I've been curious for a while. Just as many of you maintain a gallery on FAC, I have too. For many reasons, chief of which is it gives me an on line storage option just as a fail safe. A couple of years ago, I lost my computer database, but because I had my FAC gallery, I was able to reconstruct it with the information I had stored there. Now to my question: FAC keeps good records of how many times a coin is viewed along with comments. Now I know my collection is not considered top shelve, but I do have a few very nice coins. Many I would expect to garner views from the FAC audience. Coins like my Caligula and Claudius denarii. However, one coin that has been viewed nearly as much is my HERENNIUS ETRUSCUS Antoninianus. I see nothing special about this coin (besides the ghost image of the bust), but perhaps others see something I don't. Here is is: HERENNIUS ETRUSCUS Antoninianus OBV: Q HER ETR MES DECIVS NOB C, Bare-headed and draped bust right REV: PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Herennius standing left, holding rod and spear 3.0g, 20mm RIC 147c And, I suppose I have a second question. Do any of you have coins that appear to get more attention than others? Post them.
I can't answer your first question but I can share a coin from my website that gets visited more than others. This scrappy little bronze that I paid a whole dollar for on eBay a few years ago has over 12,000 views and I have no idea why: Macedon under Roman Rule. Gaius Publilius, Quaestor, Æ22 (10.65g), 168-167 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right / ΓΑΙΟΥ ΤΑΜΙΟΥ ΠΟΠΛΙΛΙΟΥ in two lines within wreath. MacCay, "Bronze Coinage In Macedonia, 168-166 BC," ANSMN 14 (1968), pp. 5, pl.III, 2; SNG Copenhagen 1320.
The coin in my forum gallery that has the most number of news is my Otho denarius. I do not think that is very surprising. However, when I found the coin with the second most views it was not my Claudius denarii or my Caligula denarii, it was this denarius of Vespasian. To me that was surprising.
I have no idea what FAC is but I have to wonder why you don't have a backup of you database. I both have backups and RAID.
I don't know why that coin is the most viewed in your FAC gallery, but then again, I don't know why this is the most viewed in mine either. Titus AR Denarius, 3.40g Rome Mint, 80 AD RIC 131 (R). BMC 82. RSC 323a. Obv: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P; Tripod, with fillets streaming out l. and r., on which are ravens r. and l., and in the centre, dolphin over wreath Acquired from Beast Coins, April 2007.
This coin got more likes when I first posted it than any other thread on any other coin that I've ever made. I really can't understand why... .
FAC=Forum Ancient coins. Another forum for those of us with the Ancient bug. As far as backup, I do have everything backed up in several places - now. Actually, I have had a backup drive for a few years. My problem is remembering to keep it up to date (it may be just laziness). That's where my FAC files came in handy as I always add new coins there when I add them to my catalog.
This is my most viewed coin at Forum, while it looks like fake patina it most definitely is not. The green didn't come off. In fact, over the years it has toned down quite a bit and is now a wonderful darker green. NERO CAESAR AVG GERM IMP Laureate head left SC Victory alighting left wings spread holding shield inscribed SPQR Rome mint 65 AD 11.16g Sear 1976 var. (head facing left.) RIC 1 352 VF ex-ANE http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-34044 The one that surprises me the most is this one though...it even has a 5 star rating! http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-75533 NUTELLA CESAR 1995 Coscinny Uderzo in Exergue Laureate draped bust of Caesar CAESAR DICT PERPETVO Laureate head right 5.57g Uncertain Italian mint Found in a jar of Nutella!
I have wondered the same thing about some coins at Tantalus. I'm just as mystified as you are about receiving 291 views for a Theodosius I coin and I'm like why? http://www.tantaluscoins.com/coins/41331.php I do remember when you had that hard drive crash. It is very handy indeed to have a FAC and Tantalus galleries.
Perhaps it is linked on some other site or discussion board. Since you can't access Google Analytics (or other analytic interface) for your FAC gallery, you'll never know if that is the case and if it were to be so, the reason for the link. Side note: I tried a Google Image search with your picture to see if it brought up any hits other than FAC or CoinTalk. Google Image Search thinks your coin is Zenobia
Yeah, right, looks like a Julius Caesar coin and it's not too difficult to understand that lots of people got nuts about those coins. I'm not so enthused about JC coins because I feel that the series has been nearly ruined by fakes. It's best to stay away and not take the chance. Even expert numismatists of 10-40 years experience can be fooled. That tells me to stay away!
Bing—I don't agree with your statement that your collection is not top shelf! Much of what makes ancient coins beautiful is their silent testimony to a millennium of human history. These coins were carried and used by all types of people—both cowards and heroes—famous and infamous—and everyday people who lived life, provided for their families, and dealt with problems and hardships that most of us will never experience. Your coin has a lot of visual appeal. Nice centering, strong portrait detail, strongly struck letters from a stressed and well used die. I personally never tire of seeing nice coins displayed by CTAF members multiple times. Like viewing a classic movie or looking at a great painting—every time we see it, we experience something different that we had not noticed before. Think of it like a first girlfriend in our younger years—they will always hold a special place in our hearts and memory. Even though others have come and gone—the first will always hold the honor of being first and take on legendary status.
You seem to be interested in Judaean coins perhaps. I just updated my FAC Judaea section coins with Phoenician characters. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=5678
Thanks, @Gil-galad ! Great Judaeans on your coin gallery page. Most of my collection consists of coins of Judaea and the kingdoms of the Levant and Middle East.
TIF, the font displays using Noto Sans Phoenician. I think the letters need to be reversed however, so that they can be read from right to left.