Don’t know what exactly is meant by “Top”. I buy those that “speak” to me, just enjoy them and love to have them in my collection …and have not bought too many coins in 2020. Five of these, in any order: 1. Hadrian -Fortuna, Æ Sestertius Rome, 133 - 135 AD 31 mm, 26.63 g RIC II part 3 (2nd edition) Hadrian 2118 I enjoy this one very much because it is a replacement of one that got lost. 2. Severus Alexander - Providentia, Æ Sestertius Rome, 231 - 235 AD 30 x 28 mm, 21.31 g RIC IV 645b Didn't have before a Severus Alexander Sestertius, now I do have one: 3. Satraps of Caria, Apollo- Pixodaros, AR Didrachm Caria, Halikarnassos (Bodrum, Turkey), ca. 340 - 336/5 BC 20 x 20 mm, 6.678 g SNG Copenhagen 597 Couldn't resist this Apollo 4. Roman Provincial, Philip I Philadelphus, Tetradrachm Seleucis and Pieria, Antiochia ad Orontem, 47/6 BC - 14/3 AD 25.69 mm, 14.101 g SC 2491; Sear 7214 Even though the date in exergue is off flan, I fell for this one too This one has not arrived yet; bought it a week ago because of the silphium plant: 5. Æ24, Cyrenaica, Cyrene, before 308 BC 24.65 mm, 11.96 g Müller 237; SG 6336
The two sestertii are really nice, especially the Severus Alexander sestertius, with its sharp portrait and reverse. The Apollo didrachm has both a splendid obverse and reverse!
Fortunately, they must have had an extensive vocabulary, because they are all exquisite! Hope that last nugget arrives OK!
Sorry, I don't know what happened to my comment above: what I meant to say, very simply, was that I think it's a great group, and I particularly like the Apollo from Caria and the two sestertii.
Knowing well what the Hadrian represents to you @cmezner, I second your preference for that one. It's representative of what a coin can mean to its owner : much much more than its monetary value The others are good contenders too, I like very much the Apollo Cheers Q
I consider 'Top' as used here to mean the coins that make you happiest that you collect coins. If that means the most expensive or the highest grade, your top list will appeal to a segment of our members; if that means the most interesting or the coins that 'spoke' to you by shouting "Buy Me!" others of us will want to know why you found that coin so appealing. In this case I consider the Pixodaros (#3) most beautiful but the coin I hope I can find a match to is the silphium (#5). I had not seen that exact type but have two other silphium coins and am glad to know this exists.
I really enjoy these, @cmezner ! My kinda coins. I agree, it is too difficult to ever say “Top Coins”. I just enjoy each of my coins as for what they are. They are all “Top” for me.
Which ones do you have? Mine arrived today. If my attribution is right, it was struck under Ophellas, Ptolemaic Governor, first reign, ca. 322-313 BC. Asolati 9; BMC 199-201 like this one https://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotv...&Lot=622&Val=e02d8f24c95e739a8d79f6dbebe1e0d8 currently on sale by Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 14, Lot number: 622
Nice group!....Lovely chubby portrait on the Hadrian Sestertius...And really like the Cerene Silphium reverse..Cool Coin.