This is my first year of posting a top 10 as I only got deep into the ancients since June, so here they are! 10) Dancing Krishna, this coin got my attention when I was browsing Vcoins, and after looking up it's story I bought the coin right away! Madurai Nayakas, 2.50 grams, unidentified Tamil legends on the reverse within an incuse. circa 1500s. 9) Achaemenind Siglos, I wasn't particularly looking for this, but I found this coin while buying an Umayyad dirhem from a vendor. This was listed only for 12 bucks, but all I could see was a black chunk of silver and nothing else, but was stated 5.4 grams, so I bought it anyway. Upon receiving it, I did some cleaning and popped up the portrait. It's not the best looking coin, but to me a 2400 year old nuggety silver for only $12 is a steal!! 8) Byzantine Trachy, Manuel I Komnenos (1143–1180), I've always wanted a cup shaped quintessentially ancient looking Byzantine coin, and this is my first Byzantium coin as well, I also like how it rings distinct from coins of any other metals. 7) Caracalla as Caesar, 197 AD. I wanted to have an example of Caracalla, while I could've gone for the angry looking bust, I went for this coin all because the strike on the obverse portraying the innocent face just made me want to get it, I didn't care about the reverse, tbh the worn reverse only made the coin cheaper for me 6) Ghadhiya Paisa (950-1050 AD), one of my 'early' ancient as I have this coin for 3 years now, I did not really know what I was buying back then when I got this coin on ebay! but I grew to like it as I did some research on it, and also the strike and its abstract art only made it more likable. 5) Septimius Severus, Virt Augg - 200 AD, I wanted a Roman denarius as close to 'mint-state' without breaking the bank, and to my eyes and my wallet, this denarius of the first Severan seemed perfect. 4) Ionia 1/12 Stater (525-475 BC), this is the coin that really made me dwell into this area of coinage. I just love the strong portrait of the lion and the floral incuse on the other side. This coin makes me wonder how the heck did engravers back in those days make these detailed images, down to the lion's eyeball! 3) Alexander III drachm, Life time issue! (328-323 BC), Lampsakos mint. All I wanted was a coin of the great conqueror, didn't matter if it was life-time or posthumous while the latter being cheaper. I came upon this coin while browsing through Vcoins, the coin had gunk and looked worse than in my photo, also the seller did not mention any attributions, but I knew the straight legs meant a lifetime coin, so I bought it, with further research, I found it was indeed one! Price 1354. 2) Nerva/Salus, the crown jewel of not only my collection of the Five Good Emperors, but also my Roman collection, I just love the centering, subtle toning, and the total wear. It's just simple, regal, and elegant, and that's why it's at top 2! 1) Chola 1/8 Kahavanu, Rajendra Chola (1014-1044), It may come as odd for an obsure coin like this to be at top 1, but a copper Chola coin was my first ever ancient coin I got when I was 13, and ever since reviving my interest in general numismatics back in 2018, I wanted a gold coin from that kingdom. However they all cost so much for my student budget, and when I saw this coin for around 100 bucks on Ma-shops, I swooped right in! all I now need is a silver coin to complete the set, however the silver ones are more harder to come by than gold. This is also a commemorative coin of Rajendra Chola conquering the neighboring kingdoms of Chera, and Pandya, depicted as the royal emblems-Cholan tiger, Pandyan twin fish, and the Cheran bow (off-center behind tiger), all under the single rule symbolized by the umbrella, and the legends in Nageri states, Yudha-malla, one who's strong in wars.
I really enjoy your variety! All of them are great. I really like your collection. I enjoy focusing in areas I like, but I always seek a broad variety like yours so that I can discover! Well done! None is my favorite; all are my favorite.
While I know close to nothing about your collection (20th/21st century coins for me, thanks) - I can truly appreciate the passion and dedication that goes into maintaining these types of sophisticated collections. I love learning more & more about these types of coins - heck, maybe one day I'll bite the bullet and dive in with you! What coin design/era would you suggest as a new collector with a modest discretionary income stream? Cheers.
That's a splendid list for your first year of collecting ancients! Your Ionian 1/12 stater and your Nerva denarius are both very attractive (in fact better than my own examples), and all three Indian coins are facinating. Yet, my favorite is your Caracalla – it is (a) from the less common eastern mint previously known as Laodicea, and (b) has a reverse ("eternal hope") that soon proved to be wishful thinking. I've got the same type for Geta – his "eternal hope" was even less eternal than that of his brother: Geta, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 198–200 AD, “Laodicea” mint. Obv: L SEPTIMIVS GETA CAES; bust of Geta, bare-headed, draped, r. Rev: SPEI PERPETVAE; Spes, draped, advancing l., holding flower in r. hand and raising skirt with l. hand. 20mm, 3.19g. RIC IV Geta 96. Ex Pecunem 10, lot 576.
It depends on your interest, if you’re more on the side of history, then you’ve Roman coinage, the cheapest being 4th century Constantinian follis, the Denari can be pricey depending on the quality. If you’re more into art, then Ancient Greek can give you that, but only the tiny coins can be reasonable, and it gets pricey the older/heavier a coin gets. I’m pretty sure members more experienced than me can give you some better advice!
A wide range ! As stated by @Alegandron, it's nice to see what others focus on as it's mind-opening I like the paisa the most, for its abstract design, and because I don't remember having seen any before Well done in year 1, year 2 will be stellar I bet Q
That is a very diverse grouping of top ten coins, reminds me of my collecting habits. They are all wonderfull/ congratulations on a fine 2020 collecting year! John
I’m poor so all my coins are cheap. I find that LRB, provincials, and small-middle bronzes tend to be the most affordable.
A nice beginning to a new collection : your avatar/Nerva gets my vote as favorite, although I paused on the Ionia 1/12 Stater (525-475 BC) too!