A couple other people were posting some of their favorite coins from their collection, so I figured it was kosher to make my own thread. Also you can consider this an introduction thread I guess, since I hope to be spending some more time on here since I really like the community.
I bought my first coin about two years ago, and really caught the bug about a year ago. I have quite a few I really like, but a few have special value to me for one reason or another. So here they are; not necessarily my nicest or most expensive, but my favorite:
(Coin from Mesembria, Thrace)
My first ancient coin. A guy on a different, not coin related forum posted a thread selling them. I had to check to see if that was actually a thing that existed, since I figured all ancient coins that were found were in museums, but after convincing myself I took the plunge. It's small (16mm, 2.16g) and a little rough but holding something that old in my hand was a serious 'holy crap' moment.
(A Roman Macedonian Tetradrachm, minted at a Roman provincial or military mint between 148-80 BC. 30.4 mm, 16.667 g.)
This was my first "nice" coin. Up to the point I got this one I had about two silver coins, both small and very lacking in detail, and a bunch of bronze coins that ranged from common and in decent shape to somewhat uncommon and rough. Getting this one taught me the value of buying fewer, better coins that I usually forget now anyway but it's nice when it kicks in.
(A Roman Republic Denarius minted in Rome between 111-110 BC. 3.811 g, 17.6 mm)
To me, this is my most visually striking (the obverse at least, and the reverse is no slouch) coin. The detail on the helmet and Roma's face blows me away. I've got a few Republic denarii and I plan on getting many more, but it's going to be tough to knock this one off it's perch.
(A Billion tridrachm from Carthage, minted during the second Punic war. 9.589g, 26.2mm, Carthage mint, c. 215 - 205 B.C.)
If my house were burning down and I had time to grab one coin (if your house really burns down don't grab a coin, grab shoes. Trust me.) it would be this one. I love reading and studying about Carthage and the Punic Wars so I've wound up with a number of lower grade Carthaginian coins, but when I saw this one come available I had to pounce. A gorgeous Tanit on the obverse, a well detailed unfortunately headless horse on the reverse, and some pretty good metal for billion combine with the intrinsic history the coin has with a culture and time period I like so much to make this hands down my favorite coin.
I have many others that hold special places in my collection, but I figure that's enough for now. Anyone that wants to see the rest feel free to look at my forvm gallery:
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/ga...hp?cat=36133
Posted 04/19/2014 03:33 am
