What? Y'all thought I was a one trick equestrian? Granted none of these coins, nor any other, are near the splendor that I posted some time ago with my tippy top 10 Macedonian shield coins (cause I care, I'll give you the no muss no fuss link here https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ryros-top-10-macedonian-shield-coins-of-2020.370866/, you can thank me later), but there were still a few ancients that struck my fancy in 2020. Putting them in order is a brutal affair (one I chickened out of in da shield thread). It's like choosing which wife of mine is the sexiest. What, I live in Utah (God, please don't let my wife read this). But herein I've attempted to choose the coin that checked the most boxes, hit the right chords and that spoke to me (groovy, I think the mushrooms are kicking in). Blah blah, get to the coins Ry to the ro! Though, several MSCs would have made this list, I like the concept of keeping my specialty, well, special. Soooooo without further intercourse on to the show: #10 The reasoning: "I like em big and when I'm throwing a gig I can't help myself I'm acting like an animal. Now here's my scandal." Ah yes, and the patination, lovely chocolate patina, a top three favorite Augusta aaand a big ole booty. Julia Domna (193-217 AD). AE Sestertius (27 mm, 14,60 g), Roma (Rome), 193-194 AD. Obv. IVLIA DOMNA AVG, draped bust right. Rev. VENERI VICTR / S - C, Venus, naked to waist, standing right, holding apple and palm and leaning on column. RIC IV, 1, p. 207, 842 (R). Per Curtis Clay new die comb., o400/r578 #9 The reasoning: The fact is we grew up amazed with ancient Egypt for the very same reason that the ancient Greeks and Roman's did. Because even back then Egypt was just soooooo old. At to that an Egyptian God from the early to mid kingdoms, who happens to be known for his massive phallus, he and his wife, Beset, Gods of the household and fertility (no wonder with his appendage)... oh, and the coins a showstopper and hard type to get in this condition. CILICIA, Mint Uncertain 400-350 BC. Obol (Silver, 10 mm, 0.58 g, 1 h). Female head facing, turned slightly to left, wearing earrings, necklace and flowing hair (Arethusa?). Rev. Facing head of Bes. Göktürk 44. SNG Levante 233. SNG France 486. Fine metal and attractive on both sides. Very fine. Ex: Leu auction 4 Ex: Nomos Obolos 14 #8 The reasoning: I couldn't let @Alegandron be the only one with a sweet coin of the type...I mean, this is the dude who precipitated the expulsion of the Julio Claudian line! CIVIL WAR, 68-69 CE, Den, fouree, Mint in Southern Gaul. VESTA PR QVIRITVM, veiled and draped bust of Vesta; torch to right, r/IO MAX CAPITOLINVS, Jupiter std in Distyle temple, with wreath in pediment and containing Jupiter seated left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre; RIC 128; Frank Robinson’s notes “F or so BUT much patchy core exposure, somewhat off-ctr, lgnds crude & partly off; bust clear; but pretty ugly. Or, as a certain deity would say, "A beautiful coin, folks, believe me, a beautiful coin, I can tell you that." But Very rare. Ex: Frank Robinson #7 The reasoning: I purchased two of the three Livia as a personification coins this year and would love to share both. But Salus is the considerably more coveted one. And, even is the centering isn't, her portrait is on point: JULIA AUGUSTA (LIVIA). AUGUSTA, 14-29 A.D. AE Dupondius (31 mm, 13.13 gms), Rome Mint. RIC-Tiberius 47. Bareheaded and draped bust of Julia Augusta (Livia) as Salus Augusta right; Reverse: Large S.C, inscription around. Light brown with some granularity. Nearly VERY FINE. Former: Savoca #6 The reasoning: Where to start, the Greek artistry on this one is through the roof. Im fortunate the coin has the damage it does or I surely wouldn't have been able to afford one with so much going for it. The island is known as producing the most artistically wonderful coins of the ancient world The lion here is so majestic and uniquely done yet desirable. The tongue, the teeth, the main, I'm just still thrilled to have won this. With a wonderful and kinda creepy scene on the reverse as well. Apollo is lanky yet athletic. Oh, and a Apollo has a visible erection SICILY. Leontini, Circa 450-440 BC. Litra (Silver, 12 mm, 0.83 g, 10 h). ΛΕΟ - Ν Lion’s head with open jaws to right. Rev. Apollo, nude, standing left holding phiale in his right hand and branch in his left; to left, altar; to right, barley grain. Boehringer, Münzgeschichte 50. SNG ANS 264. SNG Fitzwilliam 1054. A few rough spots, otherwise, very fine. Ex: Nomos: Obols #5 The reasoning: I've been bugging @dougsmit for a couple years now on advice of if I should pull the trigger on this Pesscinius or that. The man really was an intelligent and able commander whom very well could have run the empire well. Only problem, he had the poor luck of having to go up against one of the most able strategists Rome ever had. Though, the difference may very well have been the simple fact, like Caesar was to Pompey, of Severus just being too fast! I mean, artistry Yes, the exquisite, unrivaled artistry PESCENNIUS NIGER (A.D. 193-194) Denarius, Ag, A.D. 193-194, Antioch mint Antioch mint, 2,57 gr, 18 mm Av: [IMP] CAES C PESC - NIGER IVSTI A[V], laureate head of Niger right. Rv: INVICTO IMPERAT, trophy and arms. 3.25g RIC 34b; C - Fine Ex: Savoca #4 The reasoning: MYSTERY. Ancient Egyptian mystery. Like many coin purchases, I blame @TIF I even did a write up on this beauty https://www.cointalk.com/threads/me...e-luv-letter-to-ancients.367426/#post-4939885 Though, hers was better https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ancient-coins-of-melita.342722/ Melita - Mummy of Osiris Bronze 218-175 BC Obv: veiled and diademed female head right, wearing earring. Rev: Mummy of Osiris standing facing, head left, holding flail and sceptre, between winged figures of Isis and Nephtys, each with sun disk on their heads and one wing angled inwards; Punic ‘NN above. 12.78 grams. Fair. Provenance Property of a Hertfordshire, UK gentleman; with old envelope. Literature CNS 2; SG Cop (Vol. 8) 458-459; Mayr 2; Sear 6584. #3 The reasoning: The unknown beautiful woman on this coin looks like nothing else in Roman republic coinage. I fell for her... HARD when I first started collecting. But thought she was out of my league (I'm talking about the Rocus aaand not my wife). Add to that, one if the COOLEST reverse on any coin. I really should have her at #1. But it's Saturday Creperius, Rocus Denarius. 68 BC. Uncertain mint. (Ffc-657). (Craw-399-1b). (Cal-522). Obv: Bust of the back of the Sea Goddess to the right, C to the right, to the left crab. Rev .: Neptune with trident, in biga pulled by hippocampi to the right, below Q CREPER M (F) / ROCVS. Ag. 3.61 g. Usually struck off center. Very scarce. VF. Ex: Tauler & Fau #2 The reasoning: Rare drachm (seems the type is easier to find in Tetradrachm, though don't let that make you think the tets are the less expensive), that either portrays Alexander the great wearing a soldier's helmet (which I do believe it to be as it looks very much like the helmeted Alexander from the Gordy 3 period) or Seleucus. A portrait if a diadochi would be even more rare still (This one technically could go in my Macedonian shield coins thread, but I thought it better suited here): Seleukos I Nikator, 312-281 BC. Drachm (Silver, 16.5 mm, 4.25 g, 12 h), probably Seleukeia on the Tigris, after circa 305/4 BC . Bust of Alexander the Great to right, as Dionysos, wearing helmet covered with a panther skin and adorned with a bull's horn and ear, and with a panther's skin tied around his shoulders. Rev. ΒΑΣIΛΕΩΣ [ΣΕ]ΛΕΥΚΟΥ Nike standing to right, placing wreath on trophy; between Nike and trophy, monogram. HGC 9, 35. SC 197. Toned. Very fine. Ex Nomos Aaand my #1 ancient, non MSC, from 2020... You can come up with your own reasons as I don't think I need to tell you all the reasons why: ROMAN REPUBLIC. Anonymous. AE Aes Grave Triens (92.37 gms), Rome Mint, ca. 225-217 B.C. VERY FINE. Cr-35/3a; TV-53. Obverse: Helmeted head of Minerva left; four pellets (mark of value) below; all set upon raised disk; Reverse: Prow right; four pellets (mark of value) below; all set upon raised disk. A pleasing specimen despite its crudeness, with charming green surfaces. A test cut across Minerva's face is noted for completeness. Ex Stacks & Bowers Please post those comments, similar coins you may have or anything that gets us to the end of 2020 any faster!
Honorable mentions: My best portrait of the year, goes to the coin my Saturn @bcuda gave me of Trajan Decius: My most stunning LRB (and so much more), with not only beauty but a true and some may consider dark mystery from @Curtisimo : This Marcus Aurelius would have probably made the list if I didn't give it to my dad for X mas: These Shield coins got left out just for being shield coins! And this, my Christmas present from my wife, isn't even a coin, but would have made both lists if it were: Bronze Age Gold Domed Boss Mount 2nd millennium BC A sheet gold domed mount with attachment loop to the underside. 2.39 grams, 28mm (1"). Fine condition. Ex Timeline auctions Another smoking hOt LRB: And my first gold(ish) coin:
Beautiful, diverse selection. I like all of them but I would go for #3 Funny, the obverse reminds me of this coin, one of my favourite modern coins
No, but a consummate punster thou art indeed! Fun poll titles. For me, the face of Bes locked on early. I initially skimmed by ol’ Pescennius there, until I realized who I was looking at (yeah, impressed) so “click!” Voted. The third choice was initially difficult but upon a third look-through it became much easier. Definitely the Creperius RR denarius. Definitely. I know you’re in love with that watery sea nymph chick on the obverse, and I can understand that- she’s lovely- but ‘twas the hippocampi on the reverse that cinched it for me. That, and the fact that I have yet to own a serrate denarius myself. Now you’ve put another type on my radar. Well done.
Looks like you had an awesome year for coins Ryro! The Melita, Seleukos I Nikator and Triens are my favorites.
They're all very cool for historical and numismatic reasons, but my three personal favorites are #'s 3, 6, and 9: the Creperius with the two hippocamps (I want one!), the amazing lion from Sicily, and, of course, the Bes from Cilicia. Every time you post that one, I feel that I have to post my amulet of Bes:
Troy Josey you are a punk troll. Go back to high school and don't let them pick on you so much. Then you might have some courage. Instead of hiding on the internet being a jerk so someone like me doesn't break your nose in real life!
And then I always feel the need to post my tick tack sized Egyptian bead of his that came with my first scarab:
I voted for 1, 2, and 9. All great coins, you had a fantastic year. I'm super jealous of 1 & 2 though!! My only aes grave is this little uncia:
Dude. I cannot vote. I will pick them ALL. Well done, a GREAT 2020 ! REALLY like all of them... my type of collecting!
I appreciate it good buddy. Things will be sailing along positive, intelligent and fun. And then some Jack wagon from moderns with a grudge, whom has already been banned, comes along to bomb an ancients thread. How many times it's happened is incalculable. But I swear I could probably count on both hands the amount of negative "look at me!" "give me attention" posts that I've gotten, right after putting up something I worked hard on from a moderns troll. Nobody appreciates a joke more than me... so long as there is a coin attached. Otherwise that's the definition of trolling. I do not suffer fools. Why I boxed and taught boxing before kids came along. Though, I confess, arguing with a fool only proves there are two. Is a great way to live. I complain about the one or two recurring ancients trolls, but moderns just attracts trolls for various reasons. But I do appreciate the friendship and solidarity
Yes. Thanks Donna. I was just waisting time reading up on his "deal". And poor fella is off his rocker. I sure hope he gets some help. He'll get none from me.
How do you know he hasn't been banned, or gotten a long timeout, at the very least? I suppose time will tell... Resume original scheduled programming. Let's move on, now. Nothing more to see here, except the coins.
I always like the SBD approach: Click on their Name, look at / review their other postings, evaluate, then hit REPORT if they are exhibiting TROLL BEHAVIOR. No one knows, except the MODERATORS. If everyone posts responses to the Troll, it just keeps thriving as they are WANTING responses. NEXT!