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Message:: [QUOTE="happy_collector, post: 8099302, member: 100070"]I just received notice from Heritage that my recent Faustina Senior pickup from the December 5 auction will arrive soon. I guess it is a good time to finalize my top 2021 top 10. 2021 is a fruitful year for me. Although I got outbid many times and overpaid on many coins, I find myself filling up my coin tray pretty fast. My tiny ancient coins inventory has nearly doubled during this year. I have around 20 coins that are on my top list this year. Tough decision to shrink into 10. Therefore, instead of one long scrolling list, I decided to make two Top 10 lists. The first is this list, consisting of my silver and gold pickups. The other one would all be on my bronze pieces. I try not to focus on collecting a single theme this year. At first I did, but I got outbid so much that I abandoned the idea. I continue to look for Faustina coins. I finally picked up 2 silver Syracuse coins (while got outbid on 12 others). This year’s coins will likely form the “backbone” of my coin collection. Next year, I plan to concentrate only on a few themes, such as empress portraits, or coins with mythic creatures. Without more sidetracking, here are my top 10 pickups <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie50" alt=":happy:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> this year: 10. The Honorius solidus is my 2nd latest pickup of the 10 listed here. I recalled reading [USER=110350]@DonnaML[/USER] article regarding various bending leg design on the captives of this coin design. That interested me a lot. So, I picked this one up when it is offered at Heritage weeks ago. [ATTACH=full]1408166[/ATTACH] Honorius. AV solidus.Western Roman Empire. 395-423 AD. 20mm, 4.33 gm, 6h. Obv: D N HONORI-VS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Honorius right, seen from front. Rev: VICTORI-A AVGGG, emperor standing relaxed right, left foot on captive with bent knees and large bust, vexillum in right hand, Victory on globe in left; R-V across fields, COMOB inexergue. RIC X 1321. NGC AU 5/5 - 4/5.Heritage, Nov 2021. 9. I am unfamiliar with the history of this coin. I just like the coin’s large size and shiny surface. It is not a thick coin, so it is nice that this example has no flan crack. Overall a nice gold/electrum piece. I think I’ll dig up more about this coin’s background history during my winter break. [ATTACH=full]1408167[/ATTACH]AV/EL Histamenon Nomisma Michael VII Ducas. Constantinople AD 1071-1078 Obv: Facing half-length bust of Christ Pantocrator, with cruciform nimbus, five pellets within each bar; barred IC - XC in right and left fields;Rev: + MIXAHΛ RACIΛO Δ, crowned facing half-length bust of Michael, wearing loros and saccos, holding jeweled vexillum with pellet on shaft in right hand and globus cruciger in left31mm, 4.37 gSear 1868. DOC 2d 8. I like the reverse design of this solidus. During the first few months of 2021, I had only one Byzantine solidus in my collection, so it is a great area to acquire this piece. Never thought back then I’ll be picking up more solidus along this year. Anyway, it is nice to have an example of Eastern (this coin) and Western (#10 coin) Roman Empire coin side-by-side. [ATTACH=full]1408168[/ATTACH]Arcadius, AV solidus. Constantinople, 402-403 AD. 4.40g.Obv: diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear and shieldRev: ARCADI-VS P F AVG // Constantinople seated facing, head right, with right foot on prow, holding scepter and victory on globe, CONCORDI-A AVGG E, much original lusterNGC Choice AU, 5/5 - 4/5.  RIC-7, Depeyrot-55/1ex Chaudhury Collection. 7.  I love the stern-looking face of Euthydemos I. Like the muscles shown on the face. The reverse design of a relaxing Herakles is pretty nice as well. A large-size shiny coin is always a plus in my coin tray. [ATTACH=full]1408170[/ATTACH]Euthydemos I Theos Megas AR Tetradrachm. Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. 215-210 BC. Obv: Diademed head to right, with elderly featuresRev: Herakles seated to left on lion skin draped over rocks, holding club set on right leg; BAΣIΛEΩΣ and monogram toright, EYΘYΔHMOY to left. Bopearachchi 12A; Bopearachchi & Rahman 113.16.47 g, 30 mmROMA, 2021 6. Here is another nice-looking Seleukid coin, IMHO. I also like the muscle on the face. According to the coin dealer, this coin had been hidden in a secret compartment of the previous owner’s Victorian table for the past 100+ years. “Rediscovered” by a furniture dealer and later resold to Pavlos. [ATTACH=full]1408171[/ATTACH]PTOLEMAIC EMPIRE. PHOENICIA.Ptolemy VI Philometer, 1st sole reign 172-173 BC.AR Tetradrachm.  ARADUS Mint. Obv: Diademed bust right of Ptolemy I wearing aegis.Rev: ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΠΟΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, in front year ΠΗ (year 88 = 172/3BC ).13.89g, 29mm, 12h Sv.1110, SNG Cop.546, Noeske.-.Pavlos Pavlou, 2021. I just found out I need to resize two of the first five coins. I'll add to this thread a little later today... [/QUOTE]

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