Zumbly's Year-End Favorites List : #20 - #11

For me, 2018 was a big year in Coinland and an unusually busy one outside of it. I haven't had as much time to post and participate on CT as I'd have liked, so I'll be attempting to make up for it by doing a Top 20 instead of Top 10 this year. This will also allow me to show a number of coins that I've not yet introduced here on CT but have become favorites of mine. I'll be posting the list in two parts, with this one covering #20 - #11.


#20.
TRAJAN. AE Sestertius. Circus Maximus.

I'm likely to only ever have this budget version of the Circus Maximus type, but I'm more than happy with it. Just having it in hand brings me back to what seems like a long ago holiday in Rome. From a rushed trudge through the ruins of the Forum in drizzly weather, to a stressful hunt for a quiet nook in the upper levels of the Colosseum to let my wife nurse our wailing infant, things weren't the most conducive for taking in the glory of ancient Rome. It was therefore a nice change of pace when we had a moment to relax at a spot overlooking the long grassy expanse of what was once the Circus Maximus. The trip was actually only 5 years ago, but this coin will remind me that I need to go back again for a proper visit. I'm looking forward to it!


#19.
EASTERN EUROPE. AR Tetradrachm. Imitating Amphipolis mint issue of Alexander the Great.

For some time, an imitative Alexander the Great tetradrachm has been on my want list. It wasn't a priority, so I didn't expect to get it this year, or even next year, but then this one turned up in a small group lot I won a few months ago. From the auction pictures, I didn't realize it was imitative, but once I had it in hand and took a closer look, it was pretty clear that it wasn't a regular issue. For me, this was actually an even better outcome than if it had been. Interestingly, these 'barbarous' issues are often no cheaper than the official ones, especially in decent condition. This one was certainly the prize of the lot it was in, with most of the other coins closer to the value you might expect for a $13 per coin group lot.


#18.
ROMAN REPUBLIC. AR Denarius. Uniface error strike, cf. Crawford 302/1 (L. Flaminius Chilo).

When I spotted this one, I knew I had to get it. It may only grade aVF for its obverse, but surely that pristine reverse is FDC! As far as mint errors go, brockages and die clashes are relatively common. Something like this, where two blanks got stuck and were struck together, resulting in two uniface coins, seems quite a bit rarer, and, IMHO, a corresponding amount cooler.


#17.
HADRIAN. AR Denarius. First Year Issue.

Did I nail a FDC this time? No? Oh well... my pay (and grading) scale really only goes up to EF anyway. Seriously, I thought this coin had an excellent strike and a wonderful early portrait of Hadrian from his first year on the throne, a style I've come to favour on coins of his. I've always confessed to liking ugly, but sometimes, I like pretty too, and what a sweet, sharp beauty this one is!


#16.
ROMAN REPUBLIC. AR Denarius. T. Didius, gladiators in combat.

I could regret the slightly off-center reverse of this coin, which loses some of the head of the gladiator on the right and all of his raised staff, but, in the words of a comforting pal, "it's better to have a T Didius than no T Didius". True! And the toning and overall look of this one was definitely nice for the price. I count it as a good sign I had no hesitation putting it in my Top 20 list, and more importantly, I'm liking it much more now than when I first won it.


#15.
CALABRIA, Tarentum. AR Didrachm. Vlasto 445 die clash.

The only addition to my small Tarentum didrachm sub-collection this year was this one which caught my eye because of the die clash that produced on the coin's obverse an incuse image of the waves from the reverse die. Since I was also on the hunt for an example with waves on the reverse, why not this one with waves on both sides? I also thought it was pretty neat that this particular damaged obverse die was recorded and noted in Vlasto's compendium of Tarentine coins.


#14.
LAELIANUS. AE Antoninianus. PITA Gallic Usurper box checked.

Few things match the satisfaction of checking off the pesky, rare Gallic usurper box that is Laelianus. And, when you want to do it in style, but not be that idiot with a $15 Marius and a $1500 Laelianus in the same set, you go ahead and make the practical selection of a less perfect, but more wallet-friendly example. Okay... so in truth I'm not actually very far from being that idiot, but I swear, one day I'll upgrade my Marius.


#13.
VESPASIAN. AR Denarius. Judaea Capta. Ex Hommel Collection.

I can think of very few coins of the Imperial period with a historical significance as resonant today as that of a Judaea Capta. This series captured (pun unintended) my imagination very early on, and I was very pleased to finally pick up this beautiful example this year. Despite all the wear it shows, I still think it has loads of eye appeal. I have to admit that its provenance to a sale during World War II and into a German collection of some note stirs up some mixed feelings, but if nothing else, it adds even more to my appreciation of this coin and its place in history.


#12.
SALONINUS. EGYPT, Alexandria. Potin Tetradrachm. Ex stevex6 Collection.

In all, I've now acquired 15 coins from the estimable stevex6 Collection. And while I only bought this dark, bewitching beauty in October of this year (feeling fortunate that nobody else snapped it up before I did), it's already become one of my favorites of his. I can't describe it any better than Steve did when it was #5 in his Top 10 of 2013, so I'll just quote the man himself : "I think the coin has great toning, a fantastic eagle reverse, plus an amazing obverse showing a wee lil' guy in the very bottom of a big, big TET!! (super coin!!)".


#11.
SEVERUS ALEXANDER. TROAS, Alexandria Troas. AE25. Drunken Herakles & Satyrs.

And lastly for this part of the list, my very first purchase of 2018... not from the stevex6 Collection, but one I suspect he might appreciate. The type has always been high on my want list because of the hilarious mythological keg party scene depicted on the reverse. On it, the demigod Herakles is shown so drunk that he has to be physically supported by Pan and two other attendant satyrs. Yeah, you know you've taken things a wee bit too far when you have satyrs as the sober members of your group. This coin always gives me a chuckle... sure, it's not high art, but who says everything has to be. Certainly not Sositheus.


Well, that's it for now. I'm still working on my Top 10, and waiting on the arrival of a coin that will be on the list, but whose placing I'll only know when I have it in hand. Hopefully I'll be able to get that list up next week. Thanks for tuning in!

 

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A worn sestertius like that Trajan is very appealing to me even more in a way than less circulated coins- just a taste acquired as a teenager because my first coin came to me worn like that and my second coin was a worn Athens new style Drachm purchased from Alex Malloy that was the first Greek silver I touched. Actually I just ordered a digital scanner to convert old 35mm slides and negatives so I will be able to post photos of some of the first coins I had that I let go except the first original one that fired up that passion shared by folks here on CT.

 

Well if there your runner-ups I can't wait to see your top ten, Gee Wiz I would be happy to have any of them in my top ten. You are so lucky to have come across that Circus Maximus as you say probably your only chance and your Hadrian EF probably FDC is total eye candy. Congrats on a great year (so far).

 

Sweet coins! I like the Trajan sestertius a lot too.

 

I love the keg party. That type has been on my list for a while. And the early Hadrian. Superb coin.

 

OK, I am not going to be able to look at your top 10 because I will EXPLODE for sure!! A Laelianus is number 14?!? and what's more, I agree with that placement?!

I am going to try to delay that package so I have more time to recover.

And I will say it again: it's better to have a T Didius than no T Didius.

(I have no T Didius. )

 

And this is why a coin's provenance can be so important. One wonders how this coin was regarded by both the previous owner before the auction and the new one after it.

Splendid list overall!

 

Sigh.

Dang it, now everyone knows my shopping list! Thanks a lot, Z.

Another fine year for you, full of marvelous story coins and amusing anecdotes.

You have a great knack for finding interesting coins... or perhaps you have a great talent for finding the interest in every coin .

 

Lovely coins! If those didn't make the top 10, we're in for a real treat when we see those! Favorites are: drunken Hercules, gladiators in combat, Alexandrian Saloninus.

 

Mine came from Christian Blom in 1990. Another big tip of it being imitative is the lack of any form of minor type or symbols.

 

I agree 100%. These are 1000 times more scarce than brockages but my (only example) Valerian was cheap and sold as defective. Yours is a wonderful coin.

 

To me, this is the prime skill to be developed if a person is to have a long term and well rounded experience in the hobby. If all you see is grade or rarity, it will get boring faster.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titus_Didius
I don't see this as gladiators but rather the actions of Didius putting down a revolt. Didius is said to have been cruel but I credit him especially for putting through a law forbidding the combining two unrelated proposals in one bill. No modern politician is that brave.

 

Your second 10 coins are as nice as any I have in my top 10. The Didius is my favorite. I need one of these.

 

Wow, @zumbly ! Just super coins. It is always great to see your fantastic posts! You have great taste in coins, and I am always amazed with the cool coins that I have not seen. Several of my captures were because of your coins! Thanks for the solid bottom of the top 20... looking forward to the top of your 20!

 

Thanks! I definitely feel lucky to have scored it! And, when imagination fails and I need help filling out the details missing on my worn sestertius, I can just turn to acsearch. This detail-filler for my example comes courtesy of the 2006 New York Sale :

I don't know about that, but here's a thought, maybe we can time our Top 10 reveals for the same day, then with our mutual admiration explosions we could set a record amongst other users for most number of eyerolls generated on CT in a day. J/k, but I'm definitely looking forward to your list, as I know it's going to be awesome!

Awww, thanks, TIF. I wish I could find even more interest in each coin, then perhaps I wouldn't keep feeling the urge to find new ones to buy. Oh, and it is so not going to help when your list comes out!

Ooh, that's a very nice one! Crawford suggests that this may have been a political marketing campaign on Didius's part, advertising the games he would provide the masses should he be elected to the position of Curule Aedile. Brave politician he may have been, but definitely still a politician.

 

It's not often that a Judaea Capta catches my eye; this are indeed historical but not uncommon. But the aging/toning on the reverse sets off the details nicely, making for an enigmatic depiction of the mourning Judaea.

 

Great coins @zumbly That drunken Herakles is actually awesome. You got so many amazing coins I can not choose my favorites. #17 looks so nice and sharp.

 

From your 20/11 top I can't but wait with excitement to see your 10/1 top

yummy, yummy !!!! Steve would have said

Q

 

I'd say... CONGRATS first. It's rarity + something else that I cannot define. I'm going to vote for Didius because many have already chosen the Druken dude.
Indeed it's like cherry- pickering. Bravo.

 

#14, #17 - are my favorites