Happy_Collector Top 10 Coins for 2020

Hi everyone, here are my top 10 ancient coins for the year of 2020. This is my first time putting together such a list. I had a few ancients in the past, but have not really looked into the different denominations and designs until this year. I only learnt about Sestertius a few months ago. Reading CT forum articles is a huge help in expanding my knowledge base on ancients. Thanks for all the interesting articles.

I decided to first satisfy my interest in classical Attica Owl in 2020, and then move to other areas of interest in 2021. This is why you’ll see a number of Owl tetradrachms in this top 10 list. I have also picked up a number of inexpensive denarii this year on different emperors, trying to form a loose “portrait-type” collection (no chronological order though, just different portraits side by side). Plus a Faustina Junior hairstyle side collection.


# 10. SYRACUSE. Hiketas II 287-278 BC. AE
Silver Syracuse Tetradrachm are out of my collecting budget. I am getting a bronze version instead to enjoy the artistry and beauty of Syracuse coins.

SYRACUSE. Hiketas II 287-278 BC. AE ( 7.26g, 24mm )
Obv: Head of Kore left, grain ear behind.
Rev: Charioteer in biga right, star above.
SNG Cop.802, SNG ANS 760.
Ex. Pavlos S. Pavlou


# 9. ATTICA, Athens. Circa 500/490-485/0 BC. AR Tetradrachm
Just dipping my toes into the archaic era. Archaic tetradrachms without test cut are out of my budget also, so I don’t mind an off-center Owl reverse as long as the Athena portrait is ok. At least there is no test cut.

ATTICA, Athens. Circa 500-485BC. AR Tetradrachm, 21.5mm, 17.48 g.
Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right
Rev: Owl standing right; olive spray behind.
Seltman Group M; Asyut Group IVe; HGC 4, 1590.


#8. Faustina II (wife of M. Aurelius) Æ Sestertius. Rome
I am looking for a thick Faustina Junior Sestertius. This one fits well with a fine obverse portrait. Reverse just ok. Maybe I’ll get an upgrade in the future with same reverse but different obverse (no stephane maybe). It is also my first win from Roma auction.

Faustina II (wife of M. Aurelius) Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 161-176.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust to right, wearing stephane
Rev: Fecunditas standing to left, with six children. S-C across fields.
RIC III 1674 (Aurelius); BMC (Aurelius) 952. 27.57g, 32mm, 6h.


#7. Faustina II Æ 23mm. Hadrianopolis, Thrace.
Like the brass surface, and the obverse young-looking portrait. Another win from the same Roma auction.

Faustina II (wife of M. Aurelius) Æ 23mm
Hadrianopolis, Thrace. AD 161-176. 6.63g, 23mm, 6h.
Obv: ΦAVCTЄINA CЄBACTH, draped bust to right
Rev: Homonia standing to left, holding patera and cornucopiae.
RPC IV.1 Online 3916 (temporary); Jurukova 69-70; Varbanov 3227.


#6. MYSIA. Pergamum. AR cistophorus
Nice large size coin. I like the reverse design. Nice quality to see some of the snakes’ scales.

MYSIA. Pergamum. Ca. 166-160 BC. AR cistophorus. 29mm, 12.82 gm
Obv: Serpent emerging from cista mystica; all within ivy wreath
Rev: Bow in bowcase decorated with aphlaston, flanked by two serpents; ΠΕΡΓ civic monogram to left, horizontal caduceus right to right.
Kleiner-Noe Series 7.


I'll add coins #1 to 5 little later. Need to pause a bit...

 

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I love Nr. 7! Great yellowish patina and style!

 

#5. ATTICA. Ca. 440-404 BC. AR tetradrachm. Full Crest.
I decided to get a full crest to satisfy my love of classical Owl, and move onto other areas of interest.

ATTICA. Athens. 440-404 BC. AR tetradrachm
26mm, 17.17 gm, 3h. Full Crest.
Obv: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three laurel leaves and vine scroll
Rev: AΘE, owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent moon behind, all within incuse square.
HGC 4, 1597. SNG Copenhagen 31-40. Kroll 8.


#4. ATTICA. 475-465 BC. AR tetradrachm.
Starr Group II.
Instead of looking for a Starr IV, I decided to jump “up” to Starr II, as it has the same hairstyle as Starr IV, but a different Owl.

ATTICA. Athens. Ca. 475-465 BC. AR tetradrachm
(23mm, 17.15 gm, 12h).
Obv: Head of Athena right with frontal eye and 'archaic smile', hair drawn in wavy line across forehead
Rev: AΘE, owl standing right; olive sprig with berry and small crescent moon behind, all within deep incuse square.
HGC 4, 1593. Starr Group II.


#3. Faustina Junior AE Sestertius 161-164 A.D. Rome Mint
I like this coin having a rather complete Faustina Junior hairstyle. Portrait is quite nice as well. Clear legend is not my big concern (portrait style is), so this coin is great for me.

AE Sestertius 20.90g. 30mm. 161-164 A.D. Rome Mint
Obv: Draped bust, r., with circlet. FAVSTINA AVGVSTA
Rev: Juno standing l., holding patera and sceptre, peacock at feet; S-C to either side.
RIC III 1645


#2. ATTICA. Athens. Ca. 465-455 BC. AR tetradrachm.
Starr Group V-A
I like the archaic smile on this coin. I have another Late Transitional issue having a similar Archaic smile. However, I think this one is more “classic” than the transitional, so this one is on the list instead.

ATTICA. Athens. Ca. 465-455 BC. AR tetradrachm
24mm, 17.11 gm, 6h
Obv: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet with three laurel leaves and vine scroll
Rev: AΘE, owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent moon behind, all within incuse square.
HGC 4, 1596. Starr Group VA.


#1. Alexander III the Great (336-323 BC). AV stater
I am looking for a Greek gold coin within my budget, and I think this stater works well. I believe this one is a lifetime stater, so it is a plus.

MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Alexander III the Great (336-323 BC). AV stater (18mm, 8.58 gm, 7h).
Lifetime issue of Sardes, ca. 330/25-324/3 BC.

Obv: Head of Athena right, hair falling loose and over left shoulder, upswept at temple, wearing pendant earring, necklace and triple-crested Corinthian helmet pushed back on head, long parallel crest ends
Rev: ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, Nike standing facing, head left, wreath in outstretched right hand, stylis cradled in left arm; griffin head and neck left in left field. Price 2533.

Hope everybody have a great and safe December.

 

Lovely group, and I am enamoured with your Faustina picks.

 

Talk about a grail coin! ATG gold stater. And it is beauuuuutiful!
Certainly love everything else you have on here as well. Athenian Owls are all beauties and from different periods in Athens makes each more desirable. Coingrats on the great year

 

Prior to the recent hoard, adding each of those Starr group examples would have been a many-years long task: congratulations on crossing them off with nice examples of each type!

 

Gorgeous coins. Well done, @happy_collector .

 

Nice haul of owls. I know more of them have come onto the market recently but you sure picked out some excellent examples. Excellent Faustina's as well.

 

Nos. 1 and 2 are more than fantastic. And I love the three Faustina II's!

 

You have 10 super coins. No 9 is my favorite.

 

I LOVE the Faustinas!

 

I had a feeling that you would chime in!

 

Absolutely fantastic group of Iconic coins, but the gold Alexander is very impressive indeed, congrats on a great year of collecting.

 

I liked most the Owl in number 2. Hope Happy 2021.

 

Number 10 is my favorite.# 10. SYRACUSE. Hiketas II 287-278 BC. AE

Beautiful collection.

 

What a wonderful group!.....Yep the owls' are lovely, the gold is a stunner but I realy like #10 and #3 super coins!

 

Beautiful selection, but where are the Faustinas and Owls ?
Just kidding, I like them all, with special mention to #8's portrait, and #5 with its full crest. Well done

Q

 

Lovely array of coins, congratulations! I would pick 1/3 as my favorites.
John