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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Ryro, post: 5318668, member: 91461&quot;]What? Y&#039;all thought I was a one trick equestrian?</p><p>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&#039;ll give you the no muss no fuss link here <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ryros-top-10-macedonian-shield-coins-of-2020.370866/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ryros-top-10-macedonian-shield-coins-of-2020.370866/">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ryros-top-10-macedonian-shield-coins-of-2020.370866/</a>, you can thank me later), but there were still a few ancients that struck my fancy in 2020.</p><p>Putting them in order is a brutal affair (one I chickened out of in da shield thread). It&#039;s like choosing which wife of mine is the sexiest. What, I live in Utah<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie85" alt=":smuggrin:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> (God, please don&#039;t let my wife read this). But herein I&#039;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).</p><p>Blah blah, get to the coins Ry to the ro!<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie12" alt="o_O" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Though, several MSCs would have made this list, I like the concept of keeping my specialty, well, special.</p><p>Soooooo without further intercourse<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie60" alt=":kiss:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> on to the show:</p><p>#10</p><p>The reasoning: &quot;I like em big and when I&#039;m throwing a gig I can&#039;t help myself I&#039;m acting like an animal. Now here&#039;s my scandal.&quot;</p><p>Ah yes, and the patination, lovely chocolate patina, a top three favorite Augusta aaand a big ole booty.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie101" alt=":woot:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224712[/ATTACH]</p><p>Julia Domna</p><p>(193-217 AD). AE Sestertius (27 mm, 14,60 g), Roma (Rome), 193-194 AD.</p><p>Obv. IVLIA DOMNA AVG, draped bust right.</p><p>Rev. VENERI VICTR / S - C, Venus, naked to waist, standing right, holding apple and palm and leaning on column.</p><p>RIC IV, 1, p. 207, 842 (R). Per Curtis Clay new die comb., o400/r578</p><p><br /></p><p>#9</p><p>The reasoning: The fact is we grew up amazed with ancient Egypt for the very same reason that the ancient Greeks and Roman&#039;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.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224713[/ATTACH]</p><p>CILICIA, Mint Uncertain</p><p>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.</p><p>Ex: Leu auction 4 Ex: Nomos Obolos 14</p><p><br /></p><p>#8</p><p>The reasoning: I couldn&#039;t let [USER=51347]@Alegandron[/USER] 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!<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie33" alt=":cigar:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224716[/ATTACH]</p><p>CIVIL WAR, 68-69 CE,</p><p>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 &amp; partly off; bust clear; but pretty ugly. Or, as a certain deity would say, &quot;A beautiful coin, folks, believe me, a beautiful coin, I can tell you that.&quot; But Very rare.</p><p>Ex: Frank Robinson</p><p><br /></p><p>#7</p><p>The reasoning:</p><p>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&#039;t,&nbsp; her portrait is on point:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224720[/ATTACH]</p><p>JULIA AUGUSTA (LIVIA). AUGUSTA,</p><p>14-29 A.D. AE Dupondius (31 mm, 13.13 gms), Rome Mint.</p><p>RIC-Tiberius 47. Bareheaded</p><p>and draped bust of Julia Augusta (Livia) as Salus Augusta right; Reverse: Large</p><p>S.C, inscription around. Light brown with some granularity. Nearly VERY FINE.</p><p>Former: Savoca</p><p><br /></p><p>#6</p><p>The reasoning:</p><p>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&#039;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<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie16" alt=":artist:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>The lion here is so majestic and uniquely done yet desirable. The tongue, the teeth, the main, I&#039;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.</p><p>Oh, and a Apollo has a visible erection<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie39" alt=":cyclops:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224727[/ATTACH]</p><p>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.</p><p>Ex: Nomos: Obols</p><p><br /></p><p>#5</p><p>The reasoning: I&#039;ve been bugging [USER=19463]@dougsmit[/USER] 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!</p><p>I mean, artistry<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> Yes, the exquisite, unrivaled artistry<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie46" alt=":facepalm:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224730[/ATTACH]</p><p>PESCENNIUS NIGER (A.D. 193-194)</p><p>Denarius, Ag, A.D. 193-194, Antioch mint</p><p>Antioch mint, 2,57 gr, 18 mm</p><p>Av: [IMP] CAES C PESC - NIGER IVSTI A[V], laureate head of Niger right.</p><p>Rv: INVICTO IMPERAT, trophy and arms.</p><p>3.25g</p><p>RIC 34b; C -</p><p>Fine</p><p>Ex: Savoca</p><p><br /></p><p>#4</p><p>The reasoning: MYSTERY. Ancient Egyptian mystery. Like many coin purchases,&nbsp; I blame [USER=56859]@TIF[/USER] I even did a write up on this beauty <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/melita-and-the-sad-bizarre-lack-of-egyptian-iconography-on-ancient-coinage-luv-letter-to-ancients.367426/#post-4939885" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/melita-and-the-sad-bizarre-lack-of-egyptian-iconography-on-ancient-coinage-luv-letter-to-ancients.367426/#post-4939885">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/melita-and-the-sad-bizarre-lack-of-egyptian-iconography-on-ancient-coinage-luv-letter-to-ancients.367426/#post-4939885</a></p><p>Though, hers was better <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ancient-coins-of-melita.342722/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ancient-coins-of-melita.342722/">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ancient-coins-of-melita.342722/</a></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224732[/ATTACH]</p><p>Melita - Mummy of Osiris Bronze</p><p>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.</p><p>Provenance</p><p>Property of a Hertfordshire, UK gentleman; with old envelope.</p><p>Literature CNS 2; SG Cop (Vol. 8) 458-459; Mayr 2; Sear 6584.</p><p><br /></p><p>#3</p><p>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&#039;m talking about the Rocus aaand not my wife).</p><p>Add to that, one if the COOLEST<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie100" alt=":wideyed:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> reverse on any coin. I really should have her at #1. But it&#039;s Saturday<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224733[/ATTACH]</p><p>Creperius, Rocus</p><p>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.</p><p>Ex: Tauler &amp; Fau</p><p><br /></p><p>#2</p><p>The reasoning: Rare drachm (seems the type is easier to find in Tetradrachm, though don&#039;t let that make you think the tets are the less expensive), that either portrays Alexander the great wearing a soldier&#039;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<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie57" alt=":jawdrop:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>(This one technically could go in my Macedonian shield coins thread, but I thought it better suited here):</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224734[/ATTACH]</p><p>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&#039;s horn and ear, and with a panther&#039;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</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Aaand my #1 ancient, non MSC, from 2020...</p><p>You can come up with your own reasons as I don&#039;t think I need to tell you all the reasons why:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1224735[/ATTACH]</p><p>ROMAN REPUBLIC. Anonymous. AE Aes Grave Triens (92.37 gms), Rome Mint, ca. 225-217 B.C. VERY FINE.</p><p>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&#039;s face is noted for completeness.</p><p>Ex Stacks &amp; Bowers</p><p><br /></p><p>Please post those comments, similar coins you may have or anything that gets us to the end of 2020 any faster![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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