It's that time again for year-end Top 10 lists, so here are my top 10 favorite coins that I acquired this year. I had a good year collecting, and could easily come up with another 10 favorites. They are in no particular order, except that #1 really is my favorite of the year. 1. Parthian Kingdom, Artabanos the Somethingth (10-38 AD), AR tetradrachm. I've been trying to get a good example of this type for years now, and finally I was lucky enough to snag this in an Agora auction. This facing bust type is one of my favorites in the whole Parthian series: 2. Phoenicia, Arados, AR stater, c. 350-332 BC. A nice, heavy chunk of silver with a very three-dimensional design. 3. Phoenicia, Tyre, AR didrachm c. 350-332 BC. Another nice chunk of Phoenician silver that manages to get the whole design on a small and irregular flan. 4. Parthian Kingdom, Orodes II (57-38 BC), AE tetrachalkoi. Unusually high grade for Parthian bronze, and an attractive reverse design. 5. Sasanian Empire, AR obol, Shapur II (309-379 AD). A well-executed design on a tiny flan makes this coin a sure winner. 6. Roman Republic, Octavian as Triumvir (36 BC), AR denarius. A very historical coin, with an interesting reverse type. Dig that crazy spiral on the lituus! Almost hypnotic... 7. Roman Empire, Vespasian (69-79 AD), AR denarius. I like the family portrait of Vespasian with his two sons, and I got this specimen pretty cheaply, which is always a nice bonus. 8. Achaemenid Persia, c. 375-340 BC, AR siglos. Fairly decent example of this popular type, made better by the bankers' marks. 9. Roman Empire, Faustina Junior (d.175 AD), AR denarius. The reverse type of Faustina-as-Fecunditas with four babies is simultaneously Imperial dynastic propaganda, and a heartwarming behind-the-scenes glimpse of the ordinary humans who ruled the world. 10. Crusader States, Antioch, Bohemond III (1163-1201 AD), AR denier. This is a contemporary issue by an actual Crusader, and shows a knight in helmet and full chain mail armor. If that doesn't excite you at least a little bit, you obviously don't care about either history or coins, and should probably consider another hobby. Hope you enjoyed my Top 10. Which of these is your favorite?
Naturally I love the Bohemond (I still need a coinkf that type...), but I quite like the Phoenician didrachm as well...
#1 & #5. #4 is close - in my limited experience of Parthian bronze, I have only seen coins a tenth as good as that one. If you call him "Artabanos the Somethingth" we all get to right? An elegant solution to the problem I'd say!
Vespasian and kids is awesome, both Phoenicians are awesome, and that facing Parthian tet is even aweosmer!
That facing bust tet is great! I bought my first Parthian tet, a very modest and common Vardanes II, a few months ago and would be happy to score a facing bust type some day. I really like #2 as well.
Great coins Parthicus, esp. #10 from Crusader States! I am really getting interested in these coins. Fascinating history. Thanks for sharing.
@Parthicus , your #1 is also my #1 from that list. With your username, the top has to be Parthian and facing busts are special. Very nice!
I am happy to see someone else who appreciates coins that are a bit worn but still interesting. That said, I have to like that deer on #4 and certainly #1. I don't have a deer so I'll show an AE17 horse with facing portrait of some Phraates or Darius or someone as the latest theories allow. Sellwood 35.15 (Darius), Shore 167 (Phraates III) There is something special about facers.
Numbers 1, 2, 4, and 5 are the winners for me. 2 and 5 have a lot going on in such a small space. Number 4 is a really sharp bronze with great detail and color. (My first should be here by monday). And 1, well, its an awesome and detailed facing parthian. Im just begining my parthian collection, but i dont recall in my looking at parthians seeing too many coins with the king on horseback, a nice departure from the normal seated scenes on the tet reverses.
Great collection! #2 is my favorite, I like the way the features on both the obverse and reverse just fit on the flan. Rotate the flan and lots of stuff is missing.
I do not know ancients yet. I like #1 for it's head that has me wondering who this person was.... and #10 for the cross. I do not know the history behind them. For me it is an aesthetic beauty to me personally. thank you for sharing your top 10 ancients. someday in the far future I will get into ancients. your #10 coin has really got my interest.
Thanks for the comments everyone, I enjoy hearing all your different perspectives. Yes, please feel free to start referring to the renumbered Parthian kings as "X the Somethingth"! It started as a personal joke, because I get tired of having to write "Artabanos II in Sellwood and Shore, but since renumbered as Artabanos III or IV". Here's my original post on the Bohemund coin: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/bohemund-a-knight-in-shining-armor.305120/ And my post on the Artabanos: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/my-latest-parthian-beauty.297735/
#1 is my favorite. Ardavan, interesting king and reign - check Front facing - check Good detail (look at those eyes) - check Not something you see in every auction - check
I'm a big collector of Antonine women on coins, so the Faustina Jr Fecunditas denarius is my favorite.
@Parthicus I like 'em ALL. MY types of coins... gently worn, some bankers marks, historical significance... NICE job!
