Hrefn’s 2024 Top Ten

[Hrefn]

Most years I add about 20 coins to my collection.  2024 has proven an exceptional year, as I have 41 new specimens.   It was difficult to select the top ten, which is a nice problem to have.  Please comment on your favorite(s).  Listed in no particular order.  

1.)  Denier of Louis the Pious, Class 2, Bituriges.  From CGB, direct purchase.  Depeyrot 177.  (157 exemplaires).   The premier addition to my nascent Carolingian collection. 

2.)  Solidus of Heraclius.  

From Auction no. VP158/702 Jean Elsen #248. Héraclius (610-641), AV solidus, 632-635 AD.  Constantinople, officina A. D/ Héraclius entouré d'Héraclius Constantin à d. et d'Héraclonas à g., de taille plus petite, ten. chacun un gl. cr. A g., une croix. R/ VICTORIA- AVGUA /CONOB Croix potencée sur trois degrés. A d., monogram of Heraclius.  Sear 758; D.O. 33a; M.I.B. 39. 4,50 g. Petits dépôts. presque Superbe (about Extremely Fine)

Provient de la collection de l'abbé Justin Mossay (1920-2012) a Belgian scholar of philology and Classics.  His particular interest was Gregory of Nazianzus.  https://www.jstor.org/stable/44173198

It pleases me that this coin comes from the collection of a distinguished scholar, and I love the depiction of the very young prince on the left.   

3.) Solidus, Justinian I, Thessalonica (as attributed by Hahn.)  Sear says Constantinople but says Hahn’s attribution “may be preferable.”  The plain globe in place of a globus cuciger on the reverse is strongly suggestive of Thessalonica. Sear-138

OBV. DNIUSTINIANUS PPAUC

REV.  VICTORI AAVCCC   no officina.  Angel holds plain cross on the left, a plain globus without surmounting cross on the right. 

Purchased 3/29/2024 from Kyle Bollen .  His tag says “Ex Roma 92 lot#1125.  12/21”

Also, Ex Williamette Valley Collection CNG 121 lot#1073. 6/22

4.)  Solidus of Theodosius III, 715-717 AD.  Purchased 29 March 2024 from Nick Economopoulos by private treaty.  4.38 grams.  Probably lightly clipped but with an outstanding portrait and full name of this scarce ruler.  Officina delta.  Sear-1487.

Ex:  Bob Guynn collection, purchased from Ed Waddell, 9/29/2000 

This is a ruler I never expected to obtain.  

5.)Solidus of Anastasius, cross on helmet.  Constantinople.  

Baldwin’s (Strand collectible’s group) 6/24  1100 GBP. Officina I

****Shanna Schmidt 9/24 lists a very similar one with helmet cross and jewel in the center of the long cross on the reverse, also officina I, but different obv and rev dies, for ($$$) and claims it is from the Mare Nostrum hoard.  My coin is better, but I would bet the obverse die was done by the same hand.  I wonder if the accretions on my coin are maritime.  

 

6.)   Theodosius II

Purchased from Heritage.

No officina.  The celator appears to have combined the IMP which should begin the reverse inscription with the oars off the ship serving as footstool to Constantinopolis.  No crossbar on the obverse “A” of AVG.

Previously sold by Roma in 2015, as located on ACsearch:

Below is a coin (not part of the top 10 this year) with the bird-headed prow of the ship which serves as footstool for Constantinopolis.  It is part of the immediately preceding issue of solidi.  That is the image the celator should have been striving for, and followed with IMP XXXXII.  Additionally, the style of the new coin is cartoon-like compared with the official coin below.

I am fairly sure #6 is imitative/barbaric but would welcome the opinion of others.  

7.)  Solidus of Tiberius III.  Slabbed.  698-705 AD.  MS Strike 5/5 surface 3/5 “light marks”. STAR. 

Remarkable in my opinion for being full weight and not clipped as so many of these are, and a very nice strike as well.  The emperor’s hand on the obverse is a notorious weakly struck area;  this one looks very good.  

8.) Solidus of Leontius 695-698 AD.  

OBV. DLEO…PEAV.   Leontius with mappa in right hand, globus cruciger in left, in loros.  

REV:  VICTORIA … DA(?). Cross on 3 steps.  Bruise in the right field.  

EX:  CONOB  Officina delta followed by an A. Sear-1331

Old tag:  

“LEU (perhaps) 12/66 OYY (probably code for price.)

T/A 4231 Leontius solidus G. 134/1  NOT in R” (Ratto?)

The double strike mostly affects the cross on the reverse.

9.) Ostrogothic solidus in name of Anastasius, Rome mint, Officina letter A

Lacam plate CCXIX nos. 1 and 2 

Artemide, 10/24.  This coin is an upgrade for a type already in my collection.  

 

10.)  

Solidus (clipped, graffiti) of Anastasius Artemius.  Another emperor I was not optimistic about acquiring, but a low-ball place holder bid won the auction.  His coins are scarce, and this one has a good portrait and most of his name.  The graffiti does not bother me.  

Purchased from Artemide, 10/24 

 

So there they are, the Top Ten for 2024.  I would love to hear which coin is your favorite, and why.  Or any other related comments. 

I would also like your opinions as to whether #6 is official or Imitative/barbaric.  

Good collecting and Happy Holidays to all.  Hrefn

 

 

Edited December 15, 2024 by Hrefn
Typo

[DonnaML]

Congratulations on a great year! As wonderful as all the gold looks, there's something about # 1 -- particularly the striking of the legend on the obverse -- that really appeals to me. So that one gets my vote.

[Roman Collector]

Great year for you!

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

My favorites are Leontius, Anastasius II, and Theodosius III.

That's a good question, per the accretions.  My budget Zeno has something similar going on.  I wonder if being underwater(and maybe being washed across sand) is what dinged it up?

etions.

[Rand]

Wow. This has been a good year!!!

It is very hard to choose, I like of them. I very much like the Carolingian denier, solidus of Justinianus (which I also think is from Thesslaloniki) and the solidus of Tiberius.

Your Anastasius solidi are excellent!

I have little doubt that #6 is imitative. 

I wish the Hrefn's Collection to grow in the same progression in 2025!

[rasiel]

That Theo is all kinds of wow. I'm patiently biding my time until I get one too!

The white deposits on the Anastasius looks like wax, which if the case what it means is that was plaster cast for plate photography at some point (so worth investigating its provenance)

Rasiel

[shanxi]

Nice treasure !

I like the Anastasius Artemius. I don't think I've ever seen this emperor before.

Edited December 15, 2024 by shanxi

[JayAg47]

Nice golds! especially like the strike on that Heraclius solidus.

[Sulla80]

@Hrefn, a great year of byzantine gold! congrats - all beautiful coins, and I would pick 6,9, and 10 as top of the list.  Always fun to see how each of us varies in personal preferences.  Best wishes for 2025!

Edited December 15, 2024 by Sulla80

[panzerman]

Fantastic coins!

My  picks are

Louis the Pious Denier

Theodosius IV AV Solidus (Rasiel's ERIC II Theodosius III is RRRRR solidus of M. Tiberius son in 602AD)

Justinian AV Solidus Thessalonika Mint

Thanks for sharing!

John

[ominus1]

..man what a year!..love the Louis the Pius ....and all that GOLD!   very nice indeed!  🙂

[Knbollen]

An outstanding year for your collection.  Such great coins. My favorite is the Justinian solidus from Thessalonica.  Im glad it went to such a good home!  I also think I may have owned the Leontius solidus you have at one time. It’s so rare to find them with any pedigree!  

[Tejas]

 A wonderful group. Congratulations.

It will come as no surprise, but my favorites are no. 6 (Theodosius): The style is very strange and charming

and no. 9 (Theoderic): The coin is as good as it gets and it shows the finest style. 

[Qcumbor]

I have to go with Louis the Pious, that denier is fantastic, toning and all. Congrats on a great year

Q

[TIF]

Gold is great, but I agree with Donna and others-- that Louis the Pious is fantastic!

[JAZ Numismatics]

That's a handsome pile of Byzantine gold!