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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Parthicus, post: 2923094, member: 81887&quot;]It&#039;s that time again for year-end Top 10 lists, so here are my top 10 favorite coins that I acquired this year.&nbsp; I had a good year collecting, and could easily come up with another 10 favorites.&nbsp; They are in no particular order, except that #1 really is my favorite of the year.</p><p><br /></p><p>1.&nbsp; Parthian Kingdom, Artabanos the Somethingth (10-38 AD), AR tetradrachm.&nbsp; I&#039;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.&nbsp; This facing bust type is one of my favorites in the whole Parthian series:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]708092[/ATTACH]</p><p>2. Phoenicia, Arados, AR stater, c. 350-332 BC.&nbsp; A nice, heavy chunk of silver with a very three-dimensional design.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]708094[/ATTACH]</p><p>3. Phoenicia, Tyre, AR didrachm c. 350-332 BC.&nbsp; Another nice chunk of Phoenician silver that manages to get the whole design on a small and irregular flan.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]708096[/ATTACH]</p><p>4. Parthian Kingdom, Orodes II (57-38 BC), AE tetrachalkoi.&nbsp; Unusually high grade for Parthian bronze, and an attractive reverse design.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]708097[/ATTACH]</p><p>5. Sasanian Empire, AR obol, Shapur II (309-379 AD).&nbsp; A well-executed design on a tiny flan makes this coin a sure winner.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]708100[/ATTACH]</p><p>6. Roman Republic, Octavian as Triumvir (36 BC), AR denarius.&nbsp; A very historical coin, with an interesting reverse type.&nbsp; Dig that crazy spiral on the lituus!&nbsp; Almost hypnotic...</p><p>[ATTACH=full]708101[/ATTACH]</p><p>7. Roman Empire, Vespasian (69-79 AD), AR denarius.&nbsp; I like the family portrait of Vespasian with his two sons, and I got this specimen pretty cheaply, which is always a nice bonus.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]708102[/ATTACH]</p><p>8. Achaemenid Persia, c. 375-340 BC, AR siglos.&nbsp; Fairly decent example of this popular type, made better by the bankers&#039; marks.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]708103[/ATTACH]</p><p>9. Roman Empire, Faustina Junior (d.175 AD), AR denarius.&nbsp; 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.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]708106[/ATTACH]</p><p>10. Crusader States, Antioch, Bohemond III (1163-1201 AD), AR denier.&nbsp; This is a contemporary issue by an actual Crusader, and shows a knight in helmet and full chain mail armor.&nbsp; If that doesn&#039;t excite you at least a little bit, you obviously don&#039;t care about either history or coins, and should probably consider another hobby.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]708107[/ATTACH]</p><p>Hope you enjoyed my Top 10.&nbsp; Which of these is your favorite?[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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