[ancients] Favorites of the first 6 months... post 'em!

There was a roundup statistics thread at the end of last year where many of us posted our favorites coins of the year. In that post, I noted that I had bought 169 coins in 2013 and resolved to try and buy much fewer this year. In the first six months of this year I've bought 74, so I'm pretty much failing miserably with that resolution

On the upside, I'm generally happier with the quality of my purchases this year and I have the next six months to try and rein in my largely unchecked coin buying. Hey, we gotta remain optimistic, right?

I also thought it'd be useful to pick my favorites of the year so far. My plan is to use these as a sort of benchmark for potential future purchases... as in, if they won't even be able to compete in the same field as the current favorites for a place in my final year end favorites list, do I REALLY need to be buying them?

So anyway, here are my Top 5 of the first six months. Please post your own Top 5 or Top 10!

#5. PONTOS, Amisos AE28
Based on how much I love this coin, I would have to consider this a successful coinstalk of Doug/Steve/TIF.



#4. THE TRIUMVIRS/MARK ANTONY Legionary Denarius
This was the runt of the litter in an auction which saw many fine legionary denarii sold. Considering that up until that point I didn't even particularly want a legionary denarius, I'm abit surprised that it has grown on me this much.



#3. KINGS OF MAURETANIA, Juba II Denarius
The histories of the client kingdoms of the late Republican and early Imperial period fascinate me, none more so than those of Juba and his family. Oh, and the coins are pretty cool too



#2. CORINTHIA, Corinth AR Stater
I started collecting ancient Greeks this year and have been particularly drawn to the issues of Corinth. I've picked up three colts so far, but this one with the chimera on the reverse is my absolute favorite.



#1. ANTONINUS PIUS AE As
My latest acquisition and at the top of my list. It's one I've been hunting for some time, of my favorite Roman emperor, from a historic series celebrating the 900th anniversary of the founding of Rome, with a visually interesting scene depicting the prelude to the conception of Romulus and Remus by the god Mars and the Vestal Virgin Rhea Silvia. I feel lucky to have acquired one in this condition, and that I could actually afford it.

 

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I do not collect ancients yet, but I sure like #2 coin sweet coin.

 

Very nice assortment, Z!

Here are some of my favorite purchases of the past year. I just celebrated my first anniversary of ancient coin collecting. My list includes coins from the last year, not just six months.

1. Agathokles tetradrachm. No surprise about its top spot, which it will likely keep for many years to come. I had reached a point where I was ready to buy a very nice coin, something beautiful. Arethusa immediately came to mind and this coin became the object of my desire. The auction house's ridiculously low estimate of value only fueled the fire even though it was obvious it would sell for manyfold higher. The chase was thrilling and there was absolutely no letdown or buyer's remorse when it arrived.



2. Corinth stater. My first "major" purchase. I felt so guilty about spending hundreds of dollars on a mere coin . Without knowing much at all about ancients, in the last decade I had seen many of the type set in bezels as pendants so I had at least some familiarity with it. At that point in my knowledge, I thought it was the epitome of ancient coins. Where I live there are several jewelry stores which deal in jewelrified ancient coins. I had purchased a Corinth stater pendant for my brother some years ago and he really treasures it. I thought I deserved one too, although by then I wasn't looking for wearable coins. HJB deemed this specific issue of the colt (with Silenus) interesting enough to use as the example of Corinth staters in his book, "100 Greatest Ancient Coins"; it is #23.




3. Nero sestertius. Every ancients collector needs a Nero . He issued several types with gorgeous reverses and I think this type is among the most artistic. Unlike so many, it appears untooled and the reverse details are stunning. Annona and Ceres represent his largesse in providing the citizenry with grain.



4. Carthage 15-shekel. Far from the most beautiful coin in my collection, it maintains a special place in my heart for several reasons. First, its rarity. There are few known specimens. Second, its size-- a whopping 45 mm and 95 gm. Third, it may be the finest or second finest known example, despite its relatively poor condition. Fourth, I practically stole it! It was listed for sale on a site which is not known for its ancients. I watched and planned a big snipe in the last seconds. All of that plotting and drama proved unnecessary though... I was the only bidder and won it for the insanely low opening bid! A few of a second and slightly more common similar type (the horse's foreleg isn't raised) have come to market in recent years and have sold for 2-5x what I paid, despite their even worse condition.



5. A provincial of Germanicus with Drusus. An early purchase, it was immediately apparent that this was unusual and special. This coin was originally struck with the reverse legend EPI ARXIEREWS ALEXANDROU KLEWNOS SARDIANOU but using an elaborate set of ring shaped countermark dies the obverse and reverse legends were restruck, the reverse indicating the new magistrate. There is an article about this coin in the November 1994 issue of The Celator. I'm trying to locate a copy of that article-- no luck finding it online so I'll have to find and buy a copy of that issue. The piece by Thomas McKenna is titled "The case of the curious coin of Caligula: A provincial bronze restruck with legend-only dies". I need to re-photograph it.



I'll post #6-10 later

 

My favorites so far are TIF #5 and zumbly #2 but I'll have to think a bit before posting mine. I checked and the six months saw 44 new coins arrive here so 5 would be a bit over 10%.

I'll take this a bit farther. Should I sell off all/many coins of the past that do not even make it into my top 50%? I should no better than to buy bottom half coins but I don't and the 44 includes at least half that are very much 'also ran' entrants in the race. I posted my top 100 coins which actually worked out to over 120 since some were multiples to make a point. I'm starting to think I should draw a line and only buy things that would make the top 400 or top 500. It will take some thought. My 5 will come later today. I know what they are but the order requires thought.

 

I've only purchased 24 coins this year which works out to be 2 per month. That's much, much less than the rate of 2013 and is just about on target for this year. However, due to spousal restraints, the quality seems to have fallen off some this year. I am heading out the door for Sunday meetin', but when I return I will attempt to select my top 5 of the year so far.

BTW, all of the coins shown so far are excellent.

 

If the sale of old coins from the bottom 50% somehow facilitates the purchase of new coins that will be in the top 50% (or better yet, the top 10%), I think it makes sense. But that this is just a question probably means that this lot of 35 eastern denarii of Septimius Severus from the last CNG auction isn't ex Doug Smith Collection...
http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=261642

 

Apparently I've only bought "32" coins this year (during the past 6 months, 2014) ... that's pretty much one coin per week (man, that's not bad, for "me")

Ummm, I tried my best, but I could only whittle it down to my "Top 10" ...

I'll display 'em in order that I purchased them ...

PAMPHYLIA, Side. Gallienus, Æ 11 Assarion



IONIA, Ephesos, AR Tetartemorion




LORRAINE, Theobald II, Duke of Lorraine, AR Gros



TROAS, Sigeion. Æ20



LESBOS, Mytilene. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater



MACEDON, Mende. AR Tritartemorion



THESSALY, Oitaioi. AR Hemidrachm



THESSALY, Pharsalos. AR Hemidrachm



SICILY, Messana. AR Drachm



ISLANDS off IBERIA, Ebusus. Æ Quarter Unit


=> man, ya gotta love dem animal-coins, eh?

 

Bought only 3 coins since the start of the year But things should pick from now on

My latest...

Kings of Thrace. Lysimachos AR Tetradrachm.
Lampsakos, 297-281 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAXOY, Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, spear behind; herm to outer left, monogram to inner left. Thompson 55; Müller 89.



And the others...

Alexander III the Great AR Tetradrachm
Amphipolis mint (315-294 BC).
Price 481.



Macedon under Roman Rule. First Meris AR Tetradrachm
After 168 BC.
Obv.: Diademed and draped bust of Artemis right, bow and quiver over shoulder, in the centre of a Macedonian shield.
Rev.: Club of Herakles and monograms within oak wreath; thunderbolt to left.
SNG Ashmolean 3294.

 

A fine idea, Mr. Zumbly. I always enjoy these kinds of threads, and kudos to you, TIF, Dionysos, and Steve for your most excellent acquisitions!



And Doug, I look forward to anything you have to post at any time.

I'm finding it difficult to stick to 5 coins, though, so I may break the rules with a few posts. This year I've taken a few tentative steps into the complex realm of Roman Provincials. Here are four favorites from my most recent pick-ups.

1. A bronze of Valerian I from Alexandreia Troas with reverse of grazing horse. Pastoral scenes are uncommon types among Romans.

2. A bronze of Septimius Severus from Nikopolis ad Nistrum with a marvelous, crisp rendition of Mercury.

3. A bronze of Geta from Pautalia with serpent reverse.

4. A silver drachm of Trajan from Bostra, Provincia Arabia, minted soon after the Nabataean Empire was annexed by Rome.

 

My top 5 so far, in no particular order:

 

BTW, the average price of my top five was $24.16 delivered. I think this average is close to about right for all 24 coins I purchased thus far this year.

 

My proudest achievement this year, as far as Nabataeans go, is a more-or-less complete type set of the bronze coins of Rabbel II (70 AD - 106 AD). I say "more-or less" because there is a die pair that I cannot find on account of its rarity. An acquaintance of mine in Jerusalem just dug one up, which made me rather jealous, but I suppose he's got more of a chance at metal detecting such things in Israel than I do in Pennsylvania.

At any rate, these are 4 bronzes of the king, with three different queens: 1. Shuqailat (his mother and regent); 2 and 3: Gamilat in two different engraving styles; and 4: Hagru, the last queen of the Nabataeans.


At the risk of angering the gods of numismatic acquisition, I'm going to post a coin that is almost one of my favorites - almost because I'm only one layaway payment from owning it. This is a drachm of Rabbel II which evidence suggests is the type of coin mentioned in the Dead Sea Scrolls, specifically the Babatha manuscripts. I'll have more to say about that once I have the coin in hand and make an official thread for it...

 

This year has been my most successful so far, adding 18 coins since January. That's a pace which I don't expect to sustain, but it's certainly been quite a numismatic journey!

I'll only post coins which I've already posted here - I have some big reveals coming soon but don't want to spoil it The names of the coins link to the threads themselves.

#5 - Alexander the Great portrait stater


#4 - Sikyon stater


#3 - Aegina stater


#2 - Vespasian Boscoreale aureus


#1 - Port of Ostia sestertius

 

The winner and still champion => AncientJoe!!

... gorgeous!!

 

The Colosseum sestertius isn't in your top 5?!!

 

Acquired in Sept 2013 so not eligible

 

Oh. Phew, I thought you'd lost your marbles.

 

That has still yet to be definitively determined

 

No one wants to follow AJ but it won't be as hard to follow me so here are the five:

#5 Aelius Alexandria hemidrachm


#4 Sikyon stater - early version with nice snake tail and owners grafiti phi on both sides.


#3 Sinope Medusa AE30 - The Amisos version is easier to find.


#2 Constantine VII and Romanus II silver cored fourree solidus - This is the first I have seen in a lot of looking but well documented in the literature. Please show me your silver cored fourree!


#1 Pescennius Niger denarius with AVS (or is it G/S?) spelling on obverse and VICTOR IVST AVG reverse. Of the examples from this die set I have seen, I am proud to proclaim mine the worst.


All of these are explained in more detail on my favorites pages although #2 and #3 were shown as supporting coins for similar items I already had.
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/favs.html

What will the second half of the year bring?

 

#1 still taking my breath away. wow. and I do not collect ancients yet...