If you could only keep one...

If you could keep only one coin from your collection what would it be? This is my keeper.
Q.Voconius Vitulus
40 BC
Obv: Hd of Julius Caesar
Rev: Calf walking l. Q. VOCONIUS abv, VITULUS Q. DESIGN in ex., SC in field

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

..that's a keeper...i dont have one of JC...and i wouldn't give up my collection to have one....

 

Man, stake in my heart. One what? One hundred, one thousand?

If only one coin, (I am shuddering as I type this), I guess it would be my Cleo VII/Antony tetradrachm from Antioch. Love my avatar though.......

 

Though a recent acquisition, I've grown really fond of this rare sceatta:

ANGLO-SAXON, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (series D, BMC type 10), minted: Likely the Netherlands; c.700-715 AD
Obv: Crowned bust to the right with pellets as hair. Sharp, portruding nose. Runic inscription aepa in front
Rev: Radiated 'porcupine' or 'moonface' bust, to the right. Runic inscription ticv in front.
Weight: 1.16g; Ø:12mm. Catalogue: Op den Velde die chain 312-325 (obverse); 318-319 (reverse). Abramson 9-10; BMC type 10;. Provenance: Metal detecting find Oud-Zevenaar, near the assumed location of an 8th century church. NUMIS nr. 1150617; acq.: 04-2020

The find location, the rarity, the die links (which includes find locations nearby the place this coin was found), and the unusual combination of runic lettering on the obverse, with Latin lettering on the reverse, the well-rendered typical bust on the obverse with the almost comical moon-face on the reverse, the dark toning with very subtle reddish dirt on the obverse (which is common where this coin was found), in combination with the sharp strike and luster makes this coin very special to me.

Right now, this would be my keeper. However, before that, ...

CELTS, Ambiani celts. Denomination: AV Stater, minted: Ambiani region, (current France, near Amiens); 58-55 BC
Obv: Blank
Rev: Disjointed horse right with remains of charioteer above; crescent above pellet below, intertwined lines pattern in exergue
Weight: 6.02g; Ø:17mm. Catalogue: Evans 1864 Pl.B8; Scheers 1977 series 24, class IV (type) . Provenance: Ex private collection (Found in France, ca. 2000); acq.: 08-2019

... and before that one, ...

CELTS, Durotriges celts. Denomination: Billion Stater, minted: Durotriges region; 65 BC - 45 AD
Obv: Head of Apollo right, devolved to wreath and crescents
Rev: Disjointed horse left; pellets above, pellet in lozenge above tail, zigzag and pellet pattern between two parallel exergue lines
Weight: 4.05g; Ø:18mm. Catalogue: Van Arsdell 1235-1, ABC 2157, SCBC 365, Cranborne Chase (Durotrigan E) type. Provenance: Ex Zwart; acq.: 09-2019

... and before that, it was probably this one ...

INDO-SCYTHIA, Azes I or II. Denomination: AR Tetradrachm, minted: uncertain mint; 35-12 BC
Obv: BASILEWS BASILEWN MEGALOU AZOU (Greek; The great king of kings, Azes). Azes on horseback right, holding whip; monogram Kharosthi letter "GA" or "GAM" before.
Rev: MAHARAJASA RAJADIRAJASA MAHATASA AYASA (Karosthi; great king, king of kings, Azes the Great), Athena standing right, right hand extended, holding shield and spear; monograms to left and right.
Weight: 9.55g; Ø:2.5mm. Catalogue: MAC.2360; Senior 98.353T. Provenance: Ex Nuij collection; acq.: 12-2018

etc

 

I would keep my first coin. A prescious souvenir from a great trip to Lebanon, where I first learned that it was actually possible to collect ancient coins. The coin in itself doesn’t have much numismatic significance, but it’s significant to me.

 

Wow. Even with < 200 ancient coins, that would be an almost impossible choice. At this moment, I might choose this one:


If asked the same question tomorrow, I might make a different choice. Perhaps one of my Republican coins, like this one:



Or one of the many I have with animal reverses, like this one:

 

I guess it would be one of the more famous (and expensive) coins in my collection.



Caligula (Augustus)
Coin: Brass Sestertius
C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT - Laureate head left
AGRIPPINA DRVSILLA IVLIA - AGRIPPINA DRVSILLA IVLIA, the three sisters of Caligula standing, in the guises of Securitas, Concordia, and Fortuna, S C (senatus consulto) in exergue
Exergue: SC


Mint: Rome (37-38AD)
Wt./Size/Axis: 27.88g / 35.6mm / 180
Rarity: Rare
References:
RIC I 33
BMCRE p. 152, 36
BnF II 47
Cohen I 4
SRCV I 1800
Provenances:
Forvm Ancient Coins
Acquisition/Sale: Forvm Ancient Coins Internet $0.00 10/17
Notes: Jul 21, 18 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection

 

I don't know if I'd keep a really nice one or not. I'd handle it too much and it'd end up looking like this one:

 

Very simple to me. They are like children. No compromise, no question.

ALL of them.

 

I guess I couldn't keep only one....

Q

 

LOL, ALL of mine are like that, now!

 

Guess we ought to go with plastic :/

 

LOL, Nnnnoooooooo..... He can't BREATHE....

 

Nope I can't do it.

 

Because its new and my most expensive...

 

..my lastest and greatess fav..at the moment......since i'd been awanting one from the 1st time i saw one..AND...one i bought strictly(mostly) for the reverse...(relax fans...i have a new camera on the way) L Rubrius Dossenus,87BC 18mm 3.40gms

 

My avatar. But it depends upo what I am holding at the time....

 

I always LIKED that coin


RR Rubrius Dossenus 87 BCE AR Den Jupiter Triumphal Quad S 258 Cr 348-1

 

My best owl, for sure.

 

This is a cruel question as it means we're picking a favorite child. I should probably choose my Athens gold but I will instead pick the coin which marked the reason I switched from US coinage to ancients and which is still my avatar coin after eight years (on this and other forums):