Finn's 2020 Several lists of top 10!

2020 has been a crazy year, on one hand it feels like a lifetime ago that I was able to go grocery shopping without wearing a face mask, but on the other hand it seems like it ought to still be about mid-summer. I don't know where this year has gone.

I have been blessed this year not only to be the only member of my work team to still have the same job they had in January, but also with a particularly fruitful year of flipping on eBay - this has been one of my busiest years yet, and as such I simply can't choose just ten, so I will present my top 10 in several categories I have been pursuing this year.

First up - Newcomers to my Roman Portrait Set

10. Pythes, Magistrare of Laodicea


Why it made the top 10:
I have felt an inexplicable fascination with the appearance of non-Imperial Romans on 1st century provincials, and Pythes is not only one of the last to enjoy this honor (he apparently served under Tiberius) but he is quite rare, and this coin displays both the portrait and full name well against a sandy patina.

9. Caligula, with wife Caesonia, AE "As" of Carthago Nova

Why it made the top 10:
Even though this coin doesn't say "CAESONIA" anywhere on it, "Salus" feels like a very personal portrait, strongly indicating that this is the elusive wife of Caligula.

8. Fulvia, wife of Marcus Antonius AR Quinarius, Lugdunum mint


Why it made the Top 10: This is a type I have been wanting for a while, and despite the small size and cleaning scratches, the portrait is still quite pleasing.

7. Zeno AV solidus


Late last year I sold my Zeno tremissis for about double what I had paid for it; I used that money to buy a nice, shiny solidus which looks much better in the album page!

6. Matidia, niece of Trajan, mother of Sabina, posthumous AR denarius, struck under Hadrian


Why it made the Top 10: Despite their rarity, Matidia was not only a prominent public figure of her day, but also served as the foundation stone of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty - she was the daughter of Trajan's sister, the mother in law of Hadrian, the grandmother of Faustina I, and by marriage the great-grandmother of Marcus Aurelius. I still need to hunt down a lifetime issue, but this consecration issue by Hadrian is actually scarcer.

5. Annia Faustina, 3rd wife of Elagabalus, AE of Hierapolis, Phrygia, minted for the Actian Games


Why it made the Top 10: Although historically just a blip on the radar, Annia Faustina was one of the last surviving members of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty, and the last to appear on coinage

4. Marciana AR denarius, consecration issue by Trajan

Why it made the Top 10: See above for my commentary on how she fits in to the dynasty as a whole; Marciana is the matron of just about the entire dynasty, related to every member by either blood or marriage. Plus, this one has a really great eye appeal!

3. Pompey the Great, AE of Soloi-Pompeiopolis

Why it made the Top 10: My coverage of the Imperatorial period leaves much to be desired, and is an area I will probably have to dedicate a years' budget to. This one struck me as having a particularly pleasing eye appeal with a bold portrait, although there is some debate about whether these coins date to Pompey's lifetime, or whether they could be posthumous, possibly as late as the Flavian era. Regardless, Pompey's contribution to the political instability that ultimately destroyed the Republic is worthy of recognition.

2. Pescennius Niger AR denarius


Why it made the Top 10: This was one of the few planned purchases of the year; finally acquiring a Pescennius Niger leaves only Gordian I and II to complete my set of all emperors from Augustus through Theodosius II and Valentinian III. This was just about the nicest I could afford while still remaining a $1k coin virgin.

1. Publius Quinctilius Varus, as governor of Africa, with Augustus, Gaius, and Lucius, AE30 "As" of Achulla

Why it made the Top 10:

QVINCTILIVS VARVS, LEGIONES REDDE!!!

Stay tuned for the next part soon!

 

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Probably talking my own need list but your denarius depicting Marciana caught my eye -- as you mention eye appeal!

 

Nice set of portraits that you don't see every day. I especially like the Pompey and Caesonia - great top 10! Best wishes for the New Year!

 

A Varus!!! Neat!

 

Wow, most of those are really tough... congrats!! I like the Niger best.

 

..outstanding group of very desirable coins!

 

Love the Pompey. An unmistakable portrait.

 

Finn, I like your Zeno solidus ! Most of the ones I've seen are clipped, bent, or just plain ugly.

 

Thanks all!

Second up - Familiar Faces, New Titles

I'm not entirely certain how I got stuck on this path, but I somehow decided to collect not only one from each emperor, but also from their tenure as Caesar, as Augustus, and posthumous issues. All of these are common emperors, but the titles are mostly scarce to extremely rare.

10. Tiberius as Caesar under Augustus AE As (8 AD)

Probably one of the more common on this list, even though Tiberius spent decades as Augustus' on-again, off-again heir apparent, the coinage honoring him as such is somewhat sparing. This predates the use of Caesar as an explicit title meaning heir apparent, but the use of AVGVST F instead of DIVI AVG F indicates that the coin was struck when Augustus was still alive.

9. Divus Septimius Severus AR denarius, consecration by Caracalla and/or Geta

Severus' immense lifetime denarius output coupled with family strife for the duration of 211 AD makes his consecration coinage seem miniscule compared to the bulk of Severan coinage. This one just struck me as nice.

8. Gordian III as Caesar under Pupienus and Balbinus, AE sestertius

Not *so* rare, but compared to the sea of Gordian III coins on the market, the rare issue from his three months as Caesar under Pupienus and Balbinus just seems particularly special.

7. Diva Sabina AR denarius, consecration by Hadrian


As discussed in a recent thread, Hadrian was a homosexual and despised his wife Sabina, who, aside from an apparent affair with the historian Suetonius, suffered her husband's escapades with Antinous in silent dignity. Hadrian deified his wife, but kept the commemorative issue short. All coins of Sabina are less than common, but deification issues are a special find.

6. Nero as Caesar AR didrachm of Antioch

Why the coinage of Nero as Caesar dwarfs that of Britannicus is a mystery to me. This one sports a particularly attractive youthful bust, and is a rare example of a coin that specifically calls out the denomination - ΔIΔPAXMON

5. Diva(?!) Claudia Octavia, unauthorized issue by local authority of Mindios?

Discussed in detail here https://www.cointalk.com/threads/an...lydia-sardes-for-diva-claudia-octavia.367560/
The obverse legend ΘΕΑΝ ΟΚΤΑΟΙΑΝ indicates that Octavia has been deified on this issue - but she clearly wasn't, as Nero had her put to death!

4. Divus Victorinus AE antoninianus, Consecration issue by Tetricus I, or possibly interregnum issue

Perhaps one of the most surprising coins to come from the Gallic Empire - Victorinus was emperor for only a short while, barely kept his dominion held together between the pressures from the barbarians and the new emperor Claudius II, and was ultimately killed by a jealous soldier whose wife he had apparently seduced! Still, he was given the only posthumous honors out of the four Gallic emperors, either by his successor Tetricus, or else by his mother Victoria during the interregnum before Tetricus could be contacted to accept the succession.

3. Divus Hadrian, consecration issue by Antoninus Pius

Despite his reputation today, Hadrian was deeply unpopular when he died, and his memory was nearly condemned to be forgotten. Antoninus threatened to abdicate if his adoptive father was not deified, an act that so moved the Senate that they granted his request and bestowed the honorific Pius to the new emperor. The compulsory consecration coinage was kept to a minimum, and is rare today.

2. Divus Augustus AE dupondius, consecration by Tiberius

By far the most common coin on the list, this is actually my first Divus Augustus with his portrait, and it's just a really attractive coin, despite the off-center strike (which got me a killer deal on it!)

1. Caligula as Caesar, with Tiberius, AE "as" of Carthago Nova, Hispania

Despite ample coinage issued for original heirs Germanicus and Drusus, Tiberius saw fit to allow Caligula only one extremely limited issue of three denominations of AE coinage from Carthago Nova in Hispania while the latter held the title of Caesar and Heir apparent. These ~100 coins across all three denominations are the only physical mementos of the Mad Emperor prior to the death of Tiberius.

 

Well done Finn! You scored some really nice coins! Wish you a wonderfull 2021!
PS: I still need a Zeno Tremissis

 

I have had an easy time getting both Solidi/ I cannot find a decent Tremissis/ Semissis

 

This was the tremissis I sold. It was a nice example, but the more I looked at it, the more I felt like it was an imitation, not an official example.



CNG sold a double die match relatively inexpensively a few weeks ago:
https://www.cngcoins.com/Lot.aspx?L...1&SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_4=1&VIEW_TYPE=0

 

Whoa! What a year! Those are some scarce historical figures! All those pricey Nerva-Antonine women!

 

Excellent year, super groups! Congrats, @Finn235 !

 

Amazing rare coins, one after another. I'm in awe!

 

You've purchased some of my favorite Roman coins this year
Thanks for sharing

 

I really appreciate the thoughts behind each one and would be happy to have any. However I am happiest to see someone else here who wanted a Pescennius Niger enough to buy one rather than just put him down as not worth the price or too low grade to be collectable. My first Pescennius was similar but seemed an obvious buy due to the spelling error.


There are no PN as just Caesar and he was not deified. Just in case you want more he does have coins from more than one mint and with dates that separate 193 and 194 AD. There are also Provincials but that is the one that has so far evaded me.

 

Excellent coins! A Niger is on my want list and yours is a very nice example.

 

Great list with some nice rarities amongst them. All caught my eye and some are on my wishlist too, but Varus really jumps out. Great coin, great history!

 

And you had to know it was coming....

Indo-Sassanians!

This was my busiest year yet for these beautiful coins, despite not buying any while India was shut down for quarantine from March - October. One of my regular dealers on eBay reached out to me directly to offer me a deal to buy almost an entire hoard of about 120 specimens Series 1.1 (the earliest of the Gadhaiya family) and 70 specimens of Series 1.3 (the same as my avatar). I also purchased way too many Malwa types, most of a hoard of the extremely rare Sri Da Ma, and some other odds and ends. I'll have to make a recap thread to capture my ramblings, but here are my top purchases for the year.

10. Series 1.1.2 "Hun Portrait"


In addition to a delightfully odd portrait, the attendants are a totally different style than is normally seen, with distinct legs rather than a herringbone skirt.

9. Series 1.1.2 "Hun portrait"


Despite the flat areas of strike, this coin is in exceptional condition, not only showing all facial details, but also a remarkable decorated hair bun, plus stringed beads behind the ear, which is a puzzle in itself that I have been trying to work through.

8. Post-Bhoja pratiharas, Adivaraha type (not yet assigned)


This exceptionally rare coin follows the standard Adivaraha-dramma type (boar stomping lion, nagari legend on reverse atop remnants of fire altar and attendants) but with one important exception - the fire altar has the letter 'ma' just like the earlier type "Sri Vigra". Initially thinking this to be a discovery specimen, I realized that John Deyell beat me to the punch:
https://www.academia.edu/35258308/T...Adivaraha_Dramma_Coinage_an_Exploratory_Essay
(See figure 8 toward the bottom)
Regardless, this may be only the second specimen known!

7. Series 1.1.6.2 Line Style I, Cheek Attached to Headgear

This remarkable coin sheds new light on the purpose of the "flower" korymbos (top hair bun) that Maheshwari mused over and ultimately decided to base his division of these early series upon. While this is probably not the first to use a non-round korymbos, the intent to portray this as Shiva's trishula seems unmistakable to me.

6. Series 2.2.2 Sri Ha Predecessors, Sri only

This coin confirms an earlier suspicion that a coin I bought a couple years ago belonged to the "Sri X" series, but lacked a second letter. It is unpublished and may be my second of 4-10 extant specimens.

5. Series 1.6.7 "Distinctive Nose" Gadhaiya with reverse legend Sri Jaita Vama Deva

Two years ago, I had the opportunity to buy one of these on Vcoins for $100, but I hesitated for too long and someone else snapped it up. Imagine my surprise to win this for $15 with no bidding competition! Fewer than 20 of these coins are known, and are the only coin in all of Track 1 to bear a ruler's name, albeit one that does not perfectly match any name on any surviving king's list.

4. Series 2.4.5.1 Sri Da Ma, finer style

Prior to December of last year, fewer than 20 of these coins were known. Then a hoard hit the market, and I managed to snatch them up at an average of about $3 each. I now own over 30, but this is the finest I own and may be the finest in existence - and it only cost $30!

3. "Series 0" Atypical early Peroz imitations

My attribution is still somewhat tentative, but based on the remarkable style of the attendants, the unusual presentation of the fire altar ribbons (four pellets in a lozenge, markedly different than the standard sagging string of beads) and the presence of an unknown object (Sankha shell?) before the bust are enough to place it in the predecessor category, at least for now.

2. Series 1.6.1 "Distinctive Nose" early type with Gadhaiya face

I nearly missed this in the last Pars Vauction, won it for the minimum bid, and it arrived in my mailbox late yesterday afternoon! I have posted the type before, this is my fifth specimen; I spotted one about a year back from a small batch of these coins that I didn't own, but there is a distinct possibility that it could be this one.

Artist's depiction of Finn's face if he does in fact own all known specimens of a major rarity: