Great group and #1 is #1 but I would have preferred the nymph kissing a snake to the cowabunga unless the obverse was not as nice as the side shown. We are just thankful they were not 'overcleaned' by the storms. Byzantion is not famous for centering. Mine is not well centered but I prefer horns to a rear hoof. IMO there us usually a direction that a coin can be off centered and be preferable to one off centered half as much in the opposite direction. While I'm being contrary, I also would have ranked the logobolos higher. They seem to have centering problems, too. Didn't those guys realize that we collectors 2 millennia in the future would appreciate a bit more care in workmanship?
I forgot: I use the cheap paper boxes (plastic is better for those in hurricane zones) and have cardboard dividers glued in making the thirds you show. You only have to have one half full box 'resort' itself to realize the desirability of dividers.
Despite the difficulties this year, you have yet again amased an amazing collecttion! Well done TIF - I hope next year is much easier on you
I love them all @TIF ... they are all fabulous. However, I am VERY covetous of your Punic Tet. The horse head is fantastic! Here is a Punic Horse head that took me off-course when I was looking for a buddy to your Punic Entella Tet: This is a little guy being a Litra: Carthage - Sicily AR Litra 4th C BCE 9.5mm 0.65g Palm Tree Horse Head SNG Cop 74 EE Clain-Safanelli RARE
2017 may have been an abbreviated coining year for you, but wow, that top ten demonstrates how well you did despite all that! That Punic tet is my favourite. A very beautiful piece.
Do you ever sleep TIF ? The Entella horsehead is by far the most beautifull coin in your list imho. I'm also intrigued with the bronze coin next to it. a B A Basileos Alexander goat twin bronze ? I scored a nice horsehead too in October imho
KINGS of MACEDON. Philip V. 221-179 BC. Æ 20 186-183/2 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Two goats recumbent right; - mine has more wear and fewer neat minor devices.
Those are all awesome coins but the Punic tet is unbeatably wonderful. Along with Doug I am looking forward to a better look at the nymph/snake, and I'm glad your #9 included a photo of the hovergoats! I wanted to make #8 mine but I'm glad you outbid me, you're the one who should have it. Before I joined CoinTalk I had pretty much zero knowledge of Ptolemaic, and I wasn't even interested in Alexandrian. Thanks to you and others for sorting me out! Now several will be included in my year end review. Wishing you a speedy return to the CoinTalk fold! It goes without saying, but you are greatly missed.
When I was trying to make a guess as to what your #1 would be, the Punic Entella tet immediately popped into my mind. What a coin! Of course, the Kisthene nude hoplite and Alexandrian runway models are fantastic as well and have rightfully joined your collection. I'm glad you picked them up. Apart from those three, the griffin-riding Apollo is especially envy-inducing because I'm very fond of these provincials from Alexandria Troas. I do love all the other provincials on the list, too, but don't think I've seen the Alexandrian Elagabalus before... cool 'guess the wife' issue . For some reason, I've never been particularly hot on the surfer cow type, but that looks like a solid example. Love the Greek coin group shot though! As well as all that evidence of your (new-found? ) organizational neatness. Seriously, impressive, and not to mention a little intimidating! I hope you have a good 2018 in Coinland and an even better one outside of it!
Fantastic coins @TIF and even more impressive organization! The Punic tet is not only my favorite of your 2017 but one of my favorite of yours in general. Nice!
It’s very interesting to see how a discriminating collector puts together a collection—the kind of focus and knowledge brought to bear upon purchases. These discussions help me understand what to value, even though some may preferences may be highly personal. I also appreciated the way TIF shares the purchasing sources of her coins. Obviously, if some of us have a “secret“ source, we might not want to share that source too broadly. But often I see coins posted here and I think, “Was this coin on the market? Was this purchased through an agent or dealer? Auction or fixed shop?” Even though I can’t afford high-end coins, it’s interesting to me to see the various paths in which coins reach collector hands. Thanks for this generous write-up.
Wow!! Utterly fantastic coins!! Each one dazzles me for different reasons---your coin choices are always exquisite and always interesting!! And I need your organizing skills as well
Congratulations on a great coin year despite the massive non-coin challenges. Your Punic tetradrachm is fantastic but wow, that reverse of your #2 coin is pure art!
Of course Apollo can ride a gryphon, play the kithara, pat his head and chew gum at the same time. The way the celator indicated gum chewing through Apollo's slightly bulging cheek is pure genius.