2024 has had ups and downs - it seems that every year I start with same thought. This has been an unusual year with and earth quake, solar flares that made the northern lights visible from Detroit to Boston, and a solar eclipse. It was an election year in the US. With Thanksgiving a few days away in the US, this is my 5th year of posting a Top 10 list with gratitude for the last year. We start with 7 "honorable mention coins" that during the course of this year I had marked as "Top Ten". As time went on - they were bumped off the list.
Unusually, for half of the year there were no Roman Republican (RR) coins in my candidate list. It has been harder to find coins that are on my wish list and available in a price/quality combination that I am willing to buy. After July a few RR denarii showed up and are now on the top 10 list.
Coins the Almost Made the Cut
#7) 📜Notes: Mustafa II
This coin attracted more than 2100 visits to my blog - not sure what sparked that level of enthusiasm - but it is an interesting and good looking, large coin and I have not seen another one quite like this one.
Ottoman, Sultan Mustafa II (AH 1106-1115), Qustantiniya (Constantinople/Istanbul), AR Zolota struck AH 1106 (CE 1695)
Obv: Sultan of the two lands and khaqan of the two sea the sultan, son of the sultan
Rev: Sultan Mustafa son of Ahmed Khan (Mehmet IV) Father of Conquest Struck in Qustintiniyah AH1106
#6) 📜Notes: Ephesus coin of Vespasian - a well-preserved provincial denarius issued in Ephesus.
Vespasian (CE 69-79), AR denarius, minted AD 69-70 Ephesus mint
Obv: IMP CAES VESPAS AVG, laureate head right
Rev: CONCORDIA AVG, EPE.
Ceres seated left on throne, holding grain ears, poppy and cornucopia.
Ref: RIC² 1428; RPC II 830.
#5) 📜Notes: Domitian, The Goddess Selene this coin falls in the category of "coin I didn't know existed until I bought it". The Sol-Selene portraits are a beautiful example of Roman Provincial workmanship. struggled to take this one off the list - it is a very unusual coin.
Roman Provincial, Domitian Æ (6.65g, 23mm, 12h) of Aegeae, Cilicia. Dated CY 135 = 88/9. Herakleon, magistrate.
Obv: Radiate head of Apollo-Phoibos (phoibos meaning shining or bright) with features of Domitian to right; laurel branch in right field
Rev: Draped bust of Artemis-Selene to left, crescent set on forehead, quiver over shoulder; ΑΙΓΕΑΙΩΝ behind, ΗΡΑΚΛΕΩΝΟϹ below, ЄΛΡ (date) in left field
Ref: RPC II 1776A (this coin specimen 3 of 3, additional coin-type added post publication); Haymann 24b. This coin is very rare.
#4) 📜Notes: Triumvirate to Empire. While I didn't acquire many Roman Republican coins, I did acquire some interesting coins from the transition between republic and empire. The middle right coin especially interesting. Issued after Octavian/Augustus defeated Mark Antony and had control of Rome, this coin looks like a coin of the late republic. This denarius from Q. Rustius depicts two goddesses of fortune, and an alter to Fortuna Redux (Fortune returned) CAESARI AVGVSTO (dedicated to Caesar Augustus), as Augustus returned to Rome, and the coin is authorized by the Senate (Ex Senatus Consulato).
#3) 📜Notes: Sulla's Birth Year
Roman Republic, Cn. Gellius, 138 BCE, AR denarius (19.6mm, 3.99g, 9h), Rome
Obv: Head of Roma to right, wearing winged helmet, pendant earring and pearl necklace; behind, X (mark of value); all within laurel wreath.
Rev: CN•GEL / ROMA, helmeted warrior in quadriga (Mars?) to right, grasping captive with his right hand and holding shield in his left.
Ref: Babelon (Gellia) 1. Crawford 232/1. RBW 962. Sydenham 434.
#2) 📜Notes: Myrina, Amazons from Aeolis this is another Civic Issued Tetradrachm from the 2nd century BC. This one also from a region under control of the Pergamon Kingdom sometime before it came under the control of Rome, after it was bequeathed by Attalus III to Rome unpon his death in 133 BC. This coin from sometime between the Treaty of Apamea and the death of Attalus III. I know it is an unusual year when this tetradrachm didn't make the top 10.
Aeolis, Myrina, circa mid-2nd century BCE, AR tetradrachm (35mm, 16.80 gm, 1h), fine Style
Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right, hair falling in three long ringlet curls
Rev: MYPINAIΩN, Apollo standing right, phiale in right hand, filleted branch in left; omphalus and amphora at feet to right, ΠA monogram in left field, all in laurel border
Ref: SNG von Aulock 1660
Arabia, Himyarites, Siglos imitating Athenian new style tetradrachm circa 24 BC, AR 26 mm, 5.47 g.
Obv: Laureate head of Augustus right; in left field, "N" (South Arabian). All within olive wreath.
Rev: Owl on amphora between two monograms; in right field, symbol of Almaqah. All within border of stylised amphorae.
Ref: BMC 35. CAF pl. III, 57-58. RPC 4994.
Notes: Old cabinet tone. Traces of over-striking and area of weakness on reverse, otherwise about extremely fine. From the collection of a Mentor.
Top 10 Coins for 2024
I couldn't bring myself to bump this coin off the top ten list so this year's list is actually a Top 12 (any coin will sneak in further long in the list)
#11) 📜Notes: Pixodaros, Sibling Rivalry. Pixodaros took control of Caria from his sister, Ada, irritating Artaxerxes III and then irritated Alexander the III by brokering a marriage of one of his daughters to Philip III Arridaios. Pixodaros' reign lasted about 5 years before he died of natural causes. His successor was conquered by Alexander III who granted Ada, sister to Pixodaros, rule over all of Caria. Ada had been married to another brother, Hidrieus, until his death and according to Arrian, Carians were accostomed to women ruling over men.
"On the death of Pixodarus, his son-in-law Orontobates was sent by the king of the Persians to rule over the Carians. Ada retained Alinda alone, the strongest place in Caria; and when Alexander invaded Caria she went to meet him, offering to surrender Alinda to him, and adopting him as her son. Alexander confided Alinda to her, and did not think the title of son unworthy of his acceptance; moreover, when he had captured Halicarnassus and become master of the rest of Caria, he granted her the privilege of ruling over the whole country."
-Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander, Ch. XXIII, Destruction of Halicarnassus.—Ada, Queen of Caria.
Satraps of Caria, Pixodaros, circa 341/0-336/5 BCE, AR Didrachm (18.5mm, 6.98 g, 1h), Halikarnassos mint
Obv: Laureate head of Apollo facing slightly right, drapery around neck
Rev: Zeus Labraundos standing right
Ref: Konuk, Identities 30; HN Online 241.
#10) 📜Notes: Perge, Civic Issue Tetradrachm, this coin was issued in Perge in Pamphylia which was part of the Pergamon kingdom and ruled by King Eumenes II when this civic coin was issued. During this time, Seleucid King Antiochus III (223-187 BC) positioned himself against Rome as the champion of Greek freedom. He expanded the Seleucid Kingdom in Anatolia and protected Rome's enemy, Hannibal, the Cathaginian general, at Ephesus, as a consultant on war with Rome.
Military conflict between the Roman Republic and the Seleucid Empire started in Greece in the autumn of 192 BC, near the time that this coin was minted. The war ended in 188 BC with the Treaty of Apamea, a major defeat for the Seleucids. Eumenes II sided with the Romans in the war and was rewarded by the Romans with Seleucid territory in the Treaty of 188 BC.
Kings of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’, 336-323 BCE, Tetradrachm (Silver, 29 mm, 16.95 g, 12 h), Perge, CY 29 = 193/2
Obv: Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress.
Rev: AΛEΞANΔPOY Zeus seated left on low throne, holding long scepter in his left hand and eagle standing right with closed wings in his right; to left, KΘ (date).
Ref: Price 2943.
Notes: Minor marks and with very light doubling on the reverse, otherwise, good very fine. From a European collection, formed before 2005.
#9) 📜Notes: The Torquatii. This coin comes with a story of the family name Torquatus and a tragic story of a father's willingness to put military discipline ahead of the life of his son.
L. Torquatus, 113-112 BCE, AR denarius (18mm, 3.85g, 6h), Rome
Obv: Head of Roma to right, wearing crested and winged helmet; behind, ROMA; to right, X (mark of value); all within torque.
Rev: L•TORQVA / EX•S•C Horseman galloping to left, holding spear in his right hand and shield in his left; to upper right, Q.
Ref: Babelon (Manlia) 2; Crawford 295/1; RBW 1135; Sydenham 545;
#8) 📜Notes: Tiberius, Tribute Penny - this coin is sought after This coin most commonly associated with the quote “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” from the Bible (Matthew 22:15-22). There there are other candidates - read about more options at Forvm Ancient Coins.
Tiberius, CE 14-37, AR denarius (18mm, 3.61g), group 4, Lugdunum
Obv: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, laureate head of Tiberius to right
Rev: PONTIF MAXIM, Livia (as Pax) seated right on a chair with ornate legs, holding long scepter in her right hand and olive branch in her left, her feet set on footstool
Ref: BMC 48. Cohen 16. Giard 150. RIC 30
Notes: this coin was given as a gift by Howard to Loretta, Christmas 1972
#7) 📜Notes: Cicero's Saviour. This coin comes from the man who as consul who brought back Cicero from exile. He issued this coin asserting Rome's dominance over Hispania and the rebels led by Sertorius at the end of the Sertorian War that began with the return of Sulla to Rome after the Mithridatic Wars.
Pub. Lentulus P. f. L. n. Spinther, AR Denarius (3.65g, 18mm, 2h), Rome, 74 BCE.
Obv: Bust of Hercules right; Q•S•C behind / P•LENT•P•F•L•N
Rev: Genius of the Roman People seated facing, holding cornucopiae and sceptre, being crowned by Victory, flying left.
Ref: Crawford 397/1; Sydenham 791.
#6) 📜Notes: Artabanus, Fierce Parthian Portrait - this coin was a nice find in a large lot, an unusual Parthian portrait of a king who represented native Parthia against the Rome raised Vonones.
Kings of Parthia, Artabanos II (or III or IV), Circa CE 10-38, BI tetradrachm (27mm, 13.24 g, 12h), Seleukeia on the Tigris mint, dated Holöos 338 SE (July, AD 27)
Obv: Diademed facing bust
Ref: Artabanos on horseback left, receiving palm from Tyche standing right; T Λ H (year) oriented around Artabanos, monogram (month) below horse
Ref: Sellwood 63.4 (Artabanos II); Shore 336 (Artabanos II), Sunrise 411 (Artabanos IV)
#5) 📜Notes: Pupienus & Balbinus, CE 238. The Year of Six Emperors, Pupienus & Balbinus provide a cautionary tale of two emperors who died together (at least in part) because they couldn't get along as co-rulers. I am going to consider these two antoniniani a one entry given how short-lived their reign was (3 months).
Pupienus, CE 238, AR Antoninianus, (22mm, 4.98g, 12h), Rome mint, 2nd emission
Obv: Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right of the emperor
Rev: AMOR MVTVVS AVGG, clasped right hands
Ref: RIC IV 9b; BMCRE 82-6; RSC 2
Roman Imperial, Balbinus, CE 238, AR Antoninianus (5g), Rome
Obv: IMP CAES D CAEL BALBINVS AVG, draped and armored bust with radiate crown to the right.
Rev: CONCORDIA AVGG, two hands in a handshake (dextrarium iunctio)
Ref: RIC 10
Notes: rare, fine portrait, very fine to excellent ex Auction Gorny & Mosch 200, Munich 2011, No. 2719.
#4) 📜Notes: Euboia, Greeks & Cattle, this coin has one of the finest portraits of a bull that I have seen. Other than that, ny only excuse for adding this coin to the collection is strategic importance of the region during the Mithridatic wars (which this coin pre-dates by about 2 centuries):
Euboea, Euboean League, circa 304-290 BCE, AR drachm (16mm, 3.80gm, 12h). Obv: Head of the nymph Euboea left, hair rolled, wearing triple-pendant earring
Rev: filleted head of bull right
Ref: HGC 4, 1421
#3) 📜Notes: Sulla's Restoration Issues - just when I thought I might have no coins from the Roman republic in my top ten - this one came along - a restoration issue from Sulla's reign in Rome. Sulla issued 3 coins to recognize his close allies and their families.
Roman Republican, M. Caecilius Q.f. Q.n. Metellus, restored issue, 82-80 BCE. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.92g, 3h).. Rome mint.
Ref: Head of Apollo right, wearing taenia; mark of value below chin, ROMA behind.
Rev: M METELLVS Q F, macedonian shield with elephant's head on central boss; all within laurel wreath.
Ref: Crawford 369/1; Sydenham 719; Caecilia 30; RBW 1389
#2) 📜Notes: Neapolis, New City Hemidrachm, a beautiful coin that juxtaposes a gorgon and a nymph or goddess, from the end of the Peloponnesian war, up to the rise of Macedonia under Philip II.
"Around 350 B.C. Philip II of Macedon, who had captured one after another of the Greek cities in Thrace, took Neapolis also and used it as the harbor for Philippi."
-Princeton Encyclopaedia of Classical Sites.
Neapolis, Macedon; 411- 348 BCE; AR Hemidrachm (14mm; 1.78 gm; 9h).
Obv: Gorgon's head facing, with tongue protruding.
Rev: ΝΕΟΠ; Young female head (Artemis Parthenos?) right, of exquisite style!
Ref: SNG Cop 227
#1) 📜Notes: The Triumphs of Augustus
This one a late entrant in Nov 2024 - that bumps to the top of my Top 10. This coin celebrates the diplomatic triumph of Augustus in recovering the legionary standards lost by Crassus to the Parthians.
In 29 BCE, Octavian was recognized for victories over the Dalmatians, over Antony and Cleopatra at Actium, and for the conquest of Egypt. This triumph an ultimate expression of rule over the European North, the Greek East, and the African South, which competed with Pompey, who boasted victories on the three continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa. This triumph became an a recognition that could not be further surpassed, and Augustus refused any triumphs after 29 BCE, including a triumph on his return to Rome in 19 BC.
The Roman Empire, Octavian as Augustus, 27 BC – 14 AD, Denarius, uncertain "mint 2", Colonia Patricia (?) circa 18 BC, AR 17 mm, 3.80 g.
Obv: S P Q R PAREN – CONS SVO Toga picta over tunica palmata between aquila, on l., and wreath, on r.
Rev: CAESARI AVGVSTO Slow quadriga r. with ornamented panels surmounted by four miniature galloping horses.
Ref: C 79. BMC –. RIC 97. CBN 1198.
Notes: Old cabinet tone, minor areas of weakness, otherwise about extremely fine; from the collection of a Mentor.
Conclusion
This is my 5th year publishing a Top 10 list on this site. To see past years Click "Top 10s".
2024 brought a nice selection including
A denarius celebrating Augustus' triumphant return to Rome
Several denarii from the late Roman Republic
Coins from 2nd-century conflicts in Asia Minor between the Seleucid Empire and Rome
A coin from Parthia, Rome's great rival at the end of the 1st century BCE
A denarius issued at the conclusion of Sulla's dictatorship
Two coins from short-lived three-month co-rulers of the Roman Empire
Several stunning Greek coins
A couple of intriguing Roman provincial coins
A denarius from the father of Sulla's lieutenant Lucius Manlius Torquatus
A denarius from the end of the Sertorian Wars (80–72 BCE)
A "tribute penny" tied to a Biblical quote
An unusual, large, debased silver coin from the Ottoman Empire
Each coin is a window into history, along with the artistry and technology of ancient engravers.
Yorumlar