FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board
Numismatic and History Discussion Forums => Greek Coins Discussion Forum => Topic started by: ancientone on June 07, 2021, 07:56:58 pm
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Approx 16 to 18mm. Amphora is more in the style of Lacedaemon or Lampsacos than Myrina.
Obv: Helmeted head of Athena l.
Rev: Amphora.
Thank you for your time.
Charlie
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Dear Charlie and Board,
Whoa! That looks like an issue of Sestus (the patina/sediments are also supportive of this), but off the bat, I don't recall the Athena/amphora type being of this denomination. Could you confirm if the letter before the eta is a four-bar sigma? The letter in the left field is possibly a numerical alpha signifying year one of the second pre-Roman coinage period (according to my cataloging scheme).
Needless to say, I am very intrigued by your coin! A great find!
Best regards,
Mark Fox
Michigan
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Letters look like this:
https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=4895068
Pekka K
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This type is described in Hans von Fritze, "Sestos. Die Menas-Inschrift und das Münzwesen der Stadt", Nomisma 1, 1907, pp. 1-13, on page 7 as numbers 19 and 20:
https://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/0006/bsb00068862/images/index.html?id=00068862&groesser=&fip=eayaenyztseayayztsxdsydsdaseayasdasyzts&no=5&seite=17
Number 19 is indicated as having a size of 13 mm and having a letter or monogram in the left field of the reverse, number 20 is 11/8 mm and without letter.
The specimens he cites are from the collection in Berlin and depicted on table I:
https://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/0006/bsb00068862/images/index.html?id=00068862&groesser=&fip=eayaenyztseayayztsxdsydsdaseayasdasyzts&no=17&seite=39
There are specimes (probably of both denominations, often only the weight is given) also
in the BnF: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b85878310
in the BM: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1851-0503-187
in the Fitzwilliam: http://www.s391106508.websitehome.co.uk/PHP/SNG_PHP/04_03_Reply.php?Series=SNGuk&AccessionNo=0402_1784
and probably Berlin, being currently down >:(.
Regards
Altamura
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... and probably Berlin, being currently down >:(. ...
Berlin is alive again :):
https://ikmk.smb.museum/object?lang=de&id=18247044
https://ikmk.smb.museum/object?lang=de&id=18247046
https://ikmk.smb.museum/object?lang=de&id=18247045
(the first two are those described by von Fritze in his article)
Regards
Altamura
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Thank you Mark, Pekka and Altamura!
My acsearch search included an AE instead of an Æ so I had no results for Sestos. Sorry for the incorrect estimation of size. That is what I get for posting before it is in hand.
Much appreciated,
Charlie
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Dear Charlie, Pekka, Altamura, and Board,
So there apparently isn't a second, larger denomination of the Athena/amphora type after all (or at least that we know of). That is a small relief since such a new Sestus issue would potentially require a fair bit of reorganization of the city's Greek coinage.
This is not to say that we should not expect such things to happen. Just recently, I made a new discovery with a Phrygian city whose Julia-Claudian coinage will now need a major revision chronologically. It is always best to have an open mind when attributing coins. The less open we are, the more apt we are to develop tunnel vision and tack on the dreaded "cf" prefix to our dubious attributions.
Best regards,
Mark Fox
Michigan