Jeremy's top 10 of 2021

2021 has flown by, and I can’t believe it’s already time for another top 10 post. I’ve shifted my collecting focus mostly to Greek and Roman provincial, though I did pick up a couple of Roman imperial coins that didn’t make this list. Because of the crazy auction prices, I picked up only 15 or 20 coins in total over the year, while simultaneously paring down certain categories in my collection that I’ve become less interested in. Overall, I’d say it was a successful year.

I hope you are all well, staying warm, and enjoying some time off as we enter the holiday season!

- Jeremy



10 - Pontos, Amisos, Mithradates VI Eupator Bronze Æ 28
85-65 BC
Obverse: Head of Athena right, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet, decorated with griffin.
Reverse: AMI-ΣO[Y], Perseus standing facing, wearing pointed helmet and himation, holding harpa in right hand and head of Medusa in left, whose decapitated body lies at his feet, monogram to left and right.
References: SNG BM Black Sea 1166-8; SNG Copenhagen 137.
28mm; 19.15g



9 - Lesbos, Methymna AR Hemiobol
350/30-250/40 BC
Obverse: Facing head of Silenos.
Reverse: Tortoise in linear circle within shallow incuse circle.
References: SNG Copenhagen -; SNG von Aulock -; Traité II 2262; Hoover HGC 6, 901; Franke, Münzprägung 18b.
7.3mm; 0.36g

This is the smallest coin in my collection - it was a bit hard to photograph and is much nicer in-hand.



8- Sicily, Syracuse, Agathokles, Æ Hemidrachm
317-289 BC
Obverse: ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ; Diademed head of Apollo left; Palladion behind, AI below.
Reverse: Gorgoneion at center of triskeles of human legs with winged feet.
References: BAR issue 5; CNS 121; SNG ANS 546; Calciati 121 DS i; HGC 2, 1459.
20mm; 7.1g



7 - Lycian League, Masikytes AR Hemidrachm
28-18 BC
Obverse: Λ-Y; Laureate head of Apollo right.
Reverse: M-A to left and right of lyre, tripod in lower right field, all within incuse square.
References: RPC I 3310; Troxell, Lycian, Period IV, Series 6, 110, SNG Von Auclok 4330.
15x18mm; 1.57g



6 - Thrace, Maroneia AR Triobol
398-347 BC
Obverse: Forepart of horse to left, H-P flanking.
Reverse: Vine-branch with bunch of grapes, M-A across fields, all within dotted square border and incuse square.
References: Schönert-Geiss 197; BMC 33; HGC 3.2, 1534; McClean 3964.
Size: 14mm; 3.0g

I'm not sure what the under-type is for this - any ideas?



5 - Islands off Ionia, Chios, Pseudo-autonomous issue, time of Trajan to Hadrian, 3 Assaria
98-138 AD
Obverse: ΤΡΙΑ / ΑCCΑΡΙΑ; Sphinx seated right, lifting right forepaw over prow of galley.
Reverse: Χ-Ι/Ω-Ν Apollo, on left, holding phiale in his right hand, and Dionysos, on right, holding kantharos in his right hand, standing facing either side of altar.
References: Mavrogordato 106; RPC III 1901.
30mm; 14.80 g



4- Kings of Macedon, style of Philip II AR tetradrachm
359-336 BC
Minted at Amphipolis
Struck Circa 323-315 under Antipater, Polyperchon, or Kassander.
Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus right.
Reverse: ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ; Youth, holding palm frond, riding horse right; below, trident-head control mark to right.
References: Le Rider, Pl. 31, 213; Le Rider 46/1; SNG ANS 691.
24mm; 14.48g




3 - Egypt, Alexandria, Gallienus potin tetradrachm
253-268 AD
Struck in RY 14 = 266/7 AD
Obverse: AΥT K Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC CЄB; Laureate and cuirassed bust of Gallienus to right.
Reverse: L / I - Δ Draped bust of Serapis to right, wearing kalathos; to right, palm frond.
References: Dattari (Savio) 5261. Emmett 3829.14. K&G 90.95.
23mm; 10.72g

This tetradrachm has an excellent depiction of Serapis in fine style, though the obverse is a bit rough.



2 - Attica, Athens AR tetradrachm
440-404 BC
Mid-mass coinage issue
Obverse: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three laurel leaves and vine scroll.
Reverse: AΘE; Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig with berry and crescent moon behind, all within incuse square.
References: HGC 4, 1597. SNG Copenhagen 31-40. Kroll 8.
27 mm; 17.22 g



1 - Islands Off Caria, Kos, AR tetradrachm
Circa 350-345 BC
Struck under magistrate Athamas
Obverse: Bearded head of Herakles to right, wearing lion’s skin headdress.
Reverse: Veiled head of Demeter left; AΘAMAΣ to right, KΩION below.
References: Karl 350. Pixodarus, phase 4, 12 (O7/P7).
29mm; 15.17g

 

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I prefer #9. I like small turtles.

 

Wooooosh!...A very nice selection!....Love the #8, #6 and #4...
But are all super looking coins! Congrats on a really impressive 12 months of collecting!

 

Nice. I really like the Serapis portrait on the Gallienus tet as a devotee of the coins of Roman Egypt. Fine style.

 

Very nice coins! I'd have to go with the Kos tet. Interesting version of Herakles (with a beard).

 

Agreed, though I wonder how someone in antiquity would have used such a tiny coin and not dropped it.

 

Apparently some people kept these tiny coins in their mouths.

somewhere there a Greek comedy with a scene of a guy getting scammed at the market when he puts the “coins” in his mouth and realizes they are fish scales

 

What a wonderful year!
I love your #1, 4 and 9! But all are excellent additions
I picked up some of those this year as well:

 

Thanks! Roman tets with Egyptian themes is a fun collecting area and one I want to explore more.

It makes sense that someone with poor vision would have to taste-test their money

I'll bet ancient latrine sites are good places to metal detect. In those days everyone was just one back slap away from swallowing their lunch money.

 

Absolutely fantastic all ten, but if I had to pick one it would be Philip II TET, great detail and toning, congrats on what looks like a great year.

 

I LOVE that Sphinx!!!

 

Very nice selections, @jb_depew.

My favorites are #4, 9 and 10.
I like the cute little portrait of your Lesbos hemi-obol

 

A wonderful group. #s 9, 7, and 4 for my favorites -- the tortoise, the lyre, and the youth on horseback.

 

You have some seriously beautiful coins there. If I had to choose I'd probably pick the Silenos hemiobol, the Agathokles bronze and the Philip II tetradrachm. But I really like them all.

Happy hunting in '22!

 

#1 & # 4 are absolute bangers!!

 

Awesome coins, all are one of a kind. Congrats. My favorites 1, 2, 4 and 5. Ups, only 3 coins? No way

 

Great coins! Each of them has something special. I really like no's 1, 4, 6 and 7.

 

Overall, I will totally agree with you. Very nice group. Thanks for posting.