The Favorite Coin in My Collection

This is my favorite, not because of what it is or it's value. This coin was passed from my grandfather to my dad and then to me (I had it graded, mostly to preserve it).

 

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Hey, guess what?

=> yup, I have a new pair of undies today!!






... the angry dolphin is always one of my all-time favourites

 

Here's my favourite coin:

A bronze Shekel of Jerusalem



Very little is known about it. There are only a few known to exist.

Erin

 

Difficult choice for me as well, but on June 11 I started a thread entitled "My New Favorite Coin" with this one, so I'll stick with it for awhile:



Thurium, Lucania, AR Double Nomos or Distater, c 413-412 BC, 23 mm, 15.21 g, 2h. OBV: Head of Athena right. The hair on her forehead resembles ocean waves and might represent the coast of Thurium. She is wearing a crested Attic helmet, the bristles of which are attached to double lines, the upped dotted, the lower solid. The bowl of her helmet is decorated with Skylla, the sea monster Odysseus’ ship encountered on his journey back from the Trojan War, where she devoured six of his sailors. She raises her left arm to scan for ships. Her lower body is of a sea serpent, with spikes atop the curve and a fish tail. She has two dog heads protruding from her waist, with which to devour sailors. On the neck guard of the helmet, griffin standing right; Φ (Greek letter phi, signature of engraver Phrygillos) in upper right field / REV: City ethnic above bull butting right on double exergual lines, upper solid, lower dotted; in exergue, fish swimming right. S.P. Noe, The Thurian Di-Staters, ANS NNM 71 (1935), 39, B2j (first die with Skylla) = SNG ANS 957 (same dies); HN Italy 1781.
Purchased 7 June 2016 in Ira & Larry Goldberg Auction 91, lot 1772.
From the JTB Numismatic Collection, 688.
Ex: Hess-Divo AG, Auction 317, 27 October 2010, lot 27.
Ex: Munzen & Medaillen GmbH (Stuttgart), Auction 10, 22 March 2002, lot 147.

 

I remember your thread. The Skylla and griffin on the obverse portrait make this coin an incredible work of ancient mythology and art, a coin that any collector would be pleased to own.

 

Great coin!

 

My favorite coin
I can't deny that it was the Judaean lepton (Widow's Mite in popular belief) that initially drew me into the love of collecting ancients. The AlexanderJannaeus star and anchor lepton and prutah have to get the vote for my favorite coins.

My entire coin collection consisted of over one hundred prutot, both slabbed and not. I have so many of them that they fill a suitcase.




My goal is to fill another suitcase with coins of the Biblical Kingdoms, and another suitcase with Judaean coins of the various kings and procurators.

I still hold the Widow's Mite in the highest regard and I continue to use these coins to inspire hope and courage among my parishioners who are struggling with illness and other debilating issues. The slabbed coins are very effective in that pursuit. The power of faith and the mind is powerful medicine. And to have in ones possession an actual coin that was in circulation during the time that the Saints and the earliest Christians walked the earth is a miracle in and of itself.

 

@Deacon Ray, I may not be on board with your addiction to slabbing but I definitely love your use of coins in your ministry! Good work, my friend

 

Looks like a fantastic collection @Deacon Ray

 

Probably my favorite coin...

Africa, Zeugutana, Carthage
Anonymous (s. BC 310-290)
EL Dekadrachm (Stater)
18.5 mm x 7.27 grams
Obverse: Wreathed head of Tanit left, eleven pendants on necklace; pellet before neck
Reverse: Horse standing right; two pellets below exergue line
Ref:Jenkins & Lewis Group V, 259–79; MAA 10; SNG Copenhagen 975

 

Yup ... that's definitely a sweet coin, Noob

Oh, and A-nut => your coin is absolutely amazing (congrats)

 

That is beyond awesome...

 

If I have to choose just one

 

very cool

 

Gorgeous coin!!!

 

This is certainly one of my favorite roman coins. It portrays one of my favorite emperors (Trajan), it has a nice patina, and it depicts one of my favorite themes
in ancient coins (architectural).
(that is 3 favorites in one sentence!)

Attribution and description from CNG sale:

TRAJAN. 98-117 AD. Æ Sestertius (35mm, 22.78 gm). Struck circa 104-107 AD. Obj: Laureate bust right, wearing aegis
Rev: Triumphal arch of Trajan, consisting of a massive base, with gateposts and gateway under central arch, with elaborate superstructures; on the sides of the base, bas-reliefs from top to bottom on each side; panels either side of pediment; the pediment contains Jupiter and the panels each contain a quadriga racing inwards; the frieze on the roof is inscribed IOM, atop of which, is a six-horse chariot escorted front by two Victories; to either side trophies. RIC II 572; Cohen 547. Near VF, green patina. A masterful architectural rendition.

 

Love the patina on it!

 

Thank you, Mat!

 

I'll throw in another.....which continually moves up my favorites list.

This Tetradrachm is scarce and they seem to rarely come up in any auction. I have only now noticed a similar 'AR nine obols' type (5.14 grams)--- offered at a ridiculously high estimate/price at an imminent Pegasi-Agora auction. My Tet is a little 'rough' but pretty cool for just what it is:

Thrace, Byzantion; 26mm, 12.43 grams----circa 240-200 BC
Veiled Demeter with Poseidon seated:

 

Yeah, if I owned that one, it would probably be my favorite. That is an amazing depiction of Poseidon. As for Pegasi's prices, Pegasi tends to overprice their coins. I feel like their opening bids are already market price or just above market prices.