TIF's Top Two of 2024

[TIF]

Because I only bought two coins, OMG! 

Please let me know which two are your favorites in the comments.  🤣



 MACEDONIA, under Roman rule.  Amphipolis mint.
First Meris, ca. 167-148 BCE (174/3 - 158 BCE per Propokov, for this reverse)
AR Tetradrachm, 16.88 gm 
Obv: Macedonian shield with central boss depicting diademed and draped bust of Artemis right, bow and quiver at shoulder.
Rev: Legend MAKEΔONΩN ΠPΩTHΣ around club; above, N; below, HP monogram; all within oak-wreath; to left, thunderbolt 
Ref:  Prokopov Silver 90 (Rarity: RRR+); AMNG III.1 p. 55, 166; HGC 3.1 1103; BMC Macedonia -; cf. SNG Ashmolean 3300 (controls reversed)
From the "ZZS" Collection, Goldberg Auction 142 lot 427, 17 Oct 2024; Earlier from Goldberg Auction 91, lot 1729; previous, private purchase from Tom Cederlind

I'm so pleased with this First Meris-- and I waited such a long time to find the right coin for the right price.  I guess the price would have been righter had I managed to get this a decade ago... but there always seemed to be something of higher priority.  I'm sure you know how that goes 🙂.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
The second coin was from a recent Gorny & Mosch auction.  It had been a very long time since I won something in a G&M auction.  Tried for two in the recent auction... lost the other target, a dual portrait Aurelian und Vaballathus (was the underbidder 😔).  Usually, I'm almost entirely focused on acquiring provincial coins that have unusual or interesting reverses.  This reverse is about as meh as they come, but I was very interested in getting an Alexandrian of Julia Domna.  Severan Alexandrians are not plentiful-- except for Elagabalus-- so I took what I could get.  This reverse is probably the most available of the Domna Alexandrians.  The portrait is well-preserved, although she looks rather frumpy 😆.

EGYPT, Alexandria.  Julia Domna
Regnal year 4, 195/6 CE
billion tetradrachm, 24 mm, 11.83 gm
Obv:  [ΙΟΥ]ΛΙΑ ΔΟ-ΜΝΑ [CEB]; draped bust right
Rev:  Dikaiosyne standing facing, head left, scales in right hand, cornucopia in left, L Δ in left field
Ref:  Emmett 2728.4
From Gorny & Mosch online auction 308, lot 3381, 12 Nov 2024.  Ex Heritage Auctions 271933, 2019, Lot 35066.

 

Buh bye, 2024.  May 2025 be better in every possible way.  It's a low bar.

 

Edited December 21, 2024 by TIF

[Ryro]

The toning on your first Meris is spectacular! And though I love Alexandrian coinage, Julia really has a severe look on her face. Kind of like a Karen waiting for the manager to come over to her table. So, as you know, I have to go with numero uno. 

Here's a barbarous beauty that I don't share as much as my first first Meris:

Eastern Europe. Imitation of Macedonian, First Meris 200-100 BC.

Tetradrachm AR, 34 mm, 16,74 g

Diademed and draped bust of Artemis right, with bow and quiver over shoulder; all in center of Macedonian shield/ MAKEΔONΩN / ΠPΩTHΣ, club; monogram above; all within oak wreath; thunderbolt to left. very fine

You've been missed and I hope to see you sharing many new coins next year. 

[JAZ Numismatics]

That First Meris though...DAMN!

Edited December 21, 2024 by JAZ Numismatics

[CPK]

That First Meris Tetradrachm is absolutely spectacular! 🤩

[Spargrodan]

The First Merris is my nr 1 choice!

[Qcumbor]

My first choice will be that uberfantastic first Meris, and as second I will pick the Alexandrian Domna !

Other than that I'm speechless 😀

Q

[Curtisimo]

This was a really tough choice because I wanted to pick all of them but I have decided that my favorites are your #1 and 2.

I love the First Meris in particular. Here is mine again. 🙂 

[Sulla80]

Hi @TIF, it was a difficult choice, I am drawn to Alexandrian coins, but in the end I can't pass up the spectacular First Meris.   Best wishes for an outstanding 2025!

[singig]

 First Meris is my preferd, execelent details, centred, toning,....Congratulations !

[Alegandron]

First Meris is kinda my choice, but I agonized over if Julia is number one. 😇

[Al Kowsky]

8 hours ago, TIF said:

Because I only bought two coins, OMG! 

Please let me know which two are your favorites in the comments.  🤣



 MACEDONIA, under Roman rule.  Amphipolis mint.
First Meris, ca. 167-148 BCE (174/3 - 158 BCE per Propokov, for this reverse)
AR Tetradrachm, 16.88 gm 
Obv: Macedonian shield with central boss depicting diademed and draped bust of Artemis right, bow and quiver at shoulder.
Rev: Legend MAKEΔONΩN ΠPΩTHΣ around club; above, N; below, HP monogram; all within oak-wreath; to left, thunderbolt 
Ref:  Prokopov Silver 90 (Rarity: RRR+); AMNG III.1 p. 55, 166; HGC 3.1 1103; BMC Macedonia -; cf. SNG Ashmolean 3300 (controls reversed)
From the "ZZS" Collection, Goldberg Auction 142 lot 427, 17 Oct 2024; Earlier from Goldberg Auction 91, lot 1729; previous, private purchase from Tom Cederlind

I'm so pleased with this First Meris-- and I waited such a long time to find the right coin for the right price.  I guess the price would have been righter had I managed to get this a decade ago... but there always seemed to be something of higher priority.  I'm sure you know how that goes 🙂.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
The second coin was from a recent Gorny & Mosch auction.  It had been a very long time since I won something in a G&M auction.  Tried for two in the recent auction... lost the other target, a dual portrait Aurelian und Vaballathus (was the underbidder 😔).  Usually, I'm almost entirely focused on acquiring provincial coins that have unusual or interesting reverses.  This reverse is about as meh as they come, but I was very interested in getting an Alexandrian of Julia Domna.  Severan Alexandrians are not plentiful-- except for Elagabalus-- so I took what I could get.  This reverse is probably the most available of the Domna Alexandrians.  The portrait is well-preserved, although she looks rather frumpy 😆.

EGYPT, Alexandria.  Julia Domna
Regnal year 4, 195/6 CE
billion tetradrachm, 24 mm, 11.83 gm
Obv:  [ΙΟΥ]ΛΙΑ ΔΟ-ΜΝΑ [CEB]; draped bust right
Rev:  Dikaiosyne standing facing, head left, scales in right hand, cornucopia in left, L Δ in left field
Ref:  Emmett 2728.4
From Gorny & Mosch online auction 308, lot 3381, 12 Nov 2024.  Ex Heritage Auctions 271933, 2019, Lot 35066.

 

Buh bye, 2024.  May 2025 be better in every possible way.  It's a low bar.

 

TIF, The Macedonian tet is breathtaking 😮, & the Julia Domna tet has a very fine portrait 😊.

[happy_collector]

Your First Meris has a very beautiful Artemis portrait, @TIF. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

Your Alexandrian Julia Domna has also a nicely-preserved portrait. 

As for Alexandrian potin tetradrachm, I picked up one with Julia Mamaea from CNG auction. I like to collect coins on Roman empresses. 

EGYPT, Alexandria. Julia Mamaea. Augusta, AD 231-232 (RY 11 of Severus Alexander).
Potin Tetradrachm (23mm, 10.44 g, 12h).
Draped bust right, wearing stephane
Elpis standing left, holding lotus blossom and raising a fold of her dress; palm frond before; L IA (date) to right.
Köln 2525; Dattari (Savio) 4483; K&G 64.68; RPC VI Online 10541; Emmett 3203.11 (R5). Rare. 
CNG Triton XXVII Online. 2024.

 

[Broucheion]

Hi @happy_collector,

The coin pictured is of Cornelia Salonina. Is that the right image?

- Broucheion 

[ChrisB]

Wow, the first one is stunning but both are incredible imho. 

[ambr0zie]

5 hours ago, Broucheion said:

Hi @happy_collector,

The coin pictured is of Cornelia Salonina. Is that the right image?

- Broucheion 

Agree, most likely year 12, 2nd from this list, as the most logical year is L ΙΒ

https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/search/browse?volume_id=&number=&city_id=12&region_id=&province_id=&subprovince_id=&issue_id=&reign_id=&obverse_inscription_simplified=&reverse_inscription_simplified=&obverse_design=salonina&reverse_design=skirt&metal_id=&weight_min=&weight_max=&diameter_min=&diameter_max=&format=

[DonnaML]

@TIF, the First Meris is incredible; I'm in awe. And I don't know if people realize how difficult it is to find a Roman Alexandrian tetradrachm of Septimius Severus, Julia Domna, or Caracalla in any condition, let alone as decent as yours. Yes, Julia Domna does look a bit frumpy, but that's only because the waves in her hair are worn away so it looks more like a continuous helmet of hair. Plus, she may have forgotten to put her teeth in on the day the picture was taken. It can happen to the best of us!

[David Atherton]

Another vote here for the First Meris. An incredibly beautiful coin!

[ambr0zie]

Both coins are great. Unpopular opinion - I also think the Domna tetradrachm is an excellent coin, due to the rarity. 

[happy_collector]

15 hours ago, Broucheion said:

Hi @happy_collector,

The coin pictured is of Cornelia Salonina. Is that the right image?

- Broucheion 

 

10 hours ago, ambr0zie said:

Agree, most likely year 12, 2nd from this list, as the most logical year is L ΙΒ

https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/search/browse?volume_id=&number=&city_id=12&region_id=&province_id=&subprovince_id=&issue_id=&reign_id=&obverse_inscription_simplified=&reverse_inscription_simplified=&obverse_design=salonina&reverse_design=skirt&metal_id=&weight_min=&weight_max=&diameter_min=&diameter_max=&format=

Thanks for both your additional information, @Broucheion and @ambr0zie. I guess CNG made a mistake in the coin description. 

https://cngcoins.com/Lot.aspx?LOT_ID=116747&BACK_URL=%2fLots.aspx%3fIS_ADVANCED%3d1%26ITEM_IS_SOLD%3d1%26ITEM_INVENTORY_NUMBER%3d%26CONTAINER_NAME%3dTriton%2bXXVII%26ITEM_LOT_NUMBER%3d5528%26ITEM_DESC%3d%26SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_3%3d1%26SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_2%3d1%26VIEW_TYPE%3d0

I'll make changes to my coin label. 

[TIF]

8 hours ago, happy_collector said:

 

Thanks for both your additional information, @Broucheion and @ambr0zie. I guess CNG made a mistake in the coin description. 

https://cngcoins.com/Lot.aspx?LOT_ID=116747&BACK_URL=%2fLots.aspx%3fIS_ADVANCED%3d1%26ITEM_IS_SOLD%3d1%26ITEM_INVENTORY_NUMBER%3d%26CONTAINER_NAME%3dTriton%2bXXVII%26ITEM_LOT_NUMBER%3d5528%26ITEM_DESC%3d%26SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_3%3d1%26SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_2%3d1%26VIEW_TYPE%3d0

I'll make changes to my coin label. 

That's a remarkable and rare mistake.  Fortunately it is an excellent and desirable coin regardless of whether Mamaea or Salonina!

[GregH]

Obviously the Roman / Macedonian tetradrachm is AMAZING and my pick!

It was a dry coin year for me too - only six new coins, mostly sentimental low value purchases. It has been a tragic year for me personally, with the sudden death of my husband, so my mind has not been focused much on coins.

All the best for 2025.