Best-of-type Specimens: Share yours!

[Finn235]

A few more Romans of mine -

While the reverse leaves a lot to be desired, this is the most intense and menacing portrait of Caracalla I've ever seen, with more fine detailing than I've seen on any other 3rd century coin. It's one of the few coins in my collection that I consider to be irreplaceable.

An old photo close-up - note especially the wrinkles in his brow and upper nose

 

Pupienus

 

Philip I with one of the more powerful portraits I've ever seen

 

Trebonianus Gallus 

 

Valerian II with a portrait where he actually looks 15-16 instead of 5

 

Quintillus

 

This Crispus is my best LRB and I think an R4 or R5 type so likely the best of type

 

Jovian

 

This Theodosius II has the most distinctive bust that I've ever seen of his

 

Justin I in remarkable LRB style

[Qcumbor]

On 7/31/2024 at 3:30 AM, -monolith- said:

Beautiful example. Mine doesn't have the full flan that yours has

Q

Edited August 3 by Qcumbor

[Qcumbor]

Even though I have a bunch of very nice coins, I don't think there are many best of type ancients in my trays (there are so many perfect examples all around !!)

This one might be a contender despite its poor image :

 

In my Dombes series, on the other hand I have some Best of type being also the worst since they are unique to date 😄 

 

First known demi pistole for 1576 :

 

First known pistole for 1579 :

 

Best of two known pistole for 1587 :

 

First known demi teston for 1608 :

 

First known double tournois in silver for Marie de Montpensier (fourree) :

Q

Edited August 3 by Qcumbor

[CPK]

6 hours ago, Finn235 said:

A few more Romans of mine -

While the reverse leaves a lot to be desired, this is the most intense and menacing portrait of Caracalla I've ever seen, with more fine detailing than I've seen on any other 3rd century coin. It's one of the few coins in my collection that I consider to be irreplaceable.

An old photo close-up - note especially the wrinkles in his brow and upper nose

 

Pupienus

 

Philip I with one of the more powerful portraits I've ever seen

 

Trebonianus Gallus 

 

Valerian II with a portrait where he actually looks 15-16 instead of 5

 

Quintillus

 

This Crispus is my best LRB and I think an R4 or R5 type so likely the best of type

 

Jovian

 

This Theodosius II has the most distinctive bust that I've ever seen of his

 

Justin I in remarkable LRB style

That's a wonderful Crispus, indeed!

[ela126]

On 7/31/2024 at 1:17 AM, Nerosmyfavorite68 said:

Here's my only example which would come to mind, Sear 882.

Having recent become the owner of one of these and paying attention to them for about a year, yes, this is the best one I’ve seen. Very nice strikes and quite a patina too!

Edited August 4 by ela126

[ela126]

I feel like I may have a few best of type, Byzantine pieces, but I’m cautious to say so as I always feel like you can say, “best of the 99%” but then there’s one coin that must have been minted with fresh dies, then sealed in a lead box for 1500 years, only to have been discovered 3 weeks ago. So I have quite a few “damn near best of type”, but I’m not going to say it’s surely the best.

for now, these are pretty good:

Phocas half follis - sb 668 - excellent specimen of a common type.

Constans half follis - Carthage mint - sb 1057. Not a completely perfect coin but excellent example of a rougher type.

Maurice Tiberius - military mint - while an obvious flan flaw, the shading on this coin is perfect and highlights the low wear on the coin, look at those eyes.

this is a bold statement but this Heraclius - 3/4 follis - Thessalonica - sb 827, due the the obverse, not the reverse, may make it best or nearly best of a rare type. HC on this one is especially well presented. The reverse admittedly could be better though.

[rasiel]

14 hours ago, Qcumbor said:

This one might be a contender despite its poor image :

 

Wow, beautiful! Sell it to me? Please? 🙏
Rasiel

[El Cazador]

21 hours ago, Qcumbor said:

Even though I have a bunch of very nice coins, I don't think there are many best of type ancients in my trays (there are so many perfect examples all around !!)

This one might be a contender despite its poor image :

 

In my Dombes series, on the other hand I have some Best of type being also the worst since they are unique to date 😄 

 

First known demi pistole for 1576 :

 

First known pistole for 1579 :

 

Best of two known pistole for 1587 :

 

First known demi teston for 1608 :

 

First known double tournois in silver for Marie de Montpensier (fourree) :

Q

That Argentius with a massive bust is superb

[El Cazador]

On 7/24/2024 at 6:38 PM, Sulla80 said:

amazing coins in this thread - I'll add a few that may or may not be universally "best of type" - but at least I find quite enjoyable for type, in order from youngest to oldest:

Pupienus https://www.sullacoins.com/post/the-year-of-six-emperors

Vespasan https://www.sullacoins.com/post/coins-of-vespasian-from-ephesus

Brutus https://www.sullacoins.com/post/an-ancient-coin-for-independence-day

C. Piso Frugi https://www.sullacoins.com/post/frvgi-father-son

Still regret losing this Brutus to you on Ebay 8 years ago, fantastic buy😁

Vespasian is also great

[Lelouch]

Just received this lovely Arethusa / Octopus litra. Heritage, ANA Signature Sale 3118 - Lot 34013

IMO (but probably an over exaggeration esp since it has a lot of deposits), it does have the best reverse Octopus.
I really liked that the eyes are perfect circles, very enthralling and they really stand out. Very clean edges on the octopus as well, nice and smooth.
I would say best of this type (better than Leu 14, 40), and top 5 of the similar types.

Linked are coins of this and a similar type (ordered by price).

1. Nomos 26 - Lot 181 - 7000 CHF - 21 May 2023 (diff)
2. Leu 14 - Lot 40 - 5500 CHF - 14 Oct 2023 (same)
3. Numismatica Ars Classica 72 - Lot 323 - 4750 CHF - 16 May 2013 (diff)
4. Numismatica Ars Classica 82 - Lot 91 - 3750 CHF - 20 May 2015 (diff)
5. MINE Heritage 3118 - Lot 34013 - 3800 USD - 16 Aug 2024 (same)
6. Leu 25 - Lot 172 - 3000 CHF - 11 Mar 2023 (Prev Nomos Obolos 4 - Lot 98 - 1200 CHF - 21 Feb 2016) (diff)
7. Davissons Printed Auction 36 - Lot 20 - 3000 USD - 22 Feb 2017 (diff)
8. Nomos 26 - Lot 182 - 1600 CHF - 21 May 2023 (same)
9. Nomos 21 - Lot 86 - 1500 CHF - 21 Nov 2020 (same)
10. Gemini V - Lot 451 - Unknown - 6 Jan 2009 (diff)

SICILY. Syracuse. Ca. 470-450 BC. AR litra (12mm, 0.80 gm, 2h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 4/5.
ΣVRA, head of Arethusa right, wearing pendant earring, beaded pearl taenia (headband), and beaded pearl necklace, hair looped up under taenia / Octopus.

[CPK]

58 minutes ago, Lelouch said:

Just received this lovely Arethusa / Octopus litra. Heritage, ANA Signature Sale 3118 - Lot 34013

IMO (but probably an over exaggeration esp since it has a lot of deposits), it does have the best reverse Octopus.
I really liked that the eyes are perfect circles, very enthralling and they really stand out. Very clean edges on the octopus as well, nice and smooth.
I would say best of this type (better than Leu 14, 40), and top 5 of the similar types.

Linked are coins of this and a similar type (ordered by price).

1. Nomos 26 - Lot 181 - 7000 CHF - 21 May 2023 (diff)
2. Leu 14 - Lot 40 - 5500 CHF - 14 Oct 2023 (same)
3. Numismatica Ars Classica 72 - Lot 323 - 4750 CHF - 16 May 2013 (diff)
4. Numismatica Ars Classica 82 - Lot 91 - 3750 CHF - 20 May 2015 (diff)
5. MINE Heritage 3118 - Lot 34013 - 3800 USD - 16 Aug 2024 (same)
6. Leu 25 - Lot 172 - 3000 CHF - 11 Mar 2023 (Prev Nomos Obolos 4 - Lot 98 - 1200 CHF - 21 Feb 2016) (diff)
7. Davissons Printed Auction 36 - Lot 20 - 3000 USD - 22 Feb 2017 (diff)
8. Nomos 26 - Lot 182 - 1600 CHF - 21 May 2023 (same)
9. Nomos 21 - Lot 86 - 1500 CHF - 21 Nov 2020 (same)
10. Gemini V - Lot 451 - Unknown - 6 Jan 2009 (diff)

SICILY. Syracuse. Ca. 470-450 BC. AR litra (12mm, 0.80 gm, 2h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 4/5.
ΣVRA, head of Arethusa right, wearing pendant earring, beaded pearl taenia (headband), and beaded pearl necklace, hair looped up under taenia / Octopus.

Lovely!