Finally, my Top 10 for 2020, all Roman Republican

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by DonnaML, Dec 8, 2020.

  1. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    I decided it was time to make my final decisions after dithering for a while, and post my top 10. From the poll i posted a while ago (see https://www.cointalk.com/threads/please-help-me-choose-the-last-three-for-my-top-10.371022/), I ended up choosing the top three as of today, plus a fourth. Not the actual fourth place coin, but close! I just liked this one a tiny bit better.

    Once again, the ones I picked are in chronological order. I'm not even going to try to rank them, because I am equally fond of all of them.

    I'm including at least portions of the footnotes I originally posted with the coin descriptions, because they may help explain the coins' appeal to me. I especially like that a number of the coins are thematically related to each other, specifically 4, 5, 6, and 7 -- all issued within a couple of years of each other, and all referring, symbolically at least, to the triumphs of Sulla (whether past or anticipated).

    Finally, I'm posting one of the coins here for the first time, since it arrived quite recently after a lengthy and confusing voyage from Spain, crossing the Atlantic three times. I didn't see much point posting it and then posting it again right away as part of my top 10.

    1. Roman Republic, C. Servilius M.f., AR Denarius 136 BCE. Obv. Head of Roma right wearing winged helmet, wreath behind neck, ROMA beneath with * [XVI monogram] to left / Rev. Dioscuri on horseback galloping in opposite directions, heads turned back to face each other, both twins holding their spears downwards behind horses, C. SERVEILI M F in exergue. RSC I Servilia 1, Crawford 239/1, Sydenham 525, Sear RCV I 116 (ill.), BMCRR Italy 540. 19.35 mm., 3.89 g. [Sear says that this is the first Republican denarius with “ROMA” legend on obverse, and the second to use the monogram * for XVI .]

    Servilius - Dioscuri denarius jpg version.jpg

    2. Roman Republic, C. Fonteius, AR Denarius, 114-113 BCE. Obv. Laureate, Janiform head of the Dioscuri, control mark N under left chin [mark of value * (= 16) under right chin is worn off], one dot beneath head / Rev. Galley left with three rowers, gubernator (pilot) at stern, rudder beneath stern, apotropaic eye on side, three-pronged ram with wolf’s head above extending from prow, banners/streamers extending from stern, C • FONT above (N and T in monogram), ROMA below.* Crawford 290/1, RSC I Fonteia 1 (ill.), Sear RCV I 167 (ill.), Sydenham 555. 20 mm., 3.90 g. Ex: Auctiones GmbH, eAuction 67, Lot 55, 15 March 2020; Ex: CNG Auction May 2012, Lot 293; Ex: Bruce R. Brace Collection.**

    Fonteius (Dioscuri-Galley) jpg version.jpg

    *According to H.A. Seaby in RSC I (at p. 48), the Janiform head on the obverse relates to the origins of the Fonteia gens -- which claimed as its founder Fons or Fontus, supposedly the son of Janus -- and the galley on the reverse relates to the naval exploits of the moneyer’s ancestor P. Fonteius Capito, who was praetor in Sardinia in 169 BCE. Crawford disagrees. (See Vol. I at p. 305.) He states that there is no good evidence for the existence of Fontus, and that the Janiform head should instead be regarded as that of the Dioscuri, because the gens Fonteia came from Tusculum, the chief cult-center of the Dioscuri in Latium. Crawford also states that the reverse is “doubtless” an allusion to the transmarine origin of Telegonus (the son of Ulysses and Circe), who was the legendary founder of Tusculum. Sear agrees with Crawford.

    **Bruce R. Brace "was a scholar and by many considered to be a dean of Roman Numismatics in Canada. Coins from his extensive collection were sold by CNG in 2012 and 2013." https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/an..._ex_bruce_r_brace_library/630746/Default.aspx . According to Google, he was the former General Chairman of the Canadian Numismatic Association, the recipient of their J.D. Ferguson Award in 1984, and the former honorary curator of the McMaster University Museum of Art coin collection, at least a portion of which is now known as the Bruce R. Brace Coin Collection.

    3. Roman Republic, C. Mamilius Limetanus, AR Serrate Denarius, 82 BCE Rome Mint. Obv. Draped bust of Mercury right, wearing petasus with two wings, caduceus over left shoulder, control letter “F” behind* / Rev. Ulysses walking right, wearing mariner’s clothing and pileus, holding staff in left hand and extending right hand towards his dog, Argus, who stands left at Ulysses’ feet with his head raised towards him; C•MAMIL downwards in left field, LIMETAN [TA ligate] upwards in right field. Crawford 362/1. RSC I Mamilia 6, Sear RCV I 282 (ill.), BMCRR 2717 and 2720-2721 [two examples of control letter “F”]. 21 mm., 4.04 g., 9 h.**

    Mamilius Limetanus (Mercury - Ulysses & dog) jpg version.jpg

    *The only known control-letters for this issue are the 11 letters of the alphabet necessary to spell out a version of the moneyer’s name, C LIMETANVS C.F. See Crawford p. 377. (There is apparently also a control-mark in the form of the ligate TA, although I've never seen one. Id. That must have been a clue in discovering the "code.") There are 100 different obverse dies known for this issue (id. p. 375), meaning that there should be approximately 9 different dies per control-letter, assuming that they were distributed equally.

    **The reverse design alludes to the moneyer’s claim to descent from Telegonus, son of Ulysses and Circe. See Crawford p. 377. See also id. p. 220 (noting in connection with Crawford 149 that the Mamilii were a Tusculan family and claimed descent from Telegonus, Tusculum’s founder, through his daughter Mamilia). The family’s descent from Ulysses through Telegonus also explains the depiction of Mercury -- in legend, the great-grandfather of Ulysses -- on the obverse. Id. p. 377. For the tale of Ulysses’ encounter with his old dog Argus [Argos in Greek] upon his return to Ithaca, see Homer’s Odyssey, Book 17, lines 290-327.

    4. Roman Republic, A. Postumius A.f. Sp.n. Albinus (Aulus Postumius Albinus, son of Aulus [mint magistrate ca. 96 BCE], and grandson of Spurius [Consul 110 BCE]), AR Serrate Denarius, 81 BCE. Obv. Draped bust of Diana right, with bow and quiver over shoulder, bucranium above [off flan] / Rev. Roman priest standing facing on rocky ground (on Aventine Hill), head left, with right arm extended holding aspergillum, sprinkling heifer [see Harlan, Michael, Roman Republican Moneyers and their Coins, 81 BCE-64 BCE (2012) ("RRM I")], bull [Crawford & Sear], or ox [RSC] which he is about to sacrifice, a lighted altar between them, A POST - AF - SN • ALBIN [AL in monogram] around. RSC I Postumia 7, Crawford 372/1, Sydenham 745, Sear RCV I 296 (ill.), Harlan, RRM I Ch. 1 at pp. 1-7, BMCRR 2836. 18.54 mm., 3.85 g. Ex. Spink & Sons Ltd. (before 2000 because of address on Spink coin tag; probably before 1974 given citation to Sydenham but not Crawford.)*

    Postumius (Diana-Sacrifice of Heifer) COMBINED 1.jpg

    *See Harlan, RRM I (using this coin-type as the cover illustration for his book). At pp. 3-4, Harlan argues that in the legend which, as Crawford acknowledges, is the basis for the reverse of this coin -- namely, the sacrifice to Diana on the Aventine Hill founding her temple there ca. 500 BCE, establishing Rome as the caput rerum for all of Italy [and symbolizing the victory of Sulla over the rebel Italians in 82 BCE] -- the sacrificed animal was a heifer with wondrous horns, not a bull or an ox. (Citing Livy, The History of Rome, Book 1, ch. 45 [available at http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0145:book=1:chapter=45].)

    5. Roman Republic, Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius, AR Denarius, 81 BCE. Obv. Head of Pietas right, wearing diadem; below chin, stork standing right / Rev. Elephant standing left, wearing bell around neck; in exergue, Q•C•M•P•I [Q. Caecilius Metellus Imperator]. Crawford 374/1, RSC I Caecilia 43, Sear RCV I 301 (ill.), Sydenham 750, BMCRR Spain 43. 18 mm., 3.9 g.*

    Q. Cec. Metullus denarius (Pietas-elephant) jpg version.jpg
    *See Sear RCV I at p. 128: “The issuer strikes as imperator in Northern Italy where he was campaigning on behalf of Sulla. The following year he was to be the dictator’s colleague in the consulship.” See also Crawford Vol. I p. 390: This issue was produced by Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius, serving as a Sullan commander in the fight against Carrinas, Norbanus and Carbo. The obverse type [of Pietas] . . . alludes to his cognomen, acquired for his part in securing the restoration from exile of his father Q. Caecilius Metullus Numidicus.” The stork depicted in front of Pietas “is an emblem of family piety and an occasional adjunct of the goddess.” Jones, John Melville, A Dictionary of Ancient Roman Coins (London, Seaby, 1990) p. 243, under entry for Pietas. (Apparently, the Romans believed that the stork demonstrated family loyalty by returning to the same nest every year, and that it took care of its parents in old age.)

    Crawford also states at Vol. I p. 390 that “[t]he reverse type of an elephant recalls the capture of Hasdrubal’s elephants by L. Caecilius Metullus in 251 [BCE]” (also commemorated by an elephant denarius of C. Caecilius Metullus Caprarius in 125 BCE; Crawford 269/1, RSC I Caecilia 14). The elephant continued to be associated thereafter with the family (see the elephant denarius of Q. Caecilius Metullus Pius Scipio issued in 47-46 BCE; Crawford 459/1, RSC I Caecilia 47). The family was known for its opposition to Caesar.

    Nos. 6-10 to come soon.
     
    TIF, chrsmat71, Curtisimo and 41 others like this.
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    This is the first time I'm posting No. 6, which happens to be my Roman Republican denarius No. 42. A good number to stop on this year, since the number will always remind me not only of Jackie Robinson, but also, of course, of the greatest relief pitcher of all time! And a good coin to accompany with one of my longest footnotes ever!

    6. Roman Republic, C. Naevius Balbus, AR Serrate Denarius, 79 BCE, Rome Mint. Obv. Head of Venus [or Juno, see BMCRR p. 366] right, wearing diadem, necklace and long earring, hair long, S • C [Senatus Consulto] behind / Rev. Victory, naked to waist, driving triga right, with rightmost horse turning head back towards the others; control-number CLIII (= 153, with L in form of upside-down T); in exergue, C•NAE•BALB [AE and LB ligate]. Crawford 382/1b, RSC I Naevia 6 (ill.), Sydenham 760b, Sear RCV I 309 (ill.), Grueber, BMCRR 2926-2976 (this control-number at BMCRR 2964), RRM I Ch. 6 at pp. 28-31. 19 mm., 3.92 g.*

    Naevius Balbus Venus-Victory in Triga Both Sides.png

    Naevius Balbus reverse (Victory in Triga).jpg

    *The moneyer is “not otherwise known” (Crawford p. 398), although he has been speculatively identified with the Sullan cavalry officer named Balbus, mentioned by Plutarch, who reached Rome in time to stop the Samnites’ advance on the Colline Gate. (Harlan at 28.) The deity on the obverse has most often been identified with Venus (Crawford p. 398, Harlan p. 30, RSC I p. 68. Sear RCV I p. 130), particularly given her claimed resemblance to Venus as depicted on earlier coins by Gaius Norbanus (Crawford 357) and Lucius Cornelius Sulla (Crawford 359) (see Crawford, id.). If she is Venus, the depiction could be another allusion to the Sullan victory at the Colline Gate, which took place near the Temple of Venus Erycina. (Crawford and Harlan, id..) However, Grueber identifies the deity as Juno (see BMCRR p. 366), given the similar head expressly identified as Juno Moneta on a later coin of L. Plaetorius (Crawford 396).

    This was a large issue (as was the next issue, the denarius of Ti. Claudius Ti.f. Ap.n. Nero, Crawford 383, which also bears the “Senatus Consulto” authorization). According to Crawford, there were 280 obverse and 311 reverse dies of this issue in two subtypes, the first bearing the letters of the Latin alphabet on the obverse as control marks (type 382/1a), and the second bearing the letters of the Latin alphabet and the numerals from I to CCXXX on the reverse (type 382/1b, represented in this coin). See Sear RCV I at p. 130: "This and the following type represent further large outputs of coinage specially authorized by decree of the Senate, doubtless necessitated by the extensive military operations during the dictatorship of Sulla.” Specifically, according to Harlan (p. 29), this issue and the next were minted for the use of the proconsul Quintus Caecilius Metullus Pius (see Crawford 374/1, the Pietas with elephant reverse) (coin # 5 on this list) for paying his troops in Sulla’s campaign against the rebellious Sertorius in Spain.

    Sear also notes at p. 130 of RCV I that the three-horse chariot (triga) depicted on the reverse “is rarely depicted on the Republican coinage, the only other example being on a denarius of Ap. Claudius Pulcher issued in 111/110 BC” (Crawford 299/1a). Harlan states at p. 31 that the triga’s current use in Rome in the first century BCE, at a time when it was no longer used by the Greeks, “was only found in the celebration of the Ludi Romani, a religious and ceremonial survival of the games originally held by the dictator Aulus Postumius to commemorate [his] victory [over the Latins] at Lake Regillus” in the 490s BCE (famously aided by Castor and Pollux). As the Roman practice in these games is described by Dionysius of Halicarnassus (7.73.2), the “third horse, joined to the team by a trace, runs alongside the two horses yoked together in the usual way” -- explaining why the third horse on the reverse looks back at the other two. According to Harlan, “Naevius’ imagery is intended to recall that ancient victory which established Roman imperium, echoing the caput rerum theme found on the coinage of Aulus Postumius Albinus [Crawford 372/1]. Victory driving the three-horse chariot shows that all efforts to dispute Roman rule were fated to end in Roman victory.”

    The next coin is closely related both in purpose and in theme; I could hardly pick one for my top ten without the other!

    7. Roman Republic, Ti. Claudius Ti.f. Ap.n. Nero [Tiberius Claudius Nero, son of Tiberius and grandson of Appius], AR Serrate Denarius, 78 BCE, Rome Mint. Obv. Draped bust of Diana right with hair in topknot, bow and quiver over shoulder, figure of stag at end of bow (horns to left), S • C [Senatus Consulto] before / Rev. Winged Victory driving galloping biga right, with horses’ heads straining forward, holding wreath in right hand and palm frond and reins in left hand, control number CXXXIIII beneath horses; in exergue, TI•CLAVD•TI•F [VD ligate] / [A]P•N [AP ligate] in two lines. Crawford 383/1, RSC Claudia 5, Sear RCV I 310 (ill.), Sydenham 770, BMCRR 3096-3113 [Control number CXXXIIII not included], Harlan, RRM I Ch. 8, pp. 36-39. 18 mm., 4.01 g., 6 h.*

    Ti. Claudius Nero 79 BCE Diana-Victory in biga jpg version.jpg

    *The moneyer belonged to the patrician Nerones branch of the Claudii, and was the paternal grandfather of the Emperor Tiberius. Harlan, supra at p. 36. See also https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius_Claudius_Nero_(grandfather_of_Tiberius_Caesar). Later on, according to Harlan, he served under Pompey in the pirate wars of 67 BCE, with his area of command the Spanish waters as far as the Pillar of Hercules. This coin was part of a large issue in two series, with control numbers in the first series running from I to CLXV, and in the second series using the letter A coupled with numbers 1 to CLXXXII. It is believed that this issue, like the large issue of Naevius Balbus in the previous year (Crawford 382/1, also showing Victory at the reins of a chariot, albeit a triga) represents money minted for the use of Quintus Caecilius Metullus Pius (the issuer of Crawford 374/1 in 81 BCE, with an elephant reverse) (coin # 5 on this list) in Sulla’s Spanish war against Sertorius in 79 BCE. Id. Sear agrees; see Sear RCV I at p. 130.

    In 1904, Grueber posited in BMCRR that Diana’s appearance on the obverse of this coin was a reference to the Sabine origin of the gens Claudia, given Diana’s own Sabine origin. Crawford rejected this view, but Harlan agrees with Grueber; see RRM I at p. 37. He also notes that the inspiration for Diana’s portrayal on this coin must have been her depiction on the obverse of the coin of Aulus Postumius in 81 BCE (Crawford 372/1, with a reverse showing a heifer about to be sacrificed by a priest to Diana on the Aventine Hill)(coin # 4 on this list): “the goddess is depicted in the very same style on both coins: her hair is tied in a knot on top of her head and the unmistakable attributes of bow and quiver are over her shoulder making the identity of the goddess certain. Claudius’ coin continues the theme of caput orbis terrarum [Rome as head of the world] so clearly expressed by Postumius. Diana, whose appearance on Roman coinage during the 70s was far more common than any other decade of Republican coinage, was emblematic of the extension of Roman imperium.” Id.

    Here are Nos. 6 & 7 again, one above the other:

    2 COINS Naevius Balbus & Ti. Claudius Nero (COMBINED VERTICALLY).jpg


    8. Roman Republic, Publius Fonteius P.f. Capito, AR Denarius 55 BCE [Harlan: 54 BCE], Rome mint. Obv. Helmeted and draped bust of Mars with slight beard, right, with trophy over far shoulder, P•FONTEIVS•P•F•CAPITO•III•VIR counter-clockwise around / Rev. Helmeted and caped Roman soldier on horseback galloping right, thrusting his spear down at helmeted Gallic warrior crouching beneath horse, holding his shield up with left hand to try to fend off horse, and thrusting sword with his right hand at unarmed captive to left; the captive’s Gallic helmet [and shield, off flan] sailing off to lower right; MN•FONT•TR•MIL clockwise above. Crawford 429/1, RSC I Fonteia 17, Sear RCV I 392 (ill.), Sydenham 900, Harlan, Michael, Roman Republican Moneyers and Their Coins 63 BCE-49 BCE (2nd Revised Edition 2015), Ch. 22 at pp. 174-175 ("RRM II"). 17.8 mm., 3.97 g. (Purchased from Zuzim Inc., Brooklyn, NY, Aug. 2020. Ex: Roma Numismatics, E-Sale 54, Feb. 28, 2019, Lot 558 [see https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5704785]; Ex: Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 100, May 29, 2017, Lot 329 [see https://www.biddr.com/auctions/nac/browse?a=131&l=114088]; Ex: Gerhard Hirsch Auction 168, Nov. 22-24, 1990, Munich, Lot 434. Formerly in NGC slab, Cert. No. 4629554-001, Graded Ch. AU, Strike: 4/5, Surface 4/5.)*

    Crawford 429-1 - Fonteius Capito  my copy - photo from 2019 Roma Numismatics auction.jpg

    *The moneyer is usually identified as either (1) the Publius Fonteius who became the adoptive father of the famous Publius Clodius Pulcher when the latter changed his patrician status to plebeian; or (2) a friend of Cicero named Fonteius, mentioned in a letter to his brother Atticus. However, both Crawford (Vol. I at p. 453) and, at greater length, Harlan in RRM II (Ch. 22 at pp. 171-173) point out the lack of evidence for either theory. The scene on the reverse of this coin is believed to record the exploits of the moneyer’s ancestor, the military tribune Manius Fonteius (identified as such in the reverse legend), who may have been on the staff of Marcus Fonteius, governor of Narbonese (Transalpine) Gaul from 76-73 BCE. See RSC I at p. 49, Crawford Vol. I at p. 453, Harlan RRM II at pp. 174-175.

    The next one finished first in my poll:

    9. Roman Republic, Cn. Plancius, AR Denarius, 55 BCE, Rome mint. Obv. Female head (Macedonia [RCV, Crawford, & RRM II] or Diana Planciana [BMCRR & RSC]) right, wearing causia, CN. PLANCIVS before, AED. CVR. S. C. behind/ Rev. Cretan goat standing right, bow and quiver to left. RSC I Plancia 1, Crawford 432/1, Sydenham 933, Sear RCV I 396 (ill.), Harlan, RRM II Ch. 17 at pp. 141-144, BMCRR Rome 3920. 18 mm, 3.82 gm, 5h. SB Binder 8 RRC 432/1 (96-0, 97-0, 100, 101). Purchased from Eukratides Ancient Numismatics [Bradley J. Bowlin], Feb. 18, 2020. Ex. Davis & Clark, Paris, France, Jan. 27, 1975 (with “Certificat de Garantie” from Dr. Cahn, agreed expert, Basel.)

    USE Cn. Plancius - Cretan goat - jpg version.jpg

    10. Roman Republic, C. Vibius Varus, AR Denarius, 42 BCE, Rome Mint. Obv. Head of Bacchus (or Liber)* right, wearing earring and wreath of ivy and grapes / Rev. Spotted panther [leopard or cheetah]** springing left towards garlanded altar on top of which lies a bearded mask of Silenus or Pan,*** and against which leans a thyrsus with fillet (ribbon); C • VIBIVS in exergue, VARVS upwards to right. Crawford 494/36, RSC I Vibia 24, Sydenahm 1138, BMCRR 4295, Sear RCV I 496. 17 mm., 3.60 g. Ex. Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG, Auction 83, May 20, 2015, Lot 83; ex. Frank Sternberg Auction 17, Zurich, May 1986, Lot 519.

    Vibius Varus (Bacchus-Panther) Waddell photo jpg image.jpg

    *The identification of the obverse head as Bacchus or Liber is essentially immaterial. See Jones, John Melville, A Dictionary of Ancient Roman Coins (Seaby, London, 1990) at p. 33 (entry for “Bacchus”): “For the Romans . . . . [Bacchus] was generally identified with the Italian deity Liber, whose name is probably derived from the same root as the word ‘libation,’ suggesting that in Italy he was an earth or vegetation spirit who could be worshipped by pouring offerings upon the ground. . . . Bacchus appears rarely upon Roman imperial coins (and when he is given a name, he is called Liber). He is shown as a youthful male figure, nude or partly draped, perhaps with a wreath of ivy leaves. He may bear a thyrsus and be accompanied by Ariadne, a bacchant or maenad, or a panther.”

    ** See https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ro...nother-panther-thats-really-a-leopard.370346/ (my original post of this coin) for my argument that the big cats generally referred to as “panthers” in ancient coin reference works are, when their spots are visible (as on this coin), actually leopards or sometimes cheetahs. I realize that my argument didn't persuade everyone, but so be it!

    ***The mask has more frequently been identified with Pan than with Silenus, but because the moneyer’s branch of the gens Vibia lacks the cognomen “Pansa” (a reason for the appearance of Pan on the coins of moneyers with that cognomen, as a pun), Silenus appears to be a more likely identification, given the association of Silenus with Bacchus. See Jones, supra at p, 289, identifying Silenus as “[a]n elderly attendant of Bacchus.” See also id. at p. 234 (entry for “Pan”), noting that “[a] bearded head which appears on [the obverse of] a silver sestertius of T. Carisius [46 BC), with a reverse type of a panther bearing a thyrsus, has been identified as Pan but is more likely to be a Silenus, matching the Bacchic reverse type.”

    I hope you enjoyed these coins. Please post whatever you feel is relevant.
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2020
    TIF, chrsmat71, Curtisimo and 55 others like this.
  4. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    These first five are enough to make me salivate!
     
    cmezner likes this.
  5. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    And now the second five! I'm getting light-headed. Great coins @DonnaML
     
    TIF and DonnaML like this.
  6. jb_depew

    jb_depew Well-Known Member

    Exceptional coins - all well chosen!
     
    DonnaML likes this.
  7. FrizzyAntoine

    FrizzyAntoine Well-Known Member

    Amazing selection and great descriptions! I think 8 and 10 stood out the most to me, bold portraits and very dynamic reverses on both.
     
    DonnaML likes this.
  8. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    These cover about half of the RR types I find appealing (as a non specialist in those coins). I somehow suspect the other half will come in 2021. You have excellent taste in coins.
     
    Pellinore and DonnaML like this.
  9. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    Donna, You should be very happy with your acquisitions this year :D! For some unknown reason I've always been drawn to serrate denarii, so #6 & 7 are especially attractive to me :happy:. Both of these coins are unusually well centered, are very artistic, & sport attractive toning :cool:. The reverse on #6 harkens back to the famous tetradrachms of Greek-Sicily, with the one horse looking back. #7 has a very attractive portrait of Diana/Artemis, & I like the exaggerated speed of the horses the engraver captured on the reverse.
     
    DonnaML likes this.
  10. Restitutor

    Restitutor Well-Known Member

    Donna, your taste is impeccable- this is probably my favorite Top 10 post of the year. #2, #6, #7, #8, and #9 are my top 3 favorites :hilarious: In seriousness though all ten are stunners and would be magnificent additions to any collection. I think this post has convinced me to finally dive into the world of Republican era coins and leave the nest of Provincial & Imperial.
     
    DonnaML likes this.
  11. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    I quite agree! A very impressive Top Ten!

    #10 is my personal favourite.
     
    DonnaML likes this.
  12. benhur767

    benhur767 Sapere aude

    @DonnaML Congratulations on a fantastic year of collecting. All of your coins are wonderful. My favorites is the coin showing the priest sacrificing and the Roman soldier on horseback.
     
    DonnaML likes this.
  13. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Well, some really great acquisitions @DonnaML - just fabulous. I don't have any Republican issues prior to the 2nd Triumvirate. I suppose it was a transitional period where the Republic had basically broken down as an institution.
     
    DonnaML likes this.
  14. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    I would be hard pressed to pick just one. Ten very good acquisitions.

    Congrats on a great coin-year

    Q
     
  15. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    All are awesome, Donna! You know I enjoy the Roman Republic... and yours are excellent examples! Congrats, and very well done!

    I really like them, and cannot state that enough.
     
    DonnaML likes this.
  16. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    A really fine collection, Donna. The combination of interesting types and condition really makes this an outstanding assortment.

    I am a little hurt Marsyas didn't make the cut...so I'll share my low grade, but proud, avatar :(

    _Marcia - Censorinus Marsyas Avatar MASK July 2020.jpg
     
  17. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    ..in a word, excellent! :)
     
    DonnaML likes this.
  18. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

    I second that:D
    spectacular top ten/ all are exceptionally beautifull, congratulations, Donna!
    John
     
    DonnaML likes this.
  19. svessien

    svessien Senior Member

    Those are 10 great coins, Donna. Well done:)
    If I was to pick 3 favorites, it would be the 3 last ones. If I was to pick one, I think you managed to find an excellent P. Fonteius, a coin that I often see with flaws. Then again, it seems like the Varus denarius (10) often had a reverse struck off center too. Well, all 10 coins are great anyway.
     
    DonnaML likes this.
  20. Seated J

    Seated J Well-Known Member

    Looks like 2020 was a banner year for you, coin-wise at least. They are all beautiful, if I had to pick a favorite it would be #6.
     
    DonnaML likes this.
  21. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    WOW what a fantastic group of republicans, all exquisite, I would love any of them in my collection but if I had to choose one it would be 5 Caecilius Metellus Pius. Congratulations.
     
    DonnaML likes this.
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page