It's been a while since I've been active on here. Does not mean I've ignored CT, I just stalked to my heart's content... Anyways, I've tried to keep my purchases to strictly in person i.e. coin shows, shops, clubs etc. HA! Thanks to the amazing year we're having I've only made one purchase online and the rest at the FUN show in January this year. Kind of a small year for me but honestly the purchases are well worth it. I might make another online buy before the year ends but who knows right? My top 6 coins of the year of our Lord 2020: #6 Trajan, Egypt, Alexandria Year 16; 112-113 A.D. AE Dichalkon(?) Obverse: Laureate head facing right Reverse: Isis crown, LIS across field It's tiny, sharp bust even though the top of Trajan's head is missing and the reverse is pretty cool too. A nice little snack for the collection! #5 Romanus I 920-944 A.D. AE Follis Constantinople Mint, 27mm 5.2g Obverse: + RωMAҺ ЬASILЄVS RωM, crowned facing bust of Romanus, holding globus crucifer and labarum-tipped sceptre Reverse: + RωMA / Һ ЄҺ ΘЄω ЬA / SILЄVS Rω / MAIωҺ, Legend in four lines. I've been neglecting my interest in Byzantine coins for quite sometime and wanted a solid example, and will continue to look for more, this one satisfied the itch. #4 Akarnania Federal Coinage Akarnanian Confederacy 3rd Cent. B.C. Leukas Mint, 20mm 5.8g Obverse: Head of Herakles facing right wearing lion skin Reverse: Head of river god Achelous facing right, A to the left Pure curiosity drove me to get this coin. I picked it up and wanted to learn more about the Akarnanian Confederacy which led me down a wonderful rabbit hole! #3 Aurelian, AE Antoninianus Siscia Mint, 26mm, 3.1g, large crack Obverse: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate head bust facing right, double mouth Reverse: CONCORDIA MILITVM, togate Aurelian and Concordia standing facing, clasping hands, P * in exurgue This is a pretty large coin, it's flat and cracked. It's got character to it! I've never seen an antoninianus with this big of a flan before... aka I liked it! #2 Basill II and Constantine VIII 976-1026 A.D. AR Miliaresion, 22mm 2.3g Obverse: front facing busts of Basill and Constatine, omate cross in between Reverse: Legend in 5 lines across fields Jeez I'm all over the place, I'll buy anything that I find appealing or catches my eye. This one, even though it has a hole, checked all my personal boxes! #1 Antiochus VII, AE Quadruple Unit Seleukeia in Pieria Year 174 (139/8 B.C.) 25mm, 14g Obverse: bust of Antiochus VII facing right Reverse: Zeus enthroned holding Nike and scepter, date ΔOP in exergue, legend: ‘ΣΕΛΕΥΚΕΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΕΜ ΠΙΕΡΙΑΙ’ r.,‘ΤΗΣ ΙΕΡΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΣΥΛΟΥ’ l. (“of the Seleukeians in Pieria, of the Sacred and Autonomous [city]”) Reference: Houghton, Lorber and Hoover, SC II, 2074 To compare view Type 9 (you have to scroll a little bit): http://www.seleukidtraces.info/information/ci_seleukeia-pieria Okay, my number 1 pick of 2020. I have a growing obsession with solid budget examples of greek bronze coins. I found this one and really liked the artistic quality the portrait had and how fine the reverse was that I needed it. When I sat down to search auction results for this coin I found NOTHING. Maybe I'm blind but I'm pretty sure I'm not. Thankfully I found an example in Arthur Houghtons book (my copy is signed ) Coins of the Seleucid Empire and on the website which has the translation for the legends and a wealth of history information at http://www.seleukidtraces.info. In any case this coin, and one other, is by far my favorite coin in my collection and is an excellent NUMBER 1 for 2020. Cheers! ~Aidan
Great coins @Aidan_(). Although I'm not a fan of Byzantine coins, I have to say the Basill II and Constantine VIII AR Miliaresion is quite nice.
That Aurelian must have been struck by a very large man with a very large hammer. When I see something like that I wonder if they were overstriking something and wanted to be sure to erase it all. I believe my favorite is the Romanus which is exactly what I would call a 'solid' example.
Your Aurelian is probably my favorite of the selections you made; I particularly like the detail of Aurelian's cuirass. Correct me if I'm wrong, but in my opinion, it appears to be a somewhat uneven strike.
I could just imagine the sound that Illyrian beast of a man must have made as he came bearing down on that poor little flan. A great coin Aidan!
Thank you everyone! This year was pretty good... for my collection that is It was a super hard decision whether it should be #2 or #3. I would say it definitely has an uneven strike due to the loss of detail which is in the same area on the reverse as well. Thank you! I don't think I trust myself to clean it. I did want to say thank you for the research and work you've done! You made it very enjoyable to learn about Acheloios and the Akarnanians!
I have a new essay appearing in Koinon III about the iconographic shift witnessed on Akarnanian coinage in the 3rd century from the traditional bearded Acheloios to a now beardless version. I’m still uncovering so much about this incredibly important and hugely overlooked cult!
Great coins @Aidan_() , My favorites are the Alexandrian Trajan and the Antiochus VII AE. Thanks for sharing and its good to see a new post from you.
That quadruple unit from Antiochos VII is great! It is one of the biggest AE issues from the whole Seleukid kingdom, apart from Ekbatana mint and Antiochos IV his Egyptianizing series. I really would like to have one of those.