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Author Topic: Antiochus IV, Epiphanes - Weight difference  (Read 900 times)

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Offline palves

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Antiochus IV, Epiphanes - Weight difference
« on: March 29, 2021, 09:27:49 am »
I have this coin as:

Antiochus IV, Epiphanes
Seleukid Kings   173-172BC
AE21   
Radiate and diademed head right
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ.  Goddess seated left, holding Nike; at feet to left, bird standing left
SC 1510

Weight: 9.39
Diam: 21mm


But all similar coins I found (e.g. https://www.biddr.com/auctions/savoca/browse?a=173&l=157190) have less than half the weight? any suggestion?

Thanks

Offline Pekka K

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Re: Antiochus IV, Epiphanes - Weight difference
« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2021, 10:14:30 am »

Offline palves

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Re: Antiochus IV, Epiphanes - Weight difference
« Reply #2 on: March 29, 2021, 10:42:22 am »
Thank you Pekka!

Offline Altamura

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Re: Antiochus IV, Epiphanes - Weight difference
« Reply #3 on: March 29, 2021, 12:27:40 pm »

Offline PtolemAE

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Re: Antiochus IV, Epiphanes - Weight difference
« Reply #4 on: April 05, 2021, 02:08:15 pm »
This type exists in four different denominations:
http://numismatics.org/sco/results?q=fulltext%3Aradiate+AND+fulltext%3Abird+AND+authority_facet%3A%22Antiochos+IV.%22+AND+material_facet%3A%22Bronze%22+AND+mint_facet%3A%22Seleuceia+ad+Tigrim%22

With around 9 g yours seems to be a dichalcon: http://numismatics.org/sco/id/sc.1.1509
As you see there are some coins minted on a very similar flan as your coin.

Regards

Altamura



Yes, this group of Antiochos IV bronzes have been studied and written about extensively by Edward Newell, Schlosser, Hoover, and others. Unusual among Seleukid bronzes, this small group of Antiochos IV (from 'Seleukia on Tigris') have obvious explicit value marks right there for everyone to see: A/X (one chalkous), B/X (two), DELTA/X (four), and some believe there's a 'half' chalkon with no mark. Mark symbols are behind the portrait. All three sizes have the same high-relief portrait style with long parallel crown radiations. The reverse of all sizes is the seated figure with a little bird at its feet.

They define a weight standard with (mean) weights in almost perfect proportion to the marked values - about 4, 8, and 16 grams (for A, B, and D types). At first glance Antiochos IV might have had a bronze coinage scheme with 4 grams = one chalkous but it doesn't work for other groups of Antiochos IV bronzes.

The coin here has the B/X symbol so its weight of 9gm is right. If someone finds others that look similar and weigh ~ 4gm then they're likely to have the A/X symbol instead. The scarcest one is the D/X and they're often pretty worn but you can still tell which value by their weight. They're all scarce in really sharp condition.

PtolemAE

 

 

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