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

your coins #1,2,3 wow what else is there to say ? #1 is my favorite by far. the grade on those are so amazing.

 

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Wonderful coins all!

 

Have to agree with Randy, wonderful coins, everyone! Doug's Sikyon stater is still the snake-tail champ, JA's Rabbel II drachm is extremely cool, I really like thrifty Bing's Pantikapaion with the bull's head, and AJ's Boscoreale aureus just makes my head swim.

 

What an amazing showcase thread and imaging. Lots to learn from the wealth of knowledge here!

 

Some truly amazing coins on this page. Congrats to all on great acquisitions.

Is it just me, or does Pescennius Niger in Doug's bottom coin seem like he's looking up and reading the sentence about how he's the worst example of that die set?

 

Here are five of mine from this year.

Vologases V tetradrachm (Parthia):


Orodes III tetradrachm (Elymais):


Phraataces tetradrachm (Parthia):


Vologases II diobol (Parthia):


Pakoros II diobol (Parthia):

 

well, looks like everyone has had a nice coin half year so far. I have some sweet silver coins sitting on my crappy table (and one incoming) that I just don't have time to show off right now. but here are my top five coins up to two weeks ago...

5. bull and horseman jital crossed off list.




4. an ugly but cool Caracalla provincial, that turns out to be pretty rare. nice reverse and color. Caracalla isn't looking his best.





3. a not so shabby alexandrian tet a got for dirt cheap.






2. got to cross jovian off my list...




1. I dipped my toe in the pool of classic greek silver.

 

Been on a bit of a tear trying to find direction as I navigate the breadth of ancients one can spend a lifetime on. I picked five coins which I like a lot. In collecting ancients, I took a less conventional path of focusing on appealing (to me) coins rather than the historical interest. My core collection took an exact opposite, more conventional approach. I do find my past experience in entering a certain area of numismatics helpful as the decision points, trade-offs and learning process are similar. I am playing catch up but enjoying the ride thus far. Absent one raw purchase, have been buying slabbed material.

SICYONIA. SICYON (SIKYON). Ca. 400-323 BC. Silver AR Stater. 25mm, 12.20gr. BCD Peloponnesos 218; BMC 57. Obv: Chimaera standing left with forepaw raised, ÓE below, wreath in right field. Rev: Dove flying left within wreath. NGC AU*, 5/5, 5/5, Fine Style.



AEOLIS. MYRINA. Circa 155-145 BC. AR Tetradrachm. 32mm, 17.01gr. Sacks Issue 20; SNG Copenhagen 223. Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right. Rev: Apollo Grynios to right, standing, holding branch and phiale, omphalos and amphora at lower right, monogram in left field, all within wreath. NGC MS 5/5, 4/5.



ATTICA. ATHENS. Ca. 454-404 BC. Silver AR Tetradrachm, 17.00 g., 26 mm. Obv. Helmeted head of Athena right. Rev. Owl standing to right, olive sprig and crescent behind, all within incuse square. Kroll 8; SNG Copenhagen 31; SNG Munich 49; Dewing 1611–22. Ex Antiqua FPL XII, no. 53. NGC graded as CHOICE AU, strike 5/5, surface 4/5.



EGYPT. PTOLEMAIC KINGS. PTOLEMY II PHILADELPHOS, 285-246 BC. Silver tetradrachm, 14.18 g., 25 mm. Minted at the GAZA mint and dated Regnal Year 37 (249/248 BC). Obv. Diademed bust of Ptolemy I right. Rev. Eagle standing on thunderbolt to left, ΓA monogram above AN monogram in left field, ΛZ (date) above Z in right field. Svoronos 833; SNG Copenhagen 459; Noeske –; BMC 141; Meydancikkale 4029–30. NGC graded AU STAR, Strike 5/5, Surface 4/5, FINE STYLE.



SICILY. SYRACUSE. AGATHOKLES, ca. 317-289 BC. Silver AR Tetradrachm struck ca. 305-295 BC. 27mm, 16.89gr. Obv. KOPAΣ, wreathed head of Kore right. Rev. AΓAΘOKΛEIOΣ, Nike standing right, nailing armor to trophy, triskeles beneath left wing. SNG ANS 679. NGC graded CHOICE XF*, Strike 5/5, Surface 5/5.

 

Ugly but very rare and historically interesting, just how I like em:

(broken but the best part -aside from it being Dark Ages-, it only cost me $20, much much less than unbroken examples go for. And it still looks pretty decent IMO)

5.) Charles the Bald, Frankish (Carolingian) Empire
AR Obol
Obv: Monogram of Charles
Rev: [+ M]ETVLLO around cross in circle
Mint: Metallum, struck 840-877 AD
Ref: MG 1060



(a rare type and mint for Justinian)

4.) Justinian I, Byzantine Empire
AE Decanummium
Obv: DN IVSTINIANVS P AVG, helmeted, cuirassed bust facing, holding cross on globe in left hand and shield in right hand
Rev: Large I, star in left and right fields, all within wreath
Mint: Rome (struck 547-549 AD)
Ref: SB 308, MIB 228



3.) Baduila, Ostrogothic Kingdom
AE Decanummium
Obv: DN BADV-ILA REX, crowned, draped, bust facing
Rev: DN B/ADV/ELA/REX in four lines within wreath
Mint: Rome, struck 550-552 AD
Ref: MIB 89a



(I hope I'm allowed to bend the rules a bit with this coin: I bought it in mid-late December but received it in January)

2.) Louis the Pious, Frankish (Carolingian) Empire
AR Denier
Obv: + HLVDOVVICVS IMP, legend around cross in circle
Rev: + XPISTIANA RELIGIO, legend around temple, cross in temple
Mint: Unknown, struck 822-840 AD
Ref: MEC 794



(one of the emperors I sought the most for my collection)
1.) Majorian, Western Roman Empire
AE Nummus
Obv: DN IVL MAIORIANVS PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped bust right
Rev: VICTORI-A AVGGG, Victory advancing right, holding palm branch and trophy
Mint: Milan (MD in ex), struck 457-461 AD
Ref: RIC X 2642

 

#5 This one's from Doug...


#4 This one was a birthday present from Eng (Thank you!)...

#3 Another beauty from Doug!


#2 This one I bought back in Febuaryish.


#1 This is my big favorite, I cherry picked it a few months back. Yes!


On a different note, I just got back from the Summer Seminar last Thursday. I took a class on colonial non-coins (Wampum, trade goods, peace medals, ect.), and in that class I was surprised to see...fourrees! Yes, colonial fourees. The coolest example was a quarter of an eight real...I can hear Doug drooling from here.

 

My favorite five of 2014:
AEOLIS, Kyme
AR Tetradrachm
ca. 165 BC

15.55 grams, 29 mm.
Obv: Head of Amazon Kyme right, hair bound with ribbon.
Rev: Horse pacing right, one-handled vase at feet; KYMAIΩN to right, KAΛΛIAΣ in exergue, all within laurel wreath.
Grade: a gEF coin, well centered, well struck, & beautiful.
Other: Sear 4183. NS.4183, BMC Troas 73, Oakley ANSMN 27 pl. 4, 17. SNG Cop. 103, SNG vonAulock 1636. Ex McHugh collection, ex Nobel sale 103 lot 4653 Nov 2013. From Del Parker Jan 2014.



SIKYONIA, Sikyon
AR Stater
335-330 BC

11.94 grams, 23.2 mm
Obv: Chimera advancing left, paw raised, wreath above, ΣΕ below.
Rev: Dove flying left, I left, all within olive wreath.
Grade: a gVF nicely toned coin.
Other: Sikyon mint. BCD Peloponnesos 219, Traité III 776, BCD Peloponnesos pg 40, 56. SNG Cop 48 var (N instead of I). Ex CNG auction 312 lot 88 originating from a 1930’s collection.




BABALONIA, Babylon
AR Stater (or Dishekel)
328-321 B.C.

16.08 grams, 22 mm x 5.5 mm thick
Obv: Ba’al seated left holding scepter
Rev: Lion walking left, control mark Г above.
Grade: good Fine to a Very Fine nicely toned & centered.
Other: Good silver 5.5 mm thick. Anonymous mintage of Eastern Alexandrine empire under the successors of Mazaeus (Stamenes 328-323 B.C., Archon 323-321 B.C.) See BMC.34, BMC.184/36. Babylonian stater coin sometimes called a tetradrachm according to the Attic standard due to its 16 gram weight.
Ex Pegasi auction #19 lot 181 November 18, 2008.
From private sale January 11, 2014.




Kingdom of Characene
(Tigris Valley - Kuwait)
Attambelos I
AR Tetradrachm
44 - 39 B.C.

12.39 gms, 27.1 mm
Obv: Diademed bearded head right
Rev: Naked Hercules seated left on stone (possibly an Omphalos stone)
club resting on knee held with right hand. Monogram above right arm. BAΣΙΛ[?] / ATTAMB[?] to right, [Σ]ΩTHP[?] to left.
Grade: gVF with sharp strike on good silver fabric. Coin is nicely centered with attractive toning. Some letters off the flan as noted with only rough planchet surface in exergue.
Other: BMC 3. Listed in the Catalogue of the Greek Coins of Arabia, Mesopotamia, and Persia page 291 & plate LV #11. Coin may be dated 269-273 a.s. = 44-39 B.C.
The existence of king Attambelos I was unsuspected until 5 silver tetradrachms were acquired by a soldier in Mesopotamia and submitted to the British Museum in 1920.
Purportedly purchased from BC Universal, New Britain CT in 2011. From private sale March 2014.



SICILY, Messana
AR Tetradrachm
480-461 BC

17.21 grams, 25 mm.
Obv: Biga of mules (an apene) driven right by seated charioteer. Nike above crowning mules.
Rev: Hare bounding to right with spray of olive beneath. MEΣΣA.ИIOИ. (retrograde Ns)
Grade: a nicely toned Good Fine coin with claims to aVF.
Other: Similar to Sear 843 & 847. SNGANS.314. From Pegasi Jan 2014.

 

This surfer-cow was also acquired in the first 6-months of 2014.



THRACE, Byzantion
AR Siglos (drachm)
340 - 320 B.C.

5.30 grams, 16 mm
Obv: Heifer standing left on dolphin swimming to left. Archaic Greek monogram (yΠ)[Y] above
Rev: Incuse granulated mill-sail pattern.
Grade: gVF or better with sharp strike on good silver fabric. (yΠ)[Y] Monogram above Heifer shows complete ligate (yΠ) with the final [Y] off the flan.
Other: Surfer Cow Coin or boogie board bovine purchased from Sphinx Canada in May 2014. Ex Forum Numismatics

 

Here are my best 5 of the year. Haven't gotten too many coins yet, it's been somewhat meager since funds have been rather low.



Postumus BI Antoninianus, Lyons, 260-269 AD, 2.4g, 22.0mm

OBV: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right.

REV: HERC PACIFERO, Hercules standing right, holding olive branch & club.

REF: RIC V-II 67, RSC 101, Sear5 10946.

This coin was my first of the year and probably my favorite. I wanted this one for a few months and then decided to get it.



Plautilla AR Denarius. 198-212 AD, 3.3g, 18mm

OBV: PLAVTILLA AVGVSTA, Draped bust right, hair in nearly vertical waves & drawn into bun at back.

REV: CONCORDIA AVGG Concordia, diademed, stg. half-left with patera & sceptre.

REF: RIC 363, RSC 1, BMC 411, Sear RCV 2000 - 7065

Despite the problems with the flan, I really had to have this one too.



Aelia Eudoxia AE3, Antioch, 383-408 AD, 2.3g, 17mm

OBV: AEL EVDO-XIA AVG, Pearl-diademed, draped bust right, wearing necklace and earrings, crowned by hand of God.

REV: SALVS REI-PVBLICAE, Victory seated right on cuirasse, pointing to a shield inscribed chi-rho which rests on a low column, Mintmark ANTG.

REF: RIC X 104



Volusian AR Antoninianus. Milan mint, 251-253 AD, 3.3g, 20mm

OBV: IMP C C VIB VOLVSIANVS AVG, Radiate draped and cuirassed bust right.

REV: VIRTVS AVGG, Virtus standing right, holding spear and resting left on shield at front.

REF: RIC IV 206, RSC 133, Sear5 9776.



Commodus. AE As. 175-176 AD, 6.6g, 24mm

OBV: COMMODO CAES AVG FIL GERM SARM, Bare-headed, draped bust right.

REV: PIETAS AVG, Sacrificial implements: knife, aspergillum, ewer, lituus and simpulum; SC in exergue.

REF: RIC 1538; Cohen 404 (Struck under Marcus Aurelius); Sear 5561.

Last but not least is my Commodus coin. I had to have this one as well. It was setting there at the shop for many months, surprised no one got it after all this time.

 

welcome back, vlaha ...

 

Same here, although it's my own fault. I finally bit the bullet and bought myself one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Transformer-TF103C-A1-Bundle-10-1-Inch-Tablet-Keyboard/dp/B00JOI6FZ8/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1404251133&sr=1-4&keywords=asus transformer

Thanks! I pulled my first all nighter in Colorado, what a blast!