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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;AncientJoe, post: 1838173, member: 44357&quot;]Stylistically, there are many coins which just don&#039;t &quot;do it&quot; for me, even though many are some of the best known ancient coin designs. This will be a highly controversial post, as I have some strong opinions, but that&#039;s what the internet is for!</p><p><br /></p><p>To name a few:</p><p>- Athens dekadrachms: I think the tetradrachms were better executed and find the dekadrachm to be somewhat overhyped stylistically (I don&#039;t find it anywhere close to being the &quot;most beautiful ancient coin&quot;)</p><p>- Some of the man-faced bull coins: These depend on the type for me as there are some spectacular ones but I&#039;m not enthralled by the design overall.</p><p>- Naxos tetradrachms: I can appreciate the transition from archaic to classical styling but I&#039;m just not a fan of the design.</p><p>- Demareteion dekadrachm/tetradrachms: I suppose I&#039;m just not one for the archaic styles. If I were to choose, I&#039;d pick one of the slightly later issues which is far less expensive.</p><p>- Most facing head designs: It was a nice attempt but most of these are not executed particularly artistically. Some are incredible but a large number of them are just &quot;alright&quot; to my eyes.</p><p>- The stylized portraits later in the Roman empire (and all throughout the Byzantines) are just not appealing to me.</p><p><br /></p><p>As for coins which I find appealing:</p><p>- Well-executed portraits, whether of emperors, Gods, or rulers. The Perseus Zoilos tetradrachms are a great example: the first, signed issue is fantastic but it devolves very quickly after.</p><p>- Anything Zeus, especially with majestic portraits. Throw in an eagle or a quadriga and I&#039;m a happy collector!</p><p>- Architectural designs: of course, the Colosseum, but several other structures are depicted impressively. Knossos&#039; Labyrinth is a coin very high up on my wantlist.</p><p>- Simple designs: anepigraphic coins, and anything with clean imagery is oddly appealing to me. I love the celery leaves of Selinos and simple but profound designs of Elis/Hera for the Olympics as well as Aegina&#039;s land tortoises (but <i>not</i> sea turtles)</p><p>- Conversely: extremely intricate designs - the Circus Maximus denarii, Ports of Ostia, and some other coins which depict entire scenes, are all very impressive.</p><p>- Compelling, unique designs: I love the DIVVS IVLIVS comet denarius, Aegypto Capta denarius, the EID MAR, Augustus&#039; laurel leaves, Trajan&#039;s Column/Forum, Elagabalus&#039; emesa stone, among many others.</p><p><br /></p><p>There, I came clean with my opinions... let the firestorm begin <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie4" alt=":mad:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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