RE: Ancients - What one coin would you have if only one?

northcoin

If you could only have one ancient coin to keep, which would it be? This assumes "keeping" the coin because you personally would treasure it for its historic, artistitic or other significance, and not just because it might have a high monetary value as a coin that would generate significant profit if sold.

Sylvestius

Athenian owl tetradrachm gotta get me one of those one day.

Steve27

There are too many to choose from, but this one caught my eye (sorry about the fuzzy pic):

rhound1977

I only have about a dozen ancients, but this was my first one; Athens 'New Style' Tetradrachm c. 102-101 B.C. (Silver) gVF.

Helmet head Athena on Obverse, Standing Owl on Reverse.

AuldFartte

<< <i>Athenian owl tetradrachm gotta get me one of those one day. >>



That would be my choice for an ancient

Aethelred

I guess something from Celtic or Roman Britain.

cosmicdebris

Which one got the best rendition of Pegasus on it? That's the one I would want.

AuldFartte

<< <i>I guess something from Celtic or Roman Britain. >>



Okay ... now I'll need to keep two

trozau

Judas' 30 Pieces of Silver - Matthew 26:14-15

"Then one of the 12, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, 'What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?' And they covenanted with him for 30 pieces of silver." -- Matthew 26:14-15. Shekels of Tyre were the only currency accepted at the Jerusalem Temple and are the most likely coinage with which Judas was paid for the betrayal of Christ. The silver shekels and half-shekels of Tyre were minted from c. 126 B.C. until c. 57 A.D. Any coin minted prior to 32 A.D., may have circulated in Jerusalem during Jesus' lifetime.

Weiss

<-- My icon

1jester

I don't know really, but I've always been intrigued by Celtic gold. I've seen some remarkable designs on them, and they're not a dime a dozen either.

Darkhorse

A Syracuse coin from Sicily, the one with the woman surrounded by dolphins on the obverse and the quadriga on the reverse.

1jester

DH, that first one almost looks like it could be from the Isle of Man!! With that privy mark on the top of the reverse.

Weiss

<< <i>
Shekels of Tyre were the only currency accepted at the Jerusalem Temple and are the most likely coinage with which Judas was paid for the betrayal of Christ. The silver shekels and half-shekels of Tyre were minted from c. 126 B.C. until c. 57 A.D. Any coin minted prior to 32 A.D., may have circulated in Jerusalem during Jesus' lifetime. >>



trozau, your post was intriguing. Got me wondering why temple Jews in Jerusalem would specify the coinage of a phonecian city. I'm guessing it's because it was generally agreed upon standard, much like the US dollar is now (or was before the Euro)?

Here's a great short article I googled about the use of the shekels and half shekels and their relation to the temple:

Tyre shekels in the temple

And some very attractive and pretty affordable examples at Harlan J. Berk

JZrarities

No doubt about it for me: (only $30,000)



Link to CNG description

lordmarcovan

If I could have only one, it would definitely be an Owl tetradrachm.

(One of the classic "old style" ones.)

northcoin

Thanks for all the responses. A collection of the above would be quite a prize.

northcoin

Any late postings?

spoon

Right now I'm looking for a nice Constantinopolis commemorative with full, legible legends and with eye appeal or UNCish. Found one a few months back and was slow on the trigger so I lost out

BigAlan

An antoninianus of Marcus Silbannacus. Except for one unique coin in the British Museum Silbannacus is unknown to history.

northcoin

Great additions.

dougdann

I think 1 coin is impossible.
But if I had had to narrow it down to only person(s) for collecting.
It would be the Faustina ladies.
Esp. a coin by Annia Faustina
annia

I think next year I will get one.


Doug

Cladiator

I keep checking to see if Civitas has responded...nothing yet

hyperizer

I've always regretted not bidding on an old-style owl tetradrachm that caught my eye in one of HJB's Buy or Bid sales a couple of years ago. I'm still searching for one as nice (that I can afford).

My favorite ancient is my Larissa drachm, though. I even love how off center it is It's super high-relief, has an attractive style, and was relatively inexpensive:

BigAlan

I even love how off center it is

To the guy who was placing the blank on the die so that someone else could hit it with a hammer "Quality was job two."

coinmickey

A gold Aureus of any of the 12 Caesars....

Ah, dare to dream!!

hyperizer

Quality was job two.

Indeed!

northcoin

Hyperizer - Is your logo intended as a subliminal ad for a chain of gas stations that used to feature the flying horse? Was it Mobil? I don't see them in my part of the country but perhaps they are alive and flying elsewhere in the country? By the way, that rainbow toning on your selection adds a nice touch.

hyperizer

Yep, Mobil! Also TriStar Pictures, I guess. It's a Corinth stater that's part of my type set:



I just won this Mithradates VI Tetradrachm. Talk about a guy with an interesting life!

northcoin

Interesting reference to the British Museum. I was told that one of the ancients I have is identical to a coin there. How extensive is their collection and has anyone published a book with photos of the collection?

northcoin

What is the best collection of ancients in any museum?

JZrarities

Yes - there is a set of books called the Syllogue Nummorum Graecorum (SNG) that have Corpus from many of the greatest Musuems.

Here's the List of SNG

You can also find some beautiful SNG coins online in the database:

SNG Coins

Agflyer

This is my favorite ancient. I love the high relief and the owl is just plain neat.

SYRACUSIAN

The Numismatic museum in Athens Greece has an impressive collection, if you ever visit the country. Also, a private bank, Alpha Bank ,thanks to the owner's passion for the hobby, has managed to assemble an impressive collection, the latest mega acquisition of which was a very rare Athenian dekadrachm.




edited to add numismatic museum's link

in English

northcoin

Thanks for the updates.