Ancient Aussie's favourite ten coins 2019.

It's been a good year, picked up a lot of the scarcer coins that I've been after since started collecting ancients about a decade ago (wow that makes me feel old). Hard to pick 10 but I will
In the spirit of our Top 10 CoinTalk tradition.
Number one my most recent and expensive buy was a have to get after my recent holiday in Sicily and southern Italy, I will never forget my visit to the summit of Erice where the Roman temple dedicated to Venus stood and now a Norman castle.
C. Considius Nonianus, moneyer. AR Denarius minted at Rome, 57 BC. Laureate, diademed, and draped bust right of Venus Erycina. Reverse: Temple of Venus Erycina atop mountain, ERVC inscribed at base; in foreground, circuit of city walls with gateway at center and two towers. Sear 381; Considia 1a; Cr. 424/1; Syd. 887. Banker's mark on chin of Venus.
Ex Artemide Kunstauktionen GmbH E/auction 10.

The worship of Venus Erycina was derived from Eryx in Sicily where the goddess had a famous temple, which was said to have been built by the hero Eryx, a son of Aphrodite and King Butes, and of which a view is shown here.

Number 2. On my visit to Brundisium a couple of months back I visited a part of Trajan's Via Trianana that is exposed in the city area under a modern road this extension ran all the way from Via Appia.
Trajan. AD 98-117. Æ Dupondius (13.32 g, 6h). Struck circa AD 112-115. Radiate bust right, wearing aegis / VIA TRAIANA, female (Via Traiana) reclining left, holding wheel on knee and branch; S C in exergue. RIC II 641 corr. var. (no aegis); BMCRE 998 note. SR 3226.


Number 3. Another type I have always wanted is this Hadrian type, minted with similar Celator skills as the Rome Sestertius, probably the Temple of Rome and Augustus at Nicomedia.

BITHYNIA, Koinon of Bithynia. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ (33mm, 25.11 g, 6h). Laureate head right / Octastyle temple; in exergue, prow of galley right. SNG von Aulock 283 var. (bare head); SNG Copenhagen 324 var. (same). Good Fine, brown patina, some roughness.


Number 4. picked up this Juba I at a good price for it's quality good centering and full legends, fantastic history behind this coin.
KINGS of NUMIDIA. Juba I, Circa 60-46 BC. Drachm (Silver, 17mm, 3.76 g 12), Utica. REX IVBA Diademed, bearded, draped and cuirassed bust of Juba I to right, scepter over his right shoulder. Rev. (Punic legend) Octastyle temple with a flat roof and a small, central, pedimented tower. MAA 29. Mazard 84. SNG Copenhagen 523. Attractively toned grey. Bankers mark under ear.


Number 5. not very often seen with good silvering this classic type of Maxentius Temple of Roma complete with she-wolf pediment was to good to pass up.

Maxentius, 307-312. Follis (Silvered bronze, 25 mm, 6.77 g, 7 h), Aquileia, late summer 307. IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG Laureate head of Maxentius to right. Rev. CONSERV VRBS SVAE / AQΓ Roma seated left within tetrastyle temple, holding scepter and handing globe to Maxentius standing right, holding scepter; seated captive between; Victories as acroteria, she-wolf and twins in pediment. RIC 113.


Number 6. Although I prefer the Voltieus 78 BC denarius type with a more skillfully rendered Temple of Jupiter this Capotilinus type is a lot more scarce and I managed to pick it up for a good price in a Lue auction.

Petillius Capitolinus, 43 BC. Denarius (Silver, 17 mm, 3.69 g, 2 h), Rome. PETILLIVS - CAPITOLINVS Eagle standing front on thunderbolt, wings spread and head to right. Rev. S - F Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus with figures on the roof and the architrave; between central four columns, garlands hanging. Babelon (Petillia) 3. Crawford 487/2b. RBW 1706. Sydenham 1151. Banker's marks on the obverse.


Number 7. This coin represents Roman provincial architecture at it's best with this Septimius Severus type which is often termed a "superstructure".

Septimius Severus, Bronze struck under Aurelius Gallus, legatus consularis, Moesia Inferior: Nicopolis, AD 201-203
AE (g 10.18; mm 26; h 8)

City gate with ornate colonnade above; small tetrastyle temple seen in distance through doorway. Varbanov 2621.
Very rare, dark green patina

Number 8. I have been very patient over the years in my endeavour to get a reasonably good
condition 211 BC Janus and this year was lucky to find one in a fixed price list.

Anonymous, 211-206 BC, bronze as (struck), 32mm, 40.64g
Obverse: Laureate head of bearded Janus, 'I' above
Reverse: Prow of galley r., 'I' above, ROMA in ex.
Reference: Syd 143, SME 627, Cr 56/2


Number 9. what ten would be complete without an Alexandrian Drachma especially with a piece of Iconic Roman architecture such as this Domitian triumphal arch.

Egypt, Alexandria. Domitian. A.D. 81-96. AE drachm (34.7 mm, 23.61 g, 11 h). Alexandria mint, Struck A.D. 95/6. [AVT KAIC ΘЄ] OVIOC ΔOMIT [CЄB ΓЄPM], laureate head of Domitian right / Frontal elevation of triumphal arch; L - IE ( yr. 15 = A.D. 95/6 ). Emmett 257.15. F / VF, very dark green smooth patina.


Number 10. Unfortunately on my visit to Romulus's Mausoleum on the Appian Way when in Rome a couple of months ago it was closed (oh well now I have an excuse to go back again) in the meantime I have this neat little coin with great brick rendering to remind me.

Divus Romulus. Died AD 309. Æ Quarter Follis (17mm, 2.01 g, 12h). Rome mint, 3rd officina. Struck under Maxentius, circa AD 310. Bare head right / Domed shine with doors ajar, surmounted by eagle; RT. RIC VI 239. VF, dark green patina, flan flaws on obverse. Ex CNG 437 lot 494.

The Mausoleum of Romulus within the Circus of Maxentius on Rome’s Appian Way has reopened to the public after more than 20 years.


Hope you all like my ten as much as I do, and wish you all a top 2020 year of collecting.

 

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I like your Top 10 plenty! The Considius denarius and Juba I are my favourites (in addition to their being coins I’d LOVE to have), but the Septimius from Nicopolis, Domitian drachm and excellent Divus Romulus are not far behind. I quite fancy these architectural types, but will never have the discipline to collect them as a specialty. I’m glad yours are here for me to be able to enjoy.

 

Into buildings are we? Some very nice architectural related coins. My favorite, however, is the C. Considius Nonianus denarius.

 

Excellent! My favorites are #1, the Republican denarius with reverse: Temple of Venus Erycina
and #7 of Septimius Severus with city gate with ornate colonnade above; small tetrastyle temple seen in distance through doorway.

 

Great coins and stories to go with them!
I like your #1 best also. The celator of #5 put a lot to like on the reverse: wolf & twins, twin Victories, seated Roma....

 

Beautiful coins.. congratulations!
Great that they bring back memories for you.
I particularly enjoy #3, 5 and 7... but all are quite amazing.

 

Beautiful and interesting coins, @Ancient Aussie ! I really like the Juba, the Hadrian from Bithynia, and that Maxentius has incredible detail!

 

Oh man these are great. My favorites;

#1 - What a great reverse. How great is it to visit places that are depicted on our coins. It’s almost like taking the place back home with you. Congrats.

#5 - That she-wolf pediment is fantastic. I loved visiting the Capitoline museum and seeing the inspiration. It’s interesting to note how ubiquitous the symbol was.

#7 - A building inside a building on a coin. This coin practically screams “ @Ancient Aussie please buy me!” I love it.

 

Love your collecting theme, @Ancient Aussie. The Juba is a stunner, but I really like all of these. Congrats on some great new additions this year.

 

Recreating the architecture of ancient Rome one coin at a time is a truly heroic goal. 2019 was a good year for you. I especially like #1 and #3, both are fantastic eye candy!

 

Very interesting temples on the coins. Excellent coins.

 

Ancient Aussie, Nice picks for this year ! I love the Maxentius follis, especially the die work on the reverse . The hefty bronze Janiform is a beauty too .

 

Lovely coins!......For me it has to be the Juba I.....Wonderful coin!
Great style with beautiful toning!

 

@Ancient Aussie - a great set of coins with interesting architecture. #1, #2, #10 my favorites! and with a second look #5 and #7 should be in my list....best wishes for the next year of travels and coins.

 

Nice ones. I like the architectural types you have accumulated. I'll share a Maxentius that I picked up this year as well.

 

Ancient Aussie.....you certainly picked up some dandy coins in 2019 They will find a very good home in your outstanding collection. I really like the Maxentius, great portrait! The Juba/ Numidia is rarely seen.....
John
Wish you a successfull 2020 coin year!

 

@Ancient Aussie The group is great and that Septimius is fantastic.

 

Thanks ancient coin hunter, and that one you have has great eye appeal, thanks for sharing.

 

Great additions @Ancient Aussie ! That Maxentius reverse is a beauty! Love that one!

And Rome is an amazing city. All that history packed together and visible. I will go there again some day. Last time was 5 years ago with my wife. I went in the museums and she had ice cream. We both had a great time!

 

Another outstanding lineup of architectural issues! Congrats on a fine year, AA

#4 is my overall favorite, nosing out #5 and #7 for the top spot but all are interesting in some way. I think of you every time I see a coin with architectural reverse.