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Message:: [QUOTE="FitzNigel, post: 8100093, member: 74712"]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[ATTACH=full]1408518[/ATTACH]HRE - Frankfurt am MainThe City of Frankfurt am Main (1429-1540)AR Turnos, 23.56 mm x 2.65 gramsObv.:  ○MONETA ♣︎NOVA. Eagle left wearing crown, head breaking the inner circle, within 14 arches enclosing lisRev.: ᛭SIT♣︎NOM’♣︎DNI’♣︎DEI♣︎NRI♣︎BENEDICTV’ outside, ᛭TVRON’♣︎FRANC’ inside, around short crossRef.: 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[ATTACH=full]1408519[/ATTACH]Early Medieval - Germanic ImitationPerhaps Slovakia? (4th Century)Two Victories type AE Centenionalis, 18.74 mm x 2.40 gramsObv.: OISIIIII’INISIS, laureate bust right with helmetRev.: INNINININNI, two victories with shield and altar, ZXXX in exergueRef.: cf. de Wit 14-16Note: 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[ATTACH=full]1408523[/ATTACH]Provincial Rome - CiliciaCaracalla, r. 198-217 A.D.Tarsus, AE33, 32.41 mm 17.96 gramsObv.: [CϵYHPOC AN[TΩNϵI]NOC CϵB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, Π-Π in fieldsRev.: [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[ATTACH=full]1408526[/ATTACH]Low Countries - BrabantHenry I, r. 1190-1235 (1210-1235)Antwerp Mint AR Denier, 12.86 mm x 0.61 gramsObv.: DV X below mounted knight right, holding sword, reins and shield over quatrefoilRev.: Cross of Brabant with a line in each limb and central pellet, in each quarter, pellet-in-annulet above quatrefoilRef.: 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[ATTACH=full]1408528[/ATTACH]Republican RomeL. Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus and Q. Servilius Caepio, 100 B.C.Rome Mint AR Denarius, 19.29 mm x 3.86 gramsObv.: 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-earsRef.: 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[ATTACH=full]1408531[/ATTACH]HRE - Frankfurt am MainThe City of Frankfurt am Main (1429-1540)AR Englisch, 17.90 mm x 0.87 gramsObv.: ○MON / ETA / NOV’. A shield with four crowned eagles leftRev.: ᛭ANGLIE ○ FRANC FOR DENS’. Floriated CrossRef.: JuF 185s, cf. de Witt 2156, cf. Saurmache 1062Ex. 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[ATTACH=full]1408532[/ATTACH]East Africa - Kilwa SultanateSulaymān b. al-Ḥasan, r. 1302-1316; Kisiwani mint, AE Fals, 20.17 mm x 1.67 gramsObv.: (Sulaymān son of / al-Ḥasan / (May he be happy!)). Inscription in three lines, star in centerRev.: (trusts in the Master / of Bounties / (He is glorious!)). Inscription in three lines, star in centerRef.: SICA 10, #604, Walker IV (pg. 65) This was my first purchase of the year, curtesy of [USER=87271]@AnYangMan[/USER].  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[ATTACH=full]1408533[/ATTACH]Early Medieval - OstrogothsAnonymous (6th Century)AE 42 Nummi, 26.66 mm x 9.95 gramsObv.: IMP SER SVLP GALBA CAES AVG TR P, laureate head of Galba right, XLII carved upwards to right of bustRev.: LIBERTAS PVBLICA, Libertas standing left holding pileus and scepter, SC in fieldRef.: MEC I-69, SRCV 2134 under-typeNote: 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 <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ancient-and-medieval.388774/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ancient-and-medieval.388774/">here</a>.  I liked this Galba issue enough that I splurged and bought another countermark of Vespasian. 2. Augustus Provincial from Nemausus[ATTACH=full]1408535[/ATTACH]Roman Provincial - GaulAugustus, r. 27 B.C. - 14 A.D. (16-10 B.C.)Nemausus AE Dupondius, 26.42 mm x 13.44 gramsObv.: IMP DIVI F, back to back heads of Augustus right, bare, and Agrippa left, wearing rostral crown combined with laurel wreathRev.: COL NEM, crocodile right, chained to palm, wreath with long long ties above, two palms belowRef.: 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[ATTACH=full]1408537[/ATTACH]Greece - AtticaAthens c. 454-404 B.C.AR Tetradrachm, 24.69 mm x 17.24 gramsObv.: Helmeted head of Athena right, with frontal eyeRev.: AΘE right, Owl standing right, head facing, closed tail feathers, olive spring and crescent to left, all within inches squareRef.: 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![/QUOTE]

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