I've never posted a top ten, and wasn't really planning to do so. But, I've enjoyed going through all of the other member's lists that have been posted recently, so I figured I'd do my part . I only really got into ancients in earnest over the past 6 months and have purchased the bulk of my collection over that time, so I have quite a few coins from which to choose. In one sense, considering the inflated market, I couldn't have timed things more poorly. However, most of my budget came from dumping off other collections that I've accumulated over time (primarily baseball cards), whose markets were even more inflated than that of ancient coins! So I still feel like I made out pretty well in the end 10. Drusus the Younger As. Even though it's not the greatest condition coin, I can't seem to get a picture that does it justice. I even fiddled around with some effects here and couldn't get much improvement. However, it is a Drusus and I really like it. Problem is, even though it is rather thin so far as Asses go, it was put into a thick NGC holder for some reason. It won't fit into my slab cases with the rest of my collection, which kind of sucks 9. Crispina Denarius. Although no individual one would have made my top ten favorite list on it's own, I do really enjoy the coins depicting women in my collection. So, I figured I should toss the one that currently happens to be my favorite into the mix. 8. Domitian Denarius. I'm more looking forward to adding his dad or brother. But, if for nothing else, Domitian makes the list for getting me one step closer to completing my 12 Caesar collection! 7.Caracalla Tetradrachm. I don't seek out provincials per se, but I certainly don't mind obtaining them for my collection if they tickle my fancy. They usually don't portray the artistic quality of imperial coins, but they are meaty, interesting, have more character, and are more fun to stare at for some reason! I mean, look at that dotty eagle! 6. Commodus Sestertius. This is another one where the picture doesn't do justice, but the bust on this coin looks really nice in hand. The enjoyment that I get out of my collection comes from showing it to other people and telling the related stories. It's hard to get a coin with more entertaining related stories than Commodus! 5. Brutus/Ahala Ancestor Denarius. I'll probably never be able to afford an Eid Mar, so I'm just going to let people believe that the guy on the front of this coin is "that" Brutus! Me and this coin had a rough start. There were multiple in the auction and when the one that I wanted came up, I bid like a madman to make sure that I got it. I only realized afterward that the previous coin had ended, but been reset by a late bid, and that I had been bidding on the wrong coin!! The one that I wanted was more attractive (especially in Brutus' beard) and actually went for cheaper than what I paid for this one . It'll take some time, but this coin will grow on me eventually. 4. Trajan Dupondius. Gotta have a Trajan, all the rest of the emperors tried to be as good as him after all. If I didn't know any better, I'd think that this coin was tooled because the detail is extra sharp. This is one coin that I like to look at under magnification just to fully appreciate the individual strands of hair. 3. Marcus Aurelius Sestertius. This guy was my first "Favorite Emperor", and learning about the story of him and his family, and his influence in Stoic philosophy is one of the things that originally drew me to ancient coins. That being the case, I wanted to make sure that I got a large coin of his with a pleasing bust. This coin does the job and was in my wheelhouse, plus the reverse is interesting as well. 2. Pompey "The Great" Magnus Denarius. This coin is a bit worn, but I feel that it is worn in such a way as to make Pompey seem more intimidating! Plus, it has some rainbow-looking toning, visible in hand, that would make Morgan collectors proud! The flan is small and some of the beading and legends are missing. But it is otherwise well-centered and is a fantastic example for me that knocks a big name off of my list. And, of course, that voo-doo dance party reverse is killer!! 1. Julius Caesar Denarius. The first slot in my intended collection was the biggest name of them all, and I started to get the feeling that it would stay empty forever. I silenced this fear by deciding to step up and suffer the pain of clicking that bid button beyond the point of reason... and now my collection has both bookends . I also posted this coin for the first time in @Severus Alexander 's recent thread where he apprised us of his troubling news. Now every time I look at this coin, I will be reminded of the strength, resilience, and equanimity that he expressed in that post. That's a bonus that you can't put a price on, and that alone would make it my favorite coin of the bunch.
I really like the Pompey and it's lively reverse. And in my opinion the Caesar coin is really something to be proud of, nice details on it too.Wel done for going for it. Awesome!
Your collection of ancients is coming along nicely! My favorites are the Brutus, the Pompey and the Crispina DIS GENITALIBVS.
That Crispina is very fascinating. The reverse strikes me as a design that not very typical of Imperial Coinage. It is very geometric in nature and the legend is strangely orientated. That gets my vote!
Great coins, and all Romans too! I like it Difficult to pick a favorite though! I'd say the JC for the portrait which is detailed although small. The denarius of Pompey has lovely details, and the toning on the obverse is very nice too! And the coin of Brutus is a must have (yes, on my list too ;-)) considering the fact that during the culimation between Caesar and his opponents, Brutus was via graffity reminded of his ancestery...! We all know what happened next. Don't feel bad about this one, but be happy because when it comes to reconstructing the last days of the empire, coins as this provide a glimps into the past and the mindset and motivation of the main characters involved.
Ya, I'm off to a fast start. In pretty short order I put together enough coins so that I can look at it and think, "Ya, that's an official collection". Unfortunately, I've blown through my starter budget, so the splurge has come to an end. Now the trick will be getting used to obtaining coins at a more reasonable rate, at least reasonable with respect to my financial capabilities. Hopefully I won't be like the guy that has gotten too used to betting too much at the blackjack table! Ya, it didn't seem like a top tenner to me, but I really liked the coin so I worked it in. It's really interesting to me that you, Zumbly, @DonnaML, and @happy_collector rank it among your top few. I guess I must have been onto something after all! I really like the reverse as well, as it is not typical as a style. I tried to do a bit of research when I initially got the coin, and as seems to be the case more often than not, my searches directed me to a Cointalk thread that answered some questions. It was started by @Roman Collector back in 2018: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/to-the-generative-gods-dis-genitalibvs.314084/ Seems as though the coin reverse was an attempt at pleasing the fertility god. Unfortunately it didn't work, which earned poor Crispina a one-way trip to Capri for an all-too short vacation .
Wow! Impressive!!! My favorites are #1 - Julius Caesar Denarius and #2 - Pompey the Great denarius. Fascinating and (in my opinion) historically very important. You had a wonderful 2021
Wow! All of them are marvelous! I like the Trajan dupondius; it has a lovely patina and it's well-struck, well-centered, and well-preserved. Of course, I have to like the Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great denarii for their historic interest. I really like the Crispina denarius because of the air of mystery surrounding the reverse type. We don't know the circumstances surrounding the issuance of this coin. It would seem that the empress had dedicated an altar to the dei genitales, either for having had children, or that she might obtain fertility from them, or that she might commend the child, with which she was pregnant, to their care and protection.
Lovely group!....Trying to pick 3 is going to be difficult.....2, 5 and 1 are up there but all are really nice coins!...Congrats on a good year
Diverse top ten! My favs the Pompey/ Julius Caesar/ Brutus Must say Caracalla looks exactly the way he was in real life/ Julius Caesar more tame. In the Kirk Douglas/ Spartacus film/ JC was protrayed as a nice guy/ the Spartacus series/ STARZ showed the true evil in him and Crassus.
Ya, the extremes to which our general perception of historical figures gets shaped by movies and TV shows is kind of funny. The thing that initially got me interested in Roman history, and subsequently ancient coins, was the HBO-BBC television series "Rome". Now, any time I learn actual history about JC, Octavian, Antony, etc, I imagine them looking like and behaving like the portrayals in the show
Cherd, you scored some beauties in this eclectic selection ! My favorite is #7, the Caracalla Tet, followed by the denarii #1 & 2 .
This Pompey type is on my list (to pair with the galey one I already have), it would be my first choice from your list. Then come JC and the caracalla tet A nice coinyear as it seems Q
