AJ's favorite 10 for 2019

It's been very enjoyable and educational looking at everyone's annual top lists. I've had minimal time to post on the forum due to a very hectic year but wanted to at least add mine.

This year was tougher than the last several for adding new purchases: in many cases, I wasn't even the underbidder, at which point I can't necessarily complain but it's still frustrating. That said, I still managed to add several pieces and cross off some major items from my wantlist.

Roughly in order by my favorites but I don't like ranking my children:

#1: Syracuse tetradrachm. I spend a fair amount of time planning my wantlist, understanding the coins I intend to add to flesh out my collection... and then a coin like this comes out of nowhere via a private treaty sale. I don't mind this sort of unexpected surprise!

Both sides are artistically remarkable: the portrait quality, the obverse's detail on the rider, and both of the horses (see the veins on the underbelly and bridal - this was a very talented celator).



#2: Nektanebo stater. The reverse reads "good gold" in hieroglyphics, making it the only truly Egyptian coin. I would of course prefer to have the horse's head on the flan on the obverse but the hieroglyphics side is more important and I wanted to ensure I at least had an example of the type: import restrictions specifically call it out as not being able to be purchased without a pedigree and there are only roughly 20 examples in private hands. So, I felt I needed to carpe diem and add this example:



#3: Carausius Antoninianus. This historically significant coin is a tough type to find in any condition and I was going to be okay with never crossing it off of my wantlist. It was an attempt by Carausius to align himself with Diocletian and Maximian as his 'brother emperors' when these latter saw him as nothing but a usurper.

This coin was a recent find, properly reported through the Portable Antiquities Scheme, which made it legal to purchase. I expected to have to keep my hand up for a while to buy it but perhaps it appearing late in the auction meant it sold for less than it should have. I received two offers for it while leaving the auction room floor which I respectfully laughed away - this coin is a permanent fixture in my collection.



#4: Pergamon stater. This came my way privately at the New York show. I've been obliquely looking for an example of the type for a while but they've tended to be more expensive than I wanted to pay. Circumstances aligned and it took just a few seconds to say "Yes" to buy it.



#5: Bruttium nomos. I kicked myself for not buying this coin privately from NAC. I had some trepidation about the reverse centering but then retroactively realized that the other qualities outweigh it in my eyes (in particular the style of both sides - especially the interestingly mature portrait of the infant Hercules). I never knew where it wound up but happily, it was Mike Gasvoda who bought it, giving me a second attempt in January when his Greek coins were sold.



#6: Metapontum stater. This coin shows that it's helpful to have a dealer that knows your tastes. I wasn't planning on bidding on it and I didn't have a chance to view the sale in-person. But, he pointed out that it's a coin that "jumped out of the tray" so we bid and happily were successful. The artistry of the obverse is truly remarkable and an atypical depiction of Heracles:



#7: Katane drachm. I've always loved the reverse style of this type and artistic elements (double exergue lines, the positioning of the horse's legs, and the posture of the charioteer) indicate that it is an unsigned work by the artist Prokles, making it rarer than the contemporary issues by Euainetos.



#8: Sulla Tetradrachm. The New Style tetradrachms of Athens aren't particularly rare but the issues minted during Sulla's occupation are very historically important. I'm still waiting for this coin to arrive so I've photoshopped the seller's photos but I'm very glad to have finally crossed the type off my list with arguably one of the nicest examples of the type.



#9: Acanthus tetradrachm. There have been a handful of these coins coming to market recently but this is a particularly rare variety with the magistrate's name (DI) engraved on the bull.



#10: Maximinius I Thrax sestertius, Ex. Gonzaga Collection. This coin happens to be a very nice example but the most notable attribute is the silver inlay on the obverse, a collector's stamp dating from the 16th century, attributing it to the Gonzaga collection, meaning it's been in collections for over half of a millennium. I purchased other rarer coins this year but had to include this piece in this thread as the pedigree is just too fascinating not to share. Thinking of all of the wars and developments it saw first in antiquity and when in collections in modern times really lets the imagination run wild.



I hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the year and here's to a great 2020!

 

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Super coins!

 

Just... just wow. I love them all but if I had to pick favorites I would say.

#1 - I agree this is some of the finest engraving work I’ve ever seen.

#2 - Fascinating historical piece!

#10 - What an unbelievable provenance all the way back to the Renaissance! And here I am getting excited about my earlier 20th century stuff. Truly a great addition.

Thanks for sharing and here’s hoping you have more time to post in 2020 AJ!

 

Both #3 and #10 have been high on my wish list for years but I really prefer the Julia Domna version of #10 so I will say #3 is my favorite. I obviously would be happy to have each one of the ten.

 

You have a great eye!

 

Wow. A simple and heartfelt wow. All of those are truly amazing, and I couldn't possibly pick a favorite.

 

All coins are excellent, my favorite is number 3.

 

Thanks for sharing your impressive finds of 2019! You have a good eye for what makes a coin best of the best.

The "good gold" coin is my favorite. The coin has heart.

 

What a stunning set of coins. My particular favourite, which coincides with my current reading about Roman Britain, is the amazing Carausius coin. That is a real historical beauty.

 

I am really fond of your No 1 coin It is probably the best example of the sakkos type that I have seen, especially as the obverse on your example is so fresh as well. Your No 7 is stunning as well.

 

Love them all, @AncientJoe ... but, the most appealing for me is the Egyptian #2. Wow! And, I am a gold-lover, to boot!

 

Gorgeous, all of them!

 

I like the nebew nefer type - sure would love to have an example in my collection. 2nd for historical reasons is the Carausius fraternal coin.

 

Love them all, no favourites. I find something to love in most of my coins.

 

Every single one of those coins would be the top coin and highlight of the collection of 90% of us here. You have superb tastes and a budget to match that taste. They are all beauties, Joe. Thanks for sharing.

 

How does anyone pick a favorite out this list @AncientJoe? They are all incredible. However, I'm interested more in your first coin, the Syracuse tetradrachm, simply because of the artistry.

 

WOW !
WOW !
WOW !
WOW !
WOW !
WOW !
WOW !
WOW !
WOW !
WOW !

Q

 

I know. If someone posted a link to their store selling baby bibs, they'd make a killing right about now. I haven't been able to stop drooling at Joe's coins.

 

Magnificent examples....all! Congratulations on a fine year AJ

 

I forgot to add/ #4 the AV Pergamon Stater is my personal favorite, I have been eyeing this in several auctions. You have supberb taste in quality/ artistic design and historical value.
John