FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board
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The Members' Gallery => Topic started by: Curtis JJ on January 24, 2023, 05:15:10 pm
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I'll collect almost any ancient coin type I can get my hands on, but most of them seem to fall into the three areas below. I've added a couple more to each in the past few days (looks like 37 photos total now):
(1) Modern History of Ancient Coins: Plate Coins & Old Collections: [LINK] (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=7707)
- Vespasian AR Denarius, Vesta, ex Archer Huntington Collection (with the museum tag):
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180013
One of the coins that the American Numismatic Society & Hispanic Society of America fought over for years...
- Pelinna AR Obol, from BCD Thessaly I, Pozzi coll., "Man in Love with Art" (Al-Thani):
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180004
I have a BCD sub-collection. Where did it come from, where did it go? (My external BCD Annotated Bibliography: [website LINK] (https://conservatoricoins.com/ex-bcd-collection-bibliography/).)
(2) Barbarians, Captives, and Enemies on Roman Coins ("BCE Collection"): [LINK] (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=7713)
- "The Dreadlocked Gallia," Hostilius Saserna Denarius:
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180014
This obverse die is just so haunting. I really believe she's a real person, one of the Gallic captives brought back to Rome by Caesar.
- Valens AE3 GLORIA ROMANORVM, 2 Crosses, CONSΔ (RIC IX 41b.7) -- or imitation thereof:
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=179999
Either a rare type or an imitation. (Does RIC 41b.7 even exist?)
Roman Imperial "captives" coinage had begun to use Christian vs. Pagan imagery in the mid-4th century, rather than just Emperor/Army vs. Barbarian.
Possibly the best $2.11 I've spent!
- "Rape of the Sabines," Founding Myth of Rome, on Titurius Sabinus Denarius:
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=179986
Rome's founding myth involved taking captives to build their society, so it should be no surprise that images of captives, prisoners of war, and slaves became central to their Imperial propaganda in later centuries.
(3) Animals & Mythical Creatures: [LINK] (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=7710)
- Antestius Denarius, 146 BCE, Dog Running (Water Spaniel w/ "Lion Cut"?):
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180015
The dog just looks so happy!
- Athens Owl AR Tetradrachm, Ex Berk FPL #2 (1974) & Weaver FPL #2 (1975):
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180016
Purchased in 2019, but I found it in an old Douglas Weaver list from 1974 (a catalog I had bought as a BCD Library Duplicate, and was originally addressed to coin dealer Henry Christensen!).
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Nice group of coins ... +++
Joe
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Agreed! Great additions
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All are nice, the dog Antestius coin is simply amazing. I have one, but not as nice.
Virgil
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I've added a few more gallery coins (and a new gallery, four total now):
"Plate Coins & Old Collections":
Phrygia, Grimenothyrai AE23, published in Lindgren, vA Phrygiens II, RPC (ex Lindgren, Burstein, Drewry): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180309
"Plate Coin" from Galst's Ophthalmologia in Nummis (Skione Hemiobol): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180302
Re: that last one, I've also added two new Numiswiki articles.
I didn't personally know Jay Galst (1950-2020), but I'm sure some here did. (If I missed anything important or got anything wrong, please don't hesitate to edit the entry or let me know.) But I had a writeup and many references in my "provenance glossary," so I added entries for him and his 2013 book with P. van Alfen:
Jay M. Galst: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Jay%20M.%20Galst
Ophthalmologia Optica et Visio in Nummis: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Ophthalmologia%20Optica%20et%20Visio%20in%20Nummis
Barbarians, Captives, and Enemies on Roman Coins:
Vespasian Judaea Capta AE As (Scarce "IVDEA" Spelling), ex Bressett & Salton: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180303
Animals & Mythical Creatures:
Numidian Horse Leaping: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180307
Greek (Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic):
A new category I plan to add more to...
Alexander III Tetradrachm, Amphipolis (Price 133): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180308
Alexander III AV Stater (Pregnant Nike?): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180305
Syracuse Tetradrachm, Unpublished (Unique?) Die Combination: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180304
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Hello Curtis,
Great coins and thank you for contributing to NumisWiki. It really is an amazing resource that Joe hosts for the entire community.
The external links didn't come through on your Ophthalmologia Optica entry, so I corrected that for you. The links now work.
All the best.
Tracy
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Thanks much, Tracy!
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More great stuff Curtis, keep them coming.
Virgil
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Very nice, I particularly like the Alex. III stater.
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Another nice little group of coins... ;) +++
Joe
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Lately I’ve been adding coins to a new “BCD Collection-Collection” Album. (The BCD Collection is/was a vast collection of Greek coins, named for the initials of its collector. The 10 major auctions all now serve as important references. I’ve posted my Annotated Bibliography of the BCD Collection on an external website [LINK] (https://conservatoricoins.com/ex-bcd-collection-bibliography).)
So far, 17 of my 90+ ex-BCD coins, plus 4 of my favorites from the BCD Library Duplicates (out of many). Not sure how it will appear to others, but I’ve ordered it by region (alphabetically) with Literature at the end:
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=7851 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=7851)
I’ve uploaded at least one coin for 8 of 10 major BCD catalogs (still need BCD Olympia and BCD Boiotia):
BCD Akarnania 278.1 (Leukas Pegasos Stater): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180452 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180452)
BCD Corinth 721 (Marcus Aurelius RPC): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180457 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180457)
BCD Euboia 587 (countermarked Karystos AE): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180664 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180664)
BCD Peloponnesos 328.11 (Sikyon AE, dove/wreath) [EX FORUM!]: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180662 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180662)
BCD Peloponnesos II 2327 (Messenia AR Hemiobol): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=174583 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=174583)
BCD Lokris-Phokis 198 (Phokis AR Hemiobol): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180666 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180666)
BCD Thessaly 1433.7 (Pelinna AR Obol): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180004 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180004)
BCD Thessaly II 218 (Larissa AR Drachm): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180492 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180492)
For Olympia and Boiotia I only have “BCD Collection Duplicates” (coins from his collection but not in the major sales):
Olympia (interesting AE flip-over double strike): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180667 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180667)
Boeotia (Thebes AE, shield/trident): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180670 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180670)
Literature, Duplicates from the BCD Library (possibly the most extensive private library of Greek coins in the world). Some old American Fixed Price List catalogs by mail, stamped, postmarked, and addressed to well-known collectors and dealers. (All addresses shown are official, public business addresses.) For those who collected in decades past, these can be a source of nostalgia … or memories of frustration over where to put them all. Good for provenance research (I found my own coins in some of these):
JSD Catalogs, run of 23, ex Malloy Library (why does BCD call JSD "a pair of unusual – to say the least – individuals"?!): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180679 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180679)
CCE Catalog, ex Joel Malter Library: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180678 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180678)
BOMAR Catalog, ex Gregory Brunk Library: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180676 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180676)
WEAVER Catalog, ex Henry Chrinstensen Library: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180677 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180677)
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I've been looking in some of the sale catalogues offering the duplicates of the BCD library. And, as he did with the coin sales, he offers additional notes about the catalogue or book on offer. These notes are useful in themselves and provide a good indication of how useful the prospective book/catalogue might be, much more than just the core bibliographic description of the item.
Regards,
Mauseus
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Mauseus, Yes! That's one of my favorite bibliographic references for ancient coin literature! They always begin "note from BCD" so it's easy to search them on ACSearch. There are 1,645 records (so far): https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?term=%22Note+from+bcd%22&category=8 (https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?term=%22Note+from+bcd%22&category=8)
There are a few unsolds which repeat, but usually if he sells multiple copies of the same book/catalog, there are new comments each time. Just as likely to be about the authors (or dealers/consignors) as the books/catalogs, so lots of interesting history and personal reminiscences.
For Burton Berry's 1971 Numismatic Biography he gives FOUR different sets of comments! https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?term=BCD+Berry+1971 (https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?term=BCD+Berry+1971)
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I've been building up my "Barbarians, Captives, and Enemies" Gallery of Roman Coins.
If I understand right, the default might be "newest photos at top" but if the viewer sorts by "Position" they'll see them in the order I placed them?
So, I've sorted them chronologically from Republican through 5th cent. I've added a brief summary to the start of each title (e.g., "Two Captives-and-Trophy" or "Fallen Horseman").
35 Files: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=7713 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=7713)
Among others, I've added some Republican:
Tarpeia-being-crushed-by-shields Denarius, to go with the Abduction of the Sabines, also from Titurius Sabinus: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180865 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180865)
"Vercingetorix" Denarius (or male Gaul, depending which you believe, as I mentioned in the comments), to go with the "Dreadlocked Gallia," also from Hostilius Saserna : https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180834 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180834)
I have a lot more RIC to add, but have tried to hit each dynasty:
Rare Septimius Severus variant Denarius (shield & captives, but with one captive standing), RIC 214: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180940 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180940)
Severus Alexander [ex-Forum] & Maximinus Tetradrachms from Alexandria...
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180556 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180556)
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=174801 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=174801)
Licinius II, ex Dattari (1858-1923) Collection, "digital plate coin" on constantinethegreatcoins.com (Victor Clark, his VCoins photo):
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180960 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180960)
A couple of Cloke & Toone LMCC "Plate Coins" from the DiMarzio Londinium Collection (w/ Toone's and DiMarzio's collector tags [contact info redacted]):
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180920 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180920)
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180918 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180918)
Extra Large Fallen Horseman (25mm, 7.7g):
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180488 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180488)
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Great fallen horseman! Massive!
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For those who enjoy the minor rarities of Late Roman Bronze Coinage:
I’ve added an R.SECVNDA Valentinian GLORIA ROMANORVM (Emperor Dragging Captive) to my “Captives” gallery. (Seemingly much less common than the SECVRITAS types with the officinae spelled out.) The references also link the few other examples I’ve been able to find pictured.
(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/27154/normal_Valentinian_Captive_SECVNDA.png)
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=181398
The R.SECVNDA references the second officina at the Rome mint. There were also R.PRIMA, R.TERTIA, and R.QVARTA coins struck for Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian. Warren Esty has a useful page on them: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/RomeOfficina/Officina.html#prima
Fortunately, it went unsold when I consigned it (among others) to a new auction site in 2013, RomanCoinAuctions (RCA), run partly by Belgian coin seller Rudi Smits, who died the next year. (The RCA site then ended.) He sold coins as “Romadrome” on MA-Shops and had a numismatist position at Numismall when it was still a multi-seller platform like VCoins and MA-Shops. Luckily, I had a chance to correspond with Rudi regularly during that year, and I still have some coins I bought from him.
Since I was reminded of it, I also posted one coin I bought from Rudi – one of seven Philip I AR Antoniniani from the first part of the 1994 Warenham, Dorset Hoard (this coin = Wareham No. 163, RIC 31):
(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/27154/normal_Philip_I_AR_Antoninianus_Wareham_RIC_31.png)
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=181422
Common coins, but interesting for having been individually cataloged in Coin Hoards from Roman Britain X (1997). No photos, but 0.01g weights were given along with RIC nos., so it was easy to confirm which coin was which. They were Rudi's cheapest coins in the auction, but, like me, he seemed quite interested in their origin from the Wareham hoard & CHRB publication. I'm always surprised other bidders don't value that more highly, but I guess there are thousands of them out there. Still, I never get bored with them.
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"New" camera alert! Coin photography is not my strong suit, but I just inherited a camera that's giving me better results – and much more quickly (which makes a big difference with a backlog of unphotographed coins!). Nothing fancy, just a Canon ELPH 300 w/ "macro" settings.
I've just uploaded the first coin I photographed with it: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=181557
(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/27154/normal_Elis_Olympia_E1TRWh.jpg)
This type is particularly interesting for the long controversy over its dating, ranging from the 4th cent. BCE to the end of Marc Antony & Cleopatra's reign 300 years later. (Actually, as noted in BCD Olympia 307 [LINK] (https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=170391), “The dating of this series of coins is more than just controversial.”) A bit more on that in the Gallery description.
As usual, I bought this coin just as much for its interesting "object biography," which I can almost trace to its unearthing c. 1887-1894 (prob. IGCH 216 [LINK] (http://coinhoards.org/id/igch0216)). Solidus 108 [LINK] (https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=10118921) only gave the most recent collector (albeit a very distinguished one), the German numismatist P. R. Franke (1926-2018).
Fortunately, I also recognized it from the Christopher Morcom (1939-) Collection (CNG 76.1). C. Morcom inherited it from his grandfather, Col. R. K. Morcom (1877-1961).
The coin is reportedly also ex-collection of the archaeologist/numismatist E. P. Warren (1860-1928) [bio LINK] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Perry_Warren), and was Lot 809 in Naville Ars Classica XV (2 Jul 1930) [LINK] (https://archive.org/details/MonnaiesAntiquesGrecquesRomainesXV), from the collection of a "recently deceased foreign amateur" (one of two amateurs étrangers récemment décédés). R. K. Morcom may have had personal knowledge that E. P. Warren was one of those two “amateurs.”
Warren was also the “well-known amateur” in Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge’s 2 May 1905 sale (see, e.g., Clain-Stefanelli 2002; Spring 787; Grierson [1966] 186). He died 18 months before Ars Classica XV, so it seems likely, but not certain, that his remaining coins were included.
(https://i.imgur.com/VDZMLgL.jpg)
The coin probably originated from IGCH 216 [LINK] (http://coinhoards.org/id/igch0216), a late 19th century hoard (the type was previously unknown). Several museums acquired specimens around the same time. I can’t yet confirm it with certainly, but I believe the coins were most likely dispersed by Canon [Rev.] William Greenwell (1820-1918) [bio LINK] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Greenwell), an archaeologist/collector active in Olympia at the time, from whom Warren acquired most of his coins, and who was selling coins (including from Olympia) to the BM at the time.
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Thanks for sharing that, Curtis. Love the backstory on the coin. It's like you've somehow managed to trace it back, hand to hand, owner to owner, to its unearthing in a hoard. Unbelievable!
The tag is a nice touch. Nice photo, too. :)
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One more link in the provenance chain for the most recent coin I added to my gallery: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=181557.
Jacob Hirsch XXV (29 Nov 1909), collection of Gustav Philipsen (Copenhagen, 1853-1925), Lot 1300: https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/hirsch_jacob1909_11_29/0308/
I was excited to find this one by chance, both because it's the first coin from G. Philipsen Collection in my collection, and it pushes the earliest direct record back >20 years, and much closer to its likely unearthing (IGCH 216, unknown findspot hoard, c. 1887-1894) [LINK] (http://coinhoards.org/id/igch0216).
(https://i.imgur.com/2ARgtsR.png)
The Philipsen sale included a total of 5 coins of the general type: one other illustrated (Lot 1299) and a group lot of 3 (1301). Those coins were unknown to that time except for those from IGCH 216. They're described as "seemingly unpublished" ("Scheint unediert"), though Earle-Fox published his pair in the Numismatic Chronicle in 1898 (pp. 292-3) [LINK] (https://www.jstor.org/stable/42680658), followed by Wroth in 1905 (NC, 1905, p. 335) [LINK] (https://www.jstor.org/stable/42662133). (The BM acquired 12, Athens 7, from the same group.)
There have been others found after that original 19th century group, but it's still an uncommon type. I don't think anyone has tried to reconstruct the hoard (e.g., in Coin Hoards), but it seems like there's enough information available to make a lot of progress beyond the original Inventory of Greek Coin Hoards. (Incidentally, the Morcom Collection had another example, ex C.S. Bement, which was probably from the same hoard [LINK] (https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=399233).)
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Does anyone else feel that Thessalian coins never get boring? Three more Thessalian coins added to my gallery, alongside a couple of their old friends:
Some backup for my (previously posted) Pelinna Peltast (warrior) Obol. Now the Peltast is accompanied by the god of war, Athena.
Pharkadon AR Obol (c. 400 BCE) with Horse Prancing & Athena w/ weapons (left image, w/ BCD Collection tag & photos):
(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/27154/normal_Thessaly_Pharcadon_Obol_BCD_Tags_Photos_Wh.jpg) (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/27154/normal_Pelinna_Obol_Pozzi_BCD_Thessaly.png)
New (Pharcadon): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=181806 // Previously posted (Pelinna): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180004
Who was the bigger Grecophile, Nero or Hadrian? Both were famous for their love of Greece, but whose was greater? Hadrian was nicknamed Graeculus ("Greekling"), while Nero performed in games and "liberated" Achaea. I previously posted a pair of Nero AE from Thessaly (one depicting him as Apollo Citharoedus, the other depicting a Taurokathapsia scene).
The new upload is a Hadrian bronze (BCD Thess. II 952.2) from the Koinon of Thessaly (i.e., Thessalian League in the Roman Period) to keep my pair of Nero's company. Hadrian returned to the traditional reverse type for the Koinon, Athena Itonia.
(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/27154/normal_Thessaly_Koinon_Hadrian_BCD_Tags2_1k.jpg) (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/27154/Nero_Thessaly_Koinon_BCD_Merani_284902C_6529.jpg)
New (Hadrian): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=181807 // Previous (Nero): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=181188
Another coin of uncertain dating (a topic that always interests me). I've always liked the artistry of these Skotussa Hemidrachms with Artemis on the obverse and Poseidon on the reverse, but it's rare to find examples that aren't well worn, mine being no exception. (My other specimen even more so.) They used be dated as early as 400-367 BCE (Babelon, de Luynes 1869); more recently Alan Walker argued for late 3rd century, or possibly even 2nd or 1st century BCE (BCD Thessaly I 1341). (BCD Thessaly II 755 suggested c. 220 BCE.)
I do think the reverse must've been inspired by the Hellenistic motif of a figure on the reverse seated left, holding a small icon in one hand, and staff-shaped object in the other.
(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/27154/normal_Thessaly_Skotussa_Hemidrachm_Wh.png)
Skotussa Hemidrachm: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=181808
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Past few days I’ve been working on a new album:
“Errors, Preparation Marks, Alterations, Damage & Other Physical Characteristics.”
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=7883
So far only about 16 coins, but more to come. They're organized into five categories, based roughly on the typical “numismatic lifecycle”:
A. Flan Preparation: “Stannard Gouge” (Al Marco Adjustment); Fourrée; Centering Dimple.
B. Minting Process: Brockage (Obverse) [2 coins]; Partial Brockage (Reverse); Flip-Over Double Strike; Rotated Double-Strike; Delamination.
C. Modifications (Ancient): Cut in Antiquity; Countermark; Graffito.
D. Environmental Damage: (No examples posted. I have a “Delamination” example, but I think that typically happens during striking, no?)
E. Alteration (Modern) : Jewelry (Loop Removed); Jewelry (Edge Altered); Cut in Modernity; Tooled.
(Any suggestions? Corrections?)
BIBLIOGRAPHY: I’ve also tried to link any references available online that may be useful (I'm sure I'll remember many more & add them as I go):
Richard Baker (1984) "Countermarks Found On Ancient Roman Coins: A Brief Introduction," in SAN: Journal of the Society for Ancient Numismatics vol. XV, No. 3: https://www.accla.org/actaaccla/baker2.html (https://www.accla.org/actaaccla/baker2.html)
Butcher & Ponting (2014/2015), Metallurgy of Roman Silver Coinage… (Cambridge U. Press). Preview on Google Books: https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Metallurgy_of_Roman_Silver_Coinage/aBVoBgAAQBAJ (https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Metallurgy_of_Roman_Silver_Coinage/aBVoBgAAQBAJ)
And: Ponting & Butcher (2005), “Analysis of Roman Silver Coins…” (Archaeology Data Service, UK): https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/coins_lt_2005/ (https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/coins_lt_2005/)
Esty, Interesting brockages! http://augustuscoins.com/ed/interesting/brockage.html (http://augustuscoins.com/ed/interesting/brockage.html) (Not in the Album, but generally a very useful site, I need to double-check for any more pages relevant to this topic)
Liampi (AJN 2008) "NIKA, ΛEIA: Graffiti on Sicyonian and Theban Staters in a New Hoard from Boeotia / Beginning of 2000": https://www.jstor.org/stable/43580312 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/43580312)
McCabe, Andrew (n.d.), page on "Plated Coins of the Roman Republic" https://andrewmccabe.ancients.info/Plated.html (https://andrewmccabe.ancients.info/Plated.html) (Including a great plated brockage first published by Clive Stannard!)
Nurpetlian (NC 2018), “Brockage Coins”: https://www.jstor.org/stable/45176685 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/45176685)
Nurpetlian (NC 2019), “Numismatic Mutants”: https://www.jstor.org/stable/45288605 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/45288605)
Pangerl, Andreas [w/ R. Baker]. Museum of Roman Countermarks, including the Martini-Pangerl catalog in PDF. Available: http://www.romancoins.info/Countermarks.html (http://www.romancoins.info/Countermarks.html);
Doug Smith (1999) webpage: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/pit.html (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/pit.html), reproduced in Numiswiki: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Centration%20Dimples (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Centration%20Dimples).
Stannard, Clive (1993) “The adjustment al marco of the weight of Roman Republican denarii blanks by gouging,” is available on his website: http://www.stannard.info/website/Publications.html (http://www.stannard.info/website/Publications.html)
Marvin Tameanko's controversial article in The Celator, Oct 1992 (vol 6, No 10): https://social.vcoins.com/files/file/65-vol-06-no-10-october-1992/ (https://social.vcoins.com/files/file/65-vol-06-no-10-october-1992/)
COLLECTIONS (Any other suggestions?):
Richard Baker Countermark Collection, CNG multiple e-Auctions c. 2018-2019: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?term=%22From+the+Richard+Baker%22&order=2 (https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?term=%22From+the+Richard+Baker%22&order=2)
Phil DeVicci Collection of Brockages, CNG 54 (14 Jun 2004), Lots 1-79, including a Koson Stater, unique Constantine XI Stavraton (!), Tarentine Nomos ex Vlasto & Prowe Colls. (which just appeared again at auction), and many other spectacular specimens: https://issuu.com/cngcoins/docs/cng_54 (https://issuu.com/cngcoins/docs/cng_54)
Martin Wettmark Collection (Swedish Collector, Dealer, Author [World Error News, ErrorScope, Svensk Numismatisk Tidskrift] specializing in World Error Coinage): https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?term=%22Wettmark%22&category=1 (https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?term=%22Wettmark%22&category=1)
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Curtis,
What a fascinating and educational addition to your gallery. I dare say that you should turn it into a Numiswiki page. ;D
All the best,
Tracy
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There is a good book by Forum member David MacDonald that is quite interesting: Overstruck Greek Coins: Studies in Greek Chronology and Monetary Theory (Official Whitman Guidebooks)
Virgil
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Ah, yes, MacDonald -- thanks Virgil! I forgot about that one, but yes, I have it and really like it. I don't remember if I knew he was a member here.
At one time F. Callataÿ was forming a "Greek Overstrikes Database (GOD)" but I don't know it was ever completed or came online. (Was it struck down for too much hubris in choice of acronym...?) https://numismatics.org/pocketchange/overstrikes/
One of the next types to add is my Adranon AE Drachm overstruck on Syracuse -- MacDonald has a great section on exactly that type of overstike, so I have it in the refs./notes. Here's the best photo of my coin (honestly, looks worse in hand but still interesting): https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=235671 (https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=235671) The undertype Athena gives Apollo the appearance of a helmet & the lyre frame appears to be constructed from the undertype's dolphins!
(https://www.acsearch.info/media/images/archive/30/404/235671.m.jpg)
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The Greek Overstrike Database is alive and well, and coming along nicely.
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The Greek Overstrike Database is alive and well, and coming along nicely.
Good to hear! I hadn't seen anything since some early presentations about it (maybe 6 or 7 years ago), but I hadn't looked hard or tried to contact anyone. If Callatay still manages it from the Belgian Coin Cabinet or another institution, that's good news.
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A few more Gallery additions, including one major collecting goal achieved: one coin from all 10 of the major BCD Collection sales. (The catalogs themselves are harder! Still need the BCD Akarnania catalog.)
My Gallery for that particular sub-collection: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=7851 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=7851)
The last two additions were a pair of AR Obols (I'm a lover of Greek factions generally):
BCD Olympia 126 (also the HGC 472 plate coin). Hera (or Nymph?) & Eagle. 105th Olympiad:
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183326 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183326)
(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/27154/Marc_Bar_Elsen_155_140.jpg)
O. Hoover (HGC5) describes this obverse as Hera while A.S. Walker (BCD Olympia) calls her the nymph Olympia.
Not exactly sure of the significance yet.... Why did Walker think that?
EDIT: After a bit more reading, I have a better idea what ASW was thinking (but not why Hoover doesn't accept it). I added the following notes to the gallery:
Importantly, there is an AR Stater w/ a Zeus obv. & the nymph on the rev. (BCD Olympia 118 [LINK (https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=170202)], pp. 52-3), along w/ a rev. inscribed OΛYMΠIA, apparently naming her. ASW writes: "Both the legend and the lack of the stephane prove that she's not Hera: she reappears, in a more mature and commanding way, on the contemporary issues of the Hera mint (see below, lots 122-127)" [i.e., including my coin, 126].
BCD Boiotia 277. Shield & Horse.
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183325 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183325)
(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/27154/normal_BCD_Boiotia_277_JPEG.jpg)
I love how much vigor and physicality the engravers could put into the tiny animals on Greek obols.
The contours of the shield are also very appealing. Very satisfying to see it as a set w/ my full-size AR Stater (not yet in gallery) & AE (same gallery).
Another interesting addition:
Hendin 160a (GBC plate coin [2nd ed.]). Bar Kochba Middle Bronze overstruck on a Titus-Agrippa II RPC of Judaea Capta type.
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183323 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183323)
(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/27154/normal_Hendin_160a_Triptych_28NYS29.jpg)
I also collect Roman "Capta" coins, which made this one irresistible.
Hendin described the undertype as "Vespasian?" or a "Flavian" bust, but I think it was RPC II 2285 [LINK (https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/2/2285)], probably the same obverse die as RPC's Ex. 7 [LINK (https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coin/408796)].
And:
I posted this new Hadrian Alexandrian Drachm (not one of the ones from ETB / Okidoki, which I'll post soon), commenting about the interesting bust type, which I don't think I've seen on other Alexandrian coins of Hadrian (not with so much of the torso shown): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183299 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183299)
A scarce & interesting AE14 from Phalanna. This was a very hard one to find, w/ (partial) inscription identifying the obv. as (Zeus) Peloris. (Also, really nice surfaces!) Phalanna's coins come in so many varieties, this city will still keep me busy for a long time to come: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183322 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183322)
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Fantastic additions and write-ups as always Curtis! Hard to pick a favourite, but that Phalanna is my choice; interesting, beautiful and BCD. I had not heard of Zeus Peloris before, it’s an unusual looking bust of Zeus to my eyes.
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Stunning coins, Curtis. And as always, outstanding write-ups.
Tracy
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Dear Curtis and Board,
I was very close to bidding on the same Phalanna bronze, restrained only by a tight budget! I wrote an article for The Numismatist some years ago, titled "The Myth of Zeus Peloris" and published in the April 2013 issue. If you have access to the digital archives or a print copy of the relevant issue, I recommend reading it, which goes into some detail on possibly why the elusive inscription has yet to be encountered in full.
Best regards,
Mark Fox
Michigan
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I wrote an article for The Numismatist some years ago, titled "The Myth of Zeus Peloris" and published in the April 2013 issue.
Mark – Thanks so much for your comments and mention of The Numismatist article!
- EDIT: OOPS, I mistakenly read "The Celator" at first! That helps explain why I couldn't find it! I've just read the article and found the historical background on the type's discovery and interpretation of the legend fascinating.
I have a particular interest in Phalanna's coins, so I’m excited to read it. Phalanna gets good coverage in Rogers and BCD, and its coins are often described along w/ the other cities of Thessaly, but very few studies have focused specifically on Phalanna (and almost nothing else in English). The only other Phalanna-centric article that comes to mind would be Papaevangelou-Genakos 2004 (written in Greek!). (I actually have a draft research note I’ve worked on, off-and-on for a couple years, about the more common Phalanna AE type w/ the “young male head”; Zeus Peloris plays a role in his interpretation.)
I just added to my gallery an example of the other Zeus type w/ the nymph seated feeding stork (also ex-BCD, which he bought from CNG EA 183 (5 Mar 2008), 54 [LINK (https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=439842)]), and an interesting banker's mark/countermark inside Zeus' ear:
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=183349
(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/27154/normal_Phalanna_Zeus_Nymph_Seated_ex_BCD.jpg)
Also: Always valuable to learn who else noticed one’s coins at auction -- thanks for mentioning it! Now that we do so much of our buying online, we may never learn who else encountered our coins first or what they thought of them. Any exception is very welcome! (Of course, once they’ve been purchased, we now have wonderful outlets like this one for discussing our collections with the whole world.)
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I just added a new coin to my gallery that some may recognize... It was published in Michael Molnar's (1991) The Celator article & 1999 book, The Star of Bethlehem: The Legacy of the Magi, and all kinds of other surprising places. (Also: This is my first New York Times "plate coin." [ARCHIVED (https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/national/science/122199sci-archaeo-jupiter.html)])
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=184185 (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=184185)
It's the Year 44 (ΔM) bronze from Syria, Antioch that Molnar always used to illustrate (and reportedly inspired) his theory about the "Star of Bethlehem." (That it was the conjunction of Jupiter & Aries in 6 BCE, commemorated on the "ram leaping & star" coins of Antioch. There's more info in the linked Numiswiki "Star of Bethlehem" article by T Cartwright.)
Someone must've finally removed the artificial desert patina from the coin's surface. It's a rare case where I would've been perfectly happy to keep the "makeup," but either way, I'm quite thrilled to have this coin.
I hadn't heard any news about the death of Michael Molnar (1945-2023) until I noticed his collection coins appearing at auction. (Still don't find anything besides his Legacy-dot-com obit [LINK (https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/michael-molnar-obituary?id=48426911)].)
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Great coin and great story. Congrats!
Tracy
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The Greek Overstrike Database is alive and well, and coming along nicely.
It took me until now to find it online, but better late than never: https://silver.knowledge.wiki/
Also linked (top left) is a "Die Studies Database" which looks pretty great after just briefly perusing. But the Greek Overstrikes Database link is top right: https://silver.knowledge.wiki/Greek_Overstrikes_Database
It includes the coin I posted above and which made me think of it: https://silver.knowledge.wiki/?curid=19640 (I hope that link works)