Meander's Top 10 Greek coins 2020

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Meander, Dec 21, 2020.

  1. Meander

    Meander Well-Known Member

    2020 has been a good to me numismatically despite the pandemics and increased competition for pedigreed coins. I could still find decent coins for fair prices, especially when a deeper provenance was not uncovered by the seller or auction house (I must admit being a provenance-freak). There must have been coins that I failed to win throughout the year but I have quickly forgotten about them, so they were probably not that special after all :)

    I wish everyone good health in the coming year 2021 and I hope we will get to enjoy our common hobby in much better circumstances.

    1. BAKTRIA, Agathokles Dikaios. Circa 185-175 BC. AR Tetradrachm (32mm, 16.70 g, 12h). Diademed and draped bust right / Zeus standing facing, holding scepter and figure of Hekate, who holds torch in each hand; monogram to inner left. Bopearachchi 1D; HGC 12, 81.

    Agathokles-CNG.jpg



    2. BAKTRIA, Euthydemos II AR Tetradrachm. Circa 185-180 BC. Diademed bust right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ EYΘYΔHMOY, Herakles standing facing, crowned with leaves, holding wreath in right hand and carrying club and lion's skin with left; monogram in left field. Bopearachchi Série 1d; SNG ANS 217-8; HGC 12, 72

    Euthydemos-Roma.jpg

    3. SICILY, Syracuse AR 8 Litrai. Fifth Democracy, circa 214-212 BC. Head of Athena left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet / Winged thunderbolt, ΣYPAKOΣIΩN above, ΞA below. Burnett, Enna hoard in SNR 62, 1983, pl. 9, D 25; SNG ANS 1045. 6.69g, 23mm, 1h.

    Roma Numismatics E-sale 69, 16 April 2020, lot 332, ex Virzi collection, Jacob Hirsch XXXII, 14 November 1912, lot 402

    Syracuse-8litra-Roma.jpg

    4. KARIA, Knidos AR Drachm. Circa 465-449 BC. Lion's protome with open jaws to right / Head of Aphrodite to right, wearing decorated tainia and necklace, her hair falling down the back of her neck, tied at the end; all within incuse square. Cahn, Knidos 72; SNG Keckman 129 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen 234.

    Roma Numismatics XIX, 26 March 2020, lot 535, Munzen & Medaillen AG FPL 598, July 1996, lot 30.

    Knidos-Roma.jpg

    5. Cyrene didrachm circa 308-277, AR 22 mm, 7.50 g. Head of Apollo Carneius l. Rev. KY – PA Silphium plant with four leaves; to l., monogram and to r., star. SNG Copenhagen 1238. SNG Lockett 3475.

    Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Spring sale 2020, 25 May 2020, lot 306, ex Maxime Collignon collection, Feuardent freres, 17 December 1919, lot 445.

    Cyrene-NAC.jpg

    6. Selinos (c.466-435 BC), Silver Didrachm, ΣEΛINONTIOΣ, Herakles standing right, raising club above his head, preparing to strike the Cretan bull, which he grasps by a horn , rev HY-ΨAΣ, river-god Hypsas standing left, holding branch and sacrificing from Philae over serpent-entwined altar to left, Selinon-leaf and heron on right (SNG Lloyd 1249; SNG ANS 707

    Munzen und Medaillen GmbH 49, 20 November 2020, lot 79, Numismatik Lanz 64, 7 June 1993, lot 71, Galerie des Monnaies of Geneva Ltd, 25 June 1976, lot 692

    Selinos-MM.jpg

    7. ETRURIA, Populonia. Circa 300-250 BC. AR 20 Asses (20.5mm, 8.27 g). Diademed facing head of Metus; X : X (mark of value) below / Crude inscription (possibly reading poplv in Etruscan). EC Group XII, Series 37, 149 (this coin); Vecchi, Rasna 12 & 13.11 (this coin), HN Italy 142; SNG ANS 79

    Ex Auctiones 27, Basel 1996, lot 2; ex Kurpfälzische Münzhandlung (KPM) 50, 1990, lot 16; ex Schulmann 262, 1975, lot 1009; ex Jakob Hirsch 24, 1914, lot 9; ex Jakob Hirsch 30, 1911, lot 15 (Barron Collection); ex Strozzi Collection = Sangiorgi 15.4.1907, lot 569

    Populonia-Gorny.jpg

    8. LUCANIA, Metapontion. Circa 340-330 BC. AR Nomos (18.5mm, 7.65 g, 5h). Wreathed head of Demeter right, wearing veil / Barley ear with leaf to right; to right, oinochoe above leaf. Johnston Class A, 8.3 = SNG ANS 417 (same obv. die); HN Italy 1568.

    CNG 114, 13 May 2020, lot 11, ex Golden Gate collection, Coin Galleries MBS, 14 April 1993, lot 108

    Metapont-CNG.jpg

    9. EUBOIA, Chalkis. Circa 290-273/1 BC. AR drachm, Head of the nymph Chalkis right / Eagle with spread wings, grappling with serpent; crescent-handled kerykeion to right. Picard Em. 30; BCD Euboia 180 (this coin); HGC 4, 1464.

    ex BCD collection, Numismatik Lanz 111, 25 November 2002, lot 180

    Euboia.jpg

    10. Kalymna. AR Didrachm (18-19 mm, 6.54 g), c. 260/50-205 BC. Male head to right, wearing crested Attic helmet/KAΛYMNION, Kithara with six strings and tiny I within top inner curves. Boston 2009; Höghammar 1, dies 1/1; SNG Cop. 602; SNG von Aulock 2741.

    Ex Numismatica Genevensis SA 8, 2014, lot 51, Victor Gadoury 1980

    Kalymna.jpg
     
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  3. kazuma78

    kazuma78 Supporter! Supporter

    Wow, spectacular choices and buys for the year. I would call 2020 a success for you!
     
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  4. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    ..i would have to concur
     
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  5. happy_collector

    happy_collector Well-Known Member

    A nice collection of Greek coins! I like Athena, so coin #3 is my favorite. Coin #9 has a very nice reverse. Thanks for sharing!
     
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  6. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    Wowzers, those are incredible!! :wideyed: The first six are all outstanding, with an honourable mention for #10 with its nice kithara.

    Only one of my coin acquisitions this year can bear to show its face on the same page as these without being totally embarrassed.

    3119.4.86_1.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2020
    TheRed, Cucumbor, rrdenarius and 12 others like this.
  7. akeady

    akeady Well-Known Member

    A very good haul! - I especially like #6, a type on my wishlist.

    ATB,
    Aidan.
     
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  8. Alegandron

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

    Wow, excellent year, @Meander ! I enjoy them all.
     
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  9. finny

    finny Well-Known Member

    Awesome! I especially like the 2 Baktrian and the Selinos. All beautiful!
     
    Meander likes this.
  10. Parthicus

    Parthicus Well-Known Member

    All very nice coins, my favorite is #6 because it is such an unusual and dynamic scene.
     
    Meander likes this.
  11. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    I can't pick any one of those as my favorite. They all are!
     
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  12. BenSi

    BenSi Well-Known Member

    Wow, not a bad one there. Beautiful collection.
     
    Meander likes this.
  13. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    Meander, It's a real treat looking at these beautiful coins :D! The portrait on #2, the Baktrian Tet of Euthydemos II is breathtaking :jawdrop:. The Sicilian 8 litrai #3, is stunning, & a provenance over 100 years old gives this coin historical importance. The Apollo/Silphium didrachm, #5 is a wonderful addition too :cool:. Coins picturing the magic plant always intrigue me :shame:.
     
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  14. Terence Cheesman

    Terence Cheesman Well-Known Member

    Some very impressive purchases. I really like the Kalymna The Chalkis the Kyrene and the Syracuse. The rest are great as well You had a good year.
     
    Meander likes this.
  15. Meander

    Meander Well-Known Member

    Thanks to all that have commented or liked my posting. Indeed, it has been a sucessful year for me numismatically. If I had to choose which of them I like the most it would probably be the Euthydemos II tetradrachm and the Selinos didrachm. My only problem with the Baktrian issues is the majority of them are quite recent and so without a noticeable pedigree. However, I am not able to resist from bidding when those marvelous Hellenistic portraits are looking at me :smuggrin:.
     
  16. pprp

    pprp Well-Known Member

    Congratulations on your top 10 and the best of luck for 2021!

    I think my favorite is the one from Kyrene which features a superb portrait of apollo and the very interesting star symbol.
     
    Meander likes this.
  17. eparch

    eparch Well-Known Member

    Lovely top ten - I especially like the Chalkis drachm
     
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  18. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

    Congratulations! You are absolutely right....you had a fantastic numismatic year!
     
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  19. rrdenarius

    rrdenarius non omnibus dormio Supporter

    Congrats on a great year! My favorites are #1 (is a full nose on a facing statue the same as full steps on a Jeff nickel?) and #9 (the eagle / serpent is interesting).

    That is an attitude I should remember when bidding and after bidding. Thanks for sharing your coins and thoughts.
     
    Meander likes this.
  20. Pavlos

    Pavlos You pick out the big men. I'll make them brave!

    Great year! I see you are especially into coins of the Hellenistic period. The first 2 coins really represent the art of that time period. Amazing portraits!
     
    Meander likes this.
  21. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    I could pick any of those as my favorite !!

    :)Q
     
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