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Message:: [QUOTE="Pavlos, post: 3960154, member: 96635"]Lately I have been a bit inactive on this forum, so much going on right now, I recently got a new job, next year I am planning to move, and many other things. Most likely the first 2 quarters of 2020 will be quiet for me with coin collecting. But that is fine for me, I think in terms of coin collecting, 2019 was a wonderful year for me and I can now take all the time to further research and enjoy my coins. My three main collection area's are coins from Epeiros, the Seleukid empire and the Greek islands. Most of my top 10 additions are from those three collection area's! #10<img src="https://i.imgur.com/8UGqSeC.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> Islands off Thrace, Thasos. AR Hemidrachm (Early 2nd century B.C)Obverse: Head of bearded Dionysos to right, wearing ivy wreath.Reverse: ΘΑΣΙ ΩΝ Club and legend within laurel wreath.Reference: Le Rider, Thasiennes 48. SNG Copenhagen 1036. SNG Lockett 1232.1.69g; 15mm Many of you are aware that Thasos, due to the wealth of silver produced by the mines on the island, issued a great amount of coin in the late 6th and 5th centuries and later, after 148 BC massive amounts of tetradrachms that dominated the area's of Northern Greece. Thasos however, also issued more obscure local issues of smaller denomination. This is one of those appealing local issues, produced in in the first quarter of the 2nd century. #9<img src="https://i.imgur.com/GcwkUrm.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> Ariarathes IX Eusebes Philopator (circa 100-85 B.C.) AR Drachm. Mint B (Eusebeia-Mazaka). Dated RY 13 or 15 (88/7 or 86/5 BC).Obverse: Diademed head right, with Mithradatic style portrait.Reverse: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ APIAPAΘOY EYΣEBOYΣ, Athena Nikephoros standing left; monogram to inner left, [date in exergue].Reference: Callataÿ p. 181, obv. die D37 var. (slightly different monogram); I am glad to have this coin, Mithridates VI is one of my top 3 favorite generals, his 'life time' portrait however are difficult to come by because it is only on his tetradrachms. These tetradrachms are quite expensive, so his 'life time' portrait on the drachms of his sons is a great alternative. The coin was minted during the beginning of the first Mithridatic war, his portrait on his son's coin in Cappadocia makes their relationship clear to all beholders. #8<img src="https://i.imgur.com/b8NUU2I.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> Antiochos VIII Epiphanes (Grypos) (121/0-97/6 B.C.) AR Tetradrachm. 2nd reign at Antioch. Antiochia on the Orontes mint, 112-111/10 B.C.Obverse: Diademed head of Antiochos VIII to right.Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANTIOXOY - EΠIΦANOYΣ Zeus Ouranios standing front, head to left; holding star in his right hand and long scepter in his left; above, crescent; to left, monogram above A; to inner right, Δ; all within laurel wreath.Reference: SC 2302.1f.16.26g; 27mm I find this king quite extraordinary, and his hook nose is an added bonus. On this issue his hook nose is not very present, but when looking at his tetradrachms from the 3rd reign at Antioch, everyone will understand why his nick name is Grypos (hooke nose). What is extra special about this coin is that this is not the 'ordinary' Antiochos VIII tetradrachms that are mostly for sale. These tetradrachms are from his first and third reign at Antioch on the Orontes, from about 121 to 113 BC (8 years) and 109/108 to ca. 97 B.C. (10 years). The tetradrachm I won is from his 2nd, and shortest reign at Antioch, from only 112 to 111/110 BC (around 2 years), which makes this coin a lot more uncommon. #7<img src="https://i.imgur.com/68E33fP.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> Islands off Caria, Kos. AR Tetrobol. Nikostra– and Deinias, magistrates (Circa 200-180/70 B.C.)Obverse: Laureate head of Asklepios right.Reverse: ΚΩ below, ΝΙΚΟΣΤΡ on left, ΔΕΙΝΙΑΣ on right; Coiled serpent to right; all within incuse square.Reference: Stefanaki 2036 (E83/O137); HGC 6, 1324.1.92g; 15mmAncient & Medieval Coins Canada, auction 2, lot 20.From the JB (Edmonton) collection. I did a write up about this coin a while ago (<a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-asklepion-of-kos.351085/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-asklepion-of-kos.351085/">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-asklepion-of-kos.351085/</a>). This is an interesting local issue when the cult of Asklepios started to dominate the island over the cult of Herakles. The famous Asklepion on the island was attended by Hippocrates, who was born on Kos ca. 460BC. #6<img src="https://i.imgur.com/EGrit29.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> Antiochos III 'the Great' (223-187 BC) AE Denomination AA, Ekbatana mint.Obverse: Diademed head of Antiochos III to right.Reverse: ΒAΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ANTIOXOY Mare standing left, suckling foal; to left, monogram. Reference: SC 126830 mm; 23.44 g This coin is a recent addition and very rare. It is the largest bronze denomination which was not minted during the reign of Antiochos III, except in Ekbatana. There seemed to be a demand by the local people of Ekbatana to use larger denomination bronze coins. Also, what makes this coin interesting, is that the reverse is of local type rather than Seleukid type. #5<img src="https://i.imgur.com/lHgyvct.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> Syracuse, Sicily - Pyrrhos AE (278–276 B.C.)Obverse: Helmeted head of Athena left; owl behind.Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΠYPPOY. Grain ear within oak wreath.Reference: SNG ANS 842.5.35g; 19mm I enjoy collecting coins from Pyrrhos,as he is one of my favorite generals. His coins however are quite hard to come by and often quite expensive. This coin is a very nice example issued by Pyrrhos when he was tyrant of Syracuse. The most abundant bronze coin issues by Pyrrhos in Sicily is the type with Herakles on the obverse and Athena on the reverse, these were valued a half-litra. Pyrrhos issued also other bronze denominations, this coin is valued one-fourth of a litra. #4<img src="https://i.imgur.com/SDL5Sf4.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> Thessaly, Trikka. AR Hemidrachm (circa 440-400 B.C.)Obverse: The hero Thessalos, petasos and cloak tied at neck, holding band around head of forepart of bull right.Reverse: ΤΡΙ-Κ-ΚΑI-Ο-И, forepart of bridled horse right within incuse square.Reference: HGC 4, 311; Slg. BCD Thessaly 768 var. This is an example of a coin I picked up because of no other reason then, I just like it a lot, and not anything related to my collecting area. It is a coin from Trikka in Thessaly and the details on this coin are very nice, especially for a smaller silver fraction. #3<img src="https://i.imgur.com/xIYFJuI.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> Alexander II Zabinas (128 B.C. - 122 B.C.) AR Drachm. Toned.Obverse: Diademed head of Zabinas rightReverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY, Athena standing left, resting hand on shield, spear propped in left elbow, extending right hand beyond legend and holding Nike left, in left field Δ, monogram above.Reference: SC 2222a; HGC 9, 1155. To my surprise I won this coin. I didn't even put a relatively high bid, but I ended up winning this coin. It is in extremely fine condition and quite rare. I saw previous sold coins of this type that were sold for a higher price than this coin but in worse condition. What makes Alexander II Zabinas interesting is his portrait, it shows him with a sweet, almost girlish face quite distinct from that of other Seleukid rulers. #2<img src="https://i.imgur.com/fofUxVz.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> Kings of Macedon. temp. Perseus. 179-168 BC. AR Drachm. Third Macedonian War issue. Magistrate Hermias, Uncertain mint in Thessaly (Struck circa 171/0 B.C).Obverse: Head of Helios facing slightly right.Reverse: Rose with bud to right; EPMIAΣ above, Z-Ω flanking stem.Reference: Price, Larissa, pl. LV, 247; SNG Keckman 795.2.67g; 17mm. I think one of my most favorite coins of my collection, I could not resist the attractive iridescent tone. An added bonus is that it is totally in my collection area as well, pseudo-Rhodian coins interest me a lot. This issue was struck by Perseus to pay the Cretan mercenaries in his army. They wanted a currency that they trusted and were familiar with. The Rhodian coinage circulating on Crete were a familiar and trusted currency for the Cretans and it is likely that they would have required payment in that form. #1<img src="https://i.imgur.com/Lg4kaxt.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> Alexander I (Balas). 152/1-145 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Tyre mint. Dated SE 167 (146/5 BC).Obverse: Diademed and draped bust of Alexander Balas right.Reverse: Eagle standing left on prow of galley, palm-branch over right shoulder; club surmounted by monogram to left, ΙΞΡ (date) and monogram to right.Reference: SNG Spaer 1545-1546; Newell, Tyre 79; Houghton 749.Weight: 13.73g (Phoenican standard) I really enjoy this coin because of it's stunning portrait of the king Alexander I Balas. This king started to become my favorite Seleukid king after I have been reading about him. He is quite distinct from the other Seleukid kings, he tried to follow in the footsteps of his claimed 'father' Antiochos IV Epiphanes who issued municipal coinage in 19 cities both to enrich the cities and to promote civic pride. Alexander I Balas was also the first Seleukid king to promote and stimulate silver coinage in the region of Phoenicia. Ptolemaic coinage of the Phoenician standard was predominant in the hoards up to the 140s BC, and the hoarding of Phoenician standard coinage presumably indicated local demand. Alexander Balas eagle issues responded to local demand by using the Ptolemaic eagle on the reverse in a number of mints. These were my top 10 additions of 2019, please be free to comment and tell me about your favorites.[/QUOTE]

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