Brennos' Top 10 of 2024

[Brennos]

Twenty-five new acquisitions have been added to my trays this year. It is still difficult to choose only ten, but that’s the case for everyone here. The list follows the traditional order of 'proxy Strabo's geography’. 

1 - LUCANIA, Poseidonia (c.530-500 BC), AR third stater (Drachm), 3.72g 
O/ [POΣ] downwards to l; Poseidon beardless, diademed and wearing chlamys over shoulders, advancing r., wielding trident in upraised right hand and extending left hand before him ; dotted border;
R/ Same type l., incuse but [POΣ] in relief; wreath border.
HGC Italy 1156, HN Italy 1108, Gorini p.32 9, SNG ANS 620-2. Ex Sir Gerard Clauson Collection

Of the three new coins acquired as part of my 'Incuse Coinage of Magna Graecia' sub-collection, this drachma from Poseidonia deserves to be in the top 10. It's also a 'second chance' coin (cf. Ancient Joe’s thread), but I only had a few months to wait. I was the underbidder in its first appearance at Noonans (Sir Gerard Clauson Collection), and the coin found itself back on the market two months later. Unfortunately, the ethnic is practically illegible; otherwise, the coin is really charming with a beautiful old patina. I have only found one other coin in my files struck from the same obverse die (Auction Hirsch, May 1910 sale, lot 27).

 

2 - SICILY. Akragas (c.465-446 BC), AR Tetradrachm, 17.37g 
O/ AKPAC-ANTOΣ (the latter part of the legend retrograde), eagle standing facing to left, with its wings closed. 
R/  Crab; within a shallow incuse circle 
SNG ANS 970 (these dies), Westermark 338.5 (this coin)
Ex Vinchon 18.5.1994, 1; Leu 57, 1993, 17; MMAG 8, 1949, 740.

3 - SICILY, Leontinoi. (c.445-425 BC), AR Tetradrachm 17.03 g
O/ Head of Apollo left, wearing laurel wreath 
R/ Head of roaring lion left; L-EON-TINO-N around; three barley grains above, to left, and below; leaf with berry to right. 
Boehringer 51 (same obv. die), Rizzo Tav XXIII 19 (these dies), SNG ANS 236 (these dies), Maltese 124.p (this coin)
Ex NAC 13 1998, 351 and from the Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig 
Leontinoi is one of the Dorian cities of Sicily, close to Syracuse, founded by Megara Hyblaea, itself a colony of the city of Megara located east of the Isthmus of Corinth. This coin features what G. Rizzo described as the “Head of Apollo in the severe Greek style, whose modeling and hairstyle recall the great bronze sculptures of the Argive-Corinthian school.”

The so-called Mantua Apollo series (represented here by pieces held at the Louvre, the Fogg Art Museum, and Naples) exemplifies the work of this school. These Roman-era copies are derived from an Argive original, possibly created by Hegias, the master of Phidias, around 460 B.C.

 

 

4 - SICILY, Syracuse. The Gamoroi. (c.510-490 BC), AR Tetradrachm 16.84g
O/ Charioteer, holding reins in both hands, driving slow quadriga right; SVRAϘO/SION in two lines above 
R/ Head of Arethousa left in incuse circle in center of quadripartite incuse square. 
Boehringer Series I, 6 (V3/R6)
Ex Bernard Poindessault collection ; Hess 27.3.1956, 48 

Coin acquired at the sale of the remaining coins of the collection of French numismatist Bernard Poindessault, who passed away in 2012, organized in January by Claude Burgan.

A "budget" yet decent example of the hard-to-find Boehringer Series 1 that was missing from my collection—perfect for the koppa aficionados ϘϘϘϘ.

 

5 - SICILY, Syracuse. (c.405 BC) AV Dilitron AV 1.78 g. 
O/ ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ Head of Athena l., wearing Attic crested helmet; below, IM. 
R/ Aegis with gorgoneion.
C. Boehringer, "Zu Finanzpolitik und Münzprägung des Dionysios von Syrakus" in Essays Thompson, pl. 38, 12 (same dies)

A rare gold coin from Syracuse, signed by the artist IM, of whom only one other die is known—a tetradrachm referenced as Tudeer 67.

 

I copy/paste a write-up from NAC:

Like most Greek civic gold coinages, the gold dilitra of Syracuse struck in 406/5 BC represent an emergency coinage produced to meet military expenses-in this case the cost of fielding losing mercenary armies against the Carthaginians. The types celebrate Athena, the Greek goddess of war and military strategy, perhaps in the vain hope that she might aid Dionysius and the Syracusans against the Punic enemy. While the helmeted head of the goddess is ubiquitous on Greek coinages, the depiction of her aegis is much less common. Does it express the desire of the Syracusans that she might unfold this most famous of shields to protect their city from the expected Carthaginian onslaught?
 

6 – SICILY. Syracuse. Dionysios I, (c.405-367 BC). AR Dekadrachm 41.84 g, 
O/ Quadriga racing to left, driven by a charioteer holding the reins in his left hand and a goad with his right; above, Nike flying right to crown the driver; below ground line [inscribed KIMΩN], panoply of arms arranged on two steps, the lower inscribed, [ΑΘΛΑ].
R/ [ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩN] Head of Arethusa to left, wearing a single pendant earring and a pearl necklace, her hair bound in a net and with the hair band over her forehead inscribed Κ; swimming around her head, four dolphins: two opposed before her face, one, inscribed KIMΩN below the neck truncation, and one behind her head.
Jongkees 3h (dies A/γ, this coin) = Bourgey, Dec. 1932, 104; Jameson 819; Feuardent, June 1913, 126; Delbeke 63; Sambon, March 1902, 518.

Needless to say, this coin is a major acquisition for my collection, joining its sister signed by Euainetos. Both coins have poorly preserved obverses, making them accessible within my budget, yet they both have stunning portraits when viewed in hand and a great pedigree.

While most examples have two significant die breaks on the reverse, this one was struck with a relatively fresh die, where the cheek break is discreet and the hair break barely visible. The relief is also spectacular.

 

7 - SICILY, Syracuse. (c.305-289 BC) Agathokles. AV Dekadrachm 2.85 g,  
a/ Head of Apollo left, wearing laurel wreath 
r/Charioteer, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left, driving galloping biga right; triskeles below horses, EY monogram in exergue.
Bérend, l’or pl. 9, 11; Gulbenkian 337 (same dies)

For Bérend, this rare Apollo/Biga type issue of reduced weight, of which only one obv. die and three rev. dies are known, is the result of an increase in the gold to silver ratio from 1:10 to 1:15.

 

8 – Sicily. Segesta.  (c.410-400 BC). AE Trias, 7.96 g. 20 mm  
O/ Head of nymph Segesta right. 
R/ Rev. Dog standing right, surrounded by four punched circles. 
Bérend 19 (same dies), CNS I 17.

This coin is the only acquisition of the year for my 'Bronze of Sicily' sub-collection. I have the impression that there are fewer and fewer coins that haven’t been excessively tooled or smoothed.

 

9 – THRACE. Thracian Islands, Thasos (c.411-340 B.C.), AR Tetradrachm, 15.32g,. 
O/ Head of Dionysos facing to left, wearing a wreath of ivy with a diadem-like ornament over it, with bunches of berries over his forehead. 
R/ ΘAΣION , Herakles, wearing a lion’s skin headdress, kneeling to right, shooting an arrow from his bow, a fly on right, all within a linear square
A.B. West, Fifth and Fourth Century Gold Coins from the Thracian Coast, NNM 40 (New York 1929) 42 (This coin).

The reverse was inspired by the relief on the Herakles Gate in Thasos, now in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. 
 

 

10 - Thessaly, Larissa (c. 356-342 BC), AR Nomos 12,0g 
O/ Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly l., hair in ampyx, wearing necklace; 
R/ Bridled horse prancing right; ΛAPI-ΣAIΩN above and below.
BCD Thessaly II 301 (same dies).

An imitation of Kimon's famous facing arethusa tetradrachm for lack of an original 🙂

Note from BCD about this type:  
One of the two rare early issues, with the “prototype master” being responsible for the obverse die.

That's it! Thanks for reading. Feel free to share your favorite, and I wish you all a great 2025 numismatic year and beyond!

[El Cazador]

Always fun to see you lists @Brennosas we both focus on Greek Tetradrachms.

My absolute favorites are 3 & 6 - the details on both are impeccable…

@Brennoswould love to see the remaining 15

 

Edited December 16, 2024 by El Cazador

[Ryro]

This just might be my favorite top 10 of 2024, aside from @AncientJoe's... and my own, of course😉

I really cannot pick a top 3. Though am totally in love with your Poseidonia, picking 2 more out of your top 10 after that is a fool's errand. Thanks for sharing your showstopping year!

[DonnaML]

I love them all, but my favorites are #s 2, 3, and 7. Amazing!

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

My absolute favorite of this great list is the Thasos tetradrachm.  What a wonderful reverse!

[Deinomenid]

My absolute favourite top 10 so far, & against some stiff competition! I’ve just been endlessly scrolling up and down trying to pick a top one. Despite being a Western Greek (and koppa!) aficionado, that Larissa wins the race by a nose. 
Superb coins, many congratulations.

[David Atherton]

Well, if you're only going to add 25 new coins those will be hard to top! Wow.

My favourites are #2, #3, and #6 ... but it was hard to choose!

[robinjojo]

Excellent coins for 2024!  My picks are #2, #3, #6 and #9 (if I'm allowed a fourth slot).  

[Lelouch]

Also my favorite top 10 list, very jealous since I too love Syracusan and overall Magna Graecia coinage.

My favorites are 6, 3, and 5.

[AncientJoe]

Congratulations on an excellent year! Your Kimon is excellent, and being in Jongkees is great. The Thrace tetradrachm is a close second for me: I own a gold hemidrachm of the same type but the added flan that the tetradrachm provides enhances the art even further. #7's portrait execution is also sublime and I love that the die guide lines are slightly visible on the obverse still.

I hope you do post your following 15 as well!

Edited December 17, 2024 by AncientJoe

[Rand]

Hmm. A WOW and a hard choice.

1 - LUCANIA, Poseidonia. I have always liked this unsual style. It has a feel being very ancient, almost prehistoric.

9 – THRACE. Thracian Islands, Thasos. It gives a feel that the arrow will fly.

 

 

[panzerman]

Beautifull array! All are exquisite in their own way.

My picks/

Akragas AR Tetradrachm

Syracuse AV Dilitron

Syracuse AR Dekadrachm

Thanks for sharing....

John

[Valentinian]

It is obvious they are wonderful. Picking only three is difficult, Here are mine:

2 - SICILY. Akragas (c.465-446 BC), AR Tetradrachm, 17.37g 

6 – SICILY. Syracuse. Dionysios I, (c.405-367 BC). AR Dekadrachm 41.84 g, 

10 - Thessaly, Larissa (c. 356-342 BC), AR Nomos 12,0g 

[Roman Collector]

Just stunning! My favorite is the crab from Akragas. 

[CassiusMarcus]

Gotta be the Deka for me... wonderful coins. Congrats 🙂 

[singig]

Wow , I will choose the last two coins. Congratulations !

[Meander]

All of them are great but I love the dekadrachm the most. Testament to your good eye and patience! I wish you an equally productive numismatic year 2025!

[Qcumbor]

The ones I prefer are #2, #7 and #10
Great selection 

Q

[Herodotus]

No offense to the Sardinians, Corsicans, Cretans, Cypriots et. al., but Sicily... is the 'Heart of the Mediterranean', and its ancient coins have a special place in my own heart. So, naturally, I'm especially drawn to the coins from Akragas, Leontinoi and Syracuse(Agathokles).

Excellent coins!🤙