My Top 15 Coins of 2024

[MrMonkeySwag96]

Here are my Top 15 coins of 2024, in no particular order. Please comment which is your favorite!

 

 

#1) C. Servilius M.f. 136 BC. AR Denarius (20.2mm, 3.88 g, 7h). Helmeted head of Roma right; wreath behind / The Dioscuri riding in opposite directions. Crawford 239/1; Sydenham 525; Servilia 1.

 

#2) L. Aemilius Lepidus Paullus. 62 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.86 g). Rome mint. Veiled and diademed head of Concordia right / Trophy; to left, three captives (King Perseus of Macedon and his two sons) standing right; to right, Paullus standing left. Crawford 415/1; Sydenham 926; Aemilia 10; RBW 1497.
 

 

#3) L. Scribonius Libo. 62 BC. AR Denarius (19.8mm, 3.94 g). Rome mint. Diademed head of Bonus Eventus right / Puteal Scribonianum (Scribonian wellhead), decorated with garland and two lyres; hammer at base. Crawford 416/1a; Sydenham 928; Scribonia 8a; RBW 1500.

 

 

#4) Roman Republic, C. Postumius, silver denarius c. 73 BC, Diana facing right with bow and quiver/hound bounding to right, spear below. VF+, old collection tone, minor surface marks. Cr. 394/1a From the collection of Rudolf Hoesch (1904-1990).
 

 

#5) Tiberius. AD 14-37. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.40 g). “Tribute Penny” type. Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck AD 36-37. Laureate head right; one ribbon on shoulder / Livia, as Pax, seated right, holding scepter and olive branch, feet on footstool; ornate chair legs, single line below. RIC I 30

 

 

#6) Seleucid Kingdom, Seleukos I 312-281 BC, Silver Tetradrachm 17.06g, 26mm Head of Herakles right, wearing a lion skin. Zeus seated left, holding an eagle and scepter, monogram to left, "ΔI"below the throne. “BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣEΛEYKOY” SC 117.1c

 

 

#7) Arcadian League, Megalopolis 330-275 BC, Silver Triobol 2.70g, 15mm Laureate head of Zeus left Pan seated left on a rock, holding a lagobolon and raising his other hand. "APK" monogram HGC 5, 929

 

 

#8) Sextus Pompey, 42-40 BC. AR denarius (17 mm. 3,3 g.). Uncertain mint in Italy. MAG PIVS IMP ITER, bare head of Pompey Magnus right, capis behind head, lituus before. Banker's countermark IV. Rev. Neptune standing left, foot on prow, holding aplustre, between the Catanaean brothers Anapias and Amphinomus walking in opposite directions and carrying their parents on their shoulders. PRAEF (partly ligate) above, CLAS ET ORAE MARIT EX S C (partly ligate) in two lines in exergue. Crawford 511/3a; CRI 334; BMCRR Sicily 7-10; RBW 1785.

 

 

#9) Roman Empire, Aquilia Severa 220 AD, Silver Denarius 2.45g, 19mm Draped bust of Aquilia Severa right "IVLIA AQVILIA SEVERA AVG" Concordia standing left, sacrificing out of a patera over an altar and holding double cornucopiae, star to left. "CONCORDIA" RSC 2

 

#10) Cappadocia. Caesaraea-Eusebia. Hadrian, 117-138 AD. AR Didrachm; 21 mm, 5.92g, ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕΒΑϹΤΟϹ Laureate head of Hadrian to right. Rev. ΥΠΑΤΟϹ Γ ΠΑΤΗΡ ΠΑΤP Mount Argaios surmounted by Sol-Helios, radiate, standing front, holding globe in his right hand and scepter in his left. Ganschow 169b. RPC III 3087. Sydenham, Caesarea, 263. SNG von Aulock 6416

 

 

#11) CYPRUS, Koinon of Cyprus. Domitian. As Caesar, AD 69-81. AR Didrachm (22mm, 6.06 g). Dated “New Holy Year” 9 of Vespasian (AD 76/77). Laureate head right / Zeus Salaminios standing facing, holding patera and scepter, with eagle perched on wrist. Prieur 1575; Parks 18b; RPC II 1810.

 

 

#12) Ionia, Kolophon 430-400 BC, Silver Drachm 5.33g, 15mm Laureate head fo Apollo right. Lyre. "[KO]ΛO[ΦΩN]ION" SNG Von Aulock 2004

 

 

#13) Lykian Dynasts. Perikles. Circa 380-360 BC. AR Tetrobol - 1/3 Stater (2.99g, 16.5mm). Obv.: facing lion scalp. Rev.: Π↑Ρ - ΕΚ - Λ↑, around triskeles within incuse circle. Müseler VIII.49-51; SNG von Aulock 4254-5.

 

 

#14) Byzantine Empire, Justinian 527-565, AV Semissis 2.16g, 19mm Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian right. Victory seated right inscribing a shield. "VICTORIA AVGGG", Staurogram to right. "CONOB" in exergue. SB 143

 

 

#15) Sassanian Kingdom, Shapur II 309-379, Silver Drachm 3.67g, 20mm Crowned and draped bust right within a circle Fire altar with the head of Ahura Mazda, right, in the flames, an attendant to each side. Gobl Ia/6a

 

Honorable mentions:

 

 

Plantagenet. John AR Penny. 1199-1216. London mint. Bust of John facing / Voided short cross with quatrefoil in each angle. 17 mm, 1.16 g.

 

Roman Empire, Valerian 253-260, Base Silver Antoninianus 2.81g, 20mm Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Valerian right. "IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG" Jupiter standing, head left, holding a thunderbolt and scepter. "IOVI CONSERVATORI" RSC 94

 

 

 

Edited December 13, 2024 by MrMonkeySwag96

[Ordinary-Ride-1595]

A coin of this type was my first denarius so I'm very partial to the Pompey.

Last week Leo made a video on the relation between coins and propaganda. This coin is very much one such coin. Sextus used his father's image and reputation to build his own. On the obverse is Magnus and on the reverse is Neptune surrounded by the Catanaean brothers who exemplified familial piety. The people of his day would have understood the reverse to represent Magnus (Neptune) and his naval prowess surrounded by Sextus and his brother.

It is for this reason why I am such a fan of this coin. One vote Pompey!

[panzerman]

Pretty nice top "15"

I  like best the John I AR Penny/ then the Hadrian/ then the Justinian Semissis

 

Thanks for sharing

[JayAg47]

Good list of coins, I like the Postumius denarius with the details on the dog, down to its collar!

[MrMonkeySwag96]

3 hours ago, panzerman said:

Pretty nice top "15"

I  like best the John I AR Penny/ then the Hadrian/ then the Justinian Semissis

 

Thanks for sharing

I paid $40 for that King John penny at auction, so I guess I got a good deal

[sand]

The Seleukos I tetradrachm is my favorite.

The John silver penny is my 2nd favorite.

[Qcumbor]

Scribonius Libo and Hadrian have my preference. Interesting selection

Q

[panzerman]

14 hours ago, MrMonkeySwag96 said:

I paid $40 for that King John penny at auction, so I guess I got a good deal

You bet!

[John Conduitt]

Your John penny is by moneyer Ilger (ILGER ON LVND) and I think class 5c. So 1207-1210, Spink 1352; North 971.

Edited December 13, 2024 by John Conduitt

[savitale]

 Nice coins! I really like the Valerian and the one with the dog.

[Valentinian]

My favorite is
#4) Roman Republic, C. Postumius, silver denarius c. 73 BC, Diana facing right with bow and quiver/hound bounding to right, spear below. VF+, old collection tone, minor surface marks. Cr. 394/1a From the collection of Rudolf Hoesch (1904-1990).
 

The toning and centering are great and the design is elegantly simple.

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

It certainly is a pretty nice list.  It's hard to choose a favorite.  The Sextus Pompey is my favorite type of the lot, but my favorite coin would probably be the Megalopolis. There's just something really cool about it.

[MrMonkeySwag96]

2 hours ago, Nerosmyfavorite68 said:

It certainly is a pretty nice list.  It's hard to choose a favorite.  The Sextus Pompey is my favorite type of the lot, but my favorite coin would probably be the Megalopolis. There's just something really cool about it.

Despite being a fractional silver piece, it has attractive artistry expected of a larger coin. The portrait of Zeus was particularly well rendered 

Edited December 14, 2024 by MrMonkeySwag96

[Roman Collector]

All worth additions to your collection and all are noteworthy. I have always liked the action-packed Dioscuri reverse on those denarii of Servilius, so that one is my favorite. 

[shanxi]

The Diana denarius is one of my favorite republican coins. It's like an action movie compared to a news magazine.

[DonnaML]

The Postumius with Diana and her hound is one of my favorite designs, and yours is a great example. Same for the C. Servilius with the Dioscuri riding in different directions.

[Di Nomos]

Nice coins. My favourite is the King John penny. And whilst I'm no expert, only $40 seems a bargain too.

[Sulla80]

@MrMonkeySwag96, a great 2024 and I would pick any of your top 4, agreeing with @DonnaML that your Diana/Hound is exceptional!

Best wishes for 2025!

 

 

[singig]

I will put in the first place #1 C. Servilius  followed by #4 Postumius with Diana. Congratulations !

 

[robinjojo]

Very nice coins for 2024!   My favorite is the Hadrian didrachm, with a wonderful portrait and interesting reverse.

[Al Kowsky]

M.M.S., You have an interesting & eclectic selection of coins for 2024. My favorite is the Diana/hound denarius, followed by the excellent portrait coin of Valerian 😍.

[happy_collector]

Nice additions, @MrMonkeySwag96. I especially like your Roma/The Dioscuri riding, and Diana/hound denarii. Great reverse designs.