Top 10 of 2021 (From FitzNigel)

Nice varied selection1...I do like 7, 6 and 3....Congrats.

 

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well, I wouldn't usually expand on my top 10, but since I have been at home sick this whole week, I'm looking for more to do while sitting on the couch. So for funsies, here would be my second group of coins, from 11-20 with little to no explanation (It's the addendum after all...)

11. Standing Caliph

Umayyad Caliphate
Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, r. 685-705 (693-697)
Haleb (Aleppo) Mint, AE Fals, 20.87 mm x 3.12 grams
Obv.: li-ʿabd allāh ʿabd al-malik amīr al-muʾ minīn (for the servant of God ʿAbd al-Malik, Commander of the Believers), Caliph standing holding sword right, with whip or ‘girdle’ hanging left
Rev.: lā ilāha illā allāh waḥdahu muḥammad rasūl allāh (there is no god but God, he is alone, Muḥammad is his messenger), symbol (transformed cross?) on steps wāfin upwards to left, ḥalab (mint name) downwards to right
Ref.: Album 3529 (p. 37), Goodwin, 43

I mentioned this coin in the Index - it got bumped when I found the coin from Brabant

12. Condor Token from Norwich

Well, I haven't typed up the specifications of this coin yet. Oh well - it's a "modern" so I doubt there will be much interest here. I have developed another little side collection of the Condor tokens issued in Norwich. I did my undergrad year abroad in Norwich, so it is fun to marry these coins up with places in the city I am familiar with. This one is particularly special as it was issued by Colman's, which is now internationally known for their mustard. Finding one of these coins with the name 'Colmon' still visible on the jar is a bit of a challenge, but this one does the trick, and at a reasonable price!

13. Maximillian I issued in 1518

HRE - Nördlingen
Maximilian I, r. 1486-1519 (1518)
AR Batzen, 28.25 mm x 3.85 grams
Obv.: MAXIMILIAN✿ROMA✿IMPER, bust of Maximilian right holding orb and scepter
Rev.: +MONETA✿NOVA✿NORDLINGENS, M•D•XVIII above double arms, retrograde N below
Ref.: cf. Saurmasche 615

This one is special because I inherited a hand-drawn copy of a Ptolomaic map of Germany from my grandparents. At the Bottom of the map, it says that it made during the reign of Maximilian I in 1518, and contained a sketch of the emperor's image. So in my focus on German coins this year, I thought I would be worth seeing if I could find a coin from 1518, and when this one came up with the portrait (ad discernible features similar to what is on the map), I decided I needed it. Unfortunately this was the runner up - I had found a nicer example, but the seller couldn't find it, so this was really my second choice (but I didn't find any others...)

14. Frankfurt Bracteate

Frankfurt am Main
Adolf von Nassau, r. 1292-1298
AR Bracteate, 22.55 mm x 0.57 grams
Obv.: King enthroned, holding scepter and orb
Ref.: De Wit 2150, cf. Hannover 2371, cf. Svensson 175

My first Bracteate

15. Ostrogoth countermark of Vespasian

Early Medieval - Ostrogoths
Anonymous (6th Century)
AE 42 Nummi, 28.74 mm x 10.25 grams
Obv.: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III, laureate head of Vespasian right, XLII carved upward to right of bust
Rev.: S C, eagle standing facing on globe, head right with wings spread
Ref.: MEC I-71, SRCV 2362var under-type
Note: Countermarked on an As of Vespasian minted in Rome, 71 A.D.

See #3 Above

16. Würzburg Schilling

Diocese of Würzburg
Rudolf II von Scherenberg, r. 1466-1495
AR Schilling, 26.04 mm x 2.24 grams
Obv.: SANCTVS KILIANVS. St. Kilian holding sword and crosier
Rev.: +RVD˙LF’✿EPIS’✿HERBIPOLE’. Shield
Ref.: cf. de Witt 2327

My students know I collect coins, and for my AP European History class, we begin the year reading Peasant Fires by Richard Wunderli. Rudolf von Scherenberg features in the book, and on my German focus this year, it occurred to me to consider seeking out some coins issued by him.

17. Chinese Ant-Nose

Warring States China
State of Chu (400-220 B.C.)
AE Ant-Nose Money, 16.93 mm x 2.18 grams
Obv.: Jin or Bei
Rev.: Blank
Ref.: Hartill 1.4

18. Caracalla from Serdica

Provincial Rome - Thrace
Caracalla, r. 198-217 A.D.
Serdica, AE 30, 30.32 mm x 16.57 grams
Obv.: AVT K M AVPH CEVH ANTΩNEINOC, laureate head right
Rev.: OVΛΠIAC CEPΔI, Hera seated to left on throne, holding patter and scepter; KHC in emerge

19. Caracalla Denarius from 206

Imperial Rome
Caracalla, r. 198-217 (206 A.D.)
Rome Mint, AR Denarius, 18.12 mm x 2.29 grams
Obv.: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate bust right
Rev.: PONTIF TR P VIIII COS II, Mars in military dress, standing left, resting right hand on shield and holding spear
Ref.: SRCV 6859 variety. RIC IV-1 83, p. 225

I need to take a real photo of this one. My only coin show purchase (for my own collection - I bought some cheap LRBs for use in a project for my students).

20. Tancred Follis from Antioch

Crusader - Antioch
Tancred, Regent, r. 1101-1103, 1104-1112
AE Follis, 23.16 mm x 4.23 grams
Obv.: St. Peter standing, wearing tunic and cloak, blessing with right hand and holding a cross in his left hand. P to left (for ‘petrus’)
Rev.: [Ð] S [F] T in the corners of a slender cross
Ref.: Malloy Antioch 6, De Wit 4080
Note: Overstruck on Malloy Antioch 4

 

Fitz, You scored a great looking Owl ! I like the Germanic imitation of Constantine & the silver turnos from Frankfurt am Main . I took two weeks of military leave in F.am M. in 1969, & bought some great coins there .

 

those are dandies FN...

 

Well, my mother would have been there! Dad came the following year

 

Interesting variety of coins, of course I have a soft spot for the croc !!

One and a half croc here, the one on the left showing the ridiculous teeth @TIF noticed above (typical of type II) !



Q

 

Great list @FitzNigel ! My favorites;

#1 - An iconic coin! Yours is extremely sharp with great detail.
#2 - These coins are awesome. Augustus, Agrippa and a fascinating historical reference. Yours is a nice example with all the important parts on the flan. Nice!
#6 - Beautiful and interesting.

Here is my Nemausus croc. Not as well centered as your example.