AJ's top 10 for 2021

Impossible to pick a favorite. But if I must, I chose the Gortyna half stater. It has a particular style that is most appealing, and somewhat different from other coins. I also checked out the film of the auction house again. In hand its even more mesmerizing.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

My favorite is the #10 Lydian Trite. Early electrum coinage is one of my areas of interest. It's fascinating to me, to look at a coin, which may have been created, when the First Temple was still standing. Perhaps someone holding your coin, walked into the Temple, and maybe even saw the Ark Of The Covenant, if he was a high priest.

 

Such wonderful and breath-taking selections, @AncientJoe.
Each one can be a centerpiece of an ancient coin collection!

I like the Syracuse broken-wheel tetradrachm. The tiny hidden engravers' signatures are so interesting.

Your Caracalla Medusa-head aureus, Cimmerian Bosporos stater, and Julia Domna aureus are simply stunning. Thanks for sharing.

I have a Lydia EL-Trite, but with a simple design.

KINGS of LYDIA. temp.Alyattes – Kroisos. 610-546 BC.
EL Trite – Third Stater (14mm, 4.69 g). Sardes mint.
Obv: Head of roaring lion right; sun with multiple rays on forehead Rev: Two incuse square punches.
Weidauer Group XVI, 86–8; SNG Ashmolean 749–53.
NGC AU 4/5 4/5.

 

All are fantastic additions Joe!!! I love that Doson, though it's too bad it took so long for it to get to you. But I am certain it was worth the wait! I absolutely love the Caracalla Aureus though aureii usually aren't my thing. As we discussed before, you almost wouldn't know it was Roman based on the head of Medusa, it looks very Greek. What a spectacular year!

 

....wow!

 

@AncientJoe really magnificent as always. Difficult to choose a favorite, but I looked at #6, the Antigonos III Doson tetradrachm the longest. Style conquers all other qualities. Congratulations on a fantastic year.

 

A.J., You had another sensational year ! What a treat seeing all these gems . My favorite has to be #2, the Caracalla Medusa Aureus. This coin represents perfection in design, engraving, & strike. Unlike other depictions of Medusa that are straight-forward & frightening, this Medusa isn't. Her head leans slightly to the left, not making eye contact with the viewer. Her power is evident but not frightening, instead she appears almost motherly. A great piece of numismatic art. My 2nd favorite is #6, the tetradrachm of Poseidon & Apollo. This coin is Hellenistic art at it's best, & my 3rd favorite is #9, the drachm of Hadrian with a stunning portrait & finely executed reverse.

 

Your superb taste in coins is perhaps equaled only by your patience and ability to acquire the right coin at the right time! Congratulations on a great year during a difficult time for acquiring ancient coins.

I was particularly struck by the eerily similar visages of Medusa and Aphrodite:

 

@AncientJoe, if I ever wore a hat I would tip it to you. All are magnificent. If I had to single out a few, I might pick the Gortyna half stater (probably the most attractive one of those I've ever seen), the Pantikapaion gold stater, the Antiogonos III tetradrachm, and the Syracuse tetradrachm. With a special shout-out to the Hadrian Pharos drachm. Not only is it in superb condition (especially for a Roman Alexandrian drachm), but the lighthouse itself shows as much detail as any I've seen.

The fact that I haven't even mentioned the aurei of Commodus, Caracalla, and Julia Domna just goes to show what kind of a group you've put together this year. Not that I would have expected anything less from you; it's always a privilege to look at your coins!

 

Fantastic as always! The Medusa aureus is probably my favourite...but ask me tomorrow and it may change! Superb list.

 

Super coins again, hard to pick a favourite, but the Syracuse tetradrachm and Leucas drachm are lovely.

ATB,
Aidan.

 

AJ, beyond them all being stunning, your coins as always show your discriminating sensibilities as a collector. I think it's safe to say that even with a smaller coin budget, your year end list would still be full of interesting and enviable choices. On this one, the Caracalla aureus, Leukas drachm and Syracuse tetradrachm are my favorites, just very slightly ahead of the Gortyna half stater, the Pantikapaion, and Antigonos Doson. Awesome stuff!

 

I refuse to pick one, or even three, or even five. Every single coin you acquire is highly significant, be it historically, artistically or for its provenance. As always I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to simply see pictures of them : thank you !

Q

 

I just had another look at your Syracuse tetradrachm. I see the charioteer has lost control of the far horse and the rein is hanging loose beneath the horse. Even though the race has ended, looks like the horse is about to go rogue.

I like those little details that make these coins so interesting. Makes me wonder if that broken wheel was perhaps caused by a similar accident.

Either way,, the coin sets a scene and is telling a story, and it's fun to Imagine the rest.

 

@AncientJoe it takes a lot of patience and some impeccable taste to pick up the type of coins you do.
I could flip flop on which is my favourite depending on what day of the week it is, so no point in picking one.
Thanks for sharing!

 

Wow! Yet another truly breathtaking (and enviable) ensemble of coins, and a clear demonstration of your impeccable taste, bravo! My favourite from the list is the pantikapaion, it's an easy first choice, and the Gortyna is exceptional, but after that it's an eight-way tie for third. Thank you for sharing, and congrats on an incredible year.

 

Incredible group of coins. They're all beautiful, but my two personal favorites are the Pantikapaion stater and Antigonos Doson tetradrachm. Both are the finest examples of their respective types that I've seen. Congrats on a very good year of collecting!

 

All of them are museum pieces, @AncientJoe! My favorite, though, is the Domna aureus.

 

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the compliments and commentary; it's very interesting to see everyone's favorites and how we all approach collecting from varied perspectives. Here's to a great 2022!

 

This cropping is very enlightening and further highlights how art has/has not changed. It's fascinating that artists would have such a comparable execution despite there being nearly 600 years between the two coins!