Chris B 2020 Top Ten

I noticed that over on the ancients side they have started posting their yearly top 10 lists. Since it looks like I won't be adding anything significant before the end of the year I figured I would put out my list.

I decided to add a poll as well this year. Let me know which are your favorites. You can vote for up to 3.

This has been a productive year for me on many fronts. Productive doesn’t necessarily translate to mean good, I mean, it is 2020 anyway. There were many distractions this year, probably more than I have ever had in my life. Through it all I have had a good collecting year. Following is my 3rd annual top 10 list. I could re-order these every day and still not be completely accurate.

#10 50th Anniversary of the Union Miniere de Haut-Katanga by G.A. Brenet
This is big chunk of bronze. I really like the older and then more modern imagery on opposite sides. There were several pieces that could have been at number 10. When it came to the end I had about 8 pieces left for the one spot on the list so I decided to go with something a little different.

BELGIAN CONGO: Colony, AE medal
Weight: 238.6g
Diameter: 85mm

1956

Müseker 36/1

Obverse: excavator bucket over map of Katanga with CUIVRE - COBALT ARGENT - ZINC CADMIUM, URANIUM RADIUM GERMANIUM in surrounding field and UNION MINIERE DU HAUT-KATANGA * 1906-1956 * around
Reverse: engineer with gear, measuring tongs, and open book instructs 3 pupils with U.M.H.K. * * EDUCATION.INSTRUCTIOHN.ENSEIGNEMENT TECHNIOUE * * around, matte finish,

FONSON stamped on edge​

#9 Silver calendar medal by J. Prinz of Österreichischen Münzamt, Wien
This is by far the least expensive piece on my 2020 list. I like medals in general and calendar medals are very appealing. This one just has a look that I like.

1935, Strothotte-1935-9, Wiener Bund-37

Diameter: 40mm
Weight: 20.24g

Obverse: head of Mercury at center with 4 tables around showing days of the week for 8 months, with main holiday dates in the angles
Reverse: tables arranged in a cross-shape showing the days of the week for June, August, September and December and dates of the full moons, with 1935 above, Zodiac figures in the angles, eclipse dates to right and left, and MÜNZAMT.WIEN at bottom, matte finish
"(hallmark) 885" on edge​

#8 Saxony (Duchy) Henry the Lion Bracteate
I did surprisingly well adding some Bracteate’s to my collection this year. This is the only one to make the list. To my eyes it almost “as struck”. It’s also an iconic, recognizable image.

Henry the Lion. 1139 / 42-1195. AR Bracteate
Diameter: 30mm
Weight: 0.80 g

Braunshweig mint.
Obverse: Lion passant left, head facing; annulet above
Reverse: Incuse of obverse

Kestner 612-8; Bonhoff 272​

#7 1633 Lauthenthal Mining Thalers. Yield of the St. Jacob pit
This is one that when purchased I thought would be my number one coin of the year. The imagery is very appealing to me. See my full write up here: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/lauthenthal-mining-thaler.355747/

Obverse: Five-fold helmeted 11-field coat of arms
Reverse: St. Jacob divides 16-33 and S-I in 2 lines. St. Jacob with hat, slanted staff and book walks halfway, in the background \ l. Hill with pit stack. Standing St. Jakoc divides year in the transcription.

Mint: ZellerFeld
Welter 1054, Davenport -, 10.2 / 51, Spruth St. J 4 b
Mint Master: Henning Schlueter​

#6 British Army Arrives In Egypt, AE Medal
The reverse of this medal is amongst my favorite images in my entire collection. The horse if front of the pyramids is just awesome. See my full write up here: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/abercromby-in-egypt.359747/#post-4490435

1801 Great Britian, British Army Arrives In Egypt, AE Medal, Mudie's National Series, Mudie-8, BHM-504, By Webb, Plain Edge. Deep toned brown bronze in color with some underlying surface reflectivity, couple small rim tics. Mudie's National Series Of British Medals, Published in 1820 By James Mudie and Struck By Sir Edward Thomason's Manufactory in Birmingham consists of 40 different medals Commemorating British Military and Navy Victories. The series is both important in history and design and was dedicated to George the Fourth.

Obverse: Uniformed bust facing slightly left
Reverse: Horse right before the Great Pyramids
Size: 41 mm​

#5 Harold I Harefoot AR Penny
My favorite medieval coin of the year. The early British pennies are very appealing to me and this is one of the tougher ones to find. This one was surprisingly found at our small local monthly coin show. I still haven’t taken a better picture. Oh well, maybe next year. See my full write up here: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/harold-harefoot.363275/

ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Harold I Harefoot.
1035-1040.

Diameter: 17mm
Weight 0.87 gr

Jewel Cross type (BMC i, Hild. A). Suðgeweorc (Southwark) mint; moneyer, Leofric. Struck 1036-1038. +

Obverse: HAR OLD RE, diademed bust left
Reverse: + LEORIC O ((NN) SVÐG:, cross composed of four ovals united at base by two concentric circles enclosing a pellet.

SCBI 40 (Stockholm), 532 var. (Rev. Legend); Hild. 924 var. (Same); BMC -; North 802; SCBC 1163​

#4 White Swan Mine Thaler
If this one was struck a little bit better it would probably be number 1. The only coin this year with a wildman on it and there happens to be 2. For my full write up see here: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/white-swan-mine-thaler.369916/

Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel. King Karl Series (1735- 1780).
One Taler 1752. Mining Taler - "White Swan" mine.

D.G. CAROLVS - DVX. BRVNSVIC. - LVNEB. 1752, Arms with Crown ( oval shield on V-shaped base), supported by two Wild Man.
CANDIDVS HAEC PROFERT MONTANVS PRAEMIA CYGNVS, lake with a swan under clouds. Below in 5 lines - DIE GRVBE WEISSER SCHWAN KAM IN AVSBEVT IM Q: LVCIAE 1732 I.B.H.

Davenport 2157, KM 940.​

#3 Hamburg Double Wedding Thaler
Easily the largest coin purchased this year. It is off at NGC being graded at this time. It is a very busy coin. These amaze me because of the amount of work that had to be involved in cutting these dies. For my full write up see here: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/doppelter-hochzeitstaler-–-double-wedding-thaler.362713/#post-4603700

Hamburg. AR Doppelter Hochzeitstaler

Diameter: 60mm
Weight: 57.42 g

Struck circa 1650.

Obverse: Man and woman standing facing one another and clasping hands; above, radiant name of god and dove
Reverse: The Wedding at Cana. Cf.

Gaedechens 1600; KM 147 (3 Thaler). Toned, lightly chased, minor edge bumps. VF.​

#2 1666 Death of August II
I have many coins of August II due in part to the amount of Wildman coins issued in his name. For my full write up see here: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/death-of-august-der-jüngere.368049/

Obverse: Legend in 11 lines
Reverse: Bare tree with skull at base

Subject: Death of August II
Mint: Zellerfeld
Mintmaster: Most likely Henning Schluter
Note: Dav. #6376.​

#1 Gold 1932 Niobe Shipwreck Medal
This piece is ex. @lordmarcovan He auctioned off an unrelated piece a few months ago and, in the process, we struck up a conversation that caused several packages to be shipped in both directions and money to change hands. I ended up with this piece. It wasn’t a difficult decision to make it number 1 this year. The obverse has a haunting look to me. This was included in lordmarcovan’s most recent electic box. See here: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/lo...tion-as-of-august-7-2020.364592/#post-4713122

Germany (Weimar Republic): specimen gold medal memorializing the schooner "Niobe" shipwreck, 1932

Schlumberger-123
Gold Weight: 6.45 g.​

All feedback is appreciated.

@Seattlite86 Thank you for inspiration you provided this year. Your own enthusiasm helped me decide on some of these purchases this year.

 

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Wow some nice medals....not surprised that Brandon had a part.

 

Beautiful coins and medals!

 

Great selection! We have very different collecting areas but I always love seeing what you choose.

 

The subject as well the color and tone is really nice.....this color and tone on a cent or any copper coin would definitely be eye candy.....I also love # 2 great selection and congrats on the finds.

 

Very nice group, my favorite is the wedding thaler (#3).

 

All great coins/medals but your Harold I Harefoot is my favorite, congrats on a great year of collecting.......there's probably not much else great about this year...

 

Harold Harefoot without a doubt. Considering my love of Saxon pennies.

 

Fabulous selection. Even though they're not in my fields, there are some great coins here.

My preference goes to #5

Q

 

It actually looks much nicer than my poor photos turned out.

 

I appreciate everyone's comments and votes. The voting results are fascinating to me. On mine as well as the many I have looked at on the ancients forum the voting results spread out over the entire list. That's one of the great things about our hobby. We can all have vastly different areas of interest but still share our interests with others and receive genuine appreciation.

This is a great community.

 

@Chris B you selected some fantastic coins this year! I'm honored to have been able to inspire you, as your posts are quite inspirational themselves. I picked 2, 7, and 5, with 3 being the next on my list.

 

This is my vote:

#1 the cross is very solemn, simple but very moving.
#2 is a gravestone in a coin, very well accomplished.
#9 love the calendar, first time I see one like that.

 

They are all very special in their own right. Beautifull presentation and historical write up. Thanks for sharing.
John

 

I hadn't considered that but you are absolutely correct.

 

@Chris B - it is the passion of collectors like yourself that make this place a destination to visit time after time. I do like the variety that you added this year, but I am probably predictable in my votes for 2, 3, and 7. I hope your success carries well into 2021 so we can share in the new purchases.

 

Indeed an impressive array! Now I have to figure out the three I will cast my votes for. But it will include the British Army Arrives in Egypt medal. What a striking reverse with the Giza Pyramids shown subtly in the background. Surprisingly, the Great Pyramid with its missing top layers is correctly shown. One could nitpick that the 2nd pyramid is somewhat inaccurate in that the still existing cladding at the apex is missing. Never-the-less, a medal representing a very important event in the modern history of Egypt. Thanks for sharing.

 

A great assortment and all are lovely! I liked your #9 (calendar medals are cool and I like the zodiac symbols), #10 (cool depiction of two different trains), and #3 (lots of exquisite detail).

 

I chose #3,4 and 7. Love those thalers!!

 

The 1633 taler is 1 for me! I think you should have included more talers in your top 10!Can't wait to do mine, but i still have a few bids and some coins on the road!