dadams TOP 10 - a small but meaningful few.

Earlier this year I was buying US type coins but I shall not bore you with those. In fact, since I bought my first ancient coin on August 27th I have not bought a single US coin!

Here are my top 10 Ancients (out of my collection now totaling 16):


#10 - Nothing too special about this one except that I liked it and it was cheap. For the time being I've been trying to by coins that are pretty well centered and that I find attractive and interesting.

Valens (364-378), Æ3. Siscia Mint.
Obv: DN VALENS PF AVG - Diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right.
Rev: SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE - Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm
* over A in left field, DASISC in exergue.
16.72mm, 2.6g.
RIC IX SISCIA 7b, type VII


#9 - Here is another that wasn't a bank breaker and I liked the silvering. This coin taught me the rudiments about "officinae". Still much to learn.

Maximianus Herculius (286-305, 307-308), Æ3 Silvered Antoninianus. Antioch, Officina 8 AD 293.
Obv: IMP C M A MAXIMIANVS P F AVG - Radiate, cuirassed bust right.
Rev: CONCORDIA MILI_TVM - Emperor standing right, scepter in left hand, receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter standing left, scepter in left hand.
H in lower field, XXI in exergue.
20mm, 3.7g. Remnant silvering.
RIC V, Part II ANTIOCH 621


#8 - I picked this out of a dealers inventory because I admired the fact that Maximinus I rose up through the ranks of the Roman army to become Emperor. Evidently he was a giant of a man.

Maximinus I Thrax (235-238) AR Denarius, Rome AD 235/6.
Obv.: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG - Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
Rev.: PROVIDENTIA AVG - Providentia standing left, holding wand over globe in right hand, cornucopia in left.
20.32mm, 3.24g. Toned aXF
RIC IV 13


#7 - This one came from the same dealer as #8 and again I chose this one for the interesting story of the Emperor- he was quite a character.

Elagabalus (218-222), AR Antoninianus. Rome, AD 218/19.
Obv: IMP CAES ANTONINVS AVG - radiate draped bust right.
Rev: MARS VICTOR - Mars walking right, holding spear and trophy.
21.3mm, 4.0g. aXF. Scarce.
RIC IV, Part II, 120
ex. Forman collection


#6 - My first Greek coin and one I had to educate myself about heavily before purchasing in an effort to avoid one from the "Black Sea Hoard."

THRACE, Mesembria. Æ16. Struck ca. 400-350 BC.
Obv: Crested Corinthian helmet facing.
Rev: Quadripartite radiate wheel, M-E-T-A in spaces between spokes.
16.03mm, 3.2g.
Sear 1675


#5 - This Philip I coin is the first I fully attributed by myself.

Philip I (244-249), AR Antoninianus (Double Denarius). Rome, AD 244-247.
Obv: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG - Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right, seen from behind
Rev: LIBERALITAS AVGG II - Liberalitas standing facing, head left, cornucopia in left hand, coin shaker in right.
22mm, 4.18g
RIC IV, Part III, 38b (C)


#4 - I had two coins in hand at a dealers table- this one below and a rather nice Aurelius AR Denarius. History won over beauty. This one commemorates Aurelius' victories in the German wars.

Marcus Aurelius (161-180), Æ Dupondius. Rome, AD 170/1.
Obv: M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXV - Head of Marcus Aurelius, radiate, right.
Rev: IMP VI COS III S C - Victory standing right, fixing shield inscribed VIC GER on palm.
24.31mm, 10.73g.
RIC III, 1002


#3 - Wish the pic was better but I really like this coin. My first experience with roman portraiture.

Septimius Severus (193-211) AR Denarius. Rome, AD 207.
Obv: SEVERVS PIVS AVG - Laureate head of Septimius Severus right.
Rev: P M TR P XV COS III P P - Victory, standing right, foot on globe, inscribing shield set on palm tree.
2.58g, 19.83mm.
RIC IV Part I ROME 211


#2 - I've been reading Suetonius' The Lives of the Twelve Caesars and a friend gifted me this dupondis to ensure that I had one of the 12 to hold and admire while I read. I'm midway through Nero now and can't wait until I reach Vespasian!

Vespasian (69-79), Æ28 Dupondius. Lugdunum, AD 77–78.
Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS VIII PP - Laureate head right, globe under point of bust.
Rev: FIDES PVBLICA - Fides standing left, holding patera and cornucopiae, S-C across fields.
Orichalcum, 28.11mm, 12g
RIC II Part I (2nd Ed.) 1210; Sear 2347.


#1 - This one takes 1st simply because it started my journey.

Constantine I (306-337) Silvered Æ3 Follis. Nicomedia, Officina 1 AD 328-9.
Obv: CONSTAN-TINVS AVG - Pearl-diademed head right.
Rev: PROVIDEN-TIAE AVGG - Campgate with six stone layers, no door, two turrets and a star above.
SMNA in exergue. 2.58g, 17.5mm. Remnant silvering.
RIC VII NICOMEDIA 153

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

A pleasant and lovely group you got. I happen to like 4 & 3 best.

 

In my mind, this is what 'numismatics' is all about:
An appreciation of the artistry and history of the individual coins, and a desire to learn as much as possible about them.
Beautiful historic coins.
You have excellent taste.

 

A very nice selection!

 

What a nice start with this first collection. I wonder what you'll be showing us by the end of next year. Superb.. Happy New Year.

 

Nice group of coins! Certainly much better than I did in my first year collecting.

 

Welcome to the dark side.
Very nice coins, congrats!​

 

Congrats on a fantastic rookie-season

Hmmm, I think that #6 and #3 are my two favourites

 

Big effort for four months and pretty diversified, well done great coins, I agree with Steve 6 and 3 are my favorites too, but they are all good.

 

Great.

More competition.





Nice way to start your ancients collection!! My favorites are 3, 7, and 8

 

You're off to a great start!

 

@dadams This is a great Top 10! Super job getting started. I enjoyed walking through each of your coins, and WHY you got them. Looks like you are exploring several different avenues, which makes it fun collecting. It is amazing how as you collect Ancients, your Moderns efforts began to fall off. There is an incredible amount of RICH history that surrounds the Ancient coins.

I like ALL of your selections as they EACH have a specific meaning to you. That is what I find FUN for my collecting. Almost EVERY one in MY collection are special to me, as each one was captured for a Historic or special meaning to me. It is extremely difficult for me to say: "These are my best coins", when I enjoy them ALL.

Much of the Modern history seems like it becomes boring or "been there, done that, already have the T-Shirt" feeling... I love the HAND-MANUFACTURED aspect of Ancients as opposed to machine-made / mass market reality of Moderns... boring...

Congrats on the start of your Journey!

 

LOL, I decided a long time ago (even before I started posting here, and was only observing), that I was not even going to ATTEMPT to compete with YOU. You have too good of an eye.

 

Wonderful acquisitions for your burgeoning collection--you are rightfully proud!

This is what ancient numismatics is all about--an appreciation of the history and art behind each coin, the awe and wonder at holding an artifact in your hand!

May you have many more happy years in ancient numismatics!

 

That is a great list and I enjoyed reading it and looking at the coins.

You have come a long way in a short period of time and you are putting together an impressive collection. I can't wait to see what you accomplish in 2017!

 

That's a wonderful selection!!! I guess I would choose 3, 6 and 8 as my favorites and the others tied for second place

 

Very nice! I'd say #4 is my favorite, because I like Roman coins that can be tied to specific historical events such as a military victory, birth or naming of an heir, or completion of a public construction project.

 

It is interesting how opinions vary. My preferences are 3, 8, 9 and 10. Considering how I preferred the last three over the others makes me wonder if my favorite might have been in your 11-16 group. That is the way the hobby goes.

 

A very smart selection. No one would guess you started collecting ancients only four months ago. I'm a bit sad for your US coins though, they must feel forsaken...

Welcome to the dark side
Q

 

Very good top 10! Once I became a serious ancients collector I gave up everything else...except military trade tokens. That's still a passion of mine.

I'm very jealous of your #6 because it's a type I want and as a campgate collector I like your #1 also.