Some Greek AE Acquistions

[gordian_guy]

I recently added a few nice Greek AE's to the collection the following is a very nice Homer reverse from Ionia Smyrna:

Ionia, Smyrna; 105 - 95 BC
AE22; 8.96 g; 11h
Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo right.
Reverse: ΖΜΥΡΝΑΙΩΝ/ΜΗΝΟΦΙΛΟΣ/ΚΡΑΒΑVΣ, on either side of Homer seated left, wearing himation, chin resting on right hand, left holding volumen on knees; transverse staff behind him. Magistrate Menophilos Krabaus
Ref: BMC 246, 105; SNG Cop 1156;

c.rhodes

[gordian_guy]

The next is an AE15 from the Macedonian King Cassander, c. 317-305 BC.

Macedonian Kings, Cassander, 317-305 BC
AE15; 3.16 g; 6h
Obverse: Head of Heracles wearing Lion's skin right.
Reverse: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ/ΚΑΣΣΑΝΔΡΟΥ; Lion walking left, breaking spear with jaw and left paw; Control Marks: Thunderbolt above; Λ below lion; Τ in exergue;
Ref: cf SNG Cop 1154-1158 (With different control marks; 1158 has a Λ below, but not the other two control marks. SNG Alpha Bank lists 4 types with different control marks - 937-940).

c.rhodes

[Akropolis]

Both are EXCELLENT!
PeteB

[Molinari]

I recently added a few nice Greek AE's to the collection the following is a very nice Homer reverse from Ionia Smyrna:

Ionia, Smyrna; 105 - 95 BC
AE22; 8.96 g; 11h
Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo right.
Reverse: ΖΜΥΡΝΑΙΩΝ/ΜΗΝΟΦΙΛΟΣ/ΚΡΑΒΑVΣ, on either side of Homer seated left, wearing himation, chin resting on right hand, left holding volumen on knees; transverse staff behind him. Magistrate Menophilos Krabaus
Ref: BMC 246, 105; SNG Cop 1156;

c.rhodes

From Jochen's gallery there is a nice blurb on this issue, apparently called the "Homereum":

"Strabo mentioned specifically this issue of bronze coinage from Smyrna when, discussing this city, he says "there is also a library; and the 'Homereum', a quadrangular portico containing a shrine and a wooden statue of Homer; for the Smyrnaeans also lay especial claim to the poet and indeed a bronze coin of theirs is called Homereum. (Strabo, Geographica XIV, I.37, transl. by H.C.Jones, The Geography of Strabo, VI [Loeb, 1960], pp.245-247)"

[gordian_guy]

Thanks Nick. I also thought that someone had started a page on these coins, here on Forum, but I have not searched. I a couple of examples from Smyrna and one from Kolophon, so not a big collection at all, but still interesting to add one or two now and again. There are also a couple of papers out there on the subject, which I have only been able to find. I did manage to locate quite quickly Milne's work on the Autonomous Coinage of Smyrna - well actually mauseus sent me in the correct direction (credit where credit is due!). There is quite a series of these coins - differing Magistrates.

You remind me that it is time to complete my Strabo!!

c.rhodes

[gordian_guy]

Here is a nice "butting bull" AE from Sicily Syracuse, c. 317-310 BC.

Syracuse, Sicily
AE22; 9.68 g; 1h

Obverse: Bust of Kore left, star behind(?); [ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ] upward in left field.
Reverse: Bull butting to left. Above and below, dolphins, between upper dolphin and bull the letters: ΑΙ.
Ref: Calciati p. 215, 96 Ds14/R12.

As is typical the ethnic is worn.

[gordian_guy]

Here is another tiny AE from Syracuse, from the time of Roman Rule, c. 214-212 BC.

2004.029.2 Sicily Syracuse
AE14; 2.29 g; 2h

Obverse: Head of Poseidon left, dolphin(?) behind.
Reverse: Ornamented Trident. Below and on both sides of shank in two lines: ΣΥΡ-ΑΚ[Ο]/ΣΙ-Ω[Ν]
Ref: Calciati p. 418, 208 Ds 44

c.rhodes

[Lee S]

I am a little confused now... I have this Sicilian bronze ( with the most wonderful glossy green patina "in hand" ) which I had attributed as

Sicily, Syracuse, Hieron II. 287-278BC. AE20mm. Obv. Head of Persephone left, with Wreath of grain ears. Rev.Bull butting left with dolphins above and below. Reference: Calciati II pg. 341, 190

  Did I get it wrong???

Best wishes,

Lee.

[Arados]

I do see the problem Lee, your coin is clearly Hieron II (Persephone) where as gordian_guy´s coin is the female bust of Kore.  

Edit: still Lee does have a point, can someone with authority of this type clarify the difference between Kore & Persephone or are they one of the same ?  

[gordian_guy]

Kore and Persephone are one in the same. I use them interchangeably and depending on the reference you have you either see the bust as Kore (Calciati) or Persephone (ANS etc).

Lee, your coin looks correctly attributed. I am not at home so I can't look it up in Calciati, but the Hieron II types typically have the ground line on which the bull stands, the earlier Agathocles do not.

c.rhodes

[Lee S]

That clears up my confusion!!
  Thanks Guys!!
 

[Enodia]

Kore literally means 'maiden', and refers to the goddess before Her abduction, after which Her name becomes Persephone.
the Demeter/Persephone cult gained a huge following in Sicily, which is why we see 'The Two' on so many Sicilian coins.

~ Peter

[Taras]

Kore literally means 'maiden', and refers to the goddess before Her abduction, after which Her name becomes Persephone.
the Demeter/Persephone cult gained a huge following in Sicily, which is why we see 'The Two' on so many Sicilian coins.

~ Peter

  well put Peter, a further translation for Κόρη could be "the daughter".


For a more strict classification of the coin posted by Lee S, it shows the poppy head symbol behind head on obverse, and traces of the letter T below upper dolphin, the variant listed by Calciati: 190 Ds 102 Rl 19

Further variants on symbols listed by Calciati for the emission 190 (also called group II of the Kore-Bull of Hieron Series):

Ds 14.......STAR obv Ds 18.......BUCRANIUM obv Ds 22.......KANTHAROS obv Ds 41.......CORNUCOPIA obv Ds 50.......TORCH obv Ds 83.......FOREPART OF BULL obv Ds 92.......SERPENT obv Rl 1..........letter A below upper dolphin rev Rl 15........letter O below upper dolphin rev
Regards
Nico

[gordian_guy]

Good eye on the T, Nico. I got the poppy head, but I would have been hunting for the T!!

c.rhodes

[Lee S]

WOW!!!

  Thanks Guys for the extra info, and especially Nico for the pin point identification!!! Its too late right now to pull the coin out, but tomorrow night I will look at it with a new pair of eyes... 

  Much numismatic love, respect and best wishes from Sweden!!

  Lee.

[gordian_guy]

A few more nice/interesting Greek AE's added to my collection recently!!

1) 2014.180.2 Sicily, Syracuse

AE Litral; Timoleon & The 3rd Democracy, c. 344 - 335 B.C.
AE18; 5.06 g; 3h

Obverse: ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ before Head of Apollo left; Amphora behind.
Reverse: Pegasus flying to left. ΑΓ below.
Ref: CNS 85, Ds4/R12.

c.rhodes

[gordian_guy]

2) 2014.180.1 Sicily, Gela, c. 420 - 405 B.C.

AE Tetras; AE17; 3.77 g; 11h

Obverse: ΓΕΛΑΣ above standing to right, head lowered; in exergue 3 pellets.
Reverse: Head of River God, with floating hair, right; Barley grain behind.
Ref: CNS Vol. III, 17;

c.rhodes

[gordian_guy]

3) 2014.161.1 Thessaly, Thessalian League, 2nd - 1st Century B.C.

AE20; 5.89 g; 2h

Obverse: ΝΥΣ above helmet ΣΑΝ l. down ΔΡΟV beneath bust of Athena, wearing crested Corinthian helmet right.
Reverse: ΘΕΣ-ΣΑΛΩΝ, above and below bridled horse trotting to right; stock of grain (ear of corn) before, on right.
Ref: cf BCD Thessaly 903.2; Rogers 45; cf BMC 6, 64;
Note: Magistrate: Nysandros.

c.rhodes

[quadrans]

Nice coins c.rhodes   

 Q.

[gordian_guy]

Thank you quadrans!!

c.rhodes

[Meepzorp]

Hi gordian,

Nice coins, especially the Magna Graecia ones!

Meepzorp