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Zumbly's Year-End $1 to $100 List... includes GOLD!!
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<p>[QUOTE="zumbly, post: 3934315, member: 57495"]Thanks to [USER=84744]@Severus Alexander[/USER] for suggesting the clickbait AV addition to this thread's subject. Apologies to everyone else, but yes, there IS in fact gold somehwere at the end of this post... if you're willing to plow through my ramblings about not just 10 but 20 coins this time, that is. </p><p><br /></p><p>In previous years, this list has shown ten, each a favorite in its own price category, beginning with $1-$10, and working its way up to $100. This year, I thought it would be fun if I not only showed my favorite, but also the closest competitor in its price range. Afterall, by definition, for something to be a favourite, it must have been picked over something else, right? </p><p><br /></p><p>So, anyway, here we go, my favourites and respective runners-up, starting with the cheapest to the priciest.</p><p><br /></p><p>-----------------</p><p><br /></p><p><b>CATEGORY $1 - $10 </b></p><p><br /></p><p><b>FAVORITE: BYZANTINE EMPIRE, Phocas. AE Decanummium. </b></p><p>$6.15 (Themis Auction 1, May 2019)</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1036941[/ATTACH]</p><p>I love this little Byzantine curiosity, an example of a decanummium (10 nummi) flan having been cut from a larger one, an older follis (40 nummi) perhaps? The facing portrait and most of Phocas's name are pretty clear too. I don't really collect Byzantine coins (famous last words), but as a rule, I'll readily collect anything that sticks out as being interesting.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>RUNNER-UP: CONSTANS. AE Centenionalis. Ex Doug Smith Collection. </b></p><p>$8.70 (AMCC 2, Dec 2019)</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1036942[/ATTACH]</p><p>I don't have many 'Hut' Fel Temps, so I was pleased to pick up this example which has passed through the hands of not one but two illustrious CT members ([USER=19463]@dougsmit[/USER] having acquired it from [USER=99412]@PeteB[/USER] back in 2000). I think the soldier and little barbarian are very well-depicted, and was amused by the fact that Constans appears to be wearing lipstick. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> The AMCC auction note adds that "<i>On some examples from Heraclea, including this one, the barbarian emerging from the hut appears to be holding a bow.</i>" I thought that was a neat little detail. All in all, plenty to like about a sub $10 coin.</p><p><br /></p><p>-----------------</p><p><br /></p><p><b>CATEGORY $11 - $20</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>FAVORITE: SELEUKID KINGDOM. Seleukos IV. AE20 Serrate. Ex Doug Smith Collection.</b></p><p>$16 (AMCC 2, November 2019)</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1036943[/ATTACH]</p><p>It's probably an understatement to say that I was very happy to be able to adopt this ex Doug Seleukid bottlecap with its cheeky wandering "central" dimple, one of the many gems to be found in the AMCC 2 pick bin section. This coin combines an obverse that sports an off-center strike and off-center "central/centration" dimple with a reverse that has a centered strike and centered "central/centration" dimple. Somehow, it manages to do all that while still remaining pleasing to the eye! <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/this-coin-should-put-the-misaligned-pincer-tongs-theory-to-rest.299064/#post-2784870" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/this-coin-should-put-the-misaligned-pincer-tongs-theory-to-rest.299064/#post-2784870">Here's</a> a good discussion on CT about these dimples. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>RUNNER-UP: THRACE, Maroneia. AE20. Ex J.P. Righetti Collection.</b></p><p>$15 (Rudnik Numismatics Auction, April 2019)</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1036944[/ATTACH]</p><p>In contrast to its competitor in this price category, there's nothing particularly curious about this coin. I apparently just couldn't say no to a handsome, wholesome Greek bronze with a neat pedigree and tag for $15. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>-----------------</p><p><br /></p><p><b>CATEGORY $21 - $30</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>FAVORITE: MAXIMINUS DAIA. AE Follis. Nicomedia mint. NOT IN RIC. </b></p><p>$29 (Savoca Blue 17, March 2019)</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1036945[/ATTACH]</p><p>I cherrypicked this <b><i>Extremely Rare</i></b> variety of RIC VI Nicomedia 69b from one of Savoca's sans-attribution auctions back in March. It is "Not in RIC" with the officina letter in the LEFT field instead of right, with no examples to be found in Wildwinds, OCRE, acsearch, or, for that matter, any of those lame collections out there that don't already have one. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie33" alt=":cigar:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> Yeah, no one really cares. Just leave me alone - Jupiter standing folles are my guilty pleasure. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie81" alt=":shifty:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> On a serious note, though, earlier this month, Leu sold a regular RIC VI Nicomedia 69b that they claimed was an unpublished variety on account of there being no eagle at the feet of Jupiter. In fact, the entry in RIC is erroneous, and these simply do not come with eagles. It's <a href="https://leunumismatik.com/en/lot/16/1589" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://leunumismatik.com/en/lot/16/1589" rel="nofollow">a nice coin</a>, but IMHO not CHF 170-before-fees nice. Caveat emptor, I guess!</p><p><br /></p><p><b>RUNNER-UP: IBERIA, Arse/Saguntum. AE Quarter Unit. Ex JW "Bing" Harper Collection. </b></p><p>$22 (CT Private Auction, April 2019)</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1036946[/ATTACH]</p><p>I didn't buy this coin just so that I could joke about my chasing after Bing's old Arse. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie93" alt=":troll:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> I didn't. No, really, I didn't!! <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie80" alt=":shame:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> In all seriousness, Bing, thanks for letting it go... your Arse is in good hands. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie14" alt=":angelic:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>-----------------</p><p><br /></p><p><b>CATEGORY $31 - $40</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>FAVORITE: AELIA FLACCILLA. AE2 (Cut into gaming token?). </b></p><p>$32 (Savoca London Blue 6, October 2019)</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1036947[/ATTACH]</p><p>No one seems to be entirely sure what purpose these elaborately cut and occasionally redesigned Roman bronzes served, but one theory is that they were altered so as to be used as gaming tokens or counters. I'd looked with keen interest at a few of them come up in auctions in the past couple of years before finally nabbing this Aelia Flaccilla. This particular example was given serrated edges and a few deep blows of a chisel across its surfaces. If she could talk, imagine the tales she could tell! </p><p><br /></p><p><b>RUNNER-UP: SELEUKID KINGDOM, Tryphon. AE17. Spiked Macedonian Helmet.</b></p><p>$37 (Savoca London Blue 6, October 2019)</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1036948[/ATTACH]</p><p>I like to think that the two competing coins in this price category show how I give equal opportunity to the weird and the beautiful in my collection. At the same time, my choice of favourite probably shows that when push comes to shove, the weird often wins out. This distinctive Tryphon type has been on my want list for awhile (check out [USER=91461]@Ryro[/USER]'s excellent thread for <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/diodotus-tryphon-give-em-helmet-or-the-epic-ancient-fail-o-king-tryphon-the-soft.344555/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/diodotus-tryphon-give-em-helmet-or-the-epic-ancient-fail-o-king-tryphon-the-soft.344555/">a great writeup on Tryphon</a>), and I was happy to score this lovely example for a nice price. Now that I think of it, though, if it had been cut and used as a gaming token like the previous coin, I would probably like it even more! </p><p> </p><p>-----------------</p><p><br /></p><p><b>CATEGORY $41 - $50 </b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>FAVORITE: THESSALY, Pherai. Alexander, tyrant, 369-359 BC. AE Chalkous. Jason, Leader of the Argonauts. </b></p><p>$48 (Obolos Auction 13, July 2019)</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1036949[/ATTACH]</p><p>This neat little bronze shows on its obverse the mythological Greek hero Jason (leader of the famed Argonauts), a Thessalian royal, and the lower leg of a horse on the reverse. It was a rarity on the market 6 or 7 years ago, and a nice one might have brought upwards of $1000 at auction. With the ongoing dispersal of BCD's huge collection of Thessalian coinage, they've become quite a lot less scarce, and prices have dropped to the point that I was able to pick up this decent example at a major European auction house's sale for under $50. Same cool coin type, much friendlier prices. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> I suppose it's also worth noting that this coin is NOT ex BCD, and as such, rarer than other examples of the type. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><br /></p><p><b>RUNNER-UP: CLAUDIUS II GOTHICUS. EGYPT, Alexandria. Potin Tetradrachm. Ex Clain-Stefanelli Collection. </b></p><p>$41 (Naville 52, September 2019)</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1036950[/ATTACH]</p><p>This one was picked up as part of an attempt to beef up my collection of later Alexandrian Provincials, currently pretty weak for the 3rd century AD. It has a well-struck, pleasing portrait, reasonably nice surfaces and colour, and an excellent pedigree to the Clain-Stefanelli Collection.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="zumbly, post: 3934315, member: 57495"]Thanks to [USER=84744]@Severus Alexander[/USER] for suggesting the clickbait AV addition to this thread's subject. Apologies to everyone else, but yes, there IS in fact gold somehwere at the end of this post... if you're willing to plow through my ramblings about not just 10 but 20 coins this time, that is. In previous years, this list has shown ten, each a favorite in its own price category, beginning with $1-$10, and working its way up to $100. This year, I thought it would be fun if I not only showed my favorite, but also the closest competitor in its price range. Afterall, by definition, for something to be a favourite, it must have been picked over something else, right? So, anyway, here we go, my favourites and respective runners-up, starting with the cheapest to the priciest. ----------------- [B]CATEGORY $1 - $10 [/B] [B]FAVORITE: BYZANTINE EMPIRE, Phocas. AE Decanummium. [/B] $6.15 (Themis Auction 1, May 2019) [ATTACH=full]1036941[/ATTACH] I love this little Byzantine curiosity, an example of a decanummium (10 nummi) flan having been cut from a larger one, an older follis (40 nummi) perhaps? The facing portrait and most of Phocas's name are pretty clear too. I don't really collect Byzantine coins (famous last words), but as a rule, I'll readily collect anything that sticks out as being interesting. [B]RUNNER-UP: CONSTANS. AE Centenionalis. Ex Doug Smith Collection. [/B] $8.70 (AMCC 2, Dec 2019) [ATTACH=full]1036942[/ATTACH] I don't have many 'Hut' Fel Temps, so I was pleased to pick up this example which has passed through the hands of not one but two illustrious CT members ([USER=19463]@dougsmit[/USER] having acquired it from [USER=99412]@PeteB[/USER] back in 2000). I think the soldier and little barbarian are very well-depicted, and was amused by the fact that Constans appears to be wearing lipstick. :D The AMCC auction note adds that "[I]On some examples from Heraclea, including this one, the barbarian emerging from the hut appears to be holding a bow.[/I]" I thought that was a neat little detail. All in all, plenty to like about a sub $10 coin. ----------------- [B]CATEGORY $11 - $20 FAVORITE: SELEUKID KINGDOM. Seleukos IV. AE20 Serrate. Ex Doug Smith Collection.[/B] $16 (AMCC 2, November 2019) [ATTACH=full]1036943[/ATTACH] It's probably an understatement to say that I was very happy to be able to adopt this ex Doug Seleukid bottlecap with its cheeky wandering "central" dimple, one of the many gems to be found in the AMCC 2 pick bin section. This coin combines an obverse that sports an off-center strike and off-center "central/centration" dimple with a reverse that has a centered strike and centered "central/centration" dimple. Somehow, it manages to do all that while still remaining pleasing to the eye! [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/this-coin-should-put-the-misaligned-pincer-tongs-theory-to-rest.299064/#post-2784870']Here's[/URL] a good discussion on CT about these dimples. [B]RUNNER-UP: THRACE, Maroneia. AE20. Ex J.P. Righetti Collection.[/B] $15 (Rudnik Numismatics Auction, April 2019) [ATTACH=full]1036944[/ATTACH] In contrast to its competitor in this price category, there's nothing particularly curious about this coin. I apparently just couldn't say no to a handsome, wholesome Greek bronze with a neat pedigree and tag for $15. :) ----------------- [B]CATEGORY $21 - $30 FAVORITE: MAXIMINUS DAIA. AE Follis. Nicomedia mint. NOT IN RIC. [/B] $29 (Savoca Blue 17, March 2019) [ATTACH=full]1036945[/ATTACH] I cherrypicked this [B][I]Extremely Rare[/I][/B] variety of RIC VI Nicomedia 69b from one of Savoca's sans-attribution auctions back in March. It is "Not in RIC" with the officina letter in the LEFT field instead of right, with no examples to be found in Wildwinds, OCRE, acsearch, or, for that matter, any of those lame collections out there that don't already have one. :cigar: Yeah, no one really cares. Just leave me alone - Jupiter standing folles are my guilty pleasure. :shifty: On a serious note, though, earlier this month, Leu sold a regular RIC VI Nicomedia 69b that they claimed was an unpublished variety on account of there being no eagle at the feet of Jupiter. In fact, the entry in RIC is erroneous, and these simply do not come with eagles. It's [URL='https://leunumismatik.com/en/lot/16/1589']a nice coin[/URL], but IMHO not CHF 170-before-fees nice. Caveat emptor, I guess! [B]RUNNER-UP: IBERIA, Arse/Saguntum. AE Quarter Unit. Ex JW "Bing" Harper Collection. [/B] $22 (CT Private Auction, April 2019) [ATTACH=full]1036946[/ATTACH] I didn't buy this coin just so that I could joke about my chasing after Bing's old Arse. :troll: I didn't. No, really, I didn't!! :shame: In all seriousness, Bing, thanks for letting it go... your Arse is in good hands. :angelic: ----------------- [B]CATEGORY $31 - $40 FAVORITE: AELIA FLACCILLA. AE2 (Cut into gaming token?). [/B] $32 (Savoca London Blue 6, October 2019) [ATTACH=full]1036947[/ATTACH] No one seems to be entirely sure what purpose these elaborately cut and occasionally redesigned Roman bronzes served, but one theory is that they were altered so as to be used as gaming tokens or counters. I'd looked with keen interest at a few of them come up in auctions in the past couple of years before finally nabbing this Aelia Flaccilla. This particular example was given serrated edges and a few deep blows of a chisel across its surfaces. If she could talk, imagine the tales she could tell! [B]RUNNER-UP: SELEUKID KINGDOM, Tryphon. AE17. Spiked Macedonian Helmet.[/B] $37 (Savoca London Blue 6, October 2019) [ATTACH=full]1036948[/ATTACH] I like to think that the two competing coins in this price category show how I give equal opportunity to the weird and the beautiful in my collection. At the same time, my choice of favourite probably shows that when push comes to shove, the weird often wins out. This distinctive Tryphon type has been on my want list for awhile (check out [USER=91461]@Ryro[/USER]'s excellent thread for [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/threads/diodotus-tryphon-give-em-helmet-or-the-epic-ancient-fail-o-king-tryphon-the-soft.344555/']a great writeup on Tryphon[/URL]), and I was happy to score this lovely example for a nice price. Now that I think of it, though, if it had been cut and used as a gaming token like the previous coin, I would probably like it even more! ----------------- [B]CATEGORY $41 - $50 FAVORITE: THESSALY, Pherai. Alexander, tyrant, 369-359 BC. AE Chalkous. Jason, Leader of the Argonauts. [/B] $48 (Obolos Auction 13, July 2019) [ATTACH=full]1036949[/ATTACH] This neat little bronze shows on its obverse the mythological Greek hero Jason (leader of the famed Argonauts), a Thessalian royal, and the lower leg of a horse on the reverse. It was a rarity on the market 6 or 7 years ago, and a nice one might have brought upwards of $1000 at auction. With the ongoing dispersal of BCD's huge collection of Thessalian coinage, they've become quite a lot less scarce, and prices have dropped to the point that I was able to pick up this decent example at a major European auction house's sale for under $50. Same cool coin type, much friendlier prices. :) I suppose it's also worth noting that this coin is NOT ex BCD, and as such, rarer than other examples of the type. :D [B]RUNNER-UP: CLAUDIUS II GOTHICUS. EGYPT, Alexandria. Potin Tetradrachm. Ex Clain-Stefanelli Collection. [/B] $41 (Naville 52, September 2019) [ATTACH=full]1036950[/ATTACH] This one was picked up as part of an attempt to beef up my collection of later Alexandrian Provincials, currently pretty weak for the 3rd century AD. It has a well-struck, pleasing portrait, reasonably nice surfaces and colour, and an excellent pedigree to the Clain-Stefanelli Collection.[/QUOTE]
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