While I recall lurking on the board since December of 2014, I officially made an account and joined on this day five years ago. While I have been a little sporadic in my participation in the last year or so, I always enjoy reading all of the wonderful posts here in the Ancients Forum (and I appreciate your tolerance of my pushing the boundaries to include Medieval coins). While I have new coins to share, they are all currently in the post, so I thought what better way to reflect on five years, than a recap of my top coins for the year (easily traceable thanks to the top ten tradition here)! 2015: Kingdom of Bactria Menander I r. c. 165/55-130 B.C. AR Drachm, 15.71mm x 2.5 grams Obv.: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ / ΜΕΝΑΝΔΡΟΥ. Diademed bust of the sovereign right, coat fastened on the right shoulder Rev.: (Maharajasa tratarasa / Menamdrasa). Athena Alkidemos standing left. Monogram 'H' in right field Ref.: Bopearachchi, Ménandre (I) Sôter, 67 2016: French Feudal - Toulouse William IX of Aquitaine, second reign r. 1109-1117 AR Denier, 18.82 mm x 1.1 grams Obv.: VVILELMO COME, Cross Pattee in center, S in second quarter Rev.: +TOLOSA CIVI around, PAX in center Ref.: Duplessy 1210 (as William IV), Roberts 4225 (As William IX), De Wit 439 (as William IV) 2017: Provincial Rome - Phrygia Caracalla, r. 198-217 A.D. Hieropolis, AE30, 30 mm x 12.36 grams Obv.: AV K M AVP ANTΩNΕINO/C. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right Rev.: ΙΕ POΠ ΛEITΩN. Nemesis, wearing polos, standing facing, head right, holding rein or halter. To right Serapis, enthroned left with Cerberus at feet. Ex Group CEM 2018: French Feudal - Normandy Robert Curthose, r. 1087-1106 AR Denier, 20 mm x 0.93 grams Obv.: +NOR[MAN]NA. Cross patted with pellets in angles Rev.: RI/AV in two lines Ref.: Dumas Group D XXI-17, Duplessy 32var., Roberts 3901-9var. (Legros 372 corr.) Ex BRN Collection, purchased from Andy Singer June 2012 2019: Bohemia Bretislaus I, r. 1034-1055 (1050-55) Prague Mint, AR Denar, 15.33 mm x 1.0 grams Obv.: BRACIZLAVS DVX. Bust facing, a pellet to either side Rev.: SCS WENCEZLAVS. Bust right, cross to right Ref.: Frynas B.8.15, De Wit 2719, cf. Lanz Graz XIII, 116-122 2020: Remains to be seen, obviously. The current contender is on its way from France... Favorite Thread: Probably the Medieval Book reviews, since I am still keeping up with it (and would invite anyone to contribute who wishes). But I am a bit proud of how much interest was generated by the thread on the Champagne Fairs. Goals for the Next Five Years: I am still not happy with my photographs, and I think this is partly due to a lack of focus control I have on my current camera. Before the Covid lockdowns, I was going to go out and get a used digital SLR and some attachments. Now that we are opening back up, that plan is back on the table (unfortunately I missed the lockdown time to play with it, and admittedly dumped the money into coins and books instead!). So the goal is get a new camera, and get better pictures! I am tempted to add a desire to create a ‘wildwinds for medieval coins’ website which I have been contemplating in recent weeks. This could be a massive undertaking though, which I am not sure I am ready for yet. Supporter Status: This is also the time of year when I need to renew my supporter status! I had my CoinTalk anniversary and supporter status set to the same day (I became a supporter after my first year) but I think I missed it by a couple days last year. Oh well - whenever it comes time, it is money well spent to keep this community going! Okay, thank you for indulging me! You have all been a wonderful community that I am glad to be a part of. Thank you!
Congrats on the 5 years & some great coins posted from years past. And a Medieval Wildwinds? Yeah..that would be a heck of a task. You'd do better rebuilding Rome from its glory days.
There is no way I could do it myself, I would have to get help, and it would take years. But I just think because of the extensiveness of issues that something like a website would be more functional than a book, but I imagine it would never be completed. Still, I’m allowed to dream, right?
Awesome post, @FitzNigel Than you for your contributions over the last years. You open my eyes to exploring the Medieval period. I am even reading a couple overview books of that period so that I am better educated. Thanks for THAT push with me. Best, Brian
Congrats on 5 great years @FitzNigel I have greatly enjoyed your posts during my time on CT. Thanks to them I have expanded my collecting horizon and added a lot of coins. Here is one that I purchased after reading your post on the fairs of Champagne. It was actually your post on Stephen and the Anarchy that brought me to CT. I was doing a search for information on the period and it came back as one of the results. From there I explored the forum and signed up.
Congrats @FitzNigel ! I'm learning something new every time I read one of your posts. For now I'm focussing on Roman Imperial Coinage, but when I see a new thread about The Medieval period I'm telling myself : maybe one day I will go for it......
Excellent thread from an excellent CTer! Ialways stop to read your posts due to your consistently enlightening points. Thanks for always providing beautiful coins and a very diverse knowledge of coins!
Really enjoy learning about medieval coins even though I have relatively few. Medieval wildwinds sounds like a winner. If it takes 10 years who cares? Get some good contributors and get started. John
I find it sad when a project is completed. That means it will no longer be refined and expanded. In this field, new things come to light with some frequency. Someone will need to be awake when it happens.