The year's pretty much halfway over and I decided to review what I've added to my collection so far. It's hard to narrow down one's favorite new coins because the list changes so frequently. However, educational value and aesthetic value count for more than simply filling holes and all of these coins are accompanied by links to posts about them so those who wish may read more about why I consider them interesting. Post anything you feel is relevant! 10. This Faustina II denarius depicts CERES seated, holding a transverse torch which I consider to be a separate issue from a similar issue with an upright torch: 9. Provincial bronze from Laodicea Combusta, a city not otherwise represented in my collection or in @TIF 's big provincial cities thread, featuring the confronted busts of Titus & Domitian: 8. Speaking of Domitian, I really like this denarius because it inspired me to learn all about the aegis of Minerva: 7. The reason I like this antoninianus of Philip I is pretty straightforward: the elephant is just plain cool. But it did get us talking about the term pachyderm. 6. I like this quasi-autonomous issue of Smyrna because it illustrates Nemesis with long wings, as in the ancient Greek "Hymn to Nemesis" by Mesomedes of Crete, one of the few songs with musical notation to survive from antiquity. Moreover, it appears to be a die match to the SNG Copenhagen plate coin. 5. I like architectural issues, though I don't specialize in them. This antoninianus of Valerian I depicts Vulcan standing inside the temple of Vulcan and few Roman coins do so. 4. Speaking of Temples, this follis of Maxentius inspired me to learn a lot about the Temple of Venus Felix and Roma Aeterna: 3. This dupondius of Faustina II issued by her father, Antoninus Pius, isn't in RIC or Sear and is listed in BMCRE 4 only as a footnote because the British Museum didn't obtain an example for their collection until 1959. In fact, Cohen appears to be the only standard reference in which it appears. Learning about this coin allowed me to match the obverse die with the BMC's example and to identify two variants of the reverse type, one with a thin column, and one with a thick column. 2. Speaking of Faustina's father, Antoninus Pius, he was one proud grandpa! It's not the highest grade or most well-preserved example of this coin, but research about it led me on a quest to identify who the two grandchildren depicted on the reverse might be: 1. This humble provincial of Julia Domna from Marcianopolis depicting The Three Nymphs led me not only to learn about what distinguishes the nymphs from the Three Graces, but to also do a die study. My study revealed the coin appears to have produced from only two pairs of obverse and reverse dies, without crossover between them. This was the most interesting research project in ancient numismatics I have ever done!
I appreciate the fact that you not only have ten neat coins but that you can put into words why they are neat. Thank you. Let me offer a variation of #7. It is not equal to yours in grade or style but it illustrates the difference between your Rome mint coin and the Eastern mint variety. Note it also uses the longer obverse legend.
This year...and last have been...very slow for me. Like Doug said, I like hearing about what made these coin interesting to you.
It's wonderful that each and every coin in your top 10 provided both you and all of us with a great learning opportunity... thanks!!! I also added a Domitian Minerva this year, my first:
That's a great first half of the year! I'm partial to the provincials, but have always enjoyed all of your writeups and been more educated about the coins after reading them. Thanks for taking the time to share .
Good year so far RC, and we're not even half way through! I dig that pseudo-autonomous coin, that's an interesting personification of the senate, I couldn't figure out who the heck that was.
