My top 10 for 2021, Bronze edition

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by kirispupis, Dec 2, 2021.

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Which is your favorite?

  1. Pleistarchos/Kassander

    30 vote(s)
    76.9%
  2. Macedonian interregnum

    16 vote(s)
    41.0%
  3. Uranopolis/Alexarchos

    6 vote(s)
    15.4%
  4. Demetrios I Poliorketes

    7 vote(s)
    17.9%
  5. Eupolemos

    7 vote(s)
    17.9%
  6. Memnon of Rhodes

    5 vote(s)
    12.8%
  7. Olbia dolphin

    12 vote(s)
    30.8%
  8. Eurydikeia

    2 vote(s)
    5.1%
  9. Alexander I Molossos

    6 vote(s)
    15.4%
  10. Teres II

    7 vote(s)
    17.9%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. kirispupis

    kirispupis Well-Known Member

    Hello everyone! As I mentioned in my previous top 10 list, this has been a great first year of collecting. I thought I'd create a separate list of my favorite bronzes, since it isn't fair for them to compete against the shinier tets, even though most of these are far rarer.

    #1 Pleistarchos/Kassander
    Although the type is relatively common, this is one of the best examples I've come across. I originally attributed it to Kassander, but it was probably minted by one of his generals, Pleistarchos. It seems to advertise "Kassander - certified bad ass."
    kassander.jpg
    Kassander, 305-298 BC. AE
    Struck under Pleistarchos 301-298 BCE​


    #2 Macedonian interregnum
    This isn't a rare coin by any means, but I love the look of the gorgon(?) in the center. This was minted during a troubling time and he just has the look of "blech!"
    interregnum.jpg
    Macedonian Interregnum
    Macedonian mint 288-277 BCE
    3.95 g Sear 6781
    Ex Numiscorner​


    #3 Uranopolis/Alexarchos
    Alexarchos has to be the most interesting guy during the Hellenistic age that we know so little about. Supposedly he was the wacko (but Kassander's wacko brother) who insisted the entire town follow a religion and language that he made up. He may have been the first Trekkie. The coin itself is also notable because Aphrodite is sitting on a celestial sphere.
    Uranopolis.jpg
    Macedon, Uranopolis c. 300 BCE.
    Æ 15mm, 3.33g
    Star of eight rays. R/ Aphrodite Urania, holding sceptre, seated slightly l. on globe.
    SNG ANS 914-8; AMNG III.2, 4; HGC 3.1, 607
    Ex London Ancient Coins

    #4 Demetrios I Poliorketes
    I wrote a specific post on this coin. Not only is it quite rare, it's also among the very few who reference both Demetrios and Lysimachos, let alone Demetrios in action.
    demetrios_lysimachos.jpg
    Demetrios I Poliorketes
    AE 18 mm, 5.20 g, 6 h
    uncertain mint in Macedon or Greece (?)
    circa 300 BCE
    Prow to left. Rev. ΔΗΜ / ΒΑΣΙ Demetrios on horseback galloping left, hurling spear; to left, forepart of a lion right.
    HGC 3, 1024. Newell 179 and pl. XVII, 18. SNG Alpha Bank -. SNG München -.
    Ex Leu

    #5 Eupolemos
    This is the only coin in my entire collection that's an upgrade (technically not - my other Eupolemos is a smaller denomination). I would love to know the reason for including three shields, but for now I'll just have to enjoy getting three shields for the price of one!
    Eupolemos.jpg
    Eupolemos
    AE 19 mm, 4.15 g, 12 h
    Three overlapping Macedonian shields with spearheads in the center. Rev. ΕΥΠΟ / ΛΕΜΟΥ Sword in a sheath with strap; in left field, monogram.
    HN online 243. SNG Keckman 223-4. SNG von Aulock 2378
    Ex Leu

    #6 Memnon of Rhodes
    Alexander the Great's fiercest enemy's coins are difficult to come by, and this one's in relatively great condition. I recently read a novel about him. He's the classic hero-antagonist.
    memnon_of_rhodes.jpg
    Memnon of Roads
    Æ 8 mm, 0.62
    Ex Savoca

    #7 Olbia
    Because dolphins are awesome
    olbia.jpg
    Scythia, Olbia
    Cast dolphin
    AE 25 mm, 1.50g
    Ex Savoca​


    #8 Eurydikeia
    The original spoiled Thracian girl, she was the daughter of Lysimachos and married Kassander's son Antipater II. Both were so annoying that first Demetrios Poliorketes booted them, then they yapped so much Lysimachos eventually executed both.
    Eurydikeia.jpg
    Ionia, Smyrna (as Eurydikeia)
    AE 9mm. 0.54g
    Circa 290-287/1 BCE.
    Veiled head of Eurydike to right / Tripod, [Ε]ΥΡΥΔΙΚΕΩΝ to left.
    Milne, Autonomous 5; SNG Copenhagen 1105. 0.54g, 9mm, 6h
    Ex Nick Collins Collection
    Ex Numismatik Lanz München
    Ex Roma

    #9 Alexander I Molossos
    Rescued from the trash, this extremely rare bronze was minted by Alexander the Great's brother-in-law in Italy. It was at his wedding with Alexander's sister that Philip II was assassinated. The coin was previously owned by Markus Robert Weder, who worked for the British Museum.
    alexander I Molossos.jpg
    Alexander the Molossian
    Bruttium, Croton 334-331 BCE
    AE 12mm 3.37g
    Attianese, Calabria Graeca, 267,510
    Ex Collection of M. Weder
    Ex Münzen & Medaillen GmbH​


    #10 Teres II
    I'm not sure whether these Thracian kings were fatsos, or they just loved fat coins. This thing weighs almost as much as a tet but is barely the size of a Denarius. From reading, these were mostly vanity coins. They used Philip silver/gold and issues from other cities for most economic purposes.
    Teres II.jpg
    Teres II 350-341 BCE
    AE 13.48g
    Jurukova, Thracians, Tf. IX, 59 HGC 1712
    Doppelaxt / Weinstock mit 4 Trauben
    Ex Dr. Busso Peus​
     
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  3. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    1, 2 & 7 for the win, although they're all very impressive.
     
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  4. Ignoramus Maximus

    Ignoramus Maximus Nomen non est omen.

    Impressive! :)

    I like that you have the discipline to consistently stick with a single collecting theme.
    My favorites: Kassander, because of its charisma (the coin, not the man), Demetrios P.oliorketes ( the post and the coin) and Eupolemos.
     
    kirispupis likes this.
  5. kirispupis

    kirispupis Well-Known Member

    Thanks! However, the truth is I can't afford to collect on any other themes. :)

    Today I saw some Roman coins going relatively low, and I had to slap myself that I'm not allowed to bid on them. My wife has been extremely kind in allowing me to collect one coin from each persona in "Philip II, Alexander III, and the Age of the Diadochi" (which has ballooned to 87 people, 79 of which I've procured), and I don't want to violate that trust.

    I did pick up a nice Alexander the Great diobol today, though, which was technically against the rules. I excused it by deciding to reattribute my current Alexander III coin to Stamenes, and the new one to Alexander.
     
  6. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Beautiful bronzes:wideyed:
    I think you KNOW what my top pick is;)
    Here's a few of mine from the same neighborhood:
    1630403_1610720020.l-removebg-preview.png IMG_0282(1).PNG 1146271_1587827048-removebg-preview.png IMG_5792.PNG
     
  7. kirispupis

    kirispupis Well-Known Member

    Thanks! I didn't participate in Secret Saturnalia, but had I did you're probably the only one I could have picked something up for.

    I'm currently in Phase I of my collection. In Phase III I'll pick up more variants of the coins I have, so I'll aim for more MSC coins and more bronzes by Demetrios, Lysimachos, Gonatas, etc. That phase, though, is probably two years away.
     
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  8. happy_collector

    happy_collector Well-Known Member

    Very nice bronze pieces, @kirispupis. :)

    I especially like your #2 and #7.
    Love the Gorgon head on the shield, and dolphin as well!
     
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  9. singig

    singig Well-Known Member

    Congratulations again !, I voted for #1, #2 and #5.
     
    kirispupis likes this.
  10. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    Beautiful coins indeed! 1, 2, and 7 are my favourites.
     
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  11. cmezner

    cmezner do ut des Supporter

    Beautiful and very interesting bronzes!

    Voted for 1 - Pleistarchos/Kassander an impressive helmet, 4 -Demetrios I Poliorketes, really one of a kind with Demetrios in action and 6 - Memnon of Rhodes love the patina, sooooo beautiful and it is Memnon!
     
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  12. Limes

    Limes Well-Known Member

    You've collected some very nice bronzes. And although not my colletion theme, they all are nevertheless very interesting and appealing. I really like the way that with a modest budget as you mention, you're able to collect very nice coin within a interesting theme and in a consistent manner. Proof that one can build a very interesting collection with a modest budget, and that collecting is not only a hobby for the 'gentlemen'.
    I voted for no. 1, 2 and 4, although it was hard to pick!
     
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  13. Spaniard

    Spaniard Well-Known Member

    @kirispupis......What a lovely selection!
    I went for 1, 2 and 7.....You do have good photographic skills!
    Congrats.
     
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  14. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Those are fascinating and in an area out of my wheelhouse, and many of them I was looking at for the first time. I went with nos. 1, 8, and 10. I like the design of the Kassander -- there's something Darth Vader-esque about it, particularly the glossy black patina and its martial imagery. I liked the Eurydikeia because one doesn't see Royal Greek women every day. And her tragic tale is interesting. Lastly, I found the bipennis and grapevine coin of Teres artistically pleasing.
     
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  15. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    kirispupis, It looks like you had an excellent year & disciplined your choices to early bronze coins, & that's an excellent theme to work with :happy:! My favorite is # 10, the chunky bronze from Thrace :D, followed by #1, the Kassander bronze, & 3rd place goes to #2, the choice Macedonian war shield bronze :cool:.
     
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  16. kirispupis

    kirispupis Well-Known Member

    Thanks! Here's another royal Greek female portrait:
    331A7113-Edit.jpg
    Ionien, Ephesos als Arsinoe
    AE Dichalkon 287-281 BCE under Aristagoras
    4.23g
    Vs.: verschleierter Kopf der Arsinoe II. n. r.
    Rs.: Hirsch lagert n. l., Kopf n. r."
    SNG v. Aulock 1840; Svoronos 134, 883 Taf. 26, 13
    ex Kölner Münzkabinett

    There's been some speculation this is also a portrait, though technically she was Persian and not Greek. :)
    331A3347-Edit.jpg
    PAPHLAGONIA, Amastris. Circa 285-250 BCE
    AR Stater 23mm, 8.88 g, 12h
    Head of Mên right, wearing Phrygian cap decorated with laurel branch and star / Aphrodite seated left, holding in extended right hand Nike, who crowns her with wreath, and cradling lotus-tipped scepter in left arm; rose to left.
    Callataÿ, Premier, Group 2, 43 (D17/R21 – this coin); RG 5; HGC 7, 356
    Ex Sigmund Collection.
    Ex CNG March 1999
    Ex CNG September 2021
     
  17. kirispupis

    kirispupis Well-Known Member

    Thank you for the kind words! I wish my wife heard this, since she has a bit different opinion of the matter. :)
     
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  18. John Anthony

    John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

    When say #9 was "rescued from the trash" do you mean literally? Was the coin thrown out and recovered?
     
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  19. kirispupis

    kirispupis Well-Known Member

    Yes. Due to a mixup, it was thrown in the trash before I came home. The full story is here.
     
  20. John Anthony

    John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

    Yes, of course. I remember now - I even posted in that thread. Honey, where's my Geritol?
     
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  21. Pavlos

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

    Outstanding coins @kirispupis! Nice looking bronzes are a bigger challenge than nice looking silver. Coins 1 and 2 are lovely examples, coin 6 has a nice portrait of Memnon, and ofcourse I vote for coin 9, an example I would love to own as well. I myself also come from Epeiros so I ofcourse really like the coinage from the region or the kings.
     
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