My top 10 of 2020.

I'm barely able to make the list as I've received precisely 10 coins so far this year. I'm awaiting two more, but they won't arrive until 2021 as they await export papers from Italy.

Even though there is a wide range of quality and rarity I'm choosing to just post them chronologically as I value them all just as much.

The lists starts of with some beautiful Roma / Dioscuri types, and ends with a mix of AR and Æ types issued by Mark Antony.

I hope you enjoy them, happy holidays!



Anonymous. Ca 209 BC. AR Denarius (20mm, 4.36 g). Uncertain Apulian mint.

Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma right; X (mark of value) behind.

Reverse: The Dioscuri, each holding spear, on horseback right; two stars above; ROMA in exergue.

Reference: Crawford 53/2 (Brinkman Group 5)

Provenance: Ex Ahlström auktion 66 (9 November 2002), lot 1173. Sibling to the "Spearhead series", RRC 88/2.



Anonymous. Anchor (first) series. 209-208 BC. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 4.44 g). Rome mint.

Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma right; behind, X (mark of value) behind.

Reverse: The Dioscuri galloping right; below, anchor; in exergue, ROMA in partial tablet.

Reference: Crawford 50/2.



Anonymous. 208 BC. AR Denarius (19mm 4.46 g). Mint in southeast Italy.

Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma right; X (mark of value) to left.

Reverse: The Dioscuri, each holding spear, on horseback right; two stars above; club below horses; ROMA in exergue.

Reference: Crawford 89/2.

Provenance: Numismatica Ars Classica - Auction 120 (7 October 2020), lot 492.



Mark Antony. April-May 44 BC. AR Denarius (19.5mm, 3.87 g, 8h). Rome mint; P. Sepullius Macer, moneyer.

Obverse: Veiled head right, wearing beard; capis to left, lituus to right.

Reverse: Desultor (horseman who leaps from one horse to another), wearing conical cap and holding whip, right on horseback, second horse behind; palm frond and wreath to left; P SEPVLLIVS above, MACER below.

Reference: Crawford 480/22.

Provenance: From the John L. Cowan Collection. Ex Cederlind BBS 154 (31 March 2010), lot 213, ex Gorny & Mosch auction 180 (12 October 2009), lot 322, ex Numismatica Ars Classica auction 41 (20 November 2007), lot 17.



Mark Antony and Octavia. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm (12.40g, 27mm, 12h). Minted in Ephesus, Ionia, 39 BC.

Obverse: M•ANTONIVS•IMP•COS•DESIG•ITER•ET•TERT - Head of Antony right, wearing ivy wreath, lituus below; all within wreath of ivy and flowers.

Reverse: III•VIR• R•P•C - head of Octavia atop cista mystica, between twisting snakes.

Reference: RPC 2201.



Mark Antony and Octavia. Æ As (6.69g, 22mm, 11h) of Uncertain Mint, Achaea. Fleet Coinage, heavy series. Circa 38-37 BC. M. Oppius Capito, propraetor and praefectus classis.

Obverse: M ANT IMP TERT COS DESIG ITER ET III VIR RPC - Jugate busts of Mark Antony and Octavia right.

Reverse: M OPPIVS CAPITO PRO PR PRAEF CLASS F C - Galley right; A below.

Reference: RPC I 1465.



Mark Antony, struck by L. Bibulus M.f., Praetor designatus ca 38-37 BC. Æ Semis (19mm, 4.92g). Uncertain mint in Syria or Cyprus(?).

Obverse: M•ANT•TER•COS•DES• ITER•ET•TER•III•VIR•R•P•C - Bare head of Antony right.

Reverse: L•BIBVLVS•M•F•PR•DESIG - Quinquereme right, with three oars and stern ending in boar's head left.

Reference: RPC I 4092.



Mark Antony. Æ (20mm 9.09 g). Dated CY 223 (37/6 BC). Minted at Marathus, Phoenicia.

Obverse: Bare head of Antony right.

Reverse: Bull reclining left on ground line; ϹΚΓ Μ (below), ΙΑΝ and kof (above).

Reference: RPC I 4494.



Mark Antony. 37-31 BC. Æ (24mm, 8.77 g, 3h). Minted at Balanea, Seleucia and Pieria

Obverse: Bare head right.

Reverse: BAΛANEΩTΩN AP CY - Uncertain deity driving quadriga left.

Reference: RPC I 4456.



Mark Antony. Summer 32 BC. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.83 g, 5h). Athens mint.

Obverse: Bare head right; small P (signature) in hair below ear; ANTON • AVG IMP III COS DES III • III V R P C around.

Reverse: ANTONIVS/AVG • IMP • III in two lines.

Reference: Crawford 542/2.

 

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You had a succesful year as well. 10 coins - that's almost one coin a month

Although your Mark Antony and Octavia cistophoric tetradrachm will probably be the choice of most people here, I'd pick the Anonymous denarius, Crawford 89/2. Great style and beautiful toning.

 

The Antony/Octavia cistophorus is a thing of beauty, to be sure, but I like the veiled/bearded head Antony/Macer denarius.

 

Thank you! And congrats on a successful year for you as well. The club series is quite a showstopper, by far one of the most beautiful Roma / Dioscuri types I've ever seen.

 

Thank you!

 

Great coins, @Michael Stolt ! Those are all my collecting type. Thanks for posting.

 

Nice denarii, and the tetradrachm has such nice reverse design.
Thanks for sharing!

 

Beautiful coins! The cistophoric is my favorite, just such a beautiful design.

 

Wonderful coins!. The denarii are particularly nice, and the patina on the Marc Anthony AE 24 is beautiful.

 

My favorites are Mark Anthony, Mark Anthony and Mark Anthony. Some very nice coins @Michael Stolt

 

Wonderful group!.....I love the veiled MA Denarius along with the MA reclining bull!
Very interesting set congrats on a good collecting year..

 

Beautiful coins! The Antony/Octavia Cistophorus is spectacular!

 

All great but I love the cistophoric and the 3rd denarius down the best.

 

With coins like that, no need to have more than 10.

 

Your Antony/Octavia is a fantastic coin but the obverse of the 89/2 denarius really sings to me. An all around excellent group!

 

A wonderful group, but I'm afraid that I have to be conventional and go with the cistophorus as my favorite!

 

Lovely selection - I especially admire the veiled Mark Antony

 

You have some great coins. My favorites are the anonymous club (well struck from new dies and excellent faces on the Dioscuri) and the Mark A / desultor.

 

I'm with @rrdenarius : the run of three early denarii is awesome, even though I have a great liking for MA coins

Well done on a great coinyear

Q

 

@Michael Stolt , all are amazing but I think you own the finest known club denarius. Exceptional condition, but totally unimprovable style.