FurryFrog02's Top 10 - 2021 Edition

I have today off since Mrs Frog has several baby appointments and I'm staying home with the tadpoles. I figured it would be a good time to get my 2021 Top Ten list knocked out. I've had the choices in a folder for awhile now and have been moving coins in and out as the year went on. I just needed to put (digital) pen to (digital) paper.

2021 was the 3rd full year that we have been collecting ancients. It was also much different than every other year in that almost all the coins I purchased were bought online. I didn't focus on anything in particular. Just whatever struck my fancy and was within my budget. The problem with buying online vs in person is that it is way easier to just click a button and have a coin delivered to your doorstep. I purchased more coins than I probably should have though almost all all were less than $25. In fact, most were less than $10.

Another good thing about 2021 is that my daughter also started to get interested in collecting along with her older brother, FFIVN, and myself. She's just 5 and-a-half but is a quick study.

OK, enough of the boring stuff. You aren't here to read my ramblings. You're here to see coins...and coins you shall have!

In alphabetical order (because that's how my computer sorted them), here is my Top 10 List - 2021 Edition:

10.
This beauty was included in a box of goodies that @Theodosius sent to us several months back. There was a smörgåsbord of ancients, world coins, and a few US coins as well as some beautiful Leu catalogs (really giant coffee table books), and some other interesting coin and artefact catalogs (some older than me!). We are still working on sorting and identifying the contents of said box but this one stood out to me for its beautiful patina, well centered obverse and reverse, and of course...Nike.

Apameia, Syria
AE20
38-37 BC
Obverse: Bust of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet
Reverse: AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AYTONOMOY, Nike walking left, holding wreath and palm branch. Seleukid era date EOΣ in left field, MH in exergue


9.
This coin was incorrectly identified as Constantine IV. A quick look at the seller's pictures showed that it was in fact Constantine VI and his mother, Irene. I was quite happy to get a coin with an image of Irene on it for quite cheap. It was also nice to get busts of Constantine VI, Leo III, Leo IV, and Constantine V as well. Quite a crowded coin!

Constantine VI and Irene
AE Follis
780-797 AD
Obverse: Crowned busts of Constantine VI, unbearded, wearing chlamys, holding cross on globe, on left and Irene, wearing loros, holding cross-headed sceptre, on right, dot between their faces
Reverse: Crowned busts of Leo III, with short beard, wearing loros, on left, Constantine V, with short beard, wearing loros, in centre and Leo IV, wearing chlamys, on right, two dots to left and right, all above horizontal line beneath which is large M, X to left, N to right, A below


8.
While not technically "ancient", this Edward I Long Cross Penny was the first full-sized English hammered coin I purchased. Being able to hold a coin with the historical significance of Edward I "Longshanks/Hammer of the Scots" was pretty amazing. The fact that it cost less than a meal at McDonalds was even more amazing. It was also the first coin purchased from overseas (not including Canada). It came from Germany and the envelope was covered in cool German stamps so it was a win/win/win.

Edward I
1307-1309 AD
Long Cross Penny
London
Obverse: Facing crowned portrait of King Edward I, royal title around.
Lettering: EDWAR ANGL DNS HYB
Reverse: Long cross extending to edge of flan, 3 pellets and part of mint name in each angle.
Lettering: CIVI TAS LON DON


7.
I originally was interested in another coin from this seller but when I saw the bust of Serapis on this coin I decided it had to be mine. I paid a bit more than normal, This was $27, but for a hefty coin depicting an emperor, his scheming grandmother, and a glorious bearded god, it was money well spent!

Elagabalus and Julia Maesa
218-222 AD
Marcianopolis
AE27
Obverse: AYT K M AYΡ ANTΩNEINOC AYΓ IOYΛIA MAICA AYΓO, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Elagabalus right, facing diademed and draped bust of Julia Maesa left.
Reverse: YΠ IOYΛ ANT CEΛEYKOYMAΡKIANOΠOΛITΩN, bust of Serapis right. E in left field


6.
Another Elagabalus...Why did such a crazy guy have such beautiful coins? The seller's pictures showed this coin as being a dull brown, almost like the patina had been stripped. I was pretty happy when it arrived and a nice deep green patina. What made this coin even cooler, is that it is an obverse die match with coins belonging to @TIF and @Ancient Aussie .

Elagabalus
218-222 AD
Moesia Inferior, Nicopolis ad Istrum
AE24
Obverse: AVT K M AYΡH ANTΩNEINOC, Laureate head right
Reverse: YΠ NOBIOY ΡOYΦOY NIKOΠOΛITΩN ΠΡOC ICTΡON, Nike standing left, holding wreath and palm


5.
Switching it up a bit, here is a coin from Ceylon. I've always loved these cool octo-man coins and was looking for one in my price range. I managed to get 6 for $22 that included 3 different rulers. They were listed as "Roman Figural Artefacts". The seller is not well versed in ancient coins. My gain

Queen Lilavati
1197-1211 AD
Ceylon
1 Massa
Obverse: King, standing upon a lotus stalk, holding a lamp in his left hand and a flower in his right, a large lotus flower in field to right, all heavily stylized
Reverse: Seated king facing right, left arm raised upward, holding a shell, all heavily stylized. Nagari legend (‘Sri Ra ja Li la va ti’) to right


4.
This guy was cheap(less than $15), big (22mm), and had a really cool reverse. What more could a guy ask for? After buying this coin, I caught a bug for Tetrarchy folles. This was my gateway drug which lead to me buying 4 or 5 other folles from the Tetrarchs.

Maximinus II
312 AD
Follis
Antioch
Obverse: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG; laureate head right.
Reverse: SOLI INVICTO; Sol standing left in long robe, right hand raised, left hand holding head of Serapis; crescent over I in left field.
Mintmark: ANT


3.
Another "not technically ancient" coin but I couldn't say no to the Byzantine inspired design, the low price (sub $20), and the opportunity to explore another area of history that I didn't know much about - Venice and all of its many Doges.

Pietro Gradenigo, 49th Doge of Venice
1289-1311 AD
Grosso
Obverse: PE GRADONICO/DVX/.S.M.VENETI on left, St. Mark on right, banner between them
Reverse: IC - XC Christ enthroned, holding book of Gospels


2.
This coin was a gift from @Shea19 and was sent along with my winnings from @Severus Alexander 's AMCC3 auction. Until this point, there was only one Ptolemaic coin in the FF collection. This was a welcome second. The depiction of Isis on the obverse is beautiful. In fact, once I told my daughter that it was a goddess, she claimed the coin as her own and decided that she wanted to collect coins with women on them since "There's too many coins with boys on them".

Ptolemy VI Philometer
180-164 BC
AE27
Obverse: Head of Isis right
Reverse: ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing left, wing open, on thunderbolt


1.
This guy was one of my last purchases of the year. When FFIVN and my daughter went to the Baltimore Whitman show (after a two year hiatus) there were slim pickings as far as ancients went for collectors in our price range. One table (not an ancients dealer) had a couple of pick boxes and among them was this Titus Judaea Capta. For $5 you better believe I scooped it right up.

Titus
79-81 AD
Caesarea Maritima
AE21
Obverse: ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΤΙΤΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ, laureate head of Titus, right
Reverse: ΙΟΥΔΑΙΑΣ ΕΑΛWΚΥΙΑΣ, Nike standing to right., foot on helmet, inscribing a shield set on a palm tree


Please feel free to vote on your favorites and comment if you so choose.
Thanks for looking and sharing in the Frog family ancient collecting journey this year. We look forward to sharing and learning with you all in 2022!

 

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#6 and #1 lead the list for me. I believe many sellers who can read would have asked 10x for #1. I'm not a Judaea specialist but there are quite a few out there and many of the coins are no better looking. Many letters are weak but most are there.

 

Voted for the Venetian piece, a real deal for under 20$.

 

Very nice selection!.....I went for #5, #8 and #1....But also do like that cool looking Elagabalus/Nike!....Congrats on an excellent 12 months collecting.
Here's my Lilavati..

 

So many nice coins, it was really hard to choose! I picked #'s 1 (Titus), 2 (Ptolemy VI with Isis), and 8 (Edward I). (I still regret having to sell almost all of my English hammered coins.) I do agree with your daughter that "there's too many coins with boys on them." Like her, I'm always happy to buy a coin that features an empress or goddess instead. And if she ever starts to think when she's older that coin collecting is just for boys, please make sure you remind her that plenty of girls like coins too!

 

You had a great year, @furryfrog02! Lots of nice coins here and it was hard to choose. I like the Constantine VI/Irene because, well, Irene, and the Elabalus/Maesa/Serapis provincial. Your #1 and my #1 were the same -- I'd love to have a Judea Capta issue like that.

 

Really nice coins @furryfrog02 - and many great pick-ups, especially for the price. I sort of feel ashamed that I am paying too much to build my collection when with a keen eye, you have done very well.

 

Nice selections, @furryfrog02

I voted for coins #1, 2 and 7. Your Titus Judaea coin is a great pickup. Both #2 and #7 have great portraits.

 

Great coins @furryfrog02 and you are so very lucky that your daughter and son are interested in coins! You are doing a great job.

My favorites:
#2: Ptolemy VI - so beautiful
#3: the Grosso Pietro Gradenigo, very nice
#6: Elagabalus & Nike, what a portrait of Elagabalus!!!

 

That's a really nice group for 2021, with variety and interesting types. #10 has a nice obverse strike, along with appealing dark brown and earthen patina. I also like the strike and contrast of #1. #6 is also very appealing. As an honorable mention, #7 has a really nice reverse.

 

F.F., You picked 10 interesting coins in your eclectic selection . I voted for #1, 9, & 7, in that order . The gift from Shea19, #2 deserves more than an honorable mention . Great score on the Judaea Capta bronze ! The bronze of Irene & Constantine VI is a great addition too. Her cunning & cruelty are unmatched by any other woman in Byzantine history . The portrait of Serapis on #7 is outstanding . You're doing well for being at the hobby for only 3 years .

 

I honestly don't feel bad about getting a good deal on that Titus. The seller in question is local to me and they are incredibly rude and way overpriced on everything (except this coin!)

 

You and @TIF are shining examples of women collector's in this hobby. I'm glad that you are around to set an example

 

Eh, nothing to be ashamed for. The coins you have shared here are amazing. I am a bottom feeder when it comes to ancient collecting. I have to look long and hard to find something worthwhile to add to our collection that is within my low budget.

 

Great diversified set of coins, but love the detail and patina on your Maximinus II, congrats on a great year of collecting.

 

So happy to see that you (and especially your daughter) enjoyed the Ptolemy/Isis bronze so much, happy to have sent that one your way!

My favorite is definitely #7, love those confronted bust types and the excellent Serapis reverse. I also really like the Edward I penny (I’m going to need to buy one of those now), and the Elagabalus bronze with the nice green patina. A great group!

 

I went with 1, 2 and 7. $5 for that Titus is a great bargain! I've always likes coins with Isis on them and that's a nice one. Really like the reverse of the Elagabalus+Maesa too - perfectly centered and with an excellent Serapis bust!

 

My favourite is the Venetian Grosso, really strong busts for that price!

 

You're very kind. But let's not forget @cmezner, among others!

 

Well I didn't know that! One more outstanding CT member for my daughter to look up to