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<p>[QUOTE="zumbly, post: 3263896, member: 57495"]Here's a year-end list variant originally devised by Doug that I've become fond of doing. The idea is to show ten coins purchased in 2018 costing between $1 and $100, each your favorite one in its price range, working your way up from the $1-$10 category until you get to $91-$100.</p><p><br /></p><p>I haven't had the time to share many of the coins that I've picked up this year, so this list includes 8 coins not before shown on CT. Here they are, from the lowest priced to highest...</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Category : $1 - $10</b></p><p>[ATTACH=full]859279[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>CONSTANTINOPOLIS, City Commemorative. AE4. Rome mint. </b></p><p><b>($6.30)</b></p><p>Outside of group lots, I only picked up a few coins in this price range this year, with this one being the favorite. It is a bit of a sight for sore eyes (as in, a sight that made my eyes sore <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie98" alt=":wacky:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />), but there is <i>something </i>to it that makes it a little special. Not enough to call it a bargain, even at this price, but would anyone want to hazard a guess as to why I wanted to buy this Constantinopolis?</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Category : $11 - $20</b></p><p>[ATTACH=full]859283[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>MAGNENTIUS. AE2. Lugdunum mint. Felicitas reverse.</b></p><p><b>($12)</b></p><p>I didn't have this reverse for Magnentius and this one had a nice green and black patina, as well as a decent portrait that the seller remarked was "<i>rather unlike some of the almost surreal Klingon-like representations that characterize much of Magnentius' coinage</i>". I'm actually partial to the "Klingon-like" ones, but this more human-like one works for me too.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Category : $21 - $30</b></p><p>[ATTACH=full]859277[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>CARACALLA. THRACE, Trajanopolis. AE16. Baby Herakles. </b></p><p><b>($28)</b></p><p>I spotted this Caracalla provincial by chance in the fixed price list of a dealer I had never bought from before. I was surprised it had been unsold for more than two months as it had an interesting and very uncommon reverse type. The seller had it described as "2 erotes wrestling", and the cardboard holder it came in said "Herakles wrestling lion". I know the coin is not in the best shape, but obviously both of those descriptions are incorrect; the reverse actually shows Baby Herakles the Snake-Strangler, or Herakliskos Drakonopignon, to give him his fancy pants name. The type appears to be unpublished, and the <a href="https://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=251727" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=251727" rel="nofollow">only other example</a> that I've found online sold for $600 in a CNG auction a few years ago. It's much nicer that mine, but I suppose there's a reason why Clio wins his coins and I win mine. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Category : $31 - $40</b></p><p>[ATTACH=full]859282[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>MACEDON, as Roman Protectorate. AE23. Fourth Meris. </b></p><p><b>($31)</b></p><p>The large silver tetradrachms of the First Meris (or district) of Macedon under Roman Rule are fairly familiar and relatively plentiful, but how often do you see an issue from any of the other merides? The reverse legend of this coin spells out TETAPTHΣ, for 'Fourth'. The Fourth Meris seems to have issued only bronze coins, all rare, making even one as worn as this one collectible. No coins of the Third Meris have been found. I'd love to have one of the super-rare silver issues from the Second Meris, but they're typically priced out of my reach.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Category : $41 - $50</b></p><p>[ATTACH=full]859285[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>VALENTINIAN III. AE4. VOT PVB campgate. </b></p><p><b>($45)</b></p><p>I'm fond of campgates and I've always wanted a decent Valentinian III, one of the last of the type struck in the Western Roman Empire. This one is actually a pretty nice example, particularly the well-centered reverse with the bold campgate and largely legible legend.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Category : $51 - $60</b></p><p>[ATTACH=full]859281[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>HADRIAN. Denarius. ROMVLO CONDITORI. </b></p><p><b>($51)</b></p><p>We had a recent thread about coins bought because of their reverses. This is one I probably wouldn't have considered buying at all if not for the reverse. I have a mental list of interesting Hadrian types that I'd like to check off, and this was one of them. It's on the scarce side and has a reverse legend unique to Hadrian, which names Romulus as founder of the Empire.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Category : $61 - $70</b></p><p>[ATTACH=full]859276[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>THESSALY, Larissa. Hemidrachm. Taurokathapsia type. Ex BCD Collection. </b></p><p><b>($64)</b></p><p>These <i>taurokathapsia </i>(bull-wrestling) hemidrachms of Larissa are a lot less popular than their famous drachms with the nymph's head and grazing horse, but the upside to that is that they can be picked up a lot cheaper. It's sometimes still hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that you can buy something as ancient, lovely, and historically interesting as this in this price range. This coin was one of my entries in this year's <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/poll-18-17-dougsmit-vs-32-zumbly-round-2-cit-2018.321875/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/poll-18-17-dougsmit-vs-32-zumbly-round-2-cit-2018.321875/">CoinTalk Imperator Tournament</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Category : $71 - $80</b></p><p>[ATTACH=full]859284[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>TRAJAN. Denarius. Ex Michael Kelly Collection; Ex John A. Seeger Collection.</b></p><p><b>($71)</b></p><p>Hard price category in which to pick a winner! There were a few coins that I really really liked, but this one just had a little bit more going for it. Beyond the nice provenance and the fact that it's a rare bust variant of this issue, there's also the strong and super-high relief portrait of Trajan, and the darkly beautiful cabinet toning. I'm not much of a looks-focused collector (as evident from some of my choices above), but coins like this one make me question if a change is in order. For a pleasant moment or two, anyway. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie50" alt=":happy:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Category : $81 - $90</b></p><p><b>[ATTACH=full]859278[/ATTACH] </b></p><p><b>CARAUSIUS. AE Antoninianus. PAX AVGGG. Ex James Pickering Collection.</b></p><p><b>($86)</b></p><p>I haven't received the coin yet, but I can't imagine not recognizing it as my clear favorite in this price range. For some years, I'd been looking at each Carausius I'd come across as my potential first coin of that important Romano-British rogue ruler. Nothing clicked until this beauty came up in Ancient & Medieval Coins Canada's first auction two weeks ago. It has a great portrait, is perfectly centered, has the important two extra G's in the reverse legend, and is, IMHO, just a solid example in all other respects. I almost feel embarrassed to have paid as little as I did for this gem from the excellent [USER=14873]@jamesicus[/USER]'s collection.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Category : $91 - $100</b></p><p>[ATTACH=full]859286[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>VESPASIAN. Denarius. Ephesus mint. Ex Michael Kelly Collection.</b></p><p><b>($92)</b></p><p>Perhaps the only reason why this coin won this cateogory is that it allows me to stop looking on in abject envy whenever I see a wonderful Ephesian denarius of Vespasian being shown here on CT (you guys who are to blame know who you are). Nah, I'm kidding... I love everything about this coin. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> From the bold, unmistakable style of the portrait, to the clear Φ mintmark on the reverse. I just hope it doesn't start a new collecting area. Generalists have it hard. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie11" alt=":rolleyes:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I'm waiting on the arrival of a few more coins and am still working on my year-end list proper, but am in the meantime looking forward to seeing everyone else's list! If you want to play along with this $1 - $100, please feel free to add on in this thread, or start your own.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="zumbly, post: 3263896, member: 57495"]Here's a year-end list variant originally devised by Doug that I've become fond of doing. The idea is to show ten coins purchased in 2018 costing between $1 and $100, each your favorite one in its price range, working your way up from the $1-$10 category until you get to $91-$100. I haven't had the time to share many of the coins that I've picked up this year, so this list includes 8 coins not before shown on CT. Here they are, from the lowest priced to highest... [B]Category : $1 - $10[/B] [ATTACH=full]859279[/ATTACH] [B]CONSTANTINOPOLIS, City Commemorative. AE4. Rome mint. ($6.30)[/B] Outside of group lots, I only picked up a few coins in this price range this year, with this one being the favorite. It is a bit of a sight for sore eyes (as in, a sight that made my eyes sore :wacky:), but there is [I]something [/I]to it that makes it a little special. Not enough to call it a bargain, even at this price, but would anyone want to hazard a guess as to why I wanted to buy this Constantinopolis? [B]Category : $11 - $20[/B] [ATTACH=full]859283[/ATTACH] [B]MAGNENTIUS. AE2. Lugdunum mint. Felicitas reverse. ($12)[/B] I didn't have this reverse for Magnentius and this one had a nice green and black patina, as well as a decent portrait that the seller remarked was "[I]rather unlike some of the almost surreal Klingon-like representations that characterize much of Magnentius' coinage[/I]". I'm actually partial to the "Klingon-like" ones, but this more human-like one works for me too. [B]Category : $21 - $30[/B] [ATTACH=full]859277[/ATTACH] [B]CARACALLA. THRACE, Trajanopolis. AE16. Baby Herakles. ($28)[/B] I spotted this Caracalla provincial by chance in the fixed price list of a dealer I had never bought from before. I was surprised it had been unsold for more than two months as it had an interesting and very uncommon reverse type. The seller had it described as "2 erotes wrestling", and the cardboard holder it came in said "Herakles wrestling lion". I know the coin is not in the best shape, but obviously both of those descriptions are incorrect; the reverse actually shows Baby Herakles the Snake-Strangler, or Herakliskos Drakonopignon, to give him his fancy pants name. The type appears to be unpublished, and the [URL='https://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=251727']only other example[/URL] that I've found online sold for $600 in a CNG auction a few years ago. It's much nicer that mine, but I suppose there's a reason why Clio wins his coins and I win mine. :D [B]Category : $31 - $40[/B] [ATTACH=full]859282[/ATTACH] [B]MACEDON, as Roman Protectorate. AE23. Fourth Meris. ($31)[/B] The large silver tetradrachms of the First Meris (or district) of Macedon under Roman Rule are fairly familiar and relatively plentiful, but how often do you see an issue from any of the other merides? The reverse legend of this coin spells out TETAPTHΣ, for 'Fourth'. The Fourth Meris seems to have issued only bronze coins, all rare, making even one as worn as this one collectible. No coins of the Third Meris have been found. I'd love to have one of the super-rare silver issues from the Second Meris, but they're typically priced out of my reach. [B]Category : $41 - $50[/B] [ATTACH=full]859285[/ATTACH] [B]VALENTINIAN III. AE4. VOT PVB campgate. ($45)[/B] I'm fond of campgates and I've always wanted a decent Valentinian III, one of the last of the type struck in the Western Roman Empire. This one is actually a pretty nice example, particularly the well-centered reverse with the bold campgate and largely legible legend. [B]Category : $51 - $60[/B] [ATTACH=full]859281[/ATTACH] [B]HADRIAN. Denarius. ROMVLO CONDITORI. ($51)[/B] We had a recent thread about coins bought because of their reverses. This is one I probably wouldn't have considered buying at all if not for the reverse. I have a mental list of interesting Hadrian types that I'd like to check off, and this was one of them. It's on the scarce side and has a reverse legend unique to Hadrian, which names Romulus as founder of the Empire. [B]Category : $61 - $70[/B] [ATTACH=full]859276[/ATTACH] [B]THESSALY, Larissa. Hemidrachm. Taurokathapsia type. Ex BCD Collection. ($64)[/B] These [I]taurokathapsia [/I](bull-wrestling) hemidrachms of Larissa are a lot less popular than their famous drachms with the nymph's head and grazing horse, but the upside to that is that they can be picked up a lot cheaper. It's sometimes still hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that you can buy something as ancient, lovely, and historically interesting as this in this price range. This coin was one of my entries in this year's [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/poll-18-17-dougsmit-vs-32-zumbly-round-2-cit-2018.321875/']CoinTalk Imperator Tournament[/URL]. [B]Category : $71 - $80[/B] [ATTACH=full]859284[/ATTACH] [B]TRAJAN. Denarius. Ex Michael Kelly Collection; Ex John A. Seeger Collection. ($71)[/B] Hard price category in which to pick a winner! There were a few coins that I really really liked, but this one just had a little bit more going for it. Beyond the nice provenance and the fact that it's a rare bust variant of this issue, there's also the strong and super-high relief portrait of Trajan, and the darkly beautiful cabinet toning. I'm not much of a looks-focused collector (as evident from some of my choices above), but coins like this one make me question if a change is in order. For a pleasant moment or two, anyway. :happy: [B]Category : $81 - $90 [ATTACH=full]859278[/ATTACH] CARAUSIUS. AE Antoninianus. PAX AVGGG. Ex James Pickering Collection. ($86)[/B] I haven't received the coin yet, but I can't imagine not recognizing it as my clear favorite in this price range. For some years, I'd been looking at each Carausius I'd come across as my potential first coin of that important Romano-British rogue ruler. Nothing clicked until this beauty came up in Ancient & Medieval Coins Canada's first auction two weeks ago. It has a great portrait, is perfectly centered, has the important two extra G's in the reverse legend, and is, IMHO, just a solid example in all other respects. I almost feel embarrassed to have paid as little as I did for this gem from the excellent [USER=14873]@jamesicus[/USER]'s collection. [B]Category : $91 - $100[/B] [ATTACH=full]859286[/ATTACH] [B]VESPASIAN. Denarius. Ephesus mint. Ex Michael Kelly Collection. ($92)[/B] Perhaps the only reason why this coin won this cateogory is that it allows me to stop looking on in abject envy whenever I see a wonderful Ephesian denarius of Vespasian being shown here on CT (you guys who are to blame know who you are). Nah, I'm kidding... I love everything about this coin. :) From the bold, unmistakable style of the portrait, to the clear Φ mintmark on the reverse. I just hope it doesn't start a new collecting area. Generalists have it hard. :rolleyes: I'm waiting on the arrival of a few more coins and am still working on my year-end list proper, but am in the meantime looking forward to seeing everyone else's list! If you want to play along with this $1 - $100, please feel free to add on in this thread, or start your own.[/QUOTE]
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