[ancients] Help me rank my 10 most recent pick ups!!

I don't have many original thoughts, and well, this isn't one of them...

I'm basically stealing Steve's idea from a recent thread of his to post my ten most recent pick ups, and since they're a pretty diverse bunch, I thought it would be fun if everyone could chime in and let me know which their favorites are. I haven't posted any of them before (not even the Postumus, which I promise will be the last one from me for awhile).

And for those who like guessing the prices of coins, the cheapest one cost $10 and the most expensive one $275, but which is which?

Here they are, in no particular order:

#1. POSTUMUS. Antoninianus.



#2. PAPHLAGONIA, Sinope. AR Drachm - crude eagle's head/incuse square



#3. HADRIAN. AE Drachm - Alexandria greeting Hadrian



#4. THESSALY, Kierion. Trihemiobol - Zeus/Arne playing with astragaloi



#5. THRACE, Odessos. AE15 - Youth's head/Great God



#6. CORINTH. AR Diobol, circa 375-345 BC



#7. CORINTH. AR Obol, circa 550-500 BC



#8. KINGS OF ELYMAIS, either Orodes I or an ancient garden gnome



#9. ANTONINUS PIUS. Posthumous Denarius.



#10. SASANIAN KINGS, Yazdgard III - AR Drachm

 

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I'll only pick the top three if that is alright.
1. Hadrian
2. THESSALY, Kierion. Trihemiobo
3. CORINTH. AR Diobol

 

I think people's selection will be more a reflection of their collecting tastes than the coins themselves. For example, I would go 10,3,1.

 

Thanks, and of course! I'm expecting most to just turn in the few that they like best. I'll share my own favorites from the lot a little later.

 

Absolutely. Even though those of us who have been hanging out here awhile may think we have a handle on one another's coin preferences, maybe there'll be some interesting surprises

 

Well now. I'm going to have to recuse myself from picking favorites. Just like Steve's set, there are so many good things to say about each and every one of your coins. I don't even know where to begin.

 

This is going to take me a bit... please hold.

 

4, 6, 7, 9, 8, 10, 5, 2, 3, 1 in that order.

 

I'm going with 10, 4 and 2.

 

Thanks for the replies, Mat and Aidan. Interesting choices. The Kierion seems like a frontrunner so far.

 

The Postumus/Hercules ant is absolutely fabulous. I want this type now. What's the size of the Sinope drachm? It looks like a fractional silver, but maybe not as small as some?

 

Nice pickups across the board Zumbly. But my favs are:

1. Hadrian, Drachm
2. Thessaly, Kieron, Trihemiobol
3. Antoninus Pius, Denarius

 

The Sinope drachm has a max diameter of 15mm, weight should be in the region of 6g (haven't weighed it yet as I'm still waiting for my new scales to arrive). It's quite a chunk of ancient weird-and-wonderful. Sear dates it to 480-450 BC and describes it as "of very crude style and is barely recognizable as an eagle's head". The seller (Frank Robinson) is slightly more derogatory and says it "looks more like a slug's head, but with spikes all around". I like it.

 

I think it's fantastic. So it's a full-sized drachm. Huh. Looks like it would be smaller. Did you see a pic of it before you bid, or does Frank Robinson still eschew pics? It is definitely weird and wonderful.

 

Oh, he has pics for his auctions, but they really do leave something to be desired. Having to look at the pics, read his description of the condition and then use your imagination a little to piece together what the coin may actually look like may not be everyone's cup of tea. Truth of course is that many dealers and auction houses don't have truly representative pics of the coins on sale anyway.

 

nice coins Z, you guys have been picking up some sweet stuff lately.
here's my top 3..

1. hadrian drachm
2. sassanian
3. corinth double pegasus

honorable mention:all the rest!

i bet that weird eagle head thing cost the most

 

My likes, most to "least most"

4, 3, 5, 2, 6, 7, 9, 1, 8, 10.

I don't dislike any of them.

 

Oh I know he has pics for the better stuff - I've bid on some of his auctions. A couple of years back though, he ran an auction and had nothing but verbal descriptions. You are quite right about state of images among dealers and auction houses.

 

Wow Z-bro ...

Ummm, for a completely copying-type-of-chap, you have a fantasic bunch of coins!!



2 => PAPHLAGONIA, Sinope. AR Drachm - crude eagle's head/incuse square
3 => HADRIAN. AE Drachm - Alexandria greeting Hadrian
9 => ANTONINUS PIUS. Posthumous Denarius.
1 => POSTUMUS. Antoninianus.
7 => CORINTH. AR Obol, circa 550-500 BC
4 => THESSALY, Kierion. Trihemiobol - Zeus/Arne playing with astragaloi
6 => CORINTH. AR Diobol, circa 375-345 BC
8 => KINGS OF ELYMAIS, either Orodes I or an ancient garden gnome
5 => THRACE, Odessos. AE15 - Youth's head/Great God
10 => SASANIAN KINGS, Yazdgard III - AR Drachm

 

Judging from how they compare to others I have seen of the type or if they are types I have not seen: 3, 4, 10
Regarding #1: I like the type but it is not rare and can be found with obverse legend.


Regarding #2: I have never bought one of these on the theory that someday I'd find one that had recognizable parts. Maybe never.
http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=775319

I listed #10 because so many of them have chippy edges and bad cracks.

All that said, I'd guess #8 was $10 and #3 was $275. Don't tell people Frank has been posting photos of all coins for a couple years now. He gets too many high bids now so I can't buy things I would have once.