Jeremy's top 10 of 2020

Deacon Ray · Dec 29, 2020

jb_depew said: ↑

...some favorites in the last 12 months...
Click to expand...

Beautiful group of coins!

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

panzerman · Dec 29, 2020

I love 2/3/9 a lot, nice coins all of them. Thanks for sharing....
John

Mr.Q · Dec 29, 2020

They are all fantastic but I'm partial to #1,3,and 10. Great thread also. Thank you.

nicholasz219 · Dec 30, 2020

Great coins and write up. That Hadrian of Caesarea is top end for coins from that mint. The rest are impressive as well.

Only a Poor Old Man · Dec 30, 2020

1,3,4,5 for me. A neapolitan gorgon has been on my list for a while... Really nice examples cost an arm and a leg though.

Al Kowsky · Dec 30, 2020

jb_depew said: ↑

I had been waiting on the arrival of one last coin this year, which thankfully arrived a couple of days ago in time to make my top 10 of 2020. Though the year has not been without its difficulties, I feel fortunate to have added some favorites in the last 12 months - most were acquired early in the year before the pandemic and the competitive collecting environment it created. Without further adieu:

10. Cappadocia, Caesarea, Hadrian, AR Didrachm
117-138 AD
Obverse: ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕΒΑϹΤΟϹ; laureate head of Hadrian right.
Reverse: ΥΠΑΤΟϹ Γ ΠΑΤΗΡ ΠΑΤΡ; Mount Argaeus surmounted by star.
References: Sydenham 267; Metcalf, Caesarea 107 var. (no drapery)
20mm; 6.71g

I have a number of coins depicting Mount Argaeus (known presently as Mount Erciyes) struck under Hadrian and Lucius Verus. The style and sharp detail of this coin makes it the favorite of my sub-collection.

9. Pisidia, Antioch, Severus Alexander Æ 34mm
222-235 AD
Obverse: IMP CAES SEVE-R ALEXANDER; Laureate head of Caracalla right.
Reverse: COL CAES ANTIOCH; She-wolf below tree, standing right, suckling the twins Romulus and Remus, SR in exergue.
References: SNG Paris 1185-6
34mm, 22.65g

Though Severus Alexander looks a bit extra-terrestrial, I bought this big, chunky bronze for the beautifully rendered reverse. After seeing the capitoline wolf statue in Rome a few years ago, I had been on the hunt for a decent example showing the subject matter. For a provincial coin, it has a very "Roman" look to it.

8. Faustina Major Æ Sestertius
141-146 AD
Obverse: DIVA AVGVSTA FAVSTINA; Draped bust right.
Reverse: PIETAS AVG; Pietas, draped and veiled, standing left, holding pyxis in left hand and dropping incense with right hand onto lighted candelabrum; S-C across fields.
References: RIC 1146a (Pius); Cohen 249.
32mm, 27.02g

Faustina the Elder, the wife of Antoninus Pius, is an interesting (if short-lived) figure in Roman history. I was drawn to this sestertius because of the portrait, with her fantastic beehive haircut.

7. Phrygia, Apameia AR cistophoric tetradrachm
166-133 BC
Struck circa 150-140 BC
Obverse: Serpent emerging from cista mystica; all within ivy wreath.
Reverse: Bowcase between two serpents; civic monogram to left; cap of Dioskouros to right.
References: SNG von Aulock 3451 var. (no star above); HGC 7, 655-8; Kleiner & Noe Series 21.
28 mm, 12.68g

For a guy who hates actual snakes, I was a bit surprised when I realized that not one, but two coins depicting them made it into my top 10. This is my first cistophoric tet, though definitely not my last.

6. Moesia Inferior, Tomis. Philip II (as Caesar) Æ Tetrassarion
244-27 AD
Obverse: M IOVΛ ΦIΛIΠΠOC KAI / CAP AVΓ; Bareheaded, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip II right and draped bust of Serapis left, wearing kalathos.
Reverse: MHTPOΠONTOV / TOMЄΩC; Serpent-shaped Glycon coiled, bearded head left.
References: Varbanov 5803
27mm, 12.87g

Glycon was a snake god created by Alexander of Abonoteichos in the 2nd century. A fascinating story involving puppets, fraud, and greasy showmanship. This coins is a nice example of the type. It was struck in Tomis, which was the remote city to which the poet Ovid was banished.

5. Macedon, Neapolis AR hemidrachm
424-350 BC
Obverse: Facing gorgoneion with protruding tongue.
Reverse: Head of nymph right; N-E-O-Π to right.
References: Sear 1417; SNG COP 229; SNG ANS 458.
12mm, 1.83g

I picked up this coin from an FSR auction. I really like gorgons, and with the pandemic raging, figured I could use all of the protection I can get

4. Calabria, Taras (Tarentum), AR Didrachm/Nomos
315-302 BC
Obverse: Nude rider on horse galloping to right, stabbing with spear held in his right hand and holding two other spears and shield in his left; below, ΣA.
Reverse: TAPAΣ; Youthful oikist, nude, riding dolphin to left, holding kantharos in his right hand and trident in his left; to left, K; below, small dolphin to left.
23mm, 7.85g

The horseman on the coins of Taras are thought to be an allusion to the worship of the Dioscuri at Sparta, Taras' mother city. Perhaps it's all the episodes of Flipper I watched as a kid, but I find myself drawn to coins depicting dolphins, as well as those showing mythology. There's something ridiculous and appealing about a guy riding a dolphin with a drink and a trident.

3. Thrace, Lysimachos AR tetradrachm
305-281 BC
Possibly minted at Lysimacheia or Chalcedon
Obverse: Diademed head of the deified Alexander the Great right, wearing horn of Ammon.
Reverse: Athena enthroned left, holding Nike and resting left elbow on shield, spear resting to her right; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΛΥΣΙΜΑΞΟΥ crowned by Nike to left, monogram in inner field.
References: Unpublished in the standard references.
28mm, 17.01g

The fine style of the obverse was the main selling point of this coin. It's an unpublished variety, though the mint mark is usually attributed to Lysimacheia. I haven't made it all the way through Constantin Marinescu's work, but there seems to be some evidence it could be from Chalcedon as well.

2. Commodus Æ Sestertius
177-192 AD
Struck 184 AD
Obverse: M COMMODVS ANTONINVS AVG PIVS.
Laureate head right.
Reverse: P M TR POT VIIII IMP VI COS IIII P P / SC.
Pax seated left on throne, holding branch in right hand and cornucopia in left.
References: RIC 405; Cohen 453; BMC 531; MIR 6226/30.
31mm, 23.33g

Yet another case where I bought the coin for the portrait - this one is exceptionally good in my opinion. It's a scarce issue, and all of the examples I've seen have exhibited the same die flaw on Commodus' forehead.

1. Islands off Attica, Aegina AR Stater
Circa 456/45-431 BC
Obverse: Tortoise with segmented shell.
Reverse: Incuse square with skew pattern.
References: Milbank pl. 2, 12. SNG Copenhagen 516ii. SNG Delepierre 1836; Dewing 1683; ACGC 127.
20mm, 12.05g

This coin is struck in very high relief, and almost feels like a mini-sculpture. It's a type I've wanted for years, and was pleased when I was able to pick it up at a Leu auction at a good price. Though off-struck, the turtle has lots of detail and appeal. My favorite coin of 2020 by far.
Click to expand...

Jeremy, You scored some wonderful coins this year ! I think the Commodus sestertius steals the show . The portrait is breathtaking . The artwork on the Neapolis hemidrachm is a real gem too . I've got a bronze of Gordian III that looks like the same die work of a journeyman engraver that did the work on your bronze of Severus Alexander .

Gordian III, AD 238 - 244, Pisidia-Antioch, AE 34 mm, 26.43 gm, 6 h. SNG France 1211.

singig · Dec 30, 2020

I will give my vote for the Commodus sestertius. Congratulations for your nice list !

Log in or Sign up

Jeremy's top 10 of 2020

Deacon Ray Well-Known Member

Guest User Guest

panzerman Well-Known Member

Mr.Q Well-Known Member

nicholasz219 Well-Known Member

Only a Poor Old Man Well-Known Member

Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

singig Well-Known Member

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

Jeremy's top 10 of 2020

Deacon Ray Well-Known Member

Guest User Guest

panzerman Well-Known Member

Mr.Q Well-Known Member

nicholasz219 Well-Known Member

Only a Poor Old Man Well-Known Member

Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

singig Well-Known Member

Share This Page

Useful Searches