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<p>[QUOTE="Nerva, post: 3267496, member: 87761"]I've loved reading 'top tens' for the past couple of years, but this is my first contribution. I think I'll always be a generalist, but this year I've started to focus more on the Severans. Overall I've had a low win-rate this year, particularly in the first half. I didn't win any Republicans at all, and lost out on quite a few provincials that I really wanted. But I'm delighted with the coins I have won, even if I paid a couple of steep prices. I've got a few coherent themes now, and next year I should be able to complete some 'sets'. My wish-list is now out of control, but more than half of my purchases have been things that have just caught my eye. Comments and criticism would be greatly appreciated. I've learned a lot here, but mainly I've learned how little I still know!</p><p><br /></p><p>These are the coins I have 'in hand', but I have a couple of other wins that I'm very excited about, but doubt they'll arrive this year. And in any case, I had more than enough for a top ten.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]861008[/ATTACH]</p><p>10</p><p>One of the appealing aspects of Severan coinage is the variety of female portraits (and fantastic female characters). I love the portrait on this Julia Soaemias, and the Juno reverse is also well-preserved.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]861038[/ATTACH]</p><p>9</p><p>I only have a few later Roman coins, but I saw this Severina on a dealer's tray and had to have it. It's a really fine portrait. Next year I want to expand my collection of later Roman coins, to give poor Severina some company.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]861027[/ATTACH]</p><p>8</p><p>This is the probably the worst-looking coin I bought, but it's a fascinating type that I first heard about here. It's an ancient Indian imitation of a Tiberius Tribute Penny. It's not very pretty, but I love the history, the record of ancient trade routes and cultural exchange.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]860999[/ATTACH]</p><p>7</p><p>Annia Faustina is the rarest of the Severans. There's a single type of sestertius and one type of denarius from the Rome mint, both very rare and costly. Alexandrians are more attainable. This billon tet with Serapis gives me the rarest Severan portrait.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]861018[/ATTACH]</p><p>6</p><p>This Antoninus Pius Ae19 Necopolis ad Istrum appealed to me because of the excellent depiction of the Apollo Sauroktonos ('Lizard Slayer'), a celebrated ancient Greek sculpture. This one deserves a fuller write-up and its own post, to follow...</p><p>[ATTACH=full]861019[/ATTACH]</p><p>5</p><p>This coin really cried out to me when I saw it in an auction listing, and I thought I'd have to pay much more for it. Caracalla with Asclepius facing forward and his little helper Telesphorus. Really nice, unusual reverse.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]861017[/ATTACH]</p><p>4</p><p>Here's something to inspire envy. How many of you have a depiction of Herakles Slaying the Nemean Bunny Rabbit? A rare scene. This ticks all the boxes for me. I've been looking for attractive and unusual provincials. I like animals on coins. And it's a Severan emperor. It's an Ae32 of Caracalla from Blaundos.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]861023[/ATTACH]</p><p>3</p><p>This is one of the most interesting Severan reverse types: Elegabalus bringing the holy stone of Emesa to Rome. The stone was probably a meteorite. The coin looks better in hand. Some day I'll buy an upgrade in gold!</p><p>[ATTACH=full]861003[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>2</p><p>A centrepiece for my Severan collection: Septimius Severus with kids, the rival siblings Geta and Caracalla. It's a scarce type in nice condition, and it's the one coin that best represents the dynasty. I can't imagine a coin like this being anything other than number one in any other year, but in 2018 it was upstaged by.........</p><p>[ATTACH=full]860998[/ATTACH]</p><p>1</p><p>One of the greatest Greek coins: a Corinthian stater with the Mask of Silenus. It's a magnificent artist achievement, a wonderful contrast in characterisation between Athena, goddess of wisdom and courage, and Silenus the drunken follower of Dionysus. I've always been torn between those two myself![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Nerva, post: 3267496, member: 87761"]I've loved reading 'top tens' for the past couple of years, but this is my first contribution. I think I'll always be a generalist, but this year I've started to focus more on the Severans. Overall I've had a low win-rate this year, particularly in the first half. I didn't win any Republicans at all, and lost out on quite a few provincials that I really wanted. But I'm delighted with the coins I have won, even if I paid a couple of steep prices. I've got a few coherent themes now, and next year I should be able to complete some 'sets'. My wish-list is now out of control, but more than half of my purchases have been things that have just caught my eye. Comments and criticism would be greatly appreciated. I've learned a lot here, but mainly I've learned how little I still know! These are the coins I have 'in hand', but I have a couple of other wins that I'm very excited about, but doubt they'll arrive this year. And in any case, I had more than enough for a top ten. [ATTACH=full]861008[/ATTACH] 10 One of the appealing aspects of Severan coinage is the variety of female portraits (and fantastic female characters). I love the portrait on this Julia Soaemias, and the Juno reverse is also well-preserved. [ATTACH=full]861038[/ATTACH] 9 I only have a few later Roman coins, but I saw this Severina on a dealer's tray and had to have it. It's a really fine portrait. Next year I want to expand my collection of later Roman coins, to give poor Severina some company. [ATTACH=full]861027[/ATTACH] 8 This is the probably the worst-looking coin I bought, but it's a fascinating type that I first heard about here. It's an ancient Indian imitation of a Tiberius Tribute Penny. It's not very pretty, but I love the history, the record of ancient trade routes and cultural exchange. [ATTACH=full]860999[/ATTACH] 7 Annia Faustina is the rarest of the Severans. There's a single type of sestertius and one type of denarius from the Rome mint, both very rare and costly. Alexandrians are more attainable. This billon tet with Serapis gives me the rarest Severan portrait. [ATTACH=full]861018[/ATTACH] 6 This Antoninus Pius Ae19 Necopolis ad Istrum appealed to me because of the excellent depiction of the Apollo Sauroktonos ('Lizard Slayer'), a celebrated ancient Greek sculpture. This one deserves a fuller write-up and its own post, to follow... [ATTACH=full]861019[/ATTACH] 5 This coin really cried out to me when I saw it in an auction listing, and I thought I'd have to pay much more for it. Caracalla with Asclepius facing forward and his little helper Telesphorus. Really nice, unusual reverse. [ATTACH=full]861017[/ATTACH] 4 Here's something to inspire envy. How many of you have a depiction of Herakles Slaying the Nemean Bunny Rabbit? A rare scene. This ticks all the boxes for me. I've been looking for attractive and unusual provincials. I like animals on coins. And it's a Severan emperor. It's an Ae32 of Caracalla from Blaundos. [ATTACH=full]861023[/ATTACH] 3 This is one of the most interesting Severan reverse types: Elegabalus bringing the holy stone of Emesa to Rome. The stone was probably a meteorite. The coin looks better in hand. Some day I'll buy an upgrade in gold! [ATTACH=full]861003[/ATTACH] 2 A centrepiece for my Severan collection: Septimius Severus with kids, the rival siblings Geta and Caracalla. It's a scarce type in nice condition, and it's the one coin that best represents the dynasty. I can't imagine a coin like this being anything other than number one in any other year, but in 2018 it was upstaged by......... [ATTACH=full]860998[/ATTACH] 1 One of the greatest Greek coins: a Corinthian stater with the Mask of Silenus. It's a magnificent artist achievement, a wonderful contrast in characterisation between Athena, goddess of wisdom and courage, and Silenus the drunken follower of Dionysus. I've always been torn between those two myself![/QUOTE]
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