My top 10 for 2021 (first top 10)

Hello everyone!

It's been a great first year of collecting! I cannot thank everyone enough for all the help in answering my questions. In following with UN 0323 1.4G, which requires all members of CoinTalk to post their top 10 list, here's mine in no particular order. I'll probably post a separate one for the bronzes in a few weeks.

#1 Seleukos tet
This one had been on my list for some time. I call it my "time machine" because, unlike most other coins, it depicts a scene that could have actually been witnessed back then.

Seleukos I Nikator​

Tetradrachm (Silver, 26 mm, 17.08 g, 8 h)
Susa, circa 296/5-281.
Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ΣEΛEΥKOΥ Athena, brandishing spear overhead in her right hand and holding shield in her left, standing right in quadriga of elephants moving to right; above to right, spearhead; before elephants, monogram of MΩ. SC 177.2.
Ex Leu Numismatik​

#2 Mazaios stater

This is a "three for the price of one" coin. You get the image of Baal, which influenced Alexander's later famous coinage. You get the lion taking down the bull(?), or in other words "our G-d is better than your G-d" (didn't work out too well for them, though), and you get what may be the earliest image of the city of Jerusalem.

Tarsos. Mazaios, Satrap. Circa 361-334 BC. AR Stater.
Baaltars seated left, holding sceptre surmounted by an eagle in right hand,
left arm at side; grain ear, bunch of grapes to left, monogram under throne
/ Lion attacking bull above double row of turreted walls.
10.11g
SNG Levante 113; SNG France 360
Ex Fenzl​

#3 Lysimachos tet

An extremely common but also sought after coin, with Alexander's deified portrait, this one comes from a less common mint in Perinthos.

Lysimachos 287/281 Perinthos. 17.08g
Kopf des vergöttlichten Alexander / Athena mit Nike-Statuette auf Cippus und Schild, Beiz. Monogramm und 2 gegenläufige Pferdeprotomen.
Thompson in Festschr. Robinson (1968), -, vgl. 256 HGC 1750q; Thompson, Armenak-Hoard (=ANS MN 31, 198 - Müller, Lysimachus - Arnold-Biucchi in Festschr. Price (1998) Unpublished variant(?)
Ex Dr Busso Peus Nachf​

#4 Demetrios Poliorketes tet

I went after this one before I started by "Philip II, Alexander III, and the Era of the Diadochi" collection, since I loved the Poseidon reverse and perhaps the first lifetime portrait on a Greek coin.

Kings of Macedon. Pella. Demetrios I Poliorketes 306-283 BC.
Tetradrachm AR 30 mm, 17,12 g
Diademed and horned head of young Demetrios right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ, poseidon standing left resting foot on rock, monograms at either side.
Newell 90
Ex Savoca​

#5 Julius Caesar denarius

Yeah, I know...This isn't Greek, but I picked this one up before I focused. You can't beat the history on this classic. Sure, it's a bit rough, but the history is the same. It's still one of the first coins I show off to visitors.

Julius Caesar AR Denarius.
Military mint travelling with Caesar, 49-48 BC.
Elephant advancing to right, trampling on serpent; CAESAR in exergue / Emblems of the pontificate: simpulum, aspergillum, securis (surmounted by wolf's head), and apex. Crawford 443/1; CRI 9; BMCRR Gaul 27-30; RSC 49. 3.26g, 20mm, 2h.
Ex Roma​

#6 Mytilene Hekte
I wasn't even looking for an electrum, but when I found a coin that referenced both Philip II and Alexander III, I couldn't order it fast enough.

Mytilene EL Hekte c. 332 BCE
10.5mm 2.57g 12h
Avers : Tête laurée et barbue de Zeus à droite (Philippe II de Macédoine).
Revers : Tête imberbe d’Héraklès à droite coiffée de la léonté dans un carré linéaire (Alexandre III le Grand).
Bod.103 - B. traité- - Aulock1711 - P.- - BMC.- - Cop.- - HGCS. 5/1029 (R2)
Ex CGB​

#7 Ptolemy I Soter tet
I had my eyes on this one for well over a month and would nervously check the site to make sure it wasn't sold while I saved. Of course I couldn't beat the combination of the portrait of Alexander in the elephant headdress, combined with it being minted by his friend Ptolemy I.

Ptolemy I 311-305 BCE
27.5 mm 14.6g 1h
Sv.162 (37 ex) - Cop.29 - GC.7750 var. - BMC.- - MP.6
Avers : Buste cornu et diadémé d'Alexandre le Grand sous les traits de Zeus-Ammon à droite, coiffé de la dépouille d'éléphant avec l'égide.
Revers : Athéna Promachos ou Alkidemos marchant à droite, brandissant une javeline de la main droite et tenant un bouclier de la gauche ; dans le champ à gauche, un casque corinthien, un monogramme et un aigle sur un foudre tourné à droite.
Ex CBG​

#8 Sabakes tet
I couldn't believe I won this one, as I'd imagined that when I finally picked up a Sabakes, it would be rough due to their rarity. I'm very proud to have it in my collection.

Egypt, Achaemenid Province. Sabakes, satrap, AR Tetradrachm. Circa 340-333 BC.
16.61g, 25mm, 9h.
Head of Athena to right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl / Owl standing to right with head facing, olive sprig with berry and crescent in upper left field; uncertain letters to left, "Sabakes symbol" and SWYK (in Aramaic) to right.
Van Alfen Type III, 24-34 var. (O11/R- [unlisted rev. die]); Nicolet-Pierre, Monnaies 18-26 (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen 4 var. (no letters on left of rev.); BMC 265 var. (same).
Ex Roma​

#9 Philip II tet
It was this coin that taught me what "crystallized" meant, but even though that may shy some away from coins, I find it makes this one a stunner to look at. For obvious reasons, this was one of my first big targets.

Macedonian Kingdom, Philip II AR Tetradrachm.
Pella mint, ca 354-349 BC.
22-24 mm., 13.68g.
Laureate head of Zeus right / ΦIΛΛIΠOY, Philip II, diademed & in kausia, on horseback left, raising right hand
Ex N&N Collection​

#10 Balakros stater
This is my newest pick up, and I've long considered it the "quintessential Persian coin." I just love the portrait, and I'm glad to find an affordable copy that has a well-preserved one.

Cilicia, Tarsos AR Stater.​

Balakros, satrap of Cilicia under Alexander III.
Circa 333-323 BC.
Facing bust of Athena, draped, wearing triple-crested helmet and necklace / Baaltars seated to left, holding lotus-tipped sceptre; grain ear and grape bunch to left, B above ivy leaf to right, T below throne.
SNG Levante Suppl. 21; SNG BnF 368; SNG von Aulock 5964.
10.79g, 26mm, 6h.
Ex Roma​

 

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All gorgeous, @kirispupis! I had to go with action and animals! My favorites were the tet of Ptolemy I because of the Athena, the tet of Sileukos I because of the elephants, and the Mazaios stater because of the lion attacking! Cool coins!

 

Magnificent! They're all wonderful, but I voted for the Lysimachos, the Ptolemy I Soter, and the Philip II.

 

kirispupis, What a wonderful group of coins ! My 1st pick was the Ptolemy I Tet, based on style alone . My 2nd pick was the Mitiline hekte, followed by the Republican elephant .

 

Nice grouping for your first year! That Ptolemy is extremely attractive- well done! Lots of great types in that bunch.

 

Lots to like. Number 2 is my fav.

 

All nice but Ptolemy I is my favorite.

 

Well, being a lover of imitations, I really like your Sabakes owl, with complete legends on the reverse, a remarkable coin for this type.

Also, the Ptolemy tetradrachm is very nice! The strike is excellent, fine die work and the counterstamp gives the coin real presence.

Overall, the coins on your list reflect the breath of your interests. May 2022 continue to be one of fulfillment on your journey.

 

An incredible group, I especially like how it covers a wide range of places and events across the late 4th Century BCE. Congrats on a great year! My favourites are the ptolemy, sabakes, and mytilene.

 

Beautiful. Congratulations.

 

Thank you everyone for all the kind words!

If there's a lesson I've learned here, it's to keep an eye on CGB.

I've only purchased two coins ever from them, and they're currently polling first and second...

 

NICE
I like the Julius Caesar AR Denarius/ the Mytilene EL Hekte best. Nice additions.....

 

Beautiful coins, @kirispupis. You have a very fruitful year!

My favorite are #2, 6 and 7.

 

Wow, great list! Hard to pick a favorite, but if forced, I'd go for the Seleukos tet because of the action packed reverse, the Lysimachos tet, because of the lovely obverse, and the Ptolemy I Soter tet because of overall eye appeal, it's a beauty!

 

All coins are beautifull. My favorite are #1, #3 and #7.

 

All great coins, @kirispupis and a really good first year! Congrats.

I love them all, but, if forced to choose, my favorites would probably be the Ptolemy I (a lovely type and yours is a great example), the Philips II ( I have a big weak spot for crystallized and darkly toned coins), and of course the lovely Seleukos tet (although I somehow doubt if really all that many people back then actually witnessed Pallas Athena parading in a quadriga of elephants. I guess it all depends on what you call: 'I was really drunk last night...).

Good luck in '22!

 

This is your first year collecting ancients? You certainly don't do anything halfway! Great year .

My favorites, not necessarily in order, are the Ptolemy I tet, the Lysimachos stater (I just can't seem to pull the trigger on one but love them), and the Mazaios stater.

 

Fantastic year, great choices both in style and historic meaning
I'm still blown away by your Mytilene Hekte Philip II ATG what a story and what a coin!
Fantastic Lysimachos tet. Very well done
I got a Poliorketes tet recently too


As well as my first big boy Philip II (spoiler either of these may show up on my top ten):

 

# 1, # 6 and #7 are my favorites with 6 and 7 tied as #1
Great group

Q

 

Impressive first year !!, congratulations ! My preferred is #7.