Top Coins of 2016 - Alegandron

I enjoyed this year as I captured over 300 coins into my collection. Some were to fill slots in my Roman Ruler Portraits, most were focused on Historical Junctures in Human History. I do not approach my collecting as a business (re-selling), nor as a Numismatist. I approach it Historically, with the coins being Place-markers in History. Chinese, Indian, Western Classical, and generally BCE are the Area and Time Periods I focus for coins. Additionally, I collect Royal Egyptian Scarabs, as coinage was not a medium in ancient Egypt.

I have no order of preference, and it is more than difficult to determine my "Top" coins... they are all very interesting to me. I will probly post 30 of them.


China, Qin Dynasty 220-180 BCE
AE 12 Zhu 32mm, 5.6g
Obv: Ban Liang
Rev: Blank, as cast
Hartill 7.7
First Emperor to unify China.


Roman Republic
269-240 BCE
Aes Grave Uncia astragalos (Knuckle-Bone)
22mm, 10.1g, Cast bronze
Obv: astragalos (knuckle-bone)
Rev: astragaols (knuckle-bone)
Olive-brown patina


Campania CAPUA AE Uncia 216-211 Diana Boar Hannibal capital Italia - very scarce (Rome destroyed as many as they could)


RR Anon AE Semuncia 217-215 Mercury Prow S 620 Cr 38/7
(Admittedly, this is a Numismatic choice as it seems to be a GREAT pre-denarius AE Roman coin)


Roman Republic
Anonymous, 280-275 BCE
Didrachm (Silver, 20mm, 7.28 g 11)
Uncertain mint (Neapolis?)
OBV: Helmeted head of bearded Mars to left; oak spray to right
REV: Horse’s head right, wearing bridle, on base inscribed ROMANO; to left, stalk of grain.
REF: Sear 22; Crawford 13/1; HN III 266. Sydenham 1
COMMENTS: Minor reverse corrosion.
From a Swiss collection, formed in the 1990s


Oscan-Latin Aes Formatum shell with Ribs obv-rev 4th C BCE


Roman Republic
Anonymous
AR Didrachm.
Rome mint, circa 265-242 BC.
Obv: Head of Roma right, wearing Phrygian helmet, cornucopiae behind
Rev: ROMANO, Victory standing right, attaching wreath to long palm, YY in right field.
Ref: Crawford 22/1; RSC 7. 6.55g, 18mm, 6h.
Ex: the Eucharius Collection



Roman Republic
Anonymous Issue ca. 225-212 BCE
23.8mm, 6.46g
AR Quadrigatus Didrachm
Obv: Laureate Head of Ianus
Rev: Iupiter in quadriga driven by Victory
ROMA incuse on raised tablet below.
Sear 31; Crawford 28/3; Sydenham 64a


Roman Republic
Anonymous AR Didrachm
6.63g, 20mm, 12h
Rome mint, 234-231 BCE
Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right
Rev: Horse prancing left, ROMA above.
Ref: Sear 28; Crawford 26/1; RSC 37


Marsic Confederation
AR Denarius
Bovianum(?) mint, 89 BC.
3.93g, 20mm, 3h
Obv: Laureate head of Italia left, VITELIV = ITALIA in Oscan script
Rev: Soldier standing facing, head right, foot on uncertain object, holding inverted spear and sword, recumbent bull to right facing; retrograde B in exergue.
Ref: Campana 122 (same dies); HN Italy 407
Ex: Eucharius Collection.

 

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Great coins, I like all the Roman Republic Didrachms.

 

Very nice coins man. The first didrachm is awesome

 

11-20...

Marsic Confederation
AR Denarius.
Corfinium mint - renamed Italia by the Confederation (Capital of the Marsic Confederation), 89 BC.
3.60g, 20mm, 8h
Obv: Laureate head of Italia right, wearing pearl necklace; ITALIA behind, X (mark of value) below chin
Rev: Italia, seated left on shields, holding sceptre in right hand and sword in left, being crowned with wreath by Victory who stands behind; retrograde B(?) in exergue.
Ref: Campana 105 (same obverse die); HN Italy 412a
Comments: Cleaning marks to rev.
Very Rare.


Marsic Confederation / Italian Allies
Social War 90-88 BCE
AR Denarius
19x17.9mm, 3.7g
Anonymous Issue, Corfinium Mint - renamed Italia by the Confederation (Capital of the Marsic Confederation),
Obv: Italia head, l, ITALIA behind
Rev: Oath-taking scene with eight warriors, four on each side, pointing their swords towards a sacrificial pig, which is held by an attendant kneeling at the foot of a standard.
Comment: The reverse is based on the gold Stater and Half-Stater from the Second Punic War
Ref: Sear 227; SYD 621


Roman Republic
Anonymous issue
Aes Grave Triens , Libral Standard
46mm, 90.3g, (OH! and 9.3mm THICK!)
280-276 BCE
Rome Mint
Obv: Thunderbolt; •• •• across field.
Rev. Dolphin right; •••• below.
Ref: Crawford 14/3; Haeberlin pl. 39, 7-10. Thurlow & Vecchi 3; Sear 538


Kingdom of Macedon
Philip II 382-336 BCE (Reign 359-336 BCE)
AR Tetradrachm.
Mint: Pella, lifetime issue, struck circa 353-349 BC.
25 mm. 14.4 g
Obv: Laureate head of Zeus right Rev: ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ,
Rev: Philip on horseback left, wearing kausia and raising right hand; spearhead below, star below horse's raised foreleg.
Le Rider 102 (D58/R82); SNG ANS 357
EF.
EX: Praefectus Coins, VCoins


BABYLONIA, Babylon
AR Tetradrachm / Stater (or Dishekel)
Minted ca. 323-328 B.C.
24 mm, 16.3g
Obv: Ba’al seated left holding scepter
Rev: Lion walking left, control mark Г above. (Control mark was minted during Alexander III Lifetime)
Ref: Ref: BMC Arabia XXII no.1
Ex: @@Ancientnoob 's eclectic collection


Egypt
New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty
Steatite Scarab
Bearing the name of Tuthmosis III
Ex. CNG with tag
Ex. David Hendin Collection
Cf. Basel 276; Fraser 225; Jaeger p. 82
Base engraved with regnal name of Tuthmosis III, Men Kheper Re,"The Appearance of Ra is Established", within a cartouche, surronded by Maat feathers, above neb basket.
Intact, formerly glazed, pierced for mounting


Roman Republic
Bronze 1/5 unit,
1.606g, maximum diameter 14.6mm, die axis 0o
Carthago Nova mint, weight, 209 - 206 B.C.
Obv: bare male head (Scipio Africanus?) left
Rev: horse head right
Ref: SNG BM Spain 129, Burgos 556
VF, rough,
rare
Comment: In order to force Hannibal to retreat from Italy, Scipio Africanus attacked Carthaginian Spain and took Carthago Nova in 209 B.C. References most often identify this type as Punic, struck before 209 B.C., but they also note that the head is "Roman style." Some authorities believe, as we do, that this type was struck after 209, under Roman rule. Carthaginian coins sometimes depicted Barcid generals. This coin possibly depicts the Roman general Scipio Africanus.

I got this one for no other reason than it is a PIG!!!

IBERIA. Castulo. Quarter Unit (Late 2nd century BC).
Obv: Diademed male head right.
Rev: KAŚTILO (in Iberian).
Boar standing right; star above.
ACIP 2152; SNG BM Spain 1354-7.
Condition: Good very fine.
Weight: 3.27 g.
Diameter: 16 mm.


CARTHAGE, ZEUGITANA
AV GOLD 1/10 STATERor Trihemiobol.350-320 BCE

Carthage mint

7.50 mm, 0.94 g
Obv: Palm tree with two date-clusters
Rev: Horse’s head right
Ref:Jenkins & Lewis Group III, 138; GC.6461-Müller II,87,81; ALSO - Jenkins Group III, 156; SNG Cop (Nordafrika) 132, MAA 8; CNG ATTRIBUTION: (same size and weight as mine...) Carthage mint. Palm tree with two date-clusters, border of pellets / Horse's head right. Jenkins and Lewis Group III, 136-155; MAA 8; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG Lloyd 1613; Pozzi 3290-1; Boston MFA 500
Comment: two small scratches on reverse (neck of horse)


Etruria Populonia 2-1/2 As (similar to a Roman AR Sestertius) 3rd C BC AR Radiate Fem Hd CII Blank EC 104 HN Italy 179
Ex: From the collection of E.E. Clain-Stefanelli
RARE, 2 exist (British Museum and mine...)

 

21-30... - FINIS


Etruria Populonia 3rd C BCE AR 20 As (Didrachm) 8.1g Metus Blank HN 152


Rome. Lead tessera c. 1st cent. AD
Fortuna standing left, resting rudder on ground with right hand, holding cornucopia in left
Large DP
Rostovtsev 2307; Ruggerio 808-9; 13mm, 1.39 g, 12h; good VF

Ex Tom Vossen collection of Roman lead objects.


Syracuse Tyrant Gelon 458-478 BCE AR Tet 24mm 16-7g Slow Biga Victory Artemus-Arethusa 4 dolphins Sear-Greek 914


Bruttium, Carthaginian Occupation
AR Half-Shekel.
3.52g, 19mm, 6h.
Punic mint in Bruttium, circa 216-211 BC. Struck during the Second Punic War.
Obv: Wreathed head of Tanit left
Rev: Horse standing right; solar disk above.
Ref: SNG Copenhagen 359-60; HN Italy 2016.


Egyptian Amenhotep III Scarab
New Kingdom, Reign of Amenhotep III, 1390-1352 BC.
Obv: A stone scarab with detailed carapace and legs;
Rev: to the underside a cartouche with Neb Maat Ra, the prenomen of Amenhotep III, and series of hieroglyphs; pierced through body for suspension.
41.37 grams, 45mm (1 3/4") - This scarab is HUGE
Ex Gustave Mustaki collection, some of the Mustaki collection is in the British Museum,
Comments: the collection was exported to the UK with export permits in 1948.


Carthage Zeugitana
AR Shekel / Didrachm
300-264 BCE, 7.42g, 21.0mm
Comment: EF
Grade: EF great details
Obv: Head of Tanit left, wearing wreath of grain, earrings and necklace; dotted border
Rev: Horse standing right on exergual line with head turned left, palm tree in background, star in right field

First Female Pilot in the Roman Air Force...

Attribution: RIC Vii 6 Rome
Date: 253-254 AD
Obverse: DIVAE MARINIANA N, Veiled bust right, with crescent behind
Reverse: C-ONSECRATIO, Mariniana reclining left on peacock flying upward to right
Size: 21.18mm
Weight: 3.11 grams
Description: nearing VF. A nice example with old toning. Ex Colosseum Coin Exchange with tag


Roman Republic
Province of Macedonia
Thessalonika Mint
Quaestor Aesillas (BC 90-70)
AR Tetradrachm 28 mm x 16.50 grams
Obverse: Flowing hair bust of Alexander the Great, Greek legend, MAKEDONWN (Macedonians) TH mint mark behind bust
Reverse: Club of Hercules center, Coin Chest left field, Quaestor's chair right field. Surround be a wreath.
Ref:BMC 81-83; Dewing 1224-1225


Persia
Ardashir III (r. AD 628-629)
AR Drachm 36 mm x 3.85 grams
Obverse: Crowned beardless bust of Ardashir III right.
Reverse: Zoroastrian Fire Altar flanked by two attendents. Dated yr. 2 AY mint.
ref# Gobl II/1 Downturn year 2 Delta.


Last Purchase so far in 2016...

Africa, Zeugutana, Carthage
Anonymous (s. BC 310-290)
EL Dekadrachm (Stater)
18.5 mm x 7.27 grams
Obverse: Wreathed head of Tanit left, eleven pendants on necklace; pellet before neck
Reverse: Horse standing right; two pellets below exergue line
Ref:Jenkins & Lewis Group V, 259–79; MAA 10; SNG Copenhagen 975
Ex: my Buddy @Ancientnoob

 

Wow Brian. Many gorgeous coins this year, and I would be hard pressed to select just one or two. I suppose I would have to have the Anonymous EL Dekadrachm if I was forced to pick just one. But so many I would love to have in my collection.

 

Nice lot.
I really like the Roman Republic coins!

 

Great collection of coins. I love the Carthage stater.

 

I imagine anyone collecting for ten years would be happy if the entirety of their collection were just your 2016 Top 30. Well done! Now, can I please have the Marsic Confederation denarius that you have in your Top 10 ?

 

Great collection, and what a way to end the year!

 

Wow! Excellent coins!

 

Fantastic buying, now I know why the market coin selection is shrinking you've got them all, congrats you have done exceptionally well.

 

Alegandron, I thought I have a very wide scope when it comes to numismatics, but I do think you beat me: Greece, Carthage, Egypt, Roman Republican, Roman Imperial, China, and I probably missed one or two....

300 hundred coins added to your collection this year! almost a new addition every day..

A vey nice selection, and I would be hard pressed to say which one I like best, but I do have a special affection for coins of Carthage...excellent examples, but in fact Very nice, all! Congratulations!

 

Wow!!

So many fantastic coins...

Among my favorites: the Republican didrachms, the Marsic Confederations (you have three? What a hog ), the Zeugitana 1/10 shekel (cool!), and the Etrurian didrachm.

 

A Top-30!! ... wow, that's a whole lotta coins for me to pick a favourite!!

Ummm, and although I saw a sweet Syracuse nestled in the pack, my first coin-boner was when I laid eyes on that amazing Anonymous Mars & Horse-head didrachm (man, I love seeeing Mars on coins and that obverse is over the fricken top => congrats)

Gandalf => wow, all of those coins are top-drawer!!

Cheers and Merry Christmas!

 

I have a feeling that you should have named this thread "My top 300 of 2016"! Congrats!!

 

WOW!! What an incredible array of fantastic coins!!! Scrolling through, over and over again, I feel like a kid at a candy shop LOL

Like TIF, (and all the others) I have the same reaction.....Love the coins of Carthage and I still need an example of the Marsic Confederation etc etc (Please take note if you are my 'Secret Santa next year).

 

@Alegandron I'm blown away !!
300+ coins in a year ! That means one reason for rejoycing EVERY single day, just with coins, let alone all the good persons and thing you may have in your life. Amazing (and a bit green with envy too)

Q

 

Awesome!! I recognize @Ancientnoob Carthage.. that was an amazing beauty.. you are very lucky to get that...

 

Yes. @Ancientnoob has been great to work with. We have worked together on several coins, and he has inspired me (as well as you), to expand collecting into other Ancient Histories, including India and Central Asia. However, Carthage had always been a fascination with me, and he took it to the Next Level with that Stater. I am very fortunate to have acquired it from him! He has an excellent eye!

Speaking of inspired: @Cucumbor has turned me on to the French Revolution, and the major World Transition of France during that time...