TIF Top Ten of 2020

Goodbye, 2020 and Happy New Year, everyone! Let’s hope 2021 brings healing and prosperity to all.

Life has been generally good for me in the last year but I just haven’t had time for coins and CoinTalk. I feel fortunate to have a work-from-home job now but between the new job and other time-consuming necessary projects, I don’t expect to have much time for coins in 2021. I hope to pick up a few coins here and there and I’ll try to make more time for CT this year.

I bought 25 coins in 2020… a lot, really, but far less than in previous years. Of these purchases only a few ever made it to the light of CoinTalk. I still haven’t photographed some of them and none have had the investigation and consideration that was intended. Sigh. In past years I’d post the year end list with a link to their respective CT threads but I only started one or two threads in 2020!

Here’s a basic breakdown of my coin year:

25 coins, ranging from 500 BCE to 268 CE.

7 Greek
1 Roman Republican
3 Roman Imperial
2 Roman Provincial (non-Egyptian)
12 Roman Egypt

Pedigrees include Giovanni Dattari (of course ), Henry Clay Lindgren, Phil Peck (aka “Morris Collection”), Kerry Wetterstrom, James H. Joy, E.E. Clain-Stefanelli, Garth R. Drewry, Rocky Mountain Collection of Alexandrian, and Vinyeard Collection. Nine of the coins had no pedigree information. Several coins are rare and one is previously uncataloged.

As is usually the case, the order is only somewhat representative of favorites. My #1 probably belongs there but you could argue first place for other coins in the list, and some which didn’t make the cut might be placed on the list if I were to take another look tomorrow .

...

10. Macedonia, Stobi. Caracalla, the abduction of Persephone. Who doesn’t like a nice mythological reverse? This is my second of the type. The first one, acquired last year, was nice for the price but this one is much nicer in all respects. You can see them both here.


MACEDON, Stobi. Caracalla (198-217)
AE 24 mm, 8.25 gm
Obv: M AVR ANTONINV; laureate and cuirassed bust right
Rev: [MV] N I CIP [STOBE]; Hades in galloping quadriga right, carrying off struggling Persephone
Ref: AMNG III 12 var. (bust seen from front); Varbanov 4052 (R5, same dies)


9. Nero tet/Roma contemporary counterfeit. Contemporary counterfeits of Alexandrian coins are uncommon. I painfully missed out on one in 2015 (Curses, Clio!) and it grated on me ever since. Naville, the main source of pedigreed Alexandrian coins in the last several years, had a small run of ex-Dattari contemporary counterfeits this year and I was very happy to grab one . This coin may be from a small hoard of contemporary Alexandrian counterfeits acquired by E.T. Newell in Luxor, 1908, and written up by William E. Metcalf (“Two Alexandrian Hoards. 1. A Hoard of Forgeries from Luxor,” Revue Belge de Numismatique Vol. CXXII, 1976, pp. 65-69).


EGYPT, Alexandria. Nero
Contemporary counterfeit
billon tetradrachm, 23.5 mm, 12.14 gm
c. 66-67 Regnal year 13 (66/7 CE)
Obv: radiate bust right, wearing aegis
Rev: AYTOKPA; helmeted and cuirassed bust of Roma right.; LIΓ in right field
Ref: RPC 5293; Dattari-Savio Pl. 316, 34 (this coin); Metcalf, Two Alexandrian Hoards. 1. A Hoard of Forgeries from Luxor," (Revue Belge de Numismatique Vol. CXXII, 1976, pp. 65-69) Obv. IV/Rev. 4
ex Dattari collection (Giovanni Dattari, 1858-1923)


8. Gallienus zoo series antoninianus with criocamp. I’ve wanted one of these since seeing @zumbly's. The man has a knack for finding unusual coins. You can’t go wrong coin-stalking Z! This was the first purchase of 2020 and I didn’t hesitate one second when I saw it in Marc Breitsprecher’s new inventory. I mean, who wouldn’t want a ram-fish, right? Also, this zoo series type is not very common so its scarcity further fueled my coinlust.


Gallienus
struck 267-268 CE, Rome mint, 8th officina, 10th issue
AE antoninianus; 3.40 gm, 20.7 mm
Obv: GALLIENVS AVG; radiate head right
Rev: MERCVRIO CONS AVG; criocamp (sea ram) right; H below
Ref: MIR 36, 741b; RIC V (sole reign) 242; Wolkow 21a8 (R); Cunetio 1389


7. Volteius denarius, Ceres driving a serpent biga. This type had languished on my hit list for many years-- a necessary coin for the Alternative Modes of Transportation set . They aren’t uncommon but it can be tough to find one with good centering on the reverse. I’m very happy with this nicely toned beauty and love the bizarre serpents. Duck heads? Rooster heads? That engraver must’ve been trippin’!


Roman Republic
Moneyer M. Volteius M.f., 78/75 BCE
AR denarius, 18 mm, 3.91 gm, 6h
Obv: Head of Bacchus or Liber right, wearing ivy wreath
Rev: Ceres standing in biga of snakes right, lit torch in each hand; crescent upward behind; in exergue, M•VOLTEI•M•F•
Ref: Crawford 385/3; Sydenham 776; Volteia 3.
Removed from slab, NGC Choice VF 5/5 - ⅘
Ex Phil Peck (“Morris Collection”)


6. Thasos “running” satyr diobol. These are hard to find with good strikes and good preservation. This is the best example of “running” that I’ve seen. The anatomy and activity are both quite clear so let’s just call it what it is: wanking satyr. I understand that sexuality and nudity were viewed differently back then but a coin depicting this? Really, Thasos?! I’d love to have a better understanding of why. Six or so years ago I recall reading a web page discussing this iconography but I can’t find it now. It may have been a Reid Goldsborough article and his website appears to be mostly defunct now. Do any of you remember such an article?

I bought two of these in the same auction. There were several, which in itself is unusual. I picked out the two best-- one clearly the best of the bunch. The best one was the last and, not wanting to miss altogether, I bid on my second favorite which came hundreds of lots before the primary goal. I won it but was still compelled to chase the better one and I won it as well . Below is the better of the two.


ISLANDS OFF THRACE, Thasos
500-480 BCE
AR 13 mm, 1.29 gm (diobol? trihemiobol?)
Obv: Satyr “running” right
Rev: Quadripartite incuse square
Ref: HGC 6, 333. Le Rider, Thasiennes 4. (I do not have these reference works)


5. Caracalla denarius with Four Seasons reverse. I’ve wanted one of these for a while because I find them simply charming. They’re not plentiful and this one has the typically poor dies, strike, and general workmanship. I’d really hoped for a nicer example but was happy enough to snag this one… doesn’t mean I won’t get a second one someday .


Caracalla
AR denarius; 19 mm, 3.19 gm, 1h
Rome mint, 206-210 CE
Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG; laureate head of Caracalla right
Rev: FELICIA TEMPORA; the Four Seasons depicted as children at play
Ref: RIC IV.I 153
Removed from NGC slab; Choice XF 3/5 - 4/5.
Ex Phil Peck (“Morris Collection”)


4. Domitian obol with sphinx reverse. Sweeeet! Another one for my riddle of sphinges subcollection. I love these Egyptian sphinx coins-- the ones in a pose similar to the Great Sphinx of Giza. I have three now: Domitian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius. I’m gunning for one from each issuer so expect me to bid against you when they appear at auction .


EGYPT, Alexandria. Domitian
Æ obol; 17.5 mm, 3.40 gm
RY 11 (91/92 CE)
Obv: laureate head right
Rev: Andro-Sphinx seated right; L A in exergue
Ref: Dattari (Savio) 570-1 var. (same); K&G 24.181 var. (same); RPC II 2645; Emmett 326.11; Köln 395 var. (position of date)
ex Rocky Mountain Collection of Alexandrian, purchased from William M. Rosenblum


3. Pontos, Amasia. Geta, Altar of Zeus Strateus. This one placed high on the year-end list for many reasons. Bottom line: I simply love it. It’s one of the few coins I wrote up for CoinTalk this year so I won't rehash those details here. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-geta-provincial-more-questions-than-answers.365737/


PONTOS, Amasia. Geta (Caesar, 198-209)
Dated CY 208 (208/9)
AE, 31 mm, 16.73 gm
Obv: [Π?] CЄΠTIMI ΓЄ[TAC + illegible under bust] sandwiched between dotted borders; bareheaded, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev: AΔ CЄV ANT AMA[illegible] / ЄT CH; Altar of Zeus Strateus, surmounted by eagle standing facing, head left, wreath in beak, with wings spread; tree to left.
Reference: W. H. Waddington, Recueil général des monnaies grecques d'Asie Mineure, Volume 1, Part 1, p. 40, #96 (variant; obverse legend and style; reverse legend)


2. Caracalla diobol, Agathodaemon on horse. Another Snake Cowboy, and a Caracalla (!), and previously unknown for regnal year! Of course it placed high on the list . Sure, it’s not in great shape but it’s a freakin’ Caracalla Alexandrian (Alexandrian tets, drachms, etc are rare for most of the Severans). I can see now that I’m going to have to acquire one of every issuer for the Snake Cowboy type. My all-time favorite, and one of my tip-top all-time favorite coins of the ones I own, is a Domitian Agathodaemon on horse Many of you are familiar with that thread but I jump at pretty much any opportunity to mention it so here's that link once again: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/so-these-exist-snake-cowboys.314032/


EGYPT, Alexandria. Caracalla as Caesar
RY 9 of Septimius Severus, 200/1 CE
Diobol
Obv: [illegible but probably AVT] KMAVPHΛANTωNINOCCEB; laureate draped bust right
Rev: Agathodaemon standing erect right, "holding" grain ear; atop horse galloping right; LΘ below
Ref: Dattari 4050; Emmett 2774. This rare type was previously known only for Caracalla’s 10th regnal year.


1. Cossura bronze, c. 1st century BCE. This goes well with my coins of Melita. Cossura is another tiny island off Sicily, in this case an 83 square kilometer island halfway between ancient Carthage and Sicily. There are only two basic types of coins struck on Cossura and they have similar obverse iconography. The earlier type has a Punic inscription on the reverse. My coin was struck during the second period of coinage. The coin certainly deserves a nice write-up… maybe someday. Instead I’ll tell the tale of its arrival. It will take some space though so I’ll plop that tale in this thread as soon as I post this list.


Islands off Sicily, Cossura
AE 25 mm, 10.07 gm
1st century BCE
Obv: Nike crowning bust of Isis to right; thymiaterion in field to right; REG counter-stamp to right
Rev: symbol of Tanit; COSSVRA below; all within wreath
Ref: Lindgren III, 37 (this coin); RPC 675. Calciati 6.
Ex: MM Germany, Stuttgart, James Joy collection, Auction 2007, lot 222
Ex: NAC, Zurich, Auction 64, 2012, lot 2157
Ex: Künker, Auction 318, 2019, lot 451

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

While I don’t have an educational writeup yet for the Cossura, I do have a story about its unboxing. This cumulative tale won’t give Senex Caecilius a run for his money but hopefully you’ll find it amusing .

...

This Is the Bronze Coin That Ed Sent​

This is the large box containing the bronze coin that Ed sent.



This is the medium box that lay in the large box containing the bronze coin that Ed sent.



This is the bubble mailer that lay in the medium box that lay in the large box containing the bronze coin that Ed sent.



This is the papered box that lay in the bubble mailer that lay in the medium box that lay in the large box containing the bronze coin that Ed sent.



This is the bubble wrap that lay in the papered box that lay in the bubble mailer that lay in the medium box that lay in the large box containing the bronze coin that Ed sent.



This is the corrugated mailer that lay in the bubble wrap that lay in the papered box that lay in the bubble mailer that lay in the medium box that lay in the large box containing the bronze coin that Ed sent.



This is the coin flip that lay in the corrugated mailer that lay in the bubble wrap that lay in the papered box that lay in the bubble mailer that lay in the medium box that lay in the large box containing the bronze coin that Ed sent.



This is the clear sleeve that lay in the coin flip that lay in the corrugated mailer that lay in the bubble wrap that lay in the papered box that lay in the bubble mailer that lay in the medium box that lay in the large box containing the bronze coin that Ed sent.



This is the bronze coin that lay in the clear sleeve that lay in the coin flip that lay in the corrugated mailer that lay in the bubble wrap that lay in the papered box that lay in the bubble mailer that lay in the medium box that lay in the large box containing the bronze coin that Ed sent.



…

I’m told by an older customer of Ed’s that this is less packaging than he used in past years!

 

Beautiful group of coins! Love the Domitian obol with the sphinx...wow!

 

Awesome lineup, @TIF! Thank you for the eyecandy!

I am personally glad for your good year, and your landing lightly on your feet. Work from home...would love to hear your story sometime.
Miss your posts!
Kindest,
Brian

 

Really nice additions for the year, congratulations. Hope to hear more from you this year. Happy 2021!

 

LOL! Big fun opening up that Russian Dolls!

 

Hope you had a great Xmas and happy New year, missed your posts in the last couple of months, but glad all is well. As per usual your top 10 are all magnificent and hard to pick a standout but your number 10 Caracalla oozes eye appeal and the Domitian Obol with a fantastic Sphinx is an absolute winner. Congrats on a great year of collecting.

 

Outstanding coins @TIF. Hard to say which I like most as I like 'em all. If I have to choose I suppose Domitian, Thasos, Volteius, and Cossure (in no particular order).

 

Another year, another agathodaemon! That Caracalla is lovely! And I love that new Cossura! Here's to a great 2021!!

 

25 coins...a small harvest...! Wonderful coins. My favorite is the "false" Nero; never seen one like this before. Thanks for sharing and hoping that all your family projects will come true in 2021.

 

Wonderful coins, @TIF, and it's good to see you back. My favorites: the Volteius snake biga (a coin that's been near the top of my want list for some time, but I haven't found one yet with enough of the reverse design present for me to want to buy it), the Gallienus criocamp (also on my list), and the Domitian Sphinx (primarily because it really does look something like the Great Sphinx).

 

An interesting choice of coins and top ten. Photo work top class, of course. Thank you for showing, and happy new numismatic year!

 

I know we've had almost one hundred favorites lists posted so far for 2020, but it just wouldn't have been complete without a @TIF list! I'm especially glad you posted this considering some of the wonderful coins you managed to acquire even with how busy you've been.

My favorite is the Caracalla diobol with the snake cowboy. That one is just hitting it out of the park multiple times for me. I'm also envious of the lovely Cossura and interesting Nero counterfeit of Alexandria (and now really regretting not going after one of them at the same time). Special mention also for that enigmatic Amasia with the legends between double dotted borders, the naughty Thasos fraction, and the sphinx and 'four seasons' denarius, both of which are on my perpetual want list.

Here's hoping 2021 will be good for you in and out of Coinland!

 

It is good to see you posting again, TIF! As usual, each coin you display in your post, and the accompanying information that you include, is first class. A wonderful display indeed. Your contributions here are precious, TIF, I hope you can find the time to post here on occasion in 2021!

I have the opposite problem to you: I have all the time in the world to write about my coins but my memory faculty is fading and posting here is becoming painful - I could only remember adding one coin to my collection last year, but later I remember adding a small group in 2020 that I thought I had added in 2019!

James

 

TIF wrote:

“I’m told by an older customer of Ed’s that this is less packaging than he used in past years! “

Yes, I think so. I used to buy coins from Ed Waddell in the 1980s . His mail packaging has always been impressive!

 

2nd- Am I the only one who sees the reverse on the Cossura as a clotheshanger that's just given up with his hands in the air?
For starters, welcome back TIF
And lastly, here are my hand me down versions
Of a few:

 

Of these, #3 and #10 are favorites but the one #10 replaced was just too far gone for me. I guess I am just a condition snob after all. Oddly, this year I also bought 25 new coins but one turned out to be such a piece of trash that I did not assign it a number and put it in the 'give to a kid' stack BUT I don't know any kid I dislike that much. I wish I had returned it but decided to hold it against the seller instead taking the trouble to mail it.

I have several coins from Ed with the most recent being about 25 years ago (when our price brackets overlapped a bit more than today) and all were from shows where packaging is a non issue.

Regarding the Thasos:
I generally assume I have shown every coin I own that is worth showing but I really don't know if I have shown this one. When I bought it from Victor England in 1991 these were IDed as Lete, Macedon. I do not know the arguments and have forgotten most of what I knew in 1991.

 

Your mythological reverse coins are so wonderful.
I really like your snake cowboy and snake biga.

 

Great to see you posting again @TIF , and a great list of coins for 2020! A couple of quick comments:

#8: The head of the criocamp on the reverse looks more like an anteater to me. Maybe a myrmecophagocamp?
#6: Definitely an odd choice of subject matter for a coin. There was a version of Egyptian creation myth that involved the god Atum masturbating to create the world; maybe this is related? Or maybe the Thracians were just kinky.
#4: A beautiful, simple yet elegant Sphinx coin.
#1: I can't say exactly why, but that obverse is really appealing to me, and I am most jealous of that coin.

Anyway, thanks for sharing these, and I hope you get the chance to post more often in 2021.

 

LOL, no. I saw it too! Chuckled, then moved on. Twas amusing!