Hello everyone, hope you all are doing well. It's been a while since I visited this forum, I'm currently on a semi-break from this hobby, yet somehow manage to acquire the below coins. In fact, I added the least number of coins this year since I started collecting back in 2018, mostly because I've already hit most of the goals I could realistically achieve in 2024, and partly because my focus has shifted to other areas of my life. Still, I managed to pick up these coins, listed in the order I bought them from the start of the year until now: 1. Syracuse Octopus Litra: a bronze Syracusan octopus was one of my very first ancient coin, and I've been on the look for a silver one for a long time until I came across this one! The coin may look very crystalized on photo, but it looks much better in hand! Obv: Diademed head of the nymph Arethusa right, ΣYΡA. Rev: Octopus. 0.73g, 12mm. Boehringer 419 Ex Colonial Collectibles (Ma-Shops). 2. Caracalla Antoninianus: An angry looking bust of Caracalla was on my bucket list, while cheap and plenty, I waited for one to 'speak to me'. Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, radiate and draped scowling bust right. Rev: VENVS VICTRIX Venus standing left, holding Victory and sceptre, leaning on shield set on helmet. 5.15g, 25mm. 213-217 A.D RIC 311c 3. Roman Mines Issue: This is really a special one, not because you don't see this type very often, but it was also my birthday gift (granted I picked this one and it was gifted to me). TRAJAN (98-117). Quadrans. Dalmatian mines issue. 2.78 g 18 x 13 mm Obv: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DACICO TR P COS V P P (?). Laureate head right. Rev: METALLI VLPIANI DELM. Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopia. RIC 710 Ex Dr. F. Jarman Collection: Mints of the Roman Empire. Ex Numismatik Naumann 100, lot 1100, March 2021. 4. Pandya Half Karshapana: If I were to rank these coins in order of significance, it would be top 1 on the list, a coin I've been on the look for nearly 7 years! I saw one on Vcoins back in 2020, but didn't have the budget and it got away, I haven't seen a coin of this type for sale until this year (other than Indian auction houses that don't ship internationally, even then they only sell them rarely). These half Karshapanas, imitating the Mauryan silver punch-marked coins, represent the only known instance of silver coinage issued by the Pandyan dynasty throughout their entire history spanning over 2000 years. Pandya dynasty Silver Half Karshapana Sangam age (1st century BCE to 1st century CE) Obv: Five punches Rev: Fish punch (Pandyan emblem) 1.14g 10mm x 11mm Mitchiner Tamil Nadu Kerala 131-134, Krishnamurthy 1 Ex Pankaj Tandon, CoinIndia (Vcoins). 5. Philip III Arrhidaios: This one was an impulse purchase, and had some horn silver encrustations which made it cheap, I later cleaned the coin. I love the high relief of these Alexander tetradrachms. Philip III Arrhidaios AR Tetradrachm 323-317 BC, Babylon. 16.87g Obv: Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin Rev: Zeus seated to left on throne, holding eagle in his right hand and long scepter in his left. To left, M and below throne, ΛY ΦIΛIΠΠOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ Price P181 6. United States of America 1881 $10: Certainly not an ancient coin, but the most expensive purchase of the year, and who doesn’t love a chunky pre-33 gold! Also, I happened to snag it just before gold shot up. 7. C. Norbanus: Nothing spectacular here, I got this at a coin show from a dealer I happened to chat for a while and felt bad leaving without buying anything from him, so I got this. Turns out it has a double die match. C. Norbanus AR Denarius 83 BC 18mm, 3.42 g Obv: Diademed head of Venus right; C.NORBANVS below, XXX to left. Rev: Fasces between grain ear on left and caduceus on right. Crawford 357/1b; Sydenham 739; Norbana 2; RBW 1363 var. (control). Double die-match to CNG Electronic Auction 548, Lot 435. 8. Mark Antony & Octavia: Imperatorial coins are always welcomed in my collection, especially one with portraits. While the reverse has seen better days, I only to bought it for the expressive bust of Antony. Mark Antony & Octavia AR Tetradrachm 39 BC, Ephesus mint 10.28g, 28 mm. Obv: Head of Antony right, wearing ivy wreath; lituus below; all within wreath of ivy and flowers; M • ANTONIVS • IMP • COS • DESIG • ITER ET TERT Rev: Draped bust of Octavia right above cista mystica, flanked by interlaced serpents with heads erect; III • VIR • R • P • C • around. CRI 262; Sydenham 1197; RSC 2; RPC I 2201 Thank you! have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!!
