2013 is closing in & I for one will be glad to see this horrible year go away due to many reasons. But 2012 wasnt all doom/gloom for me offline, it was a pretty good nusmismatic year for me, especially for ancients.
It was hard to pick but I chose 3 of my favorite purchases this year.
What was your favorite coin purchases of 2012?
My first coin is my #1 favorite purchase this year. It was also my most expensive, for me since I usually buy coins on a tight budget. But it was an empress I always wanted pretty much since the first time I saw her when I got into ancients.
Shes fairly scarce but finding good examples is fairly tough. This had everything going for it and despite having scrimp and save I was lucky to get it for a price well below I would have normally paid.
Orbiana (225 - 227 A.D.)
AR Denarius
O: SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, draped bust right.
R: CONCORDIA AVGG,Concordia seated left holding double cornucopia and patera.
19mm
3.8g
RIC IV 319, RSC III 1, BMCRE VI 287, SRCV II 8191
My second favorite purchase. It was one of those too good to be true prices on ebay and with quick research to confirm it wasnt a fake I snatched it up quickly. I was mainly attracted to the reverse. It isnt a type I have in my ancients. Plus I really loved the dark/natural patina and it was from a Eastern Mint, Emesa (Antioch). Not the usual "rome mint" my coins consist of from this period.
Septimius Severus (AD 193-211)
AR Denarius
O: Laureate head right.
R.Corn ear between crossed cornucopia.
(3.19 gm).
Emesa (Antioch) mint, AD 194/195.
RIC 373, RSC 142b.
Last is a ancient I never expected to own for many years. But it was being sold here by another poster here on CT at a reasonable price. The fact it was graded by NGC also made it more attractive since it too is commonly faked.
So of course after some back and forth PMing, it was now in my collection. Of course I cracked it out of the slab since no ancient belongs in graded plastic:devil::(.
So despite being a bit off center, its still one of my top favorites, plus it’s common for these to be off center.
Who wouldnt want to own a coin from Julius Caesar at a great price??
Julius Caesar (Died 44 B.C.)
AR Denarius
O: CAESAR below elephant right trampling on snake.
R: Emblems of the pontificate culullus (cup) or simpulum (ladle), sprinkler, axe and apex (priest’s hat).
Military Mint, Traveling with Caesar 49 B.C.
3.96g
18.5mm
RSC I 49, SRCV I 1399, Sydenham 1006, Crawford 443/1
