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Message:: [QUOTE="Orielensis, post: 5186597, member: 96898"]I will post my actual top ten list closer to Christmas, mostly because I’ll have more time to add small write-ups then. For now, though, I’d like to continue something I started <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/an-affordable-hobby-2019-favorites-under-25.351593/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/an-affordable-hobby-2019-favorites-under-25.351593/">last year</a>: an annual list of favorite ancient and medieval coin purchases under $25. [USER=74799]@Quant.Geek[/USER] already did <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/quant-geeks-top-ten-under-50-for-2020.370788/#post-5186579" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/quant-geeks-top-ten-under-50-for-2020.370788/#post-5186579">something similar</a> with coins under $50, and [USER=19463]@dougsmit[/USER] did a <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/2020-coins-by-price-bracket-%E2%80%93-dougsmit.370881/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/2020-coins-by-price-bracket-%E2%80%93-dougsmit.370881/">favorite list by price bracket</a>. The reason for this list is simple: each year, new members looking for advice and inspiration are joining this board. Many of our favorite lists could give such new collectors the impression that ancient numismatics is a hobby only suitable for people with substantial piles of disposable cash. To prove this wrong, I'll try to illustrate what is possible on a budget, and I’d like to invite everybody else to show their own budget purchases for 2020. The rules for this list are the same as in 2019: since it is meant to illustrate the affordability of the hobby, I have violated the ‘never talk about money’-rule of polite conversation and mentioned prices. If necessary, amounts are converted to US dollars, include buyer’s premium, and are rounded up. Shipping is not factored in, though, since it would have been somewhat distortive due to combined shipping fees and different addresses I used. Coins are in roughly chronological order. 1. I didn’t have a good Greek year. More lamentations will follow in my “real” list. Yet, I managed to win this Ptolemaic coin from a small seller on Ebay who apparently dispersed a private collection. The (fortunately rock hard) encrustations on the reverse probably deterred other bidders. Buying budget coins usually requires such compromises.[ATTACH=full]1213640[/ATTACH]Ptolemy VIII Evergetes II “Physcon”, Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt, AE30, ca. 145–116 BC, Alexandreia mint. Obv: diademed head of Zeus-Ammon r. Rev: BA[ΣIΛEΩΣ] ΠTOΛEMAIOY; two eagles with wings closed standing l. on thunderbolt; in field l, cornucopia. 30mm, 27,7g. Ref: Svoronos 1424b; Lorber/Faucher series 7. $24 2. This Kushan AE tetradrachm came from a trusted small seller in Germany. With the elephant rider and the Oesho reverse, it is an interesting type and in attractive condition. The collector base for Kushan coins is rather small, though. Building a fine Kushan bronze collection for little money is therefore possible.[ATTACH=full]1213638[/ATTACH]Huvishka, Kushan Empire, AE tetradrachm, c. 155-189 CE. Obv: þAONANOþ OOηþKE KOþANO (partially struck), King riding elephant r., holding elephant goad. Re: OηþO; Oesho (Siva?) standing facing, holding trident and deerskin. 26mm, 9.97g. Ref: Göbl 855; Mitchiner 3291-3301. Ex azuro coins (ebay Germany). $19 3. Many collectors shy away from coins worn to an optimistic “fine.” I don’t necessarily do. This denarius has good surfaces, a very fine portrait and was issued for Antoninus Pius as Caesar. His coins as Augustus are common, but anything from the short three months between his appointment as the new imperial successor and Hadrian’s death must be considered scarce. If you don’t insist on great reverse detail and know what to look for, Savoca Blue auctions can yield such bargains:[ATTACH=full]1213642[/ATTACH] Antoninus Pius (as Caesar), Roman Empire, AR denarius, 138 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP T AEL CAES ANTONINVS; head of Antoninus Pius, bare, r. Rev: TRIB POT COS; Pietas, veiled, draped, standing l., holding up r. hand over altar and l. hand on side. 18 mm, 3.54g. Ref: RIC II Hadrian 452A. Ex Savoca, Blue Auction 29, lot 1377. $17 4. Coins of Postumus and most other Gallic emperors are a paradise for collectors on a budget: there are countless variants, they have an interesting history, and often come at good prices. This one came from the annual FSR bargain list, which is an unannounced event you should look out for. (Tip: answer fast once the e-mail arrives!)[ATTACH=full]1213646[/ATTACH]Postumus, Gallic Roman Empire, AR antoninianus, 262–263 AD, Trier mint. Obv: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG; bust of Postumus, radiate, draped, cuirassed, r. Rev: IOVI PROPVGNATORI; Jupiter, walking l., holding thunderbolt in r. hand and eagle in l. hand. 22mm, 4.07g. Ref: Mairat 237; RIC V Postumus 72. Ex Frank S. Robinson, bargain list April 2020, lot 192. $16 5. Coins of the tetrarchy are another budget friendly collecting field, especially if grade is not what matters most to you. This coin is worn to “fine,” but style, surfaces and patina nonetheless make it attractive. Also, it is from the Trier mint, which I consider to be another factor of desirability.[ATTACH=full]1213645[/ATTACH] Maximian, Roman Empire, AE1 (“follis”), 296–297 AD, Trier mint. Obv: IMP MAXIMIANVS P AVG; bust of Maximianus, laureate, r. Rev: GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI; Genius standing l., holding patera and cornucopia, modius on head; in fields, A–Γ; in exergue, TR. 25mm, 9.30g. Ref: RIC VI Trier 181b. Ex cody111111 (ebay); Ex Craig Rose (Numis Europa), TX. $17 6. Late Roman bronze coins (aka LRBs) are what ancient collectors tend to start with. Necessary warning: “uncleaned” lots of these often consist of junk! Yet, with a bit of searching, attractive cleaned Constantinian bronzes can still be found at very affordable prices. This Sol from the London mint is an example:[ATTACH=full]1213644[/ATTACH] Constantine the Great, Roman Empire, AE2, 316 AD, London mint. Obv: CONSTANTINVS P AVG; bust of Constantine I, laureate, cuirassed, r. Rev: SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol standing l., radiate, chlamys draped across r. shoulder, raising r. hand and holding up globe in l. hand; in fields, S–P; in exergue, MSL. 20.5mm, 3.06g. Ref: RIC VII Londinium 76. Ex EnjoyTreasure (ebay); ex Kroyer’s Münzencontor, Hamburg. $15 7. Another cheap LRB. Constantius Gallus, the younger brother of Julian II, is a somewhat scarcer emperor. I did a <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/constantius-gallus.365345/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/constantius-gallus.365345/">small write-up</a> on this coin. Does the light encrustation on the obverse bother you? Personally, I consider it patina and thus part of the coin’s history.[ATTACH=full]1213643[/ATTACH] Constantius Gallus, Roman Empire, AE2, 351–355 AD, Constantinople mint. Obv: DN FL CL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAE; bust of Constantius Gallus, bare-headed, draped, cuirassed, r. Ref: FEL TEMP REPARATIO; Roman soldier l. spearing fallen horseman; in in fields, Γ•; in exergue, CONSB. 24mm, 4.20g. Ref: RIC VIII Constantinople 107. Ex azuro-coins (ebay Germany). $12 8. The last late Roman coin on this list. Believe it or not, this Arcadius is in very good condition and style for the type! It also was the cheapest coin in this selection:[ATTACH=full]1213641[/ATTACH]Arcadius, Roman Empire, AE2, 392–395 AD, Nicomedia mint. Obv: D N ARCADIVS P F AVG; bust of Arcadius, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed, r. Rev: GLORIA ROMANORVM; emperor, head r., standing facing, holding standard and globe. Ref: RIC IX Nicomedia 46B. 21.5mm, 5.23g. Ex ashwill0324 (ebay, kown on CT as [USER=98035]@Finn235[/USER]). $6 9. In my opinion, medieval Islamic coins are underappreciated, mostly because understanding and collecting them requires extra effort (e.g. learning the basics of decipherin Arabic letters and reading up on some non-Western history). Yet, this also means that you can assemble a respectable collection in this field for comparatively little money. Isn’t it exceptional that you can buy an attractive coin of Harun al-Rashid, known as the protagonist of One Thousand and One Nights, for $25 at retail from a knowledgeable full-service dealer?[ATTACH=full]1213639[/ATTACH] Abbasid Caliphate, under Harun al-Rashid, citing governor Yazid, AR dirham, 787/8 AD (171 AH), Al-Abbasiyah mint. Obv: beginning of kalima, mint-date-formula around. Rev: second part of kalima; name “Yazid” in lower field; around, Surah IX, 33. 23.5mm; 2.94g. Ref: Album 219.2. Ex Allen G. Berman. $25 10.  Medieval European coins are a tough collecting field for many reasons including the lack of a single series of reliable catalogues and the high number of issuing authorities.  Some parts of it (e.g. Crusader Kingdoms, English coinage, Carolingian) require deep pockets, but others, for example medieval Spain, are more budget friendly. This coin by Jaime I of Aragon, for obvious reasons also known as “nose without a mouth,” was less than a burger with fries and a drink in California:[ATTACH=full]1213637[/ATTACH] Kingdom of Aragon, under James I “the Conqueror”, BI dinero, 1213-1276 AD, Jaca mint. Obv: ARAGON; crowned bust of James I l. Rev: +IACOBVS : REX; patriarchal cross. 18mm, 0.85g. Ref: Crusafont i Sabater 1992, 318. Ex Tauler y Fau, e-auction 54, lot 4207. $22 If you have any comments or comparable coins in your collection, please post them![/QUOTE]

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