Ancients: A coin that spoke to me

Alexander the Great staters are popular coins but very available due to the size of their mintage, so I tend to only briefly look at them when they come up for sale, with no serious interest as I already own a good example of the larger and rarer distater type.

A recent auction had a very wide selection of them so I paid a bit closer attention than normal. There are 349 known varieties of Alexander the Great staters and only 11 distaters. Aesthetically, the staters vary considerably and upon seeing an example described as "exceptionally well detailed and of wonderfully delicate style", I took a more serious look.

I was immediately deeply attracted to the coin. I've bought and sold several of them in the past and was reasonably well aware of the range in artistry but this example stood considerably above the others in my eyes. I spent a fair amount of time going through auction archives looking for better coins and didn't find any which jumped out to the extent as this one, so I decided I needed to go after it, and happily managed to acquire it precisely at my max bid.

It isn't a cheap coin but it isn't horribly expensive compared to many ancient coins, but I find myself looking at it disproportionately often, especially the reverse, because of the talent of the engraver.



Post the coins that "spoke" to you!

 

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Lovely coin, especially the reverse.

 

oh my....that coin is "hot".

i was going to post youtube link to marvin gaye song, but my wife wouldn't let me. i think she jealous.

lots of coins speak to me, that was a topic of conversation with the gentleman at a coin show i purchased the coin below from. he had probably a hundred ancient coins, but this one really stood out. unfortunately, i had already spent my coin show allowance. was walking out of the show, and i still heard its sirens call, i turned back around a got it.
thank goodness.

 

That's a really fantastic coin AJ.

 

From a talented engraver, indeed, but let's not understate the quality of the strike and centering here. Sure, it could maybe use another millimeter to show a tiny bit more of the helmet crest, but really is a nice example. I can see why it spoke to you!

 

The reverse is particularly well done. I find it also interesting that the reverse legend curls at the bottom so it stays on the flan while most keep a straight line and run off the flan.

I have no experience with expensive coins including gold but am amazed sometimes at the lack of concern shown in the market for style. It seems most people would rather pay more for an EF of journeyman die quality than a VF from the master. Certainly there are some issues where most dies are good and others where most are poorly executed but where there is a choice, it would seem appropriate to go for the coin with good workmanship. There is a major dealer who I once considered very poor in this regard since he often sold high grade coins with low quality die work. Later he hired some people who must have had some influence on what was purchased since the situation improved. I also know a dealer (not major) who has never had a coin of poor die quality. He buys what he likes and he has taste.

My talking coin is a Caracalla Caesar which I consider to be from the best of his obverse dies. The coin has faults; the die was excellent.

About the same date is my very low grade Julia Domna from a die I would love to see in high grade. Most of her better coins I have seen used poor portrait dies.


I believe, however, that the coins that speak to me most loudly are those with some technical oddity or 'situation' that teaches me something about the minting process. Most people do not like them quite like I do but that is for the best since many are one of a kind and I really do not need competition for them. I'd rather dealers who get stuck with these think to show it to me because no one else would want the thing. The example here is the Magnentius flipover doublestrike where the first strike was a brockage. Thank you, you know who you are, for letting me have it.

 

What a gorgeous coin and fabulous photograph!

I've had many coins call loudly but this one was shouting



SICILY, Syracuse. Agathokles (317-289 BCE)
310-305 BCE
AR tetradrachm, 17.40 g, 24 mm
Obv: head of the nymph Arethusa left, wearing grain wreath, earring and necklace; around, three dolphins; under, monogram (NK?)
Rev: ΣYPAKOΣIΩN, fast chariot charioteer leads to left, holding reins and kentron; above, triskeles; in exergue, monogram
Ref: Ierardi 9; SNG Copenhagen 573 var., SNG ANS 637

The story of its acquisition is here.

 

AJ you never disappoint. I can only stare in wonderment.

 

There is one coin in my collection I return to more often than any other. It is by far not my most expensive, and, although beautiful in my mind, it is not the most beautiful coin in my collection. However, it "speaks" to me like no other I own.

AMISOS, PONTOS AE 20
OBVERSE: Head of youthful Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy REVERSE: Thyrsos leaning against cista mystica draped with panther skin; AMISOU below
Struck at Amisos 85-65 BC
8.8g, 21mm
SNG BM Black Sea 1199-1200; HGC 7, 243

 

"Exceptionally well detailed and of wonderfully delicate style" is the perfect description indeed. Well-done!

 

I haven't developed a taste for Alexander's coinage, but that's a really gorgeous coin!

For me, almost all the coins I've bought spoke to me at the point I pushed the button on them. However, I have to be honest and say that for a number of them the conversation slows to a trickle over time. Eventually, things may even get abit awkward and in the uncomfortable silences I truthfully admit to them, "it's not you, it's me".

Fortunately for many others, even the less pretty ones, the flame continues to burn brightly .

 

Great thread and wonderful coins.

A lot of coins speak to me, and I say hello, then excuse myself to move along to find one that's in my rather small budget.

Here are a couple that I bought, not particularly because I was looking for the type, but just because they just spoke to me.

The Constans II and the Dacian Republican imitation seemed like a nice coins and were found in a local, corner coin shop. I didn't know what they were when I bought them.

The Dionysos portrait from Kallatis, Thrace struck me as a very well engraved coin to survive all the wear and still have a lovely, lifelike look.

 

Ahahaha ... "A coin that spoke to me"

=> hey dude => they "all" fricken speak to me!!

.

 

The coin obverse on the topic start i find pretty, but the portrait does not speak to me. The reverse does have the "wow" factor for me, in its delicacy.
Two of my favorites for expressive value exceeding financial value:

 

Magic Voice from the most ancient times of coinage . Charming words were uttered by the goddess of wisdom's Eyes...

 

Here's the poor man's version...

 

Thanks everyone! There are some very attractive coins posted in this thread!

 

Usually, I am not a fan of second century denarii because the vast majority leaves much to be desired from point of the style. Nevertheless, one day, as I had the chance to search through a bulk of very well preserved such pieces of silver, one item excelling in portrait style spoke to me. These finely shaped eyebrows and clear hints of berries in the laurel wreath indicate that the coin's obverse might origin from an aureus die.

 

The original pic is just jaw-droppingly beautiful. WOW.

 

Wow, those first three are amazing.