My Top 8 Coins of 2024!

[shibbity]

Hi everyone! I've never been on Numisforums before, but I've been active on some numismatic Discord servers. I've been collecting actively for about 2 years now, and I added quite a few ancients to my collection in 2024, mostly Romans and Greeks. I just wanted to share my top eight coins of the year with you, hope you enjoy! 🙂

#8: Parthian Empire, Orodes (?) drachm. c. 90s-70s BC. Sellwood 34(?). Obverse: Portrait of Orodes(?) left with headpiece, anchor to the right. Reverse: Arsakes seated on throne right, holding bow. “ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ [ΦΙ]ΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ” (Of the great King Arsakes, illustrious benefactor and friend of the Greeks).

Orodes and Sinatrukes ruled during a period known as the “Parthian Dark Age”, so named because no known written source describing the period has survived. As such, the dating for coins during this period is quite unclear, and different authors disagree on dating. I’ve found quite a lot of conflicting information, but I’m thinking that this is more likely Orodes based on some of Dr. Farhad Assar’s recent analysis. It was likely minted in either Ekbatana or Rhagae. According to Babylonian sources, in 78 BC Orodes defeated Kamnaskires III of Elymais, who continued ruling Elymais as a vassal; the anchor symbol on this drachm is a symbol of Elymais. Perhaps the symbolism is related to this event?

This is my first Parthian, and I like the ornate headpiece and large Greek legend. It’s unfortunate that this part of Parthian history is so difficult to piece together.

#7: Roman Empire, Probus antoninianus. 276-282. Lugdunum. RIC 37 Probus. Obverse: Cuirassed portrait of Probus with radiate crown right. “IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG” (Emperor and Caesar Marcus Aurelius Probus, Augustus). Reverse: Mars walking right with spear and trophy. “MARS VICTOR” (Mars, the victorious).

Probus was a general during a chaotic and bloody period in the history of the Roman Empire, when the Franks, Alemanni, Goths and Sasanians were attacking with ferocity. A military officer of Valerian and later Tacitus, he rose through the ranks acquiring many victories against barbarian tribes throughout the empire, until he was proclaimed emperor by the senate in 276 after the death of Tacitus. Once elected, Probus made war on Gaul, and triumphed, forcing the tribes to pay tribute to Rome. He put down various enemies and usurpers during his violent reign, but while in Sirmium, in 282, was assassinated by his officers. Despite this, he was considered a popular emperor.

This was my first silvered antoninianus. I hadn’t really collected any coins from the late 3rd century up to this point, but I really like this one. Although the reverse has a bit of a weak strike (c’mon mint worker, slam that hammer harder!), the obverse has a very sharp and well-defined strike, and it looks great in hand. I was incredibly lucky to win this coin for free in a Money Matters giveaway, and it even has provenance to Barnaba, the great Probus collector! 🙀

#6: Spanish Empire, Carlos III 8 reales, 1778. Potosi. Obverse: Armored portrait of Carlos right. “CAROLUS III DEI GRATIA 1778” (Carlos III by the grace of God 1778). Reverse: Pillars, shield with coat of arms, crown above. “HISPAN ET IND REX PTS 8R P R PLVS VLTRA” (King of Spain and the Indies, Potosi, 8 reales, P R, more beyond). P R are the initials of the assayers, Pedro Narciso de Mazondo and Raimundo de Iturriaga.

Carlos III took control of the Spanish Empire at a time when it had become immensely rich from the products of over 200 years of colonization in the Americas. Crops such as sugar cane and cacao were profitable, but the main source of riches were gold and silver, which were mined by Native Americans who were forced under the encomienda system to mine and pan for precious metals. Potosi in particular was famous for its silver; it was established as a mining town in 1545 and soon yielded gargantuan amounts of silver from Cerro Rico, the mountain that loomed over the city. During the late 1500s, Cerro Rico is estimated to have produced a small majority of all silver mined in the world. The conditions for the miners were extremely harsh and dangerous, with injuries and deaths common.

I know, a modern, but I still have to include it in my list. I’ve been working on my Spanish Colonial collection this year, and I currently have 10 coins from 5 mints. Although cleaned, the details are still nice. This is my first 8R, and along with it I also got a chopmarked Mexico City 8R, from Carlos III as well.

#5: Indo-Greek Kingdom, Menander I drachm, c.155-130 BC. Bop 13H. Obverse: Diademed portrait of Menander I right. “ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΜΕΝΑΝΔΡΟΥ” (Of King Menander the Savior). Reverse: Athena Alkidemos standing left holding shield and thunderbolt. 𐨨𐨱𐨪𐨗𐨯 𐨟𐨿𐨪𐨟𐨪𐨯 𐨨𐨅𐨣𐨡𐨿𐨪𐨯 (Of King Menander the Savior). 

Although the sources on the Indo-Greeks are generally scarce, Menander is thought to have ruled c. 155-130 BC over a large swath of land in what is now Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, extending from Baktria to the Ganges river valley, and even all the way to modern-day Patna, India. He is featured in the Milinda Panha (or Questions of Milinda), a Buddhist text that is canonical in Burmese Buddhism, which describes him as a learned and powerful king who converts to Buddhism and attains enlightenment. Menander’s coinage is wide-ranging and among the most common of the Indo-Greek kings. 

I have to be honest, before I started collecting coins I had never heard of this kingdom! The idea of a synthesis between Greek and Indian cultures is very interesting to me, and I’m definitely looking forward to getting more Indo-Greek/Baktrian coins in the future. The bilingual legend in Greek and Pali is cool, the obverse seems nicely struck and well centered, and I’m glad I was able to get it.

#4:  Roman Empire, Augustus denarius. 2 BC-4 AD. Lugdunum. RIC 207 Augustus. Obverse: Laureate portrait of Augustus right. “CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE” (Caesar Augustus, son of the divine, father of the nation). Reverse: Gaius and Lucius standing togate with shields and spears, with a simpulum and lituus above. “C L CAESARES AVGVSTI F COS [DESIG PRINC IVVE]NT” (Caius and Lucius, sons of Caesar Augustus, consuls-elect, foremost of the youth).

Octavian, who would become known as Augustus, the first Roman Emperor, was the grand-nephew of Julius Caesar, and upon his death in 44 BC was named as heir in his will. Octavian formed the Second Triumvirate with Marcus Antoninus and Lepidus, and divided up territories of the empire with them. After defeating Sextus Pompey and stripping Lepidus of his titles, Octavian set to work against Marcus, convincing the Roman Senate in 32 BC to declare war against Cleopatra VII, Marcus’ lover. In the War of Actium, Octavian forced Marcus and Cleopatra back to Alexandria after routing them in a naval battle, and then besieged the city until both committed suicide. The civil wars of Rome had ended, and in 27 BC he was granted the title of Augustus, becoming the first Roman emperor and ruling for 40 years of relative peace, more than any other emperor of the Western Roman Empire, and had the fifth longest reign when Byzantine emperors are considered, even after almost 1500 years after his death.

Augustus named Lucius and Gaius, his friend, general and son-in-law Agrippa’s children, as his adopted sons (and therefore heirs) in 17 BC. They’re depicted on the reverse of this coin type. However, they both died young, in 2 and 4 AD respectively, and Augustus was forced to turn to other prospects for heirs in his old age, including Tiberius, who would be his successor. This is a common type, but I’m still thrilled to have a coin of such an important and famous historical figure. I’ve been adding a lot of Romans to my collection this year, getting denarii of all the Flavian and Nerva-Antonine emperors. The condition of this coin isn’t very good, with the reverse being especially worn, but the obverse at least has a full legend and the portrait isn’t terrible. 👍😿

#3: Corinth stater, c. 345-307 BC. Pegasi 439. Obverse: Pegasus flying left. “Ϙ” (Qoppa, an archaic Greek letter that represents the first letter of Corinth). Reverse: Athena in wreathed Corinthian helmet left, plow to the right. “AP” (initials of a magistrate).

At the time this stater was struck, Corinth was a city-state of importance and an extravagant center of commerce. Corinth was also known for its Temple of Aphrodite, which was said to employ a thousand prostitutes who charged exorbitant rates. It had played a part in wars between Athens and Sparta on either side. In 338 BC, Macedon was victorious in the Battle of Chaeronea against an alliance that included Athens, Thebes and Corinth. Philip II of Macedonia (the father of Alexander the Great) then established the League of Corinth, a federation of Greek city-states to challenge the threat of the Achaemenid empire.

I’ve been enchanted by the design of the Corinth stater for a while, ever since I saw an earlier Corinth type at the Getty last year. I’m satisfied with it: although the obverse has very noticeable die shift, the reverse has a stellar portrait of Athena and the toning is very pretty!

 

#2: Seleukid Empire, Seleukos I Nikator tetradrachm, 301-295 BC. Susa. SC 173.4. Obverse: Portrait of Seleukos or Alexander the Great right in helmet covered with panther skin and adorned with bull ear and horns, panther skin tied around neck. Reverse: Nike crowning trophy of arms on tree with wreath, monograms below. “ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ [ΣΕ]ΛΕΥΚΟΥ” (Of King Seleukos).

Seleukos I Nikator was one of the Diadochi, the successors to Alexander the Great’s empire. He served in his army and eventually came to command the Hypaspistai, an elite infantry unit, during Alexander’s Indian campaign. After Alexander’s death in 323 BC, Seleukos was awarded the satrapy of Babylon. During the wars among the Diadochi, Seleukos fled to Egypt, fearing Antigonus I Monophthalmus (The One-Eyed). In 312 BC at the Battle of Gaza, Ptolemy I Soter and Seleukos defeated Demetrios, the son of Antigonus, and Seleukos went on to recapture Babylon, designating 312 BC as the first year of the Seleukid Era. Seleukos then went to war against Chandragupta in India, attempting to expand his borders. In 301 BC he, along with his allies Lysimachos and Cassander, defeated Antigonus and killed him at the Battle of Ipsos. He went on to found many cities, including Antioch, which he named in honor of his father, and Seleukia on the Tigris. The Seleukid Empire reached its largest extent by his death in 281 BC, stretching from Thrace to Sogdia.

I closed out the year with this coin, getting it on Christmas. It’s a very cool type (the panther helmet and Nike are certifiably stylish) and my first tetradrachm of one of the Diadochi, and of the founder of the Seleukid Empire no less! From my understanding, this type is thought to have been minted as a commemorative after the Battle of Ipsos, due to the star on the shield of the trophy of arms showing that a Macedonian enemy was defeated. The idea of this coin being a symbol of the struggle for power between giants of history is why I’m so happy to own it.

#1: Seleukid Empire, Cleopatra Thea and Antiochus VIII tetradrachm, 122/121 BC (dated Seleukid Era 191). Damascus. SC 2267.1. Obverse: Jugate portraits of Cleopatra Thea veiled, diademed and wearing stephane, and Antiochus VIII diademed, with a fillet border. Reverse: Zeus on throne holding scepter and Nike. “ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ ΚΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑΣ ΘΕΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΑϘΡ” (Of Queen Cleopatra the Goddess and King Antiochus, 191).

Cleopatra Thea was quite the interesting historical figure. She was born to Ptolemy VI Philometor and Cleopatra II around 164 BC. Cleopatra and Ptolemy were brother and sister, and she would later marry yet another brother of hers. Cleopatra Thea was married off to Alexander Balas in Ake-Ptolemais to secure an alliance between Ptolemaic Egypt and the Seleukid Empire. When her father turned on Balas, she divorced him and later married two other Seleukid kings, Demetrius II Nikator and Antiochus VII Sidetes; one of whom she betrayed and the other dying in battle. After coming to power as queen regnant in 125 BC with her son Seleukos V Philometor (ironically meaning “mother-lover”), she had him killed after he became too independent for her liking, and co-ruled with another son, Antiochus VIII Grypus, who is pictured on this coin. Eventually she feared his influence, and c. 121 BC attempted to kill him with a poisoned cup of wine. However, Antiochus was suspicious, and forced her to drink it instead. 

This coin is my first Greek tetradrachm, plus it has a historical figure with a really crazy life story on it. I love the double portrait, it has a full legend (although Nike’s a bit cut off) and it even has a Seleukid Era date in Greek numerals as well, which is exactly what I was looking for. I’m so happy to have picked it up! I’m eager to get more Seleukids in 2025.

Those are my top 8! Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a lucky and happy new year!

Edited January 7 by shibbity

[shibbity]

Ah, strange... I attached it here, can you see it now? 

[shibbity]

It appears to be working on my screen. Are all the other pictures ok for you?

[Qcumbor]

Hi @shibbity

Yes I can see all your eight pictures. Nice selection !
My prefered is the Corinth stater, Your #2 Seleukos tetradrachm and #6 Carlos III 8 reales are close second though

Q

[Di Nomos]

Nice coins. I collect ancients, but the 8 reales is my favourite. Maybe because the Aussies used them to make holey dollars in the early days of the colony.

[panzerman]

Nice group of "8"

 

5 /3 / 1 are my picks.

 

Thanks for sharing/ John