Dream coin

Mecklenburg-Wismar belong to the Wendischer Münzverein, i.e. the union of cities in north eastern Germany that minted coins to the same denominations and standards. The union was formed in several sessions or "Rezessen" when new members joined. In the recess of 1379 Wismar joined the union of Hamburg and Lübeck, which had been established in 1255.

 

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It is actually neither a cow nor a bull, but an aurochs. Aurochs still existed when the coin was minted. The last exemplar was killed in Poland in 1627.

 

That is great to read! I'd love to see them
As for me, I spoiled myself and finally acquired mine (at least the one that inspired this post, that is):

 

Yeah, but why not set your sites on something a little higher
I remember watching that thing sell some 6 months ago for 700,000 CHF!!!
But what a glorious coin to have... for the price of a small mansion.

 

There is no harm in me revealing my dream coin because competition is irrelevant... there is only one known example as far as I am aware and it is in the British Museum. (Plus that pesky money issue)

Tissaphernes tetradrachm.

That’s awesome! I am also a Kenneth Harl fan.

I also noticed that when I downloaded this lecture series. I thought it was very comical. It’s pretty obvious Dr. Harl wasn’t involved in designing the cover art.

 

Sure, here are my dream-come-true-Sestertii of last year (none of them are perfect, but these are all very rare in Sestertius denomination):


Obverse: [PLOTI]NA AVG IMP [TRAIANI], diademed and draped bust of Plotina right, with elaborate high coiffure.
Reverse: [FIDES AVGVST S C], Fides standing facing, head right, holding ears of grain downwards in right hand and dish of fruit on uplifted left.
Orichalcum sestertius, Rome AD 112
34.56 millimeters / 27.97 grams
References: Woytek (Die Reichsprägung des Kaisers Traianus, 98-117) p. 498, 711 and pl. 124 (48 specimens cited); RIC 740; BMCRE 1080-82 and pl. 44, 5; CBN IV, p. 94, 730-31 and pl. 41; Strack 441; Cohen 12; Hill (The Undated Coins of Rome, A.D. 98-148) 550; Banti (I Grandi Bronzi Imperiali) 1 (30 specimens cited); Cayon (Los Sestercios del Imperio Romano) pp. 566-7, 1; Sear 3376.


Obverse: MANLIA•SCA[N] — TILLA•AVG, draped bust of Manlia Scantilla right, her hair waved in vertical lines and fastened in large bun behind.
Reverse: [IVNO REGINA] (around) S — C (in field), Juno standing left, holding patera and sceptre, peacock at feet.
Orichalcum sestertius, Rome AD 193 (April-May)
29.96 millimeters / 20.89 grams
References: Woodward (“The Coinage of Didius Julianus and his Family,” in Num. Chron. 1961), obv. die 1/rev. die G; RIC (Didius Julianus) 18a and pl. IV, 1 (same obv. die) = BMCRE (Didius Julianus) 32 and pl. 4, 4; Banti (I Grandi Bronzi Imperiali) 2 (noting 61 specimens); Cayon 2; Cohen 6; Sear 6083


Obverse: DIDIA CLA - [RA AVG] draped bust of Didia Clara right, her hair waved in vertical lines and fastened in large bun behind.
Reverse: [HILAR TEMPOR / S C] Hilaritas standing left, holding long palm frond and cornucopia
Orichalcum sestertius, Rome AD 193 (April-May)
27.80 millimeters / 17,79 grams
References: RIC (Didius Julianus) 20 = BMCRE (Didius Julianus) 38; Banti (I Grandi Bronzi Imperiali) 1 (citing 39 specimens); Cayon 1; Cohen 4; Sear 6087


Obverse: IVLIA PAVLA AVG, diademed and draped bust of Julia Paula right.
Reverse: CONCORDIA (around) S C (in exergue), Concordia seated left, holding patera and double cornucopiae, star in left field.
Orichalcum sestertius, Rome AD 220
29.97 millimeters / 21.46 grams
References: RIC (Elagabalus) 381 and pl. 7, 2; BMCRE (Elagabalus) 415 and pl. 96, 2; Banti (I Grandi Bronzi Imperiali) 7 (noting 36 specimens); Thirion (Les Monnaies d’Elagabale) 459; Cohen 8; Sear 7660.


Obverse: IVLIA AQVILIA SEVERA AVG, diademed and draped bust of Aquilia Severa right.
Reverse: CONCORDIA S C, Concordia standing left, sacrificing over lighted garlanded altar from patera held in extended right hand, and holding double cornucopiae at her side in left, star in right field.
Orichalcum sestertius, Rome AD 220/21
30.15 millimeters / 18,91 grams
References: RIC 390; BMCRE 433 and pl. 96, 8 (same obverse die); Cohen 4 (citing the Paris specimen, likely from the same dies); Banti (I Grandi Bronzi Imperiali) 4 (same obverse die, 25 specimens cited); Thirion (Le Monnayage d’Elagabale, 218-222) 482; Sear (Roman Coins & Their Values II) 7681.


Obverse: IMP CAES AEMILIANVS P F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Aemilian right.
Reverse: VOTIS / DECENNA / LIBVS / S C in four lines within laurel-wreath.
Bronze sestertius, Rome AD 253 (July/August-October)
28.81 millimeters / 11.22 grams
References: RIC IV, iii, p. 200, 54a; Cohen 67; Banti (I Grandi Bronzi Imperiali) 18 (same obverse die, 23 specimens cited); Hunter III, p. 276, 25 and pl. 88; Sear 9862.

I fear this will be the end of the line for me, because Sestertii of Britannicus, Agrippina Junior, Domitia, Plautilla, Valerian Junior and Saloninus are as far out of reach for me as medallions of the later soldier emperors. Sigh...