What's at the top of your wish list for 2016?

• scarce denominations from the 3rd century (severan quinarii, early ants 215-235, late denarii, ases, dupondii, sestertii)
• rare bust types for late antoniniani and folli
• more varieties for my SPQR antoniniani research
• large bronzes of the 350s
• local coinage from usurpers and/or in the name of legitimate emperors from the 5th century
• early germanic kingdoms
• feudal Hungary and Transylvania

 

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The want lists of some of our newer members scare me. At the moment, the Histaea Tetrobol and Chersonesos Lion Hemidrachm top the list of often faked types. I really suggest buying them from someone like Barry Murphy who has posted web pages on the subject and not from som nice guy who runs a coin shop and dabbles in ancients. Similarly Antony and Cleopatra together or separate exist fake more often than genuine. I know a small time dealer who just found out his example was fake. Now he is out the thousand he paid for this lesson. He can afford it. Owls and Alexanders have always been popular with collectors and those who prey upon them. It is fine to want these coins. They are not places to go bargain hunting.

My want list is: "Coins I did not know existed that speak to me loudly enough that I want to learn about them."

What I have seen posted and the statement above suggests that Zumbly and I have a lot in common in the way we approach the hobby. When I see the coin I want, I'll know it. Often its previous owner did not see anything special about it and finding its next owner may be a task but specific coins that 'haunt' are coins we should buy. Several members here have haunting coins (I'm including Ancient Joe's Boscoreale aureus here and several coins belonging to TIF, Bing, Steve and a few others closer to my price bracket).

 

I find this funny since North Korea is what I called that site publicly and privately when I left it 2 years ago.

As far as the next coin purchase.........my eyes are on Triton and I fear my wallet and the wallets of others will determine what my next coin will be...Greek Silver, a special RR, an imperial provincial or a British coin........only the Fates know the answer.

 

Naturally, I love all the 'wish lists' posted, but mine seem to be more in line with 'Z' s ....since I plan to focus on 2-3 high grade coins monthly starting this January, at least one 'WOW' Greek and Roman that I don't yet have....

BTW, Be very careful with this type, several months I purchased one that was determined to be a fake from a major auction house (It's listed in the early part of Steve's resurrected thread "...Merely an OCD cure")...of course this can be true of any type, but the Histaia seems to be out there in a higher abundance.

 

Thanks for the tip regarding the Euboia Histaea tetrobol and Chersonesos Lion hemidrachm. I do understand they are quite common coins, although not to someone like me just starting out with a minuscule collection. However, I had no idea counterfeiting was so common for these. I'll make sure to buy from the most reliable v-coin or long-time major dealer I can find for these, even if I have t pay a little extra for the piece of mind. I think I'll even reach out to some of you know ahead of time when I pick the one I'll be getting, to get your feedback on the coin before I commit to buying.

 

Doug's points about the Histiaia and Cherronesos silver can be extended to Alex III and Athenian tetradrachms. Don't go buying those willy-nilly. Go to long-standing reputable dealers, be certain they have lifetime warranties of authenticity, and post the coins you're interested in on this forum before you buy them, or send some of us PM's. Stay away from the bad neighborhoods on eBay!

 

I'm soooo mad that I let this baby slip through my fingers!! (so cool)





... maybe this year I'll see it, or it's cool brother?

 

Lets see
A Siliquae of Gratian, Flavius Victor, Valentinian II, Honorius, Arcadius, and Theodosius I. Also, more Magnus Maximus Siliquae!
Also an AE-1 of Valentinian I, Philip III Drachm, and another siliqua of Valentinian I
I will be fortunate if I can pick up half of the coins above!

 

8 Reales COB from the 1600s. 8 Reales Pillar Dollar (prior portraits); then the 1/2, 1/4, & 1/8 Bits.

Any suggestions/recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Thank you much.

 

That coin is on my wish list also. Saw one of those yesterday at a coin show. It was an example I saw in an auction and passed on due to price and other wanting others more. Of course the price was a bit higher yesterday.
The coin was issued during the switch from cast (bullion based) to struck (fiduciary) coins. I think that reverse is more interesting than the long stream of prow right or prow left.
PS - I am surprised the animal rights folks have not banned the coin.

 

Buy anything that catches my eyes, want list Otho!

 

My wish list is that all members stay healthy in 2016 and we can all continue our hobby of collecting ancients.
Otho I already got, so that is off my list)

 

There isnt any single coin I want to focus on next year. I just want to add more republics, greek silver and mostly Silver Roman Tetradrachms, hopefully a few being empresses.

Medieval coinage is also a plus.

 

Mark Anthony CHORTIVM PRAETORIARVM and CHORTIS SPECVLATORVM denarii are perpetually on my wish list.

 

A big, fat, 3 legged Buffalo in AU-58!

 

I was asking Sallent.

 

Antietam AU 50+

 

@Orfew





and...

 

I would not arm wrestle you.

 

A Domitian denarius with the Temple of Capitoline Jupiter reverse, RIC 815. I have a corresponding cistophorus struck earlier in his reign depicting the building, but the later denarius type alludes me. They rarely are seen in trade.