Attica Athens Zeus Dioscuri

[cicerokid]

Meepzorp.

Just looked at your Attica AE gallery and saw this,

Attica, Athens, ca. 229-197 BC, AE 18
 helmeted head of Athena/
 AΘE, Zeus standing, hurling thunderbolt, pilei
 of the Dioscuri (caps with stars above)
 BMC 549, ex Lindgren collection
 Posted September 2016.

A very nice coin indeed BUT, the coin is often associated with the late type "New Style Caps of Dioscuri" tetradrachm of c 100 BC, by Price, Kroll and others I have forgot.

regards

John (cic)

[Meepzorp]

Hi cic,

I split your post into a new topic. Technically, it didn't belong in the thread it was in.

Thank you for the information. As you can see, that is a pedigreed coin from the Lindgren collection. I purchased it from Mr. Lindgren before he passed away.

Since Mr. Lindgren began his collecting many decades ago, he had a tendency to use old references, like BMC, for example. I suspect that is why the dating is off for that coin. I am sure that the dating is probably off for many other coins I purchased from him.

The dating for many coins has been revised over the decades as new references have been published. Dating can also be a very subjective and controversial area.

It is not a catastrophic error. I'll consider correcting it in the near future.

Meepzorp

[Meepzorp]

Hi folks,

I corrected it.

Here is a link (scroll down, second coin):

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/meepzorp/g_attica.htm


I also corrected a spelling error (salamander) in my Greek, Thrace, Part 1 page (scroll down, third coin):

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/meepzorp/g_thrace_pt01.htm

Meepzorp

[Pekka K]

I can add, that your coin is: Lindgren II #1550.

Pekka K

[Meepzorp]

Hi Pekka,

Thank you for the information.

Is it the Lindgren II plate coin?

Meepzorp

[Pekka K]

All Lindgren books show virtually all listed coins on plates.
Books II & III show plate on  adjacent page of list.

Pekka K

[Meepzorp]

Hi folks,

I researched this coin further, both online and using the Lindgren II reference book.

I have the Lindgren II reference book, but it took me while to find it. As many Forum members know, I don't have a bookcase. My ancient numismatic reference books are in boxes in my den. And I have a lot of them (both boxes and books). I had a rough idea where this book was. I eventually found it.

This coin is not the Lindgren plate coin, but it is the same type.

I decided to re-write my tags for this coin, and I shot photos of them.

I also edited my website page that contains this coin (again, for the second time within a span of 2 days).

Additionally, I decided to switch my coin #2 and coin #3 in that page. Armed with this new dating information, it turned out that my sphinx coin was minted earlier than my Zeus/Dioscuri coin. My sphinx coin is in Svor. pl. 80, whereas my Zeus/Dioscuri coin is in Svor. pl. 81. So, I had to switch them. My Zeus/Dioscuri coin is now my third coin in that page.

Meepzorp

[cicerokid]

The references, I do not know of any later

Price, Martin Jessop, “The New Style Coinage of Athens: some evidence from the Bronze issues” The Numismatic Journal and Journal of the Royal Numismatic Society, seventh series Vol 4 1964

Kroll, John H., Walker, Alan S. “The Greek Coins”- The Athenian Agora .The American Journal of Classical Studies at Athens. Vol. 26 The Greek coins   1993

Your Sphinx is now in the Augustan period according to Kroll/Walker c 10-31 AD and stylistically looks right.

BMC is "prehistoric" to a serious researcher- the difference between a collector and a researcher is the lack of or constant search for modern articles.


Cic

[Meepzorp]

BMC is "prehistoric" to a serious researcher- the difference between a collector and a researcher is the lack of or constant search for modern articles.

Cic

Hi cic,

I have so many coins that I don't have time to research every one of them.

Look how long it is taking me to complete my coin project, and that is without researching every coin. I started over 5 years ago, and there is no end in sight. My website is Phase III of my project, and I started that over 2 years ago. Imagine how long it would take me to complete my project if I had to research every one of my coins.

That's why I appreciate any help I can get from other Forum members like you. Your input is always welcome.

Meepzorp