Zarco's Top 9 Coins for 2024

[Zarco]

Happy New Year!  

2024 got off to a slow start, but the second half of the year was much more productive for my collection.  However, I had three auction wins and one purchase from a dealer in December, all of which should arrive in January.  That is why I have only a "Top 9" list this year. My interest is primarily Roman Imperial, but I also dabble in Roman Republic types.  I like architectural types and types commemorating historical events. Both are well represented in my list. The coins are not arranged in any particular ranking but rather in order of acquisition date.  All photos are from the sellers.

1. Domitian Secular Games Denarius (Column within Wreath): I won this one at auction in December  2023, but it didn't arrive until this past January, so I'm including it in the 2024 list.  I like coins commemorating the Secular Games.  This is the first of three Secular Games coins on the list.

Domitian, AD 81-96.
AR Denarius, 3.5 g, 18.2 mm, 12 h.
Rome mint, 14 September-31 December AD 88.
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII; Head of Domitian, laureate, right.
Rev: COS XIIII; Legend and column inscribed LVD SAEC FEC within laurel wreath.
Ref: Sear RCV 2725, RIC II, Pt. 1 (2nd ed.) 604.
Acquired from Leu Numismatik, Web Auction 28, Lot No. 3424, 11 December 2023.
This type commemorates the secular Games, celebrated in Rome by Domitian in October of AD 88.

2.  Nero As with Victory and Shield Reverse:  I liked the portrait on this one and didn't have an example of this type.  Attribution was interesting.  I narrowed it down to RIC 544 or 606.  I learned from a German language forum post (https://www.numismatikforum.de/viewtopic.php?t=28844) that RIC 544 is issue IV, 66 A.D.and RIC 606 is issue V, 67 A.D. (corresponds with issue VI from Rome).

Nero, AD 54-68.
AE As, 10.2 g, 28.6 mm, 7 h.
Lugdunum mint, AD 62-68.
Obv: IMP NERO CAESAR AVG P MAX TR P P P; Head of Nero, bare, left; small globe at point of neck.
Rev: S C; Victory, winged, draped, moving left, holding in both hands shield inscribed S [P Q] R.
Ref: RIC I (2nd ed.) 544 or 606, BMC 387.
Acquired from Savoca Coins, 192nd Blue Auction, Lot no. 323, 27 January 2024.

3.  Antoninus Pius Sestertius with Temple of Venus Reverse: I was looking for an example of this type for ever since I acquired the corresponding Temple of Roma sestertius in 2021 and finally found this one with CGB.

Antoninus Pius, 138-161 AD.
AE sestertius, 24.9 g, 32.7 mm, 11 h.
Rome mint, AD 141.
Obv: [ANT]ONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR [P COS III]; Head of Antoninus Pius, laureate, right.
Rev: [VENERI] FELICI [SC]; Front view of decastyle temple with statues on roof and in pediment.
Refs: RIC 651a, Sear RCV 4257.
Acquired from CGB Numismatics Paris, 27 January 2024.

4.  Nero Sestertius with Triumphal Arch reverse:  I like this one for the architectural type reverse.

Nero, AD 54-68.
AE Sestertius, 26.8 g, 35.4 mm, 2 h.
Perinthus mint, AD 64.
Obv: NERO CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM P TR P [IMP P P]; Laureate head of Nero, right.
Rev: S C; Triumphal arch, showing the front, with a wreath hung across it, surmounted by the emperor in facing quadriga accompanied by Pax and Victory, flanked by two soldiers; statue of Mars in side niche.
Ref: RPC I 1758.
Acquired from Leu Numismatik, Web Auction 30, Lot no. 1907, 14 July 2024.

5.  P. Nerva Denarius with Voting Scene Reverse:  This is a very cool historical type, illustrating the voting process of the Roman people in the Comitium.

Roman Republic
P. Licinius Nerva, Moneyer
AR denarius, 3.9 g, 16.9 mm, 8 h.
Rome mint, 113-112 BC.
Obv: ROMA; Bust of Roma, left, wearing helmet with plume on each side and holding shield in left hand and spear over shoulder in right hand. [Border of dots.] Crescent above and X (crossed, denominational mark) before.
Rev: [P•]NERVA (NE in momogram); Voting scene. One figure on left of pons receives ballot from attendant below, another figure on right of pons places ballot in cista. At top of coin, bar on which stands tablet bearing letter P. Border of dots.
Refs: Sear RCV 169, Crawford 292/1.
Acquired from Classical Numismatic Group, eAuction 566, Lot No. 497, 17 July 2024.
"One of the most celebrated types of the Republican coinage this depicts the actual voting  process in the political assembly of the Roman People in the Comitium, where citizens voted on business presented to them by magistrates. The area occupied by the Comitium was consecrated ground, like a temple, and was located in front of the Senate House in the Forum." David Sear, Roman Coins and Their Values, No. 169

6.  Domitian Secular Games Denarius (Column and Herald):  Here's another Secular Games type.  This is the fifth in a mini-set of Domitian's Secular Games coinage.

Domitian, AD 81-96.
AR Denarius, 3.4 g, 18.8 mm, 6 h.
Rome mint, AD 88.
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII; Head of Domitian, laureate, right.
Rev: Herald, holding shield and wand, standing left of column inscribed COS XIIII LVD SAEC FEC; incense burner right.
Ref: Sear RCV 2724, RIC II, Pt. 1 (2nd ed.) 601.
Acquired from Numismatik Naumann, Auction 143, Lot No. 469, 4 August 2024.
This type commemorates the secular Games, celebrated in Rome by Domitian in October of AD 88.

7.  Octavian Denarius with Temple of Julius Caesar Reverse:  What a great coin! It's an architectural as well as historical type!  I saw the remains of this temple when I was in Rome in 2008.  It's a bonus for me when a coin depicts a site I've visited.

Roman Republic
Octavian
AR denarius, 3.8 g, 18.7 mm, 5 h.
Uncertain mint in central or southern Italy, 36 BC.
Obv: IMP•CAESAR•DIVI•F•III•VIR•ITER•R•P•C; Head of Octavian, right, bearded. Border of dots.
Rev: COS•ITER•ET•TER•DESIG; Tetrastyle temple; within, figure wearing veil and holding lituus in right hand; on architrave, DIVO•IVL; within pediment, star; on left, lighted altar. Border of dots.
Refs: Crawford 540/2.
Acquired from Classical Numismatic Group, eAuction 566, Lot No. 497, 17 July 2024.

8.  Philip I Sestertius with Temple of Roma Reverse:  I like this one for combining the Secular Games with an architectural type.  It's my only sestertius from Philip I and the sixth in a mini set of his Secular Games coinage.

Philip I, AD 244-249.
AE Sestertius, 18.8 g, 29.1 mm, 1 h.
Rome mint, AD 248.
Obv: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG; Bust of Philip the Arab, radiate, draped, cuirassed, right.
Rev: SAECVLARES NOVVM S C; Octastyle temple with statue of Roma in centre of columns.
Refs: RIC IV 164, Sear RCV 9015.
Acquired from Artemide Aste, Artemide eLive Auction 35, Lot No. 607, 18 1 December 2024.
Part of a series issued by Philip to commemorate the Secular Games (Ludi Saeculares) and the 1000th anniversary of the founding of Rome.

9.  Probus Antoninianus with Temple of Roma Reverse:  This was a Christmas gift from my wife.  It's my first coin from Probus.  I like it for the remaining silvering, obverse portrait type and Temple of Roma reverse.

Probus, AD 276-282.
AR Antoninianus, 3.9 g, 23.6 mm, 2 h.
Rome mint, AD 276-282.
Obv: VIRTVS PROBI AVG; Bust of Probus, helmeted, radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand or bust of Probus, radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand.
Rev: ROMAE AETERNAE; Hexastyle temple, Roma seated in centre, holding Victory in right hand and sceptre in left hand.
Refs: RIC V 196.
Acquired from Romae Aeternae Numismatics, 25 December 2024.

Edited January 1 by Zarco
Delete duplicate images.

[MrMonkeySwag96]

#1 and #6 are my faves

[panzerman]

Nice additions Zarco!

 

My favs are also #1 and #6

Thanks for sharing!

John

[El Cazador]

2 hours ago, panzerman said:

Nice additions Zarco!

 

My favs are also #1 and #6

Thanks for sharing!

John

Exactly, my pics too