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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Eduard, post: 3554800, member: 8959&quot;]With the numbers of new members in Ancients here at C.T, and also for long-time members, I thought it would be interesting to show each other our best &#039;cherry-picks&#039;</p><p>(to use a term used in the &#039;light-side&#039;) we&#039;ve ever made in Ancients. </p><p><br /></p><p>It could be a very rare, or a previously unknown variety you picked-up unattributed, or a lucky find you made for a great price, or some other reason (not necessarily rarity or $ value) where you thought you made an unexpected and great find. </p><p><br /></p><p>Whatever the case, the find put a great big smile on your face as a collector of ancient coins<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. </p><p><br /></p><p>I can think of two coins in my collection which fit this category:</p><p><br /></p><p>I came upon a foreign dealer a few years ago at the Frankfurt Coin Show. I was out looking for US coins and started looking through his trays. The dealer had mostly modern European and a few non-european, but also had a full tray of ancients.</p><p>All of the coins in the tray were priced at 60-70 euros each and all were denarii or antoninianii of the late 2nd and 3rd century. Not really my focus. Now, my knowledge of&nbsp; 2nd and 3rd century emperors and their coins is limited, but enough to be able to recognise the emperors on the tray as &#039;common&#039;.</p><p><br /></p><p>One of them, however, stood out as a type and emperor I recalled not seeing before.</p><p>It was also in very good condition. Not having my books with me (I was out looking primarily for US coins), I decided to take a risk and give it as shot anyway and add an Antoniniani to my collection. An example in good condition would be a nice bonus and a good purchase at the stated price. I made an offer for a modest discount which the seller accepted.</p><p><br /></p><p>He was happy, I was happy. I paid, thanked the dealer and walked away.</p><p><br /></p><p>A few rows later I chanced upon an acquaintance who has also mentored my over the year in ancients. We showed each other our &#039;finds&#039;, as is usual. When he saw this coin (and the price) he looked at me surprised and asked where I had found it.</p><p>He told me the coin was a Hostilianus, and told me they were relatively scarce coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>He then rushed to the dealers table hoping to find other similar unattributed scarce coins, but that was it.</p><p><br /></p><p>Anyway, long story short, here is the coin. The pics do not do it justice. The coin even has much original mint lustre. </p><p><br /></p><p>This one put a big smile on my face<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />!</p><p><br /></p><p>Hostilian, as Caesar, AR Antoninianus. Rome, circa AD 251. C VAL HOS MES QVINTVS N C, radiate and draped bust right / MARS PROPVG, Mars advancing right, holding spear and shield. RIC 176a;</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]944919[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]944920[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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