Happy Collector’s Top 10 Ancient Coins of 2024

[happy_collector]

Welcome to my Top 10 coins of 2024! I enjoyed reading Top 10s from other Numis Forum members, and would like to post my own.  I continue to collect ancient coins on Roman empresses. This year, I have added coins on Aelia Pulcheria, Aelia Eudocia, Aelia Eudoxia and more on Helena. Here is my list:  🙂
 

10. I like coins with interesting mythic theme in reverse design. This coin has a both a good Medusa and Cetus head. 

CILICIA, Coropissus. Maximinus I. AD 235-238. Æ 
(32mm, 16.71 g, 6h). 
Obv: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind 
Rev: The Rescue of Andromeda: Perseus standing left, holding harpa and head of Medusa, taking hand of Andromeda standing right, veiled and raising hand to lips; head of sea monster Cetus below. 
RPC VI Online 6923; SNG BN770; SNG Levante 590.
CNG E-Auction, August 2024

 

09. My #9 is a crude Hunnic gold coin, but I like the somewhat flowline design.  

 HUNNIC TRIBES, Kidarites. Kirada. Circa 380. AV Dinar 
(18mm, 7.74 g, 12h). Gandhara mint. 
Obv: Kirada left, sacrificing over altar and holding filleted staff; filleted trident to left;
Rev: Ardoxsho enthroned facing, holding diadem and cradling cornucopia; tamgha to upper left. 
MK 607, example 4 (Vasudeva III); ANS Kushan –; Donum Burns 802-3.

 

08. It is a tiny coin, but I like the serpent head design. I think the two punches in the reverse indicates 2 coin units. 

Ionia. EL Hekte, Sixth Stater, Lydo-Milesian standard. 600-550 BC.
Obv: Stylized serpent head, with open jaw and rolling tongue
Rev: Divided punch with volute designs. 10mm, 2.13 g.
CNG E-Auction. September 2024. Ex. Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. 

 

07 - I am attracted into the Emesa coin's reverse design. I think I'll do some research and look for more Bl Tets in 2025.

SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Emesa. Caracalla. AD 198-217. BI Tetradrachm (26mm,13.27 g, 6h). Struck AD 215-217. Laureate bust right, drapery on left shoulder /Eagle standing facing, head and tail left, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; between legs, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Shamash left. Prieur971 var. (bust); CNG 539, lot 504. Very Rare.

 

06 – This coin has a cool design of panther biga, and I like it having a large size.  

CILICIA, Epiphanea. Volusian. AE. AD 251-252.
Obv: Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind.
Rev: Dionysos riding in a biga of panthers left, holding reins and thyrsos, led by a satyr before; cista and amphora in exergue; ΘIT (date) above. 
RPC IX 1550;SNG BN –; SNG Levante –.
33mm, 20.57g, 6h.
CNG E Auction. April 2024. 
Ex Numismatik Naumann 98 (January 2021); J.P. Righetti Collection,361. Very Rare

 

05 – I am glad to add another affordable Syracuse tetradrachm this year. 

Sicily, Syracuse. Second Democracy. 450-440 BC. AR Tetradrachm 
Obv: Charioteer holding kentron and reins, driving slow quadriga right. Nike flying above and crowning horses; in exergue, ketos right.
Rev: Head of Arethousa right, wearing pearl tainia; four dolphins around. 
Boehringer Series XVI, 579 (V289/R385E); HGC 2, 1311; Pozzi 580 (same dies).
25mm, 17.13g, 11h. Ex. 2023 CNG E_Auction. Ex. D.K. Collection.

 

04 – I have been looking to add more Seleukid tetradrachm to my collection. Nice to add an uncommon one from CNG Auction.

SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos II Theos. 261-246 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Ekbatana Mint.
Obv: Diademed head right
Rev: Apollo, nude, testing three arrows and placing hand on grounded bow, seated left on omphalos; to inner left, monograms above and below arm; at feet, forepart of horse grazing left. 
SC 607b; HGC 9, 238v.
27mm, 17.23 grams, 6h. Very rare.
CNG Featured Auction. September 2024.

 

03 – I read a few articles early this year about Aelia Eudocia and Aelia Pulcheria. Immediately fell in favor and was looking forward on a coin on them. 

Aelia Eudocia, Augusta, 423-460. Tremissis (Gold, 15 mm, 1.50 g, 12 h), Constantinopolis, circa 423-450/3.
Obv: AEL EVDO-CIA AVG Pearl-diademed and draped bust of Aelia Eudocia to right, wearing single pendant earring and pearl necklace. Rev. Cross within wreath; below, CONOB✱. Depeyrot 72/2. MIRB 50. RIC 335.

 

02 - I am happy to pickup a solidus on Aelia Pulcheria. It is my favorite coin of the year. 

Aelia Pulcheria, Constantinople. AD 441-450. AV solidus. 
Obv: AELPVLCH-ERIA AVG, pearl-diademed, draped bust of Aelia Pulcheria right, seen from front, wearing necklace and earring, hair elaborately weaved with long plait up the back of head and tucked under diadem, crowned with wreath by hand of God reaching down from above. 
Rev: IMP•XXXXII COS•-XVII•P•P•, Constantinopolis enthroned left, left foot on prow, scepter in left hand, globus cruciger in right; grounded shield at side, star in left field, COMOB in exergue. 
RIC X -, 303 (pellet omitted after COS). Rare with pellet placement.
(21mm, 4.45gm, 5h). NGC Choice XF

 

01  - A nice archaic Attica tetradrachm. Happy to find one within my budget range. 

ATTICA, Athens. Archaic AR Tetradrachm. Circa 500/490-485/0 BC. 
Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right, with frontal eye 
Rev: Owl standing right, head facing; olive spray to left; all within incuse square. Seltman Group Gi (unlisted dies); HGC 4, 1590. 
19.5mm, 17.07 g,5h
CNG Auction. May 2024
Ex. The Wild Rose Collection. Ex. Roma E-Sale 25 (February 2016).
 

Thanks for reading this far. Do you have any favorite piece(s)? 

Wishing all Numis Form members a wonderful 2025!! 
 

Edited January 7 by happy_collector

[CPK]

A great selection! I especially like No. 10, great if somewhat gruesome artistry on that reverse - and No. 1, the early Athenian tetradrachm struck just before some of the most pivotal moments in Athenian history, with a Wild Rose Collection provenance! Congrats on a great year of collecting.

[sand]

@happy_collector You have acquired some interesting coins this year. My favorites are as follows.

My favorite is #1 Archaic Athena Tetradrachm. A very interesting, old coin.

My 2nd favorite is #2 Aelia Pulcheria Gold Solidus. A beautiful gold coin, from the Eastern Roman Empire.

My 3rd favorite is #5 Sicily Silver Tetradrachm. An interesting, old coin.

My 4th favorite is #8 Ionia Electrum Coin. An interesting, very old coin.

[ambr0zie]

Congratulations for a diverse and interesting selection! 

I would go for #10, #6 and #1, but it was difficult to choose 3 favorites. 

[Bannerknight]

Very nice coins! I can understand why you like the Hunnic Gold. My favourite is the Aelia Eudocia tremissis, but I find it interesting that Pulcheria solidi were issued with both CONOB and COMOB in the exergue. Does anyone have an explanation for that?

[panzerman]

Lovely coins indeed!

My favs are....

1/ Pulcheria AV Solidus

2/ Ionia/ uncertain EL Hekte

3/ Syracuse AR Tetradrachm

 

Congratulations on your additions! 

John 

[Grudissius Minimus]

Hey Happy,

I’m liking 10, 5, and 1. You certainly have some nice picks in your list!

Tough to choose an absolute favourite .. but #10 certainly stands out for the depicted mythology!

All the best!

Groody.

[Qcumbor]

I like 6 and 2 the most, even though I wouldn't disregard any of them. Honorable mention to #5 !

Q

[Theodosius]

I really like #4 and #5, you had a good year overall with some great gold pieces too.

John

[JAZ Numismatics]

That archaic owl though, WOW.

Edited December 29, 2024 by JAZ Numismatics

[Curtisimo]

All are great but I chose #1, 5 & 10. That archaeologists c owl is especially magnificent.

[Di Nomos]

I like archaic coins, so your hekte (#8) earns a place, but my favourite is undoubtedly your Athens tetradrachm, that is an excellent example.

[Al Kowsky]

h._c., You made great additions this year 🤩! My favorites are #2, 4, & 5, in that order ☺️. I'd give the Caracalla tet an honorable mention 😉.

The Seleukid silver coin of Antiochos II, has an extraordinary weight of 23.5 gm 😮! Could it be a special issue 🤔?

Edited December 29, 2024 by Al Kowsky

[MrMonkeySwag96]

I can’t decide on my favorite between the Late Roman gold and the Greek tetradrachms. The Volusian provincial bronze has a cool reverse, much more interesting than a generic Imperial sestertius 

[happy_collector]

On 12/29/2024 at 2:15 PM, Al Kowsky said:

h._c., You made great additions this year 🤩! My favorites are #2, 4, & 5, in that order ☺️. I'd give the Caracalla tet an honorable mention 😉.

The Seleukid silver coin of Antiochos II, has an extraordinary weight of 23.5 gm 😮! Could it be a special issue 🤔?

Thanks for noticing. I just checked CNG description and noticed the tetradrachm is in no way at 23.5g. It should be 17.23g instead. My copy/paste error. Will edit accordingly.