My Ten Favorites of the Year 2018

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Bing, Dec 14, 2018.

  1. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    I know most of you will expect to see all Marcus Antonius Legionary denarii, but there are a few others as well. In no particular order:

    Marc Antony  Leg III (2) Denarius.jpg
    MARCUS ANTONIUS
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: ANT AVG III VIR R P C, Praetorian galley, thyrsos behind prow
    REVERSE: LEG III. Legionary eagle between two standards
    Patrae 32-31 BC
    3.7g, 18mm
    RSC 27
    ex. J. Grande collection; ex-ANE

    Marcus Antonius  Leg IIII.jpg
    MARCUS ANTONIUS
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: ANT AVG III VIR R P C, Praetorian galley, thyrsos behind prow
    REVERSE: LEG IIII, legionary eagle between two standards
    Patrae 32-31 BC
    3.3g, 17mm
    RSC 29; Syd 1220, Cr544/16
    Marcus Antonius Chortivm Praetoria.jpg
    MARCUS ANTONIUS
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: ANT AVG III VIR R P C, Praetorian galley, thyrsos behind prow
    REVERSE: CHORTIVM PRAETORIARVM, aquila right between two signa
    Patrae 32-31 BC
    3.58g, 18.mm
    Crawford 544/8; CRI 385; Sydenham 1213; RSC 7
    ex. Roma Numismatics
    Marcus Antonius Leg XVI 2.jpg
    MARCUS ANTONIUS
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: ANT AVG III VIR R P C, Praetorian galley, thyrsos behind prow
    REVERSE: LEG XVI, eagle between standards
    Patrae 32-31 BC
    3.63g, 19mm
    Cr544/31, Syd 1236, RSC 48
    Cotta.jpg
    M. AURELIUS COTTA
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: Head of Roma, COTA below, X behind
    REVERSE: Hercules holding club in biga of centaurs holding branches. M.AVRELI below, ROMA in ex
    Struck at Rome 139 BC
    4.29g, 16mm
    Aurelia 16, BMC.914, Craw.229/1
    ex. Pliego Numismatics
    Q. CAECILIUS METELLUS PIUS 2.jpg
    Q. CAECILIUS METELLUS PIUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS CAECILIA
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: Diademed head of Pietas right; stork standing right before
    REVERSE: Q C M P I beneath elephant walking left w/bell hanging from neck
    Northern Italy, 79 BC-77 BC
    3.75g; 18mm
    Caecilia 43; Crawford 374/1; Syd 750; Sear 301
    M. PLAETORIUS M.F. CESTIANUS 2.jpg
    M. PLAETORIUS M.F. CESTIANUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS PLAETORIA
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: Head of Bonus Eventus right; horse's leg behind. Argentarii mark in obverse
    REVERSE: M. PLAETORI CEST. EX. S. C, winged caduceus
    Rome 57 BC
    3.87g, 19 mm
    Cr405/5; Syd 807; Plaetoria 5
    T. CARISIUS ROMAN 2.jpg
    T. CARISIUS ROMAN REPUBLIC
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: Head of the Aphrodisian Sibyl right, back hair in sling
    REVERSE: T. CARISIVS above sphinx sitting right; III.VIR below
    Rome 46 BC
    19mm, 3.49 g
    Cr464/1; Syd 983a; Carisia 11
    ex. Doug Smith Collection
    Clodius Albinus.jpg
    CLODIUS ALBINUS
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: D CL SEPT ALBIN CAES, bare head right
    REVERSE: PROVID AVG COS, Providentia standing left, holding sceptre and wand over globe
    Struck at Rome
    2.95g, 19mm
    RIC IV 1 (c); Cohen III 55
    ex CT-MB
    Gordian III 13.jpg
    GORDIAN III
    AR Antoninianus
    OBVERSE: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right
    REVERSE: PM TR P IIII COS II P P, Gordian in military dress, standing right with spear & globe
    Struck at Rome, 241 AD
    5.50g, 24mm
    RIC IV iii, 92, page 25 - Cohen 253
     
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    Very nice @Bing. I hadn't realized that you had picked up so many republican denarii. Each one has an interesting reverse type. I especially like the Carisius.
     
  4. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    Excellent coins Bing
     
  5. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Some fantastic silver coins Bing, love the detailed galley's and great elephant on your Metellus RR. Terrific buying.
     
  6. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    If I were to pick one, I'd have to go with that RR elephant.

    But wow - centaur biga! Ever since @TIF put most of these "unconventional critter-propelled conveyances" on my radar, I've wanted one. Even tussled (feebly) with her over one in a recent auction - and got trampled, of course. :hilarious:
     
    Theodosius likes this.
  7. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    That CHORTIVM PRAETORIARVM... :wideyed:
     
  8. 7Calbrey

    7Calbrey Well-Known Member

    L was impressed by the Centaurs being driven. The sphinx cannot be erased from my choice. And.. And... Everything is awesome. Really/ After all, Rarity still comes first for the great heads. Congrats..
     
  9. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Nice @Bing ! When I started posting here, it seemed you were one of the few who truly collected "everday" - "gently used" Republican Denarii like I did. Always enjoyed your posts, and totally like the ones you posted as your top 10! I would take them all (I have no AR GIII's)! I would not care if there were any dupes. However, you have some GREAT Antony's that I would love! Started the pursuit for him, but have temporarily paused. REALLY great line-up, and a banner year with your completion of the Antony Legios series! WOW!
     
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2018
    Multatuli, ominus1 and Bing like this.
  10. Okidoki

    Okidoki Well-Known Member

    Hi Bing,

    great choices
     
  11. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Yup, definitely surprised that they weren’t all legionary denarii. :D That PRAETORIARVM is an awesome buy, though! And the other RR coins are excellent as well. I especially like the Cestianus with the intriguing ‘horse leg’ control symbol.
     
    Bing likes this.
  12. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    The fact you can list other neat coins along with your MA Legionary denarii shows that you had a very good coin year indeed. Congrats!
     
    Bing likes this.
  13. chrsmat71

    chrsmat71 I LIKE TURTLES!

    C. P. reverse legion denarius is super but I LOVE the centaur biga!! That stork and weird elephant denarius is pretty darn cool also!
     
    benhur767 likes this.
  14. benhur767

    benhur767 Sapere aude

    Wonderful stuff! Sphinx and centaurs are neat.
     
  15. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

  16. Aethelred

    Aethelred The Old Dead King

    Great batch of coins @Bing I especially like the first and fourth coins.
     
  17. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Thanks. You will like my new MA Legionary then. I have to take a photo yet, so I will post it soon.
     
  18. dadams

    dadams Well-Known Member

    Fabulous selection @Bing ! Sure looks like you had a great year and that MA LEG IIII is stellar.
     
  19. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Congrats on a great year, Bing, and especially for completing your Mark Antony legionary denarius set! Aside from that, my favorite is the Metellus denarius with sad sad elephant :).
     
  20. Aethelred

    Aethelred The Old Dead King

    I do want to see that! One of my goals for 2019 is to add one of these to my collection.
     
  21. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Nice stuff, JW. I like the Metellus best.
     
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page