Octavius' top dozen for 2022

[Octavius]

Well, it's that time of year. This year I managed to get something that was actually on my bucket list. As things were going I was afraid the "bucket" would get here before the "list". But I was lucky. I have always been a lover of the ugly, Aes Grave series. I know they aren't very attractive,but there is just that intangible quality about them - strong, massive, enduring, that for me represents a metaphor of Rome. Anyway, I always wanted to get a bar, and this year I managed to get one ( or a partial one ) in an Artemide auction.

1.  

Aes Signatum. AE Currency Bar, Central Italy, Aemilia (?), c. 6th-4th century BC. Large terminal fragment, 'Ramo Secco' pattern, sharp on one side, faint but visible on the other. Obv. AE Ramo Secco. Central Italy, Aemilia (?), late 6th to 4th century BC. Vecchi ICC 3; Haeberlin pp. 10-19, pls. 6-8; Garrucci pp. 5-8, pls. 7-11. AE. 878.00 g. RR. 97x70x25 mm. Untouched rough green brown patina, with reddish spots for its high ferruginous content and emerald green highlights. Very are and impressive. Good VF/F. The Ramo Secco cast ingots are found predominantly in Emilia, hence the attribution to his region. Always found in fragments, they generally weigh from 500 grams to 2000 grams.

 

2. Continuing with the "ugly" Aes Grave -  here is a sextans with shell and caduceus. This one , however , is of the "sickle series". It is a little later than the ones without it, and scarcer as well. This was cast about 250 BCE.

Anonymous circa 280 BC. Rome
Aes Grave Sextans Æ

37 mm, 48,41 g

Scallop shell; • • (mark of value) below / Caduceus; • • (mark of value) across field.

very fine

Crawford 14/5; ICC 30; HN Italy 272.

3. RR denarius  - commemorates Pompey's Corona Civica..

4. RR denarius - Brutus - Libertas/Lictors

5. Another RR den from Brutus..

6. Denarius of Octavius...

7. As of Claudius /Constantiae...

8. My favorite Imperial coins are of Nero - so there are several representing him. I know I have duplicates, but I can't seem to control myself with his coins. I am particularly fond of the Lugdunum representations.

sestertius with temple of Janus reverse

9.Dupondius with victory reverse...

10. As with Genio reverse...

.

11. 11. Sestertius of Trajan with bridge across Danube.

 

12 Lastly, I fell for this Marcus Aurelius sestertius because of the ADVENTVS reverse and him seated upon a horse. Looks like the famous equestrian statue of him in Rome.

 Not sure how multiple pics of same coin got here - just ignore it.

Anyway, I hope you all have a great, and healthy New Year, and happy hunting!

Edited December 28, 2022 by Octavius
pictur gaff

[CPK]

Outstanding!! What an amazing group of coins. It's impossible to pick a favorite; they are all superb examples of my favorite collecting area - ancient Rome. 

[Kali]

Beautiful coins, love all the Neros.

[kirispupis]

Wonderful coins. My favorite has to be the Danube Bridge sestertius. A classic coin with a tremendous bit of history and difficult to obtain.

[singig]

I really like all , Congratulations !

[Roman Collector]

Those are some bronze beauties! My favorite is the Marcus Aurelius Adventus sestertius. 

[happy_collector]

Nice additions, @Octavius. I like your Nero bronze, and the Trajan with Danube bridge. 

[El Cazador]

All Neros are fantastic 

[Jeremy]

Congrats on picking up such an amazing group of coins!

[Hughie Dwyer]

Superb coins (and from my favourite part of history)!

 

[Limes]

So many lists, I forgot which ones I did or did not reply to 🙂

Lovely coins, @Octavius. All your additions of Nero are beautiful, but the AE As with the genius on the reverse jumps out. Great coin! 

[Al Kowsky]

Congrats on scoring a wonderful group of coins this year 🤩! My favorites are #8, the Nero sestertius with the stunning portrait, & #12, the handsome sestertius of Marcus Aurelius 😍.

[Spaniard]

@Octavius...Wow!...Beautiful examples...Lovely bronzes!

My favourites are the green Trajan Bridge reverse and the shell Grave..

But all are just super to look at!

Congrats..

[Di Nomos]

Really nice coins. As I went along, I kept liking the next coin more than the previous. But if I had to narrow it down, 8, 11 & 12 would be my favourites. 

Would love to hold your #1, that is a hefty piece if currency!

[Qcumbor]

You never disapoint @Octavius. I couldn't choose, I didn't choose, I'll get them all, please

😄 Q

[Shea19]

Excellent group as always…you have the best eye for Imperial bronzes!  My favorites are the Claudius As, Nero/Janus sestertius, and the Trajan/Danube sestertius, but all of these are incredible coins.  Congrats on another great year!