Kirispupis 2024 top 10 coins of the year

[kirispupis]

Yeah, I know the year still has 1/12th left, but with very few targets and the fact that none of them would make this list, I decided to send my "top 10" early.

It was a very good year. I added 195 coins this year. Most of these are little bronzes that would draw no notice, but here are my "sort of" favorites for the year. I say "sort of", because I deliberately chose the nicer looking coins for this list, as compared to some additions that filled crucial gaps in my collection but look extremely ugly.

When I picked up this example from Toriaion, it was the only known coin. Since then, two others have shown up and another denomination. Still, this coin likely remains the best example from the city.

Lycia, Toriaion
Circa 3-2nd century BCE
AE 14 mm, 3.79 g, 9 h
Turreted head of Tyche to right.
Rev. TOPIAITΩN around an uncertain symbol
Unpublished. Unique.

 

Thanks to a new-found hoard somewhere, I was able to pick up a Tigranes tet for a reasonable price.

Kings of Armenia. Tigranes II "the Great"

80-68 BCE

AR Tetradrachm 28mm, 15,44g

Obv: Diademed and draped bust right, wearing Armenian tiara with five peaks and emblazoned with star between two eagles; within filleted border

Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ TIΓPANOY, Tyche of Artaxata seated to right on rock pile, holding palm branch, river god Araxes swimming to right below; Θ to inner right, ΔH monogram to lower left, all within wreath.

Foss Group H; Kovacs 74.2; SCADA Group 1; CAA 19; ACV 31

 

Pretty much every city in Crete is a major pita, so I was thrilled to add this example from Praisos regardless the condition.

Praisos, Crete
300-270 BCE
AR Stater 9.69g
Zeus Diktaios sitzt l. auf der Rechten Adler, in der Linken Zepter, die Hüften von Himation bedeckt
In Punktkreis: Protome eines kretischen Ziegenbockes l. zurückblickend.
Le Rider Pl. XXX, 18; Svoronos 25, Pl. XXVII, 25; Slg. Traeger -, vergl. 342

 

Although a Roman, I'd been after an example of Nero for some time due to his fame and because we share the same birthday. I felt this was a bit different from his typical coins.

Nero 54-68 CE
Denarius Lugdunum 56-57 CE
AR 19.00mm, 3.67 g
Bare head r.
Rev. EX SC within wreath C 207
RIC 12

 

Sometimes great coins can be added for a terrific price. I grabbed this quadrans the instant I saw it. I then considered starting a quadrans collection until I saw the prices of other examples of similar quality.

Anonymous Ae Quadrans
Struck ca. 81 – 161 CE : Time of Domitian to Antoninus Pius
AE 17.7mm, 3.0g
Obv: Helmeted and draped bust of Minerva right
Rev: Owl standing right with head facing; S – C to either side
RIC II 7

 

This year, I didn't quite add as many cities as I'd hoped, but I made up for it in my People collection. This was one of those crucial additions that leave me with only three missing coins for this difficult collection.

Kingdom of Illyria, Monounios
Dyrrhachion
Circa 305-275 BCE
AR stater 21mm 10.57g 5h
Obv: cow standing left, looking back at suckling calf standing right below; monogram above.
Rev: double stellate pattern divided by line, all in double linear square border; ΔYP (P retrograde) and club around; all within linear circle border.
Paškvan-; Maier 34 var. (same); Meadows, CH (forthcoming) 193; SNG Copenhagen-425 var. (orientation of obv.); BMC-29 var. (same).
ex Classical Numismatic Group 2015

 

I agonized several days over this coin. I'd already added two bronzes from Corinth, but they were among my favorite ruins on a visit to Greece. In the end, I decided to spring for it and I don't regret the decision.

Corinth, Peloponnesos
ca 350-306 BCE
AR Stater 22mm 8.59g
Pegasos flying left /
Helmeted head of Athena left, helmet decorated with laurel wreath; A P flanking neck truncation, aegis behind
Ravel Period V, 1009; Pegasi 427; BCD Corinth –; HGC 4, 1848; Cf. CNG 112 lot 207 (same obv + rev dies)

 

The beautiful coinage of Karkinitis, about which we know practically nothing, is very rare. It's definitely a stunner in hand.

Tauric Chersonesos, Karkinitis
Circa 300-290 BCE
Æ 20mm, 5.21g, 12h
Uncertain magistrate. Bearded figure seated left on rocks, holding labrys or dolphin-tipped scepter /
Horse stepping left; [magistrate name in exergue]
Cf. Anokhin 611–9; HGC 3, 2119
Ex Skillman Collection
Ex Leu Numismatik 2020

 

Staying within the Tauric Chersonesos is this great piece from Chersonesos. It has a nice provenance to boot.

Bosporos, Tauric Chersonesus
ca 300-290 BCE
Artemis Parthenos running left, holding bow in left hand and spearing fallen stag.
Rev: ΚΛΕΜΥΤΑΔΑ. Bull butting left over club.
21mm, 6.86g
SNG Stancomb 481
ex-Rudolf Hoesch (1904-1990) collection
bought from M&M AG Basel in 1955

 

Of all the coins I've pursued, never had I lost on a type more than that of Stymphalos. Time and time again I was thwarted, and when I finally added this example my coin budget was chopped, but it was worth it.

Arkadia, Stymphalos
Circa 350-345 BCE
AR Obol 11mm, 0.66g, 6h
Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress
Rev. ΣΤ[ΥΜ]ΦΑΛΙΟΝ (retrograde) Head of crestless water bird to right
BCD Peloponnesos 1703. SNG Copenhagen 286
Ex Collection of Jonathan H. Kagan

 

[Curtisimo]

Nice group of coins! My favorites are the Corinth, the Dyrrachion and the Tigranes.

[Ryro]

Excellent year! My top 3 are the Stymphalian bird, the Corinthian with the beautiful Aegis, and the Tigranes ll. 

[savitale]

I picked the Toriaion. Love the idea of having an only-known coin, or one of a handful known. Nice coins!

[robinjojo]

Another year comes to a close, and you have assembled another great group!  You certainly have the eye for historical and artistic coins, even down to the obol, a denomination that I find challenging. 

The Arkadia, Stymphalos obol has a stunning reverse.  The Bosporos, Tauric Chersonesus AE 21 has a wonderful obverse.  But the Kingdom of Illyria, Monounios
Dyrrhachion stater scores on both the obverse and reverse, a wonderful example.  The Tigranes II tetradrachm is also very nice, with very appealing toning.  These coins are often overcleaned.  

So, once again, a wonderful group, so I'm actually going to have to think, a major effort on my part.

Edited December 16, 2024 by robinjojo

[JayAg47]

Nice lot of coins, my favourite is the Nero denarius and the weird ostrich-looking water bird, never seen one like that before! 

[AncientJoe]

Congrats on a great year! Your Corinth is my favorite of your group.

[Sulla80]

Congrats on a great year @kirispupis - I gave the Toriaion bronze a vote for the mystery of the symbol on reverse, the Corinthian stater obviously hard to pass up.  Best wishes for 2025.

P.S. Arkadia, Stymphalos is also in my top 3.

Edited December 1, 2024 by Sulla80

[CPK]

Looks like it's been a great year for you @kirispupis! I voted for the Corinth stater, such a lovely classic coin. My second favorite is that little owl quadrans. But they are all great coins! 👍

[-monolith-]

Nice additions. I added to many coins this year to narrow it down to just 10. I may do the opposite and list my 10 least favorite coins.

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

I voted for the Tigranes tet, but the Pegasus would be a close second.  I also really like the toning on the Stymphalos.

[ambr0zie]

It was a very difficult vote since you offered only 1 option and all are excellent coins. 

However I chose the Stymphalos obol as it suits my tastes (small fractions and depicting an animal). But the quadrans, the Praisos stater and the Nero denarius are also extraordinary coins in my opinion. 

[ChrisB]

Nice group. I voted for Nero but they are all nice. 

[singig]

I realy like the Corinth stater , Nero was my second option. Congratulations !

[taja1948]

I vote for the Stymphalos!

Very nice acquisitions.

[DonnaML]

A wonderful group! I voted for the very beautiful Corinth stater. My "next favorites" were the Nero, the owl quadrans, and that gorgeous water bird from Stymphalos.

[Qcumbor]

I'm in @DonnaML's team : The Corinth stater has my preference, followed by the owl quadrans and the Nero denarius. A great year as it seems

Have a great end of the year

Q

[SimonW]

Congratulations on a great year, @kirispupis! My favorite coin cleary is your owl quadrans with the giant flan! Competition for good quadrantes/semisses is extremely fierce. Have you seen this coin?

https://www.biddr.com/auctions/nac/browse?a=5189&l=6363666

[kirispupis]

3 minutes ago, SimonW said:

Congratulations on a great year, @kirispupis! My favorite coin cleary is your owl quadrans with the giant flan! Competition for good quadrantes/semisses is extremely fierce. Have you seen this coin?

https://www.biddr.com/auctions/nac/browse?a=5189&l=6363666

Wow! Of course, mine is a far more common variety and not in this condition. This coin is one reason I haven't started a collection of quadrans. 🙂 

[MrMonkeySwag96]

I like the Crete stater, because I don’t often see Cretan coins 

[Roman Collector]

Of course I like the Corinthian stater -- it's a real gem -- but I have always liked the anonymous quadrantes with the animals and accoutrements associated with the gods, particularly the little owl of Minerva. "Little owl" isn't just a cute descriptor! It's the species' name! So, I wanted to give that little owl some love. 

[shanxi]

I voted for the mysterious Toriaion bronze. The most interesting coin IMHO.

[Di Nomos]

The Corinthian stater is my favourite style wise, but I really like coins from Crete, so your stater from Praisos is my top pick. The Arkadian obol deserves a special mention too. Great coins all round.