10 for 20 - Greek and Byzantine

Over the many years of coin collecting, I have never considered an annual retrospective related to my purchases, which span the range of conventional to eccentric coins. My habits, enforced by temperament, tend to direct me in many directions at the same time. Unfortunately, unlike sub-atomic particles that have the characteristic of being able to be at two points at the same time, I skip and shift my focus from ancient coins, to world coins, to minerals and on and on. The Greek and Byzantine coins that I am posting in this thread reflect this seeming lack of focus. However, there is method to this madness - sort of.

Since late 2017, I started moving my focus to ancient coins, an area that I pursued with relish in the 1980s to the mid-1990s, before I moved over to collecting world coins. This effort is focusing on Greek, Roman and Byzantine coins, the three areas that I previously collected in helicon times.

The result? So far, an extended type collection, with a very healthy contingent of Athenian owls (a singular weakness on my part, deeply rooted in the very remote past).

So, without further delay, here are my "10 for 20". While I like to consider each coin that I have "first among equals", when I actually think, an unpredictable process at best, these 10 coins tend to stand out. I am not ordering them in any system of ranking of desirability.

1) Mysia, Kyzikos
Æ 30mm. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Circa 3rd century AD. KVZIKOC, diademed head of Kyzikos to right / KVZIKHNΩN NЄOKOPΩ, two serpent-entwined torches. Cf. SNG France 606-15. 15.47g, 30mm, 6h.

This coin is a late arrival. One of the main criteria that I use to decide what to purchase or bid on is esthetics. This quality is highly subjective, but for me, there's no beating a beautiful portrait or exquisitely produced coin, well centered and struck.

It has been said that Alexander III founded Kyzikos. He did establish cities during he conquests to the East, so it is possible, I guess.

This coin's obverse depicts a portrait of a youth or young man (Alexander III?), eyes turned upward, in a very beautiful manner. This remarkable coin dates to the 3rd century AD, when Roman coinage was assuming a more "severe" portraiture, especially from around the mid 3rd century forward. The reverse, with the two serpents entwined in two torches (a type of caduceus?), is very intriguing.


2) Byzantine Empire
AE follis. Maurice Tiberius (40 nummi), reginal year 7 (588-589 AD). Constantinople. D N mAVR TIbeR P P A, helmeted cuirassed bust of Maurice Tiberius facing, shield decorated with horseman motif in left hand, globus cruciger surmounted by cross in right hand / Large M (mark of value); A/N/N/O to left, ΣI (date = regnal year 7) to right, cross above, Є below, CON in exergue. Sear 494. 11.29g, 29mm, 6h.

This is another late arrival. The price was steep, especially for a follis of Maurice Tiberius. His folles are among the most common of Byzantine 6th century AD issues.

This coin, however, stands out both for strike and engraving, taking into account the crude nature of Byzantine coins, compared to their Greek and Roman cousins. The obverse's portrait of Maurice Tiberius is remarkably clear, very reminiscent of the early reform issues of Justinian I.



3) Sicily, Syracuse
AR tetradrachm. Second Democracy, 466-405 BC, struck circa 420-415 BC. Charioteer driving quadriga right; above, Nike flying left, crowning charioteer / Head of Arethusa right, hair in sakkos; four dolphins around. HGC 2, 1322; SNG ANS 227; SNG Copenhagen 663. 17.3g, 23.5mm, 11h.

For the past few years, I have been looking for a decent Second Democracy tetradrachm of Syracuse. This coin is available, but more often this type is poor struck on irregular flans, poorly refined metal and the ever-present die rust. It is a paradox that dies of such beautiful design were used to produce coins of such varying quality. It seems, similar to Athenian coinage of the 5th century BC, that necessity and speed of production dictated how a coin finally turns out.

This Second Democracy tetradrachm that I did purchase this year is a compromise coin. In top grade condition, this coin would cost thousands. My coin does have its blemishes, and the metal could be better, but the strike is well centered, especially for this type, and I love Arethusa's profile.



4) North Africa, Carthage
BI serrate dishekel, circa 160-149 BC. Wreathed head of Tanit left / Horse standing right with foreleg raised; Punic letter ' below. MAA 100g; SNG Copenhagen 406. 12.80g, 25mm, 12h.

"By the Punic Curse the Sibyl was referring plainly enough to the destruction of Carthage by us Romans. We have long been under a divine curse because of that. We swore friendship and protection to Carthage in the name of our principal Gods, Apollo included, and then, jealous of her quick recovery from the disasters of the Second Punic War, we tricked her into fighting the Third Punic War and utterly destroyed her, massacring her inhabitants and sowing her fields with salt." (from I, Claudius)

I have never owned a serrate coin, Roman or other. When this coin presented itself, I decided to take the plunge. It is a very pleasing coin, coming from the years before the fall and sacking of Carthage in the Third Punic War.



5) Byzantine Empire
AE follis, Heraclius, circa 610 AD. Constantinople. Facing portrait of holding a globus cruciger in right hand / Large M, A/N/N/O to left, III (reginal year 3) to right, Officina B below, CON in exergue. 11.0 grams.

This coin is my best "bargain" purchase, coming from a large lot of Byzantine coins. Double struck, over an earlier follis of Phocas, this coin is an early issue, dating to year three of Heraclius' reign. On the reverse, at about 5 o'clock, remnants of Phocas' left hand holding the globus cruciger can be seen.



6) Attica, Athens
AR tetradrachm. Circa 465-460 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss, and pearl necklace / Owl standing to right with head facing, olive sprig and crescent behind, ΑΘΕ before; all within incuse square. Starr Group V.A, pl. XVI, 162 (same dies); HGC 4, 1596. 17.14g, 24mm, 3h.

Here's a Starr Group V.A tetradrachm that came out of auction this year. While the crest is missing, I still find this coin most appealing. Both the execution of the obverse and reverse is outstanding, and the styling of Athena's profile is exquisite.



7) Parthia
AR tetradrachm, Orodes II, Seleukia on the Tigris, 57-38 BC. Diademed and draped bust left / King enthroned right, Tyche kneeling before him, holding sceptre; monogram above, [letters] in exergue. Sellwood 45.3-8. 13.10g, 27mm, 12h.

Struck over a tetradrachm (S41) of his brother, Mithradates IV.

Brother versus brother, Rome versus Parthia, a truly Shakespearian plot, who could resist? This coin came to me post-auction. I am not sure why it did not garner any bids; it is quite rare. So, I was more than happy to snap it up.



8) Lucania, Thurium
AR tetradrachm or double nomos circa 443-400 BC. Head of Athena to the right, wearing crested helmet decorated with laurel wreath / Rev: ΘOΥΡΙΩΝ; bull butting to the right; to the right: エ. BMC 1 (this obverse die); HN Italy 1762. BMC 1 (this obverse die) HN Italy 1762. 15.47 g, 24.50 mm.

This coin was by far the most expensive purchase this year, and one of the most important. The rendering of the bull on the reverse, and the portrait of Athena on the obverse is outstanding. This is a mid-grade coin and extremely rare.



9) Samatia, Olbia – Two Gorgoneions
Left: AE 36, 400-350 BC. Facing gorgoneion / Eagle clutching a dolphin, letter "O" above and left of the eagle. SNG BMC Black Sea 369-9. 20.8 grams.

Right: AE 36, 400-350 BC. Facing gorgoneion / Eagle clutching a dolphin, letter "O" above and left of the eagle. SNG BMC Black Sea 369-9. 18.2 grams.

What happens when you purchase two gorgoneion AE coins of Olbia the same year? Well, you darn better be sure to include both! As with many other purchases, these two coins are my type coins for this issue of Olbia. Both are nice examples.



10) Egypt, Ptolemaic Kingdom
AE drachm, Ptolemy IV Philopator, Alexandria Mint, 222-205 BC. Diademed and horned head of Zeus-Ammon right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΠTOΛEMAIOY, Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, filleted cornucopia to left, ΣE between legs. SNG Copenhagen 205. 66.15 g., 43 mm.

While not "hockey puck" class, this late acquisition is a nice example of this large-sized coinage. I especially like the patina, which the photo does not fully do justice for.



Time willing and sufficient brain capacity available, I hope to post some of my Roman purchases made this year.

 

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3, 8 and 6 standout to me but it is easy to see why you like the others. I will be iterested in seeing the Romans.

 

Thank you, Doug.

I'll work on the Roman list over the next few days.

 

Lovely coins all, but the Mysia, Kyzikos Æ 30mm is a marvelous example in every way.

 

That Syracusan checks so many boxes
As do so many on here... that Olbia is on my hit LOVE theGorgoneions aaand then you end it with a 66 gram manhole cover! with some really nice detail
Thanks for sharing your brilliant year!

 

I am the same as you/ I dabble in coinage that spans 27 centuries. Your first top "10" are very diverse/ from many cultures. I really like the Ptolomaic AE Drachm Eager to see your Rome coinage.

 

Those Olbians are really really neat

 

Nice coins for sure,

 

Very nice Syracuse tetradrachm. Also like the beautiful Starr Group V.A

 

Thank you.

When I was posting the Athenian tetradrachm, the thought occurred to me that it might be a Starr Group V.B coin, but on second look figured that it is a Group V.A.

 

Thank you. I ordinarily do not buy pseudo-autonomous issue coins, but this one has a definite appeal to it, for sure!

This coin came from the Marnix Collection.

 

All wonderful! I can't pick a favorite.

 

Although they're all interesting and beautiful, #3 and #8 are the ones I prefer. And the portrait on #1 is gorgeous

Q

 

robinjojo, The Thurium Tet is clearly the stand-out in this group ! A great example of classical Greek art. The Byzantine 40 nummi, #2 is a great example for the type with a razor sharp strike . What was the NGC grade on this one ?

 

Hi Al

That's an interesting story. The coin came with the CNG Sale 46, lot 1553, June 24, 1998. Someone, I assume the previous owner, wrote "g.VF" on it, so I guess that was the grade assigned to this coin by CNG for the sale. The coin must have been un-slabbed during the sale, as the slab it is in now is quite recent. The grade good VF seems to me, at least, very conservative, given the nature of these coins, which tend to be quite crudely produced.

The grade assigned by NGC is "Ch AU", with a 4 for strike and a 5 for surface. I think the overall grade that they assigned to this coin is more appropriate; as for the numerical subgrades, I pass. The coin has nice surfaces and the strike is exceptional for a Maurice Tiberius follis, on a par with this gold coinage, in my opinion.

There is another type of follis for him, where he is wearing his consular robe. I have noticed that many of those folles are quite attractive and nicely produced, but not quite to the level of this coin.

Thanks

 

Alexander III as founder is my favorite but they are all great coins!

 

Very nice coins, hard to chose the best between #6-owl and #8-bull.

 

Wow, @robinjojo , what a great collection! I really like the variety. I am really drawn to that majestic horse on the Carthage DiShekel! Very nice! Great job for 2020 !

 

Thanks. I'm sort of a human pinball when it comes to collecting.

 

These are all great @robinjojo . The Syracuse and Athens tets are real stand outs. Thanks for sharing!