Well, I am a little late to the party, but I was waiting for some coins to arrive in the mail. And while this is a Top 10 (and maybe a little bit more), this actually represents all of my purchases for the year. It has been a slow one coin-wise, but I think I managed to grab a couple of gems. 10. Huvishka Tetradrachm Kushan Empire Huvishka, r. 155-189 A.D. AE Tetradrachm, 25.48 mm x 13.8 grams Obv.: Huvishka seated facing cross-legged, holding ankuśa (elephant goad) and scepter; trace of clouds below Rev.: Solar deity Mithra standing left, extending hand in benediction and holding hilt of sword; tamgha to left This was an impulse buy at a coin show. I like the mixing of culture that was taking place in Central Asia, and while this coin does not feature the Buddha, the king sitting cross-legged sure seems inspired by a coin featuring the Buddha minted by his predecessor. 9. Al-Radi Billah Dirhem Abbasid Caliphate, Third Period Al-Radi Billah, r. 322-329 AH/934-940 A.D. (324 AH/936/7 A.D.) AR Dirhem, 27.08 mm x 3.0 grams Obv.: Outer Margin: لله الأمر من قبل و من بعد ويومئذ يفرح المؤمنون بنصر الله. Inner Margin: بسم الله ضرب هذا الدرهم بمدينة السلام سنة اربع و عشرين و ثلث مائة. Center: لا شريك له / الله وحده / لا الاه الا Rev.: Margin: محمد رسول الله ارسله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله ولو كره المشركون Center: د / الراضى بالله / الله / رسول / محمد / لله Ref.: Album 255.1 (Without Heir) I was interested in grabbing some coins related to the Viking age. The Vikings had trading contacts with the Abbasid Caliphate, and would use Dirhems such as this in trade, and as jewelry. While there is no way I can know if this coin was in the hands of the Vikings, the damage done to it is consistent with other dirhems found in Viking hoards. 8. Caracalla Provincial from Stobi Provincial Rome - Macedon Caracalla, r. 198-217 A.D. Stobi AE24, 23.9 mm x 5.82 grams Obv.: [...] ANTONINV, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev.: MVNICI STOB, Victory advancing left, holding palm frond and wreath Ex. Zumbly collection I have slowly been amassing a small hoard of provincial bronzes minted during the reign of Caracalla. I’ve been trying to focus on examples with unusual or interesting reverses. While this one is perhaps not the most unique, it was in excellent condition, for a good price, and has the highly prestigious provenance of being an ex @zumbly coin! 7. A Trio of Norman Deniers Left: Feudal France - Normandy William II-William Clito/Henry I, r. 1035-1135 (1075-1130) AR Denier, 19.65 mm x 0.8 grams Obv.: +NORMAN DVX. Cross pattee with pellets in angles Rev.: Degenerate chapel, pellet in pediment, two pellets and annulets to either side, pellet and greek cross underneath Ref.: Dumas XX-1, Roberts, 4833 Note: Dumas group C et D according to Moesgaard Center: Feudal France - Normandy William II-William Clito/Henry I, r. 1035-1135 (1075-1130) AR Denier, 16.70 mm x 0.5 grams Obv.: +NORMAN DVX. Cross pattee with pellets in angles Rev.: Cross around oval, crosslets on each arm, two pellets within Ref.: Dumas XX-19 Note: Dumas group C et D according to Moesgaard Right: Feudal France - Normandy William II-William Clito/Henry I, r. 1035-1135 (1075-1130) AR Denier, 16.62 mm x 0.6 grams Obv.: +NORMAN DVX. Cross pattee with pellets in angles Rev.: ROT’VM[AG?], around circle and V Ref.: Dumas XX-24 Note: Dumas group C et D according to Moesgaard I bought the three of these deniers as a group from an eBay seller who could/did not identify them. And I don’t blame the seller! These late 10th/early 11th Century coins from Normandy tend to be in terrible condition, and not well documented. While I am confident I have correctly identified two of them, the third (on the right of this image) I am not as certain. (The William II under whom these coins might have been issued is William the Conqueror). 6. Richard I of Normandy Denier Feudal France - Normandy Richard I, r. 943-996 AR Denier Obv.: +RICARDVS. Cross pattee with pellets in angles Rev.: +ROTOMAGVS. Lothaire monogram Ref.: Dumas XV-23, Duplessy 18 I admittedly bought this coin to ease the pain of shipping another coin (#1 on this list), but it was a variety I wanted, and for a reasonable price. While the coin has Richard’s name on it, the reverse contains a monogram which is not Richard’s. CNG says this is a monogram of Lothaire’s, but I haven’t yet found the research which backs this (I have several sources I still need to wade through). Nonetheless, it is a fun little mystery that I will eventually delve into. 5. Caracalla Provincial from Soloi-Pompeiopolis Provincial Rome - Cilicia Caracalla, r. 198-217 A.D. Soloi-Pompeiopolis mint, AE33, 32.91mm x 16.37 grams Obv.: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev.: Bust of astronomer Aratos (?) right As with number 8, here is another Caracalla Provincial with an unusual reverse. This is presumably the bust of the poet Aratus who became famous for writing a poem describing the stars and constellations. A crater on the moon (near the Apollo 15 landing site) was named after him, and his tomb was discovered in Turkey earlier this year. There do not seem to be many issues of this coin that survive (mine was advertised as the second known, but I’ve found at least 4 just by looking online), but another factor which made it an attractive buy is because it is BIG (did I mention under #8 that big bronzes were also what I’m looking for?) 4. Caracalla Provincial from Perinthus Provincial Rome - Thrace Caracalla, r. 198-217 A.D. Perinthus, AE 35 Medallion, 35.30 mm x 26.52 grams Obv.: [AVT K M AVP CЄ]OVHP ANTΩNINOC AVΓ, radiate head right Rev.: ΠЄPINΘIΩN NEΩKOPΩN, agonistic table surmounted by two prize urns, each containing palm; below, five balls and amphora Okay, another one. I had hoped to add one Caracalla this year, but three grabbed me. This is another big bronze with an interesting reverse. I’m thankful for @Dougsmith’s page explaining just what an agonistic table was. Unfortunately I do not know what this coin is meant to be commemorating - I believe it is written at the top in Greek, but I can’t quite make it out (nor do I know Greekwell enough to postulate). Regardless, this is a nice, large, and hefty bronze. 3. Richard I of Normandy Denier Feudal France - Normandy Richard I, r. 943-996 AR Denier, 21.1 mm x 1.3 grams Obv.: +RICARDVS I. Cross pattee with pellets in angles Rev.: ROTOMAGVS. Stylized chapel made from St. Andrew’s cross, with a pellet in the pediment Ref.: Dumas XV-11, Duplessy 16 The coins of Richard I are probably the most common type collectors find from Normandy. Of the numerous types minted by Richard, this ‘temple’ type with the Saint Andrews Cross in the Middle seems to be the most common on the market these days. The type itself has two varieties: one with a pellet in the pediment, and one without (I think there a few other varieties on the legend, but that is not uncommon). While my example is perhaps not the most pristine, it was a good price for the condition, and fills a glaring hole in my growing focus on the coins of Normandy. 2. Æthelred II Penny England Athelred II, r. 978-1016 (997-1003) AR Penny, 19.65 mm x 1.8 grams Obv.: +ÆÐELREDREXANGLO[rum]. Bare-headed bust left Rev.: +LEO FRIC MΩO CENT. Voided long cross, each end terminating in three crescents Ref.: SCBC 1151 Note: Peck marked and holed, likely by the Vikings Like #9, I had been on the lookout for a few coins related to the Vikings this year. I knew I wanted to grab an Æthelred that had peck-marks on it, but this one was also holed, much like the Abbasid coin (which also aided in keeping costs down). I will want to get a better example of this and another of Æthelred’s coins because of the interesting writing on it. Not only does it feature the Anglo-Saxon letter ‘Ð/ð’ it also has a combining abbreviation for the plural genitive ‘orum.’ The ‘o’ is visible, the ‘2’ that comes after the ‘o’ is an ‘r,’ and then the line through the ‘2’ (which makes it look like an ‘x’ as it is recorded in several Numismatic works) is the standard abbreviation for ‘um.’ When I have a better example, I’ll delve into the rabbit hole of Numismatic Palaeography... 1. Bratislaus Denar Bohemia Bretislaus I, r. 1034-1055 (1050-55) Prague Mint, AR Denar Obv.: BRACIZLAVS DVX. Bust facing, a pellet to either side Rev.: SCS WENCEZLAVS. Bust right, cross to right Ref.: Frynas, B.8.15; De Wit 2719 This is the coin I was waiting to arrive in the mail before posting my list (a full write-up is forthcoming). It is a type I had been wanting for a while, and while these coins are technically common, I haven’t found many for sale. I was happy to snatch one at the last minute, and was lucky it arrived before the end of the year!
Congrats @FitzNigel on some wonderful coins in 2019. Both of the Richard I deniers are great coins and are a type I would love to add to my collection at some point. The denar of Bratislaus is a real standout and well deserves the top spot. While a full write-up is forthcoming, can you offer any insight about why the coin is so desirable to you without spoiling your future post?
Thanks for adopting one of mine, but I have to admit to liking the agonistic issue from Perinthus more. As usual, I am not appreciating the medievals enough... maybe in 2020, huh. Have a great year ahead!
I don't know much about medievals but really like your #1, in part because the devices are all so clear... something that seems unusual for a medieval coin. The Huvishka tetradrachm is eye-catching. Thanks for providing some diversity!
What a wonderful group of medievals! Both the Bratislaus denár and the Aethelred II penny are true highlights, the latter also because of the traces of historical use. The two Richard I of Normandy deniers are great, too. In my eyes, #6 stands out for the interesting monogram.
Nice coins! The deniers of Richard the Fearless are an interesting set. Most of the known examples, particularly the high grade ones, are from the Fecamp hoard. Found in 1963, it included more than 5000 coins of Richard, duke of Normandy, some with that monogram that I have heard previously attributed to Bishop Hughes of Rouen. Most likely one or both of your coins are from that hoard. Most have lost their provenance. Other 10th century Norman coins are quite rare but this issue is common due to the hoard. Richard was reported to have been born and died in Fecamp, and presumably the town was important to him. I hope to visit there later this year when I go to Normandy!
To put it simply, I saw it in auction once and was simply taken by how interesting it looked! I had heard this too, but in doing some research I think that theory has fallen out of favor. I can’t remember why though - I think it was Dumas who dismissed it for reasons I can’t remember. I still don’t know where the Lothaire theory comes from, but CNG has that listed for all of their examples of this type. I still need to dig...
Very nice bunch of coins, @FitzNigel ! I really drawn to the Aethelred II and Richard I. Great coins. Happy New Year to you and your Family. Best, Brian