Top 10 2024 - ambr0zie

[ambr0zie]

Although I am not convinced 2024 is over for me (from a numismatic point of view), I think now it is a very good time for my top 10. 

2024 was a good year, with many targets acquired (perhaps too many acquisitions, but I do not regret anything, as they were good deals and - most important - interesting coins). 

The colleagues who know me are aware that I usually create multiple Top 10 threads, separated on categories. This would have been easily possible this year as well, but I have decided to have a single Top 10. As usually, my criteria are clear: coins that are historically important (or with symbolic depictions); interesting designs; nice styles. Value is not a decisive factor. Some coins were left out - but life is not fair. 

I think nobody will be bothered for adding 3 contenders also. 

So here goes, in the order they arrived in my collection 

1. 

27 mm, 13,53 g.
Trajan 98-117 AD. Ӕ dupondius. Rome. 112-114 AD.
IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P, bust of Trajan, radiate, draped, right / DACIA AVGVST PROVINCIA S C, Dacia, seated left on rock, holding aquila; in front of her on a second rock a child holding grapes; at her side a child holding grain stalks
RIC II 623a; Woytek 468b; BMCRE 990d; Cohen 127.
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I cannot have a Top 10 without a Trajan coin - especially one related to Dacia. I tried to acquire as many coins as possible depicting scenes from the Dacian war, but this was a very good addition as it shows a peaceful imagery, with the alegory of Dacia becoming a Roman province. The toning is a bonus. 

2.

26 mm, 12,62 g.
Gaul, Nemausus. Augustus 27 BC-14 AD. Ӕ as. Struck 9/8 BC-3 AD.
IMP DIVI F, heads of Agrippa (left) and Augustus (right) back to back, Agrippa wearing combined rostral crown and laurel wreath and Augustus wearing oak-wreath / COL NEM, crocodile chained to palm-shoot with tip right; above on left a wreath with long ties.
RIC 158; RPC 524; AMC 425.
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One of the iconic Roman coins designs. This was a major target for me and I am happy with the outcome, although the reverse centering is far from perfect. A lot of things make this coin very important - clear clues about the crucial Battle of Actium; nice portraits; uncommon reverse and of course a reverse with an animal - one of the themes I love the most. 

3.

25 mm, 12,87 g.
Egypt, Alexandria. Trajan 98-117 AD. Billon tetradrachm. Dated RY 15 – 111-112 AD.
ΑΥΤ ΤΡΑΙΑΝ ϹΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ ΔΑΚΙΚ, laureate head of Trajan, right / L ΙΕ (date), canopus of Osiris, right, on base.
Köln 574; Dattari (Savio) 648; RPC III, 4576; K&G 27.372; Emmett 371.15.
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I am a big fan of Egyptian provincials - but I am especially interested in ones showing specific Egyptian motifs. And this coin fits more than enough. You can read a very good and detailed explanation about canopic jars written by our colleague @DonnaML here .

4.

27 mm, 13,81 g.
Faustina II 147-175. Ӕ dupondius. Rome. After 31st of August 161 AD.
FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bust of Faustina II, draped, hair elaborately waved in nearly vertical lines and fastened in a low chignon at back of head, down cheek, curls, right / SAECVLI FELICIT S C, pulvinar (throne), draped and ornamented, on which are two baby boys, Commodus and Antoninus, seated face to face, with stars above their heads.
BMC 991; Cohen 194; RIC 1666 (as); RCV 5302.
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An attractive bronze, looking almost gold in hand, with a nice portrait and an important reverse - this coin celebrates the birth of the twins Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus and Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus, born 31st of August 161.  History will surely remember Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus...

5.

5 mm, 0,19 g.
Greek satraps of Caria, Mylasa. Hekatomnos. AR tetartemorion. Circa 395-377 BC.
Forepart of a roaring lion left / laureate head of Apollo facing slightly left.
SNG Helsinki 848 (as uncertain); Klein 507; SNG Keckman 849.
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Of course, my top 10 would have been incomplete without small Greek fraction. I am a big fan of them - especially when they contain detailed imagery. This types of coins show the artistry ancient people were capable of. Bonus - this is the oldest known image of Marilyn Manson. 

6.

23 mm, 7,45 g.
Bithynia, Nicaea. Macrianus. Usurper, 260-261 AD. Ӕ.
ΤΙ(Τ) ΦΟΥΛ ΙΟΥ ΜΑΚΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕΒ, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Macrianus, right, seen from front / ΝΙΚΑΙΕΩΝ, bird's eye view of city with gates front and back flanked by two towers.
RG 867; RPC X, — (unassigned; ID 74609); SNG von Aulock 733; BMC 157.
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About 2 years ago I had the pleasure to work for a small auction house. My task was to attribute coins for the incoming auctions. I remember I had large issues in identifying this type as the obverse legend was difficult to read and I did not understand the reverse image. However, when I managed to attribute it I instantly wanted an example. Clear reasons - personally I consider Macrianus imperial coins dull (and expensive too). This one has a great reverse theme. I was more than happy to win this example. It is better than the one I attributed + the price was very good. 

7.

9 mm, 0,53 g.
Bruttium, Rhegion. Anaxilas (tyrant). AR litra. Circa 494/3-462/1 BC.
Hare springing right / Retrograde REC.
HN Italy 2475; HGC 1, 1649; Caltabiano Series II–IV, 113–136; HN Italy 2475; SNG ANS 633-4.
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Not difficult to explain why I love this coin. Small(ish), showing an animal that is not very common on ancient coins. I find the retrograde inscription also interesting. 

8.

6 mm, 0,37 g.
Lydia, Sardes. King Kroisos. AR 1/24 stater. Circa 564/53-550/39 BC.
Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Two incuse squares.
SNG Kayhan 1022; Klein 562; GRPC Lydia S9.
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Again straight forward. Small coin with good artistry and animals. Also because of the age (this is my oldest coin) this was a major target. I had many failed attempts to get one. This was a perfect addition - I am happy with the condition and the price. 

9.

16 mm, 2,67 g.
Faustina I, Augusta, 138-140. AR denarius. Rome. Circa 139-141.
FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, diademed and draped bust right / IVNONI REGINAE, pulvinar (throne) with sceptre resting against it, peacock in splendor standing right below.
RIC 339a; BMCRE 139; RSC 219.
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Imperial coins collectors know that the ratio between posthumous and lifetime Faustina I coins is ... discouraging. I managed to get a lifetime denarius in 2023, but I wanted one, even more representative. I had this on my watch list 2 weeks before the auction, but I was not optimistic because I thought the price will be obscene. But curious - I got it with much less than I was willing to pay (and no, I was not wiling to pay whatever sum). The coin has A LOT of luster and nice style. More curious - I discovered that it was also sold in an auction a few weeks before, also at a VERY LOW price. I confirmed with our Faustina specialist that the coin is 100% OK. Perhaps people did not like the flan? For me this is irrelevant. 

10.

(adding the original photo as well as this was a big pain to photograph)
6,1 mm, 0,17 g.
Persia, Achaemenid Empire. AR tetartemorion. Uncertain mint in Cilicia. 400-300 BC.
Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance to right, holding dagger and bow; retrograde K below / Facing head of female or Apollo.
Hauck und Aufhäuser 20, 166; asiaminorcoins.com coin ID #6374.
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This was a coin I fell in love with. Extraordinary details for a small coin AND a facial expression that is probably the most expressive in my collection (for those who do not know, the model was McKayla Maroney). Jokes aside, I find this coin spectacular.

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CONTENDERS

26 mm, 11,13 g.
Egypt, Alexandria. Nero 54-68 AD. Billon tetradrachm. 63-64 or 64-65 AD.
NEPΩ KΛAV KAIΣ ΣEB ΓEP AV, radiate head right / ΠΠOΠΠAIA (sic!) Σ[EBAΣTH], draped bust of Poppaea, right; [LI or LIA] (date) in right field.
For RY 10, cf. RPC I 5275 and Dattari (Savio) 196; for RY 11, cf. RPC I 5280 and Dattari (Savio); Emmett 128.
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One of my collecting themes is Roman empresses. Poppaea is not one of the easy ones and I wanted this type a lot. But what immediately made me raise an eyebrow - the empress name - "PPOPPAEA"?!. I hoped it was a very big legend error (I do not actively collect these, but it would have been something) - but it is just a die clash. However, a handsome coin in the Alexandrian classic style.

 

 

15 mm, 1,48 g.
Byzantine Empire. Anastasius I 491-518. AV tremissis. Constantinople.
D N ANASTA-SIVS P P AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Anastasius I right / VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM / CONOB, Victory advancing to right, her head turned to left, holding wreath in her right hand and cross set on globe in her left; in field to right, star.
DOC 10a; Sear 8.
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I think every collector wants a gold coin. I am no exception, but the options are limited because of the budget. I  do not afford a Greek stater or a Roman aureus; I  sometimes look at small Greek electrum fractions but I find them too simplistic; as for Byzantine gold coins, I am not a fan of the style. So the compromise was to search for a Byzantine early coin, with a style close to Roman style. 

22 mm, 2,91 g.
Seljuq of Rum. Ghiyath al-Din Kay Khusraw II 1236-1245. AR dirham. Siwas mint. AH 639 = 1241 AD.
Lion advancing right, three stars around, above, personification of sun above / Arabic legend.
Album 1218.
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Totally branching out as this is not my area, but I saw this type many times and I find it both strange and very ellegant. Especially the sun - looks like a 5 year old kid drew it ... but a talented kid. I also like the idea of the reverse. 

 

Thanks for reading, comments are votes are welcome. 

Edited December 15, 2024 by ambr0zie

[Roman Collector]

You had a great year, with many interesting coins in a variety of areas. I particularly like the Macrianus provincial, the Trajan with the Dacia allegory reverse, and the Faustina's twins issue. 😀 

[shanxi]

Nice coins. Considering that the diameter is only 9mm, the rabbit is my favourite.

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

My top two are the Anastasius tremissis and the Seljuk dihrem.  It's a neat type, one I myself need to upgrade.

It's a charming top 10!

[Ryro]

Excellently diverse lot. I'm going with #2, 1 and 5 for my top 3 favorites. And a special shot out to Mrs Maroney. But a very fun group all around. 

[seth77]

I was undecided between the canopic Alexandrian, the Faustina lifetime and Nicaean Macrianus. Eventually picked the canopic. 

[DonnaML]

That's a wonderful Faustina I, and I don't see anything "off" about it either. I also voted for the wabbit and the tremissis.

[JayAg47]

Great list, I like the Faustina denarius and the Anastasius tremissis, both have fantastic portraits. 

[singig]

Excellent year, congratulations ! I voted for 1,2,8,9. My preferd is the Agrippa/Augustus As(lovely details), followed closely by the Trajan Dacia dupondius.

[robinjojo]

Nice acquisitions for 2024!  I'm always a sucker when a canopus of Osiris shows up, so #3 is my choice, along with #10.

[Qcumbor]

A croc and a rabbit will make it for lunch : I have Poppaea coming home !

Nice group of coins

Q

[Curtisimo]

The two Trajans and the birth of Commodus are my favorites. Great year!