Post the ‘Crown Jewel(s)’ of your collection!

[AncientCoinnoisseur]

I don’t think I have one, given my modest collection and relatively ‘cheap’ coins, but I might have multiple ‘Favourite ones’ for different reasons (Click the names of the coins to see videos of them, albeit on another website): 
  
The Vespasian Capricorn Denarius (for rarity + condition and toning):

The Rhodos Drachm (for beauty, iridescence and condition, and for the fact that it might show the actual head of the Colossus):

 

The Septimius Severus Neptune Denarius  (for its almost uncirculated condition, rare for this type): 

The Quintus Cassius Longinus Temple of Vesta Denarius (for its beautiful temple and overall shininess and condition):

The Macedon First Meris Tetradrachm (for condition + chonkiness)

The Julius Caesar Elephant Denarius and the Alexander The Great Lifetime Babylon Tetradrachm (for historical reasons, both being physically very close to them at the time of their minting):

 

And yours? What is your ‘best’ coin (or what are your best coins), and why? Might be for rarity, price, condition, etc…

Post it/them here and show us the very best of the best from your collection!
 

Edited August 13 by AncientCoinnoisseur
Formatting

[AETHER]

All very nice! I guess I would have to pick this one; 

KINGS OF THRACE. Lysimachos (305-281). Tetradrachm. Lampsakos

Mint: Lampsakos

Date: 305-281BC

Size: 28mm

Weight: 16.94g

Obv: Diademed head of Alexander the Great right, deified, with the horn of Ammon

 

Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ, Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, spear behind; aplustre to outer left, HP monogram above knee

 

Ref; Müller 356. Thompson 48

Notes: Ex; VAuctions Sale 273 - European Sale 2011, Ex; Obolos Webauction 12 2019 - Obv Die Match

Edited August 13 by AETHER

[Phil Davis]

A couple of years ago, I couldn't really have responded to this post; I have quite a few coins I like a lot. Now though I can: a strong contender for the finest known example of a key rarity of the Roman Republic, a denarius struck  by C. Numitorius in 133 BC, Crawford 246/1. (I wrote about it at greater length when I won it. I don't want to derail this thread by posting a link; it should be easy enough to find if anyone's interested.)

 

[antwerpen2306]

I have no crown jewel, on a colection that is my CROWN JEWEL. I explain tomorrow because now it is ea

[ominus1]

.its like i told NAC when they refused to allow me to bid on one of their coins because they wouldn't accept the ID's i have that all others have accepted...'ONE COIN DOES NOT A COLLECTION MAKE'...but its a start!  🙂

2 hours ago, antwerpen2306 said:

I have no crown jewel, on a colection that is my CROWN JEWEL. I explain tomorrow because now it is ea

..i'm with ya Friend!  🙂

[Parthicus]

All my coins are special to me in some way, but if I had to pick just my top jewels, first would be this lifetime denarius of Julius Caesar, struck January or February 44 BCE (just a month or two before his assassination):

Next is probably my avatar coin, a tetradrachm of the Parthian king Artabanos IV (c.10-38 CE).  Fred Shore said of the unusual facing bust portrait of this type that it "probably present[s] a clearer picture of what a Parthian really looked like than any other portrait coin."

There are others, but I don't want to use up all the electrons...

[MrMonkeySwag96]

Some of my best quality Roman Republic denarii:

 

 

 

[MrMonkeySwag96]

My most valuable gold coin is this 1878 $3 “Indian Princess.” For a long time, I’ve always wanted to own a $3 gold coin. $3 gold coins are a desirable type. For this reason, this coin is often faked. Many examples were harshly cleaned or mounted into jewelry. My example was graded AU58 by NGC. According to the Sheldon Scale, AU58 is the highest grade a coin can be without being considered “Mint State.” An AU58 example can be more attractive than some Mint State coins while costing a lot less.

 

One of my favorite US silver dollar types is the Trade dollar. The Trade dollar circulated mostly in China and Japan as opposed to domestically in the US. Similar to the the $3 gold coin, Trade dollars are heavily counterfeited. Which is why my example is slabbed in a plastic tomb. My coin was also graded AU58 by NGC, so it has the eye appeal of a Mint State coin while costing less.

 

My other favorite silver dollar type is the Seated Liberty dollar. Seated Liberty dollars are expensive in high grades, so I had to settle with a moderately circulated example graded VF35 by PCGS. Similar to the $3 gold coin and Trade dollar, the Seated Liberty dollar is notorious for being counterfeited. As we all know, third party grading services don’t guarantee the authenticity of ancient coins. However, companies like NGC and PCGS do guarantee authenticity for US coins. Which is why slabs are essential for high value US coins. 
 

 

 

The last coin in my list is this 1884 Seated Liberty quarter dollar graded Proof 62 by PCGS. US proof coins from the 19th century are quite scarce. In fact, my 1884 proof quarter is the “rarest” coin in my collection. Only 875 pieces were minted. 
 

 

 

 

[rasiel]

Surprised to see no Roman imperial or Byzantine coins here. It's hard to agree what is THE crown jewel in one's collection. Is it the rarest coin? The one most coveted by others? Or is it just the one you paid the most for?

If I defined it as "what coin in your collection could grace the cover of a printed auction from a top auction house and would be aggressively be bidded on by others" I think any four of these from my collection would make the cut.

An aureus of Marciana, sister of emperor Trajan

Jotapian, a very rare usurper

Clodius Macer, another usurper

And Artavasdus, short-termer in Constantinople

Rasiel

 

[sand]

It's interesting to see, the favorite coins in members' collections, or the most highly valued coins in members' collections, or whatever else they may consider "crown jewels". For me, my "crown jewels" are my favorite coins in my collection. Here are my favorite 5 coins, in my collection. The 1st coin is my favorite coin. The 2nd coin is my 2nd favorite coin. Et cetera. Interestingly, 5 of my 6 most expensive coins (my 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th most expensive coins), are not in my top 5 favorites.

This silver piece of eight is my favorite coin, because I like thinking about the Age Of Exploration, and voyages on unknown oceans. It's also the most expensive coin in my collection.

Spain. Philip II. Silver 8 Reales "Piece Of Eight". Minted 1589 AD To 1591 AD. Potosi Mint (In What Is Now Bolivia). Assayer RL. Maximum Diameter 37.7 mm. Weight 27.20 grams. Paoletti 97. Sedwick P13. KM 5.1.

This Athens tetradrachm is my 2nd favorite coin, because of the age of the coin, and the history of Athens, and the mysterious portrait of Athena. This coin is the 26th most expensive coin in my collection.

Athens. AR Tetradrachm. Minted 449 BC To 413 BC. Sear 2526. Maximum Diameter 24.8 mm. Weight 17.15 grams. Obverse : Head Of Athena Wearing Helmet Facing Right. Reverse : Owl Standing, Olive Twig And Crescent On Left, Alpha Theta Epsilon On Right, All Within Incuse Square. Test Cut.

This Ionia electrum blank coin is my 3rd favorite coin, because of the age of the coin, and because it's made of electrum, and because it's 1 of the earliest coins. This coin was created, when the 1st Temple in Jerusalem still existed. The 1st Temple contained the Ark Of The Covenant. This coin is the 7th most expensive coin in my collection.

Ionia EL 1/24 Stater. Minted 650 BC To 600 BC. Uncertain Mint. SNG Kayhan 678. Hogarth 6. Maximum Diameter 6.0 mm. Weight 0.59 grams. Obverse : Plain. Reverse : Square Incuse Punch.

@rasiel Here's a Byzantine coin. This Byzantine Justinian I The Great coin is my 4th favorite coin, because of the mystery and spirituality of the Byzantine Empire, and the mysterious portrait of Justinian I The Great, and the sheer size of the coin. This is the 3rd largest coin in my collection, by maximum diameter. This coin is the 8th most expensive coin in my collection.

Justinian I The Great. AE 40 Nummi Follis. Regnal Year 12. 538 AD To 539 AD. Nicomedia Mint. Sear 201. DO 116b.1. Maximum Diameter 44.0 mm. Weight 21.73 grams. Obverse : Justinian I Bust Facing Front. Reverse : Large M Mint "NIK" Officina B Under Large M.

This Roman Republic Janus As is my 5th favorite coin, because of the mysterious Roman deity Janus shown on the coin, and the age of the coin, and the history of Rome, and the size, thickness, and weight of the coin. This is the heaviest coin in my collection. This coin is the 23rd most expensive coin in my collection.

 

Roman Republic. Anonymous AE As. 211 BC To 206 BC. Rome Mint. Sear 627. Crawford 56/2. Maximum Diameter 32 mm. Weight 41.46 grams. Obverse : Janus With "I" Above. Reverse : Ship's Prow With "I" Above "ROMA" below.

Edited August 15 by sand

[rasiel]

16 hours ago, sand said:

@rasiel Here's a Byzantine coin. This Byzantine Justinian I The Great coin is my 4th favorite coin, because of the mystery and spirituality of the Byzantine Empire, and the mysterious portrait of Justinian I The Great, and the sheer size of the coin. 

I know, right? They could double as coasters. Very nice :- )
Rasiel

[AncientJoe]

I have a few coins I'd consider "crown jewels" in my collection for various reasons:

 

Colosseum Sestertius

When I first held this coin in lot viewing, I said to myself, "Now THAT is a coin" and just sat there for a few minutes admiring it, thinking about the hands its passed through in history.

Ex Tommaso Saulini di Roma (1793-1864), Galeria Sangiorgi, Roma, Palazzo Borghese 28 April 1899, lot 110; Ex. Dr. Paul Hartwig, Auction MM P&P Santamaria, Rome 07.03.1910, Lot 1215

 

Athens Diobol, minted from melted gold statues of Nike to fund Athens defense against Sparta in the Peloponnesian War. 

I lost a lot of sleep over this coin. When the catalog first came out, I ran out of my office to show it to my wife saying, "I haven't been this excited for an auction in YEARS". I ended up preparing a nuclear bid: it's one of two in private hands - a good friend owns the other and won't be selling it - so this was my one shot, and I bought it for a fraction of my max bid.

 

Judaea Capta aureus, a purchase from this January. A friend bought this coin in an auction right as the COVID lockdowns began and I was always hoping it would find its way back to market. He later found several great pedigrees and ended up selling it along with the rest of his coins. I was absolutely thrilled to buy it - it's dripping in history: Boscoreale, an incredibly historic moment in history, and an artistic portrait of Vespasian.

 

Kimon Dekadrachm - I first saw this coin at NYINC ~12 years ago and fell in love with the art. It isn't signed but I find it far more aesthetically appealing than Kimon's signed dies. The flan is also uncommonly complete due to its slightly odd shape giving space for more detail than ordinarily present on these coins. It's one of the first coins I pick up whenever I view my collection.

 

Eid Mar denarius - I debated not including this as it's a coin which comes across as over-hyped is comparatively common. However, I'm including it because of its meaning to me. The first coin show I attended in person with my father had an Eid Mar on display. I only collected US coins at the time (and, coming from a lower-middle-class family, never dreamed of spending even $1,000 on a coin). I was drawn to the Eid Mar from reading Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" in high school and kept thinking about the coin as I walked around the show. At the same show, I held an Alexander the Great stater and was mesmerized by how it felt. These two experiences started the fire that eventually grew into my ancient coin collecting passion.

Fast forward a number of years and after selling my company, I was bidding on an Eid Mar. I spent months agonizing over bid levels and strategizing... to ultimately be outbid in the moment. At a coin show later in the year, I ended up meeting the dealer who represented the collector that bought it: the dealer had exceeded the collector's bid by a number of increments because they knew that it was a good coin. So, I ironically should have bought it in the end!

However, what resulted was me being introduced to the buyer. We became fast friends and this connection dramatically opened my numismatic world. I eventually did buy an Eid Mar (but sold it as the quality wasn't quite up to par). A few years later, at lot viewing, I saw a very nice example but immediately dismissed it as I assumed it would be impossible to acquire. Fast forward to the middle of the pandemic and somehow the stars aligned to where I was able to purchase it!

Perhaps I'll eventually upgrade to one with a longer pedigree but I'm very happy with this coin for its condition, toning, and overall appeal and to have an example of the type that sparked my interest in this crazy hobby.

Edited August 16 by AncientJoe

[Rand]

7 hours ago, AncientJoe said:

I have a few coins I'd consider "crown jewels" in my collection for various reasons:

I expected to see your Julius Caesar portrait aureus, but I can see why it did not make it.

[Qcumbor]

Once again, it's quite difficult to even think of "the crown jewel in one's collection" after I've seen what I've seen two posts above : that's carpet bombing !!!

Anyway, let's try !

The best of two known gold pistole (double ecu d'or) for François II de Montpensier, prince of the Dombes principality

 

An easy one in terms of availability, but I've been vey lucky to snag this particularily nice example thirty years ago

 

That sestertius has been an instant/impulse buy as I felt in love with its toning and patina the first second I saw it. That was at a coin show decades ago. Every one looking at it later on the same day told me they had seen it and were pondering whether they would buy it at the end of the day ... Too late !! The seller himself offered to buy it back from me the same day as someone had offered twice the asking price for it. They will have to grab it from my cold and stiff hands once I'm passed away 😄 

 

Q

 

[jdmKY]

@AncientJoe I was wondering what you would select. I think you could just post your Colosseo Collection link as each and every coin is a “Crown Jewel”!

[Edessa]

icily. Syracuse. Time of Agathokles, 310-305 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 16.98g, 6h). Struck circa 317-310 BC. Obv: Head of Arethousa left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; three dolphins around, NI below neck. Rev: Charioteer, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving fast quadriga left; counterclockwise triskeles above, [Σ]YPAKOΣIΩ[N] and monogram in exergue. Ref: Ierardi 39 (O4/R15); BAR Issue 2; HGC 2, 1348; SNG ANS 633–5 (same obv. die); Boston MFA 460 = Warren 402; Dewing 943 (same obv. die); Morgan 150 (same dies). Near Extra Fine, even light tone, with golden hues. From the Weise Collection, purchased from Pegasi (16 Sept 2000). Ex CNG Triton XXIII (15 Jan 2020), Lot 142.

[taja1948]

 

ex-Ars Classica XVI, 1933, lot 651; ex-Nelson Bunker Hunt, Sotheby's New York, 21 June 1990, lot 246; ex-Leu, Auction 81, 2001, Lot 101; ex-Leu, Auction 102, 29 April 2008, lot 78; ex-Charles Gillet Collection; ex-Dr. Patrick Tan Collection

[taja1948]

Paeonia. Patraos. 335-315 BC. AR Tetradrachm (12.75g, 3h). AMNG 17; SNG ANS -. Old cabinet tone. Exceptional style for issue. Choice extremely fine. From a European private collection; former J.L. collection; Frank Sternberg 1989 (22) lot 97; Münzen & Medaillen 1959 (19) lot 362; Adolph Hess 1936 (28 April) lot 593; former Mrs. Christitch collection, Brüder Egger 1912 (41) lot 309; former Fenerly Bey collection

[Brennos]

20 hours ago, AncientJoe said:

and I bought it for a fraction of my max bid.

 

So this wasn't a Leu auction 🙂

Of course it's very hard to choose your favorite children...

The first one because it lights up the trays like the sun while the second one seems to stand guard.

 

 

 

[John Conduitt]

On 8/15/2024 at 5:59 AM, rasiel said:

"what coin in your collection could grace the cover of a printed auction from a top auction house and would be aggressively be bidded on by others"

I definitely don't have any of those, on account of them being aggressively bid on by others 🤣

This coin is my most expensive by some distance, yet was only just bid into the middle of the auction estimate. If you want a solidus of Magnus Maximus, there are plenty from Trier to choose from before you get to one from the enigmatic mint of Augusta. The mint, however, is what makes it special for me and my collection of Roman and British coins. The British Museum - who own a double-die match of my coin - doesn't believe that Augusta was London but I'm not so sure - the coin inspired me to carry out a fair amount of research, which is one of the joys of collecting ancient coins, particularly when no-one has got to the bottom of the mystery. Whatever the case, coins from Augusta are pivotal to Magnus Maximus's journey from usurper in Britain to Emperor of the Western Empire. They hold secrets that clarify the murky historical record.

While not so popular with collectors, my coin is a minor celebrity. You can find it on Wildwinds, Numista and on the cover of Magnus Maximus: The Neglected Roman Emperor and his British Legacy by Maxwell Craven.

Magnus Maximus Solidus, 383-388

Augusta/London. Gold, 21mm, 4.59g, 6h. Rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Magnus Maximus right, seen from front; D N MAG MA-XIMVS P F AVG. Magnus Maximus and Theodosius I seated facing on double throne, jointly holding globe between them; half-length figure of Victory above facing between, vertical palm branch under throne; VICTOR-IA AVGG; AVGOB in exergue (RIC IX, 2b; Biaggi 2312 (this coin)). Ex Leo Biaggi de Blasys. NGC #6057866-002.

[El Cazador]

1 hour ago, Brennos said:

So this wasn't a Leu auction 🙂

Of course it's very hard to choose your favorite children...

The first one because it lights up the trays like the sun while the second one seems to stand guard.

 

 

 

I thought you would put here some of your amazing Syracuse Tetradrachms

Edited August 17 by El Cazador

[Spargrodan]

22 hours ago, jdmKY said:

@AncientJoe I was wondering what you would select. I think you could just post your Colosseo Collection link as each and every coin is a “Crown Jewel”!

I was thinking the same. 🙂

[I_v_a_n]

I'm counting this Lysimachos tet from Pergamon mint as a central peace of my collection. I do believe that exactly this obverce die has the best realistic portrait of Alexander the Great.

 

From modern coins my favorite is this ducat from Frankfurt with a provenance from Virgill Brandt collection. This is an amazing piece with mirrored surfaces.

 

[TIF]

I generally become incapacitated with indecision when asked such a question but will give it a go.

"Crown Jewel"... I guess technically, it would be this Agathokles tetradrachm since it is inarguably gorgeous and is the most expensive coin in my collection.  Acquiring it was a real nail-biting experience too.


SICILY, Syracuse. Agathokles (317-289 BCE)
struck 310-305 BCE
AR tetradrachm, 17.40 g, 24 mm
Obv: head of the nymph Arethusa left, wearing grain wreath, earring and necklace; around, three dolphins; under, monogram (NK?)
Rev: ΣYPAKOΣIΩN, fast chariot charioteer leads to left, holding reins and kentron; above, triskeles; in exergue, monogram
Ref: Ierardi 12 (O2-R8); SNG Copenhagen 573 var., SNG ANS 637

But, without diminishing my love of the above coin, there are so many others that bring me great pleasure and satisfaction.  A few:

Domitian diobol, Agathodaemon riding a horse

Eumenes I tetradrachm

This Aelius tet from @Theodosius  (an incredibly generous Secret Saturn gift)  I've recevied so many coin gifts from friends and treasure them all.


The first ancient coin I bought for myself.  At the time, I really thought this would be the only ancient coin I bought because to me, coins were something you received in change and if it happened to be valuable, you kept it in an album. 🤣

I'll stop with those but am already wracked with guilt for not showing dozens of others.  I don't want them to feel unloved!  🤣

[Theodosius]

I have always liked ancient coins which are signed by the artists that created them. When this coin from Pharsalos became available on Forum, described as being signed on both sides by “Telephantos,” I was immediately intrigued. Before I even had the coin in hand, I started to research the city to find any clues about who was this Telephantos? Some interesting history happened in Pharsalos, the name should be familiar to Roman Republic fans.

Pharsalos was one of the main cities in Thessaly. It claimed to be the Homeric Phthia, the birthplace of Achilles. In the Persian Wars, Pharsalos sided with the Athenians. In the early 4th century B.C., the city was a part of the Thessalian League. It was the only city in the league to mint coins with their own unique designs. The reason why it was able to do this is not currently known. The horse that often appears on the city’s coins alludes to the fact that the Thessalians had the best cavalry and bred the best horses. Alexander the Great’s famous horse, Bukephalos, for example, came from Thessaly.

Pharsalos joined the Macedonian Kingdom under Philip II. The area became a theater of war where the Aetolians and the Thessalians clashed with the Macedonians, especially during the Second and the Third Macedonian Wars. After the defeat of the Macedonian Kingdom, Pharsalos and the whole area became a part of the Roman Republic. Pharsalos is famous for being the scene of the final battle between Caesar and Pompey.

The coinage of Pharsalos is the subject of a die study by Stella Lavva (written in German and not an easy book to acquire). I found two reviews in English of her work, both of which had some questions about her dating of the coins, and her supposition that the Celator who signed their coins as “Telephantos” was actually the sculptor “Telephanes.” Her theory was the “Telephantos” was a pen name whose choice had some pointed meaning. OK, what meaning? I was not able to find a translation of “Telephantos” into English using translator apps and web searches. We usually think of the root “Tele” to mean “far”, but “phantos” I was not able to translate satisfactorily. If this is a pen name, then its meaning would probably tell us something interesting about the motivations of the artist.

Another interesting fact is that there are several variations of this design which include “TH” and another set of initials under it, such as “MI”, which are speculated by some to be the apprentices of Telephantos. The BCD collection contained a number of superb specimens, one of which sold for $90,000 hammer. There is one reverse die which includes all of Telephantos signature spelled out in the exergue. My specimen happens to have this die, the BCD collection had one in which the signature is more complete and visible. Some of the variations include different decorations of Athena’s helmet, including plain hinged cheek-pieces, eagles wings, snake coils, plant leaves, a sphinx leaping, and Skylla shading her eyes with a hand. A subcollection of drachms with all the different helmet decorations would be really satisfying.

Thessaly, Pharsalos, AR Drachm, Superb classical style, both dies signed by the master engraver Telephantos, 5.794 grams, 19.0mm, 195o, Pharsalos (Farsala, Greece) mint, late 5th-mid 4th century B.C.

Obverse: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet with raised cheek-piece, small TH behind neck.

Reverse: Φ-A-R-S (clockwise from lower right), Thessalian cavalryman on horse prancing right, wearing petasos, chlamys, and chiton, lagobolon over right shoulder in right hand, reins in left hand; TELEFANTO small, retrograde, and low relief in exergue.

References: Lavva 105 (V51/R58); BCD Thessaly II 640 (same rev. die); BMC Thessaly p. 43, 6 & pl. IX, 9 (same); HGC 4 624; BCD Thessaly I -.

The tiny letters on the obverse left and reverse exergue are the initials and signature of Telephantos.

John