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<p>[QUOTE="Roman Collector, post: 8069877, member: 75937"]Perhaps I’m getting a little ahead of myself, and I know it's not even December, but several other members have posted theirs and I am pretty sure I've already acquired my top ten for the year. I reserve the right to amend this list, though. I bought a lot of coins this year and narrowing the list down to ten was not easy. I indulged my Faustina fetish this year, to be sure; nonetheless, I hope you find these ten to be enjoyable and interesting.</p><p><br /></p><p>10. I find coins depicting the Three Graces and three nymphs types interesting. This Æ <i>assarion</i> of Lucius Verus from Augusta Trajana in Thrace was very interesting because the identity of the objects associated with the nymphs is unclear and has puzzled numerous numismatists over the years. [USER=91461]@Ryro[/USER]'s identification of the objects as bongs notwithstanding, I think they are <i>thymiateria</i> -- incense burners. Read more about it <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/three-nymphs-issue-for-lucius-verus-augusta-traiana.372848/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/three-nymphs-issue-for-lucius-verus-augusta-traiana.372848/">here</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1399546[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>9. Ever since [USER=56859]@TIF[/USER] posted about this Republican denarius featuring Juno driving a biga of goats, I've wanted one, especially because it reminded me of Michelle Pfeiffer in the movie "Stardust." It made for an <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/juno-caprotina-a-fertility-goddess-associated-with-figs-and-goats.379222/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/juno-caprotina-a-fertility-goddess-associated-with-figs-and-goats.379222/">interesting thread</a>, with others sharing their examples of this fun coin and an academic discussion of whether Juno was portrayed in her avatar of Sospita or Caprotina.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1399551[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>8. This sestertius of Faustina II depicts the apotheosis of the deified empress. What's not to like about the coin? It has a lovely polished leather patina and it's the last Roman coin to depict the <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/faustina-friday-–-the-apotheosis-of-faustina-the-younger.388744/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/faustina-friday-–-the-apotheosis-of-faustina-the-younger.388744/">apotheosis of an empress by the eagle of Zeus</a> before the peacock of Juno became the standard iconography thereafter.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1399559[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>7. I love Antonine coins. I love provincials. I love coins that depict the iconography of paganism. I had to get this one! The description of the coin's reverse in RPC notwithstanding, I believe I convincingly demonstrate it depicts the Apis Bull. <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/sorry-rpc-but-i-dont-think-its-head-surmounted-by-crescent.384326/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/sorry-rpc-but-i-dont-think-its-head-surmounted-by-crescent.384326/">The thread</a> was very interesting, especially because [USER=110350]@DonnaML[/USER] showed one of the items in her magnificent collection of Egyptian artifacts that depicted the Apis Bull with similar iconography.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1399562[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>6. When I saw this big provincial of Caracalla for sale at [USER=99412]@PeteB[/USER]'s website, <a href="http://akropoliscoins.com/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://akropoliscoins.com/" rel="nofollow">Akropolis Ancient Coins</a>, I knew I had to purchase it for my collection. Its reverse features a very interesting representation of Glykon flying through the air carrying Asklepios on his back. That <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/an-interesting-representation-of-glykon.383315/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/an-interesting-representation-of-glykon.383315/">my article</a> was chosen to be featured was icing on the cake!</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1399565[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>5. Ever since [USER=56859]@TIF[/USER] posted a <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-gigantomachy.283117/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-gigantomachy.283117/">fascinating thread about the Gigantomachy</a> some five years ago, I've wanted one of these coins from Seleucia ad Calycadnum which depicts the mythological battle. One from Volusian fit the bill and I wrote about it in <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/t-bone-tuesday-gigantomachy-edition.374659/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/t-bone-tuesday-gigantomachy-edition.374659/">an installment of T-Bone Tuesday</a>. What's not to love about Athena stabbing a monster with snakes for legs?</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1399566[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>4. This beat up sestertius doesn't look like much, but it had been previously unattested with a dative case obverse inscription. This made for a very <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-late-sestertius-of-faustina-ii-with-a-dative-obverse-inscription-previously-unattested.373298/page-2" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-late-sestertius-of-faustina-ii-with-a-dative-obverse-inscription-previously-unattested.373298/page-2">interesting thread</a>, especially as [USER=85693]@Marsyas Mike[/USER] turned out to have an example in his collection, too. A few more examples from auction and sale databases turned up, all of which were obverse die matches.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1399569[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>3. This <i>as</i> of Faustina I doesn't look like much, but it has a veiled bust, is unlisted in the major references, and it may be one of only two known specimens (which are die-matches to each other). [USER=96898]@Orielensis[/USER] owns the other one. You may read more about it <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/when-ct-members-cooperate-in-numismatic-research-a-mysterious-ae-of-diva-faustina-i.384587/#post-7812133" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/when-ct-members-cooperate-in-numismatic-research-a-mysterious-ae-of-diva-faustina-i.384587/#post-7812133">here</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1399577[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>2. I love this <i>as</i> of Faustina II, especially as it was a gift from [USER=89514]@curtislclay[/USER]. At first glance, it looks like a run-of-the-mill anepigraphic Diana middle bronze. But a careful examination reveals it's a mule with an obverse inscription that was used somewhat later, establishing not only a relative chronology for the two issues, but a fairly precise date, too! You may read more about it <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/faustina-friday-–-an-interesting-mule.386814/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/faustina-friday-–-an-interesting-mule.386814/">here</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1399582[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>1. My favorite coin of the year was a generous gift from [USER=76544]@Brian Bucklan[/USER], who discovered the coin. He and I puzzled over it and it turned out to be a hybrid between an obverse of Julia Mamaea issued for the Thracian city of Deultum and a reverse of Severus Alexander issued for the Moesian city of Marcianopolis!! This was a significant find and contributed to the body of evidence that there was a centralized mint along the Black Sea coast in the third century that struck coins for the cities in the region. To the best of my knowledge, this is the <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/coins-of-deultum-thrace-and-marcianopolis-moesia-inf-were-struck-at-the-same-mint.383381/#post-7759681" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/coins-of-deultum-thrace-and-marcianopolis-moesia-inf-were-struck-at-the-same-mint.383381/#post-7759681">first time that a hybrid has been described between Deultum and Marcianopolis</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1399584[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>2021 -- like 2020 -- was hard on all of us in many different ways. I am grateful to all of my friends here at CT for providing fellowship and a place of refuge to de-stress from the year's events. I want to thank you all. I hope you have a wonderful 2022, filled with amazing acquisitions and, above all, good health.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Roman Collector, post: 8069877, member: 75937"]Perhaps I’m getting a little ahead of myself, and I know it's not even December, but several other members have posted theirs and I am pretty sure I've already acquired my top ten for the year. I reserve the right to amend this list, though. I bought a lot of coins this year and narrowing the list down to ten was not easy. I indulged my Faustina fetish this year, to be sure; nonetheless, I hope you find these ten to be enjoyable and interesting. 10. I find coins depicting the Three Graces and three nymphs types interesting. This Æ [I]assarion[/I] of Lucius Verus from Augusta Trajana in Thrace was very interesting because the identity of the objects associated with the nymphs is unclear and has puzzled numerous numismatists over the years. [USER=91461]@Ryro[/USER]'s identification of the objects as bongs notwithstanding, I think they are [I]thymiateria[/I] -- incense burners. Read more about it [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/three-nymphs-issue-for-lucius-verus-augusta-traiana.372848/']here[/URL]. [ATTACH=full]1399546[/ATTACH] 9. Ever since [USER=56859]@TIF[/USER] posted about this Republican denarius featuring Juno driving a biga of goats, I've wanted one, especially because it reminded me of Michelle Pfeiffer in the movie "Stardust." It made for an [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/juno-caprotina-a-fertility-goddess-associated-with-figs-and-goats.379222/']interesting thread[/URL], with others sharing their examples of this fun coin and an academic discussion of whether Juno was portrayed in her avatar of Sospita or Caprotina. [ATTACH=full]1399551[/ATTACH] 8. This sestertius of Faustina II depicts the apotheosis of the deified empress. What's not to like about the coin? It has a lovely polished leather patina and it's the last Roman coin to depict the [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/faustina-friday-–-the-apotheosis-of-faustina-the-younger.388744/']apotheosis of an empress by the eagle of Zeus[/URL] before the peacock of Juno became the standard iconography thereafter. [ATTACH=full]1399559[/ATTACH] 7. I love Antonine coins. I love provincials. I love coins that depict the iconography of paganism. I had to get this one! The description of the coin's reverse in RPC notwithstanding, I believe I convincingly demonstrate it depicts the Apis Bull. [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/sorry-rpc-but-i-dont-think-its-head-surmounted-by-crescent.384326/']The thread[/URL] was very interesting, especially because [USER=110350]@DonnaML[/USER] showed one of the items in her magnificent collection of Egyptian artifacts that depicted the Apis Bull with similar iconography. [ATTACH=full]1399562[/ATTACH] 6. When I saw this big provincial of Caracalla for sale at [USER=99412]@PeteB[/USER]'s website, [URL='http://akropoliscoins.com/']Akropolis Ancient Coins[/URL], I knew I had to purchase it for my collection. Its reverse features a very interesting representation of Glykon flying through the air carrying Asklepios on his back. That [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/an-interesting-representation-of-glykon.383315/']my article[/URL] was chosen to be featured was icing on the cake! [ATTACH=full]1399565[/ATTACH] 5. Ever since [USER=56859]@TIF[/USER] posted a [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-gigantomachy.283117/']fascinating thread about the Gigantomachy[/URL] some five years ago, I've wanted one of these coins from Seleucia ad Calycadnum which depicts the mythological battle. One from Volusian fit the bill and I wrote about it in [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/t-bone-tuesday-gigantomachy-edition.374659/']an installment of T-Bone Tuesday[/URL]. What's not to love about Athena stabbing a monster with snakes for legs? [ATTACH=full]1399566[/ATTACH] 4. This beat up sestertius doesn't look like much, but it had been previously unattested with a dative case obverse inscription. This made for a very [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-late-sestertius-of-faustina-ii-with-a-dative-obverse-inscription-previously-unattested.373298/page-2']interesting thread[/URL], especially as [USER=85693]@Marsyas Mike[/USER] turned out to have an example in his collection, too. A few more examples from auction and sale databases turned up, all of which were obverse die matches. [ATTACH=full]1399569[/ATTACH] 3. This [I]as[/I] of Faustina I doesn't look like much, but it has a veiled bust, is unlisted in the major references, and it may be one of only two known specimens (which are die-matches to each other). [USER=96898]@Orielensis[/USER] owns the other one. You may read more about it [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/when-ct-members-cooperate-in-numismatic-research-a-mysterious-ae-of-diva-faustina-i.384587/#post-7812133']here[/URL]. [ATTACH=full]1399577[/ATTACH] 2. I love this [I]as[/I] of Faustina II, especially as it was a gift from [USER=89514]@curtislclay[/USER]. At first glance, it looks like a run-of-the-mill anepigraphic Diana middle bronze. But a careful examination reveals it's a mule with an obverse inscription that was used somewhat later, establishing not only a relative chronology for the two issues, but a fairly precise date, too! You may read more about it [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/faustina-friday-–-an-interesting-mule.386814/']here[/URL]. [ATTACH=full]1399582[/ATTACH] 1. My favorite coin of the year was a generous gift from [USER=76544]@Brian Bucklan[/USER], who discovered the coin. He and I puzzled over it and it turned out to be a hybrid between an obverse of Julia Mamaea issued for the Thracian city of Deultum and a reverse of Severus Alexander issued for the Moesian city of Marcianopolis!! This was a significant find and contributed to the body of evidence that there was a centralized mint along the Black Sea coast in the third century that struck coins for the cities in the region. To the best of my knowledge, this is the [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/coins-of-deultum-thrace-and-marcianopolis-moesia-inf-were-struck-at-the-same-mint.383381/#post-7759681']first time that a hybrid has been described between Deultum and Marcianopolis[/URL]. [ATTACH=full]1399584[/ATTACH] 2021 -- like 2020 -- was hard on all of us in many different ways. I am grateful to all of my friends here at CT for providing fellowship and a place of refuge to de-stress from the year's events. I want to thank you all. I hope you have a wonderful 2022, filled with amazing acquisitions and, above all, good health.[/QUOTE]
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