Top 10 2021 - singig

Hello everyone , this is my second Top 10 posted on CT , this year I decided to use the pool feature and to add one additional coin (#11) even if it cannot be voted , the coins are arranged only in chronological order. I hope you will like my top 10 for this year

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all CT members and readers a joyous holiday season and a happy new year !!


#1 SICILY, Syracuse. Timoleon and the Third Democracy. 344 - 317 BC , Æ Dilitron , SNG Cop. 725; Calciati II, 80.
Obv : ZEYΣ EΛ-EYΘEPI-OΣ - Bearded and laureate head of Zeus Eleutherios left.
Rev : ΣYPA-K-OΣIΩ-N - Horse prancing left on exergual line.
27 mm / 20.1 g



#2 Anonymous , Quadrigatus or AR Didrachm , Rome , Struck during the second Punic War circa 225-212 BC.
Janiform head of the Dioscuri (Castor and Pollux), wearing crowns of laurels./
Jupiter , hurling thunderbolt with his right hand and holding scepter in his left , in quadriga driven by Victory who stands outside of chariot; ROMA incuse below
19 mm / 5.4 g



#3 L. Valerius Flaccus , AR Denarius. Rome , 108-107 BC , Ref Valeria 11
Draped bust of Victory to right; below chin, XVI monogram (mark of value) /
Mars advancing to left, holding spear and trophy; apex before, grain ear behind, L•VALERI•FLACCI in two lines downward in left field.
20 mm / 4.1 g



#4 M Volteius Mf , AR Denarius. Rome , 78 BC , Ref Volteia 1
Laureate and bearded head of Jupiter right /
Tetrastyle temple of Jupiter Capitolinus with closed doors; winged thunderbolt in pediment. Below M. VOLTEI. M. F.
18.5 mm / 3.7 g



#5 Caligula & Divus Augustus , Æ Dupondius , 37-41 AD. , RIC 56 [Caligula], Cohen 87 [Augustus], BMC 88
DIVVS AVGVSTVS S-C, radiate head of Divus Augustus left./
CONSENSV SENAT ET EQ ORDIN P Q R, laureate & togate statue of Gaius Caligula seated left on curule chair, holding branch
30 mm / 16.4 g



#6 Divus Claudius , AE Sestertius , Restitution under Titus, 80 AD. RIC 475
TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P, laureate head left /
IMP T VESP AVG REST S-C, Spes advancing left, holding flower & hem of skirt.
35 mm /25.3 g



#7 Nero , AR Denarius , RIC 60
NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS Laureate head right /
Salus seated left, holding patera, SALVS in exergue.
19.5 mm / 3.4 g



#8 Trajan , AR Denarius , RIC 326
IMP CAES NER TRAIAN OPTIM AVG GERM DAC, laureate and draped bust right /
PARTHICO P M TRP COS VI PP SPQR, radiate, draped bust of Sol right.
Ex T R Hardaker Collection
20.5 mm / 3.1 g



#9 Trajan , AR Denarius , RIC 175
IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC PM TRP COS V PP, draped laureate bust right /
SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, Felicitas, draped, standing left with caduceus and cornucopiae, lighted altar left.
20 mm / 3.4 g



#10 Trajan Decius , Billon Tetradrachm of SELEUCIS and PIERIA Antioch. Struck 250-251 AD. Antioch Prieur 555
AVT K Γ ME KY TΡAIANOC ΔEKIOC CEB , Radiate and cuirassed bust left, with aegis on breastplate; two dots below /
ΔHMAΡX EΞOYCIAC eagle standing right on palm, wings spread, holding wreath in beak.
26 mm / 13.2 g


more to come #11.

 

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#11 Kallatis , Thrace or Moesia , AE 24mm , 2nd-1st Century BC. , Moushmov 230 , AMNG 227
Laureate head of Apollo right /
KAΛΛA-TIAN ΩN , AΠOΛΛΩ (magistrate) below tripod altar, stalk of grain to left and right.
Ex CNG 2003 Electronic Auction 67 , Lot 13
24 mm / 9.6 g


Please choose your 3 favourite coins.

 

Nice selections, @singig.

Coins #1, 3 and 4 are my favorites. However, if I can add one more in your poll (I know max is 3), I would include your coin #11.

 

#1 #3 and #11 are my favs, I'm really loving the greek bronze coins with tripods!

 

Nice coins!

I got a Quadrigatus this year too and it’s definitely in my top 3!

Based on comparison it looks like yours was minted later in the Second Punic War when the Quadrigatus became lighter and more debased. I noticed it is 5.4 grams rather than the intended 6.8 grams. At that point Rome was in absolute panic.

“Hannibal ante portas!”
(Hannibal is at the gates!) became a popular phrase for imminent danger.

 

Thanks ! , I think both coins are from the same period , 225 to 212 BC, I had the chance to have in hand a large and thin one(maybe like yours) 24 mm / 6.6 g .
Mine has only 19 mm but has the double thickness of a republican denarius.

 

Yup! They are definitely from the same time. It’s just that they started out with a high purity and as Hannibal won more and more victories they started debasing them like crazy from 95% silver to eventually as low as 40%.

Still though they are very historic coins. To own something that far back in Rome’s history is incredible in my opinion .

 

My favorites: the coin from Syracuse with the beautiful horse, the Caligula/Divus Augustus, and the Trajan/Sol.

 

All fantastic coins, but your Sicily/ Syracuse has my vote for best with it's exceptional detail and patina. Congrats on a great year.

 

This is a great group of coins! My favorites;
#1 - Syracuse AE - What a wonderful and artistic reverse!
#4 - Great architecture type.
#9 - Really great portrait of Trajan.

I think your #11 might actually be my third favorite!
I don’t have a Trajan Felicitas but here are two coins: One for Trajan and one for Felicitas.

 

1,3,11 are my favorites easily. I have a tendency to really like Greek coins the most. I have even been considering trading my Romans for Greeks, I only have a handful of ancients to begin with.

 

Thank you all for your kind words !

@Curtisimo very nice Danubius denarius , I remember some days ago @robinjojo posted(his Top 10) one as nice like yours.

 

interesting year of coins, my favorite is the prancing horse on #1

 

Beautiful coins, all of them. My favorites are 1 - that horse is perfect, #4 - showing all the details of the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus and #5 - Divus Augustus & Caligula - mostly any Augustus is always my favorite

 

My favorite is the Syracuse dilitron. I've always liked that Zeus Eleutherios type, and yours has an especially nice reverse.

 

Fantastic acquisitions to your collection, @singig! Like everyone else, I voted for the dilitron of Syracuse. I also like the two Trajan denarii and the Nero denarius. May 2022 be good to you and your collecting pursuits!

 

Great coins, you had a very good year! I voted for 4, 5, and 8. The temple details of the volteius denarius is really nice. And I really like the detailed reverse of your no. 5, Caligula seated very relaxed in his chair, his arm back a bit and with little effort raising his branch, like he's saying: "please take it peasant, I'm tired of this."
I'm also on the look out for a denarius of Trajan with the bust of Sol on the reverse. I get the idea they're quite popular though.

 

I like horse on #1, temple on #4 and Trajan denarius with Sol.

 

Congrats on the good year! The Syracuse dilitron is fantastic and definitely my favorite. The Flaccus denarius is probably my #2 and from there the order is less clear. Love both Trajan denarii, the Nero denarius, the Volteius... too many good choices .

 

3, 8 and 10
I like the bust of Victory on #3, Sol on # 8, and I'm partial to Trjan Decius (not the man though, just the coinage)

Q