Top 10 of 2017 (From FitzNigel)

Although I have a soft spot for Plautilla (never dared telling her because of the husband being easily upset ), I understand why Caracalla is #1 (I would so much like him to count me as a friend of his )

Q

 

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Nice varied group. i'm inclined to agree with most, like that Plautilla..i've been just looking at coin of these last few days

 

Oooh, I love your #1. What an interesting provincial!

 

The Kilwa coins are fascinating, particularly what they can mean for our understanding of the Swahili coast. There have been some unknown Sultans that came out of the coins, but chronology is still an issue. Kilwa s wasn't the only place in East Africa to Mint coins either - Mogadishu did (and I can't recall the others off the top of my head...)

 

Huh! That’s pretty interesting. It makes sense that these predominately cosmopolitan areas on the coast would mint coins. It would help to facilitate trade.

 

What do the others look like, and are they a different sultan?

 

Different sultans for Kilwa, but even some of the Kilwa coins have a different design. Here's the one I posted above with another from the same sultan:


The main difference is the border, but the style is a little finer too. Mogadishu Coins look a little different, but are still just Arabic writing.

 

What a great top ten @FitzNigel you should be really pleased with your purchases. My personal favorite is the Roger trifollar, I have loved that coin ever since first reading about the Normans in southern Italy. The gold tari is also one I really like. Hopefully your 2018 schedule will allow you more time for CT, the more medievalists the better!

 

Following in @zumbly 's footsteps, here's my $1-$100 list (I've avoided adding coins from my top ten, unless they are the only coin in this category):

$1-$10

French Feudal, Besançon
Anonymous Archbishop, 13-14th C.
BL Denier, 17.33 mm x 0.7 grams
Obv.: PTHOMARTIR, starting at 7hr. Hand with two fingers raised in benediction
Rev.: +BISONTIVM. Cross patee
Ref.: Roberts 4756

$11-$20

French Feudal, Champagne
Henry II, r. 1181-1197; Provins Mint, AR Denier 18.4 mm x 1.0 grams
Obv.: CASTRI PRVVINS. Comb of Champagne, 'V' made of three triangles above, annulet on either side, legend beginning at 10hr.
Rev.: +HENRI COMES. Cross Pattee, pellet in first quarter, omega in second, alpha in third, and annulet in fourth
Ref.: Roberts, 4727 variety, De Wit 512-13 variety

$21-$30

Norman Italy - Sicily
Roger II, r. 1130-1154 (1130-8)
AE Follaro, 15.47 mm x 1.4 grams
Obv.: Ρ/Ο/ΓΕ/ΡΙ/Ο Ρ/Η/Σ (Vertically, Σ Retrograde). Roger standing with scepter in right hand
Rev.: +IC+XC+NI+KA around cross patent
Ref.: NCKS 226, [MEC 14, 177]

$31-$40

Imperial Rome
Julian II, r. 360-363 A.D.
AE3, 20 mm x 3.29 grams
Obv.: DN FL CL IVLIANVS PF AVG. Helmeted, draped and cuirassed bust of Julian left
Rev.: VOT / X / MVLT / XX. In four lines, laurel wreath around, palm branch ASISC• in exergue
Ref.: SRCV 19171

$41-$50

Imperial Rome
Caracalla, r. 198-217 A.D. (201 A.D.)
Rome Mint, AR Denarius, 20.7 mm x 2.93 grams
Obv.: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG. Laureate draped bust right
Rev.: PART.MAX.PONT.TR.P.IIII. Two captives seated right and left, mourning at foot of trophy
Ref.: RIC IV-1 Caracalla 54b, p. 220

$51-$60

Italy - Rome
Roman Senate, c. 12-13th C.
AR Denier, 17.26 mm x 0.9 grams
Obv.: [RO]M[A CAPVT] MV[N]. Legend beginning at 3hr. Comb center, S above with sun to left and moon to right
Rev.: [SENATVS . P.O.R.]. Cross patee, 1st q. moon, 2nd q. pellet, 3rd q. star, 4th q. V
Ref.: Roberts 4733 Variety
Note: Imitative of Champagne

$61-$70

Imperial Rome
Commodus, r. 177-192 A.D. (178 A.D.)
AR Denarius, 18.78 mm x 3.4 grams
Obv.: L AVREL COMMODVS AVG. Laureate Head of Commodus right
Rev.: TR P III IM(P) II COS P P. Salus seated left holding branch over snake rising from altar

$71-$80 (only coin in this category)

Republican Rome
L Titurius Lf Sabinus, 89 B.C.
AR Denarius, 17.86 mm x 3.9 grams
Obv.: Bare head of King Tatius, SABIN behind, palm branch below chin
Rev.: Tarpeia facing, buried to waist in shields, with raised hands she tries to fend off two soldiers who are about to crash their shields onto her, star and crescent above, L TITVRI in exergue

$81-$90

Imperial Rome
Caracalla, r. 198-217 (215 A.D.)
Rome Mint, AR Denarius, 19.52 mm x 3.43 grams
Obv.: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, Laureate Head right
Rev.: P M TR P XVIII COS IIII P P, Pax standing left, branch in right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left
Ref.: RIC IV-1 Caracalla 268 p. 251

$91-$100 (none in this category, but my Plautilla came in the closest at $103)

Imperial Rome
Plautilla, r. 202-205 A.D.; Rome Mint, AR Denarius, 18.82 mm x 3.15 grams
Obv.: PLAVTILLAE AVGVSTAE. Draped bust right, hair coiled in vertical ridges and fastened in bun on back
Rev.: CONCORDIAE AETERNAE. Caracalla standing left, clasping hands with Plautilla standing right
Ref.: RIC IV-1 Caracalla 361, p. 269

 

That’s a great mix, but I love the Durotriges. Pre-Roman British coinage is fascinating, and has some very interesting designs when you consider what inspired their design and the geographic distances involved.

 

Wow, you got a steal on that French Henry II. I would love to have a coin like that.

 

Excellent mix! Man, not bad for a half year!

Celtic coin is killer, those Norman coins are awesome, that weird Byzantine looking crusader coin is interesting as well!

 

Man, that Plautilla is nice... did I already say that? Great list!

 

I did buy a surprising number of ancients this year. Here is the poster I made at the half way point - only two purchases after this, both of which were ancient:


I don't have time to count them up (about to leave for work), but I'd say a little over half medieval (unless you count the Byzantines as medieval - that gets into a gray area when it comes to collecting)