The 2014 coins that made it to ValiantKnight's Round Table

In short, this was a pretty satisfying year. Didn't get everything I wanted (something we are all familiar with I'm sure), but I got some pretty neat and meaningful coins. Most of my focus went towards Germanic coinage and Italian Byzantine coinage, but I also picked up the usual Roman and Byzantine. Also a couple of oddities slipped through as well. Opened the door to Islamic coinage, of which I want to focus on the early caliphate issues. Only purchases within 2014 are included (no December 2013 purchases/January 2014 arrivals) and no gifts (although the few I did receive were very nice and the only two I remember at the moment, my Secret Santa coins, would have made it to my favorites group).

Gaius Julius Caesar, Roman Republic
AR Denarius
Obv: Diademed head of Venus, facing right
Rev: Aeneas walking left, carrying Anchises and the Palladium, CAESAR in right field
Mint: Military mint traveling with Caesar, in North Africa (struck 47-46 BC)
Ref: RSC 12, Crawford 458/1, Sydenham 1013



Majorian, Western Roman Empire
AE Nummus
Obv: D N IVL MAIORIANVS PER AVG, pearl-diademed, draped bust right
Rev: VICTORI-A AVGGG, Victory advancing right, holding palm branch and trophy
Mint: Milan (struck 457-461 AD), Mintmark: MD
Ref: RIC X 2642



Hilderic, Vandal Kingdom
AE nummus
Obv: HILD [REX], pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right
Rev: Cross potent within wreath, ring above
Mint: Carthage (struck 523-530 AD)
Ref: BMC Vandals 9
Size: 9 mm wide



Gelimer, Vandal Kingdom
AE Nummus
Obv: GEILAMIR , pearl-diademed, draped bust right
Rev: Monogram of Gelimer within wreath
Mint: Carthage (struck 530-534 AD)
Ref: MEC 1, 28-30; BMC Vandals 4-6



Tiberius II Constantine, Byzantine Empire
AE Decanuumium
Obv: D M TIb CONSTANT P P AVG, crowned, cuirassed bust facing
Rev: Large I, crosses to left and right, all within wreath
Mint: Ravenna (struck 578-582 AD)
Ref: SB 472



Maurice Tiberius, Byzantine Empire
AE Decanummium
Obv: D N MAVRC TIb PP AVH, crowned, draped and cuirassed bust facing, holding cross on globe and shield
Rev: Large I, ANNO (year) to left, regnal year XXI (21) to right
Mint: Catania (struck 602 AD), Mintmark: CAT
Ref: SB 308, MIB 228



Justinian I, Byzantine Empire
AE Decanummium
Obv: D N IVSTINIANVS P AVG, helmeted, cuirassed bust facing, holding cross on globe in left hand and shield in right hand
Rev: Large I, star in left and right fields, all within wreath
Mint: Rome (struck 547-549 AD)
Ref: SB 308, MIB 228



Baduila, Ostrogothic Kingdom
AE Decanummium
Obv: D N BADV-ELA REX, crowned, draped, bust facing
Rev: D N B / ADV / ELA / REX in four lines within wreath
Mint: Rome (struck 550-552 AD)
Ref: MIB 89a



Johannes, Western Roman Empire
AE Nummus
Obv: D N IOHANN-ES P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped bust right
Rev: SALVS REI-PVBLICAE, Victory holding trophy and dragging captive, Chi-Rho left
Mint: Rome (struck 423-425 AD), Mintmark: RM
Ref: RIC X 1913



Justinian I, Byzantine Empire
AE Follis
Obv: D N IVSTINI-ANVS P P AVG, seated, facing on throne, holding sceptre and cross on globe
Rev: Large M, star to left, cross above, A below, crescent to right
Mint: Theupolis (struck 529-533 AD), Mintmark: cross THEVP
Ref: SB 214



Claudius Gothicus, Roman Empire
AE Antoninianus
Obv: IMP CLAVDIVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right
Rev: VICTORIAE GOTHIC, two bound captives seated at base of trophy
Mint: Cyzicus (struck 268-270 AD
Ref: RIC 252



Anonymous, Roman Republic
AE Semis
Obv: Head of Saturn facing right
Rev: Prow right, butterfly on vine branch with leaf and grape bunch above, S to right, ROMA in ex
Mint: Rome (struck 169-158 BC)
Ref: Sydenham 296a, Crawford 184/2



Charles the Bald, Carolingian Empire
AR Obol
Obv: Monogram of Charles
Rev: + METVLLO around cross in circle
Mint: Metallum (struck 840-877 AD)
Ref: MG 1060



Louis the Pious, Carolingian Empire
AR Denier
Obv: +HLVDOVVICVS IMP, legend around cross in circle
Rev: +VEN/ECIAS, legend in two lines
Mint: Venice (struck 818-840 AD)
Ref: MG 456v, MEC 789



Al-Mansur, Abbasid Caliphate
AR Dirham
Obv: Kufic legends: There is no deity except God alone He has no equal (in center); In the name of God. This dirham was struck in Madinat al-Salam year 155 (in margins)
Rev: Kufic legends: Muhammad the Messenger of God (in center); Muhammad is the messenger of God. He sent him with guidance and the true religion to reveal it to all religions even if the polytheists abhor it (in margins)
Mint: Madinat al-Salam (struck 771-772 AD)
Ref: Album 213
Size: 25 mm wide

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

My favorites are the Johannes and the Claudius Gothicus. The portrait on the CII is awesome.

 

A fascinating set of coins - like no other on the forum.

 

The Johannes is my favorite. It could split in two and also be my second favorite.

 

Good scores, Jango ... great year!!

Ummm, I think that the Vandals and the Carolingians are my favourites

 

you've done well young grasshopper, i like them all!!!

 

Some good choices. The CII is sweet. That flan !

 

Baduila and Johannes are my favs. Wow. Great set. Now its only a matter of time before you get a Hun!

 

I liked the bottom Islamic coin best.

 

yeah, i think we could all pick out who that "best of 14"list belonged to without seeing the OP name, as JA said, that's such an interesting group of coins. who the heck else has a coin of a coin of hilderic or gelimer???? or knows who thoese cats are? lol!

great group VK. i think my favorite is the justinian enthroned follis.

 

Good mixture of coins and interesting to have.

 

Nice additions VK. Love that C2G.

 

ahaha, C2G ... that's awesome

Yah, I'm thinking that if Claudius II Gothicus was still around and on-line, then his handle would be C2G for sure!!

hmmm ... or maybe claudiusx6?

 

Really appreciate the feedback guys.I think its really neat and interesting that my top coin list seems to have something for everyone. Some like the Johannes best, others the Germanic coinage, others the Claudius II, some like several of them, etc. etc. Just something that I noticed.

 

I probably asked this before but I obviously don't remember otherwise I wouldn't be asking again, but I've always wondered... what is the "x6" at the end of your username? Are you the result of some clandestine cloning program and you happen to be the 6th clone of the real Steve who's being held captive somewhere against his will? Are you?!?!

 

God help us if there are 5 others.

 

You have had a great year VK! I can't wait to see what tiny little coin you can find from 'Obscure Emperor X' this year! It always amazes me the eye you have for finding some of these coins!

 

Oh and about the Johannes. Not to brag but (Bing you will like this one for sure) I spotted it unattributed in a small mixed lot of mostly Byzantine coins. After dividing up the final price ($50), I basically only paid like $5 for it.

 

Great buy at $50, but $5 is more than outstanding.

 

I like the Justinian I, Johannes and Claudius II coins the best.