Top 10 of 2018 (from FitzNigel)

I think I am ready to post my top 10, as any other coins I currently have my eye on will probably not break into these ranks. This was a bit of a strange year for me, as I don’t feel like I bought many coins. I actually bought loads (maybe around 75?), but most of those were for use in my classroom, or came in lots with coins I bought for class that I don’t have much intention of keeping. Only 21 coins will go in my permanent collection, which did make putting together a top ten a little easier.

10. William I Follis

Norman Italy - Sicily
William I, r. 1154-1166 (1155-1156)
Messina mint, AE Follaro, 14.15 mm x 1.27 grams
Obv.: ΜΡ ΘΥ (Mother of God). Madonna with Christ Child
Rev.: Cufic legend, “Minted in Messina the year fifty and five hundred.” surrounding REX / ●W●
Ref.: NCKS 338, MEC 14.289A

This coin is a pain to photograph. It is fairly dark, which makes it hard to see the details if not in hand. The tiny concave shape is intriguing, but what I found interesting about this coin was the design. This issue shows the Hodegetria; the Virgin Mary holds an infant Christ, pointing at him as an indication that he is the way to salvation. This image was copied by the Normans in one of their chapels, and this seems to have found its way to this coin.

9. Manuel I Tetarteron

Byzantine Empire
Manuel I, r. 1143-1180 A.D.
AE Tetarteron, 20.34 mm x 4 grams
Obv.: MANȣHA ΔϵCΠOTHC. Manuel, bearded, stg. facing, wearing crown, division, locos and sagion, and holding cruciform scepter and akakia
Rev.: M̅P̅, Θ̅V̅. The Virgin, nimbate, stg. r., with hands raised towards the hand of God in upper field to r. She wears pallium and maphorium
Ref.: SBCV 1968

Here is another coin with the Virgin Mary on it. The was not an intentional collecting focus, but the Virgin holding her hands in deesis seemed rather unique to me. I don’t know if there are other issues with a similar design, but I have not seen them.

8. Caracalla Provincial AE26

Provincial Rome - Macedon
Caracalla, r. 198-217 A.D.
Edessa AE26, 26 mm x 7.7 grams
Obv.: AV K A]VPH AN TΩNINO[C], laureate and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: Roma, holding Nike and parazonium, seated left on cuirass and shield, being crowned by Tyche with wreath; [Tyche also holds scepter]
Ex. Belgica Collection. Ex Gorny & Mosch 229 (10 March 2015), lot 1509
Note: Some Smoothing

While I still have the goal of collecting a sharp portrait denarius of Caracalla for each year of his reign, this has begun to morph into a side collection of large and unique provincial bronzes. At 26mm, this isn’t the largest of coins, but it is still a decent size. This isn’t necessarily unique either, but the reverse is unusual and I like that there are multiple figures. I don’t yet have the coin in hand (I’m breaking one of my cardinal rules here...), but wanted to jump in on the end of the year bandwagon. The picture belongs to the seller (CNG), who has noted this coin has some smoothing. Unfortunate, but again, I liked the look of it.

7. Fulk V Denarius

French Feudal, Anjou
Fulk V or Geoffrey V, r. 1109-1129 or 1129-1151
AR Denier, 18.92 mm x 0.9 grams
Obv.: +FVLCO COMES starting at 3hr. cross pattée, omega in quadrant 3, alpha in quadrant 4
Rev.: + VRBS AIDCCSV. Around Fulk’s monogram
Ref.: Duplessy 375, Roberts 4114

The reason behind this coin was that I wanted an issue from Henry II of England from his home county if Anjou. Unfortunately, the coins of Anjou had become immobilized with the reign of Fulk V. There may be some research that has been done to further date types, but I have not yet seen them. This particular coin was a chance find at a coin show, and for a reasonable price as well, so I thought it was worth snagging. Perhaps I can do more research in the future and grab another, but this will do for now.

6. William II Large Follis

Norman Italy - Sicily
William II, r. 1166-1189
Messina Mint, Second Copper Large Follaro, 25.28 mm x 11.2 grams
Obv.: Lion Head
Rev.: Palm tree with dates
Ref.: NCKS 372, MEC 14.425

This was another chance find at a coin show. Perhaps a weaker strike than I would have liked, but the coin had been on my wishlist, and the price was reasonable. The imagery on these are interesting, as the obverse seems to harken back to the Ancient Greek coins of Bruttium which depict a lion’s scalp. I’m not sure if this was intentional or not, and have been meaning to do more research, but the potential connection is intriguing.

5. Norman Imitation of an Anonymous Follis

Norman Italy - Apulia
Roger Borsa, r. 1085-1111; AE Follis, 19.08 mm x 2.2 grams
Obv.: Bust of Christ facing, cross behind, wearing pallium and Colvin, raising right hand in benediction, Gospels in left, crescent above, IC - XC flanking
Rev.: Cross with globule and two pellets at each extremity, large crescent below, four globules around each surrounded by pellets
Note: Imitative of a Byzantine Anonymous Follis, Class J. Found in Southern Italy. It cannot be earlier than 1085, but my attribution to Roger Borsa in Apulia is due to coins if a similar weight and size from this time and region

Speaking of intrigue, this one contains loads of mysteries! I had been eyeing this coin which FORVM had for sale for some time, but decided to buy it after their appeal for aid following Hurricane Florence. There is no definitive proof that this was a Norman struck coin, but it was found in southern Italy, and is much thinner and lighter than Byzantine Folles (and thus more like a European coin). This imitates a type J Follis, and this could be no earlier than 1081, but that would put it in the final days of Robert Guiscard and possible the reign of Roger Borsa. I’ll never know for sure... but I suspect Borsa.

4. Maille of Ghent

Low Countries - Flanders
City of Ghent, 4th Period, 1253-1300
AR Mailles, 11.3 mm x 0.5 grams
Obv.: Head left within circle of pellets, three rings in helmet, Lisa on top and cross behind
Rev.: Open cross with bended limbs
Ref.: DeWitt 1266

The Mailles of Flanders were city issues which initially contained the name of the ruling count, but eventually became anonymous issues. This particular coin is one of the last issues for Ghent, minted sometime between 1253 and 1300. While the coin has no legend, it is the same design as earlier issues with legends that identify it as an issue of Ghent. Ultimately, though, the image is just fantastic! It’s wonderfully reminiscent of 12th Century knights, but it an unusual and unique style.

3. Enrico Dandolo Denaro

Italy - Venice
Enrico Dandolo, r. 1192-1205
AR Denaro, 13.66 mm x 0.4 grams
Obv.: +S MARCVS around small cross
Rev.: +ENRIC DVX around small cross
Ref.: De Wit 3625

Enrico Dandolo was the Doge of Venice at the time of the Fourth Crusade. In many of the accounts of the crusade, Dandolo was viewed as responsible for leading the crusade away from the Holy Land to sacking Constantinople. From a Numismatic perspective, payment for the crusade led to the minting of the Grosso: a new denomination which would spread throughout Europe. A Grosso of Dandolo would be one of my white whales - as would any coin by Dandolo! Hence my surprise and delight when this coin became available for a mere $20! The small Denaro (or piccolo as they would eventually be called) are more numerous than the Grosso of Dandolo’s, but I still have not seen any for sale before this one.

2. Frederick II Denari

Kingdom of Sicily
Frederick II, r. 1197-1250 (1243)
Brindisi Mint, BL Denari, 18.64 mm x .07 grams
Obv.: +F●ROM●IPR’●SeP●AVG. Bare head right.
Rev.: +R●IERSL’●ET SICIL’. Eagle facing with head r.
Ref.: MEC 14.555-7

While Frederick II was Holy Roman Emperor, in many ways he was the last Norman king of Sicily. While technically a Hohenstaufen, his mother Constance was the daughter of Roger II, and Frederick seems to have had a greater affinity for his Sicilian possessions than his German ones. Frederick also had an affinity for birds, which is partly what attracted me to this coin, especially within the incredibly detailed plumage on the falcon on the reverse. I’m still looking into the design, and am curious how it matches up to Frederick’s depictions in the book he wrote on Falconry.

1. Robert Curthose Denari

French Feudal, Normandy
Robert Curthose, r. 1087-1106
AR Denier, 20 mm x 0.93 grams
Obv.: +NOR[MAN]NA. Cross patted with pellets in angles
Rev.: RI/AV in two lines
Ref.: Dumas Group D XXI-17, Duplessy 32var., Roberts 3901-9var.
Ex BRN Collection, purchased from Andy Singer June 2012

I saved the ugliest coin for last. I have developed quite an interest in these crude deniers of Normandy post Richard the Fearless. The coins usually contain geometric designs on the reverse (which may be devolved depictions of a temple), but there is a group of these coins which instead have a series of initials. The initials are baffling, but the current theory is that they may have been issued during the reign of Robert Curthose. I haven’t seen one of these available before and wasn’t expecting to see one for some time. CNG had an auction with several Norman coins offered, and the inclusion of a rare, unrecorded type in that same auction probably deflected people from this issue (that and this one was probably the ugliest of all those on offer).

All in all, a good year. Perhaps not my best, but I certainly got some top coins!

 

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A wonderful top 10 @FitzNigel ! My favourites are the Fulk V and the "Stupor Mundi". I am still looking for a Fulk V.

Of course I also love the Curthose and William I is on my list.

 

Cool coins!

 

Ah, Medieval niche! Love your collection and hope to start looking into this niche soon. My favorites are the Faulk and Frederick II. The Ghent coin is special since I've been there several times. Congrats on a good year.

 

Very nice, I especially like your Sicily coins and the Frederick outstanding quality.

 

Well, now that you completed your Legionaire Denarii, come join the Medieval fun!

Edited to fix a grievous error caused by apple’s horrendous predictatext

 

A great year!! My favourites are the William I follaro and the William II trifollaro, the Norman imitation follis (how cool is that!?!), and the Enrico Dandolo (boy do I want one of those). #1 and #2 are great too, of course.

Here's my Freddy II, which doesn't hold a candle to your awesome falcon/eagle:

 

Cool Coins !!

 

#8 COOL reverse on that Caracalla!

#6 Lion head and palm combo are great!

#2 is #1 for me, the style of the head and eagle is very cool!

 

Such great coins @FitzNigel I like them all. Congratulations on a year well done. The maille of Ghent is my favorite of the group, and a type I was completely unfamiliar with until you posted it. Your denaro of Dandolo and the denari of Stupor Mundi are also wonderful.

 

Great 2018 top ten, @FitzNigel!!! My favorite is your Enrico Dandol... I really like this small crosses in the middle. And of course the eagle in your Frederick II is killer too! Here's to an even better 2019!

 

I still buy MA Legionary denarii. I got one in the mail today. I can't seem to help myself!

 

Very interesting reverse type on that Caracalla from Macedon!

 

Nice year @FitzNigel ! My favorites are #3, #7 and #9.

Here is an Erico Dandolo grosso from the Carrer museum in Venice.


Here is my Manuel I Tetarteron (needs a new photo).

Byzantine Empire
Manuel I Komnenos (AD 1118 – 1180)
AE Tetarteron, Constantinople mint, struck ca. 1143-1180
Obv.: St. George draped and cuirassed, bust facing, holding spear and shield.
Rev.: Manuel I crowned, bust facing, holding labarum and globus cruciger.
Ref.: SB 1970
Ex Sallent Collection

Write Up:
A Tetarteron of Manuel I

 

Looks like a good year, Fitzy! I'm partial to the Caracalla but please don't make a habit of shopping in my department .

 

I just dip my toes every now and then to see what all the fuss is about...

 

Great list @FitzNigel I knew I'd like it before I even opened it.

 

You're not taking the easy route, but all and everyone are interesting coins

Chapeau !
Q

 

Regarding Fulk, the latest research (Kool, 2013) seems to indicate that the billon coinage of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem might have started with him around the same time with the billon deniers of the neighboring Tripoli and Antioch, cca. 1140.



(Pic comes from https://www.bearersofthecross.org.u...rusader-coins-museum-order-st-john/jerusalem/)

Previously (Malloy) it had been assigned to the 1240s City of Acre, while Metcalf suggested it might have been related to the Third Crusade. New research by the Hebrew Uni dates this type as early as 1140 and the links to the reign of Fulk do not end here. Notice that the A and W dangling from the arms of the cross, a common feature of the immobilized Angevin coinage of the mid 11th and the 12th centuries, is also common to the Jerusalem/Acre denier.

 

I love story coins. Hard to beat that Enrico Dandolo denario. A piccolo coin with grosso significance.