My top ten is not unambiguous. Some of these coins are interchangeable. From number 6 I have a completely equivalent variant, as well as one or two of those 11th-century pennies, struck about a thousand years ago in the country where I live. Number 8, of the Chinese coins, is also just one of four or five examples. But I also want to indicate what it will turn out to be in Twenty Twenty. I always hoped that I would become more selective and perhaps reject some second choices. Well, nothing happened in 2019. This year will be better, I hope. The year started with a purchase that was actually too expensive, which still has to come in. (I'm going to show it!). On the one hand I want to expand - no longer be afraid of more attractive types (17th, 18th century), on the other hand I prefer 500 to 600 coins. I prefer better to normal. But how can you pleasantly disperse the surplus? Anyway. As for trends, I'm widening my views. Here are the numbers 10 to 1 from Mr. Pellinore. 10. India, Gurjara Pratiharas, (c.730-836), AR debased drachm. Obv.: Indo-Sasanian bust to r. Brahmi ‘Mi’ in front. Rev.: Stylized fire altar. 22 mm, 3.91 gr. Ref.: Mitchiner 329-332. Zeno 228636. And, I must say, in excellent condition. 9. Nero (54-68) with Agrippina junior, AE20. Orthosia, Caria. Obv. Jugate draped busts of Nero and Agrippina Junior right. Rev. Laureate head of Zeus right. 17 mm, 6.73 gr. I bought this coin for its remarkable style. 8. China, Northern Qi, Chang Ping Wu Zhu (AD 553). Obv. 4 characters. Rev. Rims only. 24.5 mm, 4.15 gr. Hartill 13.27. This year, I expanded my view and acquired some Chinese coins. 7. AE fals Samanids. Abd al-Malik I b. Nuh. Mint Quba 349H = 962 AD. Obv. Three concentric circles, in the second the Kalima, in the centre, a cruciform monogram. Rev. 6 lines in circle, surrounded with text. 26.5 mm, 3.16 gr. One of the Islamic coins of the 7th-13th century that's also a part of my collection. What I liked about this one is the beautiful calligraphy and the cross formed centre of the obverse of this coin. People were just changing their coats from Nestorian (Christian), animistic and other religions into the islamic. As always, I'm interested in the borders and the intermingling. 6. AR 2 dirhams Ilkhanids, Ghazan Mahmud AH 694-703 (AD 1295-1304). Baghdad AH 699 (AD 1299/1300). Trilingual type with inscription in Mongolian (Uighur script), Chinese (Phags-Pa script), and Arabic (Kufic). 25 mm, 4.37 gr. Album 2172. Borders bridged again. 5. AR tetradrachm Philippus I, Seleucis & Pieria, Antioch, 247. Obv. Radiated, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind. Rev. Eagle standing right, wings spread, holding wreath in beak. 26.5 mm, 11.61 gr. Prieur 375. From the Michel Prieur Collection. Ex Rauch 41 (6 June 1988), lot 979. 4. AR denarius, Rome. M. Volteius M. f. 75 BC. Obv. Head of young Hercules right, wearing lion’s skin headdress. Rev. Erymanthian Boar charging right, VOLTEI·M·F in exergue. 17mm, 3.64 g. A coin from the forefathers of the Roman Empire: I didn't have any Republican coins, this was the first, bought because of its irresistible boar. 3. AE trial strike for an unofficial antoninianus. GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right / F[E]LCITAS AVGG, Felicitas standing left, holding uncertain attributes. 23 x 38 x 2.7 mm, 14.35 gr. Bought from Paul-Francis Jacquier, 2000. Ex Jacquier FPL 25 (Autumn 2000), no. 560. CNG N.M.McQ. Holmes auction 442 lot 529. 2. Papal States. Pope Alexander VIII, 1689-1691. Silvered AE medal, 1690. Obv. Tiaraed bust with ornate pluviale, to the right. On the pluviale, there is a picture of Saint Bruno. Rev. Censer puffing out frankincense. Sculpted by Giovanni Martino Hamerani (1646-1705). 12h, 31 mm, 16.54 gr. Ex-Kerry Wetterstrom. One of my new avenues: the Baroque style, finest quality, a portrait of a pope and a most delicate depiction of something hard to picture: a billowing cloud. 1. Holy Roman Empire, The Netherlands. Deventer, emperor Conrad II (1027-1039). Obv. Portrait of a bearded saint. Rev. Small cross with four corner dots in a stipple circle, surrounded by a word starting with D(aventriae). 18 mm, 1.4 gr. In a town like this, with maybe 1 000 inhabitants, mine but also your forefathers lived a thousand years ago. Part of the immensely large Holy Roman Empire, with emperors from Germany, reigning over half of Europe.
You should not show that coin here . I can't afford to also get interested in beautiful "modern" coins and that's a real beauty.
It started last year with another 17th century Papal medal, that I couldn't resist in a Stephen Album auction when looking for Oriental coins. I showed this in Pellinore's Best of 2018. One medal a year...
Those are beauties, all of them. The Ilkhanate/ Saminad examples are strikingly gorgeous. The Alexander VIII Papal coin is really nice. I also really love the Papal States coinage. I am after a Goldgulden from Deventer (early dated type) John
@Pellinore - a wide range in your top 10 - as others have already commented, the "trial strike" is particularly outstanding, and your number 1 & 10 are my next choices. Best wishes for 2020, more selective, or not.
Great group!....I'm with the majority that 3 is really cool and a nice bit of history caught!......But my favourite by a long way is number 10..WOW!..This is probably one of the nicest examples I've seen Congratulations!
By the way, the purchase that was too expensive for my sad purse, that I was waiting for on January 4, arrived only on January 20. The auction was on December 7! No, there was nothing wrong. It is just a very sslloooowww auction house. I mentioned the first two coins here. And here are the other two: Holy Roman Empire, denarius, after 1046. Imitation of the Tiel type under Henry III. Netherlands. Tiel/ Zaltbommel or another place near. Henry III (1039-1056) or shortly after. Obv. Frontal head with crosier. Rev. IELI/ AN (N mirrored). 18.5 mm, 0.77 gr. Ilisch I, 4.17.2; Dan. 1276. Holy Roman Empire, AR denarius, Deventer (Imperial mint), Henry II (1014-1024). Obv. Head t.l. Rev. Cross with lettering ‘BONA’. And surrounding tekst. 19 mm, 1.09 gr. Ilisch I, 1.9.2; Dan. 564 var.
Looks like you got two coins worth waiting for! I do not like to wait, but even more I want to buy things my local coin shop & local coin shows do not offer, like... all of these.
