Shea19

Wow! You never disappoint, @Octavius! The Nero aureus is my favorite, what a portrait…the Caligula/Germanicus is fantastic too. Thanks for sharing!

Wow, that is quite a group! The Caligula and the Caesar portrait denarius are my favorites, but all of these are special. Congrats on a great year!

Link: Bosporus Cimmerian Bosporus, Pantikapaion, circa 325-310 BC, (AE 20 mm, 5.58 g), Wreathed head of satyr to Left/ Rev. ΠΑN, bow and arrow. From the Vineyard Collection.

Wow! Excellent stuff as usual. The Decius and Magnentius are my favorites, but all of these are beautiful.

Great gifts, RC! I especially like that temple on the Faustina provincial.

Thanks! Yes, I’ve always loved this design as well. For whatever reason, the Corinth staters tend to be way more expensive, so I went for Epeiros…I was lucky to get a pretty good deal on this one.

Beautiful group! I love the Hyspaosines tet, and #4 with the dual portraits is fantastic as well. Congrats on some excellent new additions!

I always enjoy reading everyone’s top 10 lists…some great lists this year, and I’ve only gotten through about half of them so far. I unfortunately haven’t been as active on the site this year (busy year for me and my family), so it’s been great to be able to catch up a bit. I didn’t buy nearly as many coins over the past year, but it was still a good collecting year overall. I was especially happy to add a few coins that have been on my list for years…my Roman collection now finally has an Antony and a Brutus! Interested to see which of these are your favorites, and as always, please feel free to share any relevant coins. Wishing everyone on the site a very Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! 1. Marc Antony and Octavia cistophorus My list is in no particular order, but this one is definitely my favorite new coin of the year. I’ve always wanted to add a Marc Antony portrait coin, and this one has some great history. It’s a dual portrait issue with Octavian’s sister Octavia, who Antony had married as a political move (which of course didn’t stop him from continuing his affair with Cleopatra). He had 2 daughters with Octavia: one of their daughters was the mother of the emperor Claudius and grandmother of Caligula, and the other daughter was the grandmother of Nero. This marriage wasn’t as exciting as his affair with Cleopatra, but it still resulted in 3(!) future emperors. It’s a really nice big piece in hand: Mark Antony and Octavia, Cistophorus (Silver, 28 mm, 11.76 g, 11 h), Ephesus, summer-autumn 39. M ANTONIVS•IMP•COS•DESIG•ITER ET TERT• Conjoined heads of Antony, wearing wreath of ivy, and Octavia to r. / Rev. III•VIR• - R•P•C Dionysus, holding cantharus and thyrsus, standing l. on cista mystica flanked by interlaced serpents with heads erect. RPC I 2202 2. Brutus denarius- I’ve wanted an example of this very popular type for a long time. It has some wear, but I like that it clearly passed through many Roman hands during one of the most eventful periods in Roman history. When the coin arrived, I was pleasantly surprised that the surfaces (especially the reverse) were much better than I expected. M. Junius Brutus, 54 BC., AR Denarius (19 mm, 3.58 g), Rome. LIBERTAS Head of Libertas to r., wearing pendant earring and necklace./ Rev. BRVTVS The consul L. Junius Brutus, preceded by an accensus, walking l. between two lictors, each carrying fasces with an axe over his l. shoulder. 3. Epeiros stater- I don’t collect many Greek coins, but I was happy to add this beauty. I love the depiction of Athena (and I don’t mind the cut on her head, gives it some character). Epeiros, Ambrakia. Circa 360-338 BC. AR Stater (21 mm, 8.54 g) Pegasos flying right; below, A./ Rev. Head of Athena to l., wearing Corinthian helmet; behind neck guard, oinochoe. 4. Thasos trihemiobol- I usually don’t go for smaller coins, but this is a type that I’ve always really liked…it’s amazing how much detail they were able to get on such a little die. This one is also now the oldest coin in my collection. Thasos, Circa 412-404 BC. AR Trihemiobol (11 mm, 0.84 g). Bald satyr kneeling l., holding kantharos in his r. hand and resting his left on his hip; to l., grasshopper standing l./ Rev.ΘΑΣ-ΙΩΝ Large amphora with high handles; all within incuse square. 5. Demetrios I drachm- This was a nice new addition to my small Maccabee era collection (I tend to add another one every year around Chanukah). Seleucid Kings of Syria, Demetrios I Soter, 162-150 BC. AR Drachm (16.5 mm, 4.00 g), Ekbatana. Diademed head of Demetrios I to r./Rev.[B]AΣIΛEΩΣ - [ΔH]MHTPIOY / ΣΩTHPOΣ Apollo seated l. on omphalos, holding arrow in his r. hand and resting his l. on grounded bow. 6. Nero tetradrachm- #1 The next two coins are both Nero tetradrachms from Antioch that I actually got from the same auction…the closing time was around 4:30 AM local time, so I put in bids on both of these the night before thinking I probably wouldn’t win either, and ended up winning both! I like the different portrait styles, and the clear Nero Caesar (“ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ”) in the obverse legends. The first one is from around the time of the Great Fire. Nero, Seleucis and Pieria. Antioch. Tetradrachm (25 mm, 14.77 g,), RY 10 = 63-64 A.D., ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ Laureate head of Nero to right wearing aegis./ Rev. Eagle with spread wings standing right on thunderbolt; palm frond to R. 7. Nero tetradrachm #2- This is an earlier portrait style, interesting to see the difference in style from year-to-year. Nero, Seleucis and Pieria. Antioch, Tetradrachm (25 mm, 11.69 g), RY 9= 62-63 AD . NEPΩN KAIΣAP [Σ]EBAΣTOΣ Laureate head of Nero to r., wearing aegis./ Rev. Eagle with spread wings standing r. on thunderbolt; pellet and palm frond to r. McAlee 261. RPC I 4185 8. Philip I sestertius- Just a nice big AE of Philip with a strong portrait. Philip I, Sestertius (Orichalcum, 27 mm, 14.24 g, 1 h), Rome, 246. IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip I to r. seen from behind. Rev. AEQVITAS AVGG / S - C Aequitas standing front, head to left, holding scales and cornucopiae. RIC 166a. From the Peter Corcoran Collection. 9. Geta- Pisidia- I always like big provincial bronzes, and Pisidia is well-known for having some big heavy AEs…was happy to add this huge clunky Geta bronze. I alsoreally like the emperor on horseback reverse. Geta, Pisidia, Antiochia. 209-211 AD. AE 'Sestertius' (32 mm, 28.68 g). IMP CAES P SEPT GETA AVG Laureate head of Geta to r./ Rev. Emperor on horseback galloping to right, hurling spear. 10. Otacilia Severa tetradrachm- I’ve wanted a tet of Otacilia for a while, but just hadn’t found the right one yet. I really love this portrait, especially the detail on her hairstyle. Otacilia Severa, Antioch, BI Tetradrachm (26 mm, 13.29 g), 244 AD. Draped bust of Otacilia Severa set on crescent to r., wearing stephane./ Rev. Eagle standing facing on palm with wings spread, head to l. with wreath in beak. McAlee 1086, RPC VIII online ID 29034 And a couple more, because why not? 11. Valerian ant- This Valerian has an unusual portrait style and an interesting flan shape (which I always appreciate). Valerian I, Antoninianus (22 mm, 3.00 g) Viminacium, 255 A.D., IMP VALERIANVS P AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Valerian I to r./ Rev. SPES PVBLICA Spes advancing left, holding flower in her right hand and raising skirt with her left. RIC 257. 12. Maximinus I denarius- A nice early Max Thrax portrait…love the chin on this one. Maximinus I, AR Denarius (19 mm, 2.50 g), Rome, 235-236. IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Maximinus I to r., seen from behind/ Rev.PROVIDENTIA AVG Providentia standing front, head to l., holding wand over globe and cornucopiae. RIC 13 Wishing everyone a very Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

Incredible as always, AJ. The hair/helmet on the Thurium coin is truly spectacular. Love the JC aureus as well. Thanks for sharing!

IO Saturnalia! Sorry I’m late to the party, I was out of town and just got back home and was finally able to open up my gift. I got a beauty this year…I had actually bid on one of this type (and lost) a couple of months ago, so I was very pleasantly surprised to get this as my gift. The coin has some great history. It was issued in Antioch by P. Quinctilius Varus not long before he famously lost Augustus’ legions in the Battle of Teutoburg Forest. I have very few coins from the time of Augustus, so I was very happy to score this one! The coin has a very nice portrait of Zeus and a great reverse with Tyche of Antioch…it definitely deserves a much better photo (I always have trouble photographing coins with a dark patina for some reason) Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch, time of Augustus, circa4-5 A.D., AE Trichalkon, Issued by P. Quinctilius Varus, legatus Augusti pro praetors, Laureate head of Zeus, right/ Rev. Tyche seated on rocky outcropping, holding palm branch; at feet, half-length figure of River-god Orontes swimming right. A huge thank you to my “secret” Saturn @Furryfrog02 ! And a happy Saturnalia, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year to you all!

Nice group! The Decentius is my favorite, that’s a beauty!

Wonderful group. The Antiochus tet and the sestertius of young Marcus Aurelius are my favorites, but all of these are great. Congrats on a great year!

Great stuff! I voted for that big Caracalla bronze from Cilicia with Herakles fighting the hydra…how cool is that?? A really great group you’ve added this year.

Link: Left-facing tetradrachm from Antioch Trajan Decius, Antioch, BI tetradrachm, Radiate and cuirassed bust of Decius to left, with balteus/ Rev. Eagle with spread wings standing right on palm, holding wreath in beak. RPC IX 1628, Prieur 513

Very nice examples and great write-up. Very interesting comparison with your provincial coin. I always enjoy seeing early and “transitional” portrait styles. On your denarius, he definitely has a resemblance to Elagabalus (though to be fair, they were cousins, so young Sev may actually have looked a bit like a younger, thinner Elagabalus). I also have an early Antioch denarius of Sev. Alexander, though I think yours was certainly struck before mine. Also, if you look closely, I think my coin is actually slightly double struck, so it looks like he has two noses. Severus Alexander, Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.65 g), Antioch, 222 A.D., IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Severus Alexander to right. Rev. VICTORIA AVG Victory advancing right, holding wreath in extended right hand and palm over far shoulder in left. RIC 302.

Link: Fortuna Redux Septimius Severus, Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis. AE Pentassarion (27mm, 9.94 g). Struck 201-202 AD. Aurelius Gallus, legatus consularis. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust r. / Fortuna Redux (Tyche Soterios)standing l., holding rudder set on ground and cornucopia.

Very nice examples Martin...I’ve always liked these Eastern issues. I managed to get a couple of these Philip II Aequitas types from the McAlee collection sale 2-3 years ago. Philip II, AR Antoninianus (23mm, 4.55 g), Antioch mint. 1st issue. IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind/ AEQVITAS AVG, Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopia. RIC IV 240a (var.) From the Richard McAlee Collection. Philip II, AR Antoninianus (23mm, 4.55 g), Antioch mint. 1st issue. IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / AEQVITAS AVGG, Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopia. RIC IV 240a. From the Richard McAlee Collection.

That’s a beauty, great pickup! I can share my Adventus types of Trajan Decius and Probus: Trajan Decius, AR antoninianus (22 mm, 4.05 g). Rome, 249-250 AD, IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Trajan Decius r./ ADVENTVS AVG, emperor on horseback l. , extending arm in salute and holding scepter. RIC 11b Probus, Antoninianus (25 mm, 3.77 g), Cyzicus, 276-277. VIRTVS P-ROBI AVG Radiate, helmeted and cuirassed bust of Probus to l., holding spear and covering shield decorated with horseman advancing to r./ Rev. ADVENTVS PROBI AVG /A Probus riding horse l., raising hand in salute and holding scepter; to l., bound captive seated l. RIC 904

Just a bit outside….but I still love these two Gordies.

Link: Hope (Elpis/Spes) Severus Alexander, AR Denarius, 232 A.D., Rome, (19 mm, 3.29 g), IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Severus Alexander to right./ Rev. SPES PVBLICA Spes advancing left, holding flower in her right hand and raising skirt with her left. RIC 254

Link: Salus/Serpent Tacitus, AE Antoninianus. 275-276 AD. Rome mint. IMP CM CL TACITVS AVG, radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right / SALVS AVG. Salus standing left, holding sceptre, feeding serpent rising from altar. Mintmark ; XXIΔ. RIC 93.

Link: Roma with helmet Commemorative Series, Follis (19 mm, 3.20 g), Siscia, 330-333. VRBS ROMA Draped bust of Roma to left, wearing crested Attic helmet. Rev. She-wolf standing left, head facing, suckling the twins Romulus and Remus; above, two eight-pointed stars; in exergue, ΓSIS. RIC 222. From the collection of Dipl.-Ing. Adrian Lang.

IO Saturnalia! Happy to report that my gift has just arrived in the mail. I think this may be the earliest that I’ve ever gotten my gift…will do my best to wait until Saturnalia to open it up. Thank you to my Secret Saturn for getting it out to me so fast!

Cimmerian Bosporos, Pantikapaion. Circa 325-310 BC. (AE, 20 mm, 5.58g), Wreathed head of satyr to left. / Rev. ΠΑΝ Bow and arrow. Next: Bow and arrow

Link: Salus Hadrian AR Denarius. Rome, 133-135 AD ,(18mm, 3.02g),HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, bare head to right / SALVS AVG, Salus standing to right, feeding snake coiled round altar. RIC II.3 2048