The last of this year's purchases has finally arrived, so I can at last put this thread together! With a new year right around the corner, it simultaneously feels like it’s been less than a year, and more than a decade since December 2019. Looking back at last year’s Top 10, I made a little progress towards some of my goals, like acquiring a few higher end AR coins, and I made great progress towards expanding my Alexandrian collection. I did not, however, prove very successful at paring down my collection to refocus, or acquire either a pre-Roman and post-Roman British coin. Hybridity, which I chose as my collecting theme for 2019, remained a major focus, with a continuing expansion of Indian and Central Asian coins. I’ve also come to enjoy acquiring unique or special coins, even if they are not necessarily beautiful or valuable. You’ll see examples of this represented in Number X of this list. Next year, I’d like to continue expanding my Alexandrians and ‘hybrid’ coins, finally acquire those British coins, and add at least one Ptolemaic coin to my Egyptian collection. Oh, and pare down some excess items from the collection. I promise. Really. Totally. #10: Bronze Dichalkon of Alexandria, Hadrian, 11mm, 1.14g, AD 124/5, RPC 5564 Obverse: Laureate bust right Reverse: Mask of Silenus to right; L [E]N It's not exactly pretty, but this coin captured my imagination because of the enigmatic image on the reverse type. I've written a short article on it that I hope to see published in the future, but the gist of it is that I concluded that the reverse bust represents Silenus, a satyr associated with Dionysus. Dionysus was considered to be Osiris within the hybridized Romano-Egyptian religious system. #9: Bronze of Melita (Malta), 29mm, 10.47g, 218 – 175 BC, SNG Cop. 458-459 Obverse: Veiled and diademed female head right, wearing earring Reverse: Mummy of Osiris standing facing, head left, holding flail and sceptre, between Isis and Nephthys, each with sun disks on their heads and one wing angled inwards; [Punic ‘NN above] It may be ugly as sin, but I've wanted one of these for a while and could never justify the price. Despite watching auctions for a couple years, I never found the right combination of quality to price. This one is definitely lower quality than I'd like, but since I snagged in a group lot for what amounts to less than $20, I think I can overlook that. #8: C. Servilius M.f., AR Denarius, 20mm, 3.59g, 136 BC, Crawford 239/1 Obverse: ROMA; head of Roma to right, wearing necklace of pendants; behind, wreath and X. Reverse: Dioscuri riding apart, with spears reversed; C•SERVEILI•M•F in exergue I love a good action scene on my coins and this one delivers that with a striking image of the Dioscuri (which also happens to be my astrological sign, for whatever that's worth). It also complements another issue by the same moneyer family that made it onto last year's Top 10 list. #7: Kushan Empire, Vima Kadphises, AE Tetradrachm, 29mm, 17.03g, AD 90-100 Obverse: BACIΛEYC BACIΛEWN CWTHP MEΓAC OOHMO KAΔΦICHC; King facing, sacrificing at fire altar at left, club, tamgha and Trishula in field Reverse: Shiva/Oesho facing, holding Trishula , bull behind; maharajasa rajadirajasa sarvaloga isvarasa mahisvarasa Vima Kathphishasa tratara I was torn between showcasing this or one of the punchmarked karshapanas that I acquired this year, but the beauty and condition of this big Kushan bronze won out. I like how substantial these coins feel, they remind me of an Alexandrian drachm. Kushans are an overlooked area with some very interesting types. #6: Bronze Drachm of Alexandria, Hadrian, 34mm, 17g, AD 130/1, RPC 5777 Obverse: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΤΡΙΑ ΑΔΡΙΑ СƐΒ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Reverse: L IE, Alexandria, head bowed, facing Emperor, laureate and wearing toga, facing, holding sceptre; graffito TΦI? And thus it begins, the first Alexandrian drachm on my list. I already have a nicer example of the type, but the unique modification made to this one made it something that I had to have in my collection. Despite extensive research I haven't been able to figure out why it was modified to this shape, although I suspect that it may be associated with ritual usage. There's also what I strongly suspect is a small graffito on the reverse (see here for a better image of that). #5: Bronze Drachm of Alexandria, Hadrian, 34mm, 20.8g, AD 131/2, RPC 5790 Obverse: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ ϹƐΒ, laureate draped and cuirassed bust of Hadrian, r., seen from rear Reverse: L ΙϚ, Emperor (Hadrian) standing in quadriga, r., laureate-headed, wearing toga, holding eagle-tipped sceptre and branch; countermark of eagle, head left with wings spread? GIC 324? There are certainly far better examples of the coin out there, but once again this was something that was so unique that I had to have in my collection. If I recall correctly, there's only one other countermarked Alexandrian drachm known, so this is a rarity indeed. For those unfamiliar with the series, Egypt had a closed currency system under Roman rule, meaning that Egyptian coinage shouldn't have left Egypt and foreign coinage shouldn't have entered. It's apparent that it still happened from time to time, and this coin likely circulated as a sestertius. I believe that the countermark is from Tralles in Anatolia. #4: Bronze Drachm of Alexandria, Antoninus Pius, 33mm, 17.42g, AD 144/5, RPC 13971 (online temp. number) Obverse: ΑVΤ Κ Τ ΑΙΛ ΑΔΡ ΑΝΤωΝƐΙΝΟС СƐΒ ƐVС, laureate head to right Reverse: ΜƐΝƐΛΑƐΙΤΗϹ L Η, Menelaites nome; Harpocrates, with lower body of a crocodile, crowned with skhent, standing left; [before, Egyptian altar] What can I say; what's not to like here? I like Harpocrates, I like crocodiles, I like big bronze drachms, and I like hybrid things... #3: Bronze Drachm of Alexandria, Hadrian, 34mm, 19.86, AD 136/7, RPC 6186 Obverse: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙС ΤΡΙΑΝ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟС СƐΒ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Reverse: L KA, Kalathos on column, flanked by two serpents wearing pschent crowns I love the rich symbolism on this coin, which combines the Egyptian with the Greek in a very explicit way. It also has an interesting provenance, coming from the John Work Garrett collection. #2: Bronze Drachm of Alexandria, Antoninus Pius, 33mm, 22.36g, AD 148/9, RPC 13640 (online temp. number) Obverse: ΑVΤ Κ Τ ΑΙΛ ΑΔΡ ΑΝΤⲰΝΙΝΟϹ ϹƐΒ ƐVϹƐΒ, laureate-headed bust of Antoninus Pius wearing cuirass and paludamentum, r., seen from centre, front or rear Reverse: L ΔⲰΔƐΚΑΤΟV, Isis Pharia standing, r., holding sail and sistrum; before, Pharos It isn't rare at all, but I have wanted a nice depiction of the Pharos for a long time. This coin checks that box and it's really just an all around attractive example in my eyes. #1: M. Plaetorius Cestianus, AR Denarius, 18mm, 3.99g, 67 BC, Crawford 409/1 Obverse: CESTIANVS S•C, androgynous bust to right with attributes of Isis, Minerva, Apollo, Diana, and Victory; before, cornucopia. Reverse: M•PLAETORIVS•M•F•AED• CVR; Eagle on thunderbolt This one is pretty much tied with the Pharos coin for the #1 spot. These aren't exactly rare coins, but it is pretty rare to find one that captures all of the deity attributes in a single strike. In particular, it was very important for me that the crown of Isis be very clear. This is the earliest appearance of Isis on ‘official’ Roman currency; she made a slightly earlier appearance on local coins struck in Sicily under Roman rule. I think that it's a very beautiful issue in general, coming from a period that produced some of the most original and attractive denarii in Roman history.
Nice coins. I have one of the personification of Alexandria coins with Hadrian.... Æ Drachm, 36mm, 22.1g, 11h; Alexandria, Year 15 = 130/1 AD. Obverse: AVT KAI - TRAI AΔPIA CEB; Bust laureate, draped, cuirassed right. Reverse: Alexandria kisses the hand of the arriving emperor; he is laureate and togate, stands left, extends right hand to Alexandria and holds scepter in left; she stands right wearing elephant skin headdress, guides the emperor's hand to her mouth with her right hand, and holds two wheat ears downwards with her left hand; in lower field L - IE. Reference: Cologne 1034; Emmett 964/15.
These strike me as an interesting group of types I would enjoy and hope you will for years and years to come. It makes me look forward to what you find in 2021.
The bronze drachm number 2 represents the Lighthouse of Alexandria which was one of the "World Seven Wonders". It is a rare historical coin.
I love these -- especially the two Republican coins (my own example of the Servilius was in my top 10 this year), the Harpocrates, and the Isis Pharia. I think we have similar tastes in ancient coins!
What a fantastic list!! The modified drachm is neat (could it be a weight?), the countermarked drachm is amazing, the kalathos/serpents is great, the Pharos is lovely as is the Cestianus, and the harpodile much better than mine! Great year, with both beauties and excellent coin-nerd coins!
I like the Harpodile and Pharos as much as the next guy, but my favorites are the modified and countermarked drachms. Very cool finds!
I didn't see any doubling on any of them and they all looked too worn due to circulation to be worth anything. So they are probably only worth face value
I really enjoy your set, @SeptimusT ! They are all great! I would have any and all of them in my collection. My style. I am particularly fascinated by the Melita.
You had an interesting year. The RR coins are more like what I collect, but my favorite of your group is Harpocrates. The lighthouse is special too.
