Phil Davis' Top 11 coins of 2023 (so I can't count, so what?)

[Phil Davis]

Yeah, I do understand that eleven > ten, but I won exactly eleven coins this year. It seemed churlish to exclude one of them. I know the year's not over and never say never and all that, but the chances I'll find anything else this year aren't large. Here they are, in chronological order by the date I obtained them:

1. Crawford 70/1:

2: Crawford 235/1c:

3. Crawford 259/1:

4. Crawford 155/1:

5: Crawford 496/3: 

6. Crawford 44/1:

7: Crawford 494/23:

8: Crawford 544/15:

9: Crawford 544/38:

 

10: Crawford 98A/3:

11: Crawford 110/1a:

If lightning strikes and I win something else in the next 18 days, I'll just claim my fiscal year ends December 13.

Edited December 13, 2023 by Phil Davis

[DonnaML]

Wow! These are all wonderful. I can't possibly pick just one favorite, but your # 2 is especially outstanding, particularly for that type. Congratulations. 

Edited December 13, 2023 by DonnaML

[panzerman]

They are all outstanding! Really nice exs/ I love 7/8/9 the most. Thanks for showing your 2023 treasures. Excellent top "11"

 

John

[Curtisimo]

Absolutely fantastic! Your #2 and your #5 are my favorites. Your Fostlus is one of the most complete I’ve seen. Congrats on another great year Phil!

[El Cazador]

#5 is fantastic 

[kirispupis]

Wow! All beautiful coins. It's hard to pick one, but maybe #11 is my favorite.

[zadie]

Terrific coins Phil, you're not making it very easy to pick a favourite! If you held my feet to the fire I'd have to go with #5, absolutely love how fresh it is

[CPK]

What a fabulous selection! I think my favorites are 1, 2, 9, and 11. Beautiful!

[Phil Davis]

Thanks everyone! Patently, I'm pleased with all of these or I wouldn't have gone after them, so I can't really point to a single favorite, but if anyone's curious, I do have a few thoughts... Intellectually, I know that my favorite "should" be #9. I'm sure I've looked at literally thousands of Antony's legionary denarii over the decades, either in person or at least in good photos. I can honestly say I've not seen another--not one--with this kind of detail on the eagle's breast. It must've been made about five minutes after the die was engraved, struck by a husky mint worker after a good night's sleep. I had to have it. (At least one other bidder saw it the same way; this was the most expensive of the group, by a fair amount.)  I'm certainly not sorry to include it in my collection--of course not--but somehow it doesn't "speak" to me emotionally or aesthetically the way I hoped it would. By those criteria, my favorite two are--just barely--#5 and #11. That's with today's eyes; tomorrow's eyes might well see things differently...

Edited December 14, 2023 by Phil Davis

[JayAg47]

Nice Republican coins, my favourites are the She-wolf and twins, and the coins of Antony.

[David Atherton]

If ever a year-end list had the axiom quality over quantity it's that one. My God all of them are stunners!

If I had to choose just one out of the group it would have to be Antony's legionary denarius. Superb in every way!

Edited December 14, 2023 by David Atherton

[happy_collector]

Your #2 and #9 are my favorites. Thanks for sharing!  🙂

Edited December 14, 2023 by happy_collector

[Prieure de Sion]

17 hours ago, Phil Davis said:

11: Crawford 110/1a:

Hard to say - because all fantastic - but thats my favorite... 

[Al Kowsky]

18 hours ago, Phil Davis said:

Yeah, I do understand that eleven > ten, but I won exactly eleven coins this year. It seemed churlish to exclude one of them. I know the year's not over and never say never and all that, but the chances I'll find anything else this year aren't large. Here they are, in chronological order by the date I obtained them:

1. Crawford 70/1:

2: Crawford 235/1c:

3. Crawford 259/1:

4. Crawford 155/1:

5: Crawford 496/3: 

6. Crawford 44/1:

7: Crawford 494/23:

8: Crawford 544/15:

9: Crawford 544/38:

 

10: Crawford 98A/3:

11: Crawford 110/1a:

If lightning strikes and I win something else in the next 18 days, I'll just claim my fiscal year ends December 13.

Impressive group of denarii 🤩! My favorites are #9, the gem grade legionary denarius, #7, the Apollo denarius struck on an oversize flan, & #3, with the great action scene on the reverse.

[Qcumbor]

You never disappoint @Phil Davis !

Having a soft spot for MA, my votes go to #5 and #9, but each of them is a gem. Your Foslus puts mine to shame (I used to see it as very nice, now I'm not so sure...)

Q

[robinjojo]

Excellent denarii, Phil!  Some look as if they just came out of the mint.  #1 has a wonderfully styled portrait and the surfaces are lustrous.  The legionary denarii are stunning!  I could go on but I'd run out of adjectives of praise.

[Di Nomos]

Beautiful coins. Congratulations on a great year of collecting.  If pressed, would pick 11 & 7 as my favourites. Really like 5, 1 & 9 also. 

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Spectacular!  They're all my favorites.

[Romancollector]

All superb additions @Phil Davis! The Antony/Sol and Sex. Pompeius are my favourites! 

[SteveJBrinkman]

Phil,  These are all fabulous coins in one way or another.  #11, the wreath symbol denarius is my favorite.  This is not a rare issue but they just don't come this nice.  A perfect example for one of our generation's greatest Roman Republican collections.

[Sulla80]

Stunning denarii, as we have come to expect @Phil Davis!  2, 5, 11 are my favorites!

[Limes]

Fantastic additions! Your list made me burn my risotto, I could not stop looking... i really like your no. 9, it's just so crips, fresh, the details are fantastic. Also, the portrait of Mark Antony on your no 5 is very impressive. Guess these are my favorites. 

[Phil Davis]

4 hours ago, Limes said:

Your list made me burn my risotto, I could not stop looking...

Sorry! But all's not lost. Just redefine the risotto as sizzling rice and call it a new approach to fusion cuisine!

[Limes]

11 hours ago, Phil Davis said:

Sorry! But all's not lost. Just redefine the risotto as sizzling rice and call it a new approach to fusion cuisine!

Thanks for the suggestion. Fusion cuisine might be a bit too experimental for the kids, but stating I added some macaroni may help next time 😉

[savitale]

Beautiful set of coins! Clearly you took care to choose pieces with excellent eye appeal. I love #2: Crawford 235/1c, but at the same time it is a bit terrifying. It looks to me like the wolf is going to eat poor Romulus and Remus!