Top 10 of 2021 (From FitzNigel)

Well, in @Curtisimo’s top 10 index, I contemplated doing two separate lists this year (one for ancients, and one for medieval), but that seems to go against the spirit of the list in my mind. Likewise, I’m putting them in order, and they better like it! Okay, starting with number 10:

10. Frankfurt am Main Turnos

HRE - Frankfurt am Main
The City of Frankfurt am Main (1429-1540)
AR Turnos, 23.56 mm x 2.65 grams
Obv.: ○MONETA ♣︎NOVA. Eagle left wearing crown, head breaking the inner circle, within 14 arches enclosing lis
Rev.: ᛭SIT♣︎NOM’♣︎DNI’♣︎DEI♣︎NRI♣︎BENEDICTV’ outside, ᛭TVRON’♣︎FRANC’ inside, around short cross
Ref.: JuF 166b, cf. de Wit 2155, cf. Saurmache 1061

One of my goals this year was to delve into more coins of Medieval Germany to force myself to learn more about them. I’m not sure I was too successful. My initial foray began a focus on the coins of Frankfurt am Main. This is partially due to family history (my mother was raised there, and my father was stationed there). This ‘Turnos’ is pleasingly large, and the fleur-de-lis marks between words is a nice touch (I acquired another example with annulets instead of the fleurs, but I think I prefer the fleurs).

9. Germanic Imitation of Constantine

Early Medieval - Germanic Imitation
Perhaps Slovakia? (4th Century)
Two Victories type AE Centenionalis, 18.74 mm x 2.40 grams
Obv.: OISIIIII’INISIS, laureate bust right with helmet
Rev.: INNINININNI, two victories with shield and altar, ZXXX in exergue
Ref.: cf. de Wit 14-16
Note: An imitation of a Constantine Centenionalis from the 320s. This may have been produced in Slovakia

I have come to learn I am a sucker for imitation coins. These Germanic coins which imitate Constantinian coins have several known styles but are still an enigma. I like the detail visible on this example, and how the blundered legend is clear. In some ways I feel like these coins begin the transition into the Medieval period.

8. Caracalla Provincial from Tarsus

Provincial Rome - Cilicia
Caracalla, r. 198-217 A.D.
Tarsus, AE33, 32.41 mm 17.96 grams
Obv.: [CϵYHPOC AN[TΩNϵI]NOC CϵB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, Π-Π in fields
Rev.: [ANTΩNIANHC CϵY] AΔP MHT / TAPCOY Γ B, A over MK in fields, lion walking right

One of my focuses in the Ancients realm are the coins of Caracalla. The main focus is sharp portrait denarii (I’m aiming to get one of each year), but about four years ago I stumbled into large provincial bronzes of Caracalla. I’ve also tried to aim for rare issues in addition to large and interesting. This one isn’t quite as rare as some of the others I’ve picked up, but I couldn’t help nabbing that lion.

7. Brabant Petite Denier

Low Countries - Brabant
Henry I, r. 1190-1235 (1210-1235)
Antwerp Mint AR Denier, 12.86 mm x 0.61 grams
Obv.: DV X below mounted knight right, holding sword, reins and shield over quatrefoil
Rev.: Cross of Brabant with a line in each limb and central pellet, in each quarter, pellet-in-annulet above quatrefoil
Ref.: Roberts 7361, de Wit 1108

Well this coin wasn’t on my horizon, but caught my attention as I was looking for something else. Some of these small deniers from the Low Countries have some wonderful artistic depictions of knights. I enjoy these coins but don’t buy as many as I would like. I don’t often see many come up for sale, so I was happy to grab this one.

6. Republican Rome, by Order of the Senate

Republican Rome
L. Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus and Q. Servilius Caepio, 100 B.C.
Rome Mint AR Denarius, 19.29 mm x 3.86 grams
Obv.: PISO CAEPIO Q, laureate head of Saturn right, harpa behind (Control symbol below? Off flan)
Rev.: AD FRV EMV / EX S C in ex., the two Quaestors seated left, side by side on bench (subsellium) between two corn-ears
Ref.: SRCV 210, RRC 330/1a

I have occasionally dabbled in Roman Republican coins. I’m also always on the lookout for coins that connect to topics I cover in my class. Rome’s wheat dispersal issues feature a bit when I cover Republican Rome, so this special issue, authorized by the Senate, which also depicts the consuls, ticks a lot of boxes.

5. Frankfurt am Main Englisch

HRE - Frankfurt am Main
The City of Frankfurt am Main (1429-1540)
AR Englisch, 17.90 mm x 0.87 grams
Obv.: ○MON / ETA / NOV’. A shield with four crowned eagles left
Rev.: ᛭ANGLIE ○ FRANC FOR DENS’. Floriated Cross
Ref.: JuF 185s, cf. de Witt 2156, cf. Saurmache 1062
Ex. N.M.McQ. Holmes Collection, Ex Münz Zentrum Rheinland, Auction 155, lot 3285

This was my second coin from Frankfurt (see number 9). The Nova Moneta of Frankfurt imitated in size and style several international coins. The Turnos imitated the Tournois of France, and Frankfurt also issued their own Hand Heller. Despite the name, the ‘Englisch’ are imitations of Esterlings of Brabant, which themselves are imitations of English Pennies (hence the name). The Englisch denomination is the hardest to track down, so I feel lucky one came up for auction that I was able to successfully acquire.

4. Kilwa Fals of Sultan Sulaymān b. al-Ḥasan

East Africa - Kilwa Sultanate
Sulaymān b. al-Ḥasan, r. 1302-1316; Kisiwani mint, AE Fals, 20.17 mm x 1.67 grams
Obv.: (Sulaymān son of / al-Ḥasan / (May he be happy!)). Inscription in three lines, star in center
Rev.: (trusts in the Master / of Bounties / (He is glorious!)). Inscription in three lines, star in center
Ref.: SICA 10, #604, Walker IV (pg. 65)

This was my first purchase of the year, curtesy of @AnYangMan. These issues from Kilwa fascinate me, and this was a specific issue I was interested in. The star in the middle of the inscription on both sides is a unique feature from Kilwa.

3. Ostrogoth Countermarked 42 Nummi

Early Medieval - Ostrogoths
Anonymous (6th Century)
AE 42 Nummi, 26.66 mm x 9.95 grams
Obv.: IMP SER SVLP GALBA CAES AVG TR P, laureate head of Galba right, XLII carved upwards to right of bust
Rev.: LIBERTAS PVBLICA, Libertas standing left holding pileus and scepter, SC in field
Ref.: MEC I-69, SRCV 2134 under-type
Note: Countermarked on an As of Galba minted in Rome, Aug.-Sept. 68 A.D.

These countermarked coins straddle the definition of medieval and ancient coins. I did a little write up here. I liked this Galba issue enough that I splurged and bought another countermark of Vespasian.

2. Augustus Provincial from Nemausus

Roman Provincial - Gaul
Augustus, r. 27 B.C. - 14 A.D. (16-10 B.C.)
Nemausus AE Dupondius, 26.42 mm x 13.44 grams
Obv.: IMP DIVI F, back to back heads of Augustus right, bare, and Agrippa left, wearing rostral crown combined with laurel wreath
Rev.: COL NEM, crocodile right, chained to palm, wreath with long long ties above, two palms below
Ref.: RPC I-523, SGICV 157, SRCV 1729

I think many people on this board have an example of this provincial issue of Nemausus. I had been on the lookout for a nice example at a reasonable price that had a full crocodile on the reverse, and came upon a nice treasure trove at a shop I hadn’t visited in some time. This one fit the bill perfectly (for the price that is…).

1. Athenian Tetradrachm

Greece - Attica
Athens c. 454-404 B.C.
AR Tetradrachm, 24.69 mm x 17.24 grams
Obv.: Helmeted head of Athena right, with frontal eye
Rev.: AΘE right, Owl standing right, head facing, closed tail feathers, olive spring and crescent to left, all within inches square
Ref.: HGC 4-1597, SGCV 2526

Well, perhaps not the most exciting or original coin, but I finally joined the Owl club. My criteria was a full nose for Athena (I didn’t care so much about the crest that people obsess over), and that the owl was very sharp on the back, with the dot inside the Θ (I just like it, but don’t know why). The worn die on Athena’s cheek made this one reach my price range after about a year of bidding and losing.

All in all I would say it was a good year, but perhaps not my most original or interesting year. But that doesn’t matter, I’m happy with what I got!

 

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You have some wonderful new additions to your collection I especially love the imitations.

 

you had a great year, the owl deserves its top spot. I like #9, #6, #3, & #2. I think the XVII is neat and would like one of those... eventually.

 

Nice 2021 pickups, @FitzNigel.

I like your Owl tetradrachm, and your Augustus Provincial from Nemausus. Your Republican denarius is very neat as well.

 

I think you should have two lists/ Medieval/ Ancients That way we would get to see more of your treasures I did one for World 1500-present already/

I like the Frankfurt/ Imperial City coins a lot
John

 

Great Owl! That Calpurnius Piso coin has an interesting die engraving style. Great coins.

 

All great coins but I think I like the barbarous Constantine the best.

 

Perhaps I’ll just post 11-20 here as an addendum…

 

Excellent year!!! And LOVE the idea of an addendum 11-20
Very fun Germanic Imitation! I purchased this barbaric Constantine (imitating the same reverse as yours) earlier this year as well:


Likewise with Caepio! These coins are chock full of history
I wrote a bit about it here: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/so...her-to-servilia-and-grandpa-to-brutus.377279/


And my favorite has got to be your third. Galba is a bad enough dude and a cool coin... but the Ostrogoth graffiti is INCREDIBLE! Great year and thanks for sharing

 

Great list, very diverse indeed, but you really hit the mark with your perfect owl. Congrats on a great year of collecting.

 

Congrats on a great year @FitzNigel I was not expecting 7 of 10 coins to be non-medieval European coins, but they are a great group of coins. My favorite is the petite denier of Brabant. I would like to add a petite denier to my collection one day.

 

All wonderful! My favorite is the Roman Republican. (If I may, there's one typo: harpa, not harps!)

 

I liked thee owl best. #1. Athenian Tetradrachm

 

Great coins, I like Owl tetradrachm.

 

I love how eclectic this list is. My favorites are the Germanic Constantine, the Ostrogoth countermarked Galba (I want one!), and the lovely Owl.

 

The XLII Galba is my favorite.

 

From my perspective it looks like a nicely diverse year, although perhaps that wasn't your intention .

I love the Nemausus and want one like yours, with the ridiculously nonanatomic alligator teeth-- teeth growing upward out of the top of the upper jaw? Why, engravers... why?!

The Caracalla/lion ticks my boxes.

Congrats on the countermarked Ostrogoth.

Lovely owl tet.

 

What a great mix. My favorite is definitely the Ostrogoth/Galba…pretty amazing that the coin had already been around for 500 years before the Ostrogoths got their hands on it. I also really like that big Caracalla/lion bronze from Tarsus.

 

The Nemausus for me! I love when the patina actually "suits" the crocodile!

 

In fairness, I would still consider 5 of them medieval, with a sixth straddling the line! The focus is still medieval of course, I just happened to have a couple of big ancient purchases this year!

thanks Donna - I hate autocorrect just ‘fixes’ things without warning, and I don’t often catch them! It should be correct now.

Thanks for the kind words all!