Singig's Top 10 of 2022

[singig]

Hello everyone , this year was a little special regarding my coin collecting habits , in the past I was more oriented to collect roman coins but this year I couldn't resist the temptation to buy some of the well-known Greek types , they took a large part of my coins budget and also seven places in my Top 10. I also manage to buy a lot of roman coins , but unfortunately nothing to dethrone the Greek ones from the top , the best three of them are included in my selection. The coins are arranged only in chronological order , I hope you will like them !

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the members and readers a joyous holiday season !!

#1   ATTICA. Athens. Circa 420s-404 BC. Tetradrachm 
Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves and palmette./
AΘE Owl standing right, head facing; to left, olive sprig and crescent; all within incuse square. Kroll 8. Svoronos pls. 12-13 passim.
25 mm / 17.20 g

 

#2   IONIA. Phokaia , Circa 387-326 BC. Hekte (Electrum). 
Head of Athena to left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with a coiled serpent; below, small seal to left. /
Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 111. SNG Copenhagen 1030. SNG von Aulock . 
10 mm / 2.5 g 

 

#3   CILICIA, Tarsos. time of Datames , satrap of Cilicia and Cappadocia. 384-362 BC. AR Obol , Struck 378-372 BC. 
Female bust right, wearing loop earring and necklace / 
'TRDMW' in Aramaic right, bearded and helmeted male head (Ares?) right, wearing crested Athenian helmet. SNG Levante 81; SNG France 278; 
10 mm / 0.8 g

 

#4   CORINTHIA. Corinth. Circa 375-300 BC. Stater 
Ϙ Pegasos flying left. / 
Head of Athena to left, wearing Corinthian helmet; below chin, Δ; behind neck guard, I and Artemis running right, holding torch. BCD Corinth -. Calciati 451. Ravel 1076.
22 mm / 8.56 g

 

#5   PTOLEMAIC KINGS OF EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter, As satrap, 323-305 BC. Tetradrachm , Alexandria, circa 306-300. 
Diademed head of the deified Alexander III to right, with horn of Zeus Ammon above his ear, wearing elephant skin headdress and aegis around his neck; small Δ on aegis. /
 ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Athena Alkidemos advancing right, brandishing spear with her right hand and holding shield in her left; to right, Corinthian helmet to right over monogram of ΗΡ and eagle with closed wings standing right on thunderbolt. CPE 70. SNG Copenhagen 27. Svoronos 164
30 mm / 15.19 g

 

#6   CALABRIA. Tarentum. Circa 315-302 BC. Didrachm or Nomos ,
 Sa..., magistrate. Nude rider on horse galloping to right, stabbing with spear held in his right hand and holding two other spears and shield with his left; below, ΣΑ. /
 ΤΑΡΑΣ Youthful oikist, nude, riding dolphin to left, holding kantharos in his right hand and trident in his left; to left below arm, monogram of AP; below, dolphin to left. Fischer-Bossert 843 (V335/R654). HN Italy 937. Vlasto 603.
21 mm / 7.41 g

 

#7   PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT , Ptolemy VI Philometor , Second sole reign 163-145 BC.
Æ-29 , Alexandreia mint. Series 7. Svoronos 1384 , Weiser 147, SNG Copenhagen 279-87 
Head of Isis right, wearing wreath of grain ears, and her hair in long curls / 
ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ (PTOLEMAIOU - BASILEWS) Eagle with open wings standing left on thunderbolt; ΠΑ monogram to left. 
29 mm / 16.9 g 

 

#8   Trajan , AE As. Struck 101-102 AD. RIC 435
IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM PM, Laureate head right, slight drapery on left shoulder / 
TR POT COS IIII PP, Victory walking left, carrying shield inscribed SPQR. 
28 mm / 12.1 g

 

#9   Antoninus Pius , AR Denarius. AD 143 -144 , RIC 111c    
ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP TR P COS III, laureate draped bust right / 
IMPERATOR II, Victory standing front, head left, holding wreath and palm.
18 mm / 3.4 g

 

#10   Caracalla , AR Antoninianus. Struck 215 AD. RIC 264c
ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / 
P M TR P XVIII COS IIII P P, Sol standing left, raising hand and holding globe. 
23.5 mm / 4.3 g

 

 

Edited December 10, 2022 by singig

[ambr0zie]

Gorgeous!

3, 4 and 6 would be my choices. 3 is the first, another example of a great coin from Tarsos.

[CPK]

Very nice. My favorite is the Ptolemaic Tetradrachm featuring Alexander the Great. I really like that type!

[happy_collector]

Great pickups, @singig! 

I like your tetradrachms and the Corinth stater. Classic Greek selections. 🙂

[Di Nomos]

I picked 5, 6 & 7.

If I had to narrow it down, would pick #7, the Ptolemy VI bronze. Which might be different to most people's choices, but I really like that portrait.

[kirispupis]

Gorgeous pick ups for the year!

My pick is the Tarentum dolphin rider. Must have been a cool way to get around in those days... 🙂

[Qcumbor]

I vote for the very classic ones : 6 and 4

All ten are coins I would gladly welcome home though !

Q

[Al Kowsky]

18 hours ago, singig said:

Hello everyone , this year was a little special regarding my coin collecting habits , in the past I was more oriented to collect roman coins but this year I couldn't resist the temptation to buy some of the well-known Greek types , they took a large part of my coins budget and also seven places in my Top 10. I also manage to buy a lot of roman coins , but unfortunately nothing to dethrone the Greek ones from the top , the best three of them are included in my selection. The coins are arranged only in chronological order , I hope you will like them !

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the members and readers a joyous holiday season !!

#1   ATTICA. Athens. Circa 420s-404 BC. Tetradrachm 
Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves and palmette./
AΘE Owl standing right, head facing; to left, olive sprig and crescent; all within incuse square. Kroll 8. Svoronos pls. 12-13 passim.
25 mm / 17.20 g

 

#2   IONIA. Phokaia , Circa 387-326 BC. Hekte (Electrum). 
Head of Athena to left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with a coiled serpent; below, small seal to left. /
Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 111. SNG Copenhagen 1030. SNG von Aulock . 
10 mm / 2.5 g 

 

#3   CILICIA, Tarsos. time of Datames , satrap of Cilicia and Cappadocia. 384-362 BC. AR Obol , Struck 378-372 BC. 
Female bust right, wearing loop earring and necklace / 
'TRDMW' in Aramaic right, bearded and helmeted male head (Ares?) right, wearing crested Athenian helmet. SNG Levante 81; SNG France 278; 
10 mm / 0.8 g

 

#4   CORINTHIA. Corinth. Circa 375-300 BC. Stater 
Ϙ Pegasos flying left. / 
Head of Athena to left, wearing Corinthian helmet; below chin, Δ; behind neck guard, I and Artemis running right, holding torch. BCD Corinth -. Calciati 451. Ravel 1076.
22 mm / 8.56 g

 

#5   PTOLEMAIC KINGS OF EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter, As satrap, 323-305 BC. Tetradrachm , Alexandria, circa 306-300. 
Diademed head of the deified Alexander III to right, with horn of Zeus Ammon above his ear, wearing elephant skin headdress and aegis around his neck; small Δ on aegis. /
 ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Athena Alkidemos advancing right, brandishing spear with her right hand and holding shield in her left; to right, Corinthian helmet to right over monogram of ΗΡ and eagle with closed wings standing right on thunderbolt. CPE 70. SNG Copenhagen 27. Svoronos 164
30 mm / 15.19 g

 

#6   CALABRIA. Tarentum. Circa 315-302 BC. Didrachm or Nomos ,
 Sa..., magistrate. Nude rider on horse galloping to right, stabbing with spear held in his right hand and holding two other spears and shield with his left; below, ΣΑ. /
 ΤΑΡΑΣ Youthful oikist, nude, riding dolphin to left, holding kantharos in his right hand and trident in his left; to left below arm, monogram of AP; below, dolphin to left. Fischer-Bossert 843 (V335/R654). HN Italy 937. Vlasto 603.
21 mm / 7.41 g

 

#7   PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT , Ptolemy VI Philometor , Second sole reign 163-145 BC.
Æ-29 , Alexandreia mint. Series 7. Svoronos 1384 , Weiser 147, SNG Copenhagen 279-87 
Head of Isis right, wearing wreath of grain ears, and her hair in long curls / 
ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ (PTOLEMAIOU - BASILEWS) Eagle with open wings standing left on thunderbolt; ΠΑ monogram to left. 
29 mm / 16.9 g 

 

#8   Trajan , AE As. Struck 101-102 AD. RIC 435
IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM PM, Laureate head right, slight drapery on left shoulder / 
TR POT COS IIII PP, Victory walking left, carrying shield inscribed SPQR. 
28 mm / 12.1 g

 

#9   Antoninus Pius , AR Denarius. AD 143 -144 , RIC 111c    
ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP TR P COS III, laureate draped bust right / 
IMPERATOR II, Victory standing front, head left, holding wreath and palm.
18 mm / 3.4 g

 

#10   Caracalla , AR Antoninianus. Struck 215 AD. RIC 264c
ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / 
P M TR P XVIII COS IIII P P, Sol standing left, raising hand and holding globe. 
23.5 mm / 4.3 g

 

 

Wonderful selection of coins 😊! My favorite is #1, the Athenian Tet, because it hasn't been over-cleaned like most of the coins on the market today from the recently discovered hoard 😉. My 2nd favorite is #6, the Tarentum didrachm, because of the artistic die engraving & lovely toning. 

[Limes]

Great coins! And nice to see you enjoy your venture into Greek coins. Think it will stick? 

My favorites are the Ptolemy I tet, great portrait. Also the reverse of your Trajan As is very nice. 

Best wishes!

[singig]

 

Thank you all for your kind words !

 

4 hours ago, Al Kowsky said:

...........My 2nd favorite is #6, the Tarentum didrachm, because of the artistic die engraving & lovely toning. 

Before buying the coin I did some researchs on acsearch , two of the most expensive specimens of this type are sharing the same dies with my coin , their experts opinions are similar with yours:

Roma:  https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1370184
....The singular attention to detail that has been paid to the engraving of this coin demonstrates an advanced understanding of anatomy and behavioural motion that necessarily indicates a keen student of natural observation. The resulting dies convey at once a superb elegance and startling level of realism that set this apart as a masterwork of high classical art. ''

CNG:  https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=2835541
''.....struck from artistic dies.''

3 hours ago, Limes said:

Great coins! And nice to see you enjoy your venture into Greek coins. Think it will stick? 

My favorites are the Ptolemy I tet, great portrait. Also the reverse of your Trajan As is very nice. 

Best wishes!

It has stick a little bit 😊 , I have five owls now... and three Tarentum didrachmas , but the Roman coins are my preferred I will never neglect them 😀.

I'm very happy that someone voted for Trajan  , even if i'ts a very comon type.

Edited December 11, 2022 by singig