Lysimacheia, Thrace, Greece, c. 309 - 221 B.C. Overstruck

[Joe Sermarini]

I think I know what this is, but I am not entirely sure. Anyone think I have it wrong (or right)?

Lysimacheia, Thrace, Greece, c. 309 - 221 B.C.

cf. SNG Cop 914 ff., BMC Thrace p. 195, 4 ff., F, weight 4.154g, maximum diameter 18.4mm, die axis 0o, Lysimachia (Eksemil, Turkey) mint, obverse head of Herakles right, clad in Nemean lion scalp headdress; reverse ΛYΣIMAXIΩN, Nike standing left, monograms right

Undertype: Veiled head of Demeter right, wearing wreath of grain, LUSIMA/CEWN in two lines, head right eyes up.

[djmacdo]

Looks correct to me.  These are frequently overstruck.

[Altamura]

I'm in doubt  .

The back of the head of the undertype does not look veiled to me.
Both types of Lysimacheia with a veiled Demeter (there are two, I didn't really understand which one you mean) are weighing more than the coin here (more than 6 g).

A lot of these Herakles/Nike coins are overstruck on Apollo/tripod coins of Antiochos II Theos, but I think this isn't an option neither (again because of the back of the head  ).

But I have no idea which coin could be the undertype here .

Regards

Altamura

[djmacdo]

The Lysimacheia Herakles/Nike types are normally overstruck on Seleucid Antiochos II/Tripod AEs, most of which were struck at the Sardes mint, but some apparently by branch mint(s?) in Thrace.

[djmacdo]

I have several of these.  Here is the clearest:

[Altamura]

… A lot of these Herakles/Nike coins are overstruck on Apollo/tripod coins of Antiochos II Theos, but I think this isn't an option neither (again because of the back of the head  ).  ...

Meanwhile I think my "back of the head argument" is not so convincing, it really could be an Apollo and so the undertype is from Antiochos II.

You find some examples of these overstrikes in this article by Melih Arslan: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7liBn5XLsAfb19DQ005RW1zQmM/view

Regards

Altamura

[Joe Sermarini]

Thanks Altamura and djmacado.  I will have to look at the Arslan article.

[djmacdo]

I published one in my book on overstrikes too.

[Joe Sermarini]

I just looked up your book on overstrikes. I didn't own it and it did not have page in NumisWiki. I just corrected that. I ordered a copy from Amazon.

I added a NumisWiki page:

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/NumisWiki/view.asp?key=MacDonald%20Overstruck

I added it to the NumisWiki overstrike page and to the Forum Overstrike Theme page.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=overstrike

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1776

[Joe Sermarini]

Ah, I just figured out why I don't have your book. I ordered it long ago, but somehow it went into inventory instead of my library and was sold. I never even saw it.

[Molinari]

It is an excellent book.  You’ll be happy to have a copy.

[Joe Sermarini]

I am looking forward to it. 

BTW, I just pulled out Potamikon.  I think I have a Neapolis # 195.

[Joe Sermarini]

My MacDonald Overstrikes arrived. It is an excellent book. I didn't know quite what to expect but it certainly exceeds expectations. I didn't realize it before, but seeing them published this way, I recognize that I have seen some of these before. Some overstrikes must be fairly common undertype-overtype combinations. I guess I will know more when I finish reading.  

I put the subject coin in the shop.  The price may be too high, but my consignor has high expectations.  The price will drop if it does not sell.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?param=89880q00.jpg&vpar=18&zpg=97416

[djmacdo]

The occasional, isolated overstrikes and mass overstrikes.  Most mass overstrikes are bronze and on older coins from the same mint.  This Lysimacheia type is an overstrike over Seleucid AEs, so somewhat unusual.  I find them all fascinating, but I must admit that they tend to be ugly--not always, but often.