2020 has been a good to me numismatically despite the pandemics and increased competition for pedigreed coins. I could still find decent coins for fair prices, especially when a deeper provenance was not uncovered by the seller or auction house (I must admit being a provenance-freak). There must have been coins that I failed to win throughout the year but I have quickly forgotten about them, so they were probably not that special after all I wish everyone good health in the coming year 2021 and I hope we will get to enjoy our common hobby in much better circumstances. 1. BAKTRIA, Agathokles Dikaios. Circa 185-175 BC. AR Tetradrachm (32mm, 16.70 g, 12h). Diademed and draped bust right / Zeus standing facing, holding scepter and figure of Hekate, who holds torch in each hand; monogram to inner left. Bopearachchi 1D; HGC 12, 81. 2. BAKTRIA, Euthydemos II AR Tetradrachm. Circa 185-180 BC. Diademed bust right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ EYΘYΔHMOY, Herakles standing facing, crowned with leaves, holding wreath in right hand and carrying club and lion's skin with left; monogram in left field. Bopearachchi Série 1d; SNG ANS 217-8; HGC 12, 72 3. SICILY, Syracuse AR 8 Litrai. Fifth Democracy, circa 214-212 BC. Head of Athena left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet / Winged thunderbolt, ΣYPAKOΣIΩN above, ΞA below. Burnett, Enna hoard in SNR 62, 1983, pl. 9, D 25; SNG ANS 1045. 6.69g, 23mm, 1h. Roma Numismatics E-sale 69, 16 April 2020, lot 332, ex Virzi collection, Jacob Hirsch XXXII, 14 November 1912, lot 402 4. KARIA, Knidos AR Drachm. Circa 465-449 BC. Lion's protome with open jaws to right / Head of Aphrodite to right, wearing decorated tainia and necklace, her hair falling down the back of her neck, tied at the end; all within incuse square. Cahn, Knidos 72; SNG Keckman 129 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen 234. Roma Numismatics XIX, 26 March 2020, lot 535, Munzen & Medaillen AG FPL 598, July 1996, lot 30. 5. Cyrene didrachm circa 308-277, AR 22 mm, 7.50 g. Head of Apollo Carneius l. Rev. KY – PA Silphium plant with four leaves; to l., monogram and to r., star. SNG Copenhagen 1238. SNG Lockett 3475. Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Spring sale 2020, 25 May 2020, lot 306, ex Maxime Collignon collection, Feuardent freres, 17 December 1919, lot 445. 6. Selinos (c.466-435 BC), Silver Didrachm, ΣEΛINONTIOΣ, Herakles standing right, raising club above his head, preparing to strike the Cretan bull, which he grasps by a horn , rev HY-ΨAΣ, river-god Hypsas standing left, holding branch and sacrificing from Philae over serpent-entwined altar to left, Selinon-leaf and heron on right (SNG Lloyd 1249; SNG ANS 707 Munzen und Medaillen GmbH 49, 20 November 2020, lot 79, Numismatik Lanz 64, 7 June 1993, lot 71, Galerie des Monnaies of Geneva Ltd, 25 June 1976, lot 692 7. ETRURIA, Populonia. Circa 300-250 BC. AR 20 Asses (20.5mm, 8.27 g). Diademed facing head of Metus; X : X (mark of value) below / Crude inscription (possibly reading poplv in Etruscan). EC Group XII, Series 37, 149 (this coin); Vecchi, Rasna 12 & 13.11 (this coin), HN Italy 142; SNG ANS 79 Ex Auctiones 27, Basel 1996, lot 2; ex Kurpfälzische Münzhandlung (KPM) 50, 1990, lot 16; ex Schulmann 262, 1975, lot 1009; ex Jakob Hirsch 24, 1914, lot 9; ex Jakob Hirsch 30, 1911, lot 15 (Barron Collection); ex Strozzi Collection = Sangiorgi 15.4.1907, lot 569 8. LUCANIA, Metapontion. Circa 340-330 BC. AR Nomos (18.5mm, 7.65 g, 5h). Wreathed head of Demeter right, wearing veil / Barley ear with leaf to right; to right, oinochoe above leaf. Johnston Class A, 8.3 = SNG ANS 417 (same obv. die); HN Italy 1568. CNG 114, 13 May 2020, lot 11, ex Golden Gate collection, Coin Galleries MBS, 14 April 1993, lot 108 9. EUBOIA, Chalkis. Circa 290-273/1 BC. AR drachm, Head of the nymph Chalkis right / Eagle with spread wings, grappling with serpent; crescent-handled kerykeion to right. Picard Em. 30; BCD Euboia 180 (this coin); HGC 4, 1464. ex BCD collection, Numismatik Lanz 111, 25 November 2002, lot 180 10. Kalymna. AR Didrachm (18-19 mm, 6.54 g), c. 260/50-205 BC. Male head to right, wearing crested Attic helmet/KAΛYMNION, Kithara with six strings and tiny I within top inner curves. Boston 2009; Höghammar 1, dies 1/1; SNG Cop. 602; SNG von Aulock 2741. Ex Numismatica Genevensis SA 8, 2014, lot 51, Victor Gadoury 1980
A nice collection of Greek coins! I like Athena, so coin #3 is my favorite. Coin #9 has a very nice reverse. Thanks for sharing!
Wowzers, those are incredible!! The first six are all outstanding, with an honourable mention for #10 with its nice kithara. Only one of my coin acquisitions this year can bear to show its face on the same page as these without being totally embarrassed.
Meander, It's a real treat looking at these beautiful coins ! The portrait on #2, the Baktrian Tet of Euthydemos II is breathtaking . The Sicilian 8 litrai #3, is stunning, & a provenance over 100 years old gives this coin historical importance. The Apollo/Silphium didrachm, #5 is a wonderful addition too . Coins picturing the magic plant always intrigue me .
Some very impressive purchases. I really like the Kalymna The Chalkis the Kyrene and the Syracuse. The rest are great as well You had a good year.
Thanks to all that have commented or liked my posting. Indeed, it has been a sucessful year for me numismatically. If I had to choose which of them I like the most it would probably be the Euthydemos II tetradrachm and the Selinos didrachm. My only problem with the Baktrian issues is the majority of them are quite recent and so without a noticeable pedigree. However, I am not able to resist from bidding when those marvelous Hellenistic portraits are looking at me .
Congratulations on your top 10 and the best of luck for 2021! I think my favorite is the one from Kyrene which features a superb portrait of apollo and the very interesting star symbol.
Congrats on a great year! My favorites are #1 (is a full nose on a facing statue the same as full steps on a Jeff nickel?) and #9 (the eagle / serpent is interesting). That is an attitude I should remember when bidding and after bidding. Thanks for sharing your coins and thoughts.
Great year! I see you are especially into coins of the Hellenistic period. The first 2 coins really represent the art of that time period. Amazing portraits!