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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods||View Options:   | | | This shop category includes ancient Greek coins of all periods. To narrow your selection to a particular region, city or period, use the menus at the top of the page or on the left. Please note that all terms and phrases in blue text are links to a definition or more information. |
Mazaios was the Persian satrap of Cilicia beginning about 361 BC and in about 345 B.C. he was also made satrap of Transeuphratesia (which included Syria and Judaea). In 331 BC, Mazaios was defeated by Alexander the Great at the Battle of Gaugamela, after which he fled to Babylon. Later that year Mazaios surrendered Babylon, the capital of the Persian Empire, to Alexander. For surrendering without a fight, Alexander appointed Mazaios governor of Babylon. He died in 328 B.C.SH114936. Silver stater, SNG Levante 103; SNG BnF 332; Newell 1920, series V, dd; Traité II p. 453, 700, pl. cxii, 19; Casabonne 2D, EF, sharp details, weight 10.740 g, maximum diameter 23.6 mm, die axis 90o, Tarsos (Tarsus, Mersin, Turkey) mint, 361/360 - 334 B.C.; obverse BLTRZ (Baaltarz) in Aramaic (read upward) behind, Baal of Tarsos enthroned left, head and torso turned facing, wreath on head, nude to waist, himation around hips and legs, bunch of grapes, grain ear, and eagle in right hand, lotus tipped scepter vertical behind in left hand,
(Aramaic resh) lower left, 
(Aramaic mem) below throne; reverse lion left, head turned facing, atop bull fallen left, attacking with teeth and claws, 
(Aramaic MZDI = Mazaios, read right to left) above, nothing below bull; ex Lugdunum Numismatik (Solothun, Switzerland) auction 23 (12 Dec 2023), lot 53; ex H.D. Rauch (Vienna, Austria) auction 23 (20 Jan 1986), lot 42; $2000.00 (€1880.00) 
Claudius, 25 January 41 - 13 October 54 A.D., Ephesos, Ionia
In 30/29 B.C., the Koinon of Asia and Bithynia requested permission to honor the Augustus as a living god. "Republican" Rome despised the worship of a living man, but an outright refusal might offend their loyal allies. A cautious formula was drawn up, non-Romans could establish cults and build temples for divus Augustus jointly with dea Roma. Communitas Asiae (Community of Asia) was pro-consular Roman province comprised of Lydia, Iconia, Caria, Mysia, Phrygia, and Hellespontus.SL113456. Silver cistophorus, RPC Online I 2221, RIC I 120 (R3, Pergamon), RSC II 3, BMCRE I 228, SRCV I 1838, NGC F, strike 5/5, surface 3/5 (2400265-002), weight 10.53 g, maximum diameter 26 mm, die axis 180o, probably Ephesos (near Selçuk, Turkey) mint, 41 - 42 A.D.; obverse TI CLAVD CAES AVG, bare head left; reverse Temple of Roma and Augustus, two columns, podium with four steps, within temple Augustus and Roma stand facing, Augustus in military garb with spear in right hand and shield in left, Fortuna crowns him with wreath in right hand and holds cornucopia in left hand, ROM ET AVG (Roma and Augustus) on entablature, COM - ASI (Communitas Asiae) across field at center; from a Virginia Collector, ex Eastern Numismatics Inc. (Garden City, NY, 17 Jan 2013, $1695); NGC| Lookup; very rare; $1530.00 (€1438.20)
Armenian Kingdom, Queen Erato, Sole Reign, c. 13 - 15 A.D.
This interesting issue was struck during the short sole reign of Queen Erato, the last of the Orontid line to rule Armenia. It is uncertain if 3rd regnal year on the reverse takes into account her earlier joint reign with her half-brother and husband Tigranes IV in 2 B.C. - 1 A.D. Erato's sole reign may have lasted as long as three years or perhaps less than one one year. In any case, the sole rule of a queen was a novum in Armenian history, as was the depiction of the city walls of Artaxata on a coin. We may presume that Erato, as a woman, felt especially pressured to boast military strength in her royal self-representation, leading her to radically change the Armenian numismatic iconography in a time of increasing Parthian pressure. GB113378. Bronze octachalkon, Kovacs 187, Bedoukian CCA -; Nercessian ACV -; MDHRAC -, F, green patina, highlighting earthen deposits, scratches, weak legends not visible - as on most known specimens, weight 11.925 g, maximum diameter 23.2 mm, die axis 180o, Artaxata (Artashat, Armenia) mint, sole reign, c. 13 - 15 A.D.; obverse BA - EPAT, diademed and draped bust of Erato right; reverse aerial view of the city walls of Artaxata, in the shape of an octagon, with six tall round defense towers and two gateways, [E - Γ] (regnal year 3) above; extremely rare; $1210.00 (€1137.40)
Roman Republic, 4th Century B.C., Aes Formatum, Domed Disk Ingot
Called aes formatum by Haeberlin, this very rare bronze currency was a precursor to the issues of aes grave but later than aes rude. Presumably, molten bronze-iron alloy was poured into a shallow hole in the dirt. This left a disc-shaped metal mound with a flat reverse. Broken examples are much more common than complete ones like this.AS110487. Cast bronze Aes Formatum, Haeberlin p. 4, pl. 2.7, VF, weight 978.1 g, maximum diameter 117.9 mm, Italian mint, 4th century B.C.; obverse convex obverse; reverse flat reverse; very rare; $1000.00 (€940.00)
Claudius, 25 January 41 - 13 October 54 A.D., Roman Egypt
RPC I quotes Walker’s surface analysis of Claudius billon at 21 - 26% silver, a significant drop from the 30% silver for those of Tiberius.
The ancients did not all agree on the attributes of Serapis. A passage in Tacitus affirms that many recognized in this god, Aesculapius, imputing healing to his intervention; some thought him identical with Osiris, the oldest deity of the Egyptians; others regarded him as Jupiter, possessing universal power; but by most he was believed to be the same as Pluto, the "gloomy" Dis Pater of the infernal regions. The general impression of the ancients seems to have been that by Serapis, was to be understood the beginning and foundation of things. Julian II consulted the oracle of Apollo for the purpose of learning whether Pluto and Serapis were different gods; and he received for an answer that Jupiter-Serapis and Pluto were one and the same divinity.SH110653. Billon drachm, RPC I 5136 (4 spec.); BMC Alexandria p. 10, 78; Kampmann 12.25; Emmett 76/3 (R4); Geissen -; Dattari -; SNG Hunterian -, F, dark patina, earthen deposits, scratches, porosity, weight 3.330 g, maximum diameter 16.0 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 42 - 43 A.D.; obverse TI KΛ KA CE AY, laureate head right, L Γ (year 3) right; reverse draped bust of Serapis right, kalathos on head; the best of this type known to FORVM; very rare; $900.00 (€846.00)
Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D.
This coin was dedicated to Jupiter, the defender, probably to ask for protection the emperor in his war against the Persians. As Jupiter was the king of the gods, he took more interest in kings and emperors than the common man.SL114187. Silver denarius, RIC IV 238, RSC III 83, BMCRE VI 824, Hunter III 71, SRCV II 7871, NGC CH MS*, strike 5/5, surface 5/5 (2406773-001), weight 2.74 g, maximum diameter 21 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 231 - 235 A.D.; obverse IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, with a short neatly trimmed beard, seen from the front; reverse IOVI PROPVGNATORI (Jupiter the Defender), Jupiter standing slightly left in fighting attitude, head right, nude but for cloak flying behind, hurling thunderbolt with right, eagle in extended left hand; from the Craig Chambers Collection, NGC| Lookup; $900.00 (€846.00)
Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy II Philadelphos, 285 - 246 B.C.
Ptolemais is today Acre, Israel. It was at Ptolemais that the Jews met Petronius, sent to set up statues of the emperor in the Temple, and persuaded him to turn back. St. Paul spent a day in Ptolemais (Acts 21:7). -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AkkoGP113579. Bronze diobol, Lorber CPE B338; Svoronos 790 (5 spec.); Rosenberger I p.20, 16; Sofaer pl. 3, 36; Weiser 42; SNG Cop -; Noeske –, Choice VF, green patina, earthen deposits, areas of weaker strike, marks, obv. edge beveled, weight 19.353 g, maximum diameter 31.7 mm, die axis 0o, Galilee, Ake Ptolemais (Acre, Israel) mint, 261 - 246 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Zeus Ammon right; reverse ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing half left atop fulmen (thunderbolt), head left, wings closed, double cornucopia bound with diadem over shoulder, Pi-Tau ligate inside Omicron (PTO - Ptolemais mintmark) in field; scarce; $720.00 (€676.80)
Judaea, Bar Kochba Revolt, 132 - 135 A.D.
This obverse die type, naming Eleazar the priest, was used in the first year of the Bar Kokhba Revolt (132 - 133 A.D.), but on this rare type it is combined with an undated reverse attribute to the third year (134 - 135 A.D.).JD113060. Bronze AE 17, Mildenberg 154 (O3/R5); SNG ANS 544; BMC Palestine p. 310, 63; Meshorer TJC 266a; Hendin 6438 (R); Sofaer Collection 103, VF, tight flan, highlighting earthen deposits, weight 3.188 g, maximum diameter 16.7 mm, die axis 180o, year 2, 133 - 134 A.D.; obverse seven-branched palm tree with two bunches of dates; Paleo-Hebrew inscription irregularly arranged across field: "Jerusalem"; reverse bunch of grapes on branch with small leaf, no tendril right; Paleo-Hebrew inscription: "Year 2 of the the Freedom of Israel," final lamed missing, second resh and 'alef at top left are very small; rare; $650.00 (€611.00)
Judaea, Bar Kochba Revolt, 132 - 135 A.D.
The Bar Kokhba revolt, led by Simon bar Kokhba, was the last of the major Jewish–Roman wars. The Roman army suffered heavy losses. It took six full legions, auxiliaries, and elements from as many as six more legions three years to crush the revolt. The Romans annihilated much of the Judean population. In 134, the they captured Jerusalem and Simon bar Kokhba was killed in 135. Legio VI Ferrata rebuilt the legionary fortress in Jerusalem and constructed a Roman temple at Golgotha. An altar to Jupiter was erected on the site of the Temple. The Jewish diaspora began as Hadrian barred Jews from Jerusalem and had survivors of the massacre dispersed across the Roman Empire. Many were sold into slavery. The Jewish people remained scattered without a homeland for close to two millennia.JD113058. Bronze AE 27, Mildenberg 42 (O1/R9); Sofaer p. 177 & pl. 227, 7; Hendin 6407(b?); SNG ANS 508; Meshorer TJC 222; BMC Palestine p. 305, 23, aVF, overstruck (perhaps on a coin with a Legion X countermark?), some corrosion/encrustation, weight 12.793 g, maximum diameter 26.7 mm, die axis 135o, year 1, 132 - 133 A.D.; obverse even branched palm tree with two bunches of dates; Paleo-Hebrew inscription across fields: "Simon Prince of Israel"; reverse Paleo-Hebrew inscription: "Year one for the redemption of Israel", vine leaf on tendril; rare; $550.00 (€517.00)
Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Arabian Tridrachm Series, "Rome" Style
In a 1997 book review in the Schweizerische Numismatische Rundschau (SNR), Kevin Butcher agreed with William Metcalf that the Greek inscribed silver "coinage of Trajan dated to his sixth consulship" is part of the "Rome style" club. He goes on to write, "The existence of this Rome style coinage in the eastern provinces caused great confusion in the past, with a whole series of coins which we now know belong to Syria, Arabia and Cyrenaica being given to Caesarea by Sydenham. It is largely thanks to M.'s [Metcalf's] work on Caesarea and the Arabian coinage that most of the issues have been reattributed away from Caesarea. The source of confusion was the stylistic similarity of all of these groups, because they are all in the style of the Rome mint." Just how involved Rome was in the minting of these coin groups is still a mystery. Its complexity is suggested by a probable Rome style Arabian drachm of Trajan (RPC III 4075) overstruck on a Nabatean drachm. See FORVM RS113121 for this example!
The obverse legend sports what appears on first glance to be a glaring error: CEP in place of CEB, but the comparison of another coin from the same die pair assures us that the die cutter did not allow such a blunder to mar his masterful work. This includes rejecting the scenario where the die cutter simply modified the letter at some point afterwards, since our coin is in a later die state than the other.RY114284. Silver tridrachm, RPC Online III 4055 (15 spec.); Woytek Cistophore A1b.1; Ganschow X14b; SNG Fitz 5436; SNG ANS 1163; Tell Kalak pl. XIII, 9; Sydenham Caesarea 225, gVF, light toning, bold strike with traces of die wear, very fine style, befitting the mint of Rome, weight 10.156 g, maximum diameter 24.5 mm, die axis 180o, struck for use in Arabia by Rome or Arabian mint, "Tr Pot Cos VI" issue, 112 - 114 A.D.; obverse AYTOKP KAIC NEP TPAIANOC CEB ΓEPM ΔAK (Imperator Caesar Nerva Traianus Augustus Germanicus Dacicus), laureate bust right, slight drapery on far (left) shoulder; reverse ΔHMAPX EΞ YΠATO ϛ (tribunicia potestate, consul VI - holder of Tribunician power, consul six times), aquila between two signa (standards), wreath on top of left signum, hand on top of right signum; $550.00 (€517.00)
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