I was going to wait for a few more weeks to post this because the year isn't over yet. But I don't want to miss out on all the fun and if I get another coin in the next couple of weeks that warrants inclusion, I'll post an addendum! This list was tough to compile because I purchased a lot of coins this year and I like them all. Last summer, I posted a list of the top 10 I had purchased in 2018 up to that time, but I’ve added so many cool additions to my collection that only the top two from my original list made the final cut! Without further ado, I present my top 10 of 2018: 10. Apollo preparing to slay Python is the subject of the reverse design on this coin, a Pentassarion from Marcianopolis issued by Caracalla. I love mythological scenes on coins, particularly because such scenes have inspired numerous artists over the centuries, as I discussed in an earlier thread. 9. I was happy to acquire this Roman provincial coin of Geta issued by the mint in Cremna in Pisidia, a city I had not yet had in my collection. I purchased it because I was fascinated by the goddess on the reverse: Mida. As I note in an earlier thread, Mida is a manifestation of Kybele considered by the ancient Phrygians to be the mother of King Midas. 8. I was so enamored by the depiction of Artemis on the reverse of this Roman Provincial of Gordian III from Hadrianopolis that I translated the Homeric Hymn 27 to Artemis from ancient Greek into English and explored the iconography of Artemis the huntress on ancient coins in an earlier thread. 7. Antoninus Pius was one proud grandpa! This sestertius may not be the highest grade or most well-preserved example, but research about it led me on a fun quest to identify who the two grandchildren depicted on the reverse might be. 6. Coins don’t have to be expensive or rare to be cool. The goddess Isis is cool, and research about the reverse of this antoninianus of Claudius Gothicus taught me a lot about her attributes – the sistrum and situla. 5. I added this Roman provincial to my collection because it was from a city I did not have represented in my collection, Seleukeia ad Kalykadnon in Cilicia. Curiosity about the coin – particularly its triangular countermark – let me to do a die-study and explore the countermark in detail. 4. I’ve asked it before and I’ll ask it again: “Is there anything cooler than Cybele riding in a quadriga pulled by lions?” I've wanted one of these denarii of Julia Domna for years and I finally got one! 3. Research into the enigmatic reverse on this denarius of Faustina I led me to write what became a featured article. I concluded that what appear to be an apple and shield are actually a globe and zodiac circle. Researching this coin’s reverse was among the most interesting research projects in ancient numismatics I have ever done! 2. This humble provincial of Julia Domna from Marcianopolis depicting The Three Nymphs led me not only to learn about what distinguishes the nymphs from the Three Graces, but to also do a die study. My study revealed the coin appears to have produced from only two pairs of obverse and reverse dies, without crossover between them. This project was fascinating and a lot of fun. 1. I have a long-standing interest in the coins of the Antonine Dynasty and this coin is one of the most notable of those depicting Faustina I. Moreover, it appears to be extremely scarce in the middle bronze denomination and I have been unable to find a single example of it online. But its scarcity is not what makes it interesting. Its reverse is interesting. As I note in an earlier thread, its reverse represents the earliest artistic representation of an imperial funeral pyre on Roman coinage. Moreover, the remains of the crematorium built by Antoninus Pius for his wife's funeral – depicted here on this coin – have been discovered near the Piazza Montecitorio, west of the Corso. I hope you all have a wonderful 2019, filled with amazing acquisitions and abundance and prosperity.
What a great year, RC!! I find myself loving all of these coins; no doubt your fantastic writeups contribute to this. The zodiac writeup in particular was one of my CoinTalk year's highlights. As someone who particularly enjoys middle bronzes, historical connections, and firsts, that Faustina is da bomb! Your CII (Isis) reminds me of one of my newest CII's with Neptune (ex zumbly):
Great year, RC, and thanks for your consistently high quality threads!! You're a pillar of CoinTalk . Of your 2018 Top Ten, my favorites are the Caracalla+Domna/Apollo, the Claudius Gothicus, and the Domna/Cybele lion quadriga but all are interesting.
Great coins RC, I especially like your silver and your funeral pyre, I have one of the more common type not as interesting as yours.
It's hard to pick favorites as they are all great! I do think #3 and #4 are stand outs for me though. I really enjoyed your write up on that Faustina! Great year.
Congrats on a great year in coin adventures. My fav is the Julia Domna/ Lions Quadriga But that shows my true nature, I love coins depicting animals/ real and mythical.
Wow. That Julia Domna with the Cybele reverse is wonderful and my personal favourite from your list. Congrats on a fantastic numismatic 2018!
+1! And what an excellent Top 10! Hard to pick a favorite amongst them as they're all special for different reasons. I'd be happy with any of those coins in my collection, but I found the writeup on the Faustina denarius to be especially intriguing and I really love that coin!
Great coins for 2018, congratulations. My favorites are number 1 and 3. On the reverse of the coin of number 7, it looks like there are 2 mermaids, or is that just me?
Snake killing Apollo! Plus that coin has such a pretty green patina! Creepy cornucopia head kids is great also! Nice toning highlights and sweet flow lines on Faustina denarius!
