Romancollector's Top 21 of 2021

Hey everyone,

It seems that I'm a little late, but I have finally made my list for 2021. As it turns out, I acquired 26 coins this year, but I wanted to restrict the list to 20 coins. Then I thought why not make the list 21 coins long! This year was challenging as hammer prices were generally through the roof, and consequently, I was outbid on many, many....MANY occasions. Still, I believe that I managed to make quality additions to my modest collection. I'm also happy to have added more coins with provenances this year. In my experience, it is actually rather difficult to find provenances for more common but high grade Roman coins as opposed to Greek coins. In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed contributing to this forum and in turn learning from many of its members! I've also had the opportunity to connect with some CT members, and I hope to meet some members in person at NYINC this January!

Anyways, here's the list. The numbering is strictly chronological and has nothing to do with rank. I will leave the ranking of the coins up to you!

I couldn't add more than 10 options for a poll on CT, so I've attached a link to a separate poll I made!
https://poll-maker.com/poll4050419x1ee183FA-127

1. Ti. Veturius (137 BC)
I wanted this coin since I was first made aware of it in my undergraduate Roman Republican history course. The type possibly refers to the Treaty of Caudine Forks, between the Romans and the Samnites, which occurred during the consulship of T. Veturius Calvinus, the moneyer's ancestor. It could also refer to the contemporary, disadvantageous treaty that Rome made with Numantia. In this instance, the Senate refused to recognize the treaty. Therefore, the scene of this coin may be interpreted as a call to support it.

AR Denarius (19mm, 3.89 g). Rome mint. Helmeted and draped bust of Mars to right; TI•VET (ligate) downwards and X (mark of value) behind / Two soldiers face each other, one bearded and without armour, one bearded and in armour; each holds a spear in left hand and with sword in right hand touches pig held by figure kneeling between them; ROMA above. Crawford 234/1.

Ex Z.P. Collection, Austria.
Ex Roma Numismatics Auction XXII (8 October 2021), lot 565.

2. C. Naevius Balbus (79 BC)
While I wasn't looking for this specific type, I thought that the style of this coin was exceptional and that it had a decent provenance. As my collection is small, it is also my first denarius serratus. Photo by Nomos.

AR Denarius (18mm, 3.88 g). Rome mint. S•C, diademed head of Venus to right, wearing pendant earring and pearl necklace / C•NÆ•B(AL)B, Victory driving galloping triga to right, holding reins in both hands; above, CLXXXVII. Crawford 382/1b.

Ex Swiss Collection in Geneva.
Ex Nomos 23 (30 November 2021), lot 194.
Ex M. de Mayo 1960s.

3. Cn. Pompey Jr. (30-29 BC)
I've wanted this type for a while. Though it is off centre, I thought it was an excellent coin nonetheless. The reverse is really what drew me to this coin, particularly the detailed rendering of the soldier's uniform.

AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.90 g). Corduba mint; Marcus Poblicius, legatus pro praetore. Helmeted head of Roma right; M • POBLICI • LEG • PRO PR around; all within head and reel border / Hispania standing right, round shield on her back, holding two spears and presenting large palm frond to Pompeian soldier standing left on praw, armed with sword; CN • MAGNVS • IMP around. Crawford 469/1a.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group Classical Numismatic Review Vol XLVI. No 1 (Winter 2021), no. 559027.
Ex Classical Numismatic Group Auction 117 (16 September 2020), lot 592.

4. Octavian (31-30 BC)
What can I say about this coin other than the fact that it has an absolutely gorgeous portrait.

AR Denarius (19mm, 3.96 g). Italian mint (Rome?). Bare head left / Victory standing to left on globe, holding wreath and palm; CAESAR DIVI F across fields. RIC I 54b.

Ex Roma Numismatics E-Sale (15 April 2021), lot 1078.

5. Augustus (27 BC-AD 14)


AR Denarius (19mm, 3.91 g). Uncertain Spanish mint (Colonia Patricia?). 19 BC. CAESAR AVGVSTVS, bare head right / OB CIVIS SERVATOS in three lines within oak-wreath with ties inward. RIC I 77a.

Ex Leu Numismatik Web Auction 16 (24 May 2021), lot 3341.

6. Agrippina Sr.
I've always wanted a sestertius of Agrippina Sr. and this one fit the bill! I was particularly drawn to the intricacy of her hairstyle and the overall delicate rendering of her portrait on this coin.

AE Sestertius (36mm, 26.92 g). Rome mint. AD 50-54, struck under Claudius. AGRIPPINA M F GERM-ANICI CAESARIS, draped bust right / TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P IMP P P around S×C. RIC I 102.

Ex Roma Numismatics E-Sale 81 (25 February 2021), lot 1059.

8. Galba (AD 96-98)
This coin is an upgrade from my 2019 list. I really liked the rendering of Galba's portrait on this coin because it echoes his austere persona described in the works of Suetonius and Tacitus.

AE Sestertius (36mm, 27.09 g). Rome mint. June-August AD 68. IMP SER GALBA AVG TR P, draped bust of Galba right, wreathed with oak laurel, seen from behind / S P Q R OB CIV SER, legend in three lines within oak wreath (corona civica). RIC I 263.

Ex Ed’s Treasures Collection.
Ex Heritage Auctions, the Ed’s Treasures Collection of Ancient Coins Showcase Auction #61238 (5 December 2021), lot 99094.
Ex Numismatic Fine Arts, Auction V (February 1978), lot 396.

Ex Ed’s Treasures Collection.
Ex Heritage Auctions, the Ed’s Treasures Collection of Ancient Coins Showcase Auction #61238 (5 December 2021), lot 99094.
Ex Numismatic Fine Arts, Auction V (February 1978), lot 396.


8. Nerva (AD 96-98)
Due to the nature of my collection, a coin of Nerva was always must. However, I thought it likely be a denarius rather than a sestertius. When I saw this coin, I was immediately drawn to the portrait and decided that I had to have it!

AE Sestertius (33 mm, 24.14 g). Rome mint. AD 97. IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS III P P, laureate head right / PAX AVG, Pax seated left, holding branch in right hand and sceptre in left; S C in exergue. RIC III 88.

Ex Ploil Collection
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica Spring Sale 2021 (10 May 2021), lot 1281.
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 106 (9 May 2018), lot 1443.
Ex Classical Numismatic Group Triton VII (12 Jan 2004), lot 907.

9. Trajan (AD 98-117)
I was looking for this type for a while due to its historical significance. This coin commemorates Trajan's Dacian campaign, which ultimately contributed to the expansion of the Roman Empire to its greatest extent. About a year ago, I was scrolling through NAC's archives and I stumbled across this coin. I thought it would be nice to own if it I came across it, and sure enough it appeared in NAC's spring sale.

AE Sestertius (35mm, 27.71 g). Rome mint. AD 106-107. IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, laureate head right with drapery on left shoulder / S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, Dacia seated left on shield in attitude of mourning, before trophy; S C in exergue. RIC III 564 var.

Ex Ploil Collection.
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica Spring Sale 2021 (10 May 2021), lot 1299.
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 101 (24 Oct 2017), lot 249.
Ex Gorny & Mosch Auction 125 (13 October 2003), lot 475.

10. Trajan (AD 98-117)
This was another upgrade from my 2019 list. It has a different reverse than my original aureus, but I thought that the portrait was excellent.

AV Aureus (18.5mm, 7.31 g). Rome mint. AD 108-110. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / COS V PP SPQR OPTIMO PRINC, Ceres standing left, holding grain-ears and long torch. RIC III 109.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group Triton XXIV (20 January 2021), lot 1081.
Ex Classical Numismatic Group Triton XXI (9 January 2018), lot 750.

Next 10 to follow

 

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Wonderful selections, @Romancollector.

Your Agrippina Senior and two Trajan coins are my favorites. I recognize your Galba from yesterday's auction. It is a nice one also. Looking forward to your other coins.

 

Impressive additions, my favorites are the two denarii from the reign of Octavian/Augustus and the two Trajan coins.

 

Very nice coins @Romancollector ! I hope 2022 is just as productive for you.

 

R.collector, You added some magnificent coins to your collection this year ! My favorite is #4, the Caesar Augustus denarius with the anepigraphic portrait . My 2nd favorite is #9, The Trajan Dacian Victory sestertius , & my 3rd favorite is #6, the stunning sestertius of Agrippina Sr. .

 

11. Hadrian (AD 117-138)
There are a number of travel series denarii that I'm looking for, this just happens to be my first one. Among other provinces, Hadrian's journey to Egypt was significant due to the death of Antinous and the events that followed it, namely his deification and Hadrian's foundation of Antinoopolis. I don't see myself having a coin of Antinous anytime soon, so this looser connection will have to suffice!
Hadrian. 117-138. AR Denarius (18.1mm, 3.52 g). Rome mint. AD 132. HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, bare head right / AEGYPTOS, Egypt reclining left, holding sistrum, stork before. RIC III 297.

Ex Apollo Numismatics.
Ex Fritz Rudolf Kunker Auction 295 (25 September 2017), lot 827.
Ex Frank Sternberg Auction III (1974), lot 83.

12. Lucilla (Augusta, AD 164-182/183)
I originally had a specific denarius in mind for Lucilla. However, when I saw this coin I decided that I preferred it instead. This coin possesses a soft, yet dignified portrait of Lucilla an equally exquisite reverse, not to mention a provenance going back to the 1970s.

AE Sestertius (33mm, 28.99 g). Rome mint. AD 164-169. LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F, draped bust of Lucilla right, seen from front, hair in waves and coiled up in chignon at back of head / PIETAS, Pietas, draped, standing facing, diademed and veiled head left, dropping incense from right hand into lighted altar at feet, holding box of incense in left. RIC III (Marcus Aurelius) 1756.

Ex Heritage Auctions World & Ancient Coins Signature Auction #3093 (29 October 2021), lot 31139.
Ex Heritage Auctions Auction 3061 NYINC (7 January 2018), lot 29396.
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica Auctions 97 & 98 (12 December 2016), lot 336.
Ex Hess-Divo Auction 321 (25 October 2012), lot 267.
Ex Frank Sternberg (November 1975), lot 124.

13. Julia Domna (Augusta, AD 193-217)
This is probably one of my favourite sestertii in my collection. As I've already said on this forum, I was always drawn to the later portraiture of Domna. To me, this portrait exudes power and a regal aura and that is precisely why I wanted it.

AE Sestertius (31mm, 26.52 g). Rome mint. AD 215, struck under Caracalla. IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, diademed and draped bust right / SAECVLI FELICITAS S C, Felicitas standing left, sacrificing out of patera over altar and holding sceptre. RIC IV 590.

Ex Jack A. Frazer Collection.
Ex Classical Numismatic Group 117 (19 May 2021), lot 577.
Ex Classical Numismatic Group Triton XXIII (14 Jan 2020), lot 797.
Ex James Fox Collection.
Ex Classical Numismatic Group 40 with Numismatica Ars Classica (14 Dec 1996), lot 1573.
Ex Leu 50 (25 April 1990), lot 335.

14. Severus Alexander (AD 222-235)
I was on the hunt for a sestertius of Severus Alexander, with no particular variety in mind and I liked the reverse of this coin. The issue was struck in commemoration of Alexander’s assumption of his third consulship.

AE Sestertius (29mm, 19.64 g). Rome mint. AD 229, special emission. IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG, laureate bust right, drapery on left shoulder / P M TR P VIII COS III P P S C, Severus Alexander in quadriga right holding eagle-tipped sceptre. RIC IV 495.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 117 (19 May 2021), lot 585.
Ex Classical Numismatic Group Inventory 793918 (June 2007).

15. Gordian III (AD 238-244)
I wanted an aureus of Gordian, and I like his particularly childlike appearance on this coin. Photo by Nomos

AV Aureus (21mm, 4.86 g). Rome mint. AD 239. IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVG, Victory advancing to left, holding wreath in right hand and palm branch in left. RIC IVc 11.

Nomos Auction 23 (30 November 2021), lot 243.

16. Otacilia Severa (Augusta, AD 244-249)
I liked this coin for the obvious reason that it commemorated the saecular games and that there's a hippo on its reverse.

AE Sestertius (30mm, 19.89 g). Rome mint. Late AD 248. MARCIA OTACILIA SEVERA AVG, diademed and draped bust right / SAECVLARES AVG, S C, Hippopotamus standing right, head raised. RIC IV 200.

Naville Numismatics Auction 69 (14 November 2021), lot 515.

17. Diocletian (AD 284-305)
I wanted to represent a few different mints through argentei in my collection and Nicomedia is one of them. Also, if you don't include my half argenteus which I purchased earlier in the year, this is my first argenteus!

AR Argenteus (19mm, 3.33 g). Nicomedia mint. AD 295. DIOCLETIANVS AVG, laureate head right / VICTORIAE SARMATICAE, tetrarchs sacrificing before six-turreted enclosure; mintmark SMNΓ. RIC VI 19a.

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica E-Shop.
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 84/2 (21 May 2015), lot 2084.

18. Diocletian (AD 284-305)
This was the coin that I initially didn't include in my top 20. Now that I decided I to have a list of 21 coins, I figured why not add it. It is a common coin, but it has a beautiful style and full silvering.


19. Galerius (AD 305-306)
I've wanted campgate follis for a while, as campgate reverses are less frequently encountered on larger module folles. I was happy to acquire this example which previously belonged to CTs very own @Terence Cheesman

Galerius. AD 305-306. AR Argenteus (26.5mm, 10.37 g). Lugdunum mint, 1st officina. AD 300-302, as Caesar. CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, laureate bust left, in imperial mantle, holding eagle-tipped sceptre / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, holding patera over lighted altar and cornucopiae, B to right; Mintmark PLC.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group Feature Auction 115 Session 3 (17 September 2020), lot 716.
Ex Calgary Coin & Antique

20. Constantius I (AD 305-306)
I didn't think I would add a second coin of Constantius I, as I already have a nice follis from Lugdunum, but when I saw this one I had to have it. The intricate curly beard that is characteristic of the issues from Antioch seemed to be especially pronounced on this coin.

AE Follis (26mm, 9.16 g). Antioch mint, 1st officina. AD 300-301, as Caesar. FL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, laureate head right / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genus standing left, holding patera, cornucopiae; K-delta over V across fields, mintmark ANT.

Ex Fritz Rudolf Kunker GmbH & Co KG Auction 351 (25 September 2021), lot 509.
Ex Munzzentrum Auction 80 (Cologne, 1994), lot 80.

One more to go.....

 

Wonderful selection but out of my league !
For me #5, #6 and #9....All are stunning coins though....Congrats!

 

And last but certainly not least

21. Constantine I (AD 307/310-337)
This is actually one of my favourites on the list because it is one of the scarcest coins in my collection, but it is also so tiny and intricate with deep cabinet toning. Additionally, it has a British Museum provenance! I loved it when saw it in the Gorny auction, but I managed to sleep through the live auction and therefore failed to acquire it. Knowing that I wanted it, an eagle-eyed CTer informed me that it was available on VCoins and I immediately rushed to purchase it.

AR Half-Argenteus (15mm, 1.6 g). Trier mint. AD 306-307. IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG, laureate, cuirassed bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder / VIRTVS MILITVM, four-turreted camp gate, no doors; PTR in exergue. RIC VI 828.

Ex British Museum
Ex Gorny & Mosch Auction 276 (19 April 2021), lot 645.
Ex Credit Suisse Bern Auction 4 (3 December 1985), lot 624.

Anyways....that concludes my top 21 of 2021. I've enjoyed seeing all your lists and hope you enjoyed seeing mine.

Merry Christmas (to those who celebrate) and wishing everyone a restful and restorative holiday season and a prosperous new year!

I hope to meet some of you in person at NYINC!

 

All wonderful coins! I especially like the galloping triga on the reverse on the denarius, and I am always a pushover for a beautiful sestertius, so the Agrippina Senior, Nerva, Trajan and Galba sestertii are also my favorites.

 

A little late? Not at all! Probably only a third or fewer members who will eventually post their year-end list have done so .

WOW what a year! You have a fine taste in coins! I started a list of ones I was sure would be my top three but when it was done, I had 9 on the list .

It is impossible to pick three only three from so many stellar choices so I won't even try to further cull the list.

Favorites:

3 Pompey Jr denarius
4 Octavian denarius
6 Agrippina sest
7 Galba sest
8 Nerva sest
9 Trajan sest
11 Hadrian denarius
12 Lucilla sest
18 Diocletian follis

 

My vote goes for 1, 4, 5, 8, 9

 

What a magnificent group! I feel like @TIF: it's difficult enough to narrow it down by half, never mind down to three. How many are we allowed to vote for in the poll you set up? The Naevius Balbus* and Pompey Jr. RR denarii, the Octavian and Augustus denarii, the Galba and Trajan sestertii, the Trajan aureus -- and that's just from the first group! That Gordian III aureus. And on and on. . . .

*I can understand why you like the type; my own example was on my RR top 10 list last year:



(This year, I bought the only other example of a triga, issued by the three moneyers Manlius, Pulcher, and Urbinus.)

Also: I've rarely, if ever, seen a Ti. Veturius before with so much detail visible for the three reverse figures. On most, one can't even begin to tell who is or isn't bearded, wearing armor, wearing a helmet, etc.

 

An absolutely incredible list of additions! My favorites are 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 21 although it's very hard to narrow down further. Congratulations on a superb year in a challenging climate: you've managed to add a remarkable quantity of quality pieces; I can certainly understand why you chose to post 21!

 

A VERY impressive list! My favorites are the Octavian denarius, the Hadrian Aegyptos, the Galerius campgate follis, and the Constantine half-argenteus.

 

I would be hard pressed to choose a favorite, or even three, or even ten !
I take them all : you had a glorious year as it seems

Q

 

Oh my, what an amazing list of acquisitions! Your coins are all of great quality, and the provenances are icing on the cake. What makes me curious though, is which 5 coins didn't make it on the list?
I voted in a traditional style, so I picked three coins: the Pompey and Octavian denarii, and the half argenteus of Constantine.

 

You had a great year! My favorite was Pompey Jr.

 

Congratulations on acquiring some great coins, all of which are of the highest quality, and great variety. Difficult to choose favorites in a group like this but I took special note of #2 C. Naevius Balbus because this was one of my targets in the recent Nomos sale, and 18. Diocletian because even common issues can be rare when combined with great style and unimprovable condition.

 

like your #4 with the beautiful portrait (I think this is 254b in RIC I - went on a goose chase looking for 54b in a cng search). picked up a battered right facing victory 255er myself this year: