Overall, 2021 was a good year for me in a numismatic sense. However, in the context of ancient coins, 2021 has been a mixed bag for me personally, owing to higher prices and increased bidding competition. As such, I have found myself increasingly focused on other collecting areas such as paper money and American commemorative coinage while relegating ancients to a secondary position. Despite this and my relative lack of participation in the ancients forum, I would like to share ten of my favorite ancient coin purchases of the past year. 10. Severus Alexander A.D. 226 Sestertius Obverse: IMP CAES M AVR SEV ALEXANDER AVG; laureate and draped bust right. Reverse: P M TR P V COS II P P S-C; Pax running left, holding olive branch and sceptre Weight: 20g Diameter: 26x28mm RIC IV 465 Purchased from Victor's Imperial Coins, May 2021. 9. Gordian III AE 30 of Viminacium A.D. 241-242 Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Reverse: PMS COL VIM; Woman (Moesia) standing with head to the left holding her right hand over a bull and her left hand over a lion. Weight: 20g Diameter: 30mm In ex. AN IIII Pick 83 Purchased from Victor's Imperial Coins, May 2021. 8. Gallienus (Sole reign) A.D. 260-268 Silvered Antoninianus Obverse: GALLIENVS AVG; radiate and cuirassed bust right. Reverse: PAX AVG; Pax standing left, holding olive branch and sceptre; in right field V. Weight: 3.2g Diameter: 21x23mm RIC VI Rome 256 Purchased from Victor's Imperial Coins, July 2021. 7. Probus Year 7 (A.D. 281/282) Alexandrian Tetradrachm Obverse: A K M AVΡ ΠΡOBOC CEB, laureate cuirased bust right Reverse: L-Z, eagle standing left, head right with wreath in its beak. Dattari 5555, Emmett 3984. Purchased from Romae Aeternae Numismatics, February 2021. 6. Faustina I Posthumous Issue (A.D. 150-161) Sestertius Obverse: DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust right, hair coiled on top of head. Reverse: CERES, Ceres standing left, holding corn-ears and long, vertical torch; S-C across fields. Rome Mint RIC 1128 Purchased from Germany, March 2021. 5. Licinius I A.D. 311-313 Obverse: IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS P F AVG; Laureate head right. Reverse: GENIO AVGVSTI; Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder (falls low), holding patera from which liquid flows, and cornucopiae; flaming altar to left; Δ in right field. Mintmark: SMN Diameter: 21x22mm Weight: 4.8g RIC VI Nicomedia 71a Purchased from Victor's Imperial Coins, March 2021. 4. Philip I A.D. 244-249 Sestertius Obverse: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG; Laureate and cuirassed bust right. Reverse: FIDES EXERCITVS S-C; Four standards. Weight: 14.7g Diameter: 25x27mm RIC IV Rome 171a Purchased from Victor's Imperial Coins, May 2021. 3. Gordian III A.D. 241-243 Sestertius Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Reverse: P M TR P IIII COS II S-C; Gordian in military dress, standing right, holding transverse spear and globe. Weight: 18g Diameter 27x29mm RIC IV 306a Purchased from Victor's Imperial Coins, July 2021. 2. Claudius II A.D. 269-270 Antoninianus Obverse: IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG; Radiate draped and cuirassed bust right. Reverse: FELICITAS AVG; Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopia. Weight: 2.9g Diameter: 20x21mm RIC V Rome 32 Purchased from Victor's Imperial Coins, January 2021. 1. Nerva A.D. 97 AR Denarius Obverse: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P II COS III P P; Laureate head right. Reverse: CONCORDIA EXERCITVVM; Clasped hands. Weight: 3.2g Diameter:17mm RIC 26 Purchased from Aegean Numismatics, December 2020 (Arrived January 2021).
Bradley, My favorites are #5, 7, & 1, in that order . The Licinius I nummus is in gem condition with lovely silvering .
Nice coins @Bradley Trotter . My favorites: #10: I love the running Pax #9: nice, a Diva Faustina sestertius with character #3: Gordian III Sestertius
I love those chunky bronzes, @Bradley Trotter! You had a great year! Of course, being a Faustina fanatic, my favorite is the Faustina I sestertius. I also like the Severus Alexander with the running Pax and the Philip and Gordian sestertii. Astonishingly, I don't have Faustina's CERES standing reverse type in the sestertius denomination. Here's a middle bronze issued in her lifetime with a similar reverse, though.
Thanks, @furryfrog02. The Nerva would have made my top 10 for 2020 provided it had arrived earlier and if I had not done my top 10 earlier. Besides, it is certainly one of the most appealing "budget" Nerva denarii that I have seen personally. Interesting @Roman Collector, I would've wagered the opposite. I certainly understand why one would choose the Licinius as their favorite. For me, the silvering did it; I can't say that I have seen many 4th Century folles with that degree of the original silvering extant. The funny thing about #3 is that I won it at auction after losing it about a month earlier. Regardless, I must confess that it is quite hard to resist the allure of a chunky Roman sestertius, especially if it happens to be under $50.
Bradley/ I really like 8/5/2 the best. I used to also be into Canadian Chartered Banknotes/ US obsoletes/ still collect US Commerative AV coinage Wish You and Your Family a Wonderfull 2022!!!! John
Good choices, and thanks for the well wishes @panzerman. Thanks, @Cucumbor. If my top 10 was any indication, I went on a kick for 3rd Century sestertii.
