What's your (realistic) ancient collecting holy grails?

This one.

Z

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Wow, who knew the Romans had proof-like coins with 0 flow lines?
Such a feat of coin engineering!

 

I keep looking for a Greek "bee" coin

 

For me the ancient coin that is highest on my list of desirables is a Lucania/Sybaris Stater. Every time I see one it reminds of Picasso.

 

This one was top of my list until I was fortunate enough to become the new caretaker. It is the single known example. Constantine from Byzantium/ Constantinople/ Istanbul copying a denarius of Trajan.



Constantine I
circa A.D. 330
20mm 3.1g
CONSTANTI-NVS MAX AVG; Rosette-diademed head right, with slight drapery on left shoulder.
S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI; Victory standing front, head to left, holding wreath in her right hand and palm frond in her left.
In ex. CONSA
RIC VII Constantinople –

 

EPHESOS, IONIA
AE13
OBVERSE: E-[Φ], bee
REVERSE: Forepart of stag recumbent left, head right (Uncertain magistrate)
Sturck at Ephesos, ca 390-320 BC
12.9 mm, 2.06 g
SNG Copenhagen 247-53

 

Right out of the latest "Bee Keeper" movie. With a coin like that I don't even have to ask if you've seen it!

 

Actually, I've been meaning to go see that one. I've owned this since 2021. Not many around. I'll have to look up my references, but probably less than 10 were struck.

How was the movie? Did they use this in the movie?

Z

 

https://www.landisstudios.net/product-page/3-oz-bee-honeycomb

 

I wouldn't mind upgrading my JC lifetime portrait denarius, but can't see that happening anytime soon (unless the prices crash.) I have not spent $1k yet on any single coin and I just don't know if I even want that much tied up in a single piece.

There are any number of ancient coins I would love to own, but I guess right now, I don't have a single "holy grail" coin that I've got on my radar. I'm currently more focused on upgrading the coins I already have, and selling off the old ones.

 

Same here.

 

Unfortunately, somewhere between the seller in San Jose, USA shipping the coin and the empty package arriving in Zagreb, Croatia, somebody stole my Roman Gold Solidus of Julian coin, so finding such a coin in good condition is once again my ancient coin collecting "holy grail".

Hopefully I won't have any issues with getting my money back.

 

In my quest to complete all the provinces of the Hadrian travel series, I think the most challenging seems to be Dalmatia.

I have never seen the rare "EXERC DELMATICVS" sestertius. I am not even sure it really exists, but it's in the standard reference.

I also feel like the other three I'm missing will be coins I'll be seeking a while, but I think they are ultimately realistic-
Restitutor Nicomedia
Adventus Noricum
Adventus Thracia

 

There's quite a few goals for myself that I've achieved already but I do have a couple holy grail goals of eventually getting an aureus and a coin of Julius Caesar, even if they're not in the most pristine condition. I guess closer on the horizon would be a tremissis I've been eyeing and saving up for from the reign of Anastasius (a little morsel of the enormous surplus that he built up and would later be spent by Justinian), a decent quality siliqua, and I would like to start collecting coins from their rivals in Persia.

 

So sorry to hear that. Did the seller mark value/ contents on packet/ letter? Getting another is easy/ lots come up/ but they are $$$$$$.

 

No, the envelope didn't have any such thing on it, the cut-open envelope only had a paper towel in it and it was inside an eBay box.

I would be very grateful if you notify me when you see one in good condition, the highest daily spending limit on my credit card that my bank allows is 7000 EUR, so that is also the most I can spend on a single coin.

 

I am going to try to find this version (I would be happy if I found any version that is in good condition and has a reasonable price):

 

I like that version better! The "Bearded Emperor" is more common/ but pricey. Jovian MS Solidi are around half price of Julian II solidi.

 

Yes, but Julian and Marcus Aurelius are the only two Roman Emperors whose coins I would like to buy.