Well, all the cool kids are posting their Top 10 of the Year lists, so I might as well join in. Four of the items are actually modern, and one is actually a token, but I like them anyway . So, not necessarily in order of preference: 1. Numidia. Micipsa (148- 118 BC). AE 25. As we discussed, coins of Micipsa and his father Masinissa are very hard (in some cases maybe impossible) to distinguish, so it's possible this is actually Masinissa. That would actually make this even more historically significant, since Masinissa was pals with Scipio Africanus in the Second Punic War. Either way, a very cool coin of a forgotten people. Roman Empire, Egypt, Alexandria. Vespasian (69- 79 AD). AE diobol. A nice portrait of Vespasian, and very cool portrait of the Egyptian goddess Isis. 3. Roman Empire. Domitian (81- 96). AE As. The reverse is so-so, and the obverse legend partly off the flan. But that wonderful high-relief portrait... 4. Great Britain. 1773. Halfpenny, for use in Virginia. Not a very beautiful coin, but I was happy to get a US Colonial coin inexpensively, because of the great historical interest. 5. Artuqids of Mardin. Nasir al-Din Artuq Arslan (1201-1239 AD). AE dirhem. The Artuqids, like several other minor Islamic dynasties of the time, featured a range of interesting pictorial types on their coins, sometimes derived from ancient prototypes. This coin has a portrait clearly based on a Roman Julio-Claudian emperor. 6. Persis. Ardashir V (c. 212- 224 AD). AE. Another not-so-beautiful coin, but it captures an important moment in history. Ardashir V issued this type as the Parthian vassal in Persis. He would then lead a successful revolt against the Parthians, overthrow and kill the last Parthian king, and become the founder of the Sasanian dynasty as Ardashir I of Persia. Note the Zoroastrian fire-altar that would become so familiar on Sasanian coins. 7. Roman Empire. Faustina Junior (161- 175 AD). AR denarius. As I stated in my full write-up of this coin, I really like the reverse type of twin babies on a throne. It's a perfect example of Imperial propaganda (showing the continuity of the bloodline), and yet it's also a beautifully human detail. 8. and 9. Italy. 1909 and 1911. AE 5 centesimi and AE 10 centesimi. King Victor Emmanuel III (reigned 1900- 1946) was a serious numismatist, and (although I haven't seen proof) I can't help but think he was responsible for the high artistic quality of Italian coinage in the early 20th century. The 5 centesimi was the standard circulating type for several years, while the 10 centesimi is a one-year circulating commemorative for the 50th anniversary of Italian unification. I admit I have fallen in love with these ladies, despite their being purely symbolic. 10. China. Qing dynasty (1644- 1911). Brass charm. The reverse of this charm shows a tiger and phoenix (auspicious animals) and the standard representation of clouds (showing heaven), but the obverse reveals something very specific that was being wished for. The inscriptions translates as "Good news of a triple first", which was the highest grade in the Imperial Exam. The Imperial Exam, which was held annually in China for over a thousand years until the very end of the Empire, was basically a civil service exam that allowed talented men, no matter their origin, to enter the Imperial bureaucracy. It was essentially a multi-day essay exam that tested knowledge of the Confucian literary classics, and also the applicant's ability to write in the "correct" style. It ensured that administrators throughout the vast Empire would all have a shared set of Confucian values and ability to communicate with each other and their superiors, and helped ensure that talented men without family connections could still achieve wealth and status within the system. A very cool bit of history, picked up in a Steve Album auction. So, that's my Top 10 for 2016. I'm hoping for even more exciting coins in the New Year!
Really interesting comments on each coin, especially the Chinese token and the Italian coins. The Great Britain halfpenny - I can't remember what indicates they were used in the colonies. Is it the countermarked P?
On the Virginia halfpenny, look carefully along the edge of the reverse. From about 2 to 4 o'clock it reads "VIRGI" and from 7 to 8 o'clock "NIA". Definitely intended for Virginia- I listed it as "Great Britain" because these coins were minted in the mother country, not the colonies, and then transported over. No idea about the P countermark- probably privately done, but single-letter countermarks are usually impossible to attribute to a specific person/group/company/etc. Thanks for the kind comments, everyone- the only reason I'm not individually thanking everyone who's responded is that I don't want to clog up this thread with too many posts. But please know that I do appreciate hearing that you enjoy my posts.
