We are almost at the mid-point of 2019, which got me last night to sort through all my 2019 purchases and re-examine my acquisitions. So I thought I'd take advantage of that and share my top 3 favorites so far.... 1) Marc Antony and Octavian denarius What's not to like about this coin? It's got two of the most important politicians of the late Republic on it, as well as the first emperor. Honestly, it's probably my favorite of all my Republic coinage, barely edging out my Legionary denarius purchase from last year. 2) C. Fonteius denarius. Man, this coin is a winner. I love double faces on coinage, and the galley on the reverse is sweet. 3) Lysimachus drachm The history behind this coin is enough to make it a winner. Add to that the control marks on the reverse and it is that much more special. It is a beautiful combination. Feel free to share your top coins of 2019 so far.
Great coins of 2019 so far, Sallent and ACH! Here are my top 3 so far: I just got this last week and have been looking for an opportunity to post it. This is a coin type I had been looking for in 2019; a beautiful portrait of Faustina with Venus reverse, though Venus isn't cheeky on this one. I haven't put together a formal ID write-up on it yet. Also, she was really difficult to shoot... She glows! With this one, the seller's photos were dark and it had some sort of adhesive residue on the obverse, like the kind packing tape leaves if it's on something for years. GooGone got rid of that quickly and this lady could breathe again. It's black and brilliant, she has a few scars, and a playful horse. Zeugitania, Carthage, 203-201 BC BL 1½ Shekel or Tridrachm, Second Punic War Obverse: Wreathed head of Tanit left. Reverse: Horse standing right, head left; pellet between hind legs. References: SNG COP 396, MAA 81c Notes: Black surfaces; The billon of this issue has extremely low silver content, such that nearly all examples appear to be bronze. This one I love to hold in my hand; the size of it, it's slight texture, a little concave. Plus, the detail on both sides I love too! The style of Zeus, the naked warrior with 6-pack abs, and that you can read the full reverse legend. Sicily, Messana, The Mamertinoi Circa 220-200 BC, AE Pentonkion Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus right, dotted border around. Reverse: MAMEPTINΩN, warrior advancing right, wearing helmet and holding shield and spear; Π (mark of value) to right; dotted border around. References: CNS 41, SNG ANS 441 Size: 29x26mm, 11.7g
Nice selections so far. I have several I can add at the end of the year, so it's hard to just pick 3 at the moment. For me, I always found even Tranquillina Tetradrachms pricey by many, thankfully Josh of Civitas listed one at a price in my realm and I was surprised it wasn't pounced on sooner, so I was the pounced. Tranquillina, (241 - 244 A.D.) Egypt, Alexandria Billon Tetradrachm O: CAB TPANKVΛΛINA CEB, diademed and draped bust right. R: Homonoia standing left, raising arm and holding double cornuacopiae; in left field, L E. year 5 (241/2 A.D.) 12.5g 24mm Milne 3420 Emmett 3449 A silver Caligula, sure it's worn and a provincial, but still, silver! A win for me. Big thanks to @Valentinian for listing it to buy. Caligula (37-41 A.D.) AR Drachm CAPPADOCIA, Caesarea O: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS Bare head of Caligula to right. R: IMPERATOR PONT MAX AVG TR POT Simpulum and lituus. 3.37g 18mm BMC 102. RIC 63 Sear 1798 What's not to like? 2 Heads, chunky silver, Rare to boot. Vespasian (69 - 79 A.D.) Antioch, Syria AR Tetradrachm O: AYTOKPAT KAIΣA OYEΣΠAΣIANOY; Head of Vespasian, laureate head right. R: (T) ΦΛAYI OYEΣΠ KAIΣ ETOYΣ NEOY IEPOY; Laureate Head of Titus, r.; in r. field, B=Year 2 ( 69-70 AD) 11.37g 25mm RPC 1941 (2 spec.)., Cf. Prieur 107-107A A RPC group 2 tetradrachm attributed to Antioch, but style-wise very similar to Alexandria. RPC speculates the Alexandria style tetradrachms were either struck in Alexandria and then shipped to Antioch, or less likely Alexandrian mint workers were sent to Antioch and produced the coins there. Kevin Butcher speculates these Alexandria style tetradrachms were ordered by the southern Syrian cities from the Alexandria mint for circulation in that part of the province. Of note, Galilee, Samaria, and Judaea were a part of the province of Syria at the time. Interestingly, these tetradrachms in which Titus' portrait is featured on the reverse may have been circulating in the very region where he commanded the legions fighting the Jewish War. Most likely they were struck during the massive military build up before the siege of Jerusalem, providing strong evidence of the important role Titus Caesar held at the time. This regnal year 2 type is more commonly seen with a star behind Titus' portrait on the reverse. This is the rarer variant lacking the star.
That Faustina is really great @Justin Lee. I've been wanting a Venus reverse for awhile now. I would really like the the "cheeky" one as you so called it though.
The portrait of Vespasian is stunning. As for the Tranquillina, yeah, shame I didn't see it because I would have definitely pounced. It's beautiful and that was quite a catch.
Sweet three, @Sallent ! My top 3 so far: #3. This cool provincial of Gordian and Tranquillina from Mesembria because it was very hard to attribute and I had to ask for help. Fortunately, @zumbly came to the rescue with his copy of Varbanov (who cites Karayotov), because there are no other examples anywhere online. Another cool thing is that this obverse die was used to strike eight different reverse types!! Gordian AD 238-244 and Tranquillina. Roman provincial Æ 28.6 mm, 11.36 g, 7 h. Thrace, Mesembria, AD 241-244. Obv: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC ΑVΓ CΕΒ-ΤΡΑΝΚVΛ|ΛΙΝΑ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian and draped bust of Tranquillina, wearing stephane, confronted. Rev: ΜΕCΑΜΒΡ-Ι-ΑΝΩΝ, Demeter standing left, wearing stephane, holding phiale and long torch. Refs: Varbanov 4190, citing Karajatov 83; SNG Copenhagen --; BMC --; Moushmov --; Lindgren --; Mionnet suppl 2 --; Sear --; Wiczay --. #2. This common Antoninianus of Trajan Decius. Why? Because it taught me all about the Dacian draco battle standard! Trajan Decius, AD 249-251. Roman AR antoninianus, 3.81 g, 21 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 250-251. Obv: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: DACIA, Dacia standing left, holding Dacian draco battle standard. Refs: RIC 12b; Cohen 16; RCV 9368; Hunter 7; ERIC II 59. #1. This Gallienus zoo coin. Why? Because this tigress is just plain cool!! Gallienus, 253-268 AD. Roman Æ Antoninianus, 2.63 g, 20.8 mm, 5 h. Rome Mint, 10th emission, 267-268 AD. Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right. Rev: LIBERO P CONS AVG, tiger walking left, B in exergue. Refs: RIC 230K; Göbl 713b; Cohen 586; RCV 10281; Cunetio 1341; Hunter 112.
Wow! I took so long writing up my top three that several of you cross-posted before I could finish! Fantastic three, @ancient coin hunter ! I like that Phil II Zeugma temple provincial! Gotta love the Faustina I eye-roll, too! I'm a sucker for Faustina II, @Justin Lee . Your example is gorgeous! I'm a sucker for Tranquillina, too, @Mat , and your Alexandrian tet is mighty fine. Gotta love the Domitian and Titus, too, looking like Marlon Brando and John Belushi!
Those three are all awesome, @Sallent! I especially love that galley. (And @Justin Lee: I want all three of those too! ) My faves so far (I think), chronologically by issue: I finally found my Claudius quadrans. Great detail, fantastic lettering, lovely patina & surfaces, plus a little dirt as a bonus! There is just something about this portrait of Marcus Aurelius that puts it in the top echelons for me. (Great centring too.) A Diocletian quinarius (or denarius?)... hard to come by! From a killer portrait (the Aurelius) to a portrait that could kill: this Phocas pentanummium, which was just too hilarious to pass up. (Seller's photo of the reverse is upside down.) And finally my first coin datable to the Rashidun caliphate, i.e. the dawn of Islam. I got it for a steal.
My top 3? Probus Antoninus, gift from @lordmarcovan Roma City Commemorative from @tenbobbit Valentinian II from @John Anthony
Hard to choose .. but at the moment here are my 3 favorites of 2019.. Domitian Sestertius ... the size and weight of this coin 34.54 mm - 30.75 g makes it a great favorite of mine. Yes it's far from perfect but I probably have this coin in my hand every day. I've also been enjoying a couple of quality (for me) LRBs that I recently purchased. I really have warmed up to the style of these and will be concentrating on this area for awhile.. Constantine the Great ready for battle.... Licinius... not quite ready for battle.. not sure if they had a helmet big enough.. Wonder if Licinius had similar experiences when young.....?
I Can't decide on a top 3! I like all my acquisitions so far. Can't i post 'em all? Very nice coin Sallent! This one is definately on my want list! A very pretty one indeed Severus Alexander. Love the coloring. I'm on the look out for a quadrans of claudius. I'm looking for a nice specimen with the scary skeleton hand holding a scale.
Some great coins shown! Mine is a bit of a mix so far..... Castulo, Spain AE As. 30 mm, 22g. 76-45 BC. ISCER SACAL, youthful male head right. CAST SOCED, sphinx right. Burgos (2008) 709; Ripolles 905; Villaronga 14. Jaime II Aragon 1291-1327 Dinero (Billon) Approx 18mm diameter - 1.17gr Obverse - Crowned portrait facing left..Legend around ARA - GON Reverse - Double cross..Legend around IACOBUS REX Mint Jaca...Cru-364 Sasanian Kingdom. Hormizd IV. A.D. 579-590. AR drachm (31 mm, 3.56 g, 8 h). WYHC (uncertain site)Fars or Central Iraq.. RY 12. Last year of reign 590AD Obverse..Crowned bust of Hormizd IV right, crescent on forehead, stars flanking crown . Reverse..Fire altar with attendants and ribbon, star and crescent flanking flames. Göbl Type I/1.
Some great coins so far everyone! I recently posted a Volusian I picked up, here are a couple others I picked up from cointalk memembers. A Commodus As I got from @Bing ... A JD denarius I got from @Mat So far my favorite coin of the year is actually a world coin, a 2 pence... For those that aren't familiar with this coin, it is HUGE.
As so often the case my top three so far are coins that would interest few here. Pescennius Niger / Minerva with owl (I paid extra or tolerated more faults to get that owl). This is my most expensive coin so far this year. Septimius Severus 'Emesa' mint also Minerva but no owl (I paid less than I would have had there been an owl) Last but not least is a coin that certainly would have made my favorites if I had to pay for it but it was a gift from a Coin Talk friend. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Septimius Severus 'Emesa' / Victory carrying standards There are many variations of Victory from 'Emesa'. The one with standards in front is more scarce than most but what strikes me as most interesting is the way they split the reverse legend VI............CT ORAVG The large wings needed extra room!
