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Message:: [QUOTE="Curtisimo, post: 3265776, member: 83845"]About my 2018 List2018 has been a busy year for me.  So busy, in fact, that of the 10 coins that will make up my 2018 list I have only shown 2 of them previously on the forum.  As a penance for this inexcusable behavior on my part I shall attempt to make amends by giving each coin a short(ish) write up, including some photos and illustrations, in order to show what I found interesting about them.  I realize this list has become somewhat long winded as I tend to do when left to my own devices.  Hopefully you all still enjoy the read. Additionally, over the next few days I will highlight a few coins from my 2018 acquisitions that are special to me in one way or the other.  To include: <blockquote><ul> <li><a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/curtisimo%E2%80%99s-best-coins-of-2018-8-previously-un-posted.328745/page-2#post-3267358" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/curtisimo%E2%80%99s-best-coins-of-2018-8-previously-un-posted.328745/page-2#post-3267358">Curtisimo’s coins from the James Pickering Collection of Britannic Coinage</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/curtisimo%E2%80%99s-best-coins-of-2018-8-previously-un-posted.328745/page-2#post-3268011" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/curtisimo%E2%80%99s-best-coins-of-2018-8-previously-un-posted.328745/page-2#post-3268011">Curtisimo’s coins that were featured on CT</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/curtisimo%E2%80%99s-best-coins-of-2018-8-previously-un-posted.328745/page-3#post-3270065" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/curtisimo%E2%80%99s-best-coins-of-2018-8-previously-un-posted.328745/page-3#post-3270065">Curtisimo’s coins that his wife wore in her shoe</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/curtisimo%E2%80%99s-best-coins-of-2018-8-previously-un-posted.328745/page-3#post-3271718" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/curtisimo%E2%80%99s-best-coins-of-2018-8-previously-un-posted.328745/page-3#post-3271718">Curtisimo’s coins that stick out like a sore thumb</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/curtisimo%E2%80%99s-best-coins-of-2018-8-previously-un-posted.328745/page-3#post-3274065" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/curtisimo%E2%80%99s-best-coins-of-2018-8-previously-un-posted.328745/page-3#post-3274065">Curtisimo’s favorite books and the like</a></li> </ul></blockquote> Also, please feel free to vote in the poll.  At the end of the thread I will post a “My 2018 According to CT” <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/curtisimos-2017-an-overview-and-top-10.307792/page-4#post-2946778" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/curtisimos-2017-an-overview-and-top-10.307792/page-4#post-2946778">same as last year</a>. Okay, enough prattle from me… to the top 10! 10 Stately Stater [ATTACH=full]860151[/ATTACH]Greek Colonies in IllyriaDyrrachion AR Stater, struck ca. 450-350 BCDia.: 21.5 mmWt.: 9.78 gObv.: Cow suckling calfRev.: ΔΥΡ around star pattern within linear square; club in fieldRef.: BMC 22, SNG Copenhagen 421Ex NAC sale 641, 2012, lot 224 Write up:<a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/dyrrachion-stater-a-frustrating-coin-to-study.327917/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/dyrrachion-stater-a-frustrating-coin-to-study.327917/">Dyrrachion Stater: A Frustrating Coin to Study</a> Why it’s my Number 10:I touched on what drew me to this coin in my recent write up linked above.  I hope to do some more research on this type in the future as I find the questions of the chronology to be fascinating.  This coin has some corrosion, particularly on the obverse, but this doesn’t detract from the impact of the beautiful classical style of the design in my opinion.  The coin has some nice old cabinet toning and feels great in-hand. Another random thing I find interesting about this design is that it shows us that in ancient Greece, at least some of the female cows had prominent horns.  This is not always the case with all species of bovine and is a nice little detail from a time so far removed from our own. 9 I Vant to Puuump you Uuup! [ATTACH=full]860153[/ATTACH]Roman EmpireMaximinus Daia (AD 308-313)AE Follis, Antioch mint, struck ca. AD 313Dia.: 19.3 mmWt.: 2.65 gObv.: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINUS P F AVG; laureate bust rightRev.: HERCVLI VICTORI; Hercules standing right, leaning on lions skin and clubRef.: RIC VI 170b, ScarceEx FSR Why it’s my Number 9:Earlier this year I was fortunate to get the opportunity to visit one of the marvels of Roman art that is housed in the National Museum at Naples: The Farnese Hercules.  This name applies only to this specific larger-than-life statue that spent time in the famed Farnese collection during the Renaissance.  It is thought that it was originally commissioned by Caracalla for use in decorating his public baths built in Rome.  The statue shows Hercules resting after holding up the cosmos and tricking Atlas into retrieving the apples of the Hesperides in connection with his twelve labors. The coins that show this scene are almost always described as “Farnese Hercules” type.  But is that accurate?  I don’t think that it is.  The weary Hercules theme is based on an original Greek statue that was made in bronze by the most famous of Greek artist: Lysippus.  This statue was so famous in the ancient world that it can rightly be described as the David of antiquity.  There are more than 47 examples of copies of this statue in various styles that exist today.  The Lysippus original was apparently much more subtle and naturalistic than the PED enhanced Farnese Hercules version.  The original is unfortunately lost, but by careful examination of the existing examples it is possible to identify the copies that would have been most true to the original form.  One of the statues thought to be most like the original is housed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.  Compare this Lysippus influenced statue to the Arnold Schwarzenegger-esque Farnese Hercules. <img src="https://www.cointalk.com/media/weary-hercules.9722/full?lightbox=1&last_edit_date=1544894378" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />Figure 1 - (Left) The weary Hercules at the Uffizi Gallery with and ant. of Gordian III at bottom. (Right) Farnese Hercules with Follis of Max. Daia at bottom (Author's photos) Now compare these statues to two coins from my collection that show the weary Hercules scene.  It seems to me that the second and early third century coins may be inspired more directly by the tradition of the subtle Lysippus original while the later Maximinus Daia coins may reflect what had become, by then, the standard representation of the weary Hercules in all his Caracalla inspired, muscle-y Roman manliness.  I prefer the Arnold-Hercules version and so this is the example from this year that made my top 10! …………………………………………………… 8 Not the Biggest Schnoz, but it’ll do. [ATTACH=full]860158[/ATTACH]Roman EmpireNerva (AD 96-98)AR Denarius, Rome mint, struck October AD 97Dia.: 17 mmWt.: 3.47 gObv.: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P II COS III PP; Laureate bust rightRev.: SALVS PVBLICA; Salus, seated left, holding grain earsRef.: RIC II 20 Why it’s my Number 8:I am currently working on a collection of Nerva-Antonine Dynasty coins.  Nerva is, of course, one of the necessary figures in any set of this type.  However, finding the right examples from his reign can prove surprisingly challenging.  Considering he had a reign that is easier measured in months instead of years it is not surprising that he did not issue as many types as other emperors.  In addition, the reverse types that he did issue lack some of the overt historical references that I prefer when choosing which coins to buy.  However, one benefit to his short reign and his tendency to include his titles on the coins is that it is possible to date much of Nerva’s coin issues to very small time periods.  For instance, this coin was struck in October of AD 97 which, interestingly, was around the time he adopted Trajan as his successor. Because of the lack of traceable historical references choosing a coin from Nerva’s reign is all about the portrait for my purposes.  In this category the coins of Nerva are second in interest to none!  I have been holding out for an example that I thought had the most over-the-top, in-your-face nose in the series so that I could come onto CT and brag about it shamelessly. But then I saw this example and it just spoke to me.  I’ve never seen a coin that I thought captured the essence of what a hawkish, venerable old senator should look like as much as this coin.  It reminded me of the sketches of imaginary Roman aristocrats that Leonardo Da Vinci would draw in his sketchbooks. Did da Vinci own this coin when he drew this sketch? <img src="https://www.cointalk.com/media/leonardo-sketch.9730/full?lightbox=1&update=1544904694" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />Figure 2 - (Left) sketch of an old Roman by Leonardo Da Vinci from the Royal Library Collection at Windsor Castle …………………………………………………… 7 Let’s Party! [ATTACH=full]860164[/ATTACH]Islands off ThraceThasos AR Tetradracm, struck ca. 140-110 BCDia.: 29 mmWt.: 16.58 gObv.: Wreathed head of Dionysus, rightRev.: Hercules standing right holding club; ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ in left field, ΗΡΑΚΛΕΟΥΣ in right field, ΘΑΣΙΟΝ in exergue. Μ to left of figure.Ref.: Thasiennes 51Ex [USER=72712]@arnoldoe[/USER] Collection Why it’s my Number 7:This coin is a big chunk of ancient Greek silver showing really nice artistry for the type.  In hand it is fantastic.  Surprisingly, this was my only Greek tetradrachm of 2018. Without a doubt, though, this coin’s interest to me is all about the depiction of Dionysus.  Dionysus was the Greek god of the grape harvest, wine, wine-making and just general fun-loving, party-time activities.  For that matter, Hercules, as shown on the reverse, was no stranger to wine assisted good times.  Interesting pairing Thasos, well played… <img src="https://www.cointalk.com/media/dionysus-and-hercules.9729/full?lightbox=1&update=1544896235" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />Figure 3 - Dionysus and Hercules... BFFs The wine of Thasos was famous in antiquity and still makes for fantastic drinking today.  As early as 480 BC there is evidence of laws regulating the quality of wine exported from Thasos.  When Thasos lost control of its legendary gold mines to more powerful states it fell back on its marble, forests and, most importantly, its wine to continue driving its economy.  For this reason we see Dionysus shown on the obverse of these coins to reflect the importance of wine to the island. But why does the engraver make Dionysus look so… pretty?  Well that can be explained in the mythology of Dionysus.  Dionysus was the son of Zeus and… well, not Hera.  Hera was rather peeved at this and conspired to kill Dionysus (there are differing accounts of the details you can read about here).  In order to save the infant Dionysus, Zeus sewed him into his thigh.  Once the child was born from Zeus’s thigh he was entrusted to Hermes to make arrangements for his upbringing.  One version of the myth states that Hermes left Dionysus with a mortal couple and advised them to raise him as a girl in order to keep him hidden from Hera.  Perhaps because of this unconventional childhood we often see rather effeminate depictions of Dionysus in Greek art as well as on this coin. …………………………………………………… 6 A Place Like no Other. [ATTACH=full]860165[/ATTACH]CroatiaRepublic of RagusaAnonymous AR Dinar, Dubrovnik mint, struck ca. AD 1337-1438Dia.: 18 mmWt.: 1.11 gObv.: St. Blaise standing facing, holding cozier and raising hand in benedictionRev.: IC – XC; Christ Pantokrator standing facing with mandorlaRef.: D&D 6.4.1 Why it’s my Number 6:This coin may seem somewhat out of place in my top 10.  It’s the newest coin on the list by almost 1,000 years and it shows medieval religious themes instead of classical subjects.  Well, I can assure that its inclusion was no mistake and that its interest to me is on par with any of the others.  This coin comes from a city founded by Roman refugees fleeing the fall of the empire and it lasted as a small republic in the classical mold for over 1,000 years.  It retained much of the memory of its classical heritage and this is reflected in the coins it used and issued (such as this one).  I have had the opportunity to visit this place in person and I can tell you that it is amazing.  I will leave the details of this story for a write up that I am currently working on. …………………………………………………… 5 Republican Elegance and a “Friendly” Provenance. [ATTACH=full]860177[/ATTACH]Roman RepublicMn. Aemelius LepidusAR Denarius, Rome mint, struck ca. 114-113 BCDia.: 18 mmWt.: 3.83 gObv.: ROMA, ligate MA; Laureate, diademed and draped bust of Roma, right. * behind.Rev.: MN AEMILIO; Equestrian statue right on three arches, L E P between arches.Ref.: Crawford 291/1Ex [USER=57495]@zumbly[/USER] Collection (AMCC Auction 1, lot 112), Ex Demetrios Armounta Collection (CNG E-Auction 325, lot 490) Why it’s my Number 5:This coin belonged to [USER=57495]@zumbly[/USER] and I bought it from [USER=84744]@Severus Alexander[/USER] in the first ever AMCC auction.  It is my favorite of the 7 wins I had in that fantastic auction.  Those items alone qualify this coin for a Top 10 finish.  However, this fantastic coin has a lot more going for it than that. First, Roma is beautiful.  Most depictions of Roma in the Republic are based on <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-story-of-the-coin-struck-to-fight-hannibal-the-first-denarius-and-its-influence.300387/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-story-of-the-coin-struck-to-fight-hannibal-the-first-denarius-and-its-influence.300387/">the Athena / Minerva prototype</a> of a helmeted female warrior.  This example shows Roma outfitted in a fashion better suited to an elegant <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symposium" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symposium" rel="nofollow">convivium</a> than to a battlefield.  The ligate ROMA is also visually interesting and elegant. The reverse, however, is really where this coin shines.  Mn. (Manlius?) Aemilius Lepidus issued this coin as Moneyer between 114-113 BC.  Not much is known about him other than he was a member of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aemilia_(gens)" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aemilia_(gens)" rel="nofollow">gens Aemilia</a>, which was one of the most ancient and prestigious families in Rome.  He may have been either an uncle or the grandfather of the famous Triumvir <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aemilius_Lepidus_(triumvir)" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aemilius_Lepidus_(triumvir)" rel="nofollow">Marcus Aemilius Lepidus</a>.  The reverse is thought to show the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqua_Marcia" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqua_Marcia" rel="nofollow">Aqua Marcia</a>, which was begun while a member of the gens Aemilia was Censor in 179 BC.  The equestrian statue may have been of this Censor or possibly some other distinguished ancestor of the family.  It has been suggested that the three arches are those that carried the Aqua Marcia over the Via Praenestina (road) and so it might be reasonable to guess this intersection as one of the possible locations for the statue.  Below is a surviving example of an classic Greek equestrian statue that had a Roman rider added during the republic. <img src="https://www.cointalk.com/media/equestrian-statue-horse.9728/full?lightbox=1&update=1544896235" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />Figure 4 - I took this photo at the Capitoline Museum in Rome.  The coin shows the strong influence of Greek influenced equestrian artistic styles in Republican Rome. The Aqua Marcia was the one of the oldest and the longest aqueduct in ancient Rome and was renowned for its cold and good tasting water.  Parts of this amazing structure can still be seen today. <img src="https://www.cointalk.com/media/aqua-marcia.9727/full?lightbox=1&update=1544896235" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />Figure 5 - The Aqua Marcia - Thought to be represented on this coin. …………………………………………………… 4 The Revival of the Denarius. [ATTACH=full]860179[/ATTACH]Roman EmpireDiocletian (AD 284-305)AR Argenteus, Ticinum mint, struck ca. AD 294Dia.: 20 mmWt.: 2.92 gObv.: DIOCLETI-ANVS AVG; Laureate bust rightRev.: VIRTVS MILITVM; Tetrarchs sacrificing in front of fort with 6 turrentsRef.: RIC VI 14a, R3 Why it’s my Number 4:By Diocletian’s day the denarius was a rarely struck denomination.  When it was struck it was a pitiful, debased shell of its former self.  Once Diocletian had managed to stabilize the tottering empire he set about to fix the economy.  Part of his strategy was a return to the use of a high purity silver denarius. This example is among the earliest issues of the high quality silver denarii he introduced ca. AD 294. These coins were a return to the weight and purity of the denarius under Nero.  This coin is commonly called an argenteus today but may have been called denarius argenteus (silver denarius) in antiquity in order to distinguish it from the debased denarius communis. The famous tetrarchy was still in its infancy when this denarius was issued.  The reverse inscriptions on this initial series are: VIRTVS MILITVM, VIRORIA SARMAT, PROVEDENTIA AVG, VICTORIA AVGG or some variation on one of these.  It seems clear that these coins refer to Diocletian’s campaign against the Sarmatians in AD 293-294.  Diocletian is known to have constructed new forts along the Danube at this time and so this gives us a clue as to what is shown on the reverse: namely fort(s) commissioned by Diocletian on the Danube.  I intend to expound this theory in greater detail for a future write up. <img src="https://www.cointalk.com/media/contra-aquincum.9724/full?lightbox=1&update=1544896001" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />Figure 6 - (Top) Remains of Contra Aquincum. Built by Diocletian in AD 293. (Bottom Left) Plan of current remains within the city of Budapest. (Bottom Right) Artists reconstruction of the fort. (Wikipedia) Additionally, this coin has a toning consistent with examples from the Sisak Hoard from which most of the available coins of this type come from.  I haven’t been able to link it to that hoard yet but I still hold out some hope that I will be able to find a provenance for it. 3 Trajan is the Chuck Norris of the Ancient World [ATTACH=full]860194[/ATTACH]Roman EmpireTrajan (AD 98-117)AR Denarius, Rome mint, struck ca. AD 107-108Dia.: 19.1 mmWt.: 2.94 gObv.: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC PM TR P; Trajan laureate bust right, left shoulder drapedRev.: COS V PP SPQR OPTIMO PRINC; Danube, velificatio, reclining on rocks, right hand holding prow of a ship. Left arm resting on overflowing container of water.  DANVVIVS in exergue.Ref.: RIC II 100, Scarce Write up:<a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/trajan-the-best-emperor-and-the-mystery-of-the-river-god.318843/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/trajan-the-best-emperor-and-the-mystery-of-the-river-god.318843/">Trajan: the Best Emperor and the Mystery of the River God</a> Why it’s my Number 3:I’ve already expounded on my love of this coin in excruciating detail in the above linked write up.  I said earlier that I was working on a collection of the Nerva-Anotonine dynasty and this is an addition to that collection that I was excited to make.  Trajan has some of the most interesting reverse types ever struck and many of them are a direct reference to a documented event or physical location.  This coin commemorates Trajan’s Dacian campaign and I present a few theories on what exactly is being celebrated by the depiction of the Danube on the reverse in my write up. This is a scarce coin that has good details for my taste as well as some nice old cabinet toning.  The reverse has better detail than most of the examples I have looked at in this price range.  All in all I feel this was a good buy and a fun coin to study. …also, any emperor who can time travel and is capable of <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/trajan-the-best-emperor-and-the-mystery-of-the-river-god.318843/page-4#post-3130606" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/trajan-the-best-emperor-and-the-mystery-of-the-river-god.318843/page-4#post-3130606">beating up Chuck Norris</a> deserves some respect for his coins.  <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/trajan-the-best-emperor-and-the-mystery-of-the-river-god.318843/page-2#post-3118142" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/trajan-the-best-emperor-and-the-mystery-of-the-river-god.318843/page-2#post-3118142">He also liked bacon</a>. …………………………………………………… 2 The Roman Taj-Mahal [ATTACH=full]860193[/ATTACH]Roman EmpireDiva Faustina I (Died ca. AD 141)AR Denarius, Rome mint, struck after AD 141Obv.: DIVA AVG FAVSTINA; bust right, hair elaborately styled.Rev.: DEDICATIO AEDIS; Hexa-style Temple of the Divine Faustina showing podium, statues etc.Ref.: RIC III 388, Rare Why it’s my Number 2:I have always found the story of Antoninus Pius and Faustina the Elder to be rather sad.  There are very few prominent couples from the ancient world that we hear about enjoying a happy marriage but A. Pius and Fuastina seem to have been one of them.  That makes it all the more sad that she died unexpectedly in AD 141 a full 20 years before he did.  In that 20 years he never remarried.  When the philosopher Fronto composed a panegyric in praise of Fuastina A. Pius commented on his work in a letter and replied: <blockquote>"I would sooner live with her in Gyara (in exile) than in the palace without her"</blockquote> It is unclear whether he is referring to his daughter Faustina or his late wife, but in either case his actions subsequent to Faustina’s death were consistent with such a sentiment.  He immediately had her deified by the Senate and then built a monument to his love for her right in the center of the world: The Roman Forum!  Specifically he built a temple where he could continue to worship her as a goddess for the rest of his life and spared no expense on its construction.  The columns are solid, monolithic pieces of expensive green marble, 46’ tall (taller than the Pantheon’s!), imported from Euboea in Greece with white marble capitals and bases.  The walls were faced in white marble and the whole thing was outfitted with sculptures, reliefs and artistic embellishments that would have been both beautiful and hugely expensive.  One can only hope that visiting the temple and offering sacrifices to his wife at her altar helped to ease his grief in later life. The middle ages did a number on this once beautiful and elegant monument but you can still see what’s left of it in the Roman Forum today housing the Church of San Larenzo in Miranda.  When I was in Rome earlier this year I started a sketch of this building and have since been working on a drawing.  It is not finished but it is the first time in a long time I have taken the time to sit down and <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/aside-from-coins-do-you-have-any-other-hobbies.290248/page-4#post-2635061" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/aside-from-coins-do-you-have-any-other-hobbies.290248/page-4#post-2635061">draw like I used to</a>. <img src="https://www.cointalk.com/media/temple-of-faustina.9732/full?lightbox=1&update=1544904694" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />Figure 7 - My half finished drawing of the Temple of Faustina One of the ways we can get an even better glimpse at the majesty of the temple is to take a look at (you guessed it)… the coins!  A. Pius issued coins to the divine Faustina in bronze, silver and gold.  Some of the most interesting show us the temple.  The temple is engraved with emphasis on a variety of details (the cult statue, the marble blocks, the pediment detail etc.).  It’s interesting to note that all the engravers of these coins would have had to have seen the temple in person.  It would have been hard to miss.  By looking at all the variants we can learn a great deal about the appearance of the temple.  My new example is a rare variety and in my opinion a very pleasing example. A happy epilogue:  When Antoninus died he was succeeded by his adopted son (also son-in-law) Marcus Aurelius, who was a pretty decent guy in his own right.  He had A. Pius deified and rededicated the Temple of Faustina to both A. Pius and Faustina together.  A. Pius would have been pleased, I think.  What’s more, he commissioned a column for A. Pius and on the base he had a sculpture of A. Pius and Faustina, standing side by side, being carried on the back of a genius into aeternitas.  So in this way, after being separated for 20 year, husband and wife were reunited in stone, and can still be seen together to this day. Good job Marcus. <img src="https://www.cointalk.com/media/antoninus-and-faustina.9733/full?lightbox=1&update=1544904694" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />Figure 8 - Sculpture of A. Pius and Faustina from the Column of Antoninus Pius …………………………………………………… 1 Commodus… You are Crazy. [ATTACH=full]860205[/ATTACH]Roman EmpireCommodus (AD 177-192)AR Denarius, Rome mint, struck ca. AD 192Dia.: 17 mmWt.: 2.66 gObv.: L AEL AVREL COMMA VG P FEL; Commodus bust right wearing lion skin on head.Rev.: HER-CVL RO-MAN AV-GV; Club in wreathRef.: RIC III 251, ScarceEx W.F. Stoeckin Collection. Acquired in the 1960s from Prof. L. De Nicola in Rome Why it’s my Number 1:I have wanted an example of this type for as long as I have been collecting Roman coins.  I have been looking for just the right example for years… I found it!  Commodus era coins are fairly well known for the poor quality portraits (particularly late in the reign like this one) so finding one of these with the right amount of eye appeal can be a challenge.  From a technical perspective there might be other examples that are higher grade, better legends etc., but I have not come across one that I like more for pure eye appeal.  From a style perspective I have only seen one example whose style I like as well as this one and that coin sold years ago at CNG for over $3,500 hammer!  When I first purchased this coin I was excited.  Then I got it in hand and I was ecstatic.  This coin is much better in-hand than the auction photo.  The auction house that I bought it from (thankfully) captured almost none of the beautiful toning and really undersold the detail. Add to that the fact that this coins comes with a killer provenance from a respected collection and you have yourself a #1 coin.  This is my second coin of the Stoeklin Collection and both of them are among my favorite pieces.  The hand written collector tickets are a fun bonus too. <img src="https://www.cointalk.com/media/stoecklin-collector-tag.9731/full?lightbox=1&update=1544904694" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />Figure 9 - Collector Ticket from the Stoeklin Collection The background:Commodus was crazy… hey don’t give me that look. He was crazy.  In fact, he may well have been the only emperor who can legitimately claim that title (other than <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_II" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_II" rel="nofollow">Justin II</a> of course). What is great about my new coin is that it spells out in unambiguous fashion what might have been explained away by artistic license and exaggeration in the sources.  The message based on the coins and evidence: Commodus thought he was Hercules and liked to make a violent and sadistic spectacle of himself in the Arena.  Combine this erratic behavior from the end of his reign with the negligence of the first part of his reign and it is easy to see how the decline of the empire under Commodus was an idea that was easy to popularize. One “fortunate” side effect of all this crazy is an absolutely stunning sculpture that was discovered 1874 in under the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horti_Lamiani" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horti_Lamiani" rel="nofollow">Horti Lamiani</a>.  I was fortunate to get to visit this sculpture in the Capitoline Museum this year.  The similarities between the statue and coins are evident.  Comparing the style of my coin to the statue gives further vindication that this particular die was well executed and as much in line with the vision Commodus had for himself as any I have seen. <img src="https://www.cointalk.com/media/commodus-as-hercules.9723/full?lightbox=1&update=1544894554" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />Figure 10 - I took these pictures at the Capitoline Museum.  This sculpture was probably one of the most impressive things on display in that fantastic collection. …………………………………………………… Well that’s it for my 2018 favorites my friends.  I was pretty heavy on the Roman side this year (7 of 10), specifically on Denarii (6 of 10).  I would say over half of my top 10 are rare to scarce and exactly half were purchased primarily because of the reverse. All comments and thoughts are welcome, particularly about the order I placed them in.  Please post coins and examples that are in any way relevant or irrelevant.[/QUOTE]

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