ValiantKnight's 10 Favorite Coins of 2019

If I had to categorize my 2019, I'd say more "eclectic". It feels like I got at least a little of everything that I currently collect to any extent. I bought Greek, Roman Republic, early Empire, mid Empire, provincials, late Empire, Byzantine, Islamic, small coins, large coins, oddly shaped coins, etc. I still have my longtime collecting focuses, of course, but I've managed to find more interest in and acquire more coins in collecting areas I had not paid much attention to in the past, or had mostly sidelined. I also put more emphasis on obtaining higher quality pieces (compared to years past) whenever possible, while still continuing to compromise with rarities if needed. It was a fun, reflective experience putting this list together, and I am looking forward to your comments and what your favorites are.

10) I have a brother in Jordan

I happen to have a soft spot for coins of Maurice Tiberius, and have made it a particular focus of mine to acquire ones with nice portraits. This one I feel is all around attractive: portrait, great detail, good size, and green patina. Also, the obverse legend is a bit more distinctive, since instead of AVG or a variation thereof, it simply expands the abbreviation of “perpetuus” by adding the S, making it “PPS”. The “AV” in “MAV” has also been combined in a monogram-like format. I only found one other example online of this obverse type, published in a catalog of Byzantine coins stored in the collection of the Jordan Ahli Bank Numismatic Museum, located in Jordan. Mine is an obverse die match to this other example.


Maurice Tiberius, Byzantine Empire
AE follis
Obv: D N mAV TIBERI PPS, helmeted, cuirassed bust right, holding cross in left and shield in right
Rev: Large M, ANNO to left, cross above, A below, regnal year VI to right
Mint: Constantinople
Mintmark: CON (in exergue)
Date: 587 AD
Ref: SB 494


9) In this case it's good to be a square!

Ever since first learning about it, I am very interested in the fact that the Greeks made it all the way to the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia; at first glance, these areas do not seem like they would be associated with the ancient Greeks. But one day, Alexander went on an Indian vacation, and here we are. For me, this association makes Greek coins from these regions exotic in a way. I am also often intrigued by obscure and little-known rulers (can’t imagine plenty of you have heard of Queen Agathokleia; I didn’t either until coming across my coin). Not to mention that it is a dual issue that names both the queen regent and her son.



Agathokleia and Strato I, Indo-Greek Kingdom
AE square unit
Obv: BAΣIΛIΣΣHΣ / ΘEOTPOΠOY / AΓAΘOKΛEIAΣ, Helmeted bust of Athena (or Agathokleia) right
Rev: "Maharajasa / tratarasa dhra / mikasa stratasa" in Kharoshthi, Herakles seated left on rock, holding club in right hand, monogram to left
Mint: ? (Bactria)
Date: 128-123 BC
Ref: MIG 307


8) Barely clinging on to history

I already had an example of this type for a while now, but it was in particularly poor shape. It was not a strong urge, but I had a desire to upgrade it whenever I came across a decent one within my budget (not to mention the Chi-Rho reverse is one of my favorite LRB types). Fortunately, @Victor_Clark had this example in his inventory. It had some remaining dirt, so this became a fun cleaning job as well for me. I mostly focused on the reverse. Worked some on the obverse, but some dirt was left as I felt that it looked fine by that point and did not want to risk damaging it. It was struck by the usurper Poemenius (for Constantius II), who is only known to history from one line in one of Ammianus Marcellinus’s works. Here is a well-written study from Walter C. Holt on the revolt of Poemenius and the numismatics behind it: https://www.academia.edu/1504998/Usurping_a_Usurper_The_Poemenius_Revolt_at_Trier



Poemenius in the name of Constantius II, Western Roman Empire
AE2
Obv: D N CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev: SALVS AVG NOSTRI, large Chi-Rho flanked by A-W
Mint: Trier
Mintmark: TRP
Date: 352 AD
Ref: RIC VIII 332


7) The bright light of "Dark Ages" Europe

One area of collecting I’ve had designs on is coins from the Iberian Peninsula (more specifically, what is now Spain, part of my ancestral history). But unfortunately, I have not made many in-roads. Visigothic is often rather pricey. Pre-Roman Iberian is usually in poor shape and not worth the price asked (so I still do not have any). And for whatever reason, the Julio-Claudian-era stuff just does not hold my interest much. I really wanted coins from Spain’s early Islamic past, but was pretty lost as to knowing what I was seeing was really of Al-Andalus (I do not read Arabic). So I did a bit of studying, including comparing styles and memorizing the exact Arabic word for “Al-Andalus”. And so I felt confident when I purchased this example.



Al-Hakam I, Emirate of Cordoba
AR dirham
Obv: (center, in Arabic) "There is no God but Allah. He has no equal"
(in margins, in Arabic) “In the name of Allah. this Dirham was struck in al-Andalus in the year six and ninety and one-hundred ” (AH 196)
Rev: (center, in Arabic) "Allah is One God. The eternal and indivisible, who has not begotten, and has not been begotten and never is there His equal"
(in margins, in Arabic) “Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. He sent him with guidance and the true religion to reveal it to all religions even if the polytheists abhor it”
Mint: Cordoba (al-Andalus)
Date: 811-812 AD
Ref: Album 340


6) “Menandering” his way to sixth place!

Similar motivations as the Agathokleia, but also the fact that I had wanted a helmeted Menander, since this portrait type on the tetradrachm is, in my opinion, one of the most attractive of all Greek coins. The tetradrachms are currently not being considered solely out of respect for my bank account, but I managed to acquire the next best thing: a lovely drachm of his which also has a helmeted portrait. I was surprised at how low it had been priced; I suspect the dark patches of horn silver had something to do with this (but I myself do not find it distracting).



Menander I, Indo-Greek Kingdom
AR drachm
Obv: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ MENANΔPOY, helmeted, draped bust right
Rev: "Maharajasa tratarasa / menamdrasa" in Kharoshthi, Athena Alkidemos standing left seen from behind, holding shield on left arm, hurling thunderbolt in right hand, PA monogram to right
Mint: ? (Bactria)
Date: 160-145 BC
Ref: BMC 8


5) Justinian rockin’ that barbarian bowl-cut!

As some on here may remember, one of my “things” is Byzantine coins from Italy, which started during, and continued for a few centuries after, Justinian’s invasion of the Ostrogothic Kingdom. What I like about this half-follis in particular is the more-conical, bowl-haircut, shaped hairstyle; more in line with the coins made under Gothic rulers that ruled before than the Byzantine coins struck out east. I also particularly like the sideways “S” in the first half of the obverse legend, and am a bit intrigued by the lack of the final “S” in Justinian’s name. I guess the engraver ran out of space? Its also chunky like a later Roman tetradrachm, and happens to be my second Rome half-follis of Justinian



Justinian I, Byzantine Empire
AE half-follis
Obv: D N IVSTI-NIANVS, diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev: Large K, star to left, cross to right, all within wreath
Mint: Rome
Date: 537-542 AD
Ref: SB 301


4) You have a big (Greek) head!

Simply put, I wanted to add another nice, large Greek tetradrachm to my collection at the time. And I was, and currently am, looking to expand my Seleucid collection as well.There were two of this type from this particular seller. The other example I was considering because the portrait on that one was slightly more centered. The downside to it was that, compared to my example, Athena was engraved in a more amateur style. Also, I believe I remembered there were some slight surface issues on the obverse of that other coin. So, I bought my coin, and have not had any regrets. It is a very stunning portrait in hand.



Antiochus VII, Seleucid Kingdom
AR tetradrachm
Obv: Diademed head right within border
Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EYEΡΓETOY, Athena standing left, holding Nike in right hand, spear, and shield decorated with face in left hand
Mint: Antioch
Date: 138-129 BC
Ref: HGC 1067


3) A well-fed Roman siliqua

I am and will always be a big fan of siliquae, even if my wallet is not. One day, I had the urge for a nice, affordable one, and this coin fit the bill. The style is well-made and well-detailed for a late Roman (maybe standards were higher in the mint of Constantius’s birthplace?), and I love me good, clear Latin. But what also attracted me to this siliqua was its larger size than typical siliquae (3.31 gr, 22 mm wide). It is closer to the weight of the first siliquae under Constantine I, struck in a time where siliqua size had already been reduced.



Constantius II, Roman Empire
AR siliqua
Obv: D N CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev: VOTIS XXX / MVLTIS XXXX, all within wreath
Mint: Sirmium
Mintmark: SIRM
Date: 357-361 AD
Ref: RIC VIII 15


2) Born of war

Ever since I started dedicating myself several years ago to collecting Byzantine Italy, I had in my sights the rare Rome-mint follis of Justinian I. It’s neither the rarest nor most valuable the Byzantine Italian types, but is still desirable, and often pricey. Fortunately, after two showed up in the same CNG sale that were out of my budget, a more affordable one came up on a different venue at fixed price, and I immediately pounced on it before anyone else had a chance to. It compliments the two Justinian Rome half folles I currently own pretty nicely. There are two styles to Justinian folles and half-folles from Rome: a higher, quality “good” style, and a crude “poorer” style. Mine is the former. Searching around for more Rome folles to look at and study, I discovered an obverse die match to mine, so this was interesting to find as well.



Justinian I, Byzantine Empire
AE follis
Obv: D N IVSTINI-ANVS P P AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, bust right
Rev: Large M, cross above, cross to left, star to right, all within wreath
Mint: Rome
Mintmark: ROMA (in exergue)
Date: 537-542 AD
Ref: SB 293


1) Another one for the flock

It feels only natural that my relatively recent conversion to the Greek side of ancient coin collecting would eventually lead me to an Athens Owl tetradrachm (I partially blame Assassin’s Creed Odyssey for this as well!). I wanted the most famous type of all the owl types (okay, an archaic would have been nice too!), and I wanted one with as much of the portrait and crest on the flan as possible. All on a budget (see a theme here?). It was this coin that prompted me to participate in my first-ever auction house auction (non-eBay, non-CT). Not bad for my first auction win, I think.



Attica, Athens
AR tetradrachm
Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right
Rev: Owl standing right, head facing, olive sprig to left, crescent behind, AΘE to right, all within incuse square
Date: 454-404 BC
Ref: SNG Copenhagen 31
Size: 17.19g, 24mm

 

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Some great coins there VK, fantastic owl for your first auction win, WOW what a score.

 

Great looking coins. I am partial to the Maurice Tiberius and the Constantius siliqua. Looks like you had a good 2019 overall. Looking forward to 2020!

 

Indeed, another coin eclector who spent 2019 coin eclecting - a la TypeCoin971793, who posted his "eclectic top 10" earlier.

Impressive group, VK.

 

I fail to understand how Poemenius choosing to support the legitimate emperor Constantius II over the junior usurper Decentius gets him classified as a usurper rather than a hero. Yes, Constantius did not use or approve the type selected but the point here is that the coins were issued in his name in support of the end of the Magnentius/Decentius usurpation.
The coins come in two variations of headgear on the portrait (with and without rosettes).

 

It's hard to beat an Athenian Owl, but that Constantius II siliqua is fantastic!!

 

That's a whole buncha interesting and excellent goodies you welcomed into your collection this year, VK. My favorites are the Owl (excellent pick), Constantius siliqua, and Menander.

 

Great job with the acquisitions, @ValiantKnight ... some very nice ones! You have some GREAT captions, and I like the Poemenius history. Great collection!

 

What a wide variety you've collected this year-- classics, rarities... all very interesting. Many of the coins and eras you collect are outside of my limited range of knowledge but it's always fun seeing someone else dig deep .

 

You picked up some really nice coins VK! They are all interesting and great historical aspects. I really love the square Baktrian example The Islamic Caliphate coinage from Spain are fascinating!
John

 

Thanks all for the comments and likes!

 

The owl is just outstanding. I find your Justinian follis minted at Rome in the 6th century most intriguing. That was a most turbulent and transformative time - politically, culturally, and even linguistically.

 

You had an interesting year, thanks for sharing. I like your owl, siliqua and especially -

a favorite I have yet to buy.

 

Great coins VK. My favorites are your new owl, the beautiful siliqua and the Antiochos VII tet.

 

Excellent coins, I like large Chi-Rho and siliqua of Constantius II.

 

ValiantKnight, You did well this year with a nice variety of handsome coins ! My favorites are #2 & 5, since I've been leaning heavily towards Byzantine & Barbarian coinage this year .

 

Great coins and write ups! I was actually planning on purchasing that Constantius II siliqua it is a phenomenal example of the earlier standard/'heavy siliqua'.

 

My favorite is the siliqua, it's a fantastic coin
Congrats an a great year, with some "must have" the owl being at the top of them

Q

 

Thanks for the additional replies!

Definitely! And even through all the change and decline, Rome’s reputation remained and made it still highly sought after. I like to imagine Justinian’s reaction upon hearing that Rome had been reunited with its empire again, and later on maybe having received a Rome follis like this one as a kind of trophy.

 

Great coins, congratz with the nice additions. Your number 3 is really nice, and my favorite of your list.