Spaniard's Top Ten 2021

It's been an interesting year!...Started off well with some nice purchases then remembered my son was staring his first year Degree! Barcelona isn't a cheap place to rent even a "The young ones" flat share is pricey!....Materials and cost of the actual degree pretty much put an end to any coin buys for around 6 months...All settled now and around October I could free some Bucks!....
My collecting areas have certainly changed over this year and have now moved more into Bronzes. It's been difficult to cull down my 30 or so purchases of this year to a top 10 but hopefully there will be some that you all find interesting.
Here goes...

#10.

CHINA. Xin Dynasty.
Emperor Wang Mang AD 9-23.
AE Cash, 23mm, 2.8g.
Fifth reform, with inner rim; struck AD 14-23.
Obv.: #27849;#36008;(wealth coin).
Rev.: blank, as made.
Reference: Hartill #9.32.
Ex-Alex Fishman.
Purchased from Jazz Numistics December 2021.
This one drops in at number 10 purely because it's the first Chinese Cash coin in my collection and adds a nice bit of variety. I've often wanted to delve into this area of Numismatics but have always been put off by the abundance of fakes on the market, with a provenance of it being an ex-Alex Fishman I do feel a lot calmer. In hand it has lovely colouring and looking around at other examples is a nice sharp specimen.

#9.

Billon drachm of the Paramaras of Malwa - 4.3 gr - 15/12 mm.
Obverse: Degenerated Indo-Sasanian style bust, Staff between eye and nose, Brahmi letter "ja" in left field.
Reverse: Crude fire altar with legend 'Sri Omkara' on shaft
Deyell #172...MNI 436-440.
Purchased from - NB-Numismatics - vcoins November 2021.
Not everyone's cup of tea!...But these sweet little coins, with their various symbols between eye and nose, have been a particular passion of mine over the last 12 months. I've actually picked up a few different symbol styles but decided on this one as the "Staff" type is always a difficult variety to obtain. I'd also just like to thank @Finn235 for his continual help, much appreciated. I do have a couple of others that haven't arrived yet which I'll post in the relevant thread and I'm sure it's an area I'll continue searching for over the following year.

#8.

Lucius Verus, 161 - 169 AD.
Silver Denarius, Rome Mint 161 AD, 18mm, 3.11 grams
Obverse: IMP L AVREL VERVS AVG, Bare head of Lucius right.
Reverse: PROV DEOR TR P COS II, Providentia standing left holding globe and cornucopia.
RIC#463
Purchased from Ken Dorney - Vcoins - July 2021.
I decided to expand outwards from my 5 'GOOD' Emperors set, although some would say this Co-Emperor and his wife were part of it! I've been struggling to pick up a Lucius Verus Denarius for a while now, to sit in the empty space next to his beautiful wife Lucilla in my collection tray new glass cabinet . Being on a very tight budget I've found his coins, at least his Denarius, as difficult to acquire as that of Nerva in the condition I'm prepared to accept as part of my collection. I've always liked his portraits, being very Nerva'ish' with that nose, but with that mad looking beard and have continually been overbid on, or put off by, the price! Finally I've managed to pick up IMO a very nice example of this lesser revered adoptive son of Antoninus pius.

The next Seven coins were "SO" hard to order, a few that didn't make it was a Gadhaiya coin that's really nice, a Licinius Campgate that completed a set, and my first Carthage coin (but it hasn't arrived yet)...Eventually I decided on these....

#7.

Phrygia, Eumeneia (near Civril, Turkey). Domitia, 81-96 AD. Bronze AE 15mm (2.47 gm).
Obv.: ΔOMITIA CEBACTH, Draped bust right. Hair rolled in front and in que behind,
Rev.: ΚΛ• ΤEΡEΝΤΥΛΛΑ ΑΡΧΙE /EΥΜE-ΝE-ΩΝ, Kybele enthroned to left, Patera in extended right hand, resting left forearm and hand on Tympanum (drum) at near side
RPC II 1388. Rare. gVF.
Purchased from Tom Vossen-vcoins October 2021.
Been looking for a Domitia coin for a while and quickly realised silver was out of the question. Then I saw this sweet little bronze provincial and it really called to me.
Has a lovely portrait with her full name readable and also a well centred reverse. It was great to add the Empress to my Domitian Denarius!
#6.

Macrianus. 260-261 AD. AE Antoninianus (3.31 gm, 22mm). Antiochia mint.
Obv. IMP C FVL MACRIANVS P F AVG, radiate, cuirassed bust right.
Rev.: SPES PVBLICA, Spes, draped, standing left, holding flower in her outstretched right hand, raising skirt with her left hand. RIC V 13; MIR 44, 1743b; RSC 13.
Purchased from Tom Vossen-vcoins December 2021
This was an impulse purchase...I've always had my eye on this youthful usurper but nothing really appealed unless you were prepared to pay mega bucks, at least for me!..This one popped up and I snagged him quick...Good readable legend but what was more important was the clear portrait, unlike a great deal of his coins which have a heavily worn face. A welcome and surprising addition.
#5.

Parthia, Vologases VI 208-228 AD, AE Chalkous, 10mm-1.25gm. Ecbatana Mint.
Obverse Bearded, diademed bust of king left, wearing torque and tiara decorated with hooks, a line with pellets and an ear flap, dotted border around
Reverse Eagle standing left with wings open
Reference Sellwood 88.29, Shore 640
Purchased from Coin India- vcoins November 2021.
Ex-Tom Mallon collection. Published on his website, The Coins and History of Asia. This coin is also published on the Parthia.com website:
http://parthia.com/vologases6.htm .
Have become very interested in Parthian Bronzes lately and decided to pick up a few..Lack of detail is a common trait of these tiny Parthian Bronzes but this one is "Nice" and with the above provenance was a must buy. A sweet little coin that's in my cabinet and is used by many as a photo reference..."I feel very privileged"..Cool coin! And a special thanks to @Bob L for his guidance..
#4.

Spain, Kelse-Celsa. Augustus. 27 BC-14 AD. AE Unit (10.98 gm, 28mm). Velilla de Ebro (Zaragoza) mint.
Obv.: IMP. CAESAR. DIVI. F. AVGVSTVS. COS. XII, laureate head right.
Rev.: CN. DOMIT. C. POMPEI. II. VIR. C. V I. CEL, bull standing right. Abh. 811. VF.
Purchased from Tom Vossen-vcoins December 2021.
This purchase has a similar feeling to my Empuries coin of last year...I'm in the process of writing a thread about Celsa as I recently visited the Roman ruins..They lay about 2 hours drive inland from my home and again an amazing feeling to have walked where this coin was minted!..I also love the Spanish interpretation of-Not quite there but you get the gist- Augustus's portrait...A coin I'll cherish!
#3.

Jaga Deva..1199-1213 AD.....19mm/6.22gr...Die axis 12 o'clock.
Obverse...Ardochsho (Lakshmi) seated cross-legged facing in lalitasana (with right leg folded under and left leg hanging down), holding diadem in right hand and long-stemmed lotus in left hand, legend in Sharada script, at left: 'Jaga', at right: 'Deva'.
Reverse...Highly stylized King standing facing, sacrificing at an altar to the left. Bottom right legend in Sharada script 'Deva'....Ex-William Spengler collection.
This type is unpublished in Mitchiner but is mentioned in Rodgers article plate coin #20...
Purchased from Coin India - vcoins October 2021
Being a specialist collector of this series I'm really thrilled to add this coin to my collection as it's a very rare variant! I've only been able to find one other example of this type, it's on zeno...
https://www.zeno.ru/showphoto.php?photo=135867.....
I've also been speaking with the owner of this example (great guy!) and we're pretty sure they're a double die match. This coin type shows the entire legend on the obverse with 'Jaga' to the left and 'deva' to the right of the goddess. The title 'deva' is then repeated on the reverse bottom right..What more can I say!
#2.

Phoenicia, Arados 2 B.C
Aradus mint, year 258 (local Era) = 2/1 BC. 8,9 g - 20mm
Obverse: Bust of Astarte-Europa right with smaller head of Augustus in front.
Reverse: Humped bull galloping left, head facing, Phoenician letters beth (B), taw (TH), zayin (Z) & aleph (´) above, Aradian era date 258 (ΣNH) below....RPC I 4483.
I was initially drawn to the coins obverse portraying the head of Astarte-Europa and it being more prominent than the reduced portrait size of the then Roman Emperor Augustus. This type coin was also minted for Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Domitian and Trajan which seems to be the most readily available but still difficult to find!..The coin is a really nice example and quite rare in this condition! A close number one!
#1.

Britannia, Trinovantes & Catuvellauni. Cunobelin. Circa 9-41 AD. AE Unit (2.437 g, 14mm).
Obv: Winged head left, CVNO in front, BELIN behind.
Rev: Metal worker, presumably the smith god known as Sucellus in parts of Gaul, sitting on a solid seat with a detached upright back, holding an L-shaped hammer in his right hand, left hand holding a metal bowl, there is always a distinct bun of hair behind the smith's head, TASCIO (Tascionus his father) behind, beaded border.
Van Arsdell 2097; ABC 2969; SCBC 342. Hobbs 1972-83;..VF.
Purchased from Tom Vossen - vcoins January 2021.
This one was top spot the moment I bought it! Right at the start of the year...My first British Celtic coin from close to where I was born and grew up...Links with Caesar and Augustus and a particulary nice example...Great portrait and a realy different and interesting reverse.

So there it is my "Top 10 "...Hope you enjoyed it and please feel free to post comments and coins!......Paul.

 

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I particularly like the Parthian #5 for the coin (Parthian bronzes are an acquired taste) and the provenance (Tom was a good fellow and is missed.)

 

Nice coins @Spaniard. My favorites are #8 - very attractive and realistic Verus head, # 4 (of course and #2 (Astarte & Augustus, love it

 

A very interesting and eclectic group for the year!
I like them all but for some reason, I think my favorite is the Domitia. I haven't seen many of her coins. Yours has a very nice bust and I like that you can read her entire name. Something about her though reminds me of Domitian in drag

 

Great Lucius Verus portrait

 

Love that Agustus. Nice, diversified collection, congratulations on a good collecting year.

 

Neat coins all ... but #4 is my favorite of the group.

 

A very nice and eclectic group, the sort that I might choose for myself . Beware with the Parthian bronzes, though- you can drive yourself mad looking for high-grade specimens. And then you try to find high-grade Sasanian bronze, and are driven beyond insanity... I think #1 might be my favorite, with its use of Roman artistic style on a Celtic coin (plus the issuer Cunobelin is the subject of a Shakespeare play, under the Anglicized spelling Cymbeline).

 

Very nice, I especially like the Macrianus…not easy to find those in such good condition and with such a clear portrait and legends.

The Lucius Verus denarius is great, and I also really like that beautiful little provincial bronze of Domitia.

 

You have a great coin selection, @Spaniard.

I like both your coins #7 and 8. Great Lucius Verus and Domitia portraits. Your #2 and #4 are also my favorites.

 

The L. Verus denarius is the winner for me, superb portrait , I also like the Spain, Kelse-Celsa Augustus. Congratulations !!

 

I don't know very much about British coinage during the Roman occupation, but I really like the Cunobelin AE unit, especially the obverse, which has real "stage presence".

 

Very nice additions, I like Lucius Verus portrait, Domitia on 7 and obverse on 2.

 

Thanks for all the comments, really appreciated...
The Celsa and Verus seem quite popular and here's a little video that Ken did before I bought the Lucius
Verus..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJES7SGsKf0

 

Really liking that Domitia! That's a nice group of extremely diversified coins, grats!

 

Great coins and a varied and interesting list. I really like your Domitia because of the portrait, and your no. 2 because of the interesting obverse.

 

..all worthy coins...i too like the Lucius Verus and Domitia..

 

Thanks for your comments..
Finding the positive feedback interesting.
#8 Verus .....7
#7 Domitia...7
#6 Macrianus..1
#5 Parthia ......2
#4 Celsa ........5
#2 Astarte......4
#1 Celtic........1

 

Paul, You've got an excellent eclectic selection this year ! My favorite is #1, the Celtic bronze . followed by #6, the Macrianus ant., & #4, the Spanish bronze of Augustus Caesar .

 

Fantastic acquisitions for your coin cabinet, @Spaniard! I don't know where to begin! Some favs include the Macrianus, the Domitia provincial, the Luscious Lucius denarius with the "all-round" legend, and the Ebro mint Augustus!

I hope you have a wonderful 2022, full of interesting additions to your collection.