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ValiantKnight's Top 10 (actually 11) Favorites of 2020
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<p>[QUOTE="ValiantKnight, post: 5443935, member: 44210"]I had planned on posting my favorites of 2020 list in December, but the busyness of work and the holidays prevented me from creating it until just recently. At least it gave time for one of my overseas purchases to arrive and be included on the list. I didn’t really keep track of how many coins I bought in 2020; I’d say it feels like I might have bought less compared to 2019, since it was initially somewhat difficult to come up with a full list of 10. Despite this, I feel that several milestones were made. All of the coins in my list are significant to me on a historical, collecting, and/or a personal level. Thanks for looking and enjoy!</p><p><br /></p><p><b>10) <u><font size="4">Ptolemy </font></u><font size="4"><u>II,</u> Ptolemaic Kingdom</font></b></p><p><font size="4">AE diobol</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Obv</b>: Laureate head of Zeus right, within dotted border</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Rev</b>: ΠTOΛEMAIOY-BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, with wings spread, oval shield to left</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Mint</b>: Syracuse (struck by Hieron II of Sicily)</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Date</b>: 275-246 BC</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Ref</b>: Svoronos 610</font></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1236909[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>I picked this one up as part of my ongoing efforts to expand my Ptolemaic sub-collection. It is just an attractive coin all around: great portrait, well-styled eagle, sand in just the right places to bring out the design, and free of any major defects. What makes this Ptolemy II diobol type particularly interesting is that it was not struck in Egypt or any other territory administered by the Ptolemies; it was actually struck in Sicily by King Hieron II. According to Ptolemybronze.com’s page on these, mine is part of a subgroup whose examples were nearly all found in eastern Sicily. These Sicilian-minted bronzes reflect the relationship between the early Ptolemaic kings and Sicily, which is expanded upon <a href="http://ptolemybronze.com/paper.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://ptolemybronze.com/paper.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>, along with several theories on why these coins were minted.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>9) <font size="4">Attica, Athens</font></b></p><p><font size="4">AR drachm</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Obv</b>: Helmeted head of Athena right</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Rev</b>: Owl standing right, head facing, olive sprig to left, crescent behind, AΘE to right, all within incuse square</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Date</b>: 454-404 BC</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Ref</b>: Sear SG 2527</font></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1236910[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>I guess sometimes I just feel the need to challenge myself. After I acquired my Athens tetradrachm almost a couple of years back, I decided that I wanted to try and obtain its fractional denominations such as the obol and drachm, since they do not come up for sale as often as the tetradrachms. I managed to do so in 2020 by obtaining this neat, little drachm. I can tell that it definitely did its duty in circulation!</p><p><br /></p><p><b>8) <u><font size="4">Augustus</font></u></b><font size="4"><b>, Roman Empire</b></font></p><p><font size="4">AR denarius</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Obv</b>: CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE, laureate head right.</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Rev</b>: C L CAESARES AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT, Gaius and Lucius Caesars standing facing, shields and spears between them; simpulum and lituus above; X below.</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Mint</b>: Lugdunum</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Ref</b>: RIC I 212; Lyon 86; RSC 43d.</font></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1236911[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>This was not something I had been actively looking for at the time (similarly to some of the other coins on this list), but on my mental “to obtain eventually” list I was hoping to get an Augustus coin with an attractive and realistic portrait, one that resembled the various marble busts I have seen of Augustus. I have had a couple of Augustus coins in the past, but I was never truly satisfied with them. This Lugdunum denarius popped up in one of John Anthony’s auctions last year, and when I saw the wonderful portrait it had, I knew I had to win it. It is also an ex [USER=76194]@Sallent[/USER] collection coin, so I was glad to be able to keep it “in the family” <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>7) <u><font size="4">Irene and Constantine VI</font></u></b><font size="4"><b>, Byzantine Empire</b></font></p><p><font size="4">AE follis</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Obv</b>: Facing bust of Irene, wearing crown and loros, holding globus cruciger and cruciform sceptre</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Rev</b>: Facing bust of Constantine VI, beardless, wearing crown and chlamys, holding globus cruciger, two pellets to left, cross to right, all above horzontal bar, large M below flanked by X and N (partly off-flan)</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Mint</b>: Constantinople</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Date</b>: 792-797 AD</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Ref</b>: SB 1598</font></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1236927[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Another notable ruler I had been on the lookout for: Byzantine empress Irene. It is very fortunate that the corrosion was kept away from most of Irene’s profile. But as a sort of weird and morbid joke by the coin gods, her co-ruler and son Constantine VI’s face on the portrait is disfigured, just as he was in real life when he was maimed by eye-gouging on Irene’s orders. She then became the sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire, something a woman had not achieved before. The Pope in Rome, Leo III, did not believe that a woman was capable of being emperor, and in response he crowned the Frankish king Charlemagne as Roman Emperor in 800. Irene was also important in ending iconoclasm in the Byzantine Empire through the convening of the Second Council of Nicaea in 787.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>6) <u><font size="4">Ptolemy X,</font></u></b><font size="4"> <b>Ptolemaic Kingdom</b></font></p><p><font size="4">AR tetradrachm</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Obv</b>: Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, aegis tied around neck; dotted border</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Rev</b>: ΠTOΛEMAIOY-BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle with closed wings standing left on thunderbolt; L IΞ (17=regnal year) to left, ΠA to right</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Mint</b>: Alexandria</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Date</b>: 91 BC</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Ref</b>: Svoronos 1677</font></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1236923[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Even before deciding in 2020 to dedicate myself to Ptolemaic coinage, a nice, problem-free, and affordable later Ptolemaic tetradrachm was on my list. Examples that I have had before were way overcleaned or off-center. I won this in the latest Frank Robinson auction, my first ever win from him. It is just very slightly overcleaned but it is not distracting at all, and I imagine this how it might have resembled several years or decades after it was struck. Apart from a tiny portion of the top of Ptolemy’s head, all the devices are on flan, notable the reverse legends. Many Ptolemaic tetradrachms have the legends off-flan, worn, or badly-struck. Currently I’m keeping it out and exposed to the air and light sources, and when I put it away, I keep it in the paper envelope it came in, so that it can hopefully pick up some toning, which it has already started to obtain as evidenced by the tinges of gold around some of the reverse devices (hardly visible in the photo).</p><p><br /></p><p><b>5) <u><font size="4">Antiochus VII</font></u></b><font size="4"><u><b>,</b></u> <b>Seleucid Kingdom</b></font></p><p><font size="4">AR didrachm</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Obv</b>: Diademed head of Antiochus right, within dotted border</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Rev</b>: ANTIOXOY-BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, palm over shoulder, A/PE above monogram of Tyre above club, ςOP (date) to right, monogram between legs</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Mint</b>: Tyre</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Date</b>: 137-136 BC</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Ref</b>: SC 2110.4a. HGC 9</font></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1236928[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>There is not any deep reason why I bought this one. I was looking for and comparing Ptolemaic didrachms for sale when I came across this particular didrachm. It is Seleucid and of Antiochus VII but had been misattributed as Ptolemaic by the seller. I was cool with the price and I liked how it looked so I thought “might as well” <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> . I will also say, though, that its made me a bit more interested in the relations between the Ptolemaic and Seleucid kingdoms and I wouldn’t mind expanding my collecting to include Seleucid rulers that were particularly intertwined with the Ptolemies. I ended up also buying an actual Ptolemaic didrachm as my first 2021 purchase, but that one I will post when it arrives.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>4) <u><font size="4">Marcian</font></u></b><font size="4"><b>, Eastern Roman Empire</b></font></p><p><font size="4">AV solidus</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Obv</b>: D N MARCIA-NVS P F AVG, diademed, helmeted and cuirassed three-quarter facing bust, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Rev</b>: VICTORI-A AVGGG, Victory standing left, holding long jeweled cross, star in right field</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Mint</b>: Constantinople</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Mintmark</b>: CONOB</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Date</b>: 450-457 AD</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Ref</b>: RIC 510</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Size</b>: 4.46 gr., 21 mm </font></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1236929[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>I found this solidus browsing the For Sale section of a CT ancients member. I have a bit of a fondness for Emperor Marcian since he was the first late Roman ruler I got a monogram coin of years back when I decided to make 5th century Roman one of my collecting focuses. Marcian is somewhat scarcer in gold compared to other emperors like Leo I and Theodosius II, and it was being offered at what I thought was a lower price than other similar examples I have seen before, so I decided to go for it. This solidus was probably kept out of the Huns’ hands; Marcian managed to find the courage that his predecessor Theodosius II never could and ended Theodosius’s annual gold payments to the Huns. Adding to this nice, diplomatic middle-finger to Attila, he offered “iron” by way of war instead.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>3) <u><font size="4">John VIII Palaiologos</font></u></b><font size="4"><b>, Byzantine Empire</b></font></p><p><font size="4">AR stavraton</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Obv</b>: IC-XC, Facing bust of Christ, surrounded by eight dots</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Rev</b>: IWANHC DECPOTIC O PALEOLOGOC QV XAPITI AVTOKPATOP in two lines around nimbate facing bust of the emperor, dot to left and right</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Mint</b>: Constantinople</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Date</b>: 1425-1448</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Ref</b>: SB 2563</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Size</b>: 6.66 gr. </font></p><p><font size="4"><br /></font></p><p><font size="4"><u><b>John VIII Palaiologos</b></u><b>, Byzantine Empire</b></font></p><p><font size="4">AR half-stavraton</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Obv</b>: IC-XC, Facing bust of Christ</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Rev</b>: IWANHC DECPOTIC Q PALEOLOGOC, nimbate facing bust of the emperor</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Mint</b>: Constantinople</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Date</b>: 1425-1448</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Ref</b>: SB 2565</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Size</b>: 3.3 gr.</font></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1236937[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>I do not really collect Byzantine after the 12th century (although I am open to having them in my collection), but I was interested in obtaining any coin that was relatively close to the 1453 Fall of Constantinople which marks the final end of the Roman Empire. This interest was an outgrowth of my fascination with the history of (and coinage related to) the fall of the Western Roman Empire. A coin of the final Byzantine/Eastern Roman emperor Constantine XI is out of the question due to rarity and price, so I felt content to at least obtain a coin of his immediate predecessor (and brother), John VIII, who ruled in the last few decades of the empire in the early-to-mid 15th century. Funny enough, what motivated me to actively search for one was watching the Turkish docudrama Rise of Empires: Ottomans on Netflix. I thought I was good with just the larger stavraton, but I had soon after found for sale the attractive half-stavraton (from a different source), and I gave in and bought it as well.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>2) <u><font size="4">Cleopatra VII</font></u></b><font size="4"><b>, Ptolemaic Kingdom</b></font></p><p><font size="4">AE 40 drachmae</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Obv</b>: Diademed & draped bust right</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Rev</b>: Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, cornucopiae in left field, M (40) in right field</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Mint</b>: Alexandria</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Date</b>: 51-30 BC</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Ref</b>: Svoronos 1872</font></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1236939[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Another coin that I found by chance, this bronze 40 drachmae of <i>the</i> Cleopatra. I seem to not be able to help myself when I come across affordable coins of famous/significant rulers that are usually expensive. On top of this, I am fascinated by the Ptolemaic Kingdom and its history (see a pattern here? <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />). What also helped my decision to purchase it was a 10% off special Forum Ancient Coins had going on at the time <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> . Retrospectively it was a smart decision on my part, since it was recently that I decided to make Ptolemaic coins a focus of my collecting.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>1) <u><font size="4">Theodahad</font></u></b><font size="4"><u><b>,</b></u> <b>Ostrogothic Kingdom</b></font></p><p><font size="4">AR half-siliqua</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Obv</b>: D N IVSTI-NIAN AC, diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Rev</b>: Monogram THEODAHATVS within wreath</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Mint</b>: Ravenna</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Date</b>: 534-536 AD</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Ref</b>: Metlich 61; MIB 55b; Ranieri 287</font></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1236944[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>While searching auctions around a couple of months back for Ptolemaic coins to add to my collection, I figured I would also check to see if there were any early Germanic kingdoms coins that I thought I’d have a chance to win. That is when I saw (and later won) this wonderful and very rare half-siliqua of Ostrogothic king Theodahad, which was minted in Ravenna between 534-536 AD. Justinian is depicted on the obverse, while Theodahad’s monogram is on the reverse. Ostrogothic coinage (especially the gold and silver coins) often had the Byzantine emperor on the obverse to recognize their preeminence over the Ostrogothic king, and the fact that the Ostrogoths technically ruled Italy in the name of the Byzantine emperor (but in practice ruled independently). Theodahad’s only notable event during his reign was his coup against his co-ruler and queen regnant Amalasuntha, whom he had imprisoned. She was of a pro-Roman faction that Theodahad was opposed to. It is not known if he ordered it personally, but her assassination in 535 occurred under his watch shortly after. This event gave a pretext for Justinian to start the Gothic War, with the intention of conquering Italy. I’ve always had a passion for the Germanic kingdoms, especially the Ostrogoths, and this and the fact that it is very rare makes it my #1 favorite on my list.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="ValiantKnight, post: 5443935, member: 44210"]I had planned on posting my favorites of 2020 list in December, but the busyness of work and the holidays prevented me from creating it until just recently. At least it gave time for one of my overseas purchases to arrive and be included on the list. I didn’t really keep track of how many coins I bought in 2020; I’d say it feels like I might have bought less compared to 2019, since it was initially somewhat difficult to come up with a full list of 10. Despite this, I feel that several milestones were made. All of the coins in my list are significant to me on a historical, collecting, and/or a personal level. Thanks for looking and enjoy! [B]10) [U][SIZE=4]Ptolemy [/SIZE][/U][SIZE=4][U]II,[/U] Ptolemaic Kingdom[/SIZE][/B] [SIZE=4]AE diobol [B]Obv[/B]: Laureate head of Zeus right, within dotted border [B]Rev[/B]: ΠTOΛEMAIOY-BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, with wings spread, oval shield to left [B]Mint[/B]: Syracuse (struck by Hieron II of Sicily) [B]Date[/B]: 275-246 BC [B]Ref[/B]: Svoronos 610[/SIZE] [ATTACH=full]1236909[/ATTACH] I picked this one up as part of my ongoing efforts to expand my Ptolemaic sub-collection. It is just an attractive coin all around: great portrait, well-styled eagle, sand in just the right places to bring out the design, and free of any major defects. What makes this Ptolemy II diobol type particularly interesting is that it was not struck in Egypt or any other territory administered by the Ptolemies; it was actually struck in Sicily by King Hieron II. According to Ptolemybronze.com’s page on these, mine is part of a subgroup whose examples were nearly all found in eastern Sicily. These Sicilian-minted bronzes reflect the relationship between the early Ptolemaic kings and Sicily, which is expanded upon [URL='http://ptolemybronze.com/paper.html']here[/URL], along with several theories on why these coins were minted. [B]9) [SIZE=4]Attica, Athens[/SIZE][/B] [SIZE=4]AR drachm [B]Obv[/B]: Helmeted head of Athena right [B]Rev[/B]: Owl standing right, head facing, olive sprig to left, crescent behind, AΘE to right, all within incuse square [B]Date[/B]: 454-404 BC [B]Ref[/B]: Sear SG 2527[/SIZE] [ATTACH=full]1236910[/ATTACH] I guess sometimes I just feel the need to challenge myself. After I acquired my Athens tetradrachm almost a couple of years back, I decided that I wanted to try and obtain its fractional denominations such as the obol and drachm, since they do not come up for sale as often as the tetradrachms. I managed to do so in 2020 by obtaining this neat, little drachm. I can tell that it definitely did its duty in circulation! [B]8) [U][SIZE=4]Augustus[/SIZE][/U][/B][SIZE=4][B], Roman Empire[/B] AR denarius [B]Obv[/B]: CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE, laureate head right. [B]Rev[/B]: C L CAESARES AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT, Gaius and Lucius Caesars standing facing, shields and spears between them; simpulum and lituus above; X below. [B]Mint[/B]: Lugdunum [B]Ref[/B]: RIC I 212; Lyon 86; RSC 43d.[/SIZE] [ATTACH=full]1236911[/ATTACH] This was not something I had been actively looking for at the time (similarly to some of the other coins on this list), but on my mental “to obtain eventually” list I was hoping to get an Augustus coin with an attractive and realistic portrait, one that resembled the various marble busts I have seen of Augustus. I have had a couple of Augustus coins in the past, but I was never truly satisfied with them. This Lugdunum denarius popped up in one of John Anthony’s auctions last year, and when I saw the wonderful portrait it had, I knew I had to win it. It is also an ex [USER=76194]@Sallent[/USER] collection coin, so I was glad to be able to keep it “in the family” :D. [B]7) [U][SIZE=4]Irene and Constantine VI[/SIZE][/U][/B][SIZE=4][B], Byzantine Empire[/B] AE follis [B]Obv[/B]: Facing bust of Irene, wearing crown and loros, holding globus cruciger and cruciform sceptre [B]Rev[/B]: Facing bust of Constantine VI, beardless, wearing crown and chlamys, holding globus cruciger, two pellets to left, cross to right, all above horzontal bar, large M below flanked by X and N (partly off-flan) [B]Mint[/B]: Constantinople [B]Date[/B]: 792-797 AD [B]Ref[/B]: SB 1598[/SIZE] [ATTACH=full]1236927[/ATTACH] Another notable ruler I had been on the lookout for: Byzantine empress Irene. It is very fortunate that the corrosion was kept away from most of Irene’s profile. But as a sort of weird and morbid joke by the coin gods, her co-ruler and son Constantine VI’s face on the portrait is disfigured, just as he was in real life when he was maimed by eye-gouging on Irene’s orders. She then became the sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire, something a woman had not achieved before. The Pope in Rome, Leo III, did not believe that a woman was capable of being emperor, and in response he crowned the Frankish king Charlemagne as Roman Emperor in 800. Irene was also important in ending iconoclasm in the Byzantine Empire through the convening of the Second Council of Nicaea in 787. [B]6) [U][SIZE=4]Ptolemy X,[/SIZE][/U][/B][SIZE=4] [B]Ptolemaic Kingdom[/B] AR tetradrachm [B]Obv[/B]: Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, aegis tied around neck; dotted border [B]Rev[/B]: ΠTOΛEMAIOY-BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle with closed wings standing left on thunderbolt; L IΞ (17=regnal year) to left, ΠA to right [B]Mint[/B]: Alexandria [B]Date[/B]: 91 BC [B]Ref[/B]: Svoronos 1677[/SIZE] [ATTACH=full]1236923[/ATTACH] Even before deciding in 2020 to dedicate myself to Ptolemaic coinage, a nice, problem-free, and affordable later Ptolemaic tetradrachm was on my list. Examples that I have had before were way overcleaned or off-center. I won this in the latest Frank Robinson auction, my first ever win from him. It is just very slightly overcleaned but it is not distracting at all, and I imagine this how it might have resembled several years or decades after it was struck. Apart from a tiny portion of the top of Ptolemy’s head, all the devices are on flan, notable the reverse legends. Many Ptolemaic tetradrachms have the legends off-flan, worn, or badly-struck. Currently I’m keeping it out and exposed to the air and light sources, and when I put it away, I keep it in the paper envelope it came in, so that it can hopefully pick up some toning, which it has already started to obtain as evidenced by the tinges of gold around some of the reverse devices (hardly visible in the photo). [B]5) [U][SIZE=4]Antiochus VII[/SIZE][/U][/B][SIZE=4][U][B],[/B][/U] [B]Seleucid Kingdom[/B] AR didrachm [B]Obv[/B]: Diademed head of Antiochus right, within dotted border [B]Rev[/B]: ANTIOXOY-BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, palm over shoulder, A/PE above monogram of Tyre above club, ςOP (date) to right, monogram between legs [B]Mint[/B]: Tyre [B]Date[/B]: 137-136 BC [B]Ref[/B]: SC 2110.4a. HGC 9[/SIZE] [ATTACH=full]1236928[/ATTACH] There is not any deep reason why I bought this one. I was looking for and comparing Ptolemaic didrachms for sale when I came across this particular didrachm. It is Seleucid and of Antiochus VII but had been misattributed as Ptolemaic by the seller. I was cool with the price and I liked how it looked so I thought “might as well” :D . I will also say, though, that its made me a bit more interested in the relations between the Ptolemaic and Seleucid kingdoms and I wouldn’t mind expanding my collecting to include Seleucid rulers that were particularly intertwined with the Ptolemies. I ended up also buying an actual Ptolemaic didrachm as my first 2021 purchase, but that one I will post when it arrives. [B]4) [U][SIZE=4]Marcian[/SIZE][/U][/B][SIZE=4][B], Eastern Roman Empire[/B] AV solidus [B]Obv[/B]: D N MARCIA-NVS P F AVG, diademed, helmeted and cuirassed three-quarter facing bust, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman [B]Rev[/B]: VICTORI-A AVGGG, Victory standing left, holding long jeweled cross, star in right field [B]Mint[/B]: Constantinople [B]Mintmark[/B]: CONOB [B]Date[/B]: 450-457 AD [B]Ref[/B]: RIC 510 [B]Size[/B]: 4.46 gr., 21 mm [/SIZE] [ATTACH=full]1236929[/ATTACH] I found this solidus browsing the For Sale section of a CT ancients member. I have a bit of a fondness for Emperor Marcian since he was the first late Roman ruler I got a monogram coin of years back when I decided to make 5th century Roman one of my collecting focuses. Marcian is somewhat scarcer in gold compared to other emperors like Leo I and Theodosius II, and it was being offered at what I thought was a lower price than other similar examples I have seen before, so I decided to go for it. This solidus was probably kept out of the Huns’ hands; Marcian managed to find the courage that his predecessor Theodosius II never could and ended Theodosius’s annual gold payments to the Huns. Adding to this nice, diplomatic middle-finger to Attila, he offered “iron” by way of war instead. [B]3) [U][SIZE=4]John VIII Palaiologos[/SIZE][/U][/B][SIZE=4][B], Byzantine Empire[/B] AR stavraton [B]Obv[/B]: IC-XC, Facing bust of Christ, surrounded by eight dots [B]Rev[/B]: IWANHC DECPOTIC O PALEOLOGOC QV XAPITI AVTOKPATOP in two lines around nimbate facing bust of the emperor, dot to left and right [B]Mint[/B]: Constantinople [B]Date[/B]: 1425-1448 [B]Ref[/B]: SB 2563 [B]Size[/B]: 6.66 gr. [U][B]John VIII Palaiologos[/B][/U][B], Byzantine Empire[/B] AR half-stavraton [B]Obv[/B]: IC-XC, Facing bust of Christ [B]Rev[/B]: IWANHC DECPOTIC Q PALEOLOGOC, nimbate facing bust of the emperor [B]Mint[/B]: Constantinople [B]Date[/B]: 1425-1448 [B]Ref[/B]: SB 2565 [B]Size[/B]: 3.3 gr.[/SIZE] [ATTACH=full]1236937[/ATTACH] I do not really collect Byzantine after the 12th century (although I am open to having them in my collection), but I was interested in obtaining any coin that was relatively close to the 1453 Fall of Constantinople which marks the final end of the Roman Empire. This interest was an outgrowth of my fascination with the history of (and coinage related to) the fall of the Western Roman Empire. A coin of the final Byzantine/Eastern Roman emperor Constantine XI is out of the question due to rarity and price, so I felt content to at least obtain a coin of his immediate predecessor (and brother), John VIII, who ruled in the last few decades of the empire in the early-to-mid 15th century. Funny enough, what motivated me to actively search for one was watching the Turkish docudrama Rise of Empires: Ottomans on Netflix. I thought I was good with just the larger stavraton, but I had soon after found for sale the attractive half-stavraton (from a different source), and I gave in and bought it as well. [B]2) [U][SIZE=4]Cleopatra VII[/SIZE][/U][/B][SIZE=4][B], Ptolemaic Kingdom[/B] AE 40 drachmae [B]Obv[/B]: Diademed & draped bust right [B]Rev[/B]: Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, cornucopiae in left field, M (40) in right field [B]Mint[/B]: Alexandria [B]Date[/B]: 51-30 BC [B]Ref[/B]: Svoronos 1872[/SIZE] [ATTACH=full]1236939[/ATTACH] Another coin that I found by chance, this bronze 40 drachmae of [I]the[/I] Cleopatra. I seem to not be able to help myself when I come across affordable coins of famous/significant rulers that are usually expensive. On top of this, I am fascinated by the Ptolemaic Kingdom and its history (see a pattern here? :D). What also helped my decision to purchase it was a 10% off special Forum Ancient Coins had going on at the time :D . Retrospectively it was a smart decision on my part, since it was recently that I decided to make Ptolemaic coins a focus of my collecting. [B]1) [U][SIZE=4]Theodahad[/SIZE][/U][/B][SIZE=4][U][B],[/B][/U] [B]Ostrogothic Kingdom[/B] AR half-siliqua [B]Obv[/B]: D N IVSTI-NIAN AC, diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right [B]Rev[/B]: Monogram THEODAHATVS within wreath [B]Mint[/B]: Ravenna [B]Date[/B]: 534-536 AD [B]Ref[/B]: Metlich 61; MIB 55b; Ranieri 287[/SIZE] [ATTACH=full]1236944[/ATTACH] While searching auctions around a couple of months back for Ptolemaic coins to add to my collection, I figured I would also check to see if there were any early Germanic kingdoms coins that I thought I’d have a chance to win. That is when I saw (and later won) this wonderful and very rare half-siliqua of Ostrogothic king Theodahad, which was minted in Ravenna between 534-536 AD. Justinian is depicted on the obverse, while Theodahad’s monogram is on the reverse. Ostrogothic coinage (especially the gold and silver coins) often had the Byzantine emperor on the obverse to recognize their preeminence over the Ostrogothic king, and the fact that the Ostrogoths technically ruled Italy in the name of the Byzantine emperor (but in practice ruled independently). Theodahad’s only notable event during his reign was his coup against his co-ruler and queen regnant Amalasuntha, whom he had imprisoned. She was of a pro-Roman faction that Theodahad was opposed to. It is not known if he ordered it personally, but her assassination in 535 occurred under his watch shortly after. This event gave a pretext for Justinian to start the Gothic War, with the intention of conquering Italy. I’ve always had a passion for the Germanic kingdoms, especially the Ostrogoths, and this and the fact that it is very rare makes it my #1 favorite on my list.[/QUOTE]
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