My 2021 Top 10 - benhur767

My Roman collection began primarily with Severan denarii but has been expanding to include later 3rd century coinage and more imperial and provincial bronzes. You may notice that elephants are one of the themes I've been cultivating lately. I'm posting in somewhat random order; it's always hard for me to rank them from "best" to "worst." Please post anything you think is relevant.
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Severus Alexander. Egypt, Alexandria. RY 11 of Alexander (231–2 CE), Potin (BI) tetradrachm, 23mm, 12.38g, 12h. Curtis 1045, Dattari (Savio) 4263, Emmett 3088 (R3), Köln 2465, K&G 62.153, Milne 3085. Obv: A KAI MAP AYP CEY AΛEΞΔNAPOC; laureate and draped bust r. Rx: Alexandria standing facing, head l., wearing elephant-skin headdress, short chiton, and boots, holding grain ears and vexillum; palm branch in field l.; L IA (date) in field r.
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Gallienus. Bithynia, Nicaea, c. 253–60 CE. Æ tetrassaria, 23.5mm, 6.93g, 8h. BMC 154, Sear —, RG p. 836 pl. LXXXVII/30, von Aulock 724. Obv: POU LI EG GALLH SEB; radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust r. Rev: ΝΙΚΑΙΕΩΝ; Dionysos seated l. in a quadriga pulled by elephants; he holds a kantharos (2-handled drinking cup) in his r. hand and a thyrsus in his l. hand.
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Severus Alexander. Cilicia, Anazarbos, 218–24 CE, CY 249 = 230/1. Æ Hexassarion 32mm, 28.14g, 12h. RPC VI online 7364 var. (differing obv. legend). Ziegler — (Vs3/Rs10, unlisted die combination). Obv: ΑΥΤ ΚΑ Μ ΑYP ϹЄO ΑΛЄΞΑΝΔΡΟϹ; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r., seen from behind. Rev: ΘΕΟΥ ΑΝΑΖΑΡΒΟΥ ΜΗΤΡΟ / Γ Β in field / ЄΤ ΘΜϹ in exergue; biga of elephants pulling temple model in wagon r. (reproduction of a small temple). Extremely rare.
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Julia Maesa. AR denarius, Eastern, 218–20 CE; 19mm, 3.10g, 7h. BMCRE 295 note (Juno holds grain ears, not patera), RIC 259 var (same)., RSC 23a var (same)., Thirion p. 86, no. 437 (R; cites 2 specimens in Trésor de Clavier). Obv: IVLIA MAESA AVG; draped and diademed bust r. Rev: IVNO REG; Juno standing l., holding scepter and patera, peacock to l.
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Philip I (the Arab). Æ sestertius. Rome, 249 CE; 29mm, 18.81g, 12h. RIC 167a, Banti 7. Obv: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG; laureate and draped bust r. Rev: AETERNITAS AVGG / C S [sic] in exergue; elephant walking l., guided by mahout, holding goad and wand.
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Septimius Severus. Moesia Inferior, Nicopolis ad Istrum, minted under Legate (Governor) Aurelius Gallus. Æ25, 12.39g, 1h. Varbanov, GIC I, 2617 (legend var.). Obv: ΑΥ Κ Λ ΣΕΠ ΣΕΥΗΡΟΣ ΠΕ; laureate head r. Rev: ΥΠΑ ΑΥΡ ΓΑΛΛΟΥ ΝΕΙΚΟΠΟΛΙΤ • ΠΡΟΣ ΙΣ, Emperor on horseback about to stab a boar with a lance.
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Septimius Severus. AR denarius, Rome, 202 CE; 19mm, 2.90g, 1h. BMCRE 310–11, RIC 248, RSC 31, Obv: SEVERVS PIVS AVG; head laureate right. Rev: AFRICA; Africa, wearing elephant-skin headdress, reclining l., against a rock and/or lion, holding a scorpion and cornucopia; before her, basket of grain ears. Scarce; 9 specimens in the Reka Devnia hoard.
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Julia Domna. Æ as, Rome, 196–211 CE; 24mm, 11.67g, 12h. BMCRE 782, pl. 47.12, RIC S871 (S), C 29. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA; draped bust r., hair waved and coiled at back. Rev: DIANA LVCIFERA / S | C low in l. and r. fields; Diana draped, with crescent behind shoulders (RIC says “crescent on neck”), standing front, head l., holding in both hands a long lighted torch, pointing slightly upward.

Apparently very rare. Rev. die link with BMCRE 782, pl. 47.12 and CGB Monnaies 36, 23 October 2008, lot 516.
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Caracalla. Thrace, Serdica, 211–217 CE. Æ, 31mm, 15.58g, 1h. H&J 12.18.31.1; Ruzicka 291 var (obv. type)., Varbanov 2245. Obv: AYT K M AYP ANTΩNINOC; man’s bearded bust r., laureate and cuirassed, gorgoneion on breastplate. Rev: OYΛΠIAC CEPΔIKHC; Cybele riding lion to l., holding shield and scepter. Rare.
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Septimius Severus. AR denarius, Laodicea ad Mare, 196–7 CE; 18mm, 3.40g, 1h. BMCRE W466–7, RIC 494, RSC 580. Obv: L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIIII; head laureate r. Rev: PROFECTIO AVG; Septimius Severus on horseback walking r., holding spear.

 

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Very nice coins. The Severus Alexander from Alexandria is exceptional.

 

Great coins. I like elephants quadriga and biga, Africa reverse of Septimius and Cybele riding lion.

 

That's a really nice selection!...Some very interesting reverses..
Particularly like the Severus Alexander Tet, quadriga of elephants and the Septimius Severus with Emperor on horseback.....Lovely coins Congrats on a good collecting year.

 

I really dig all of the animal related reverses! I'm a one per collector and primarily focus on getting the best quality bust example that I can reasonably afford. The downside is that the reverses of my coins tend to be less interesting

 

Excellent list! I love all of the elephant reverses, and I also really like that big bronze of Caracalla from Serdica with Cybele riding the lion. The Septimius Profectio denarius is also a beauty.

 

Nice group of coins! I especially like those with elephants in the reverse designs.

 

Fantastic coins all great, but I really love your two elephant types, congrats on a great year.

 

SA from Anazarbus is my absolute favorite. The rest are just favorite. Fantastic coins, indeed!

 

They're all great... while not the most rare or unusual of your new coins, I personally love the Philip I (the Arab). Æ sestertius the most. Amazing coin. Excellent bust and a great elephant!

 

Great top "10" benhur I like most others, love topics related to wildlife. I like the Philip I and Caracalla!
John

 

benhur, Great pickups for 2021 ! Have you got a thing for elephants ? Of course my favorite is the Philip I Tet with the elephant reverse . My 2nd favorite is the Severus denarius with the Africa reverse, & 3rd pick is the Caracalla bronze with Cybele riding the lion .

 

Great coins! Some really fine detailed obverse and reverses in your list. I really like the reverse of the Severus Alexander tetradrachm. I also voted for your Septimius Severus denarius with Africa reverse. And of course of the Philip Arabs sestertius, of which I too own one. Its a great coin, and I like that it has a double struck reverse. As if the mint workers too were too boozed up due to the celebrations!

 

Exceptional coins that you do not see every day! The elephants pulling temple is a great reverse.

 

Your elephant is excellent, to me the doubling adds to the appeal.

 

you have a great herd of elephants!

 

Outstanding additions to your numophylacium, @benhur767! You are justifiably proud of all of them! My favorites were the Eastern mint Maesa, the Dionysus in the elephant quadriga, and the Africa denarius of Septimius Severus.

May 2022 bring you joy in collecting!

 

Great group! All are the sort of thing that follows me home.

The denarii are easier to find.

They also come from the 'Laodicea' mint.

 

I voted for the first three. The second and third for the elephants (of course!), and the first for the great portrait. If I could have voted for a fourth, it would have been the Philip I elephant, which I have only as an antoninianus.

 

I like coins with elephants on them and think your Severus Alexander of Anazarbus and Philip I sestertius have wonderful elephants! My other favorite is your Sep Sev Africa.