SimonW's Top 11 of 2024

[SimonW]

Last year felt and still feels unbeatable. Well, unless I were able to finish the Carpentum Tesserae series in a single year, of course 🙂 That said, I’m absolutely thrilled with this year’s additions to my collection, especially my #1 pick.

 

11. While small AEs minted in Rome for circulation in Syria under Vespasian have become more common, this particular type remains among the rarest, especially in good condition. The portrait style is exceptionally artistic for such a small denomination.

Titus (as Caesar under Vespasianus), Quadrans (16 mm, 3.47 g), Syria/Rome, 74 AD.
Obv. T CAESAR IMP, head of Titus, laureate, r. Rev. P M TR POT P P, winged caduceus. RIC 1577 (R2). RPC II 2000.

 

10. Similarly, this small denomination of Vespasian, from an uncertain eastern mint (possibly Ephesus?), was once very rare but has become more common in recent years. The portrait on this example is marvelous.

Vespasianus, medium-small AE (20 mm, 4.56 g), uncertain mint (Ephesus?), 77-78 AD.
Obv. IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN AVGVST, head of Vespasianus, laureate, r. Rev. PON MAX TR P P P COS VIII CENS / S – C, Victory adv. l., with wreath and palm. RIC 1505 (R2). RPC II 1476.

 

9. Another piece from an uncertain eastern mint (possibly Caesarea?). The distinctive reverse type is also known from Hadrian.

Marcus Aurelius, Semis (17 mm, 3.02 g), uncertain mint (Caesarea?), 161-180 AD.
Obv. M ANTONINVS AVGVSTVS, head of Marcus Aurelius, laureate, r. Rev. COS III, head of Jupiter Ammon, horned, bearded, r. RIC 1252 (S). RPC IV 7143.

 

8. The first Legio XV Apollinaris Tessera (raven/boar) appeared on the market in 2020 and was completely unknown until then. Since that time, a few more examples of this type have surfaced. Likely minted in Anatolia/Satala(?), where the fifteenth legion was stationed under Hadrian.

Anonymous, Tessera (15 mm, 1.90 g), Legion XV Apollinaris, uncertain mint in eastern Anatolia (Satala?), circa 117-late 2nd century AD.
Obv. LEG / XV, raven standing right. Rev. AP, boar standing right. RPC IV.3 25043 (temporary).

 

7. This year, a friend discovered and helped me acquire another seemingly extremely rare Legio XV Apollinaris Tessera, which remains completely unpublished and unrecorded to date.

Anonymous, Tessera (18 mm, 2.58 g), Legion XV Apollinaris, uncertain mint in eastern Anatolia (Satala?), circa 117-late 2nd century AD.
Obv. XV / LEG, boar standing right. Rev. A - [P], Apollo standing front, head right, right hand resting on lyre, left hand holding patera.

 

6. A minor unrecorded variety of the Jupiter group, save for it's previous appearance in a CNG auction .

Anonymous, Quadrans (18 mm, 2.77 g), Rome, 81-161 AD.
Obv. Bust of Jupiter, diademed, bearded, r., slight drapery on left shoulder, sceptre behind. Rev. S – C, eagle stg. r. on thunderbolt, head l. RIC 4 (C) var. (no drapery, no scepter).

 

5. Not a particularly rare type, but I’ve never seen another anonymous Quadrans with Jupiter so clearly resembling Antoninus Pius’ facial features. This piece may be one of the most important in the series for helping to further narrow down the time range in which these fascinating coins were minted.

Anonymous, Quadrans (15 mm, 2.82 g), Rome, 81-161 AD.
Obv. Bust of Jupiter, diademed, bearded, r., slight drapery on left shoulder. Rev. S – C, eagle stg. front, head l. RIC 4 (C) var. (no drapery; eagle stg. on thunderbolt).

 

4. Possibly one of the most common Quadrantes of Trajan, yet still difficult to find in excellent style and condition.

Traianus, Quadrans (15 mm, 3.07 g), Rome, 114-117 AD (?).
Obv. IMP CAES TRAIAN AVG GERM, bust of Hercules, bearded, laureate, r., wearing lion-skin. Rev. S C (ex.), boar r. Woytek 602b (RIC 702).

 

3. A very captivating type that's hard to find, particularly in this condition. RIC's scarcity rating for this one (C = common, the same as the Minerva/owl type) is a significant understatement.

Anonymous, Quadrans (17 mm, 3.04 g), Rome, 81-161 AD.
Obv. Bust of Mercury, draped, wearing winged petasus, r., caduceus behind. Rev. S – C, rooster r. RIC 29 (C).

 

2. One of the nicest Tesserae of Augustus from the Spintria series that I’ve ever come across.

Tiberius (?), Tessera (19 mm, 3.97 g), Rome, 23 AD.
Obv. Head of Augustus, laureate and radiate, r.; within circle. Rev. VII, within dotted circle; all within laurel wreath. Belfort, Augustus, 12 var. (not laureate) [VII].

 

1. Possibly one of the hardest, if not the hardest, Quadrans to find from the anonymous series. I’m thrilled to finally have one, especially in such a great condition for this difficult type.

Anonymous, Quadrans (18 mm, 3.28 g), Rome, 81-161 AD.
Obv. Bust of Bacchus, draped, with hair loose at back, r., wearing wreath of ivy and fruit. Rev. S C (ex.), elephant r. RIC 33 (R).

 

As always I hope you enjoy the coins as much as I do. Please feel free to comment and share anything related 🙂 

[David Atherton]

Superb list! Of couse the two Flavians caught my eye ... both probably the finest known of their respective varities. 

Edited December 31, 2024 by David Atherton

[Factor]

Absolutely amazing set! My favorite is Trajan with boar, a very common coin but perfect style and condition.

[panzerman]

Wonderfull coins. Hard to pick three from those.

Finally decided on these.

1/ Tiberius Tessera

2/ Trajan Quadrans Hercules/ Boar

3/ Quadrans  Mercury/ Rooster

John

 

[Sulla80]

A great focused Top 10  @SimonW, congrats! Your #1, the rooster, and the Antoninus Pius as Jupiter are all favorites from your list.  Best wishes for 2025!

[Al Kowsky]

Excellent group of small bronzes 🤩! My favorite is the tessera depicting Augustus 😍.

[CPK]

Superb list! I recognize at least several coins in there that I was bidding on. 😄 They are all fantastic coins - my favorites being Nos. 1 and 2, the super rare elephant quadrans and the Divus Augustus coin - neither of which I recall ever having seen before.

Isn't that Hercules/Boar quadrans the Woytek plate coin? I seem to remember that from the auction house listing.

 

[SimonW]

On 12/31/2024 at 5:10 PM, David Atherton said:

Superb list! Of couse the two Flavians caught my eye ... both probably the finest known of their respective varities. 

Thank you, @David Atherton! I had a feeling those might catch your eye.

 

On 12/31/2024 at 7:44 PM, Factor said:

Absolutely amazing set! My favorite is Trajan with boar, a very common coin but perfect style and condition.

Thank you, @Factor! I have about 10 coins of this type, and the variation in style is truly fascinating. In terms of condition, this one is the best of them all.

 

On 12/31/2024 at 10:19 PM, panzerman said:

Wonderfull coins. Hard to pick three from those.

Finally decided on these.

1/ Tiberius Tessera

2/ Trajan Quadrans Hercules/ Boar

3/ Quadrans  Mercury/ Rooster

John

 

Thank you, @panzerman! An excellent choice, you have an amazing eye for quality!

 

On 12/31/2024 at 11:21 PM, Sulla80 said:

A great focused Top 10  @SimonW, congrats! Your #1, the rooster, and the Antoninus Pius as Jupiter are all favorites from your list.  Best wishes for 2025!

Thank you, @Sulla80! It seems we share a passion for the anonymous Quadrantes 🙂 A truly fascinating group, indeed.

 

On 12/31/2024 at 11:47 PM, Al Kowsky said:

Excellent group of small bronzes 🤩! My favorite is the tessera depicting Augustus 😍.

Thank you, @Al Kowsky! This would have been my number one pick if it weren't for the Bacchus Quadrans I was able to purchase just a few weeks ago.

 

On 1/1/2025 at 12:27 AM, CPK said:

Superb list! I recognize at least several coins in there that I was bidding on. 😄 They are all fantastic coins - my favorites being Nos. 1 and 2, the super rare elephant quadrans and the Divus Augustus coin - neither of which I recall ever having seen before.

Isn't that Hercules/Boar quadrans the Woytek plate coin? I seem to remember that from the auction house listing.

 

Thank you, @CPK! It seems we both have a soft spot for fractions 😄. The Divus Augustus Tessera is particularly special, not just for its excellent preservation, but also because Augustus' head is both laureate and radiate, a detail completely overlooked by the auction house that sold it to me. And yes, the Hercules/boar Quadrans is indeed the Woytek plate coin, great memory!

Edited January 2 by SimonW

[Aleph]

Outstanding!  I was hoping you might have won the bacchus/elephant piece, a tremendous rarity as you know :).  The rare Flavian minor fractions are becoming particularly difficult to get these days.  One the most rewarding aspects of collecting quadrantes is the feeling of triumph when years of patience pays off and you acquire an extraordinarily rare piece like the Bacchus!

[SimonW]

On 1/1/2025 at 11:57 PM, Aleph said:

Outstanding!  I was hoping you might have won the bacchus/elephant piece, a tremendous rarity as you know :).  The rare Flavian minor fractions are becoming particularly difficult to get these days.  One the most rewarding aspects of collecting quadrantes is the feeling of triumph when years of patience pays off and you acquire an extraordinarily rare piece like the Bacchus!

Thank you so much, @Aleph! I knew you’d appreciate the thrill and excitement of acquiring such a rare piece like the Bacchus. Would you agree that the Bacchus group is likely the rarest among all the anonymous Quadrantes groups? While individual variations from other groups, such as the left Tiber/left wolf type, might be even rarer, as a whole, I’d argue Bacchus is rarer than Tiber, and even rarer than Neptune or Hercules.

By the way, I’d love to see your top ten PB Tesserae of 2024! 🙂

Edited January 4 by SimonW

[Svessien]

A lot of interesting coins for sure. Well done and congrats with a great coin year! We don't see Jupiter Ammon a lot on Roman coins, at least not that late.

[Qcumbor]

That Mercury/rooster, WOW !

And all of those are not what you see often, especially in such nice preservation. Congrats on a great year Simon

Q