Tif's 2014 Coin Recap

It was a fantastic year for my collection. It seems like only yesterday that I started collecting ancient coins. Probably because it wasn't much earlier than yesterday . After occasionally lurking on this forum I started playing Guess The Emperor. The hook was set deep.

While I bought fewer ancient coins in 2014 than in 2013, the difference was large mixed lots. In 2013 I bought several very large minimally described mixed lots. It was tons of fun but this year I've tried to acquire coins of higher quality and rarity. I haven't tallied up the final number or amount spend in 2014. I will certainly avoid the latter. I don't want to know!

There were a few "mistakes" purchased this year but for the most part I'm very happy with the haul. Here are some of my favorites from this year, not necessarily shown in order (the Agathokles tetradrachm takes top spot as favorite):



Top to bottom, left to right:

Doson tetradrachm, which finally escaped the postal Bermuda Triangle and made it home.
Agathokles tetradrachm, a nail-biting auction experience.
Philip II tetradrachm (ex Colosseo Collection), purchased from my coin hero and friend.
Septimius Severus Circus Maximum denarius (ex Colosseo Collection)
Elagabalus denarius, Transporting the Sacred Stone of Emesa
Julius Caesar denarius with Venus Genetrix driving a biga of Cupids (ex RBW Collection)
Plautius Plancus denarius with Medusa/Aurora (ex Jonathan Kern Collection)
Mussidius Longus denarius, Sol/Shrine to Venus Cloacina
Lydian Lion EL trite
Celtic Germania, "Little Dancing Man" quinarius
Phoenician dishekel
Phoenician provincial, Elagabalus/Dido building Carthage
Nero sestertius, Annona and Ceres.

Reading the history about these coins has provided many hours of entertainment and I tried to share that fun with various writeups. Among my favorites were A Boy and His Stone, A Deity Worthy of Respect, and A Coin from the Purple People.

In 2014 I worked hard on a website for my coins. Various forum gallery options just weren't cutting it. I'm slowly adding content and writeups; it is always a work-in-progress. One part of the site which is particularly fun to work on is the Stories section.

One of the best things about collecting ancient coins is talking about them on forums such as CoinCommunity. Thanks, everyone, for your coin camaraderie. I hope 2015 brings you many coins and much fun!