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<p>[QUOTE="Parthicus, post: 5152964, member: 81887"]I still have a couple of outstanding bids in Frank Robinson's next auction, but it looks like I'm mostly finished with my coin purchases for 2020, so it's time to do my "best of the year" post. The year 2020 has had its difficulties for me, as it has for everyone; not just the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the fractious political situation, but also in my own health. I was hospitalized for a week early in the year with a recurrence of pneumonia, and this summer I had an outbreak of shingles that looked like half my face was melting. (On the plus side, I had no trouble getting people to stay socially distanced from me during that time <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie53" alt=":hungover:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> ) But on the whole I'm doing all right- managing to avoid the pandemic (knock on wood), still gainfully employed, and my natural hermit-like tendencies mean I'm probably better equipped than most people to endure lockdowns/stay-at-home orders etc. I managed to acquire some very nice coins this year, including a few types I've been seeking for a long time. Two of these coins (#7 and 8 below) I haven't gotten around to posting full write-ups yet, so consider this a sneak peak. For the rest, I'll include links to my original write-up, in case you want to know more. As usual, the ordering is somewhat arbitrary, except that the first three are probably my three absolute favorites of the year.</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Roman Imperatorial, Julius Caesar AR denarius, lifetime issue of January-February 44 BC. This was an obvious choice for my #1 of the year. The historical importance is clear, and this coin hits the "sweet spot" of having enough wear that I could afford it, but not so much that the coin becomes unattractive. Ex-@Sallent collection, so it was also nice that I could give this coin a home after a fellow CoinTalker was finished with it.</p><p><a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/lifetime-portrait-denarius-of-julius-caesar.358365/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/lifetime-portrait-denarius-of-julius-caesar.358365/">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/lifetime-portrait-denarius-of-julius-caesar.358365/</a></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1208836[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>2. Khazar Khaganate, AR dirham, c.880s-910s AD. A very rare coin from this rather mysterious culture. The design imitates the common trade coinage of the time, an Abbasid dirham, though with badly blundered legends and two "obverses". I've wanted a Khazar coin for a while, and was fortunate that Stephen Album auction had two listed. </p><p><a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-very-rare-coin-of-the-khazars.362251/#post-4586785" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-very-rare-coin-of-the-khazars.362251/#post-4586785">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-very-rare-coin-of-the-khazars.362251/#post-4586785</a></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1208838[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>3. Sasanian Kingdom. AR obol. Ardashir I (as Ardashir V of Persis), c. 205/6-223/4 AD. Rare and historic initial coinage of the Sasanian Kingdom. Note that the king wears a Parthian-style tiara, but the hairstyle is more similar to Sasanian than Parthian designs. I also like that the details on the facing bust's face are clear; facing portraits on coins tend to wear down quickly, leaving an ugly mess behind.</p><p><a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/rare-initial-coinage-of-ardashir-i.366314/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/rare-initial-coinage-of-ardashir-i.366314/">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/rare-initial-coinage-of-ardashir-i.366314/</a></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1208839[/ATTACH] </p><p>4. Roman Imperatorial period. AR denarius. Marc Antony (32-31 BC). The popular "legionary denarius" type, issued to pay Antony's troops in the lead-up to the Battle of Actium. Very historically important, and an attractive coin despite the low technical grade.</p><p><a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/legionary-denarius-of-marc-antony.359830/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/legionary-denarius-of-marc-antony.359830/">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/legionary-denarius-of-marc-antony.359830/</a></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1208844[/ATTACH] </p><p>5. Arab-Sasanian. AE fals. AH 137 (754/5 AD). A very rare type that includes the Muslim kalima on reverse, and an unusually late issue for Arab-Sasanian coins. A very interesting coin, worthy of further study.</p><p><a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-very-rare-arab-sasanian-bronze.369608/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-very-rare-arab-sasanian-bronze.369608/">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-very-rare-arab-sasanian-bronze.369608/</a></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1208848[/ATTACH] </p><p>6. Parthian Kingdom. AR drachm. Artabanos VI (c.212-224 AD). A scarce coin of the last Parthian king.</p><p><a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-end-of-the-parthians.370608/#post-5149436" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-end-of-the-parthians.370608/#post-5149436">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-end-of-the-parthians.370608/#post-5149436</a></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1208849[/ATTACH] </p><p>7. Persis. Uncertain King I (2nd century BC), AR hemidrachm. An early issue of this often-overlooked kingdom, which maintained a semi-independent Persian cultural identity during the Parthian period. Full write-up to come later.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1208851[/ATTACH] </p><p>8. Normans in Sicily. AE follaro. William II (1166-1189). I like the history behind this, and also appreciate that the inscription is actually good, readable Arabic, not the badly-engraved nonsense of most medieval Christian kingdoms that issued "Arabic"-inspired coinages. Full write-up to come later.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1208852[/ATTACH] </p><p>9. Ilkhans. AR dirham. Ghazan Mahmud (1295-1304 AD). I just like the falcon-and-sunface design. Of course, there's come interesting history there, too (there usually is).</p><p><a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ilkhans-mongols-of-iran.358026/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ilkhans-mongols-of-iran.358026/">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ilkhans-mongols-of-iran.358026/</a></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1208854[/ATTACH] </p><p>10. Parthian Kingdom. AE tetrachalkoi. Mithradates II (121-91 BC). Just a nice Parthian bronze, from one of the most important Parthian kings.</p><p><a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-nice-parthian-bronze-of-mithradates-ii-the-great.365176/#post-4755690" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-nice-parthian-bronze-of-mithradates-ii-the-great.365176/#post-4755690">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-nice-parthian-bronze-of-mithradates-ii-the-great.365176/#post-4755690</a></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1208855[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>That's my list for the year. Let me know which is your favorite, or feel free to post whatever related coins you have.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Parthicus, post: 5152964, member: 81887"]I still have a couple of outstanding bids in Frank Robinson's next auction, but it looks like I'm mostly finished with my coin purchases for 2020, so it's time to do my "best of the year" post. The year 2020 has had its difficulties for me, as it has for everyone; not just the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the fractious political situation, but also in my own health. I was hospitalized for a week early in the year with a recurrence of pneumonia, and this summer I had an outbreak of shingles that looked like half my face was melting. (On the plus side, I had no trouble getting people to stay socially distanced from me during that time :hungover: ) But on the whole I'm doing all right- managing to avoid the pandemic (knock on wood), still gainfully employed, and my natural hermit-like tendencies mean I'm probably better equipped than most people to endure lockdowns/stay-at-home orders etc. I managed to acquire some very nice coins this year, including a few types I've been seeking for a long time. Two of these coins (#7 and 8 below) I haven't gotten around to posting full write-ups yet, so consider this a sneak peak. For the rest, I'll include links to my original write-up, in case you want to know more. As usual, the ordering is somewhat arbitrary, except that the first three are probably my three absolute favorites of the year. 1. Roman Imperatorial, Julius Caesar AR denarius, lifetime issue of January-February 44 BC. This was an obvious choice for my #1 of the year. The historical importance is clear, and this coin hits the "sweet spot" of having enough wear that I could afford it, but not so much that the coin becomes unattractive. Ex-@Sallent collection, so it was also nice that I could give this coin a home after a fellow CoinTalker was finished with it. [URL]https://www.cointalk.com/threads/lifetime-portrait-denarius-of-julius-caesar.358365/[/URL] [ATTACH=full]1208836[/ATTACH] 2. Khazar Khaganate, AR dirham, c.880s-910s AD. A very rare coin from this rather mysterious culture. The design imitates the common trade coinage of the time, an Abbasid dirham, though with badly blundered legends and two "obverses". I've wanted a Khazar coin for a while, and was fortunate that Stephen Album auction had two listed. [URL]https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-very-rare-coin-of-the-khazars.362251/#post-4586785[/URL] [ATTACH=full]1208838[/ATTACH] 3. Sasanian Kingdom. AR obol. Ardashir I (as Ardashir V of Persis), c. 205/6-223/4 AD. Rare and historic initial coinage of the Sasanian Kingdom. Note that the king wears a Parthian-style tiara, but the hairstyle is more similar to Sasanian than Parthian designs. I also like that the details on the facing bust's face are clear; facing portraits on coins tend to wear down quickly, leaving an ugly mess behind. [URL]https://www.cointalk.com/threads/rare-initial-coinage-of-ardashir-i.366314/[/URL] [ATTACH=full]1208839[/ATTACH] 4. Roman Imperatorial period. AR denarius. Marc Antony (32-31 BC). The popular "legionary denarius" type, issued to pay Antony's troops in the lead-up to the Battle of Actium. Very historically important, and an attractive coin despite the low technical grade. [URL]https://www.cointalk.com/threads/legionary-denarius-of-marc-antony.359830/[/URL] [ATTACH=full]1208844[/ATTACH] 5. Arab-Sasanian. AE fals. AH 137 (754/5 AD). A very rare type that includes the Muslim kalima on reverse, and an unusually late issue for Arab-Sasanian coins. A very interesting coin, worthy of further study. [URL]https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-very-rare-arab-sasanian-bronze.369608/[/URL] [ATTACH=full]1208848[/ATTACH] 6. Parthian Kingdom. AR drachm. Artabanos VI (c.212-224 AD). A scarce coin of the last Parthian king. [URL]https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-end-of-the-parthians.370608/#post-5149436[/URL] [ATTACH=full]1208849[/ATTACH] 7. Persis. Uncertain King I (2nd century BC), AR hemidrachm. An early issue of this often-overlooked kingdom, which maintained a semi-independent Persian cultural identity during the Parthian period. Full write-up to come later. [ATTACH=full]1208851[/ATTACH] 8. Normans in Sicily. AE follaro. William II (1166-1189). I like the history behind this, and also appreciate that the inscription is actually good, readable Arabic, not the badly-engraved nonsense of most medieval Christian kingdoms that issued "Arabic"-inspired coinages. Full write-up to come later. [ATTACH=full]1208852[/ATTACH] 9. Ilkhans. AR dirham. Ghazan Mahmud (1295-1304 AD). I just like the falcon-and-sunface design. Of course, there's come interesting history there, too (there usually is). [URL]https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ilkhans-mongols-of-iran.358026/[/URL] [ATTACH=full]1208854[/ATTACH] 10. Parthian Kingdom. AE tetrachalkoi. Mithradates II (121-91 BC). Just a nice Parthian bronze, from one of the most important Parthian kings. [URL]https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-nice-parthian-bronze-of-mithradates-ii-the-great.365176/#post-4755690[/URL] [ATTACH=full]1208855[/ATTACH] That's my list for the year. Let me know which is your favorite, or feel free to post whatever related coins you have.[/QUOTE]
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Parthicus presents: Top 10 of 2020
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