AJ's top 10 for 2021

2021 has proven to be an atypical year, yet again, as we’re all firmly living in “pandemic time”. Writing this list feels both like mere minutes have passed since last year but also that it has been decades, owing to sparse obvious checkpoints throughout the year to mark the passage of time.

That said, this has been an unexpectedly good year for my coin collection. I was thrilled after one purchase in January and prepared to call it a successful year just on that note. However, thanks to some unexpected auctions and private purchases, I’ve managed to acquire some long-sought-after pieces which I never expected to see again.

Here they are, roughly in my order of preference but this sequence changes by the minute. Please let me know your favorites in the comments!


#10. Lydian trite. Depending on who you ask, this is sometimes considered the first official coin. I've never owned a "signed" Lydian trite (there is debate as to if it is the name of the king or some other term) and this is one of the nicer examples I've come across, with the letters "FALFEL or "VALVEL" mostly visible on the flan. I didn't plan to bid on it but was watching the sale and felt it was underpriced so I bid and was pleasantly surprised when no one else came in over me, selling at roughly 1/3rd of where it sold 10 years ago.



Kings of Lydia. Alyattes, circa 620/610-560. Third of siglos or Trite, Sardes before 561, EL 4.69 g. Head of lion l. with open jaws; in l. field, falfel in archaic characters. Rev. Bipartite rectangular incuse punch. Artemision, White Gold, 77. SNG von Aulock –. SNG Kayhan –. Mitchner, Ancient Trade and Early Coinage, group B, 3. Weidauer 93. Rare. Ex Gorny & Mosch sale 195, 2011, 261.


#9. Hadrian "Pharos at Alexandria" AE drachm. This coin was a classic example of the merit of using a dealer who knows what they’re looking at. My dealer tracked down a 1954 pedigree (no pedigree was listed on the coin) and encouraged me to be aggressive on the coin as it’s arguably the best he’s seen in 40+ years. The estimates in this sale were irrationally low but I set a new personal record of a bid 50x the estimate! I generally try to avoid bronze when I’m not able to view in-hand but we were able to validate the condition of the surfaces and justify a strong bid.



Æ-drachm, year 18 (= 133/134), Alexandria (Aegyptus); 26.48 g. Draped bust r. with laurel wreath // Isis Pharia stands r. with a billowing sail, in front of it Pharos. Dattari 1767; Goats 1124; Kampmann / Ganschow 32,589; RPC 5895. Ex. MM 13, June 17-19, 1954, lot 946


#8. Aphrodite drachm. I’m not normally one for set building but the notion of a “Twelve Olympians” set seemed like an attainable goal. However, after several years of working on the collection, I still have several more to cross off, but Aphrodite has been a noticeable hole in the set. Facing portraits on coinage are notoriously difficult to execute, especially on a small coin. The artist was very successful in their depiction on this drachm, fortunately highlighted by nice toning and an overall solid strike.

Additionally, in the last decade, there have been some excessively strong bidders (the Sheikh being one). Therefore, it is often challenging to price coins, knowing that they could have paid drastically more than coins were worth by just keeping their hand up. I tend to use the estimates of the pre-Sheikh coins to identify pricing: somewhat surprisingly, this coin was estimated significantly under the 2011 estimate and I think that held back some bidders from chasing it more aggressively. That can correctly happen if the market changes or if a new hoard is discovered but that isn't the case here.



Acarnania, Leucas Drachm circa 380-350, AR 2.76 g. Pegasus flying r.; below, Λ. Rev. Head of Aphrodite facing, turned slightly r., wearing a pearl necklace; in r. field, retrograde Σ. Traité II, IV p. 78, 157 and pl. CCLXXVI, 15-16. BMC 115. BCD Akarnanien und Aetolien 211 (this coin). Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, undoubtedly one of the finest specimens known. Struck in high relief and with a wonderful iridescent tone, minor flan crack at twelve o'clock on reverse, otherwise extremely fine Ex M&M GmbH, 2007, BCD, 211 and Nomos 3, 2011, 77 sales.


#7. Broken Wheel tetradrachm. This coin ticks so many boxes for me, I had to chase it aggressively. Syracuse tetradrachms have a wide range of scenes depicted and this is a favorite of mine: the winning chariot is running over a broken wheel which fell off of a previous rider. It is signed on both sides in a subtle way – on the obverse by Euainetos on the exergual line, and by Eukleidas on the reverse in the curve of the sakkos/headdress, somewhat in shadow in this image. This particular coin was published in 1902, exhibited in London in 1904, then donated by JP Morgan in 1905 to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and subsequently sold by them in 1973. If it was good enough for them, it’s certainly good enough for me!



SICILY. Syracuse. Second Democracy, 466-405 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 25 mm, 17.22 g, 6 h), signed by the engravers Euainetos on the obverse and Eukleidas on the reverse, circa 410. Quadriga galloping to right with its driver holding the reins with both hands and a goad in his right; above, Nike flying to left, holding a wreath held in both hands to crown the charioteer; in the exergue, wheel; on the exergual line, in tiny letters, EYAINETO. Rev. ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙOΣ Head of Arethusa to left, her hair bound tightly around her head, wearing a double-curved earring and a simple necklace with a pendant; around head, four dolphins swimming, two clockwise, and two anticlockwise; on lower part of sakkos, EYKΛEI in small letters. BMC 190 (same dies). Burlington Fine Arts Club, Exhibition of Ancient Greek Art, London 1904, pl CIII, 230 = Hill, J. Ward, Greek Coins and their Parent Cities, 1902, 282 (this coin). SNG ANS 266 (same dies). Tudeer (FB) 37v (V12/R23 this coin). Nicely toned, clear and attractive, with an impressive pedigree. Die break on the reverse, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

From the Collection I, USA, ex The New York Sale VI, January 2003, 51, and from the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and that of J. Ward, Sotheby's Zurich, 4 April 1973, 232, acquired by the Metropolitan Museum as a gift from J. P. Morgan in 1905.


#6. Antigonos Doson tetradrachm. I purchased this coin last year but thanks to a lengthy battle with customs and France’s export process, it took until March to finally arrive, placing it firmly in my 2021 additions. Happily, it made my top 10 here as well. This is now the third Doson I’ve owned and will almost certainly be my permanent coin: it's by far the nicest I've seen. The dramatic, strong portrait is what won me over and is my favorite portrait of Poseidon on a coin.



Macedonia, Kingdom of Macedonia, Antigone III Doson (229-221 BC). Tetradrachm silver. Av. Laureate head of Poseidon on the right. Rv. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΓΟΝΟΥ, Apollo seated on the left on a ship's prow, holding his bow in his right hand, monogram below. SNG Delepierre 1065. SNG Ashmolean 3263. SNG Berry 361. SNG Copenhagen 1204. Dewing 1206. 32 mm. 17, 07 g. 5h. Provenance: Giessener Munzhandlung Dieter Gorny GmbH Munich auction n ° 46 on October 30, 1989 lot n ° 135. MDC 3 auction, lot n ° 105.


#5. Commodus aureus. This is surprisingly the first coin of Commodus I’ve owned: for one reason or another, other examples just haven’t “spoken” to me. But, this AD LOCUTIO reverse type is a remarkable scene for a small coin, normally appearing on sestertii like @IdesOfMarch01 ’s beautiful example. A friend tracked down a significantly earlier pedigree as well, which always improves the interest.



Commodus (AD 177-192). AV aureus (21mm, 7.22 gm, 1h). Rome, AD 184-185. M•COMM•ANT•AVG-P•BRIT•FEL, laureate, draped bust of Commodus right, seen from behind / P M•TR P X•IM-P VII-COS IIII P•P, Commodus, in military dress, standing facing on platform, head left, scepter in left hand, right hand raised, addressing three soldiers standing right at left, each with scutum, aquila, and parazonium; FID•EXERC in exergue. RIC III 110b. Calicó 2250 (this coin). A simply stunning aureus, fully struck from carefully engraved dies, with bright, lustrous fields.

Ex Paramount Collection (Heritage Auctions, Auction 3096, 25 March 2021), lot 30057; Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 24 (5 December 2002), lot 118; Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 11 (29 April 1998), lot 459; Gilbert Steinberg Collection (Numismatica Ars Classica and Spink-Taisei, Auction, 16 November 1994), lot 505; Ex. Léo Biaggi de Blasys, 986; Ex. Conte A. Magnaguti, Santamaria (26 June 1950), lot 111; Ex. Munz Basel 8, 1937, lot 828


#4. Julia Domna aureus. I was very disappointed earlier this year when a new buyer of aurei was aggressively purchasing coin after coin, making it nearly impossible to add new pieces. Fast forward a mere four months and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw his 80+ aurei coming back up for sale in a single auction! He abruptly decided to stop collecting and opted to sell them all in one go. I assumed he would take a massive hit, reselling so soon after purchasing them with the coins no longer being “fresh” to market. He did lose money on many but actually managed to pull out a profit on some, indicating just how irrationally strong the market has been. This aureus and the Commodus above were both from the same auction and I purchased both well under his cost (and below my bid from a few months prior) so I can’t complain.

It was found as part of the Karnak hoard and is the only example of this variety to sell in the last 20 years so I'm very fortunate to have had a second crack at it just a few months later.



Julia Domna (AD 193-217). AV aureus (20mm, 7.41 gm, 1h). Rome, AD 215. IVLIA PIA-FELIX AVG, draped bust of Julia Domna right, seen from front, hair waved in ridges and bound at back of head in small chignon / VES-TA, front view of round Temple of Vesta, surmounted by standing statue and seated statue in center; Julia Domna and Vestal Virgin, both veiled and draped, standing vis-à-vis to left and right, dropping incense from boxes over a lighted altar in foreground, two more veiled and draped Vestal Virgins flanking, looking inward, accompanied by Caracalla and Geta as children. RIC IV.I (Caracalla) 392c. Calicó 2650 (this coin). Struck from dies of delicate and meticulous style. Areas of orange toning on subdued luster. Extremely rare - no examples in sales archives from the past 20 years.

From the Monaco Collection. Ex Heritage Auctions, Auction 3089 NYINC (21 January 2021), lot 31065; Harlan Berk, private sale with old dealer tag; Ex. NAC 23, lot 1605; M&M Basel Sale (December 1948), lot 630; Ars Classica XVIII (1938), lot 330; J. Hirsch 30, lot 1079; Karnak Hoard, Egypt 1901


#3. Gortyna half stater. Some years ago, I was discussing various previous auctions with some coin friends and this coin came up in the conversation. One collector said, “That is MY coin” and I was subsequently always a bit jealous that he owned it as I fell in love with the coin when I first saw it in the infamous Prospero collection. Fast forward to lotviewing at NAC immediately pre-pandemic and I saw the coin in the tray… I texted my friend, concerned that it may have been stolen as I hadn’t heard of him selling any coins. It ended up being a language barrier issue: he wanted the coin but didn’t own it. Thankfully, he isn’t buying now and I was able to target it aggressively. Coins of Crete are rarely well made but this piece has a great strike, centering, and artistic pair of dies which make it stand out over others in my eyes.



Crete, Gortyna. Half stater circa 280-260, AR 6.80 g. Europa, naked to waist and wearing a peplos over her lower limbs, seated three-quarters r. in plane tree, her head facing, holding out her veil with her l. hand and resting her r. on the tree; on her l., an eagle perched. l. on branch, its head turned back towards her. Rev. ΓOPTY – N[...] Bull standing l., looking backwards. BMC 40, pl. XI, cf. 4. Svoronos 106. Le Rider, pl. XLII, 12. Extremely rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, undoubtedly among the finest specimens known. Struck on exceptionally fresh metal and with a lovely light iridescent tone. Good extremely fine. Ex New York sale XXVII, 2012, Prospero 403.


#2. Caracalla Medusa aureus. This was a happenstance purchase and a coin which just absolutely blew my socks off when I saw it. I’ve had one other opportunity to purchase an example of this type but simply couldn’t afford it at the time. I was able to acquire this one thanks to being outbid on a few major lots: it just goes to show that there’s always another coin around the corner. It's firmly my favorite aureus and unlikely to ever be unseated.

To steal the writeup: "This coin belongs to a larger series of aurei and denarii struck by Severus and Caracalla featuring the head of Medusa alone (as here) or as part of the Aegis of Jupiter-usually characterized as the skin of a goat or great serpent with supernatural protective powers.

However, the head of Medusa on this series does not have the monstrous features of her image in earlier Greek and Roman art. Instead, it depicts the cursed nymph as a beautiful woman facing three-quarters to the left, with only a hint of her serpentine aspect at her neck and above her head, but not really in her flowing hair, which one might almost dare to suggest reflects some influence from depictions of Helios on the coins of Hellenistic Rhodes.

This image of Medusa is commonly known the "beautiful Medusa" type or the Medusa Rondanini type, after a celebrated Roman marble copy of an original Greek sculpture of the head that was exhibited at the Palazzo Rondanini in the Renaissance. It went on to become the logo of Versace in modern times. Although the original model of the "beautiful Medusa" is sometimes attributed to the fifth or fourth century BC, this seems early and the ultimate model is more likely to be a famous gilt-bronze aegis given to Athens by the Seleukid king Antiochus IV around 170 BC. It was still prominently displayed on the wall of the Acropolis in the late second century AD, according to Pausanias."



Caracalla Augustus, 198 – 211 Aureus circa 207, AV 7.28 g. ANTONINVS – PIVS AVG Laureate head r. Rev. PROVIDENTIA Winged head of Medusa facing. C –. BMC –. RIC –, cf. 164 (denarius). Calicó 2800 (these dies). Faces of Power 426 (these dies). Of the highest rarity, only the third and finest specimen known. A very attractive portrait and a reverse type of enchanting beauty perfectly struck and centered on a full flan. Extremely fine.


#1. Pantikapaion Stater. I first saw this coin in 2016 when lot-viewing in Zurich. The auction had an impressive trio of staters, showing the range of styles, and this example jumped off the tray for its relief and artistry. However, I ended up not bidding on it: I had an expensive bid later in the auction and I was concerned about the scratch eventually bothering me so I talked myself out of it. However, I didn’t recognize that the overall condition of the piece more than made up for it: it has luster, great centering, an impeccable pedigree, and, most importantly, is actually genuine in a time when many others are being called into question. It rightfully earned a place in my top ten list for this year and my top ten list of all time (top five depending on how I’m feeling on any given day).



CIMMERIAN BOSPOROS, Pantikapaion. Circa 380-370 BC. AV Stater (19mm, 9.08 g, 1h). Head of Pan left / Griffin standing left, head facing, holding spear in its mouth, left forepaw raised, on grain ear left; Π-A-N around. Anokhin 1001; MacDonald 31; HGC 7, 17; SNG BM Black Sea 855; Gulbenkian 580–1; Jameson 2144 (this coin); Prinkipo 166. Fine style. A remarkable and elegant head of Pan.

Ex Black Sea Collection (Nomos 13, 7 October 2016), lot 149; Guermantes Collection (Leu 86, 5 May 2003), lot 307; Robert Jameson Collection (sold privately Dr. J. Hirsch); Grand Duke Alexander Mikailovitch Collection (sold privately by Spink).


I wish everyone a happy and healthy end to 2021 and a wonderful 2022!

 

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I see we had very similar years.
I got a coin from Gortyna too:

Crete. Gortyna circa 85-82 BC.
Bronze Æ
12 mm, 2,06 g
Head of Hermes right, wearing petasos / Bull standing right, with head lowered, [ΓΟΡΤ] below.
nearly very fine
Svoronos, Numismatique de la Crete ancienne 188 var. (kerykeion above bull); SNG Copenhagen 454-6 var. (bull butting); cf. CNG E-345, lot 41. Previous Savoca silver 95 lot 94 Feb 2021.
Purchased from Savoca November 2021

A early coin of Lydia:

Kroisos
Lydia. Sardeis. 564-539 BC. 1/12 Stater AR 6mm., 0,70g. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Incuse square punch. nearly very fine Berk 26-7; Traité I 413; SNG Kayhan I 1020-1. nearly very fine. Purchased from Savoca Sept 2021

A pretty lady from Sicily with dolphin:

(OK, I'm actually pretty in love with this one)

Sicily. Syracuse. Dionysos I (406-367 BC). AE Hemilitron. Obv. Head of Arethusa left, wearing necklace, hair bound in ampyx and sphendone; olive leaves behind. Rev. Dolphin swimming right; Σ Y P A and cockle shell below. CNS II 24/1-7; HGC 2 1480. AE. 2.58 g. 16.00 mm. Good VF.
Purchased from Artemide Aste Aug 2021

And a gorgon:


See, pretty much the same coins and the same Collectorunder different handles.

In all seriousness, wonderful coins top to bottom. You KNOW it was a good year when that Doson masterpiece is not even in the top 5.
Does it mean I'm superstitious if your gorgon is so real looking that I'm actually afraid to look at it?

 

Good gawd! All I can do is laugh in amazement at each coin. Yes, they are all of spectacular quality-- strike, artistry, state of preservation-- but also each is just so interesting!

Congratulations on a marvelous coin year, AJ

Here are a few that somewhat align with your coins, albeit far less spectacular .


KINGS OF LYDIA, temp. Ardys - Alyattes
c. 620s-564/53 BCE
Electrum trite, 4.8 gm, 13.4 mm. Sardes mint.
Obv: head of roaring lion right, sun with four rays on forehead
Rev: two incuse square punches
Ref: Weidauer Group XV, 64


KINGS of MACEDON. Antigonos III Doson, 229-221 BCE
struck 227-225 BCE, Amphipolis mint?
AR tetradrachm, 32 mm, 17.1 gm
Obv: wreathed head of Poseidon right
Rev: Apollo seated left on prow left, holding bow; monogram below.
Ref: Panagopoulou 50–3 var. (unlisted dies); EHC 436; Touratsoglou 52–3; SNG Saroglos 933; SNG Alpha Bank 1046; SNG Ashmolean 3266


EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian
year 18, CE 133/4
Æ drachm, 32 mm, 23.3 gm
Obv: AYT KAIC TPAIAN A∆PIANOC CEB, laureate and draped bust right
Rev: Isis Pharia right holding a billowing sail with both hands and left foot, sailing toward the Lighthouse of Pharos, which is surmounted by a statue and two Tritons, each blowing a buccinum (sea shell trumpet); L IH (year 18) above center
Ref: Emmett 1002.18

 

I don't collect Romans so among the Greeks, my favorite is the Syracuse tetradrachm.

Up to this point, zero out of the hundreds of coins I bid on during this year appeared in anyone's top 10 in CT. I wonder where did all those coins go.

 

You had a great year, congrats! I can see why the order changes when you look at them.
My favorite is #1 Pan / Griffin stater. I think beautiful Meduas on #2, Julia and the girls on #4 and Poseidon on #6 are amazing.

 

Incredible coins Joe!

I particularly like #8 (Aphrodite Drachm) and #5 (Commodus aureus).

All of them are amazing though and I think anyone would be proud to have any one of those coins in their collection. Let alone all of them.

 

AJ, you never disappoint, these are amazing! The Hadrian Pharos drachm may be the nicest Alexandrian coin I’ve ever seen. I love the Commodus, Caracalla, and Domna aureii, and the Pan stater is a true work of art, as good as it gets. Congrats on some wonderful additions and thanks for sharing these beauties!

 

Oh yeah, hey @AncientJoe do you happen to have a gold or silver Croesid? Those are so beautiful and I love that they were the first coinage ever minted in both gold and silver.

 

A remarkable year as always Joe! I am astounded by the artistry on the reverse of that Caracalla!

 

I was about to say I liked them all except #8 when I noticed it was a drachm rather than the larger stater. This explains what I considered a low end face on the goddess. Leukas usually did good work. Mine is a stater with the standard helmeted Athena which I bought from Charles H. Wolfe (a favorite from the old days!) in 1987 and was my first ancient coin that cost over $100.


Drachms were a lot harder to cut and facing head even more so. That adds up to make #8 a worthy coin. I do not recall seeing one before.

I am accustomed to being in the minority when it comes to coins but, of these ten, I find 6-10 more appealing than 1-5. The exception might be #3 but I really prefer the one owned by one of our CT family that was overstruck on an earlier flan.

 

I want one of those so bad xD. I've always loved the helmet on the obverse and the Pegasus on the reverse.

 

Two things: Pegasus is the obverse and there are many a lot easier to find from other cities that issued the type. Look for a Corinth:

 

If you click on his profile and go to the Information tab, you'll find a link to his website (a helpful hint for finding more info for many CT users ). Note that if you scroll to the very bottom of his website you'll see a link to former coins, and you'll find a spectacular Croesus heavy stater there. CT's search function can be handy too.

Here's his site. Have your smelling salts on hand :

https://www.colosseocollection.com/home

 

Beautiful. The figure of Apollo holding the prow on the Antigonos Doson is one of the most well executed I've ever seen on a coin. Genuinely stunning.

 

@AncientJoe all around gorgeous additions, as usual! Of course I’m partial to Roman coins so my favourites have to be the Caracalla aureus, followed the Pharos drachm. The artistry of these coins is remarkable. The Domna and Marcus aurei are wonderful as well. I was after a few aurei from the same group, but all of my targets seemed to hammer well above their previous hammer prices. My primary target, for instance, hammered for more than 5x its hammer price less than a year ago.

 

I just spent an hour looking at every single coin and reading the descriptions.

HOLY SMOKES! That's a museum worthy collection!

I thought my 1/24 stater electrum coin was tiny but he has a 1/192 stater!

 

Astonishing to say the least Joe!

I love them all, but my pick would be the Caracalla "Medusa" Aureus/ exceptional and rare. The Pantikapaion AV Stater is breathtaking....
Congrats on your top "ten"/ all will compliment your beautifull collection.
John

 

As always, a magnificent collection of artistic, rare, interesting and incredible coins.

Wish I had your ability to write about the coins I own as eloquently as you do.

I love them all, but the Gortyna half stater is my favourite. A nice coin from Crete is on my want list, but yours is many levels above "nice"!

I also think your Leukas drachm may be a little under rated. Facing heads of Aphrodite are very rare, and that is executed brilliantly I reckon. A very attractive portrait.

I have a coin with a side on head of Aphrodite. Archaic drachm from Knidos. Even in her archaic pose she is still quite beautiful I think.



All the best for your collecting goals next year.

 

WOOOOW. What a fabulous haul. It's tough to choose a favourite but for me it's a close tie between the Commodus Aureus and the Pantikapaion Stater.

Simply amazing coins.