My Humble Top 10 of 2020

For me, 2020 was actually the first year I've actively collected ancient coins. My selections are by no means anything exotic, beautiful, or extremely rare, but rather the foundations for a growing collection. Needless to say, collecting ancient coins is a field of numismatics that I've grown quite fond of in the past year. Despite the brevity of my post, I'd like to offer a special thanks to the members of the Cointalk Ancient Coins forum for sparking my interest in ancient coins.


10.



Gratian

Bronze Ae 4

383 – 388 A.D.

Obverse: D N GRATIA-NVS P F AVG; pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.

Reverse: VOT XX MVLT XXX surrounded by laurel wreath

In ex. SM[??]

Heraclea?

Ex-Dattari


9.



Antoninus Pius

Ae As, Rome ninth century celebration

148 – 149 A.D.

Obverse: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XII; laureate head right

Reverse: MVNIFICENTIA AVG COS IIII S-C; Munificentia standing left, holding wreath and sceptre: at feet; lion.

RIC IV Rome 861

8.



Nero

Ae As

65 A.D.

Obverse: NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P, laureate head right.

Reverse: S-C, Victory flying left with shield inscribed SPQR.

Rome

Diameter: 26.0 mm

Weight: 9.16g

RIC 314, Sear 1976

7.



Gallienus

Antoninianus

260 – 268 A.D.

Obverse: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right

Reverse: VIRTVS AVGVIRTVS AVG, Virtus standing left, resting hand on shield and holding spear.

Milan

Diameter: 19.4 mm

Weight 2.37g

RIC 534


6.



Lucius Verus

AR Denarius

161-162 A.D.

Obverse: IMP L AVREL VERVS AVG, bare head right.

Reverse: PROV DEOR TR P II COS II, Providentia holding globe and cornucopiae.

Rome

Diameter: 18.05 mm

Weight: 3.14g

RIC 482

5.



Marcus Aurelius

AR Denarius

163 A.D.

Obverse: IMP M ANTONINVS AVG, bare head right.

Reverse: PROV DEOR TR P XVII COS III, Providentia standing left, holding globe and cornucopiae.

RIC 70


4.



Severus Alexander

AR Denarius

222 – 228 A.D.

Obverse: IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG; laureate and draped bust right.

Reverse: PAX AETERNA AVG; Pax, draped, standing left, holding olive-branch in right hand and sceptre in left hand.

RIC IV Rome 165

3.



Vespasian

AR Denarius

70 – 72 A.D.

Obverse: IMP CAES VESP AVG P M; Laureate head right.

Reverse: TRI POT II COS III P P; Pax seated left, holding branch and caduceus

RIC II Rome 39

2.



Marcus Aurelius

Sestertius

177 – 178 A.D.

Obverse: M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXXII, laureate head right.

Reverse: IMP VIIII COS III PP SC, Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae.

RIC 1230


1.



Antoninus Pius

AR Denarius

144 A.D.

Obverse: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III; laureate head right.

Reverse: ANNONA AVG; Modius with four-grain ears and a poppy.

RIC III 62a

 

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I like the Nero. I only have a provincial of him. And it doesn't have Victory.
Your coin is a def win in my book.
Thanks for sharing!

 

You are off to a great start/ nice coins to boot! I think you will be hooked for life/ not a bad thing
John

 

That’s a nice selection from a lot of different imperial periods. Researching each of those coins could be like an entire course in Roman history.

 

..lQQks like a great start to me....i am a big fan of Nero/Victory As's meself!

 

Bradley, You've got an interesting variety of coins, & as Galvin suggests, these coins should provide an endless amount of study . Judging from your layout & the accurate research you've done, you take collecting seriously . Given more time, you'll probably narrow your focus to a certain period or type of coin to collect. What interests you the most about ancient coins & where are you acquiring your coins from ? Are you employed or still going to school ?

 

Most of these coins were already attributed when I acquired them. Although Wildwinds has proven extremely helpful for those that weren’t attributed already. However, when it comes to ancient coins, I’d certainly say I’m gravitating towards 3rd-century coins and Nerva-Antonine issues. So far, though, I’ve acquired most of my coins from online sources, while half of my top ten came from Victor’s Imperial Coins. I’m also a college sophomore, so I don’t exactly have the most expansive budget.

 

I like your gallienus! Lovely skinny face

 

I’m quite fond of that coin. I was particularly drawn to its crude portrait, which is quite indicative of the overall circumstances of the latter half of the 3rd century.

 

Excellent selection and you seem to have a good eye. I’d be comfortable with SMHB and attributing the Gratian as from Heraclea without the ? mark (RIC 20a).

Your number 1 would be my first choice, but I am partial to a story-telling copper As like your Pius as well.

 

Nice selection of coins

You made the right choice early on...buy from respected and trusted sources. You cannot do any better than Victor. He is a valued member of this online community.

 

Great coins, especially for a starter collection, keep up the good buying. Really like your Pius Modius Denarius. Congrats.

 

Yes, great selection after only one year of collecting and on a very limited (my guess) budget.

The Galienus and its somewhat astonished portrait : "What ? me ?, you mean, my face, on a coin ? nooooo !!"

The Nero as and the thousands hands that have hold it, and all the stories going with

Are the two that talk to me the most
Go on, you're in the right direction

Q

 

Welcome to the club! I like the MA and Verus denarius the best. They're nice examples with the sort of even circulation wear that speaks to their use as functional currency of the day. That flattened face Gallienus is great though.

 

I think I only paid about $30 for those two coins @zumbly.

It's just one of the "perks" of being a college student. Unlike my college peers, I'd much rather spend my excess money on coins rather than the newest and greatest iPhone or designer goods. Besides, I'd much rather have something that's lasted thousands of years than something that will crap out on me in 24 months.

 

Nice selection for your first year, plenty of interest in what you've picked. I think the Lucius Verus denarius is my favourite, and something I'm currently lacking. Here's to a good 2021.

 

Very nice start into Ancients, @Bradley Trotter .

 

That's a much better first year of collecting ancients than I had back then!

Also, the Modigliani-Gallienus deserves extra credit for the extravagant elongated portrait style. A coin I really like.

 

Congrats, Bradley!
Also a new starter here.
I like your coins, I think the wear is acceptable for all of them.
I wouldnt't mind them in my albums!
Of course I like coins in mint condition, but I don't mind at all seeing (and buying) coins with honest wear, but still beautiful and easy to be attributed.

I like your #8 and #6 (funny thing is that I have them in my collection as well, same RIC numbers) and #1.

 

Admittedly my photography skills aren't the best. However, this Faustina I denarius deserves an honorable mention. In hand, it is a beautiful coin with excellent detail, surfaces, and high relief. It would've been in the #3 spot if it wasn't an absolute pain to photograph.


Faustina I
AR Denarius
After 141 A.D.
Obverse: DIVA FAVSTINA; draped bust right.
Reverse: AVGVSTA; Juno standing right, holding sceptre and lowering left hand.
Rome
RIC III 364