Romancollector's top 20 of 2020

Nice bull - that's the one I voted for.

 

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Way to go! Nice top ten!
I would pick the Honorius AV Solidus, and the Ant. Pius Aureus if I had to pick two for my collection.
Your pictures are very well done.....better then me.
John

 

Yes, we can dream. And dreams are FREE!
Today I dreamt about starting a collection of gold coins. If I ever do, I won’t finish it before next life, and that’s the soonest.

 

All are really great coins @Romancollector but the Sabinus/Tarpeia, Octavian/Curia Julia, and the A-Pi Aureus are all stand outs. Excellent year.

 

A wonderful selection. The Octavian curia denarius is one
I've long wanted - an enviable example

 

Not sure how I missed this thread! All of the coins are superb but your Octavian Senate House is incredible. Congratulations on a great year!

 

Thank you @Curtisimo @lordmarcovan @eparch and @AncientJoe !!! Your comments are very much appreciated!

 

Beautiful group of coins - I'm split between the Augustus/bull denarius and the Claudius sestertius as my favorites. All are great examples!

 

Okay, so...I've been a bit busy with exams and all, but I am finally posting part 2 of my top 20 of 2020. So here they are! Once again, the order is strictly chronological and has nothing to do with my ranking of the coins.

Roman Republic:
M. Aburius M. f. Geminus (132 BC)
AR Denarius

Date: 132 BC
Obv: Helmeted head of Roma right; GEM behind; XVI monogram below chin.
Rev: Sol driving galloping quadriga right, M ABVRI below horses; ROMA in exergue.
Diameter: 19mm
Weight: 3.92 grams
Crawford 250/1
Mint: Rome
Ex: Roma Numismatics, Numismatica Ars Classica (Auction 52, 7 October 2009, 223)

While this coin is common, I was drawn to its beautiful golden toning!

Roman Republic:
L. Marcius Philippus (113-112 BC)
AR Denarius

Date: 113-112 BC
Obv: Head of Philip V of Macedon right, wearing diademed royal Macedonian helmet with goat horns; Roma monogram to upper left, Φ below chin.
Rev: Equestrian statue right on tablet ins-cribed L•PHILIPPVS, holding laurel branch; flower below horse; mark of value in ex.
Diameter: 19mm
Weight: 3.72 grams
Mint: Rome
Crawford 293/1
Ex: Roma Numismatics, Andrew McCabe Collection; H.D. Rauch GmbH (Dec 2012)

What can I say? It is such a beautiful coin in hand. I liked the fact that it depicted a foreign monarch, who was a formidable opponent of Rome. Crawford suggests that the depiction of Philip was an allusion to the moneyer's cognomen, Philippus. I've read elsewhere that the moneyer's ancestor may have negotiated a treaty with the king. In any case, I believe it is a fascinating coin and I intend to examine its history further.

Roman Republic:
M. Herennius (108-107 BC)
AR Denarius

Date: 108-107 BC
Obv: Head of Pietas right, wearing stephane; PIETAS downwards behind.
Rev: Amphinomus running right, carrying his father; M•HERENNI downwards behind, control mark before.
Diameter: 19mm
Weight: 3.91 grams
Mint: Rome
Crawford 308/1b
Ex: Roma Numismatics, Numismatica Ars Classica

I liked this coin because of its depiction of filial piety; an ideal which was fundamental to Roman society. It reminded me of the denarii issued by Caesar depicting Aeneas carrying Anchises on his shoulder. But here, we have an earlier depiction of this ideal on a coin. It features one of the brothers from Catana, Amphinomus, carrying his father after the eruption of Etna.

Roman Empire:
Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161)
AE Sestertius

Date: AD 145-147
Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP TR P, laureate bust right.
Rev: AVG IIII COS IIII, Emperor seated on platform, hand outstretched, officer to right, Liberalitas to left with cornucopiae and distributing coins from counting board to citizen at left; SC on platform, LIBERALITAS below.
Diameter: 34mm
Weight: 24.98 grams
Mint: Rome
RIC III 774
Ex: CNG, the BLS Collection

I am fond of sestertii and I was impressed with this coin's reverse. It depicts the liberalitas (munificence or generosity) of the emperor. This is one of those coins that is incredibly difficult to photograph. I didn't bother posting my own photo of it because it does this a coin a disservice. However, I will get around to rephotographing it...eventually.

Roman Empire:
Septimius Severus (AD 193-211)
AE Sestertius

Date: AD 196
Obv: SEPT SEV PE-RT AVG IMP VIII, laureate, cuirassed bust of Septimius Severus right, seen from behind.
Rev: P M TR P IIII CO-S II P P, Victory advancing left, wreath upward in right hand, palm in left; S-C across fields.
Diameter: 33mm
Weight: 25.51 grams
Mint: Rome
RIC IV.I 725
Ex: Heritage Auctions

I've always wanted a sestertius of Severus, and specifically, one with an earlier portrait. While the coin has its flaws, I thought the portrait and the green patina were excellent! I am still waiting for this coin, but it will hopefully arrive next week.

Roman Empire:
Maximinus I (AD 235-238)
AE Sestertius

Date: late AD 236-237
Obv: MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM, laureate draped bust right.
Rev: SALVS AVGVSTI S-C, Salus seated left, feeding snake rising from altar.
Diameter: 30mm
Weight: 21.59 grams
Mint: Rome, 3rd emission
RIC IV 85
Ex: CNG, the Summer Haven Collection

I was very impressed with the portrait on this coin, and I thought it would compliment my denarius of the emperor. I wanted this coin when it originally popped up in a CNG e-auction, but I didn't end up bidding on it. So I was quite happy to win when it reappeared in a later CNG e-auction!

Roman Empire:
Maximinus II (AD 310-313)
BI Follis


Date: AD 312.
Obv: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG, laureate head right.
Rev: HERCVLI VICTORI, Hercules standing right, leaning on club; star above Γ left field, SNN in exergue.
Diameter: 23mm
Weight: 4.45 grams
Mint: Nicomedia
RIC VI 75
Ex: Roma Numismatics, Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung (Auction 152, 10 October 2006, lot 2424).

I have yet to photograph this coin. In addition to its silvering, I was drawn to the coin's depiction of a Farnese-esque Hercules.

Roman Empire:
Constantius II (AD 337-361)
AR Light Miliarense

Date: AD 350-355
Obv: DN CONSTANTIVS PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: VIRTVS EXERCITVS, soldier standing, head left, holding spear and shield; Mintmark TES.
Weight: 4.35 grams
Mint: Thessalonica
RIC VIII 203
Ex: Tauler & Fau

I've wanted this type for a while, specifically from the Thessalonica mint. It was just a matter of waiting for the right example to pop up. Unfortunately, this is another coin that I'm still waiting for....

Roman Empire:
Eugenius (AD 392–394)
AR Siliqua

Date: AD 392-394
Obv: D N EVGENI–VS P F AVG, Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: VIRTVS RO–MANORVM, Roma seated l. on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and reverted spear; in exergue, TRPS.
Diameter: 16mm
Weight: 1.71 grams
Mint: Trier
RIC IX 106d
Ex: Numismatica Ars Classica, SKA sale 4 (1985, 644)

This is actually an upgrade from my previous example, which was featured in last year's list. This is another coin that I can't seem to photograph well. I will attempt to rephotograph it in the coming days.

Roman Empire:
Marcian (AD 450-457)
AV Tremissis

Date: AD 450
Obv: D N MARCIANVS P F AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Victory walking right, looking left, holding wreath and cross on globe, star to right. Mintmark CONOB.
Diameter: 16.5mm
Weight: 1.48 grams
Mint: Constantinople
RIC X 520
Ex: CNG

I'm ending my top 2020 with this beautiful little tremissis that was purchased prior to COVID!

I've thoroughly enjoyed looking at your top 10s/20s and hope you've enjoyed looking at mine!



All the best for 2021!
Rc

 

All are stunning beauties! You have a fruitful coin collecting this year. Thanks for sharing.

 

Awesome stuff! How did I miss your list the first time around? The Augustus bull and Octavian Temple are my favorite, and from the second list, the A-Pi Liberalitas and Constantius II. Great taste and great eye!

 

Really beautiful examples of the highest quality.

 

I like the portrait and the deep brown coloring! nice Top 10.

 

Yeaaahhh ummm not sure if I'll vote here... they're ALL incredible!