Saw the little dove and I had to bid.
    [​IMG]
    Faustina II Denarius
    Faustina II denarius under Marcus Aurelius
    161-170AD
    Rome mint
    3.30g
    17.5mm
    Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bust right
    Rev: VE–NVS, Venus stg. l. holding dove and sceptre.
    RIC 730
    Scarcer than the variety in which Venus holds an apple
    From the Doug Smith collection

    #6
    This coin was fairly cheap and it looks so much better in hand.
    [​IMG]
    Divus Constantine
    Constantine I
    Posthumous issue
    16-17mm
    2.6g
    A.D. 347- 348
    DV CONSTANTINVS PT AVGG; Veiled head right. VN-MR [VENERANDAE MEMORIAE]
    Constantine veiled, standing right.
    In ex. SMALΔ
    RIC VIII Alexandria 32

    #7
    Saw this in AMCC2 with no bidders so I got it for the starting bid. My cheapest coin so far, very happy with it.
    [​IMG]
    Constantine II Follis
    Constantine II as Caesar
    317-337 AD issued 321
    Rome mint
    3.46g
    18mm
    Obv: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C, laureate head right
    Rev: CAESARVM NOSTRORVM, VOT X in two lines within wreath
    RT in exergue
    RIC 242(R)
    From TheRed collection

    #8
    @Bing was the first person I bought coins from and this was one of them :)
    [​IMG]
    Gordian III
    GORDIAN III AE 26, AMNG II 650, Sarapis
    OBV: AVT K M ANT GORDIANOC AVG CEB TPANKVLLINA, Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Gordian III right, facing diademed and draped bust of Tranquillina left
    REV: OVLPIANWN AGCIALEWN Sarapis standing facing, head left, wearing kalathos, holding patera and cornucopia
    12.44g, 26mm
    Minted at Anchialus, 238-244 AD

    #9
    Another one from bing, I love coins from Carthage. They are so simple yet beautiful.
    [​IMG]
    Carthage
    CARTHAGE/SICILY-PUNIC AE20
    OBVERSE: Date palm tree with fruit
    Rev: Horse head
    Struck at Zeugitana, Carthage or Siculo-Punic, 3d-4th Century BC
    8.2g, 20mm
    SNG Cop-10

    #10
    and another...
    [​IMG]
    Carthage
    CARTHAGE/SICILY-PUNIC Æ15 SNG Cop 1024
    OBVERSE: Head of Tanit left
    REVERSE: Galloping horse right
    4.59g, 15.6mm
    Struck at Carthage, 3d-4th Century BC
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2019
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  3. Clavdivs

    Clavdivs Well-Known Member

    Great group of coins!! That Constantine is certainly mint state!
    I am yet to own a coin of Carthage - I have been looking for quite awhile - so really great to see yours.
    I think my favorite is the Divus Constantine, great style (a type I do not own).

    Here are a couple of my favorite coins of Constantine:

    ConstantineMERGE.jpg
    upload_2019-12-6_0-54-42.png
     
    chrsmat71, Ryro, octavius and 10 others like this.
  4. rrdenarius

    rrdenarius non omnibus dormio Supporter

    Nice set. I like the Gordian III and Tranquillina best.
     
    Shea19 and Yorkshire like this.
  5. thejewk

    thejewk Well-Known Member

    Good work, an attractive set your built up. I'm particularly jealous of your Faustina which I've not seen before.
     
    Yorkshire likes this.
  6. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Truly jealous of that ex Doug Faustina II with the little dove! You've had a great first year, IMHO.
     
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  7. Orielensis

    Orielensis Well-Known Member

    Nice selection! I especially like the many exceptionally attractive LRBs. The two Constantine II coins have a lot of eye appeal.

    The Venus with the dove is particularly nice, too.
     
    Yorkshire likes this.
  8. Limes

    Limes Well-Known Member

    Great coins @Yorkshire! That probus is my favorite of your list!
     
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  9. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Fantastic first year! Wow, that campgate is a sharp as they come-- I see why that coin followed you home :D. I love the Probus in part for its large flan.
     
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  10. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Nice start! Great coins. I am partial to your Carthage coins... agreed, simple and beautiful. I collect them because they were an incredible adversary to the Roman Republic. Two dynamos vying for ultimate power in the Med.

    Carthage Zeugitana 400-350 BC AE 15 6.1g Tanit Horse Galloping.jpg
    Carthage Zeugitana 400-350 BC AE15 6.1g Tanit Horse Galloping


    Carthage Zeugitania Æ17 6.1g 350-320 BCE Palm Tree Horse Head SNG Cop 102.JPG
    Carthage Zeugitania Æ17 6.1g 350-320 BCE Palm Tree Horse Head SNG Cop 102
     
  11. Caesar_Augustus

    Caesar_Augustus Well-Known Member

    A great first year! I remember my first year 3, almost 4, years ago. :)

    Here's my first Constantine coin, and my latest one:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  12. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    A first year to be proud of for sure, well done

    Q
     
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  13. Spaniard

    Spaniard Well-Known Member

    Very nice group!....My favourites have to be the Probus and Illyria...
     
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  14. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    An amazing first year, congrats!! I like your #1 and #2 best.
     
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  15. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Awesome start to a new collection! This has a little bit of everything to like, from FDC LRBCs to a delightful dual-portrait coin of Gordian III and Tranquillina.
     
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  16. gogili1977

    gogili1977 Well-Known Member

    All nice coins, my favorite is Gordian III and Tranquillina.
     
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  17. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

    Your #1 is superb. Who wouldn't love to have such a sweet LRB as that one in their collection?
     
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  18. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    Yorkshire, For your 1st year of serious collecting you've done well :D! My favorite is #1, the Constantius II coin from Siscia. The die work is superb & the strike is perfect. The coin looks FDC :woot:.
     
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  19. Cheech9712

    Cheech9712 Every thing is a guess

    I like #9
     
  20. Cheech9712

    Cheech9712 Every thing is a guess

    Really Really like your palm tree horse head
     
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  21. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Thank you. I have several coins from BCE Carthage, because they were always in conflict with the Roman Republic. And, they fought in three Punic Wars with them. This is one of my faves as it really has a great greenie patini to it. I also have the Horse-Head / Palm Tree combo in three flavors:

    Bronze:
    [​IMG]
    Carthage Zeugitania Æ17 6.1g 350-320 BCE Palm Tree Horse Head SNG Cop 102


    Silver:
    [​IMG]
    Carthage - Sicily AR Litra 4th C BCE 9.5mm 0.65g Palm Tree Horse Head SNG Cop 74 EE Clain-Safanelli RARE

    Gold:
    [​IMG]
    CARTHAGE, ZEUGITANA
    AV GOLD 1/10 STATER or Trihemiobol.
    350-320 BCE Carthage mint
    7.50 mm, 0.94 g
    Obv: Palm tree with two date-clusters
    Rev: Horse’s head right
    Ref:Jenkins & Lewis Group III, 138; GC.6461-Müller II,87,81; Sear 6455; SNG Cop (Nordafrika) 132, MAA 8; SNG Lloyd 1613; Pozzi 3290-1; Boston MFA 500
    Comment: two small scratches on reverse (neck of horse)
     
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