If you could only keep one...

I really like these. I would buy one if it fitted at all in my collection, and if, despite there being seemingly thousands of them, they weren't as popular (and expensive) as toilet roll in a pandemic

 

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Sounds like a twisted Lay's potato chip commercial ..."Betcha can't keep just one!"

 

It would have to be lovely Arethusa

 

That's a pedigree Arethusa, isn't it? Evanetos or Kimon? At first glance without looking up the styles I would guess it is Evanetos, based on a hunch.

My coin to have on a deserted island would be my owl. Pretty iconic and also my priciest coin

 

Quite right - its one of Euainetos's unsigned dekadrachms

 

Hmm... my avatar coin (Hadrian/She-Wolf), Caligula Three Sisters,... but this one has been my favorite since I originally acquired it. The history, the portrait (not necessarily considered the most artistic but to my eye likely the most realistic)... I, Claudius:



CLAUDIUS 10 B.C. - 54 A.D.
AV Aureus (7.79 g.) Rome 44 - 45 A.D. RIC 25
Obv. TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P IIII laureate head r. Rev. Battlemented wall IMPER RECEPT enclosing praetorian camp, Fides Praetorianorum left.
Ex. Museum of Modern Art collection

 

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I never tire of seeing that coin IOM - it is indeed one of my “dream coins”, not only because of its rarity, but also because of its historical significance.

 

Yeah....I think I would have been willing to let go of my beaten up Philip I Antioch bronze if I had that one too...
What a coin, and what a collection, Ides.

 

That would be easy for me. The first coin (gold) my parents gave me. It began my interest in coins and although I have much more valuable coins I would sacrifice all for that one coin!

 

Nice pedigree and great eye appeal make this one a keeper for me I believe.

 

My Columbus coin @lordmarcovan. 1893

 

Oh and Chris’ half dollar @cpm9ball I’ve liked his coin the longest

 

Great thread

 

What do these owl coins represent. Wisdom?

 

To others, it's nothing special, but it is to me. I felt like I brought it back from the dead. It is my avatar.


Divus Augustus, Died 14 AD
AE As, Restoration Issue,
Struck under Titus 80-81 AD, Rome Mint
Obverse: DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER, radiate head left.
Reverse: IMP T VESP – AVG REST, Victory alighting left, holding shield inscribed SP/QR, S-C across fields.
References: RIC Titus 446

[Images below are prior to more detailed cleaning; I didn't take any earlier photos of the obverse originally.]

 

You aren't a hitman are you? You don't work for the CIA or KGB, do you? If not, then I'll put it in my will for you. ~ Chris

 

The main reason is that owls were always associated with the goddess Athena. I am not sure if owls were considered wise in ancient times.

 

Wouldn't that be where the association comes from - Athena being the goddess of wisdom, and owls being associated with her as the goddess of darkness?

 

My large cent collection went intact -- I could keep NONE of my cherished keepers. But I chose to buy ONE replacement to represent them ALL. This is now my entire Large Cent collection.