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

[Finn235]

If I had to pick a single coin that I would rank highest in terms of history, art, "cool factor", and price paid, it would probably be this one

Alexander the Great Lifetime tetradrachm, Tarsus mint. This is a type I had dreamed of ever since I was a kid, and after a good six months of striking out on hundreds of coins in dozens of auctions, this was the first coin I ever spent more than $500 on

I also realized a couple years ago that this coin is ex-Beastcoins, and still takes the top spot on his page for the Macedonian empire:

https://beastcoins.com/MacedonianKingdom/MacedonianKingdom.htm

 

Honorable runner-up would be my all-time favorite Roman portrait, a Caracalla denarius that I personally consider to be a masterpiece example of Roman portraiture

 

For personal reasons, this early Gadhaiya sparked my passion for Indo-Sassanian coinage that led from me wanting "a few examples" to owning the largest collection in private hands

 

Other honorable mentions:

Lesbos EL Hekte - I really wanted an early Greek gold coin, and this was a wonderful example right at the cutover between archaic and classical coinage.

 

This tetradrachm of Seleukos has the most impressive relief on any of my coins - and I got it for a *killer* deal because it was mis-attributed and being sold by Ares before they had stronger bidding action.

 

 

This Kyme Aiolis diobol is not only exceptionally beautiful for such a small (13mm) coin, but it is also exceptionally rare - only about 5-10 are known to exist, as far as I can tell.

 

I immediately recognized this as being a coin of Lucius Caesar when I bought it, but after trying to research it and coming up empty, I realized that it was in fact unpublished! Unfortunately someone stole my thunder and submitted it to RPC before I was able to 😞

 

This Divus Augustus I was excited to get at what I considered a great price, but even better - the detectorist who found it happened to spot it on CT and reached out to provide the findspot provenance - and now I know exactly where it was dropped nearly 2,000 years ago

[CPK]

Like many here, my "crown jewel" coin is probably my Lysimachos tetradrachm featuring Alexander the Great. Runner up to my lifetime JC portrait denarius. Neither are in the best of condition and there are many, many better ones here on the Forum, but they are as good as I'll ever be able to afford.

[Factor]

I have many interesting coins, including some unique, beautiful and historically important but rarely combination of more than one of these characteristics. Here is one of such coins, a medallion size quite beautiful (I think best known for the type) issue of Capitolias in Decapolis featuring Septimius Severus.

[AncientCoinnoisseur]

On 8/13/2024 at 3:07 PM, AETHER said:

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

That is a very nice one, congrats! I plan on getting a Lysimachos too one day!

 

 

On 8/13/2024 at 4:59 PM, Phil Davis said:

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.)

 

Well, that's a beauty. I was always fascinated by the style of Republican coins, they have this abstract quality to them, just a few sharp lines and yet everything is there.

 

On 8/14/2024 at 8:44 PM, ominus1 said:

.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!  🙂

..i'm with ya Friend!  🙂

So many coins, I think one day I'll end up like this, ha!

 

On 8/15/2024 at 1:40 AM, Parthicus said:

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...

Both very nice examples, I am tempted to try and get a worn Caesar portrait denarius. I might wait and get a better one in the future though, I don't know! Those are crazy expensive 😕

 

On 8/15/2024 at 5:44 AM, MrMonkeySwag96 said:

Some of my best quality Roman Republic denarii:

 

 

 

All stunning specimens, no wonder they are your crown jewels 🙂

 

On 8/15/2024 at 6:19 AM, MrMonkeySwag96 said:

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. 
 

 

 

 

Very nice choices! I'm not an expert on modern coins, but based on beauty alone I can tell why they are your favourites 🙂

 

On 8/15/2024 at 6:59 AM, rasiel said:

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

 

Very very nice choices, so cool! I was trying to compile a list of all the emperors and usurpers in rough chronological order, do you know where I can get a complete list including even the more obscure ones?

 

On 8/15/2024 at 9:44 AM, sand said:

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.

Nice choices! I always wanted a silver piece of eight and an Athens Tetradrachm 🙂

 

On 8/16/2024 at 3:37 AM, AncientJoe said:

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.

Those are all tremendous choices, and thank you for your write-up. I wouldn't know which one to choose among these, but because of rarity and history I'd probably go with the Athens Diobol, but by a tiny margin, they are all spectacular! Your whole collection is probably the best I have ever seen!

 

 

On 8/16/2024 at 12:18 PM, Qcumbor said:

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

 

All great choices, very very nice!

 

On 8/16/2024 at 6:08 PM, Edessa said:

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.

I so want an Agathokles Tetradrachm (not being able to get a Dekadrachm!). Amazing example!

 

On 8/16/2024 at 6:51 PM, taja1948 said:

 

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

You can never go wrong with a Syracuse, great specimen!

 

On 8/16/2024 at 6:54 PM, taja1948 said:

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

Great coin, and the details on both the obverse and reverse are spectacular! 

 

On 8/17/2024 at 12:43 AM, 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.

 

 

 

Both stunning choices, congrats! I still have to get a gold coin. One day, one day... 🙂 

 

On 8/17/2024 at 2:24 AM, John Conduitt said:

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.

Cool coin, and great details! You can never go wrong with gold 🙂 

 

On 8/17/2024 at 12:39 PM, I_v_a_n said:

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.

 

As much as I like your second coin (which is great and gold!), I am in love with that Lysimachos, truly looks like a photograph. He is almost about to speak.

 

On 8/17/2024 at 2:18 PM, TIF said:

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!  🤣

Those are all great choices, and for different reasons (although the Agathokles steals the show 🙂 )

 

On 8/18/2024 at 12:11 AM, Theodosius said:

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

Ok, now you got me intrigued by signed coins too! The only ones I know are the Kimon and Euainetos, but I bet there are many more! Great coin and great write-up!

 

17 hours ago, Finn235 said:

If I had to pick a single coin that I would rank highest in terms of history, art, "cool factor", and price paid, it would probably be this one

Alexander the Great Lifetime tetradrachm, Tarsus mint. This is a type I had dreamed of ever since I was a kid, and after a good six months of striking out on hundreds of coins in dozens of auctions, this was the first coin I ever spent more than $500 on

I also realized a couple years ago that this coin is ex-Beastcoins, and still takes the top spot on his page for the Macedonian empire:

https://beastcoins.com/MacedonianKingdom/MacedonianKingdom.htm

 

Honorable runner-up would be my all-time favorite Roman portrait, a Caracalla denarius that I personally consider to be a masterpiece example of Roman portraiture

 

For personal reasons, this early Gadhaiya sparked my passion for Indo-Sassanian coinage that led from me wanting "a few examples" to owning the largest collection in private hands

 

Other honorable mentions:

Lesbos EL Hekte - I really wanted an early Greek gold coin, and this was a wonderful example right at the cutover between archaic and classical coinage.

 

This tetradrachm of Seleukos has the most impressive relief on any of my coins - and I got it for a *killer* deal because it was mis-attributed and being sold by Ares before they had stronger bidding action.

 

 

This Kyme Aiolis diobol is not only exceptionally beautiful for such a small (13mm) coin, but it is also exceptionally rare - only about 5-10 are known to exist, as far as I can tell.

 

I immediately recognized this as being a coin of Lucius Caesar when I bought it, but after trying to research it and coming up empty, I realized that it was in fact unpublished! Unfortunately someone stole my thunder and submitted it to RPC before I was able to 😞

 

This Divus Augustus I was excited to get at what I considered a great price, but even better - the detectorist who found it happened to spot it on CT and reached out to provide the findspot provenance - and now I know exactly where it was dropped nearly 2,000 years ago

All great choices, thanks for sharing!

16 hours ago, CPK said:

Like many here, my "crown jewel" coin is probably my Lysimachos tetradrachm featuring Alexander the Great. Runner up to my lifetime JC portrait denarius. Neither are in the best of condition and there are many, many better ones here on the Forum, but they are as good as I'll ever be able to afford.

Both great choices and both on my bucket list 🙂 

 

9 hours ago, Factor said:

I have many interesting coins, including some unique, beautiful and historically important but rarely combination of more than one of these characteristics. Here is one of such coins, a medallion size quite beautiful (I think best known for the type) issue of Capitolias in Decapolis featuring Septimius Severus.

Nice, I love bulky coins!

Edited August 19 by AncientCoinnoisseur

[Heliodromus]

[Sulla80]

My favorites have already been shown too many times, it seems to me that the coin that arrived most recently is worthy of at least a temporary title of "crown Jewel"...a coin from the period between Republic and Empire near the time that Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus renewed their tense alliance in 37 BCE at Tarentum (Taranto). More coins of the 2nd Triumvirate: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/coins-of-the-second-triumvirate

Roman Imperatorial, Octavian,  AR Denarius (3.87g, 20mm, 8h), Southern or central Italian mint, 37 BCE

Obv: IMP•CAESAR•DIVI•F•III•VIR•ITER•R•P•C, bare head to right

Rev: COS•ITER•ET•TER•DESIG, simpulum, aspergillum, jug and lituus

Ref: Crawford 538/1; CRI 312; BMCRR Gaul 116; RSC 91 (Augustus)

Notes: Very Fine; surface scratches. Crawford notes a "disproportionate number of plated copies of this issue".  Crown added virtually and is not original to the coin.  Location of Taranto in Italy:

Edited August 20 by Sulla80

[panzerman]

I do not have any crown jewels but I like these two/ beautifull designs/ perfect strike and flawless/ ine struck in 1848 height of 1848 revolutions/ second one in 1741 part of larger series of Basel "City View" Dukaten/ mine is the poor mans coin/ the 10/ 20/ 30 Dukaten are heavenly and only for RICH collectors. The AV 4 Dukaten Austrian-Hungarian Empire is my fav. design. Seems Swiss Cantons/ Holy Roman Empire/ German States struck amazing coinage. I also love this Transylvanian one HRE Karl VI ND (1714) Also Danzig AV Doppel Dukat ND John III Sobieski

[El Cazador]

10 hours ago, panzerman said:

I do not have any crown jewels but I like these two/ beautifull designs/ perfect strike and flawless/ ine struck in 1848 height of 1848 revolutions/ second one in 1741 part of larger series of Basel "City View" Dukaten/ mine is the poor mans coin/ the 10/ 20/ 30 Dukaten are heavenly and only for RICH collectors. The AV 4 Dukaten Austrian-Hungarian Empire is my fav. design. Seems Swiss Cantons/ Holy Roman Empire/ German States struck amazing coinage. I also love this Transylvanian one HRE Karl VI ND (1714) Also Danzig AV Doppel Dukat ND John III Sobieski

Coin 3 is perfect 

Edited August 21 by El Cazador

[CassiusMarcus]

My current favourites are my Perseus Tetradrachm and Alexander the Great Stater, 

Love these two but looking forward to getting something even more special one day! 

[Sulla80]

On 8/21/2024 at 8:10 AM, panzerman said:

I do not have any crown jewels but ...

I might argue that you have nothing but crown jewels 🙂 always fun to see.

[antwerpen2306]

Reading this comments, I think you have to choose a crown jewel by period, if you have a big collection....but I love all coins, for me, a beautiful coin is a jewel, as I have only one head and I am not very young, I don't prefer to have to much crown jewels 😄

[Alegandron]

This is not a common set of AncientEtruria:

20-Asses: (Similar to a Roman AR Didrachm / Heavy Denarius)

Etruria, Populonia
3rd Century BC
Silver 20-Asses
8.1g, ovoid 16.6mm x 20mm
Obv: Facing head of Metus, hair bound with a diadem, X:X below
Rev: blank
Sambon 47; HN Italy 152


10-Asses: (Similar to a Roman AR Denarius)

Etruria Populonia
AR 10 Asses 20mm 4.21g
211-206 BC
Obv: Male Hd
Rev: Blank
die break


5-Asses: (Similar to a Roman AR Quinarius)

ETRURIA, POPULONIA.
Etruria Populonia
AR 5 Asses 2.0g
3rd C BCE
Obv: Young Head L, V (denomination) behind
Rev: blank
HN 173 Vecchi Rasna III 52 ex NAC 29 No 9 RARE

2-1/2 Asses: (Similar to a Roman AR Sestertius)

2-½ asses , AR 0.85 g
3rd century BC
Obv: Radiate female head r.; behind, CII.
Rev: Blank.
Ref: EC 104 (misdescribed, Female head with an Attic helmet). Historia Numorum Italy 179.
NAC Comment: Of the highest rarity, apparently only the second specimen known. Dark patina and about very fine.
Ex: From the collection of E.E. Clain-Stefanelli


1-As: (Similar to a Roman AR - nothing - only Bronze in Roman Currency)

Etruria Populonia
AR 1 As 0.60g 10.0mm
after 211 BCE
Obv: Male Head Left
Rev: Plain Rev
Ref: Vecchi 3 68-70 HN Italy 181
Seller/Auction comment: EXTREMELY RARE

[Alegandron]

 

SOCIAL WAR / Marsic Confederation

MARSIC CONFEDERATION (Social War 90-88 BCE)

Marsic Confederation
Denarius 89 BCE
Obv: Italia
Rev: Italia seated shields, -victory crowning, In Ex: retro B
Corfinium Mint
Campana 105 HN Italy 412a
Sear 228 RARE



Marsic Confederation / Italian Allies
Social War 90-88 BCE
AR Denarius
19x17.9mm, 3.7g
Anonymous Issue, Corfinium Mint
Obv: Italia head, l, ITALIA behind
Rev: Oath-taking scene with eight warriors, four on each side, pointing their swords towards a sacrificial pig, which is held by an attendant kneeling at the foot of a standard. - Binding the Marsi, Picentines, Paeligni, Marrucini, Vestini, Frentani, Samnites, and Hirpini Tribes into the Marsic Confederation against Rome during the Social War
Comment: The reverse is based on the gold Stater and Half-Stater from the Second Punic War, and the Ti Viturius denarius...
Sear 227 SYD 621 SCARCE



Marsic Confederation
AR Denarius
Bovianum(?) mint, 89 BCE.
3.93g, 20mm, 3h
Obv: Laureate head of Italia left, VITELIA = ITALIA in Oscan script
Rev: Soldier standing facing, head right, foot on uncertain object, holding inverted spear and sword, recumbent bull to right facing; retrograde B in exergue.
Ref: Campana 122 (same dies); HN Italy 407
Ex: Eucharius Collection.
Ex: Roma Auction 11, Lot 607

 

 

 

[Alegandron]

CARTHAGE EMPIRE AR


Carthage Zeugitania AR Half-Shekel(approx Drachm / Denarius) 17mm 3.8g 2nd Punic War 218-202 BC Sicily mint 216-211 BC Tanit l Horse r sun as double uraeus SNG COP 359



Carthage - Sicily AR Litra (approx Obol / Sestertius) 4th C BCE 9.5mm 0.65g Palm Tree Horse Head SNG Cop 74 EE Clain-Safanelli RARE



Bruttium Carthage occup 2nd Punic War AR Half-Shekel (approx Drachm / Denarius) 216-211 Tanit Horse SOLAR-O HN Italy 2016 SNG Cop 361-3



Bruttium Carthage occup 2nd Punic War AR Half-Shekel (approx Drachm / Denarius) 216-211 Tanit Horse SOLARdisc HN Italy 2016 



Carthage - Zeugitana AR Shekel- (approx DiDrachm / Heavy Denarius) 360-264 BCE Tanit Horse r head l palm SNG COP 141



Carthage 300-264 BCE AR 2/3 Shekel (approx 3 Denarii or 3 Drachm)Tanit-Horse Sear6491 SNG COP143var-tile

This was the last series that Carthage minted just before they were exterminated by the Romans in 146 BCE. The City was razed, with it not being resettled until Caesar's veterans almost 100 years later. No coins until even later.

This is an odd issue from Carthage, as they did not produce serrated coins until their demise. This one is kinda hard to obtain.


Carthage Third Punic War Serrate Double Shekel 149-146 BCE 12.8g 26mm Wreathd Tanit-Horse pellet raised leg SNG COP 404

Edited August 27 by Alegandron

[Alegandron]

RI
Civil War
VINDEX 68-69 CE
AR Denarius 3.22g
Gallic mint
SALVS GENERIS HVMANI Victory l globe -
SPQR in wreath
RIC 72 BMCRE 34-36 RSC 420



RI
Civil War
Revolt of Vindex
CE 68-69
AR Denarius
ROMA RESTITVTA -
IVPITER LIBERATOR Jupiter seated r Tbolt Scepter
17mm 3.02g
RIC I 62 RSC 374

[Alegandron]

ACHAEMENID EMPIRE


PERSIA, Achaemenid Empire.
Darios I to Xerxes II.
Circa 485-420 BC.
AV Daric (14mm, 8.30 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Sardes mint.
Persian king or hero, wearing kidarisand kandys, quiver over shoulder, in kneeling-running stance right, holding spear in right hand, bow in left /
Incuse punch.
Carradice Type IIIb, Group A/B (pl. XIII, 27);
Meadows, Administration 321; BMC Arabia pl. XXIV, 26.
 

Carthage - Zeugitana 
AV 1/10th Stater-Shekel 
350-320 BCE 
0.94g 7.5mm 
Palm- 
Horse Head 
SNG COP 132


Electrum

Zeugitania, Carthage
Anonymous BCE 310-290
EL Dekadrachm - Stater
18.5mm, 7.27g
Obverse: Wreathed head of Tanit left, eleven pendants on necklace; pellet before neck
Reverse: Horse standing right; three pellets below exergue line
Ref: MAA 12; SNG Copenhagen 136

[traveler]

6 hours ago, Alegandron said:

ACHAEMENID EMPIRE


PERSIA, Achaemenid Empire.
Darios I to Xerxes II.
Circa 485-420 BC.
AV Daric (14mm, 8.30 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Sardes mint.
Persian king or hero, wearing kidarisand kandys, quiver over shoulder, in kneeling-running stance right, holding spear in right hand, bow in left /
Incuse punch.
Carradice Type IIIb, Group A/B (pl. XIII, 27);
Meadows, Administration 321; BMC Arabia pl. XXIV, 26.
 

Carthage - Zeugitana 
AV 1/10th Stater-Shekel 
350-320 BCE 
0.94g 7.5mm 
Palm- 
Horse Head 
SNG COP 132


Electrum

Zeugitania, Carthage
Anonymous BCE 310-290
EL Dekadrachm - Stater
18.5mm, 7.27g
Obverse: Wreathed head of Tanit left, eleven pendants on necklace; pellet before neck
Reverse: Horse standing right; three pellets below exergue line
Ref: MAA 12; SNG Copenhagen 136

The Carthage Electrum coin is very beautiful. But are you sure it's a dekadrachm?

[Alegandron]

2 hours ago, traveler said:

The Carthage Electrum coin is very beautiful. But are you sure it's a dekadrachm?

 

I purchased this coin from AncientNoob when we were all on CT.  Here is one of his write-ups  in 2016:

AncientnoobMoney Changer

Some of you may have known about my long standing goal to acquire the great Punic coins of yesteryear. This was no small undertaking, it took months of selling, trading and hunting for just the right example at a palatable price. (It was not a palatable price, but rather quite sickening.) For a bottom feeder this meant climbing up the column to dangerous shark infested waters, but with no risk there is no reward.

Most are familiar with Carthage to some degree. Most are aware that Carthage was among the Roman Republic's most powerful and fierce enemies. Their history, art and literature are nearly non existent, tales of their brutality, greed and deceit are legendary, first recorded by the Greeks and then etched in stone by the Romans. Everyone knows that the history of the world is written by the winners and is often biased.

Recent and not so recent archaeological evidence suggests that indeed many of the tales of child sacrifice and taboo ritual was widly practiced with in the Domain of Carthage. Many sites through out Africa and Iberia, have been uncovered with what is a called a Tophet. The Tophet was essentially a deep firepit with the likeness of a god or goddess above it, in some cases Tanit or the Titan Uranus, with arms outstretched. It was discussed the book, "Carthage Must Be Destroyed" that often families would sacrifice a child to Tanit, or any number of other deities. Tophets have that have been excavated often produce human infant remains, as well as still birth fetuses and animals. One would have been able to sacrifice animals in lieu of children at a rate of 3-1, or one might be able to purchase a street child, if well to do. Such a horrible and taboo practice was not without it purpose. Most of the sacrifices appear to be still births or children that may have been born sickly or misshapen. Such acts also protected the distribution of wealth by limiting the number of heirs and as a form of population control. By the end of the 3rd Punic War, Carthage was hugely over populated and stories exist of Roman soldiers being able to enter the city by scaling the walls and easily descending on roof tops of houses butted up against the wall.

This coin, a mere electrum stater, according to Jenkins was worth a ration of 10-1 silver to electrum, during the reign of Agothekles. (@TIF post the tet). Making the coin a DEKA-Drachm. The Carthaginians largely borrowed coin designs from their Sicilian rivals, whom at the time produced some of the most beautiful specimens in the world. As far as coins are concerned Carthage was late on the scene, minting the first pieces sometime around BC 450 and ending with its destruction in BC 148. These coins were minted largely to pay mercenaries of various races and ethnicity fighting for control of Sicily and other locations in Magna Graecia.

This coin was minted right at the start of the silver debasement of the Gold Stater (at one time worth a ratio of 20-1, silver to gold, rapidly declining in gold fineness and artistic style, as economic pressures depleted the treasury and the gold had to be stretched farther and farther. The Electrum Staters started out at about 70% fine and over the next century decline to 30% and eventually was replaced by Silver, then Billon and finally all kinds of odd ball bronze denominations.(@TIF - ugh the 15 Shekel please.)

Carthage may have been destroyed their literature burned, the building razed and their people slaughtered, but still we may admire the coins. This coin baring the Head of Tanit, whom the Carthaginians worshiped as the goddess of fertility, was seen by the Greeks and Romans as Kore or Persephone the goddess of the Underworld and Vegetation.

Finally, I may cross my #1 most sought after dream coin off the list. Please post your best coins of Magna Graecia. Here is mine.

Africa, Zeugutana, Carthage
Anonymous (s. BC 310-290)
EL Dekadrachm (Stater)
18.5 mm x 7.27 grams
Obverse: Wreathed head of Tanit left, eleven pendants on necklace; pellet before neck
Reverse: Horse standing right; two pellets below exergue line
Ref:Jenkins & Lewis Group V, 259–79; MAA 10; SNG Copenhagen 975

Edited August 27 by Alegandron

[Nemo]

Capitolias in Decapolis featuring Septimius Severus

 

Yours look very similar to this one and has same scratch in hair but the edge defects and cracks seem to be closed on the other one.

I do not like the patina on yours but it might be the pictures.

May I ask if it is ex ebay?

If yes ex fake seller (nfs list forvm) or reliable seller?

 

https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/zurqieh/171/product/an_example_of_stunning_quality_decapolis_capitolias_septimius_severus_ad_193211__34_dated_cy_108_ad_2045/1412468/Default.aspx

 

Same dies 2 at acsearch

 

https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?term=Capitolias+Septimius+Severus+zeus&category=1-2&lot=&date_from=&date_to=&thesaurus=1&images=1&en=1&de=1&fr=1&it=1&es=1&ot=1&currency=usd&order=0

[Factor]

It is the coin from the VCoins link you provided. I didn't like the artificial 'sand' patina this seller typically applies to his coins, so I had it removed and the coin repatinated by a well known coin restoration expert. The coin was not tooled, all the original details are intact. It now looks amazing in hand, the pictures I took are a bit too dark.