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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;David Atherton, post: 2296275, member: 82616&quot;]Inspired by the wonderful year end lists of other members, I thought it would be fun to figure out what my top ten are and post them here as well. Several coins are still winging their way to me, but none are in danger of making the list.</p><p><br /></p><p>Arranged pretty much in order. The top 5 were not difficult to pick, the other 5 were.</p><p><br /></p><p>10.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]461049[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Vespasian</b></p><p>AR Tetradrachm</p><p>Alexandria mint, 69 AD</p><p>RPC 2403 (9 spec.)</p><p><br /></p><p>I&#039;ve always been a sucker for Vespasian&#039;s first issue at Alexandria. These were the first coins struck for him anywhere in the empire in the summer of 69. And just look at that pinched portrait!</p><p><br /></p><p>9.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]461050[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Vespasian</b></p><p>AR Denarius</p><p>Tarraco mint, 70 AD</p><p>RIC 1302 (R), BMC 351A, RSC 5</p><p><br /></p><p>A very rare dynastic type from Spain, often misattributed to Rome. Despite being a bit rough, the wonderful Tarraco style portraits shine through.</p><p><br /></p><p>8.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]461053[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Vespasian</b></p><p>AR Tetradrachm</p><p>Antioch mint (for Cyprus), 75-76 AD</p><p>RPC 1801 (16 spec.)</p><p><br /></p><p>The gloriously gluttonous portrait allows this one to make the list. I love it!</p><p><br /></p><p>7.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]461054[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Domitian</b></p><p>AR Tetradrachm</p><p>Antioch mint, 88-89 AD</p><p>RPC 1978 (7 spec.)</p><p><br /></p><p>I acquired some really great Domitian tets during the course of the year, any one of them could&#039;ve made the cut. This one with its beautiful chocolate patina will have to represent all of the other also-rans.</p><p><br /></p><p>6.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]461056[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Vespasian</b></p><p>AR Tetradrachm</p><p>Antioch mint, 69-70 AD</p><p>RPC 1937 (4 spec.)</p><p><br /></p><p>I love this portrait style. Probably engraved and/or struck in Alexandria for circulation in Syria. Better in hand (aren&#039;t they all!).</p><p><br /></p><p>5.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]461057[/ATTACH] <b>Vespasian</b></p><p>AR Tetradrachm</p><p>Antioch mint, 69-70 AD</p><p>RPC 1944 (4 spec.)</p><p><br /></p><p>The ornate obverse makes this coin for me. Not to mention the wonderful portrait of Titus on the reverse. A doozy of a double feature.</p><p><br /></p><p>4.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]461058[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Domitian</b></p><p>AR Denarius</p><p>Rome mint, 84 AD (second issue)</p><p>RIC 186 (R2), BMC 48 , RSC 352</p><p><br /></p><p>With all the tets making the list, one would think I forgot about the denarii, I have not. An exquisite denarius struck at a time when talented craftsman were producing Domitian&#039;s silver issues. Say what you will about Domitian as a ruler, he did care about his coinage.</p><p><br /></p><p>3.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]461059[/ATTACH] <b>Domitian</b></p><p>AR Denarius</p><p>Rome mint, 96 AD</p><p>RIC 820 (R2), BMC - , RSC</p><p><br /></p><p>There are not too many coins you can date to just a few days, this is one of them. Struck in the last days of Domitian&#039;s reign. Needless to say it is super rare. If it had been properly attributed I would&#039;ve paid several times more for it.</p><p><br /></p><p>2.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]461060[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Vespasian</b></p><p>AR Denarius</p><p>Rome mint, 76 AD</p><p>RIC 853 (R2), BMC p. 34 note, RSC 374</p><p><br /></p><p>So rare I never thought I would see one of these in trade anytime soon. Probably one of the finest portraits of Vespasian I have on a denarius. A coin to treasure.</p><p><br /></p><p>1.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]461061[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Titus</b></p><p>AR Cistophorus (3 denarii)</p><p>Rome mint (for Asia), 80-81 AD</p><p>RIC 515 (R), BMC spec. acquired 1948, RSC - , RPC 860 (3 spec.)</p><p><br /></p><p>I already mooned over this one enough last week. Not just a coin of the year, but one I would consider as coin of the decade.</p><p><br /></p><p>2015 was good to me and it will be hard to beat in 2016. I didn&#039;t realise until I complied this list just how many rare holes were filled in the collection. The runner-ups on their own would make any other year end list.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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