Cheers to the top 10 coins of 2017!

Well, I am going to post my top ten coins of 2017 in random order. Can't really decide on the order , so here goes:

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Bruttium, the Brettii: Anonymous (ca. 214-211 BCE) Æ Double – Didrachm (Scheu, Bronze 1; HN Italy 1975)

Obv: Helmeted head of Ares left; two pellets to right, grain ear below
Rev: Nike standing left, erecting trophy; cornucopia between





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Sicily, Syracuse: Hieron II (275-215 BCE) Æ Hemilitron (BAR Issue 62; CNS 195 Ds 42 R1 8; HGC 2, 1548)

Obv: Diademed head left; wreath to right
Rev: Warrior, holding couched lance, on horse prancing right; monogram to lower right; IEΡΩNOΣ in exergue




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Sicily, Syracuse: Hieron II (275-215 BCE) Æ Litra (BAR Issue 60; cf. CNS 197; HGC 2, 1550)

Obv: Head of Poseidon left, wearing tainia
Rev: Ornamented trident head; flanked by dolphins downward, ΙΕΡΩΝΟΣ beside base




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Egypt, Alexandria: Hadrian (117-138 CE) BI Tetradrachm, RY 10 (Köln 897-8; Dattari (Savio) 1522; K&G 32.339; Emmet 905.10)

Obv: AVTKAI TPAIAΔPIACЄB; Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev: Draped bust right of Ammon, wearing horn and disk; L ΔE-KATOV around




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Thracian Kingdom: Lysimachos (306-281 BCE) AR Tetradrachm, Abydos? (BMFA 839; Müller 342)

Obv: Diademed head of deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon
Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAΧOY; Athena seated left, holding Nike and resting elbow on shield at side, spear leaning against far shoulder; in inner left field, eagle standing right




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Macedonian Kingdom: Philip III (323-317 BCE) AR Drachm, Colophon (Price P44; Muller P51)

Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress
Rev: ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ; Zeus enthroned facing left holding eagle and scepter, lyre in left field, monogram below throne




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Roman Imperial: Constantius Gallus, as Caesar (351-354 CE) Æ Centenionalis, Heraclea (RIC VIII 84; LRBC 1894)

Obv: D N CONSTAN-TIVS NOB C; Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev: FEL TEMP RE-PARATIO; Soldier standing left, holding shield and spearing fallen horseman; shield on ground at right; Horseman turns to face soldier, and extends left arm; Γ in left field; SMHΔ in exergue




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Byzantine Empire: Constantine VI & Irene (780-797) Æ Follis, Constantinople (Sear-1598; DOC-7)

Obv: Crowned bust of Irene facing, wearing loros and holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter
Rev: Crowned bust of Constantine facing, holding globus cruciger; pellet to left; to right, cross above pellet; in exergue, large M between X N and above A




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Roman Triumvirate: Mark Antony (Autumn 32-Spring 31 BCE) AR Denarius, Patrae? (Crawford 544/23; CRI 359; Sydenham 1227; RSC 37)

Obv: ANT AVG – III·VIR·R·P·C; Praetorian galley right
Rev: Aquila between two signa; LEG IX across field




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Abbasid: al-Muktafi (289-295 AH) AV Dinar, Misr, 292 AH (Album-243.1)

Obv: لا اله الا الله وحده لا شريك له
Obv Outer Margin: لله الامـر من قبل ومن بعــد ويومئذ يفرح المؤمنون بنصر الله
Obv Inner Margin: بسم الله ضرب هذا الدينر مصر سنة اثنين و تسعين و مائتين
Rev: لله محمد رسول الله / المكتفي بالله‎‎
Rev Margin: محمد رسول الله ارسله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله ولو كره المشركون

 

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Wonderful group of coins. I can see how it would be difficult to rank them. I especially like the first Hieron II. There is some real artistry to that coin.

 

Holy cow! You know...about the way you posted them, I think I could just as easily label them 1 - 10 and call it a day! What a great year for your collection!

 

Some extremely nice coins. Of course, my favorite is the Legionary Denarius. Great detail!!!!!

 

Very nice, all with great detail and eye appeal. Congrats on great buying.

 

Very nice! Some outstanding coins!

 

Thanks guys! The worst part of this is that were 10 more coins that could have easily made the list, especially some of the Byzantine coins I acquired. Compiling this list was not easy...

 

It never is, especially since one acquires all their coins because they like them for one reason or another

 

very true Bing. We all have different favorites and that also makes it more diverse and interesting

 

Great coins @Quant.Geek! My favorites are your Lysimachus and the Herion II. Both beautifully executed portraits. Congrats

 

Multiple metals, cultures, and eras! Just what I like! Lysimachus tet is KICK BUTT For sure, but that MA denarius is sharp, and the Greek AE lead off was pretty sweet!

Nice group!

 

The Brettian is my favorite! These are usually found as slugs or very rough. Fantastic coin!

 

All are wonderful. Each more beautiful than the rest.

 

Wow. Amazing coins. I'm partial to the Antony and the coin with the trident on the reverse.

 

If you would like I'll volunteer to put them in an ordered list. Just mail me the coins and I'll study, observe, contemplate, reflect upon, and otherwise devout my time to the coins. Them once I've made a list, after 25 or so years, I'll send them back. Such coins deserve a thorough review after all.

The Lysimachus is gorgeous, and I really like the litra and hemilitron Hieron II. What fantastic coins, congrats on a great year.

 

I think , each coin in its own way is beautifull to look at, historically significant! Plus your layout/ writeup are first class. Thank for showing them to us. I hope you have a great 2018 coin year!
John

 

Thanks John. I spend a lot of time transcribing coins using unicode and I try to perfect it each time. There is some joy in deciphering the alphabet, typing it unicode and then posting it. You really appreciate these little works of art when you can read the legends!

 

That’s one heckuva top 10... all killer, no filler!

 

Excellent coins

 

Fantastic set of coins there. It's hard to pick a favorite. Here's one of my 2017 Byzantines of Michael II the Amorian.