| Astronomy on Ancient Coins |  |
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| Philip I, the Arab, February 244 - End of September 249 A.D., Soli-Pompeiopolis, Cilicia |   | Aratos was a native of Soli. His chief pursuits were medicine, grammar, and philosophy. He studied with Menecrates in Ephesus, Philitas in Cos and Praxiphanes in Athens. About 276 he was invited to the court of the Antigonus II Gonatas, whose victory over the Gauls in 277 BC Aratus set to verse. There he wrote his most famous poem, Phaenomena ("Appearances"). He then spent some time at the court of Antiochus I Soter but returned to Pella where he died sometime before 240 B.C.
Comes with an old round coin ticket probably from Seaby 1960's or 1970's that references Milne, Numismatic Chronicle 1940, page 247, 40 (Notes on the Oxford Collection. 6, Phrygia to Galatia - Numismatic Chronicle, 5th ser. Vol. 20 (1940), p. 213-254, pls. XII-XIV). We do not hold NC 1940 and cannot verify the reference. |
| SH58900. Bronze hexassarion, Lindgren I 1605 (same dies); BMC Cilicia -, SNG BnF -, SNG Levante -, SNGvA -, SNG Cop -, SNG Pfälzer -, gF, weight 12.323 g, maximum diameter 32.4 mm, die axis 180o, Soli-Pompeiopolis mint, 245 - 246 A.D.; obverse AUT K IOU FILIPPOC EU CEB, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, P - P across field; reverse POMPHIOPOL IAT (year 131) V (6 assaria), bare-headed, draped bust of Aratos right; ex Ancient Numismatic Enterprise; extremely rare; $720.00 (€554.40) |
| Antoninus Pius, August 138 - 7 March 161 A.D., Roman Provincial Egypt, Zodiac Type - Helios (Sun) in Leo |  | "The Zodiac series issued during year eight of Antoninus Pius is one of the more remarkable iconographic programs in the entire scope of Greek or Roman coinage." -- Keith Emmett, Alexandria Coins, p. 74A |
| SH58902. Bronze drachm, Milne 1813 - 1814, Geissen 1495 - 1496, Kampmann-Ganschow 35.278, Dattari 2967 var (draped bust); Emmett 1530, gF, river find, weight 21.911 g, maximum diameter 33.5 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 29 Aug 144 - 28 Aug 145 A.D.; obverse AUT K T AIL ADR ANTWNINOC CEB EUC, laureate head right; reverse radiate and draped bust of Helios facing right and star, above lion running right, L H (year 8) below; big 32mm bronze drachm; $445.00 (€342.65) |
| Cyprus, Time of Augustus, 27 B.C. - 14 A.D. |  | Augustus' sun sign was Libra. We don't know why he selected the Capricorn as his emblem. Perhaps Capricorn was either his rising sign or his Moon sign. Popular astrology, of the newspaper kind, is sun sign astrology. The ancients tended to attach more importance to the Moon sign and rising sign. Perhaps Augustus selected the Capricorn because it is associated with stern moral authority. Tiberius (born Nov. 13) was a Scorpio. |
| SH59392. Bronze AE 18, RPC I 3916, SNG Cop -, aVF, weight 2.854 g, maximum diameter 16.0 mm, die axis 315o, Cypriot mint, obverse capricorn right, star above; reverse scorpion left, star above; $330.00 (€254.10) |
| Cyprus, Time of Augustus, 27 B.C. - 14 A.D. |  | Augustus' sun sign was Libra. We don't know why he selected the Capricorn as his emblem. Perhaps Capricorn was either his rising sign or his Moon sign. Popular astrology, of the newspaper kind, is sun sign astrology. The ancients tended to attach more importance to the Moon sign and rising sign. Perhaps Augustus selected the Capricorn because it is associated with stern moral authority. Tiberius (born Nov. 13) was a Scorpio. |
| SH60294. Bronze AE 18, RPC I 3916, SNG Cop -, aVF, light cleaning scratches, weight 2.728 g, maximum diameter 18.8 mm, die axis 0o, Cypriot mint, obverse capricorn right, star above; reverse scorpion left, star above; ex Heritage Auctions; $260.00 (€200.20) |
| Byzantion, Thace, 150 - 200 A.D. |  | Byzantion was founded by Greek colonists from Megara in 657 B.C. The city was rebuilt as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine I in 330 A.D. and renamed Constantinople. It became the capital of the Ottoman Empire when it was conquered in 1453. Today it is Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, and the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart.
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| GB64032. Bronze AE 21, RPC online 3908; Schönert-Geiss Byzantion 1920 (V5/R12); SNG Cop 499; BMC Thrace p. 96, 38, VF, weight 4.023 g, maximum diameter 20.6 mm, die axis 0o, Byzantion mint, 150 - 200 A.D.; obverse draped bust of Artemis right, quiver on shoulder, bow before; reverse BVZANTIWN (NT ligate), star within crescent with horns upward; ex Helios Numismatik auction 7 (12 Dec 2011), lot 493; $160.00 (€123.20) |
| Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D., Carrhae, Mesopotamia |  | Carrhae is the Haran of the Bible. Crassus was defeated and killed by the Parthians near Carrhae in 53 B.C. Emperor Galerius was defeated on the same site in 296 A.D. |
| RP57175. Bronze AE 21, BMC Arabia p. 84, 15, SNG Cop -, F, weight 4.991 g, maximum diameter 20.6 mm, die axis 180o, Carrhae mint, obverse AUTOKR ANTWNEINOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, with short beard; reverse KAR KOL MHTROPOL, eight pointed star in crescent; very rare; $120.00 (€92.40) |
| Cyprus, Time of Augustus, 27 B.C. - 14 A.D. |  | Augustus' sun sign was Libra. We don't know why he selected the Capricorn as his emblem. Perhaps Capricorn was either his rising sign or his Moon sign. Popular astrology, of the newspaper kind, is sun sign astrology. The ancients tended to attach more importance to the Moon sign and rising sign. Perhaps Augustus selected the Capricorn because it is associated with stern moral authority. Tiberius (born Nov. 13) was a Scorpio. |
| SH58097. Bronze AE 18, RPC I 3916; SNG Cop -, F, weight 2.666 g, maximum diameter 16.1 mm, die axis 0o, Cypriot mint, obverse capricorn, star above; reverse scorpion, star above; $120.00 (€92.40) |
| Roman Republic, M. Tullius, 120 B.C. |  | The wreath might represent an eclipse that occurred on 11 November 120 B.C., which the Romans declared indicated divine support for their recent victories in southern France. The reverse more likely commemorates the victories of Servius Tullius, the moneyer's ancestor, over the Sabines. He was the first Roman to be awarded the laurel wreath. The mark of value (X) on the reverse is very unusual. |
| RR58309. Silver denarius, SRCV I 155, Sydenham 531, Crawford 280/1, RSC I Tullia 1, aVF, weight 3.866 g, maximum diameter 21.2 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 120 B.C.; obverse helmeted head of Roma right, ROMA behind; reverse Victory in a quadriga right, reigns in both hands, palm frond in left, wreath above, X below, M•TVLLI in ex; $110.00 (€84.70) |
| Macrinus, 11 April 217 - 8 June 218 A.D., Carrhae, Mesopotamia |  | Carrhae had a famous temple to a male moon god, known to the Romans as Lunus. Lunus had prophetic powers and Caracalla was on his way to consult with Lunus when he was murdered. Prieur speculates that Macrinus may have feared his plan to murder Caracalla was about to be revealed by the god. |
| RP63697. Silver tetradrachm, Prieur 836, VF, weight 13.922 g, maximum diameter 25.0 mm, die axis 0o, Carrhae mint, 217 - 218 A.D.; obverse AUT K M OP CE MAKRINOC CE, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, from behind; reverse DMARC EX UPATOC, eagle standing front, wings spread, head right, between legs crescent, star in left field, two pellets (second officina?) in ex; REV LEG?; $100.00 (€77.00) |
| Roman Republic, M. Tullius, 120 B.C. |  | The wreath might represent an eclipse that occurred on 11 November 120 B.C., which the Romans declared indicated divine support for their recent victories in southern France. The reverse more likely commemorates the victories of Servius Tullius, the moneyer's ancestor, over the Sabines. He was the first Roman to be awarded the laurel wreath. The mark of value (X) on the reverse is very unusual. |
| RR54745. Silver denarius, SRCV I 155, Sydenham 531, Crawford 280/1, RSC I Tullia 1, aVF, weight 3.280 g, maximum diameter 19.8 mm, die axis 90o, Rome mint, 120 B.C.; obverse helmeted head of Roma right, ROMA behind; reverse Victory in a quadriga right, reigns in both hands, palm frond in left, wreath above, X below, M•TVLLI in ex; $95.00 (€73.15) |
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