Classical Numismatic Group Sale 32 Wednesday· December 7, 1994 • 2 PM in conjunction with the NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL A Public & Mail Bid Sale of
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Greek· Roman Republican • Roman Imperial' Byzantine' World' British Also including a mail bid only section of books featuring the Numismatic Library of Dr. Frallk , . Nov ak
OUR CURRENT LIST' XIX, 4 • OUT October 24, 1994 TI, e Classical Numismatic Review Featuring over 500 coins at fixed prices Holiday edition of our Book List also available Write for a complimentary copy of both Catalogue With prices realized $15/£10. Contact either our U.S. or U.K. office. Seaby Coins Eric J. McFadden, Senior Director 14 Old Bond Street London WIX 4JL, United Kingdom (0171) 495-1888, Fax (0171) 499-5916 Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Victor England, Senior Director Post Office Box 479 @J) Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17608-0479 @J). (717) 390-9194, Fax (717) 390-9978 . INSIDE THE CELATOR...
Vol. 8, No. 10 October 1994
6 Domitian unmaligned The CeiaTOf{ by David A. Wend Incorporating Roman Coins and Culture 36 Coins of the 14th century Publisher/Senior Editor Wayne G. Sayles popes from the Avignon and Editor Pont-de-Sorgue mints: Part 2 Steven A. Sayles Page 6 Domilian unmaligned by Dr. Thomas F. Fitzgerald Office Manager by David A. Wend Stephanie Schultz 40 Imagery on ancient coins as Production Asst. Nick Popp indicators of changes in cultural An values: Athena vs. Tyche Part 2 Parnell Nelson
by Henry Clay Lindgren The Celator (ISSN #10480986) is an independent journal published on the first day of each month at 141 lodi Street, lodi, WI 53555. It is circulated internatior,ally through subscriptions Page 34 2 The Celator's Point of View and special distributions. Coins of the 14th century popes Subscription rates, by Dr. Thomas F. Fitzgerald 4 Letters to the Editor· Quotes from the Past - payable in U.S. funds, Col lector Correspondence are $27 per year (second class) within the United States; $30 to Canada; Through the Looking Glass by David L. Vagi 27 $48 per year to all other addresses (Air Printed 28 Coming Events Matter). Advertising and copy deadline is 30 People in the News · Profiles in Numismatics the fi rst of each month. Unsolicited articles 31 Art and the Market and news releases are welcome, however 32 Coins of the Bible by David Hendin publication cannot be guaranteed. Second class postage paid Antiquities by David Liebert Page 36 39 (USPS #006077) Imagery on ancient coins at lodi, WI 53555. by Henry Clay Lindgren 44 Book News Copyright ©1994, Celator. Inc. 45 Coin File· Trivia - Humor Postmaster: send address changes to P.O. Box 123, About the cover: 46 Long Before Columbus by Joe Rose lodi, WI 53555 Drawing of the emperor 47 Professional Directory 608-592-4684 Domi tian by artist David (same for FAX. after hours activate with asterisk Blodgett. 56 Index of Advertisers - Classifieds on touch tone phone)
Deadline for the November issue is Saturday, October 1 coin dealers and the ancient coin mar ket have endured in recent years. Will we ever be free of the interlopers? • Every month we hear from a few subscribers who have not received their • • issue of The Cefalor, Our production schedule is qu ite re li able, and fo r U.S. Commentary by Wayne G. Sayles subscribers the date of mailing is pri nted on your protecti ve throw-away wrap. The U.S. Posta l Service cl aims a dcl ivery lime of 7 to 10 days for hi s past Spring the Franklin before the public as the defender of second class mail, so most readers Mint. a pri vate collecti bles the Franklin Mint's promoti on? None should receive their copy by the first manufacturer in Pennsylva other than ANA president David Ganz, of each month, Unfortunately, certain Oni a. began a promotion which Now it never occurred to me that Ganz parts of the country experience erratic offered ancient coins for sale. The might know an ything about ancient delays that are completely beyond our offering co nsisted mostly of gardcn coins. I can't recall ever seci ng Mr. co ntrol. If we replace an issue we have va ri ety third and fou rth century Ro Ganz at an auction of ancient coi ns, or 10 send il first class, at a much hi gher man coins packaged in a fan cy holder. at an ancient coin dealer's bourse table. rate, so we usually ask our readers to The "SCI" of 20 Roman coins was (and He certainly is not a Celator reader, So, wait and see if Iheir copy might arrive presumably still is) offered at $2,200. what did Mr. Ganz have to offer the a few days late. Concurrently wilh the launch of this media and the general publi c from his We have an even worse situ ation promotion, a supportive article ap obscure but apparently important per with foreign addresses. The forei gn peared on the front page of Coin World. spective? Wcl l, Coin World has kindly subscriptions are fil led by Intern at ion al In reactio n, a number of collectors of reported that be fore the television cam Surface Air Li ft (ISAL). This is a ancient coins expressed outrage, not era "Ganz stated that he bel ieved the class of service that moves the piece of only over the promotional price of Franklin Mint 's profi t margin is no dif ma il from the U.S. to the destinat ion these ex tremel y co mmon co ins, but ferent than that of other coi n dealers in country by air, and then it goes into the also over the characterization of them the ancient coin busi ness:' local post fo r surface delivery. It is much less ex pensive than any other form of ai r ma il , but there are also delivery problems at times. We have " Will we ever be free of the interlopers?" had at least three occas ion s where our entire shipment to a particular country was los\. This is de vastat ing, because as being in short supply. Equally per LeI' s anal yze that statement just a we cannot reship by ISAL due to the turbed was ancient coin dealer Harlan bit. The typical wholesale price for mi nimu ms required. Therefore, we J. Berk. At the NYINC Spring show average grade bronzes and debased prefer to replace any foreign subscriber Berk circulated a survey in which he antoninianii of the third and fourth copies along with the next monthly asked fellow ancient co in dealers to century is somewhere around $5 to $8 mailing. This is not an ideal solution , indicate the prices they wou ld charge in quantities (and mas sive quantities but it is about the only choice that we for specimens equal to those in the do exist). The Berk survey indi cated have. Fran klin Mint brochure. The result that most dealers would ask perhaps It would be much better, of course, was surprisin gly co nsistent. Most of twice th at amount for an individual to ship by first class mail or regular air the coins offered at $110 each by the coin in a retail tran saction . The Frank mail, but the cost is prohibitive. At the Franklin Mint were va lued by con lin Mint is askin g nearly fourteen times present time, over one half of the price census at $ 15 to $20 retail; some were that figure. Does Mr. Ganz really be of subscriptions to a foreign country is considered $5 "Junk Box" coins. The lieve that ancient coin dealers work on consumed by postage. Shipping by survey res ults were published by Coin a 1400% markup? Ah, bUldon 't forget standard air mail would triple the sub World, and suddenl y the issue became the wooden box that comes with your scription price- not a comfort in g a contentious debate. The heat is ap Franklin Mint coins. and also the valu though t to most. If you do not receive parently bui ld ing because an article in able historical desc ription! your copy at the usual time, please The Wall Sireel Journal and a segment We don' , intend to carry the stan give it a few more days and then call of the television program The Wall dards in thi s latest defensive aetion, us. We wi ll be happy to replace lost Street Journal Reporl have focused on Harlan Berk is doing a fin e job of that. copies. the debate. bUl we can'l help bei ng a lillie an Yours truly wi ll be spendi ng Sep We would expect to see the Franklin noyed by the portrayal of Ganl as a te mber in Greece, but Steve and Mint defending thei r honor, but qualified expert on ancient coin prices. Stephani e will be here to take care of strangely they seem to be in the back Even more annoy in g is the constanl business as usual. They'll be happy to ground. Who has their picture splashed character assass ination that ancient hear your point of view !
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CHRISTIES
October 1994 3 Why would someone carefully to happen in South Orange, N.J." I scrape off the stars? Let's make an hope that readers of The Gelator have other, more romantic, assumption. enough common sense to realize how Zoe, who literally gave the empire to biased and inaccurate Dr. Saslow's Constantine, predeceased Constan comments were. tine. It is possible that Constantine Finally, as the recipient of this year's struck these nomisma shortly after Charles W. Crowe Exhibit Award, I Zoe's death to reassert his legitimacy would like to thank Stephanie Schultz as a Macedonian king. Now Con ("Art and the Market") for her informa stantine dies. Imagine the aged em tive comments about the ANA's exhibit press Theodora, who ruled alone until competition. It is nice to be recognized her death in 1056, and her servants, and I know the other exhibitors men More on stellati, Detroit carefully removing the prominent stars tioned also appreciate her congratula In regard to the gold stella!i of from the fields of the coins [dies]. To tory remarks. Constantine IX (articles, letters by linda Theodora, the last "true" Macedonian, Larry Seku/ich Zimmermann, Philip DeVicei, and the royal emblem might have been Michigan Michael Molnar), I would li ke to offer viewed as an insult when placed on another speculation. Constantine's coinage. Students of ancient art are aware of Unfortunately, we will probably Efforts appreciated the fact that a star was the royal em never know for sure the meaning of I found your commentary in the Au blem of Philip II (see The Search for these stars on Constantine's coinage. gust 1994 edition of The Gelator 01 Alexander, 1980, catalogue numbers On another topic, I would like to special interest. It seems that a few 42, 161, and 172, plus commentary on thank "The Celator's Point of View" for readers fail to understand what it takes page 24). Adding a star to one's coin pointing out that this year's ANA Con to produce a journal and believe that age could become a way for a king to vention in Detroit was an excellent con you have unlimited resources to work allude to his (real or imagined) genea vention and that "the highly publicized with. Like you, I have found line draw logical ties to the Macedonian kings dangers were vastly overrated." In the ings to be clearer than photographs, especially Alexander the Great. April 1994 issue of The Gelator, in a and I miss the line drawings from the Basil I founded the Macedonian dy paid advertisement, Dr. A.R. Saslow older editions of David Sear's Roman nasty 01 the Byzantine Empire based contributed to this negative publicity Goins and Their Values. on a spurious family tie (see Philip when he wrote "Anyway, I have had a As someone who has submitted an Grierson, Byzantine Coins, 1982, p. very strong feeling for a number of article for publication (and who plans to 175). The last surviving descendants months that something 'terrible' is go write others in the future) I appreciate of Basil I were Zoe and Theodoria, the ing to happen in Detroit ..." "For this your efforts in making an article pub daughters of Constantine VIII. Zoe and for just good common sense, we lishable. You offer a welcome medium married the senator Constantine will not be at the show." I find it ironic where your readers can share their Monomachus, who ascended the throne that someone would talk about good ideas and knowledge. I would rather as Constantine IX. Perhaps the stellati common sense while making state read an excellent article without good were a short lived coronation issue to ments that are totally devoid of the illustrations (or none for that matter) announce Constantine IX as the new same. Sometimes it is worthwhile to than a poor one with good pictures. In est member of the Macedonian dy look at an issue from another angle. writing my article about Domitian I had nasty. This might account lor the third For example, what would Dr. Saslow this much in mind since I had one ortwo star on Constantine's jewelled chalmys, think if an advertiser printed the follow poor photographs to illustrate my ar i.e. one star lor Zoe, one lor her sister ing in his/her ad: "I have a very strong ticle and was open to any method you Theodoria, and one for Constantine. feeling that something terrible is going might suggest in this area. I also would have made textual Changes you may have required. I think your journal is excellent and I look forward to receiving my copy Collector Correspondence each month for the articles and news. I The follo wing collectors are interested in corresponding with other believe your readership will increase in enthusiasts. If you would like your name, address, and specialty published the months to come as more people in this space, write to The Gelator, P.D. Box 123, Lod!, W/53555. pursue an interest in ancient coins, history, and culture. Mario Assante Jack R. Lythgoe I also wanted to write to say that I 1079 A twood Ave. Po. Box 5626 enjoyed Marvin Tameanko's article Johnston, RI 02919 Fullerton, CA 92635 about aqueducts ("Aqueducts on an Roman Republican. Roman Imperia/, Constantine era coins and any era cient Aoman coinage", The Gelator, Byzantine. Italian State coins. city-gatelcampgatelcity walls issues. September 1994). It was especially interesting to tead about the use of lead piping and how well the author dispelled the myth that the Romans were victims of lead poisoning. I thought QUOTES FROM THE PAST that this was an example of a particu larly well illustrated article. I appreci "Nos numerus sumus et (ruges consumere nati. " ated the many line drawings 01 coins (We are the ciphers, fit for nothing but to eat our share of earth's fruits.) and the map of Rome showing the locations of the ancient aqueducts. Horace (December e, 65 - November 27, e B.C.) David A. Wend "H" Illinois 4 The Gelator These are just a few of the quality ancient coins offered in our Mail Bid Sale Closing November 1, 1994 Catalog & Prices Realized $15 Sendforyourcopytoday!
For additional information contact our office PONTERIO & ASSOCIATES P.N.G. #308 1818 Robinson Ave ., San Diego, CA 92103 800-854-2888 or 619-299-0400 Ame.iconNumismalic • , , Q < , • 1 , 0 _ Liceflsed Auction CompallY #968 LM. #2163 Richard H. Ponterio - President
October 1994 5 DOlllitian unlllaligned
Flavian poverty have been greatly ex sequcnt!y, Vespasian was drawn into by David A. Welld aggerated. Antonia's circle, which inc luded Domitian's great grandfather was L ucius Vitellius, w ho became Ves named T. Flavius Petro, who served in pasian's patron, and Aulus Plautius Pompey's army at Pharsalus, surviv (Hist. 3.66). Vespasian became an OUT perceptions of the emperor ing by fleeing the battlefield. aedile under Cal igula and, we are Domitian come through the eyes of his Being on the wrong side was told, because of his neglect enemies. Like Nero before him, he only a temporary setback to keep the streets clean was the last member of his dynasty. and for Petro, as he married the emperor had him those who followed would on ly profit a wealthy wife named covered in mud. But by blackening Domitian's character, Tertulla, whose family Vespasian was po- not only \0 legitimize the new ruler but had large land holdings, liti callyastute. He to give credence that a golden age had and became wealthy in knew how to flatter begun. Rehabilitation was never his own right as a mon the emperor and granted to Domitian as it had been to eylender. The estate at when, in 40 , a Commodus. for the line of Nerva con Cosa, where both failed assassina tinued until the death of Scverus Al Vespasian and Titus tion plot impli exander, as Scptimius Severus as died, was acquired by cated Caligula's sumed the title of great-great-great Petro through his wife. sister Agrippina. grandson of the deified Ncrva (111 - Petro's son, Titus he added to her scripriol1cs latinae selec/(lc, 420). Flavius Sabinus, amassed humiliation by Only in Ihis century, mainly through a considerable fortune as a tax suggesting that archaeological discoveries, has a reas collector a nd banker, and mar- the bodies of sessment of Domitian's reign begun. ried Vespasia Polla, who was the dead assas This article auempts to present some from an old and renowned sins be left un - of the literary and epigraphic evidence family (Vesp. I). The Fla buried, thereby that casts new light on many long be vians, with their growing earning Agrippina's lieved rumors. Before considering wealth and family con lasting hatred (Vesp . 2). Domitian, a look at his fam ily provides nections, became part of With the accession of Claudius insight into political maneuvering, and the new rising aristoc the Flavians reached new heights of how power was gained and lost under racy, and Sabinus saw to it that his power and influence. Inside the pal the empire. sons, Sabinus II and Vespasian, had the ace, virtual control was in the hands money to embark on senatorial careers. of Pallas and Narcissus, Claudius' The Flavians Vespasian's path took him to the freedmen. Lucius ViteJlius had figures Domiti
October 1994 9 the other hand, Domitian is charged fai th should be placed in rumors. which Mucianus and Domilian leading addi with mak.ing so many appointment s pl eased Vespasian, underscori ng the tional troops. At the approac h of th at Vespasian commented he was loyalty of hi s elder son and arrogance Cerial is many of the Roman troops surprised his son had not named hi s of the younger (Hist. 4.51-52). Tacitus descried Civilis and the rebelli on col suc ccssor (Dom. I) (Dio includes does not tell us precisely whal Oomi lapsed. Mu cianus in making appoin tm ents, lian's misconduct was, but from wh at Muci anus and Dom itian had gone 66.2). Such stories were intended 10 he does rel ate, nOl ed above, there was as far as Lyons when they were in show that, despite his later concern nothing Domitian, the figurehead. had formed the revolt had been crushed. fo r morality, Domitia n had always done th at should alarm hi s fat her. Tacitus asserts that Domitian asked for been without morals or scruples. Mucianus, on the other hand, was act a command in Gaul from Mucianus, What is kn own for certain is Ihat ing the role of emperor, and cl aimed and wh en the laller refused on the Domitian had an affair with Domitia he had bestowed power on Vespasian grou nds that Domitian was 100 young Longia, who was married to L. Culius (Dio 65.2). With Rome in Ihe tenuous and la c ked experience, Oo mitian Plaut ius Aelianus (Dom. I). She di hands of the Fl av ians and a re volt in turned to Ceriali s, asking him to hand vorced her hu sband to marry Domitian, Ge rm any, Vespasian's presence was over hi s troops, onl y to be rebuffed and their first child was born during necessary, and it is unl ikely he re tu rned again (His!. 4.86). Tacitus is not sup Domiti an's second consul ship (73). because of rumors. ported in hi s assertion by Oi o, who This was a politicall y advantageous A revolt broke out in Germany in does nOI ment ion Domiti an in connec marriage for the Flavians. as Domilia 69, led by Ju li us Ci vilis, who had ren tion with the re bell ion. and has him was the daughter of Nero's general dered servi ce for Vitellius. and wilh seducing Domitia at Alba (Dio 65 .2). Corbui o, and her brother-in-law had Antonius Primus he declared hi s loy The story presented by Taci tu s, once been executed following the Pison alty to Vespas ian. This was meant to more. is meant to support accusations ian conspiracy. Fl av ian connections d isguise his real purpose, for when that Domi tian was a schemer, thereby \0 th ose who opposed Nero were news of Vitelli us' death arri ved Civilis seuing the scene for his fu ture conduc t. strength ened, mak ing up fo r Vespa declared himself a re bel. He was Instead of Domitian ploltin g, su lk ing, sian's break wilh the "Stoic Opposi joined by two Gallic chiefs, Ju lius and fe ignin g madness on the arri va l of tion". Classicus and Julius Tutor. Wilh thi s his father, the evidence of the CanccJ In Alexandria, meanwhi le, Vespa alliance th e Roman defenses on the leria fri eze, depicting Domitian welcom sian heard ugly rumors about Domi Rhine from Basel to Strassbourg were ing his fathe r, may be correct in repre lian's conduct. prompting him to em abandoned. Seven legions marched sen ting whal happened, ins tead of bark for Rome. where he arri ved in the from Rome led by Q. Petilius Ceri alis, Ves pasian publicly upbraiding his son.4 summer of 70. Titus placated his fa poss ibl y a son-in-law of Vespasian,3 in ther by suggesting that not 100 much the summer of 70. fo llowed later by Domitian as Caesar Unli ke Domitian . Titu s had enjoyed a long. trusting associati o n with Vespasian. When Domitian was a child ANCIENT COIN SPECIALIST his father had been absent in Afri ca, followed by Judea; Ti tus had married, GREEK, ROMAN, BYZANTINE COINS and joined Vespasian in Judea, remain AND CLASSICAL ANTIQUITIES ing away until 7 1. Father and brother were both strangers to Domit ian , and there probably was little affec tion be twecn them. Domitian displayed lillie concern for Tit us during his last illness. and was more interested in securing his ow n succession. As it was. the Senate voted to honor the dead emperor be fore proclaiming the new one (Titus II ), which could not have been reas suri ng \0 Domi tian. Many historians have sought to show that Domitian's suspicious alli tude was a resul t of Vespasian forcing him into the background, keeping him from holdi ng power. S Ti tus was heir appare nt and virtual co-empe ror. Oom itian held the consul ship seven SAMPLE CATALOG UPON REQUEST times (7 1,73,75, 76, 77 , and 79) dur in g hi s fa ther's re ign . Each was a EDWARD J. WADDELL, Ltd. suffect consul ship, mean ing the ordi nary consul laking offi ce on January I 444 N. Frederick Avenue, Suite 316, Dept. D wo uld resign in favor of someone else, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 usually after j ust two wee ks. Domi tian foll owed his father and brother (301) 990·7446 FAX: (301) 990·3712 ~-- into offi ce, except for 73, when he held + an ordinary consulship because 10 The Gelator Vespasian and Titus had assumed the a decision was made. Among the to have access to Domitian, as Martial censorship. As coins attest, Vespasian twenty men that arc known to have demonstrated when asking a freedman had two more consulships than Titus, been consulted on a regular basis were to show one of his poems to the em and Titus had one more than Domitian. Nerva and Trajan, and both were peror (Epigrams 5.6). Thus the number of consulships indi awarded consulships. The praetorian Upon his accession Domitian con cated the order of succession. At a time prefect was a powerful figure at court, firmed most of the senators and eques when the highest honor of a senatorial and a position the Flavians kepI in the trians in the positions Titus had granted career was to have a single consulship, family. Titus served his father and them, but the freedmen were dismissed Vespasian instituted a system that prac appointed relatives 10 the position. without exception. tically excluded ordinary consulships Domitian changed his prefects with Shortly after Domitian became em outside the imperial family. frequency, and never awarded the post peror, as Suetonius and Dio inform us. Vcspasian honored Domitian with to a family member after "promoting" Domitia was divorced for committing the titles Caesar and princips iuven L. Julius Ursus, whom Titus had ap adultery (Dom. 3) with an actor named tutis, priesthoods and the authority to pointed.? Paris. Neither historian agrees on the issu e coins in his name. Stories that A small army of freedmen worked facts, but the key events arc: that Domitian spent his days sulking and in the palace in two departments: one Domitia was divorced, Paris was killed impaling flies are exaggerations. He concerned with domestic matters, the by Domitian in the st reet (Dio 67.3.1), may have been dissatisfied, but there other with administrative matters. A and Dom itian lived with his niece Julia was little Vespasian could do that vast number of posts needed to be (Dio 67.3.2) unti l he could no longer would not upset the succession of filled, from those who lOok charge of bear being separated from Domitia and Titus . When Titus became emperor, {he emperor's white robe on triumphal married her again. However, he main nothing changed for Domit ian as his occasions to those in charge of depan tained his liaison with Julia and, when brother needed to keep his options ments of stale. A career could be made she became pregnant, forced her to open, expecting to have a long reign serving the emperor. One freedman, have an abortion from which she died. and perhaps heirs of his own. As for named Bucolas, began as court taster Ju lia's husband, Titus Flavius Sabinus Domitian hatching plots against his and rose to supervise the imperial do IV (son of Sabinus III), had been ex brother, the execution of A. Caecina by mestic budget.8 They were also used ecuted not long after his consulship Titus on his accession. for attempting as political agents. An imperial freed with Domitian in 82. Sabinus was to seduce the household guards, was man was sent to Britain to urge mistakenly announced as "imperator" warning enough and may be the source Agricola to resign his post (Agr. 40 & instead of "consul" at the consular of the accusation leveled aga inst 41), and freedmen were certainly used eleclion, and because he was heir-ap Domitian (Dom. 2).6 as spies. It was necessary to be on parent it was enough for Domitian to good terms with at least one freedman execute him (Dom. 10). Oom iti an's Imperial Court The ancient concept of the imperial court consisted of the place where the emperor was in residence, be it in Largest Stock of Ancient Rome or on campaign, and was called the "Palatium", from the association of Coins in the World! the emperor with the royal residence on the Palatine Hill (Dio 53.16.5-6). Coins in quantities include: The members of the court (senators. Greek, Roman, & Byzantine bronze & silver equestrians, freedmen, and others) constituted a decision making body Dealer inquiries only. that stood as a rival to the Senate. By remaining outside Rome, unlike his Educational coin Company father, at his villa at Alba and being frequently on campaign, Domitian Box 3815, Kingston, New York 12401 forcibly proved 10 the Senate thaI true Phone, (201) 728-8650 0' 728-3865 Fax, (201) 728-0204 power rested in Ihe empero r's court. The villa at Alba, now occupied by the papal Castel Gandolfo, covered a huge area and included baths, a the atcr, and a circus. Tacitus termed the STEPHEN M. HUSTON villa as Ihe "Alban fortress" (Agr. 45). The vi lla was the scene where Domi C[assica[r;yjLmis rna tist tian conducted his affair wilh Domitia Post OfFice Box 19362 t Longia (Dio 65.3.4), was the meeting San FranciSCO, Ct\ 94It9-362\ USA place of Domitian's privy council ·415· 7S1- 75S0· (where Cornelia, the chief Vestal, was tried). and where the annual games cel I[(ustrall' cataloguu hsutri '1i.tgu{arly ebrating Minerva were held (Dom. 4), (Dio 67.1.2). OFt'lCF. OPES BY ApPOINTMENT O~LY I mperial advisors were an important SS2 MAN.KET STREH • SAN FRA~CISCO part of the court, and Domitian con sulted tbem on critical matters before October 1994 11 Domitian was a strongly moralistic vorced and remarried Dom itia it is sur (Dam. 22). In stead she married her emperor, particu larly in regard to en prising that ancient sources do not cousin, Sabinus IV, late in Vespasian's forcing Augustus' Lex Julia de adull mention the ra rity of such act ion. It is reign or early in Titus' when she was riss coercendis. The law allows a hus possible (hat Domitian only exiled his given the ti tle Augusta. As a member band to murder the man who commit wife, then recalled her ou t of genuine of the imperial family Julia was living ted the adultery, but must be followed affection, and perhaps to quash rumors in the palace, as she remained close by the divorce of his wife; otherwise he was carrying on an affair with 1u lia. enough to the emperor to intercede on the aggrieved husband can be chargcd Jul ia Titi was about ten years the behalf of L. Julius Ursus (Dia with murdering the man wi th impunity. younger than Domitian and had the 67.4.2). If Domitian acted as Dio and Suetonius same nurse, Phyllis, who later mixed Evidence that she did not die from suggest (Dam. 8), he violated the law the ashes of her two charges after a forced abortion is supplied by one of twice, for murdering Paris, then by Domitian was assassinated (Dam. 17) . Martial's epigrams (6.3). Book 6 was accepting his wife back. Domitian knew his niece from an early published in 90, just after Julia's death. Charges of imperial adultery are age, and was possibly fond of her, but The poem expresses the hope that the ri fe in ancient history. If Domitian di- he repeatedly refused to marry Julia empress will bear a son to be named Julius, and that Julia (now deified) will watch over him . The poems surrounding th is one A Few Interesting Selections (6.2 and 6.4) praise Domitia n for up holding the Lex Julia. Martial would From Our Summer 1994 Catalog never have insulted Domitia by sug gesting that she bear a child to be named after and watched over by the woman with whom her husband had carried on a prolonged affair, ending in hcr death after an abortion was forced on her. Nor would Martial have made the con nection of Domitian and the Lex Julia if he had committed adul tery with his niece. Such a reference would have ended in the poefs exile or deat h. Therefore, the lurid stories of Julia 's affair with her uncle and her death must be treated as vicious TU mors.
Imperi al Administration A problem in assessing the eco nomic measures undertaken by an em peror is that financial data has not sur vived. The impact of Dom itian rais ing the pay of soldiers (from 300 to 400 denarii) is difficult to assess, as the cost cannot be determined in an actual amount. Nor can the cost of conduct ing a war be adequately measured, along with booty thai may offset such expendi tures. At Domitian 's death the finances of the empire were sound and not bankrupt, as Nerva was able to make a congiarium (d istribution of money to the people) and a special dis Write or Call for a Free Copy• tribution of corn on his acccssion.9 A sign th at Domitian inherited enough wealth is proven hy numis 'We carry an extensiv~. stockof anci~nt miltic evidence. In 82, Domitian or and roedievai coins'and antiquities dered the aureus and denarius restored ".,'!':' to the purity of Augustan levels (7.70 grams in we ight fo r the aureus and 98% punty for the denarius).IO Like TOM CEDERLIND Nero, Domitian took an interest in his coinage and instituted new reverse p.o. Box 1963, Dept. C, Portland, OR 97207 types of his patron goddess Minerva. These types are fami liar to collectors (503) 228-2746 • fax (503) 228-8130 as: Minerva standing right in a fight ing attitude (portrayed as a god- ~ 12 The Gelator ANNOUNCING! THE ROMAN IMPERIAL COINAGE VOLUMEX. The Divided Empire and the Fall of the Western Parts 395-491. by J.Pc. Kent
At last, the final volume of thi s series is about to be published. Started in 1923 by Mauingly and Sydenham, Th e Roman Imperial Coinage seri es is the standard reference on Roman coinage, and Volume X will no doubt be thr: standard work on this difficult lime period. Information regarding the coinage of this era has always been hard to find. Much work though has been done over the last several years; many new hoards have been found and published, large collections have been assembled and published, and detailed works on individual emperors have been prepared. Now for the fi rst time, all this information plus much previously before unpublished information will be avai lable in one source, a corpus on late Roman coinage. Unlike volumes VI-IX, Volume X will not be arranged by mint. Instead, the coinage is divided between the eastern and western parts of the empire and followed chronologically by emperors. Detailed accounts of the monetary system, mints, types,legends and dating for each emperor are included. Also covered are the imitative coins struck by certain "barbarian" peoples. Full indexes, an extensive bibliography, lists of public and private collections, and a list of hoards are also included, making further research much easier. Over 1800 entries, clxxxii, 470 pages, indexes, bibliographies, fold-out table, 72 plates. Green cloth wi th color dust cover. Publicalion is expected by mid to late October, and copies will be available from eNG within 10 days of publication. Al l orders received before October IS, 1994 will be shipped post-paid in the US (overseas orders please include $5.00 postage). Dealer orders welcome. $170.00 (R 199)
also .... Monnaics Grecques d ' Ualic. Collection c.c. 1994. A wonderful catalogue of a private collection consisting of 127 Greek Italian coins (36 from mainland Italy and 91 from Sicil y). The first volume consists of 174 pages including 91 pages of introductory lext. The coins are fully catalogued by Pierre Strauss and each is illustrated I: I . The second volume is a folder of 70 unbound plates with each coin enlarged 4:1 and illustrated in full color. Both volumes are bound in grey cloth. A superbly prepared catalog and a must for anyone interested in Italian or Sic ilian coins. Text in Italian. $250.00 (GR257)
Duncan-Jones, Richard. Money and Government in the Roman Empire. Expected September 1994. 360 pages, 59 graphs, 11 halftones, 108 tables. Hard cover. "This new work discusses minting and financial policy in the first three centuries of the Roman Empire. By studying Roman coin-survivals in a wider context, the author uncovers important facts about the origin of coin hoards in the Principate. The resulting analyses use extensive coin material collected for the first ti me. The author builds up a picture of minting, financial policy and monetary circulation that adds substantially to our knowledge." $79.95 (R205)
I'OSTAGF.: l 'O~lnge will bt billed'i C(lS1 plu, a hnndlinK charge. l1Ie minimum ch:lf&e for US orders i. $5, 00_ Orders 10 Canada $7.00. O " er~a' order! $ 10,00. I'A YMENT, Pnymenl .hoold be made in oovan<:e of tile ~ipmenl{~f:my books. You may p"Y by ch«k. monoy oroo. or crtdll eilrd (Visa and MO. If Jl3ying by c~il card ",nd all rai~ information. SA LES TA X: Pennsylvania re$ident! mw.t add 6-' $ales \3J.. PIe"", order by In.-tnlory t. a .. thor and Iille. Every effort is made 10 ship your I ~I Lm~":::."=· ; ~lhi~.~"~"",,:::"~.~f ~_:::!"~. ~"":::w~.=.... ,,,,· .:::..::.=i {h~;.~,="~po=",,=~::::· tt:::!.,="=~~.="=~=~=~"'="='=~~f=m~,..=-'=""=,=,,~~::::· ,,~. ______-' CLASSICAL NUMISMATIC GROUP, INC. Attention: Barry Murphy Post Office Box 479, Department eB • Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17608-0479 (717) 390-9194, Fax (717) 390-9978
October 1994 13 dess of war); Minerva standing right but the adoption of this device indi so-called "reign of terror". The latter in a fighting attitude on the prow of a cates his association with Minerva, event affected only Tacitus and Pliny's ship, with an owl at her feet (portrayed rather than suggesting the attributes of small group, whereas confiscations had as goddess of the fleet); Minerva stand a god. becn proceeding for eight years. ing left holding a spear (portrayed rep In 85, however, the coinage was Domitian enacted a viniculture law resenting peace); and Minerva stand debased (the aureus was reduced to that prohibited the planting of new ing left holding a thunderbolt and spear 7.50 grams and the denarius to 93% vines in Italy, and the cutting of half (portrayed as the agent of Zeus). There purity). This devaluation coincides of existing vineyards in the provinces exist minor variations of these types, with a change in Domitian's policy, (Dom. 7). At the time there was a and they continued to be struck for the noted by Suetonius (Dom. 12) and Dio shortage of corn and a glut of cheap entire reign . (67.4.5), that a financial crisis had de wine. This is the only instance when Domitian's portraits have been di veloped and confiscation of property Domi tian legislated for the empire and vided into three types. The first, de began. The same year saw Domitian not for a province. Suetonius mentions veloped on coins from 72-75, shows assume the censorship, allowing him that the law was not enforced after a him with typical Flavian features of to legislate morality by enforcing laws poem compared the emperor to a vine thick neck, full face, and hooked nose. such as the Lex Julia and Lex Sean eating goat (Dam. 14). The intention The hair is lower, however, and a pat linio, thereby enrich ing the treasury behind the law was a good one, as tern of comma-shaped locks are ar when offenders were found guilty. shortages were not unknown and the ranged along the forehead. Domi tian Suetonius (Dam. 3) refutes the populations of Asia were expanding, has one physical fealUre that differs charge by Pliny the Younger (Pane which resulted in a fam ine in 92-3, af from his father and brother: a protrud gyricus 50.5) that Domitian was moti ter the edict was issued. The law may ing upper lip. vated by greed. It is clear that costly have been commemorated with a Type two, from 75 until his acces entertainment, the Chattian, British, dupondius with a reverse inscription sion, shows him with receding hair at and Dacian wars, the raise in pay for of ANNONA AVG (RIC-262). An the temples, and Domitian resembles the soldiers, and the congiarium dis nona is shown holding corn ears with Titus more closely. Type three repre tributed to the people, along with the a small figure, naked to the waist, sents Domitian as emperor. His fea enormous building program, brought standing next to the goddess. The fig tures are idealized with an upward imperial finances to a poor state. To ure may be meant to represent the Ital gaze. The comma-shaped locks re remedy the situation confiscations be ian farmer, and be an encouragement main, linking his portraits closer toAu gan, and taxes, such as the jiscus for corn production. 12 gustus and Nero than the realism of ludeaicus, were rigorously enforced. early Flavian portraits. I I Many bronze The turning point of Domitian 's reign Building Progra m coins depict Domitian with the aegis, occurred in 85, instead of 93 with its The combination of the fires of 64 and 80 and the civil war had left Rome devastated. Rebuilding was carried out by Vespasian and Titus, notably the New York - (Sjiiricft - til -1Uon~on Flavian Amphitheater, but the major ity was carried out by Domitian. Dio (66.24.2) lists a few of the destroyed Does a healthy slice of your nu mi smatic budget underwrite big and damaged buildings, which include: city overhead rather than buy coins? Could be. the temple of Serapis (depicted on a denarius, RIC-204), the temple of Isis, Our free illustrated catalogue is the collector's altern ative. the Saepta, the temple of Neptune, the Discover where desirable ancients at realistic prices are backed by Pantheon, the Baths of Agrippa, and friendly, small town service. the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus (de picted on a denarius, RIC-207). Suetonius claims that Domitian left ROBERT T. G OLAN only his own name on the restored P.O. BOX 8 I 2, WARRENTON, NORTH CAROLINA 27589 (9 19) 257-3853 buildings (Dom. 5), and not that of the builder, but this is not supported by epigraphic evidence. In all, approxi mately 52 structures were rebuilt, com Quality Auctions pleted, and built new, a building pro 13 We conduct two Numismatic Collector oriented Public & Mail Bid Auction sales gram nothing short of massive. each year. Our sales feature a wide selection of Ancients, Antiquities, World Gold, Among the buildings completed Crowns & Minors, Canadian & United States Coinage as well as Paper Money, were the fourth level of the Flavian Tokens & Medals. Amphitheater, the temple of Vespasian Each of our catalogs is well illustrated. Subscription rates are $17.50 per year and Titus, and the arch of Titus, which which includes prices realized following the sale. was mostly built by Domitian rather Consignments are always accepted for our upcoming auction schedule. For than Trajan, as has been thought. The information and terms please wr ite us. assignment to Domitian's reign is sup Craig A. Whitford Numismatic Auctions ported by his appearance in the attic decoration of the arch showing the tri P.O. Box 22026, Lansing, Michigan 48909 14 Tel: 517/394-4443 or Fax: 517/394-5510 umph of Vespasian and Titus. Among Ihe new structures built by Domi tian are: 14 The Gelato( Forum Transitorium or Forum beliefs of his subjects. Hi s moral CENSOR PERPETVVS later that year. Nervae: The centerpiece of th is forum stance is ill ustrated by his treatment of The office had been held by Ves pasian was the temple of Minerva (depicted the Vestal Virgi ns, the daughters of the and Titus in 73-4, but Domiti an's as on a denarius, RI C-206), which was community for whom a moral trans sumption for life, and that this faci was dedi cated by Domitian in person. gression was considered incest. Domi· advertised widely by his coinage, was When the damnatio was issued Ner tian, unlike Vespasian and Titus, did a new and startling development in the va's name was bestowed on the com not cast a blind eye on their behavior powers of the emperor. which no later plex. Little of the foru m has been ex (Dam. 8). ruler went so fa r to assume. Aside cavated, but a key fricze panel portrays The Vestals were tried twice before from supervisi ng morali ty, the censor Minerva punishing Arachne, and oth Domitian, as pontifex maximus, for ship allowed the emperor to control ers depict imperial virtues advocating incest. In the first trial, three Vestals admission and expulsion of the se na the morali sm of the reign. were found guilty bu t were allowed to torial and equestrian orders. Arches: According to Suetonius select the method of their deaths, and Domitian performed his duties as (Dam. 13) Domitian erected numerous their lovers su ffered onl y exile. In the censor with his usual concern for ad· arches and gates. The Cancelleria re second trial, the chief Vestal, Corn elia, ministrative detail. Such minutiae as liefs (depicting Vespasian greeted by was found guilty and was sentenced to punishing corrupt jurors and expelling Domitian and Domitian leaving for the traditional punishment of being an ex-questor from the Senate for act war) may have decorated one of these buried alive. Her lovers, except one in g and danci ng underwent his scru · arches. Representations of only one who confessed, were beaten 10 death. tiny (Dom. 7·9). The assumption of triumphal arch exist on coins (RIC- Domitian's reign was a period when the censorShip was Domitian's most 261).15 justice was generally dispensed with serious threat against the aristocracy. Stalues: The famous Equus Domi impartiality if with severity. His pen Vespasian had consulted the Senate as tian i was bu il t in 89 on a vote of the chant for fo llowing the traditional ap a matter of form, but Domitian let it Senatc to commemorate Domitian's proach is also shown when the flamen be known what each emperor would German and Dacian wars. This massive Dialis, an importan t state priest, wished never declare publicly: the power of eq uestrian statue was the subject of one to divorce his wife. Domitian granted the state was vested solely in the em of Statius' poems (Silvoe 1.1 ), and was the request , but insisted that it be done peror. Even Martial, who is usually en de picted on a sestertius (RIC·4 14). in the time honored way of using hor· thusiasti c about Domitian's actions, O(feum and Sradium: These build rendous rites and incantations.l6 ha rd ly mentions the censorship (1 .4 ings were erected for the Ludi Capitoli and 5.8). in the Campus Martius. The Odeum The Ce nsors hip It was not until the reign of Sept i was used for musical performances, As coins inform us, Domilian as· mius Severus (following the defeat of and the Stadium for athlet ic contests. sumed the censorship in 85, becoming Clod ius Albinus) that the Senate was Both structures were fam ous, and were regarded as two of Rome's outstand ing buildings (AmmiwlUs Marcel{inus 16.10). The form of the stadi um is pre served today in the Piazza Navona, but L. ALEXANDER WOLFE little of the Odeum remains. Temple of Fortuna Redux: The Ancient Art & Artefacts temple was built after the Sarmatian War in the Campus Martius. Accord ing to Martial (8.65) the temple was a magnificent structure. Spec ializin g In DomusAugustollo: Domitian's pal ace was completed in 92. In order to build it the Palatine Hill was leveled, Jewish Coins and no expense was spared in the con structi on of this building complex. City Coins of Israel & the Decapolis Martial desc ribed it as " You would think that the seven hills were rising Semitic Inscriptions up together" (Epigrams 8.36.5). The complex included an offic ial palace (domus Flavia), a pri vate palace on two Stamp Seals levels (domus Augustana), and a sta dium. The decorations were elaborate, Jewish and Early Christian Antiquities and inc luded many sc ulptures. The peristy le of the domus Au gustana was Biblical Antiquities described by Suetonius (Dam. 14) as hav in g walls li ned wit h polished moonstone so the emperor could see behind him. 7 Natan Hanavi, Jerusalem 95111, Israel
Morality Tel. 02-288891 Fax. 972-2-280183 Domitian saw himse lf, like Augus tus, as a supervisor of the morals and October 1994 15 again under similar threat, when 64 Celses, who wished to persuade Domi wreath. Domitian was not content to members were put on tri al for treason tian he was not part of a conspiracy be a spectator, especial ly during the (29 were executed), Huge confisca (Dio. 67. 13.3-4), or used by Statius and gladiatorial, when he could not hide his tions followed, which were used to pay Martial (Epigrams 5.8 and 10.72), does loathing of Thracians (Dom. 10) and off the costs of the civil war and in not prove they were forced to adopt it. would express his annoyance if some crease the pay of the soldiers, Severus Domitian did not develop a cult around one he did not favor won a competition excluded senators from important himself as Cali gula is said to have done (Dom. 13). The injection of Greek cul posts, relegating then to merely assent (Gaius 22), and the use of "Dominus ture into Roman society was frowned ing to the emperor's wi ll. 17 et Deus" cannot be proven fO have been upon by many moral ists, and Pliny ap· common usage beyond his courtiers. proved the abolition of similar games Dominus et Deus held in Vienna, wishing the same cou ld Suetonius relates (Dom. 13) that Games and Entertainment be done at Rome (Letters 4.22). Domitian dictated a letter that began, In 86, Domitian inaugurated the The Ludi Saeculares, or Secular "Our Master and God orders", and that Lud i Capitolini base on the games Games, were held in 88. The celebra this became a regular form of address. Nero had held (Nero 12), wh ich had tions have an Etruscan origin, and the Statius (Silvae 6.83-84), on the other long been discontinued. They were ceremonies are recorded in the Sibyl hand, says that Domitian rejected the held every four years in the summer, line Books, marking the end of one age title Dominus, as Augustus had done and attracted competitors from many or saeculum and the beginni ng of a (Aug. 53), on the grounds that it was nations. Like our modern Olympic new one. A saeculum was a cycle of the form of address slaves used to their games, great sums of money were the universe defined as 110 years, the masters. Slaves did address Domitian spent on new bui ld ings, such as the longest span of human life. When a in this way on inscriptions, bu t there Odeum and Stadium in the Campus new cycle began the planets returned is no other epigraphic evidence to sup Martius. to their original positions and the same pOT! the regular use of "Dominus et The games were divided infO three people, who had lived in the prior Deus". Later writers insisted that general types: chariot-racing and ath cycle, would return to repeat their ex Domitian had ordered the use of this letics; gymnastics; and music, singing, ploits. During the Repub lic the cer form of address (Aurelius Victor, De oratory, and poetry in Greek and Latin. emonies were conducted by an official Caes. 11.2), while Suetonius mentions Domitian kept the Greek innuence of known as the quindecimviri, who un that the imperial couple was saluted as the games evident by dressing in a der the empire was relegated to assist "Dominus et Domina" upon entering purple toga and wearing a golden ing the emperor. Like many such the amphitheater (Dom. 13). crown with representations of Jupiter, events, the Secu lar Games were not Terms of flattery used to secure Minerva, and Juno (Dom. 4). He per held precisely each 110 years. Domi imperial favor, like that of Juentuius sonally awarded each victor an oak tian calculated his games from the year Augustus should have held his games (23/22 S.c.), instead of the postponed date of 17 S .c. At the games, ceremonies were per PALLADIUM formed for three successive nights and days. The night sacrifices were held at the Tere ntum, a volcanic cleft in the NUMISMATICS Campus Martius near the Tiber, and the day events had different locations. On • A full-service firm for collectors of Classical the th ird day a hymn composed for the games would be sung by 27 girls and coins and antiquities in all price ranges. 27 boys whose parents were liv ing. Augustus included a further seven days • We issue regular illustrated Bid-Or-Buy of entertainment at the circus and the ater. Domitian commemorated his catalogs and attend most major coin shows. games with a series of bronze coins that provide a virtual record of events. • We service want lists and will assist you in The ceremonies began with th e developing your collection. distribution of purifying clements (torches and su lfur) to the people. This is identified by a coin with the • To receive a free catalog, please reverse inscription "SVF(FIMENTA) P(OPVLO) D(EDlT)". The coin de call or write: picls the people receiving the ele ments from Ihe emperor (RIC-376). PALLADIUM NUMISMATICS Another reverse type shows the recep 4125 W. Mineral King, Suite 316 tion of wheat, oats, and beans (fruges) Visalia, CA 93277 from the people by Domitian, and is David S. Michaels, (209) 636·0945 identified by "FRVG(ES) AC(CEPTT)" (RIC-375). Classical Numismatist The sacrifices are also represented _aEliill on coins, beginning with the first night offering of a black sheep and a -+ 16 The Gelator 01 _ . _ . A~". 'k"',w " " "" i ...... II;"r"""_)'I,l, ~"'WJ- . "'*"""lAitu . BIoIC 011'. A. S~ 1Jl. FNF JQ San Fra ncisco, CA 94127 <6.F,bIoctp> W>CU", " """""""",,"""0(T>b. ~ . 96 P.()(."URATORS OF JUOF.A , A",".i., SBl3<.f. JO Phone: (415) 564-5702 " " , , ~EII, h im """'hrl H.. ~,. i. III _,~~ """''';.0.>Mt, l 101" ... "-'1 .. _ .... F("' ... ~ 11 " .l.off. A.SJlm. I' '1 91 ,ST REVOlT. AE". N>
October 1994 17 goat 10 (he Fates (RIC-38 [. BMC-430). The Provinces Lat in rights to about 129 towns. The A while ox was sacrificed 10 Jupiter Domitian's good administration of charters gave local communities lati on the Capilol on the first day (RIC- the provinces is attested by Suetonius tude in main tai ni ng ambassadors and 382 & :386, BMC-438). On the sec (Dom. 8), who says the emperor took sources of revenue without the inter ond night. cakes were offered to the care to control his offi cials, and admin ference of Roman officials.19 lIil hyiac (the daughters of Juno) (R IC- istrators, in general, were more honest 383, BMC-434), and on the second and re strain ed. The judgement of Opposition day, Damilian is depicted dictating a Suetonius is sound. as he had first-ha nd At th e conclusion of th e Judean praye r to Juno (RIC-377. BM C-424). know ledge as Hadri.an's sec retary. The War. Ves pasian imposed a tax on the On the th ird night. a sow with he r scope of extortion among officials Jews know n as th efiscus ludaicus. It young is shown as a sacri fice to Terra must have been vas t, and something was decreed that the tax formerly paid Mater (RIC-378, BMC-425), and the impossible to control , but with Domi by the Jews to the Tem ple (firs t a third. choral procession o f boys and girls, tian's in terest in the minute details of then a half shekel) would henceforth abbreviated to three. is found on an govern ing, a brake mu st ha ve bee n put be paid to Rome. The tax was devoted other reverse (RIC-379. BMC-426). on such illegalities. to the main tenance of the Temple of The sacri fic ial scenes follow a general How Domitian treated his adminis Capitoline Jupiter in Rome, so th e di pattern of showing the emperor with trative appointees is illustrated by a version of fun ds to a pagan temple was flute a nd harp players with the sacrifi letter sent to the procurator of Syria. particularly offensive. Tax liability cial victim. The architectural features Claudius Athenodorus. in structing him was also extended to women . and may represent actual buildings, but in authoritarian language. Th e letter there was no age limitation.20 How cannot be identified wi th certainty. differs from th e polite exchange be ever, Vespasian did not cance l any of Many lavish public entenainments tween P liny and Trajan by being the privileges of exemption from par were held by Domitian (Dom. 4), bluntly to the poin t, and shows Domi ticipating in the Roman state cull. Bu t wh ich he in novated by introducing tian intent on orders be ing fol lowed. 18 the tax was humiliating to pious Jews naval contests and scheduling gladia Dom it ian was fond of Greek cui· who, in effect, had to purchase the torial contests at night (D io. 67.8.4). ture. and was the first emperor to be ri ght to worship.21 Tha t they were costly is demon elected eponymous archon at Athens. Domitian sought to ex tend the tax strated by the Saturnalis of 88. at which He also restored the temple of Apollo to those who lived a Jewish life with Domitian provided the aud ience with at Delphi at hi s own expense, and ex ou t admitt ing it, and to those who con figs . plums, dates, cakes, and par tended the temple of Arte mis at cealed their national identity 10 dodge tridges (Si/I'ae 1.6). For the ci rcus, Ephesus. On the basis of sur viving th e tax . Suetonius recorded seeing an he added two new teams, gold and town charters. Dom itian promoted the old man stri pped naked to prove he was purple (Dom. 7). Romanization of Spain by gran ting not circumcised (Dom. 12). There is no evidence that Domitian fo rced the Jews to comm it idolatry. especial ly If you aren't seeing this symbol on since Nerv3 was laler credited si mply with removing the tax and not restor· catalogues y ou are currently receiving ing Jew ish libert ies, an event com· memorated by the issuance of a ses· tertius (RIC-58). Bu t the threat existed and made many Jews uneasy. Domitian resented converts to Ju · dai sm, regarding such actio ns as "athe ism"' by neglecting the State religion, and he prohi bited such conversions. In 95 Flavius Clemens. his wife Domi tilla. and Ac il ius Glabrio were charged. according to Dio (67.14.2), with athe ism, lead ing to the exile of Dornit il la and the execution of the men . Sue toni us mentions no re ligi ous charges, and desc ribes Clemens as a "'contempt ibly lazy man ... killed on the slight est suspicion"' (Dom. 15). The exec u ti on of Clemens fo r political reasons docs nor exclude sy mpathies to Juda ism. and at heism could have been one of the lesser charges. Write for our membership list In Ch ri stian traditio n Flavius Clemens and Domi tilla have been por Jean-Paul Diva trayed as C hri stians singled out for Secretary, I.A.P.N. persecution. The first to make the claim was Symcelles in the 8th cen· Lowenstrasse, 65 tury. It is unlikely tha t Clemens was a CH-8001 ZOrich, Switzerland convert. as members of the Christi an sec t avoided public li fe and Clemens 18 The Gelator was executed following a consulship. property confiscatcd. They were: Relations with Ihe Aristocracy Nor cou ld a high Roman magistrate Arulen us' brother, Junius Mauri From the start of his reign Oom i reconcile the practice of the Jewish cus; his wife Grati lla; Arria, wife of tian made his autocracy clear to the ar fait h with such service.22 The famous Thrasia Paetus; and Fannia, wife of istoc racy. Whereas Vespasian and catacombs of Domitilla were once the elder Priscus, which was her third Titus had consulted the Senate as a considered as archaeological evidence exile (Letters 7. 19). matter of form. Dom itian did nol wish that she had been a Christian , bu t the Unlike his fa ther, Domitian made to disguise the nalure of the monarc hy, cemetery can not be dated before 150, the conc:il ia tory gesture of granti ng and probably did not attend meetings and contains pagan as well as Chris suffect consulshi ps to Priscus and of the Senate with any frequency. Giv tian burials. Likewise, there is no ev i· Rusticus the year before their tri al, ing no less offense was the conversion dence that Domitian persecu ted Chris and awarded one to T. Avidus Qui tus, of the house where he was born into a tians, and efforts by later Christian a fri end of Arria and Fannia, in 93. temple for the Flavian family, and re writers to portray Christians as having Before this, in 85, Pri scus' son-il\ naming hi s birth month to "Dam i suffered during his reign are legends. 23 law, Herennius Pollio, had held the tianus". The term "Ph ilosophic" or "Sloic office (Lerrers 6.29, 9.13). The re Pliny descri bes the atmosphere of Opposition" is mi s understood, as porting of Ihi s trial renects the bias the Senate, saying that no senator dared Vespa'sian and Domitian had no quar of Dio, who spends much time de open his mouth, and a single mall ex rel wi th philosophers. In fact, Domi fe nding Vespasian's execution of pressed the viewpoint for all of them tian gave 100,000 sestertii to Flavius Pri sc us (65.12-13), calling the con to follow. When Domitian was present Ardeppus to allow him to purchase a demned man "a turbu lent fellow who he put on an atti tude of respect for the farm, describing him as a "philoso cultivated the fav or of the rabble." Senate, but once outside the curia he pher, an honest man, his character in Yet, Dio condemns Domitian for ex was an autocrat (Pan. 76). Those who accord with the profession" (Leuers ecuting Senecio for writing a biogra were not hi s favori tes, Domitian hated 10.58). Stoicism itself had no quarrel phy of the elder Priscus (67.13). and treated li ke slaves. Pliny also with monarchy. Instead, the so-called Follow ing the trial, Domitian is speaks of an invasion of privacy, whcn "Stoic Opposition" were several gen sued a decree banishing philosophers spies would even listen 10 prayers at erations of a closely related grou p of fro m Rome and ilal y, which includ the family shrine (Pan. 62 & 68). Ap pagan aristocrats known for their de ed Epictitus and Dio Chrysostom. parently, informers wou ld hopc for a votion to Stoic phi losoph y. There was only a single banishment, slip of the tongue, however sli ght. Nero executed two members of this not two, which is supported by Sue Domitian dealt sternly with the aristo group, Barca Soranus and Thrasea to ni us ( Dam. 10), Pl iny (Letters cratic members of the Senate, but there Paetus, for advocating, bu t not acti vely 3.11.2), and Apollodorus (Vita Apoll. exists evidence that he made some con pu rsuing, the overthrow of his govern 7.3). cessions. ment. When Vespasian became em· peror he was openly crit icized by th is group for turning the monarchy into a he reditary possession . This proved to be too much for Vespasian, who was FRANK L. KOVACS determined to found a new dynasty, and in spite of his past friendshi p with Ancient Coins & Antiquities Soranus and Paetus (llisl. 4.7), he re fu sed to be concil iatory. There fol since 1965 lowed an order to expel philosophers from Italy and Helvidius Priscus, a member of the opposition, was ex Working with collectors to build fine collections of Greek, ecuted.24 Titus held the same view as Roman and Byzantine coins. his fa ther. When Soranus and Paetus were executed, he promptly divorced We offer the benefits of 30 years in the business, involved in hi s wife, Marcia Furni lla, the niece of serious research and a regula r presence in the international Soranus, and did not return to her af market. And still in love with ancients. tcr Nero's death, whcn it was safe to do so.25 Had he reigned longer, Titus While our expertise in locating, authenticating, and correct wou ld have had to deal with Ihis op p ricing will be especially valuable for the advanced col/ector, posi tion. collectors of every stage are welcome. As we sell primarily What has come to be regarded as di rectly to individuals (v ia correspondence and shows) new Domitian's "reign of terror" occurred customers are invited to di scuss their interests with us . in 93, when seven members of the "S toic Opposition" were brought to Occasional mail bid and fixed price lists. trial fo r making derogatory remarks on the Flavians or the principalc (Letters Fax (415) 574· 1995 Phone (415) 574·2028 3. 11 ), (Agr. 45). Of the accused, th ree were executed: Herenn ius Senecio and P.O. Box 25300, San Mateo, California 94402·5300 two senators, Arulenus Ruslicus and Helvidius Pri scus, whose father had been executed by Vespasian . The re ~ main ing four were ex iled and th eir October 1994 19 During the reigns of Vespasian and ianus became suffect consul. replacing obligatory year following mil itary ser Titus, only 6 of 24 ordinary consul Domitian. In the fo llowing year, Cal vice. Even though Pli ny feared he ships w~ r e hcld by non-Fl avians, From pu rni us' brother, Li bo Fru gi. was migh t be placed on trial (Lellers 3. I I), this one ean understand why Ves pasian granted a similar consulship. This is he prospered during Domitian's reign. was cri tici zed for turni ng the princi remarkabl e by the fact that both were The Senate also felt th reatened as pate in to a hered itary offi ce. Pl iny descendants of Pompey and Crassus. Domitian developed hi s own power praises Trajan, who seemed reluctant to Their father was one of four sons of set. As censor he had the power to re assume the consu lship, for opening the M. Licinius Crassus Frugi, consul in vise the Senate membership by directly office of consu l to ord inary people 27, who was executed by Claudius with admitting new men. Many of these (Pall. 58). However. Domitian had one of his sons. Of the three surv iv men came from the east. and the com essentiall y accomplished this. After ing sons. M. Licinius Crassus Frugi. position of the Senate changed with an 82183 , when he adhered to Vcspasian 's consul in 64 (and Ihe father of Domi increase of non-Italians from the reign practice of holding the consulship with lian's consuls). was executed by Ncro. of Vespa sian (33% to 38%). Domitian a family member, he abandoned it. al Another. L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi added as many as 24 easterners lowing fami ly members to hold 5 of 10 Licinius, was the Piso adopted by (whereas Trajan added from 6 to 13 ), available posts. From 89 through 96. Galba. Clearl y. an unsatisfactory pedi and appointed an easterner, Ti. Julius only 4 of 16 ordinary consulships went gree did not prevent Domitian from Candidus Marius Celsus, as proconsul to Flavians, although Domitian he ld granting honors. The cons ul o f 87 of Cap padoci a-Galatia. which was un the consulship for all but four years. lived up to hi s family reputation for precedented. Domitian al so angered Pliny al so praises Trajan for hon getting into trouble wi th the principate. the Senate by showi ng a preference oring old Republican famili es with the Nerva exiled him for conspiracy (Dio toward th e equestrian order, Without consulship, families whose distin 68.3), and Trajan sent him to an un exception, army commanders had been gui shed ancestors had held the office known island (D io 68.16). scnatori al officers, such as Vespasian before thcm (Pan. 69). In ot her words, Even following the revolt of Satur when he assumed command in Judea. the honor of the consu lship was kept ninus, Domitian persisted in Ihis prac· As his commandcr in Dacia, Domitian with established noble families, Of all ticc despite the inauguration of a "reign se lected hi s prHctorian prefect Cor consulships held during Domitian's of terror", As related above, consul nelius Fu sc us, an equestrian (Dom. 6). reign. all but seven had consular fa ships were awarded to mcmbers of the In 87/88, he a ppointed C. Minicus thers. Despite his autocracy. Domitian "Stoic Opposition". Although Pliny Italus, also an eq uestrian, as procura did not ignore the senatorial establish was associmed with the oppositi on, he tor of Asia aftcr the incumbent had ment by refu sing what was due Ihem.26 received a post at the military treasury been exeeuted.2? For example. on January 13,87, C. fro m Domit ian, and was later allowed Domitian executed 10 formcr con Calpurnius Piso Crassus Frugi Ucin- to become praetor without waiting the suls (named by Suetonius (Dom. 10», and exiled many othcrs. He took no notice when th e Senate passcd repeatcd dec rees that an emperor should not execute anyone of his own rank (Dio 67.2). Dio cites numerous occasions SPINK. THE OLD EST when senators are executed. but names none of them: 67.3 (A.D. 83), 67.4 ESTABLISHED COI N (A.D. 84). 67.9 (before A.D. 89), 67,11 (A.D. 89), 67.12 (A.D. 91/2). 67. 3 BUSIN ESS IN TH E (A. D. 93 ). and 67.14 (A.D. 95).28 But stressing the number of senators WOHLD. Domitian executed docs not give a bal anced view of hi s reign. Each emperor found it necessary to carry out political Coins from ancient to modern bougl:t and sold, Frce verbal valuations execut ions. If the nu mber of executions Ex pert impartial advice given· Coins bought outright, or sold on commission is used to define a tyrant. Claudius Regular auctions held - please send fo r ou ~ curn:ntlist . Pub.lishers and s t oc~i.~ts of would rank ahead of Domitian, as he numismatic books' PUblishersofThc Numlsmallc CIrcular smcc 1892 . AdVice and purchase at auction sates on collectors' behalf - all major salcs attendcd. executed 35 senators and 300 equestri (CIa/ill. For fu rth er inform(l{ion 011 uncient coins contuC/ ans 29). Claudius, however, John Pelf. had a successor who deified him. Quote l11e Celalor for a free edition of The Numisma tie Circular, our fixed price list of coin.~ of all the ~eries and a Military Affairs I forum for nUniismalic debate. Subscription $55 (10 i~ues). The mi litary prowess of Vespasian and Titus is beyond dispute, bu t Domi tian was untested in war before he be ,~ came emperor. He was anxious to ac ",~ .. ~' "• ., quire a military reputation, as Sue tonius relates (Dom. 2), by pl anni ng an un necessary expedition which he was dissuadcd from pursuing. As emperor. SPINK when war was imm inent Domitian ~ PI ~ K & so~ l'lll ~. (, '" J KI;.;G SIR~.I1 . '!I JA~IES'S , IJ)~DO~ SII'IV 60S. 'IE!.: 1I1 1 ·~ )( l l~!
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October 1994 21 the actual setting of poli cy belonged A reverse type depicting a German By 8 1, Agricola had advanced into to the emperor. Julius Ursus. a rela woman stripped 10 the wai st, seated on southwestern Scotland and gave tive and praetorian prefect, was "pro a shield with a broken spear below, was thought to invading Ireland (Agr. 24). moted" to the Senate after he disagreed issued in gold and silver (R IC-66a and On becoming emperor, Dom itian al with the po licy in Germany (Dio 72ff.) . but the greatest variety of re lowed Agricola, already two years 67.4.2). As a military leader. Dio sug verse types were given to bronze coins. longer on campaign than usual for a gests that Domit ian spent hi s time dur One type, inscribed "GERMANIA consular appointment, to continue hi s ing eampaigns indulging in riotous liv CAPTA ", was modeled after Vespa advance. In 83. the Romans won a ing in a city far from the action (67.6). sian's "IUDEA CAPTA" series, and de pitched battle against the Caleconians However. Fron tinus has Domilian or picls a seated female and standing male at Mons Graupius, and th e victorious dering hi s troops to dismount and fight captives with a trophy between them army secured the front ier by building on foot becau se of difficuil terrain (RIC-252). Other types pay homage to fortifications at Chester, Caerl eon, and (Srrar. 2.3), and that he paid compen Jupiter (RIC-253), show Domitian on JnchlUthi L Agricola sent his fleet to sation to civ il ians for damage caused ho rseback riding down a German ex plore the Orkney Islands, in prepa by his army (Strat. 2.11 ). (RIC-257), and depict Victory holding ration for his eighth year, and proved a shie ld inscribed "DE GERM" (RIC- that Britain was an island. Chattlan War of 82-83 255). Domitian is shown standing. hold In 84, however, Agricola was recal It is nOl surprisi ng that soon after ing a spear wit h a kneel ing captivc led by Dom itian, who has been accused his accession Domitian led a military (RIC-258), and is also seen standing of being jealous of his governor's suc expedition against the Chatti. He had with the Rh ine reclining at his feet cess. However. litt le would be gai ned gone to Gaul pretending to conduct a (RIC-259), Tacitus referred 10 the Ger by subduing the remaindcr of Britain, census when suddenly troops crossed man victory as asham triumph (Agr. 39). as the lowland settlements were secure inlo Chatt ian territory bui ldi ng military and Agricola had long overstayed his roads and fortifications (Frontinus. Britain appointment. The governor returned Stratagems L \.8). The operation was Britain was the one area of the em (Q Rome. and was acclaimed and successful in that the fr ontier was pire Vespasian and Titus chose for ex granted triumphal ornaments. Domi strengthened, but the Chatti were not pansion. In 7 1. Vespasian sent Q. tian, howe ve r. may not have trusted conquered. Domitian, however, ce l Peti lius Cerialis with a new legion. II Agricola, as the governor was granted ebrated a triumph in 83 and claimed Adiutrix, to pu sh the frontier north no further commands. A sestertius the title "Germanicus", Beginning in ward, but it was not unt il Cn_ Julius was struck from 85 until 87 (RIC-260, 85. and continuing for th e remainder Agricola, who became governor in 78, 288, & 306). and was thought to rep of his reign. an extensive issue of coins that the complete subjugation of Brit resent Domitia n greeting Agricola, commemorated the victory, ain became reality. but as the ty pe was issued with the "Germania Ca pta" series. il is li kely Agricola is not intended. Nor does Tacitus mcnti on the honor among those c.,. Martin (Coins) Ltd of his fa ther-i n-law (Agr. 40). Two years aft er Agricola departed, of London, England. in 86/87, a massive withdrawal was carried out, accomplished over a long Our current 24 page period. whic h abandoned the recent gains. Fortresses, such as Inchtuthil, cataLogue contains were carefully dismantled to leave about 500 Greek nothing of value for the enemy. The and Roman coins, latest coins found at Inchtuthil date to 86, and were se nt from Rome in bulk 200 English to pay the troops, thereby fixing a date Hammered for troop movements. Legio II Adiu trix was transferred to thc Dan ube , and and a w ide what troops remained were moved fur range of ther sout h (Trajan wou ld move them antiquities. fu rt her south). The reason for aban doning Scotland can be explained by the defeat of Cornelius Fu scus by the C.J. Martin (Coins) Ltd Dac ians, but it is also possib le that garrison troops had become stretched 85, The Vale, Southgate , to the limit, making transfers neces London Nt4 6AT, England sary.29 Established 20 years Whatever the reason. the ret reat cau sed discontent, and Tacitu s bitterly Te l: (0)81 882 1509 Fax: (0)81 8865235 complained that Bri tain had been con Telephone VislI & MasterclIrds accepted quered and immediately let go (H is'. 1.2), Di scontent may have been the OUR CATALOGUES INCLUDE ANCIENT GREEK BRONZE, GREEK SILVER, cause of the execu tion of the governor ROMAN SILVER & BRONZE, BYANTINE, CELTIC, ANGLO SAXON, NORMAN, HAMMERED MEDIEVAL, ANCIENT ARTIFACTS, HOARDS (, SPE([ALOFFERS of Brit ain, Sall ustus Lucul lus. The charge SuelOnius gives was that he 22 The Celator named a type of lance after himself Domitian found himself facing a more suspicious is perhaps indicated (Dom. 10), but he may have commit military revolt, a critical war in Dacia, by an unusually high number of con ted a more serious action perceived as and the appearance of the false Nero sulships in 90, as if he were reluctant treason. in Parthia. The revolt was put down to have two men hold office for very quickly by Aulus Buccus Lappiu s, the long. Following the revolt, the two The Danube and the Dacian War commander of Lower Germany, and Main z legions were transferred further For Domiti an the most challenging was over before Domitian arrived from cast, and the city became a one-legion area of the empire was the Danube, Rome with his practorians and Trajan camp (Dom. 7), Restrictions were im where he had to face the SarmaLi ans, fro m Spain with VII Gemina. Satur posed on the amount of money soldiers the Suebic Germans (Marcomanni and ninus probably expected help from his could deposit in camp. Before leav Quadi), and the Dacians. Vespasian other legions stationed at Strasbourg ing Mainz, Domitian dealt with the had strengthened the Danubian de and Windish, which did nOl come . Chalti and a peace treaty was signed. fenses duri ng his reign, but had not Also un fortunate was that r Minerva, in creased the number of soldi ers)O Domitian's own legion, was stationed Conclusion of the Daclan War Domitian continued his father's policy. in Bonn. The revolt occurred on the Domitian may still have been at In the winter of 84/85, the Dacians twentieth anniversary of Vitelli us' pro Mainz when a coalition of German crossed the Danube and attackcd, kill clamation as emperor, which had also tribes (Suebi, Quadi, and Marcoman ing the governor of Moesia. Forcing been announced at Mainz. However, nil, who had been incited by Decebalus the Dacians back across the Danube Saturninus was not comparable with to act as a diversion, began hostilities. was made more difficult by the eme r Vitellius, and had been ad mitted to Domitian invaded and was defeated gence of a new Dacian leader, Dece senatorial rank by Vespasian, holding by the Marcomanni (Dio 67.7.1) . With balus. Domitian left Rome to person a consulship early in Domitian's reign, the prospect of war on two fronts, 00- ally take command, and refused to ac and was described as a notorious and mitian dec ided to negotiate peace cept peace proposals from the Dac ians untrustworthy pervert (DiD 67.11.4), with Decebalus instead of making an (Dom. 6) . There was some success Lhat This was a military revolt unsup assault on th e Dacian capital. The allowed Domitian to re turn to Rome ported by the Senate, and was not fo l treaty made Decebalus a va ssal of and celebrate a second triumph. lowed by mass executions of senators. Rome , and allowed him to keep his In 86, Cornelius Fuscus rashly cros In his Panegyric US, Pliny praises territory intact and receive a subsidy. sed the Danube, invaded Dacia, and Trajan for coming to Domitian's aid to Martial recorded (Epigrams 5,3) was killed, perhaps with the loss of a suppress the revolt (Pa n, 14), and says that Diegis, a member of the Dacian legion (Agr. 41). Once more, Domi nothing further. Pliny would not have royal family, came to Rome to accept tian took personal command (Dom. 6) fai led 10 mention such executions had a go ld en diadem from Domitian's and sent two generals, Cornelius Ni they occurred. That Domitian became hands, Decebalus bein g no fo ol to grinus and L. Funisulanus Vettonia nus, against the Dacians. To better administer the province, Moesia was di vided in two, creating an Up per and Miinzen und Medaillen AG Lower Moesia. With Dacia stabilized, Domitian ordered additional troops 1942-1994 into the area and, after a year of inac For 52 years we have been serving ti vity, the conflict began again with an invas ion by Teltius l ul ianus, known collectors ofAncient Coins ... as a stern disciplinarian (DiD 67.10. I). and we would like to serve you too! In 88, he defeated the Dacians at Tapae, ncar the Dacian capital, durin g the celebration of the Secular Games.
Saturninus' Rebellion At this critical point, on January I, 89, came the revolt of L. Antoninus Salurninus, th e governor of Upper • Monthly Illustrated Fixed Price Lists • Germany, at Mainz. Involved were the XIV Gemina and XXI Rapax, both le • Public Sales· Appraisals· Buying and Selling· gio ns stationed in Mainz, and the re • Large Stock in All Price Ranges· volt was financed with the money sol diers were allowed to deposit in camp. Saturnin us had reached an understand ing with the nearb y Chatti in order to Please contact: prevent their attacks. Th e Germans took advantage of the situation and Miinzen und Medaillen AG destroyed many of the fortifications built in 82. The reason for the revolt P.O. Box 3647 • Malzgasse 25 is obscure, and was probably a con spiracy among the officers rather than CH - 4002, Basel, Switzerland the soldiers, who had recently had their Tel. (061) 272 75 44 Fax. (061) 272 75 14 privileges and immunities confirmed. October 1994 23 come himself. The terms were similar Domitilla's steward, as the chief con spirators, and had written their names to those offered by Nero to Tiridales spirator along with Clodianus Smur (a on a tablet of linden-wood, which was over Armenia. As with Britain, Domi head chamberlain). Parthenius (the discovered and given to Domitia (Dio tilln must have been criticized for com head valet), and Parthenius' freedmen, 67.15.3). An improbable scenario. ing to terms instead of completing the Maximus. Stephan us struck the first Although Domitia is not mentioned by conquest of Dacia. Once pellce WllS blow with II dagger concealed in his SuelOnius, she may have had know l established, Domitian fortified the hand by bandages from a mock injury. edge, even if she was not a conspira Danubian frontier and returned to When Domitian fought back the re tor. Whatever her role, 25 years later Rome in lale 89 to celebrate a double maining conspirators finished the mur she continued to refer to herself as triumph over the Chalti and Dacians der. Significantly, a dagger that Domi "Domitian's wife" when she could (Dam. 6). tian kept under a pillow had its blade have avoided it (Corpus inscriptiaf/um removed. The pretext for this action Latif/arum 15.548a-9d). Procopius Sarmalian War of 92 was the execution of Flavius Clemens also recorded an act of her devotion Tn 92, Domitian left Rome again for and Domitian's secretary Epaphro when Domitia ordered a statue of her an expedition against the Sarmatians. ditus, who had been Nero's secretary husband to be made (Secret History Thanks to his settlement with Dece and helped him to commit suicide 8. 12-22). balus, the Romans were able to cross (Nero 49). Domitian's increasingly Nerva is a lso not mentioned by Dacia in order to attack the Sarmatian suspicious nature had alarmed his Suetonius, but Dio says he was fully rear. Domitian had nine legions, but courtiers to protect themselves, or pos informed. He was not the nomi nee of disaster struck again. One legion was sibly the assassination was in revenge the Senate, being chosen by the destroyed by the enemy. The situation for the execution of Clemens. praetorian prefect after discussing the stabi lized enough for Domitian to re Dio listed Stephanus and Parthenius subject with a number of men who did turn to Rome in 93 and celebrate an as conspirators, and includes Segeras not accept, as they thought their loy ovation, not a triumph, as he was ap and Entellus, not mentioned by Sue alty was being tested (Dio 67.15.5). parently not satisfied with the results. ton iu s (Dio 67. 15 -16). He adds that Why did Nerva accept without ques Suetonius says he dedicated a laurel the plot had the support of the prae tion? It is apparent that he knew in wreath to Jupiter (Dam. 6), which was torian prefect and one of the house advance of the assassination. part of a triumphal celebration. hold commanders, Petroni us Secun Nerva was one of four men Nero dus. He names Domitia as knowing rewarded for services revealing Pi so's Assassination about the conspiracy, and notes that she conspiracy (Annals \5.72.1-5), and he Suetonius (Dam. 17) gives the most was hated by Domitian. The reason for enjoyed the exceptional honor of hav detailed account of Domitian 's assas the assassination is that Domitian had ing his portrait in the palace. He re sination, naming Stephanus, his nicce "conceived a desire" to kill the con- ceived the same honors as Tigellinus, the praetorian prefect. For unspecified services for Vespas ian during the civil war Nerva was granted the rare privi Maine Classical Numismatics lege of an ordinary consulship with the emperor in 7 1. Mucianus had received 2069 Atlantic Hwy., Warren, Maine 04864 only a suffect, and this was the only Bowley's: A full service coin center time Vespasian did not hold the con su lship with Titus . Then, for loyal ser Open 7am to 5pm Mon. thru Fri. and 7am to 4pm on Sat. vices during the revolt of Saturninus in 89, Ncrva held an ordinary consul U.S . Route #1, Warren, Maine ship with Domitian in 90. Phone 207-273-3462 - H. 207-273-2653 Nerva had developed his own spies that kept him informed of events. He When in Maine stop in and see us. We will he glad to see you. could have demonstrated his loyalty to Domitian once again, but chose not to. Barrie Jenkins - Classical Numismatist Stories that his life was in danger and that he suffered exile are fabrications created to disassociate himself with his predecessor. However, Nerva was a committed Flavian. As emperor, he WHOLESALE TO ALL! maintained good relations with the pro-Domilian faction in the Senate, 100 ancient coins in flips and attributed. A diverse lot and was notorious for it (Letters 4.22). including Nero, Caesar Augustu s, Alexander the Great, For the conspirators Nerva was a per Biblical "Widow's Mite", etc. Only $475.00 postpaid, with fect choice as emperor, postponing any possible power struggle between satisfaction guaranteed! generals such as Trajan (who was governor of Upper Germany), and he ®all:eri:es: was old, sick, and childless,3! tlinnonn
October 1994 25 them, and to which Nerva, with tears by the admitting of new members who 10 Burnett, Andrew, Coinage in the Roman in his eyes, acceded. owed allegiance only 10 the emperor. Empire, pp. 48-50. The reign of Nerva was greeted as 11 Kleiner, op. cit., pp. 176-7. Conclusion a restoration of liberty, but his consul 12 Jones, ibid., pp. 77-78; Mattingly, Harold, Coins of the Roman Empire in A di fferent picture has emerged of Fronto had the last word on his col Ihe British Museum: Vespasian to Domi Domitian, as much of what was be league, remarking "that it was bad to lian, 1966, p. 92. lieved of him has been challenged. have an emperor under whom nobody 13 For a complete list of buildings, see Still, hi s character remains obscure. was permitted to do anything, but Jones, ibid., pp. 82-85. He was solitary and suspicious, but the worse to have one under whom every 14 Kleiner, op. cit., p. 185. office of emperor is lonely, where an body was permitted to gO everything." 15 For a discussion of the Cancelleria re act of leniency can be judged as weak (Dio 68 . 1. 3) . liefs see Kleiner, op. cit., pp. 190-192, and MacKendrick, Paul , The Mute SlOnes ness. His administrative abilities made Footnotes: Speak, pp. 300-304. the government efficient, but he was 16 Jones, op. cit., 102. Jones, Brian W., The Emperor Domilian, p. ruthless in th e pursuit of his policy. In 17 Nilsson, op. cit., pp. 69-70. (Routledge, 1992), p. II. his desire for military glory Domitian 18 Jones, op. cit., p. III . 2 Cary, M., A History of Rome, (St. Mar 19 Jones, ibid., pp. 11 2-113. had mixed success with his armies, and tin's Press), pp. 603-4. 20 Grant, Michael, The Jews in the Roman resorted to negotiation, not conquest. 3 Jones, op. cit., p. 16. World, (Dorset Press, 1973), p. 205. He spent about three years on cam 4 See Kleiner, Diana, Roman Sculpture, p. 21 Smallwood, E. Mary, "Domitian's Atti 191 , for an interpretation of the fri eze. paign, at the time a substantial peri od tude Toward the Jews and Judaism", 2 5 Ni lsson, Martin P., Imperial Rome: The spent outside Rome.3 Classical Philolgy 51, 1956, p. 2. Social Life afThe Roman Empire, (A res A sense of his sophistication is 22 Smallwood, ibid. , p. 9. Publishers, 1974), p. 44. 23 Grant, op. cit. , p. 227; Jones. op. cit., pp. found in his devotion to the arts by 6 Cary, ap. cit., p. 623. [14-117. surrounding himself with poets, creat 7 For biographies of imperial advisors, see 24 Jones, ibid., pp. 123- 124. ing beautiful bu ildi ngs with his archi Jones, op. cit., pp. 50-59. 25 Jones, ibid., p. 34. tect Rabirius, and his devotion to 8 Jones, ibid., p. 62. 2610nes, ibid., p. 164. 9 Jones, ibid., p. 73 . For a detailed analy Greek culture. But of utmost impor 271ones, ibid., pp . 169-179. sis of imperial finances, see Syme, tance was the idea that the emperor was 28 For biographies of each of the executed Ronald. "The Imperial Finances under the center of power, answerable to no consular senators, see Jones. ibid., pp. Domitian. Nerva and Trajan". Journal of one. Although the powers of the Sen 182-188. Roman Studies 20. 1930, pp. 41-55 and 29 Petts, Lynn E, 51. Joseph, J.K.. In chtu ate were minimal, they guarded their Sutherland, C.H.V., "The State of the Im thil, (Britannia Monograph Series #6, privil eges and were alarmed at being perial Treasury at the Death of Domi 1985), p. 279. reduced to merely assenting to Domi tian", Journal of Roman Studies 25, 1935, 30 Jones, op. cit., p. 137. pp.150-162. tian's policy, and also were threatened 31 Ehrhardt, C.T.H.R .. "Nerva's Back ground". Liverpool Cla.rsicol Monthly [2.1987, pp. 18 -20. Classical Coins & 32 Jones, op. cit., pp. 26-27. Art of the Ancient World Bibliography: Cary, M., A History of Rome, (SI. Martin's Greek, Etruscan, Roman, Press). Dio, Roman History, translated by Earnest Egyptian, & Near Eastern Antiquities C. Cary, (Harvard Uni versity Press, 1968). Ehrhardt, C.T.H.R. , "Nerva's Background". Send for our new FREE full color 32 page brochure. Liverpool Classical Monthly 12. 1987. Our full-color 50tn Anniversary catalogue - Grant, Michael, The Jews in the Roman 96 pages, 466 objects - $10.00 World, (Dorset Press, 1973). Jones, Brian W., "Domitian's Atti tu de to the Senate", American Journal of Philology 94. Jones, Brian W .• The Emperor Domilion. ~MEMBER. (Rout[edge. 1992). ANA Kleiner, Diana E.E., Roman Sculpture. (Yale kromc M. E;,.,ni>efi, University Press, 1992). LM 271 Martial, Epigrams, translated by Walter C.A. Ker. (Harvard University Press, 1978). Pliny, Leiters and Panegyricus. translated Estabti,hcd t942 by Betty Radice, (Harvard University Press, [975). Smallwood, E. Mary, "Domitian's Attitude royal-athena galleries Toward the Jews and Judaism", Classical Jerome M Eisenberg, Ph.D., Director Philology 51, 1956. Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars, translated 153 East 57th St., New York, N.Y. 10022 by Robert Graves, (Penguin, 1965). Tel : (212)-355·2034 Fa:<. : (212)-688 -0412 Tacitus, The Histories, translated by Ken 332 North Bever[y Dr., Beverly Hills. Ca. 90210 neth Wellesley, (Penguin. 1964). Tel : (310)-550-1 199 Fa:<. : (310) -550·1395 Tacitus, The Agricola and Ihe Germania, Royal-Athena at B.A. Seaby Ltd. translated by Harold Mattingly, (Penguin. 14 Otd Bond Street, London WIX 4JL. England 1970). Tel: 071·495-2590 Fa!\: 071 -491-1595
26 The Celator Through the Looking Glass Weight standards important to monetary'systems
their metallic content outside of their a drachm of Chios, an island off the by Davi d L. Vagi sphere of circulation. Ionian coast, dated circa 190-184 B.C. Certainly the most problematic as (Asia Minor, Dewing 2327). These pect of wei ght standards is thai the ac coins are from unrelated denomination Weight standards are perhaps the tua l weight of a coin seldom matches and weight systems. The Carthaginian least engaging part of ancicnl num is its ideal weight. In the vast majori ty issue is based on a 7 gram Phoenician matics. With so many exciting aspects of cases, a coin's weight is marginally 'shekel', and the Chios piece is based of art, politics, history, and religion to or significantly different from the ideal on its own Ch ian standard wherein the explore, it seems a tiresome exercise to weight. tetradraehm weighed about 15.6 grams. learn something so mundane as weight For example, let's take the well Example 2 (7.85 grams): A stater standards. known silver tetradrachms of Alexander (didrachm or nomos) of Thurium in I can offer no rcvalation to change the Great st ruck during his lifet ime. Lucania struck circa 410-330 B.C. thi s conclusion, since after much study The ideal Allie standard weight for (Southern Italy, Dewing 445), and a of ancient coin age, we ight standards these coins was about 17.25 grams, didrachm of Chios, an island off the still reside at the bottom of my list. though scholars have suggested figures Ionian coast, from the late sixth cen Nonetheless, we ight standards are one as low as 17.0 grams, and as high as tury (Asia Minor, Dewing 2318). Here of the most fundamenta l and important we have coins from separate systems, aspects of ancient coinage. yet the South I!alian stater is equal to The weights \n which coins were th e Chian d idraehm. The Thurium struck in the Greek world usually had piece is based on the Italic-Achaean some local significance, and consisted standard where the stater weighed about of a system of denominations created 8 grams, and the Chios piece is based from a principal denomination, which on the Chian standard wherein the tet was divided into fractions or multiplied radrachm weight about 15.6 grams. to create larger coins. These standards Example 3 (1 .1 3 grams): A mid differed significantly fr om region to fifth century triobol of Metapontum in region, even within a relatively small Lucan ia (Southern Italy, Dewing 363), geographic area, and seldom corre and a mid-fourth century trihemio::'ol of sponded conveniently among them Cyzieus in Mysia (Asia Minor, Dewing selves. 2190). Here the first piece is de nomi Let's examine one notable exception nated at three obols, and the second one of the norm: the Attic and the Corin Stater of the Corinthian weight at one-and-a-half obols. (I n this case thian weight standards. These are two standard (top) and tetradrachm both coins are a bit under their ideal of the th ree mos t important weight stan of the Attic weight standard weights of 1.30-1.35 grams.) The dards originating in Greece. With these Mctapontum coin was struck to the standards we find a strange concor 17 .3-17.4 grams. The "typical range" Italic-Achaean standard wherein a dance at the point of 8.6 grams. The of weight for these coins- even on mint stater weighed 8 grams and was divided Corinthian drachm weighed about state examples-is 16.7 to 17.3 grams, into three drachms (or ' thirds') and six 2.85 grams, and the Athenian (Attic) with some examples straying even fu r triobols (or 'sixths'). The Cyzicus coin drachm weighcd about 4.3 grams. With ther. is part of a system wherein the obol drachms of such different weights it Whi le the inconsistency of actual weighed about 0.85 grams. seems unlikely that converting Attic weights can be confusing for larger de Example 4 (2.90 grams): A drachm cu rrency into Corinthian would be an nominations, it can create absolute of Metapontum struck for the Lucani easy task. havoc with the tiny Archaic silver and during the Pyrrhic era (30uthern Italy, However, in the Corinthian system gold fractions of Macedonia and Asia Dewing 393), and a drachm of Cnid us it took three drachms to equal their Minor. in Caria struck circa 330-250 B.C. (Asia "stater", and in the Attic system it took To illustrate all of these points, I Minor, Dewing 2364). Here we have four draehms to equal its trade coin, have selected four examples of silver coins of the same denomination and the kn own as a tetradrachm. The Corin coins which weigh exactly the same, same general period, yet from opposite thian stater weighed 8.6 grams, and thc but arc from opposite ends of the Medi e nds of the Mediterranean. The Meta Allic tetradrachm about 17.2 grams. terranean. Quite often they are of dif pontum coin was struck to a weight Crunch these numbers and you find that ferent denominalions and were struck sta ndard which differed from the usual these diversc coinages were easily in in different centuries. All of these coins Italic-Ac haean standard, as its drachm lerehangeable in their higher denomi are from the Arthur S. Dewing Collec weighed about 3 grams. The Cnidus nations, since two of the Corinthian tion of Greek coins, ACNAC no . 6. In drachm is considerably below the typ i staters equalled one Athenian tet each case, the weight of the coin is in cal weight of its standard, wherein the radrachm. dicated at the beg in ning, and the drachm should weigh from 3.5- 3.9 But this fortuitous compatibility was Dewing reference number is stated at grams. unusual in the systcm of weight stan the cnd of each description. dards. For this reason, fractional coins Example I (3.69 grams): A Car Copyright ©1994 by David L. Vagi usually circulated locally, and even the thaginian half-shekel of circa 220-210 larger trade coins were often valued at B.C. (North Africa, Dewing 993) , and October 1994 27 Baldwin's offers Coming Events •••• rare Byzantine gold Baldwin's Auctions Ltd. will be Oct. 5 Baldwin's Auction Royal Society of Arts, London, England conducHng th eir second auction sale Oct. 6-9 Long Beach Expo on October 5th, 1994. Being offered Cony. elf" 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA for sale is the Wi lliam J. Conte Col Oct. 13-15 COIN EX lection of Late Roman and Byzantine Marriott Hotel, London, England coins, most of which are in gold. The Oct. 21-23 TOREX collection of 224 lots provides the Primrose Hotel, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Oct. 28-30 Bay Siale Coin Show opportunity to acquire some of the "57" Park Plaza Hotel, BaSion, MA rarest and most artistically attractive Nov. 2-5 Peus Auction coins from Constantine the Great's Bornwiesenweg 34, Frankfurt. Germany dedication of the ci ty in 330 to the fall Nov. 5 london Coin Fair of Constanti nople in 1453. Cumberland Hotel, Marble Arch, London. England Among the highlights are solidi Nov. 6 Maller Auction Portotino Hotel, Redondo Beach, CA of Constantine th e Great, Eugenius, Nov. 7-6 Sternberg Auction Focas, Theodosius III , Artavasdus, Schanzengasse 10, Zurich, Switzerland Constantine VI with Irene, Michaelll, Nov. 17 Tradart Auction Theophilus, Michael III , Romanus 1, HMel des Bergues. 33 quai des Bergues. Geneva, Switzerland and Constantine VII. Consular solidi Nov. 21-22 Lan AUCTION 340 2. November 1994 THE NICHOLAS JAMGOCHIAN COLLECTION, GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA, GREEK, ROMAN AND BYZANTINE COINS AUCTION 341 3. - 4. November 1994 MED IEVAL AND MODERN COINS AND NUMISMATIC LITERATURE AUCTION 342 5. November 1994 COINS OF THE GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUB LIC (Estate of the German State Bank, Part II) Catalogs available upon request from the end of September at Bornwiesenweg 34 0-60322 Frankfurt a. M. Telefon (069) 5 97 02 81 Fax (069) 55 59 95 N OTE: FOR INQUIRIES AND/OR THE DELIVERY OF MAIL BIDS THE USE OF PHONE OR FAX IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED October 1994 29 IAPN holds 43rd General Assembly in Paris The 43rd General Assembly of the 1994 Book Prize of the Association. Weights. Third prize was awarded to International Association of Profes This year's fi rst place went to the E. Levante for Syl/oge Nummorum sional Numismatists (IAPN) recently fabulous book La Mone/azione di Graecorum, while the fourth prize took place at the Ambassador Hotel Messana con Ie emmissioni di went to U. Klein and A. Raft for Die in Paris, France. Fifty-eight firms, rheghion dell'eta della Tirrannide of Wiirttembergischen Miinzen. with over 100 participants from all Mrs. M. Caccamo Caltabiano. The The 44th IAPN General Assembly over the world l ook pari al this con second prize went to Paul and Bente will take place in 1995 in San Fran vention. Withers for their book British Coin- cisco. Newly elected members were J.L. van der Schueren in Belgium, Or Geslion Numismatic (Mr. Crinionj in Numismatists mourn death of Sternberg France, and Spink & Son in London. There was also a new Honorary Presi The passing of internationally re nephew of the noted numismatist Pro dent elected, Mr. Michael Kamp spected numismatist Frank Stern fessor Behrend Pick. From 1936 to mann, and two Honorary Members, berg, of Zurich Switzerland, was 1939 Sternberg travelled throughout Mr. Giuseppe de Falco and Mr. Jean mourned by family and friends at Britain and Europe, and eventually Vinchon, the two lasl founding mem Zothkon on June 28, 1994. Sternberg came to New York, where he worked bers of the IAPN from 1951. Also, died June 21 at the age of 81. with Stack's and the American nu Mr. Muschetti is now a new Corre Born in Berlin, he studied law and mismatists Hans Holzer and Henry sponding Member. numismatics with Kurt Regling and GrunthaJ. He served with the U.S. The Committee of Publications worked for the firm of Robert Ball armed forces in WWlI, and later with proposed a total of nine books for the Nachf. from 1931 to 1936. He was a the American Department of Justice in Berlin and Munich. In 1955 Sternberg established his own numismatic firm in New York • and Zurich, specializing in ancient rllfilts: tn and medieval coinage. The firm, which since 1973 has conducted two auctions a year, will continue to be umis:mafirs: operated by Sternberg's succes sors. Charles Lenormant Frank Sternberg was a Life Mem 1802-1859 ber of the American Numismatic As sociation, a Life Fellow of the Ameri Lenormant was at first a student of law, and can Numismatic Society, and a mem especially of Roman law. As a young man ber of the International Association his interest in archaeological studies was of Professional Numismatists. spurred by a trip to italy, which led to his becoming an established archaeologist, Egyptologist, and numismatist. In 1828 he led an archaeological expedition to Egypt, and in the following years served as Librarian of the French Royal Library and Professor of Archaeology at College Fran,ais. He also travelled to Greece. Between 1834 and 1850 Lcnormant, along with Paul Delaroche and Henriqucl Dupont, coedited Tresor de numismatique et de glyptique, which was published in 20 volumes at Paris. In 1844 he founded the periodical Revue archiologique. He also was a prolific author, and his writings include such works as Introduction a l'histoire oriel/rafe (Paris, 1838); Musie des antiquites egyptiennes (Paris, 1842); Iconographie des empereurs romaillS et de leur families (Paris, 1843); and Numismatique des rois grecs (Paris, 1849), for which he is well known to numismatists. Charles Lenormant died in Athens in 1859 . This feature is provided courtesy of Geor ge Frederick Kolbe Fine Numismatic Books, Crestline, CA 92325 Frank Sternberg 1912-1994 30 The Gelator Art """ Superior seeks relief under Chapter 11 Bankruptcy On August 26, 1994 Superior Slamp of the stock o f Superior and Larry and was in excess of $21 million and Supe and Co in Co., Inc. o f Beverly Hills, Cali· Ira Goldberg each own 24.5% of the rior determined to hire co nsul tants 10 forn ia filed a volunlary petition for re stock of Superior. The shares o f Bruce assist it in formulating an appro priate lief under Chap ter 11 Bankruptcy. The P. McNall in Superior are subject to the business strategy for the firm . petition, along with a motion to allow c ffects of the Chapter II Bankruptcy Terms of the agreement regarding the the sale of certain intangible assets to case of Mr. McNall now pending. sal e of Superior assets to A-Mark in A-Mark (a precious metals firm), was In the years that followed. Superior clude the sale of the names Superi or fil ed with the United Stales Bankruptcy suffered mounting operating losses from Stamp & Coin Company; Superior Gal Court, Central District of Califo rnia. a downturn in the collectibles business leries; and others. The agreement also The moti on, in part, states that "While and the cost of carrying the debt of af includes a non-competition clause as Superior has considered and explored the filiate entities that it could not service. well as unspecified employment agree possibility of formulating a plan of reor The preliminary statements for the year ments with Ira and Larry Goldberg. gani zation, the magnitude of its debt at th e ended December 3 1, 1993 show a 53 .6 Superior has had a long and di stin petition date and the lack of operating million loss and a negalive equity of al gui shed histo ry of invo lve ment with funds has made it impossible to fo rmulaic most $2 million. In January o f 1994, ancient coins. Their auction sales have and confi nn a plan of reorganization." The Ira and Larry Goldberg commenced liti reg1J larl y inc luded substantial offerings, motion fu rt her seeks permission for the galion against Mr. McNall with respect and some of the more important " name finn to reject. upon completion oflhe sale to Mr. McNall's in volve ment with Su sales" of ancients have been handled by to A- Mark, the unex pired lease on its prop perior. As part of the li tigation, Ira and the fi nn. They have al so bee n active in ert y in Beverly Hi lls. T hat lease is to be Larry Goldberg were gi ve n the ri ght to ancient coins at majo r bourses in the assumed by A- Mark, upon closi ng, wi th run the daily operations of Superior. At United States. A-Mark declined to com an offi ce to be provided to Superi or to that time, Superior's debt to its pri mary ment on their futu re plans co ncerni ~g the " wind up business". secured creditor, the Bank of Californi a, ancients department at Superior. Although the efforts o f internal ini tiatives d ramatically reduced operating costs, and lowered the fi rm's break-even sales thresho ld fro m $ 109 million to $ 15.5 million, it was determined by the firm's management in Apri l o f 1994 that PUBLIC AUCTION Superior would never be able to service IN ZURICH, SWITZERLAND the debt that it had incurred and should be sold or an in vestor obtained. On the 7th & 8th of November, 1994 The intcresting and informativc hi s tory of Superi or Stamp and Coin Co. is re lated in the motion as follows: In the 1920s Isadore Goldberg opened a retail store and his sons. Haro ld and No, XXVII Marshall, work ed by his sidc. Both sons ANCIENT COINS: conti nued to operate the store after Isa dore's death in the early I 940s. The store Greek, Roman was closed during World War II, but was reopened under the name of "Superior" when Harold and Marshall relU med fro m the war. They traded stamps, and their Aunt Rose ran the coi n business. In the ANCIENT GEMS, CAMEOS, JEWELRY 1950s their sons. Larry. Ira. and Mark Goldberg, began to work in the store. In ARCHAEOLOGICAL OBJECTS the 1970s, Superior conducted ilS first coin aucti on. Du ri ng that time. Larry, Ira. and Mark each purchased 20% o f Superior. In Fully l/lustraled Catalague: US$40.00 - prepaid the 1980s Marshall was bought out. and Superior moved to its current location. In 1990. Harold Goldberg sold hi s shares o f stock in Supe ri or 10 Bruce P. FRANK STERNBERG AG McNall , and in 199 1 La rry a nd Ira Schanzengasse 10, 800 1 Zurich, Switzerland Go ldbcrg bought Mark Goldberg's stoc k Tel. 01141 112523088, Fax 01141 1/2524067 in Superior. From thaI point unt il the present time. Bruce P. McNall owns 51 % October 1994 31 Coins oj the Bible Melodramas of the reign of Judah Aristobulus After his father's death, Judah rather I should very much like to see you in by David Hendin quickly imprisoncd his mother, along your new oUln!. '" with three of his brothers. His fa vorite "On hearing this, and aware of brother, Antigonus, not only remained nothing in his brother's disposition to After recent excavations on Me free, but took an important part in his arouse his suspicion, Antigonus set Gerizim, there was a widely recog government. off in his armor as for a parade. On nized re-attribution of the chronology The mother died in prison. Chari reaching the dark passage, called orlhe Hasmonean (Maccabcan) coins. table accounts list the eause as simply Straton's Tower, he was slain by the Last month we d iscussed the reign and old age, while whispered gossip al guards, affording convincing evi history of John Hyrcanus I, the first lowed that her son had allowed her to dence that no natural affection is Jewish ruler to issue his own coins. starve to death. The murder of Aristo proof against slander, and none of His son, Judah Aristobulus I, is bulus was no doubt politically moti our better feelings are strong enough apparently responsible for the striking vated. to hold out indefinitely against en- of all of the Hasmonean coins which Aristobulus was battling to the north 'Y " carry the name " Judah", against the Samaritans and Syrians, '·Remorse for his fou l crime imme Josephus repons that Aristobulus and he acquired new land for his na diately aggravated Aristobulus' illness. was the first Hasmonean who offi tion, but a severe illness caused Constantly preoccupied with thoughts cially adopted the title "king", of the murder, and tormented but if he did so, it was prob by violent grief, he wasted ably well inlO hi s one-year away until his insides rup reign (104-103 S .CE.), be tured and he threw up a flood cause none of his coins carry of blood. When one of the that title. The coins of Aristo servants who attended him bulus, in fact, are almost iden took it away, he slipped at the tical to those of hi s father! very spot where Antigonus predecessor. On their obverse had been murdered, and as they carry the legend "Judah willed by Di vine Providence, the High Priest and the Coun spilt the blood of the mur cil of the Jews". (The council derer on the still visible stains also became known as the of the murder. The bystand Sanhedrin during this period.) ers began to shriek, believing The reverse of his coins carry the same Aristobulus to abandon the campaign that the servant had purposely poured pair of cornucopias, adorned with fruits and return to Jerusalem. Antigonus the bloody libation on that spot." and ribbons. fought onward on his brother' s behalf, "The king demanded to know the Since Aristobulus' coins do not but returned to Jerusalem for the festi reason for the outcry, and when no one carry the title "king", we may wish to vals. There, his opponents used the dared to speak up, he insisted on being give credibility to the Roman historian occasion of his triumphal return to informed. At last, under pressure of Strabo, who stated that this title was prod the fatally ill king into a jealous threats, they told him the truth. With only claimed by the successors of fit. tears in his eyes, and groaning weakly, Aristobulus. Indeed, the title makes Let's let Josephus complete this he said, 'Indeed, I could not hide my its first appearance on the coins of gruesome, melodramatic story of the lawless deeds from God's all seeing Alexander Jannaeus, the third-son of ill -fated brothers: " He sent mcn to eye; swift retribution pursues me for Hyrcanus 1, who reigned from 103-76 instruct his brother to come to him the blood of my kinsman. How long, B.C.E. unarmed; then ordered his men not to most shameless body will you retain Hyrcanus I had proclaimed that harm Antigonus ifhe arrived unarmed, the soul that is sentenced to a brother's upon his death his wife would become but to kill him ifhecame armed. There and mother's vengeance? How long queen and Judah, his eldest son, would upon the queen (Aristobulus' wife, shall I pour out these libations of my become high priest. His Greek name, Alexandra, or Shlomzion in Hebrew, blood, drop by drop? Let it be taken all Aristobulus, means "Friend of the later followed the Jewish custom by at once. Let heaven cease to mock Hellenes", and according to Graetz marrying her brother-in-law after her these dribbling libations from my en was only one indication of his "de husband's death) contrived a cunning trails!' He expired immediately after cided preference for Hellenism." His plot with the conspirators. They in that, having reigned no more than a Greek name alone was enough to give cited the guards not to deliver the king' s year "such offense to the people that they message, but to tell Antigonus instead The rarity of the coins of Judah were ready to ascribe to him the au that his brother heard of the fine armor Aristobulus is no doubt attributable to thorship of any evil deed that might and mi litary decorations he had ob his brief reign. occur in the kingdom. Whilst the tained in Galilee, which due to his Greeks called him fair-minded and illness he could not come and in spect Copyright ©1994 by David Hendin modest, the Judaeans accused him of himself. 'However,' the message went heartlessness and cruelty." on, 'now that you are about to depart, 32 The Gelator YOU CAN OWN THE MOST UNUSUAL MONEY OF THE GREEK WORLD!! These small copper pieces cast in the shape of dolphi ns are [malty different from other Greek coins. They 3rc made of copper. but the earl iest copper Sicilian coins appeared about I ()() years later. They 3rc cast. but arc older by over 200 years th an the earliest Italian and Roman ClISt money. Finally. they are made in the shape of a sea mammal. the dolphin (t he Greeks considered th e dolphi n to be a fish). There was no other such money in the Greek world !! Copper dolphins first appeared in Olbia between 550-525 B.C. Olbia was founded by Miletians in the early sixth century B.C. . at th e moulh of th e Gipanis Ri ver (South Boog) ncar its meeting with th e Black Sea, and not so far from th e delta of the Borisphen (Dncper). Apollo- Dolphinium had been th e mOSt important god of the Miletian se tt lers, and a dolphin was the main attribule of Ihis god. Sm all, cas t do lphins al fi rs t were made as sacrifici al subj ects for Apollo, but soon Ihey started to be a currency, and were used by Ihe loca l se tt lers as a pri vate money. Dolphins were circulated in Olbia and th e surrounding vi cinilY. About 430-410 B.C .. the issue of dolphins ha d been taken under the control of the Polic (city-state). Dolphi ns became nat on one sidc, and the inscription appeared in tha t area. Oneofthe two known inscriptions is '·ey " . These dolphins were made for II ve ry shon time. and they are rare. These fi sh-coi ns we re the last fi gure-shaped coi ns in the Greek world. Th is offeri ng is a speciali zed collection which had been assembled over a nu mber of years. wilh att ention to detailed varieties. There arc no ex aci duplicates. We divided this collec tion inlO simple groups by type and condition. You choose the type. we pick the coi n. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ VF-$95 F- $65 VF-$75 F- $50 VF-$160 F- $l 00 Length 2S-30mm Length 13-22 mm Length 23-27mm with 9Y We use the following grading syslem: F . Well dellned shape CIt a "1ish-coin"; VF - One or two ot the tallowing detalls aTe pi"esent - an eye, nose. lail. IlWef. DMITRY MARKOV Coins & Medals WRITE FOR OUR Term s: All COins are guaranteed genuine. 10 days return pri vi lege, • P.O. Box 950, New York, NY 10272 UPCOMING Postage: $3,00 for any order, G.I Ph. (2 12) 385·8661· Fax (212) 349·1743 Life MomOc! f 4{, 17 CATALOG! NY State residents add sales tax. Macedon, AR Drachm, NUMISCELLANEOUS 336-323 B.C. Alexander the Great. GEORGE & JAMES BEACH Hd. of Herakles r JZeus seated hldg. eagle & sceptre. S-6730. P.O. Box 113, Owosso, MI 48867 Good VF. $195. 8 in stock. (517) 634-S41S/fax (517) 634·9014 Fine to VF. $95. 10 in stock. Make check or money order payable 10 J. Beach and inc lude $3.00 5th . Allow \4 days for delivery. Pamphylia, Aspendos, AR Stater, 370-333 B.C. Satisfaction guaranteed. Photo is avg. of group lot. Two wrestlers/Slinger wltriskeles in field. lmperatorial issue AR Denarius, SNG Cop-232. 49-48 B.C. Elephant trampling aXF. $445. serpent/Priestly implements. 10 in slock. RSC·49. Good VF. $325. 12 in stock. Smyrna, AE21mm, 2nd-1st cent. B.C. Laur. hd. 01 ApollO/Homer w/scroll on knees. S-4571. Corinthia, Corinth, AR Stater, choice VF+ . $110. 5 in stock. 350·306 B.C. Pegasos flying r. or I.IHelmeted Teutonic Order, AA Schilling, 1351-1382 A.D. hd. 01 Athena r. or l. Wynrich Von Knaprode. Nice VF. $40. 4 in stock. S-2630. Good VF+. $325. l Oin stock. Armenia, AA Trams, 1199-120 1 A.D. King Levan I. VF+. $20. 10 in stock. Aegina, AR Stater, 485-460 B.C. Smooth shelled turtle w/counter Large inventory of ancients, world mark on obv.lSmall square of ·skew· pattern. 8-1858. Fine. crowns, minors, medals, and artifacts. $225. 8 in stock. We fill want lists. Fixed price lists available. October 1994 33 Coins of the eo; 14th century popes IJ>.~ ~---- froID the A vignon and Pont-de-Sorgue lDints: Part 2 Priest of S5 Nereus and Achi lles. He In 1348 the Black Death struck the by Dr. Thomas F. Fitzgerald was crowned as Clement VI in the crowded city, killing 11,000 people in Dominican Priory on May 19, 1342. less than a month, including seven Clement told his critics that his prede cardinals. Clement spent a consider (Part 1 of this article, presented last cessors had not known how to be popes. ahle amount of the papal treasury in month, offered a general discussion of Under this new pontiff, the papal court helping the victims. When the citizens the period, and covered the coins of changed dramatically! Benedict's re accused the Jews of poisoning the Pope Clement V, Pope John XXII, and forms and careful management were wells, the pope protected them from Pope Benedict XII from the Pont-de replaced by an "easy-going" manner the angry crowds. As stated earlier, Sorgue mint. The article concludes and a splendid, even ostentatious Clement purchased A vignon in 1348, this month, discussing the coinage of splendor. Avignon resembled that of and shortly thereafter transferred the Pope Clement VI-the first issues an independent prince in Southern mint from Sorgues to A vignon. struck at the A vignon mint-through France rather than that of the spiritual At first the coins for Clement VI Pope Urban VI.) head of Christendom. The papal pal were struck at Pont-de-Sorgue, as ace, enlarged and funher adorned, were his predecessors' . Later, when The Coins for was the scene of lavish banquets and the mint was transferred, a gros was Pope Clement VI (1342· 1352) entertainments. The pope's love of minted at the facility in Avignon. The The fifth day of the conclave held horses was satirized by Patrarch, who problems and the ostentatious papal at the Palace in A vignon saw the elec sarcastically called him "Nimrod, the court during the re ign of C lement left tion of Pierre Roger, the Cardinal- Mighty Hunter hefore the Lord" .13 the treasury empty. Mint at Pont-de-Sorgue Florin: Gold 2lmm l4 Obv.: Large Oeur-de-lis. "COMES VENES '" Rev.: Figure of SI. John the Baptist. WANTED "S. IOHAN ES B" EXPERT CLASSICAL Florin of Pope Clement VI NUMISMATIST Gros Tourllois: Silver 26 mm Ob v.: Mitered half figure facing front wi th an ornamented border, By midwest numismatic firm. "CLEMES PP SEXT" Rev.: Short cross (inner circle) , Maturity and stability essential. "COMES VENESI" (inner legend). German, French, Italian useful. "AGIMVS TlBI GRAS ON IPOTES Some travel involved. Send typed resume with photo ("OHc,",",ble). Respond c/o The Ceiator, P.O. Box 123, Lodi, WI 53555 Gros Toumois of Pope Clement VI 34 The Gelator DEVS" (We give th ank s. Almighty The Coins for God. to thee) Pope Innocent VI (1 352-1362) The conclave follow ing the death Half Gros: Silver 21mm of Clement lasted onl y two days, and Obv.: Sa me as above. selected Etienne Aubert , Cardinal Rcv.: Long cross (inncr circle) . "SANTS PETRV S" Bishop of Ostia and Velletri, as the new pontiff. He was cro wned on the 30th of December, and took the name Double Denier of Pope Innocent VI In nocent VI. He was a Frenchman like his four predecessors. Rev.: Short cross wi th 4 small crossed The years of Innocen t' s reign wi t keys, "COM ES VEN ES INI" nessed the beginnings of a remarkable recovery of papal authority in Rome Obole: Billon 16mrn and Italy. The pope appoi nted the Obv. : Mi te red bust faci ng front. "INOC" Half Gros of Pope Clement VI Archbishop o f Toledo, Gil Aibornoz, Rcv.: Sho rt cross plus two small crossed as his legate in Italy. Within a year, keys Se.sino: Sil ver 23m m Al bornoz gained control in the Patri Obv.: Similar to the above two coins. but mony and the Duchy ofSpoleto. In the Mint at Avignon with no border ornamentation nex t two years the greater part of the Ducalo Papale: Gold 21mm Rev.: Short cro ss (inncr circle). Marches and the Romagna were sub (fi rst papal coin of th is type) "COMES VENES INI" dued. When Innocent died on Septem Obv.: Crossed keys with ti ny tiara above, ber 12, 1362, most of the papal territo "INNOCENTIVS PP SEXTV5" ries in Italy were under firm control. 15 Rev.: 51. Peter on a th rone, "SANTVS PETRVS" Pope Innocent's achievement, thanks to Albornoz. was to make possible the ending of the long stay at Avignon and the return of the popcs to Romc. Mint at Pont-de-Sorgue Sesino of Pope Clement VI DOlJble Denier: Billon 22mm Obv. : Bishop's miter with "PP" at Denier: Billon 21mm bottom and small crossed ke ys. Duca to Papale of Pope Innocen: VI Ob v.: Mitcred bust faci ng fro nt. "INNOCENTI VS SEXTS" "CLEMES PP SEXTVS" Rev. : Short cross (in ncr circle). "COMES VE NESINI" !l! @l~l! QIuriosifil! $I4oppl! (a div. of RCCA Ltd.) located at 111 South Orange Avenue . South Orange, NJ 07079 A complete collectors gallery selli ng: Denier of Pope Clement VI U. S., ancien t, & foreign coins, U.S. & foreign stamps, • paper money, token s & medals, Classical Antiquities Dbole: Bi llon 16 mm of Greece, Rome, Egypt, & /Ildaea, Pre-Columbian, Obv.: Mi tered bust. American Indian, African , & EOl1tographic objects "CLEMENS PP SEXTV" & artifacts, along willI historical and poplllar autographs Rev.: Short cross, "COMES VENA SINI" & manuscript material, Revolutionary War & ea rlier Americana. Avignon Mint Gros: Silver 24mm BUYING & SELLING - FREE APPRAISALS Obv.: Enthroned pope gi ving a blessing, "You'd be amazed at what we will buy & how much we will pay" "CLEM ENS PP SEXTVS" Rev.: Crossed keys. "S AN TVS PETR VS ET PA L" !l! @l~l! QIuriositil! $I4oppl! Prop.: Dr. Arnold R. Saslow Associate Director: Erik Gold Assistant Director: C harlene Saslo w Phone (201) 762-1588' Fax (201) 761-8406 Gall ery hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00 - 6:00 Visa, MasterCard & Ameri can Express Accepted Gift Certificates Issued ------Gras of Pope Clement VI (Avignon) October 1994 35 Gras: Sil ver 26mm The Coins for to Avignon. In September, 1370, Ur Obv.: Pope on a throne. Pope Urban V (1362-1 370) ban retu rned to Avignon, tired and "INOCENS PP SEXTVS" Rev.: Cmssed keys with a tiny tiara at the The conclave chose Hogues Roger, sick, and with in three months he was top. "SANTVS PETRVS ET P LVS" the brother of Pope Clement. on the dead. In addition to the fa ctory at first scrutin y. However, Roger de Avignon, coin s in the name of Pope Half Gros: Silver 21 mm clined the position. Six days later. Urban V were min ted at Rome and Obv.: Similar to gros above Guillaume de Grimoard, a Benedict Bol ogna. Rev.: Lo ng cross wit h 4 small crossed ine monk, the Abbot of SI. Victor o f ke ys. "SANTS PETRVS " Marseilles and a stranger to the curia, Avignon Mint was selectcd. Hc was crowned at Avi Florin: Gold 21 mm gnon on December 6, 1362, and took Obv.: Large neur-dc-lis, the name Urban V. "SANT PETRVS" or "PETRH" From thc beginni ng, the ncw pope Rev.: Figure of SI. John the Bapti st. was determined to restore the power "S IOliA NNES B" and prestige of Ihe papacy to Rome, Note: Berman states. "It is possible one of and so in January, 1365 , Urban an these two varieties was act ua ll y struck immediately before or after the po n· nounced to the curia that he in tcnded tificate". [6 Half Gros of Pope Innocent VI 10 return to Rome as soon as possible. After a year of preparations, thc pope left Avignon and entered Rome on Obole: Billon 17 rnrn Obv.: Bishop's miter, October 16. 1367. However, Al bornoz "INNOCENS PP SEXS" had died suddenly in August. so when Rev.: Short cross. "SANTVS PETRVS" Urban entered the city he lacked his most reliable defender and counsel lor. The pope's acceptance by the city was never great. Flon'n of Pope UrlJan V The Papal States, now thatAlbornoz was gone, again came under attack. Gros: Silver 25mm With the revolution in Perugia. the Obv.: Pope seated on a throne. situation deteriorated rapidly. To the "V RB ANVS PP QVNTVS" Obofe of Pope Innocent VI delight of the French cardinals, Urban Rev.: Crossed keys, now announced his intention to return "SANCTVS PETR VS" Ancient Coins Please write for a f ree illustrated catalogue Gras of Pope Urban V Hal/Gros: Si lver 22 mm KIRK DAVIS Obv.: Enthroned pope, Post Office Box 324, Claremont, CA 91711 "VRBAN VS PP QVNTVS " Rev.: Short cross with two small ncurs (909) 625-5426 and keys. "SANCTVS PETRVS" Ancient Coins • Mail Bid Sales • Fixed Price Lists • Buy or Bid Sales Half Gros of Pope Urban V • Numismatic Literature Quarter Gras: Billon 22mm Specializing in moderate priced Judaean coins Obv.: Miter over the letters "PP" (serious want-lists solicited) "V RB ANVS QVNTVS" Re v.: Same as half gros above. William M. Rosenblum Irare coins p.o. box 355-CE, evergreen, colo. 80439 Double Denier: Billon 19mm phonelfax 303-838-4831 Obv.: Miter, "VR B PP QNTS" Rev.: Short cross, "SANT PET A PAUL" 36 The Gelator Double Denier of Pope Urban V Florin of Pope Gregory XI Quarter De Gras of Gregory XI DelJier Poporino: Billon 16mm Carlin (Gros): Silver 25m111 Obv.: Cross. "VRB PP QVNTVS" Obv.: Enthroned pope, Rev.: Short cross, "SANTVS PETR VS" Rev.: Two vertical keys. "GREGORV pp VNDEC" "S PETRVS ET PA VL" Rev.: Crossed keys. Denier: Billon 16rnrn "SANCTVS PETR VS" Obv.: Miter, "GREGORV PP VNDC" The Coins for Re v.: Short cross. "SANCTVS PETRVS" Pope Gregory XI (1370-1378) On the second day of the conclave, The Coins for Pierre Roger, the nephew o f both Pope Urban VI (1378-1389) Clement VI and Hogues Roger (who Sixteen cardinals attended the tu had refused the crown in 1362), was multuous conclave in Rome, the first elec ted unanimously, and on January one in that city in 75 years. The French 5,1371 was crowned as Pope Gregory cardinals had to be reconciled with the XI. Like his predecessor, he believed clamor in Rome that the next pope be it was imperative that he return to Carlin of Pope Gregory XI an Italian. Bartolomeo Prignano, an Rome if he was to retain his temporal Italian Archbishop o f Bari, was cho sovereignty over central Italy and Quarter de Gros: Billon 22mm sen. What fo llowed led to the "Great keep control of the Papal States. With Obv.: Miter with "PP" below, Schism". Cheetham wri tes: ';The ac thc dire warnings and urging of two "G REGORIVS VNDEC" tual course or events on that occasion saints, Bridgit in Rome and Catherine Rev.: Short cross with tiny miters, was obscured by laler contradictory "SANCTVS PET RVS" or Siena. and the need to deal with the statements, but the most probable ex war with Florence, Gregory at last de Double Denier: Billon 20 or 22mm planation is that he was canonically parted for Rome and arrived there in Obv.: Mitered bust of the pope, elected as a suitable and uncontro January, 1377. Berore a settlement "G REGOR PP VNDEC" versial headorthechurch."l 8 Pri gnano could be reached with Florence, Gre gory XI died on March 27, 1378. nOI yel fifty years of age. In addition to the JIl int at Avignon. THE SWISS NUMISMATIC SOCIETY coins were struck at the mints in Rome and Bologna in the name of Gregory Founded i'l 1879 XI. At the forefront of scientific and historical research for over one hundred years. the Swiss Numismatic Society has established a WOOd-wide reputalion by its work with leading scholars, collectors and dealers diffused through its well known Revue and Avignon Mint Gazette journals with articles in four languages. together with numerous monographs /JUCaI; Gold 2101111 (3.509g) and special publications in such se ri es as Typos and the Catalogues of Swiss Coins. Obv. : Scaled pope. The Society itsell owes its inceplion in 1879 to the pioneering spirit 01 Dr. Charles "G REGORIV PP VNDECIMV" Frano:;:ois Trachsel. Its launder and first p!'esident. but the Swiss numismatic tradition Rev.: Short cross with tiny neurs and goes back to the eadiest days 01 coin collecting in the late 15th century when crossed keys, "REGT VICITIMPAT' connoisseurs like the Arnerbach famity of Basel. inspired by Renaissar.ce humanists Note: Berman lisls thi s coin as a florin.l 1 such os Erasmus of Rotterdam then residing in the city, established important cabinets. The Society continued from the old century under the guidance af Eugene Demale and Paul Stroehlin, while the new was presided over by eminent scholars such as Dietrich Schwarz and Colin Martin. The Swiss Numismatic Society remains taday at the service of the internatior.al numismatic community, dedicated as it is to the furtherance of the knowledge of those small but invaluable witnesses of art and history.lhe coins of Greece. Rome. Byzantium. the Orient, the rriddle ages. the madern period and Switzerland itself. By joining this leading society you will be able to participate directly in numismatic research and moreover be eligible 10 receive the annual Revue and the quarterly Ducat of Pope Gregory XI Gazette, as well as members' discounts on most special publications. Applications for membership in the Society are welcome from all with on interest In ancient and modern numismatics. Flori,,: Gold 21m111 (3.05g) Dbv.: Large fleur-de-lis. "SAN! PETRH" The membership fee is $fr IfXJ per year (Sfr 50 for members under 25) and Sfr 2CU1 for ufe membership, or a sponsoring membership from Sfr 2.50 per year. Make checks Re v.: Figure of John Ihe Baptist. payable to Swfss Numismatic Society, Credit Swfss Bank, Berne, Swltzeffand ale (1)94- "S IOHANNES B" 1CXJ849-4/. Florin: Gold 21 111m (3.05g) Obv.: Triple crown. SWISS NUMISMATIC SOCIETY "GREGOR IVS PP VNDEC IM" c/o Italo Vecchi Rev.: Crossed keys, Niederdorfstrasse 43, CH-8001 Zurich "SANCTVS PETRVS E PAVL" October 1994 37 was crowned on Easter Sunday, and took the name of Urban VI. CALVIN J. ROGERS Four months later. all the French cardina ls dec la red their belief that CLassicaL Numismatist Urban's e lection was not legitimate because of the coercion of the threat· Fully illustrated ening Italian mobs. On September 20, 1378, they c hose Robert o f Geneva, list free upon request who took the name of Clement VU. The Church now had two popes both P.O. Box 7233 claiming legitimacy. Ancient & Coins for Pope Urban VI were Medieval Redwood City CA 94063 struck at the mints in Bologna, the (415) 369·1508 Patri mony, and Avignon. Avignon Mint Hal/Gros: Silver 22mm Obv.: Enthroned pope, "VRBANVS PP SEXTVS" Rev.: Short cross with tiny crossed keys, "SANCTVS PETRVS" Denier: Billon 20mm Obv.: Miter, " VRB PP SEXTVS" Rev.: Shorl cross with tiny keys, "SANT PET E PA VL" Footnotes: I The Papacy, by Bernhard Schimmel pfennig, translated by James Sievert, (Columbia University Press, 1992), p. 199. 2 The Popes, edited by Eric John. (Haw. thorn Books. Inc., 1964), p. 249. 3 Ibid, p. 249. 4 Avignon, by S. Gagniere and J. Granier, English translation, (Tire sur les Presses de L' lmprimerie de Monaco. 1992), p. J. 5 Ibid, p. 2. 6 Ibid. p. 7. 7 A History of the Popes, by Nicolas Cheetham, (Dorset Press, 1992), p. 157. 8 Monnaies Du Co mral Venaissin, by Jean The Autof\Omom Period De Mey, (Maison Plait, Paris 1975 ) p. I . middle of 4 cent 13C, copper leptOn. An.29. 12. Om'; Head of Lion righl. Rx : sill pointed star. btwn the rays X_E_I' and three poinl!l, VF .. .. S75_ 7. 3rd issue, Basil I , An.377, (lb\~ H. dots on ca 9 The Popes, edi ted by Eric John, (Haw The Second Elwtbcrla side. Rx, CroSS with dot.~ onca side. YY ".S70. thorn Books, Inc., 1964), p. 251. 2. AD138-161. &surion. Anokh. 261, Obv: 8. AD886-912, issue of Le<> VI and Alexandt.T, 10 A History of the Popes, by Nicolas wreathed bead of di\'inil)' Chersonas I. , II left a Anokh. 387, Obv,: AE, R lI : CH)s1 with 38 The Celator Antiquities PATRICK FINN How do we define "ancient art"? Numismatist mundane frngmem of man's past has archaeo by David Liebert logical, historical. and collectable value, but artistic value is another maHer entirely. Although the dictionary defines art in its I truSt by now everyone knows the dif broadest sense as the ability to make some ference between an antique and an antiquity! thing or to fol low a plan, I think that what we What-you don't know? Shame on you! An are dealing with here is the concept or"Fine". antique is something an antique dealer alleges or purely aesthetic, art. That is a won cre 10 be al leasl older than you are. whereas a ated with some degree of creative skill. We colleclable is somelhi ngyou probably Ihrew must also allow for the concept of good art Specialist in Early British oul last week. On the other haod, an antiq and bad art. A chimpanzee can make a paint Seol/ish and Irish Coins uity can be most easily defined as an object ing. but it takes a da Vinci to create the Mona which was manufactured at [east 500 years Li sa. ago. Anything newer than that which pur My youngest son Mikey noticed recently Summer List ports to be an antiquity we antiquity dealers that many of the great modem artists such as now available! call a fake, even ifit might be a perfectly le Picasso were influenced by ancient art. This gitimate antique such as a 19th century Neo is indicative of the fact that lruc art has a last Classical intaglio. ing impact. So while the line may not al 51 1 coins. Now that we have that settled. what is ways be clear, an antiquity, to be considered Fu ll y illustrated li st. ancient art? We all know that art is in the eye a work of ancient art, must exhibit some de of the beholder, as the saying goes. Some gree of aesthetic content imparted to it by its PATRICK FINN Numismatist modern artists have recently given us quite creator. an eyeful. A case in point is the clever fel Ever since the Renaissance, artists have P.O, Box 3659 [ow who recently sold a can of hi s own ex been influenced by ancient archetypes. The §I ~ London SW6 4JF crement as "Modern All", This may ha ve Nco-Classical phase in Europe in the lastcen E ngland been a statement about the state of art in our tury. the Egyptian influences on Art Deco and society, but is it art? I leave you to decide. Art Nouveau in this century, and even the in Telephone: 071 731 0741 Some authorities will tell you that if it's over fluence of su rv iving Roman glass on such Fax: 071 731 7232 500 years old it's ancient an. on the theory masters as Ti ffany. show the lasting effect that * that age alone imparts artistic value. Well, [ ancient art has had on its counterpart. ~ would be the last to deny thai even the most Joel L. Malter & Co. Inc. presents Auction 59 Featuring Ancient Greek, Roman, & Byzantine Coins, Venetian & Modern Foreign Gold Coins, Classical & Egyptian Antiquities Sunday, November 6th, 1994 At Third Annual Los Angeles Historical Numismatic Guild Coin Show The Portofino Hotel, Redondo Beach, CA H.N.G. Show is Friday, November 4th and Saturday, November 5th. The Portofino Hotel is located in a beautiful marina approximately 5 miles south of Los Angeles International Ai rport. There are an abundance of good restaurants w ithin walking distance of the hotel. Special room rates are available for H.N.G. guests. ~ Illustrated Catalogues $10; $15 all Foreign .7; • 17005 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA 91316 . (818) 784'7772, fax (818) 784-4726 Licensed & Bonded California Auctioneer-Michael G. Malte r #828 October 1994 39 • Illlagery on ancient COInS as indicators of changes in cultural values: Athena vs. Tyche Part 2 by McClelland's group, in that it mea Indo-Greek, Sabaean, and Axumile by Henry Clay Lindgren sures a form of behavior assumed to coins, as well as to any coins with be indicative of culturally held values. Greek legends. Coins issued in Greek The "behavior" in question is the mint speaking territories by Roman authori (Part 1 of this article, presented last month, ing authorities' decisions in ancient ties, that bear the names and titles of discussed the relationship between cultural limes 10 place the images of Athena various Roman colonies, are also in values and numismatic imagery. The ar or Tyche on the coins they issued. cluded under the heading of "Greek", ticle concludes this month with the results of the Alhena/Tyche research, and what The coins covered in this survey even though their legends may be in these results indicate about changing cul were "Greek", that is, coins issued in Latin. tural values) classical times that were not strictly The images of Athena (Figure 4) "Roman" . As used by specialists in and Tyche (Figure 5) were selected to The research I am presenting in this ancient numismatics, the term "Greek" represent tITe two somewhat opposing paper follows the approach employed is applied to Phocnician, Parthian, sets of values described above. Ath ena, the goddess of good counsel and practical wisdom WOU ld, we assumed, be selected to appear on coins pro duced by societies that favored achiev ing, self-reliant, and proactive values. We assumed, conversely, that Tyche, the goddess of luck, would be selected by mint masters employed by people who characteristically lacked self-re liance, were unable or unwilling to take action on their account, were es sentially passive, and believed that the events in their lives were determined solely by chance or luck. Foll owing McClelland's scenario, Figure 4 Figure 5 we hypothesized that an extended pe Examples of Athena Examples of Tyche riod charac terized by achievement portraiture on Greek coins portraiture on Greek coins motivation (as signaled by a prefer ence for Athena on coins) would be followed by a climactic period, in which the relative frequency for Ath ena coins would diminish somewhat, Wanted to Purchase: while the frequency of Tyche coins, Egyptian Coins and Antiquities previously low, could rise to a signifi cant degree. And we hypothesized We will purchase collections or accumulations of any size in VG to EF, especially further that this second period would quantities of Ptolemaic bronzes, Alexandrian billon letradrachms and be followed by one in which the level bronze drachms, ushabtis, scarabs, amulets, and terracotta heads and figurines of achievement motivation would drop for our galleries in New York, Beverly Hills, Las Vegas (the Luxor HOlel) and London. even further, as indicated by the infre Please send photos or xeroxes and full details with your offers. quent appearance of Athena and the Jerome M. Eisenberg, Ph.D., Director (ANA LM 277) frequent appearance of Tyche on coins. royal-athena galleries ~ _,,,k-bro,,,, M'''-lo,",,, Using McClelland's terminology, Established 1942 we called the time span starting with the beginning of Greek coinage, about 153 East 57th Street, New York., New York. 10022 -Telephone (212) 355·2034 - Fax (212) 688·0412 the 7th century B.C.E. and running 40 The Celator through the 2nd century D.C.E., the "Period of Growth". The "Climax 20 Period" covered the two hundred years I I beg inning with the 1st century B.C.E. The end of that period coincided with • I I the beginn ing ofTrajan 's reign. It was "' I I Trajan who pu shed the area of the i! I 1 Roman Empire to its greatest Iimits , ,. 0 15 1 1 to its climax, so to speak- but it was / c also Trajan who erected a temple to '" I 1/ the goddess Fortuna (the Roman • Copenhagen: 1 Y «"' Athena equivalent of Tychc). honoring her as ~ 1 / 1 c the greatest, all -pervasive powcr on . ~ 1 / 1 earth. Perhaps that event, as well as 10 1 ~ 1 any other, could be interpreted as a 42 The Gelator ing the 2nd and 3rd centuries C.E. At pattern or tre nd. In the competition behave this way or that. It is the task the same time, production of Grcck between the two sets of data, the three of the sc ientisl to fi nd consistencies in coins by European mints had declined step McClelland version is the more those forces. consistencies that can be markcdly. What is important for this plausible. This docs not mean that the ident ified and related to other forces. line of thought, however, is the grcat concl usions suggested by Figure 6 But in any event . it does seem possible popularity of Tyc hc in the East. The possess inherent validi ty, because Ihat sequential changes in societies' Phoenician ci ties issued hu ge quanti there are an infinite number of expla levels of achievement motivation may ties of Tyc he coins, beginning as far natio ns and ways of treating the data well have pl ayed a sig nificant , albeit back as the 3rd century B.C.E., and th at we have not considered. Any minor, role in the course of history Tyche evcnl ually became the preferred number of them might be prcferable during the thousand years we have co in model for the Midd le East, even to the approach we ha ve described. surveyed. as fa r away as Mesopotamia. Like all psychological theories, In short , the effects del ineated in McClelland's views of the causal fac References Figure 6 may have resulted from the tors in the rise and fall of ac hievement Sylfoge Nummorum Graecorum: The th ree-step process descri bed by moti vation attracted thei r share of cri t Royal Collection o/Coins and Med McClell and, but could also have been ics both in and out of the field of per als. Danish National Museum. Parts caused by an increase, during the so sonality and social psychology. Al 18-38. Bosporus-Bithynia to Pales call ed Period of Decline, in the amount Ihough we would hold that our rc tine-Characene. (Copenhage n: of coins prod uced by mints staffed by search has added a modicum of valid Munksgaard. 1944-6 1). followers of Tyche. Figure 6's effe ct, ity to his position, and thu s has Grose. S. W., Fitzwilliam Mu seum: therefore, may have been due to cul strengthened hi s side of the contro Ca talog ue of the McClean Collec tura Ilh i stori cal/geograph ic causes, versy, we also recognize that ot her tion of Greek Coins. Volume 3. As ia rather than psychological ones. forces, mainl y po li tical, may ha ve Minor and Farther Asia. (Cam In order to test this proposit ion, we played major roles in diminish ing bridge: 1929). reanalyzed ou r data, cl assi fying it by Athena's allTac ti veness as a guiding Lindgren, H. C.,Anlntroduction to So rcgions. rather than by eras. The re spirit and enhancing the status of cial Psychology, 3rd edition. (SI. sults, as presented in Fig urc 7, arc not Tyche. In our view, these alternate Loui s: Mosby, 1981). as clear-cut as those in Fi gure 6. They explanat ions do not necessarily di min do indicate. as expected , that Tyc he ish the validity of our findings. Any McCle ll and , D. C., The Achieving So· was clearly favored over Athena in the event, or series of evcnts. is the pro ciety. (Princeton: Van Nostrand, eastern provinces, hut the data are con duct of multiple, interacting forces that 1961 ). fu sin g and show no easily interpreted maneuver individuals and societies to freeman & Sear Now Available! ~ FIXED PRICE LIST #2 ] FeatHring 150 Celtic, Greek, Roman and Byzantine caills oj incomparable quality. All pieces are illustrated. Mailing Address: Phone/ Fax (310)202-0641 P.O. Box 5004 or Phone (818) 993-7602 Chatsworth, CA 91313 Fax (818) 993-6119 October 1994 43 Book News Metcalf, D.M., Thrymsas and Sceat The books are graphicall y frcsh and museums in developing a comprehensive ta s in the Ashmolean Museum Oxford. inviting. beautifully bound. include excel record of an area. Metcalf's discussion of T hree volumes. Published by the Royal lent plates, and detai led and highly legible the problems of classification. hoard analy Numismatic Society and the Ashmo maps and charts- all publishing charac sis, and the place of individual finds con· lean Museum, 1993, 1993, 1994. $50, teristics that make them a pleasure to cisely summarizes the issues in ways that $50, $75 from North American book handle. Metcalf's grasp of the issues shows make this an excellent introduction to nu· sellers. the depth of the Ashmolean collection and mismatic scholarship generally. For ex A full grasp of British numismatics his own scholarly achievement. and he ample, discussing the negmiable nature of and museums requires travel away from writes clearly and concisely about the nu· data aboulthe materia l, he writes "the rela the bustling British Museum. A visitor to mismatic problems that the scries offer. tive chronology of minting is thus rather the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford walks Metcalf is clear about his goal- to pro· like a flex ible concertina. which can still be down a quiet street away from the lown vide a definiti ve numismatic discussion of squecled this way or thai in the attempt to center and the University and finds a small the when. where. and "how many" issues match it to an absolute chronology." coin display room with a limited number surrounding the series. He specifically The mai n source of information on the of cases. Yet the Ashmolean has a major dissociates his work from the monetary thrymsa series covered in Volume [ is the collection and has made significant contri history of the period. The books are in Crondall hoard, a group of 73 coins en butions to numismatic knowledge with Sylloge format. including extensive plates tirely held by the Ashmolean. Thrymsas three Syllogc volumes in the British Coins showing coins from the major holdings of are a fascinating series with many "nc" series as well as a first volume in a Coins the Ashmolean. Metcalf's text provides (no t -pract i cab Iy -co Ilecl i b le-bcea use· of- of the Roman Empire series. interesting reading and gi ves a clear flavor rarity) coins. There have been relatively Now the keeper of the Heberden Coin of the era even though that is not his goal. few single finds of the series. and this adds Room at the Ashmolean. D. M. Metcalf. As he notes. it is difficult to completely to the scholar's problems. The thrymsa has published a three volume reference on divorce broader historic issues from dis series begins an era of progressive debase a major period in Bri tish numismatic his cussion of the numismatic prob lems. ment until the end of the thrymsa-scea\ta tory. a period where the coins are some of These references do not deal with the series when coins of IS percent silver or the most important artifacts historians in question of how to pronounce the names of less were made. The debasement is not general have to understand the era. This the denominations. The pronunciation of strictly linear; coins with the same dies three volume set must now be reeogniled "thrymsa" is straightforward: "thrim' sa" can show marked fineness differences. as the standard reference on the c1assifica covers it fairly well. But "sceatta" and Another problem he broaches in the lion issues and structure of the series. It is "sceat"· are not so obvious. [had a chance first volume is whether or not the series a set of books that all serious coJJectors of to ask Marion Archbold of the British Mu can be considered a royal or an episcopal this period wilJ want to own. seum for her preferred pronunciation, She coinage rather than a result of private ini Thrymsas and sceattas were the coin opts for "schet' tahs" (rhymes with "set' tiative. A British Numismatic Journal by age of the Anglo-Saxons in England in the tahs") forthe plural form . The singular form Smart Rigo ld in 1960 suggested that Sec 7th and 8th centuries. a time of trade and of the word, "sceat", is pronounced "skeet". ries A and B primary sceatlas could be travel in an England long free of Roman Volume I provides an overview of the assigned to the reign of Wihtred. But rule and well before the invasions of the series and a detailed account of the issues Metcalf points out that subscqucnt finds Vikings. Thr coinage shows Roman influ involved with publishing the series. The and ana lysis of the chronology of sceattas ence, but it has a special charm and appeal Celator did me a great favor when they undermines that point of view. A major unique to this period in British history. asked me 10 write this review. r carefully strength of these volumes is the succinct The thrymsa.sceatta series is one of the read material I would otherwise have and clear summarization of these issues so most distinctive and clearly defined of all skimmed over quickly before going 10 the that even a newcomer to coinage of the era British series. Just as with the British classification scheme and plates of the can get a sense of the num ismatic issues Ccltic series, when you see one of these series covered. The material on the growth thc pieccs present. Volume I presents the coins. you know exactly what era it repre of the collection shows the important in transitional series from gold 10 silvcr and sents. terplay among collectors. dealers. and concludes with the primary silver issues from ca. A.D. 675 to ca. 710. Volume [I deals with Conlincntal sceat tas- Merovingia n. Frisian. Danish. Trade between Britain and the Continent was well Guide to Biblical Coins by David Hendin establishcd during this era and very similar Hardcover, 224 pages. 16 pages plates, values, cleaning coins. coinage was produced on the Continent. detecting forgeries, much more. Personally autographed. Metcalf begins the volume with the com ment that "whether from a nuntismatic or a The only survey on ancient Judaic and Biblical coins that earned a five-star rating in The Celator. $35.00 monetary point of view. there is little differ ence between a Merovingian silver denarius and a sceat.'· There are stylistic variations but the size. weight . and alloys overlap. He explains thc importance of hoard finds in deciding the point of issue, noting that !iI'i. "WewrotethebookonBiblicalcoins!" "hoards playa greater part in our under ~ . ~~ . ~\ ASK.FOR o~r free illuslrated calal~g of standing of the continental issues of sccattas 1!=J. 0.l N ock. NY 10960f) ~. ~ JeWish,. Biblical, Greek, Aom~~ COinS, than they do in England." -- ~14.J5& 7:364 . " ..' weights and small antlquilies. Volume III moves back to "the history ~ of minting in England in ils hcy-day of 44 The Gelator artistic inventiveness an d variety." This period runs from ca. 71011 5 to ca. 755/60. One si gn of the "invent iveness and vari· TRIVIA QUIZ ety" in this era is the fascinating emphasis As " The Marcher", Mars was honored on wolves as subjccts for the coinage. with a temple outs ide the Porta Capena While all th ree volu mes usc line drawings to demonstrate the typcs, this volumc has on t he Appian Road. What w a s the many morc of these drawings and th ey are s urn ame of M ars thusly honored? particu larly helpful in visua lizing the type (Answer on page 56) distinctions. This is the thickest of the three volumes, containing 28 plates and 685 pages of text, more than the other two combined. It includes a Icngthy and de r------, ta iled chem ical analysis by Dr. J.P. I ~ C/ip& Save I NOrlhover. The volu me concludes with "An Annotated Concordance of Types and Series" that covers BMC data as well as Coin File . types by Hill and Stewart. ! '\) ! Sirice th e final vo lume was completed, r------, another major hoard has surfaced. The Caligula British M useum is currently studying the Woodham Walter (Essex) hoard , a group AR - Denarius of 118 sccattas re prcsenting 18 classes or A.D. 37-41 groups with 32 of the coins from Series E. Discussions I have heard of the hoard so RIC I, 109, 18 far have been provisional and "not-ready· Caius Caesar was nicknamed Caligula afler the soldier's boot, called the for.publicmion"'. but the sense of excite· caligae, which he wore as a child. He was the son of Germanicus and ment that the find conveys and the conge· Agrippina, and-unlike his mother-won the lavor of Tiberius, who raised him niality of the key scholars in the field to high offices In the government. He succeeded Tiberius in A.D. 37, perhaps suggest that wecan look forward to impor. having a hand in the death of the aging emperor. The first eight months of tant and exciting discussions of the numis· matics of this era. Metcalf's referen ces Cal igu la's reign were benevolent and the people were well served. However, provide the sound base that will undergird a serious illness lett him mad and licentious. Thereafter, his reign became a additional scho larship. nightmare for all classes, including the privileged. Considering himself a god, he had a temple built in his honor, with priests assigned to carry out his worship. Allan Davisson He plundered the treasury, devastated the provinces, and was finally assassi· nated by the praetorian tribune Cassius Chaerea. The portraits seen on this silver denarius are of Caligula and Germanicus. The advertisers 011 these pages support I~------~ MARKET CAPSULE Comments; I I Personality ...... Caligula S:ned a~~~ ~' ~o~ , ~O:(;~~~~· t~~) I your j ournal. Support I Denomination ...... Denarius other issues of this type. I Relerences ...... RIC I, t09, t8/BMC t9 I "",.isnaf.nydf..::r~~ them, and remember to I ...... Cohen (Germanicus and Caligula) 2 /his ...."'''' .,../ysis end Ihe .00.. pholo. say that you saw it ill I Database (sale) appearances ...... 13 (1974·1994) Markel Capsule Source: I I Ave. Weight ...... ,...... 3.69 gms Numismatic Archives, I I Ave. ~ndition : ...... about E:dremely Fine P.O. Box 173, I The Cei aTOl< Ave. Pnee Realized ...... $3,650 Littleton, CO 80160 ~::;;;;::======~_~L~:_~_~ ______.J DOMITIAN IS "VNMAI/CNED': .. A MERE 2000 YEAR! TOO LATE I WAIT, WAIT t IT WAS JVST A RUMOR ! HnHOTSOBAD AFTER Ali i October 1994 45 Long Before Columbus What's the right price to pay for an item? want to sel l. " he began, "but I don't wanl any he took the news rather well. Shaking his byJoe Rose discussion on il of any kind. I don't want head, he said "Somehow, I knew I couldn't you to tell me that it has a scratc h on it, or getthm lucky!" and depal1ed, leaving me with thm it's hard to sel l. or that thc markct stinks the stiB-unso[ved problem of what I would Just as the right selling price for any an or anything. [ know how you dealers work. have done if they were genuine, tiquity. coin. or collection is not etched in and I know what the coi n is worth. So, I'll As mentioned, the ability to size-up stone, neither is the price a dea ler should pay put it on the countcr and name a price. [want people is a vital tool for the successful buyer, for an offered object. The art business (of only one word from you-yes or no ! enabling one to come up wi th an interesting which we area part) is possibly the cnlyone Agreed?" Somewhat shocked, I nodded my bid, even on a blind item, Once, an elderly where the customer ha s the power 10 limit head and placed a velvet pad on the counter. couple, obviously from fa r out-of-town, of the amount of profit a dealer can make, this He reached into hi s pocket and extracted a fered me an old, baltered cigar box which they by offering less than aS Ked when buying and tissue-wrapped "something", which hc care said had been her grandfather's collection. asking more than offered when sclling. Then. fully opened and placed on the pad. covering Now. iftherc is one thing which wi [1 always it's up \0 the dealer 10 either take or reject the it with his hand. "Ready?" he asked, and I titi!1 ate a dealer it has to be a battered cigar proffered deal. If it's a hard item [0 move nodded again. Removing hi s hand he intoncd box full of coi ns. Almost trembling in an the dealer may be glad \0 take the smaller "two-hundred dollars". I looked. looked ticipation, I cut the elcctrician 's tape holding profit. but if he is buying a tough seller. he again. said "YES", walked over to the regis it shut and began to finger Ihrough the box. will likely Slick to his price. ter and wilhdrew the $200. which I handed which was stuffed to the brim. Mostly U.S. And of course, there are other factors 10 to him. He counted the money. stuck his fore coins. and mostly circulated, greeted my eye. consider. A regular customer will be treated finger out li ke a pistot at me, and said "A but also a rainbow-hued 1873 half dollar wi th more leniently than a one-ti mer. and an un pleasure. Maybe:! I' ll see you again somc arrows proof. a coin worth about S 1500.00 usual oreasy-to-sell item will obviously draw day", and turned and leflthe gallery and his at the time, What should I offer? more interest than a common pieee, espe pri stine Otho au reus in my tender clutches! As I poked in the box, I quickly inspected cially if there arc more where the first one (well , isn't the customer always ri ght?). the couple, He was obviously a work ing man came fro m! With all these cases. we are deal So mctimes, circumstances may deliver as his suit, though clean and pressed, was ing with informed buyer to informed seller. one from a moral dilemma. I recall a time. about twenty years out of style. a typical but what do you do when the customer in many years ago, wh en a young man came wedding and fun eral su it for a man who al front of you is obviously uninformed and de into the shop and asked if I wanted to buy his most never wore one. He r dress was the same pending on your honesty and sense of fair collection of ancient coins. He said he had genre. and sh e was wearing an old mine-cuI play to get the right price. This can lead to been an American soldier in WWI I and had diamond rin g, the kind my grandma used 10 all sorts of complications. many of which put been part of a group which had looted :m wear. BOlh had work-worn hands. the dealers' ITlQral tiber on trial virtually daily. abandoned Gennan museum. He had picked "Oh. Albert," she said, "What will wedc And the customer may not be totally truthful up the bag of coins and placed it in his knap if it's a lot of money? I'd like \0 give it to the either when he tells you he has not shopped sack, unseen by any of his buddies, and had grandchildren." "No way," he answered, around and has no idea of the value o f the carried it wherever he went for over a year. "I'm thi nking of a great vacation." Now, all "whmever-it-is", or that he is the legitimate Now, he was ready to sell. I had to dc was ti gure OUi what was a great owner. It is vital for the buyer to be quite This really posed a tricky problem. Did I deal of money to these people. "Yes," he alert and good at sizing up people. attributes want to buy stolen coi ns? Did either the ex continued, "I'd like to go to Florida!", and which generally can be honed only by long soldier or I have any responsibility to return now I knew the ball-park we were in. experie nce (and gelling "beat" a fe w times!). the coins to the Germans? Whattodo? Stall Fi gu ring quickly. I came up with $3,000 It is also true that a sell er may come in and call the FB[. the cops, what? While I as the most I would want to pay. but you can with a large chip on hi s shoulder, and con was deliberating, he began to unwrap the loot, not start with your top figure, as it leaves you vinced (in his ignorance) that he is sharper carcfully placing il on the counter. Playing no bargaini ng position. You can always go and knows more than the dealer. The writer for time, I inspected the coins. Problem up in price, but you cannot go down. So, I recalls such a seller many years ago who solved! They were all fake! Now came the offered S2.(XXl After a moment's silence, strode self-importantly into the shop and la id hardest pan of the whole deal, telling hi m they looked at each other and accepted my down the conditions under which he was pre that the bundle he had "schlepped" all over offer. C lutching the $2,000, Albert happily pared to sell his coin. "I have here a coin I Europe was virtually wonhlessl Surprisingly, said "Miami, here we come", and they de parted, leaving all of us very pl eased, Some months laler. aftcr extracting ev erything that was quickly salable. I was por We are pleased to offer a small selection of ing through the remnants of the "collection" wh en I spoiled a hitherto undetected coin on Cuneiform tablets of various periods the bollom of the box. It turned out to be an ranging/t-om the 3 rd to 2nd millennium B,C. extremely rare U.S. large cent which brought well into live ligures at auction. Now, an Most are in Fine condition with some chips, abrasions, etc. other dilemma. Should I contact Albert and Al l are unread as found, Some have minor repairs, offer them more money? This could really open a Pandora's Box oflegalt'roublcs. Af 1" to 2" only $223.33 each. ter all. I was supposed to be an expert, but I honestly had not seen the coin. The address A[bert had given me was a phony. and there The Time Machine Co. was no way to trace them, so the manerended p,o, Box 282, Flushing Station, Queens, NY 11367 there, leaving me with still one more unan rJl (718) 544·2708 swe red questi on of morality. 46 The Gelator Professional Directory c Antiquities : ) £ ...... ~ -~'I! - .... +.,...--M-.:"~l> ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL COINS I OF ALAMEDA > EGYPTIAN & CLASSICAL 1 AtT~It\I.s **** CMV Numismatics **** I ANTIQUITIES I GALLERY ~. ArtijaclS-Weaporu- Books- Coins lYe offer the collector a varied 5election "S: I of nne qualilJl Ancient World Art! I Classical Antiquities All your collecting Iluds under one roof ~ \l. I Pre-Columbian Art We Locau Your WllI1lS I I 1 Asian Art San Francl!lCo Bay Area's Finest Coins, • Books & An!iquilies - Novice [0 Advanced • Primitive and Tribal Art Catalogs $10 annually, $2 sample ! ~ Ancient Numismatics Visa, Mastercard, American Express, , • JEWELRY • SCULPTURE • BRONZE 1 J • POITERY • WEAPONS • AMULETS J. Ail Objects Guaranteed Genuin. e. Discover Accepted wIno additional fees FREE: C&t&logNo.CI9Iupon request -+ Authentication Certificate Provided Mr. Lloyd R. " Randy" Lantz 6 • Phone or Fax (510) 769-0137 Il C4H#'1I b/I QP".,."lm."t . (212) 724.9455 ~ 290 Fillmore. Denver, CO 80210 Box 1699, Alameda, CA 94501 ~ ANCIEI'ff WORLD ARTS, LID. ~ I 50 We5t 76th New York 10023 I Tel.: 303-321 -7351 (PhonelFax) ANS .. RNS 0 BNS .. ANA .. peNS St. ' ~,"""""-'1:_.:;a."Il_ ".+ ___ N\_~ 0 ...... 0 J{armer 1i.gOK.f (jafCeries Sadigli (ja[[ery ~ • TRADEI!~ OF EAlMON. ~ '£sla6(isfiu{ 1905 I. 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FL 34685"a ""'" '~ or 718·846·0833 Fax: 212·315·3226 Queens, NY 11367 Tel/Fax (813) 784-7821 ',,. ,... Licensed by rile Israeli Antiquities Department (718) 544·2708 October 1994 47 Professional Directory C Antiquities ) ( Books ) ( Books ) Antiques () Ancient LIMITED OFFER! FINE NUMISMATIC BOOKS Artifacts Collectibles V An extremely useful a nd Bought and Sold accumte way to price your Nmnismatic Arts John Ristow Curiosities Greek Silver Coins! of Santa Fe send for list Nicknamcd thc "Min; Pozzi Collection" P.O. Box 9712, Santa Fe, NM 87604 P.O. Box 909 The Dr. 1.5. Wilkinson Collection. Phone o r FAX · 505-982-8792 Novato, Ca 94948 Auction 49, held Nov, 15. 1992. We are always keenly interested in buying (41 5)898·1185 Thc most complete and current important Antiquarian and Out-Ol-Print jn Ihe wine countty pricing guide with over 1,000 Numismatic Books and Lib raries in all Petaluma Mill Antiques, Pewluma, Ca mostly ill ustrated lots. Hardbound languages. 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We actively purchase desirable = by Stephen Album (Sant.:l RO«l 1993) Classical antIquities .. numismatic books in all fields and • $8 postpaid in US or abroad You should be subscribing to: .. also conduct at least four numismatic .. SPECIAl-: BOTH BOOKS: $40 1'1'. book auctions a year. The Popular Award Winning = = STEPHEN ALBUM Periodical Specializing in .. GEORGE FREDERICK KOLBE .. P.O. Box 7386 An cien t Numismatics & Antiqui tie s • • ~ Fine Numismatic Books ~ Santa Rosa, CA 95407 USA ,.. P. O. OflwerJtOO , C""'lline,CA9232S·3100 ,.. Tel: 707-526·3421 Fax: 707-526-3266 The CelaroR = Tel,(909)338·6527 . T'u, (909) 338·6980 : .. MEMBER: IArN • A~'" • MIS • R~ S • AlIA.... lITe . • Offering Monthly: ( ) • News ~------.. -... ~ • Features • Commentary PAPYRUS BOOKS Pegasi Coins • Book Reviews • Coming Events Out of Pri nt Books P.o. 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Akaemenid-Parthian-Sasanian Persis-Elymais-Charax and. Colosseum Advertise in the Buy- Sell- Trade-Appraise Coin Exchange, l11c. Professional Directory! P.O. 60)( 9663, San Jose, CA 95157 P.o . Box 21CL, Hazlet, NJ 07730 Tel 408·244·4995 Fax 408-244-4996 (908) 264-1161 October 1994 49 Professional Directory AG. & S. GILLIS Fred B. Shore ANCIENT COINS & ANTIQU ITIES BRONZE AGE, CELTIC, ROMAN Classical Numismatics SAXON, VIKING & ~EDIEVAt Ancient Greek, Roman and Parthian coins of the highest Illustrated catalogue quality bought and sold Please write or telephone for your free copy PO Box 429 20 HOWARD ST, OARflEU), BARNSLEY Blue Bell, PA 19422 S. YORKSHIRE, S73 9JD, ENGLAND 6101275·3430 Tel. & Fax: 0226 750371 DMITRY MARKOV ANCIENT COINS Christian Blom Greek, Roman, Byzantine * Ancient Greek, Roman and • Medieval Price Lists World Coins Buy-Bid Sales • Islamic write for f ree price list Free on Request * Russian G SOUTHEAST P.O. Box 7618 Write for illustrated catalogues Arlington, VA 22207 NUMISMATIC SERVICE 703-276·2392 p.o. Box 950 Ph: (212) 385·8661 P.O. Box 50607. Dept. C New York , NY 10272 Fax: (2[2) 349-1743 noon to midnight Jacksonville Beach, FL 32240 ANCIENT COINS ILLUSTRATED AND ANTIQUITIES PRICELISTS J. Harlan Berk, Ltd. Greek Six buy or bid sales per year Write or call for free catalogue Roman 312-609-0016 ~ Byzantine - ~.~~,- 312-609-0017 0" 31 N. Clark S1. Request yours today! Chicago, IL 60602 Wayne C. Phillips 8-A Village Loop Suite 125 Phillips Ranch, CA 91766 (909) 629-0757 Serving the collector since 1959 CLASSIC GREEK, ROMAN AND BILL MCDANIELS BRITISH COINS Ancient and • Profcssional service with a personal flavor • Thoughtful and detailed catalogs-high Medieval Coins quality photographs and printing. (Greek, Roman, Indian, Sample issue-$2 Islamic, Chinese, ~or;S Early European, Etc.) P.O. Box 2273 Cold Spring, MN 56320 Albany, NY 12220 • (6 12) 685-3835 50 The Gelator Professional Directory C;:N:N::: :Coiiis ::::::: ) Ancient & World Coins ANCIENT COINS ARCHEOLOGICAL ~A~~ G'~:r=an ARTIFACTS PONTERIO P.O. Box 605, Fairfield, CT 06430 Ph: (203) 374-3032 or 254-7177 Greek, Roman, & ASSOCIATES, INC. Byzantine Auctions 1818 Robinson Ave. San Diego, CA 92103 Buy and sell high grade coins, The Jewish War ell/ire coilec/ions, lo/s. Silver"YearOne" DEALERS ARE KINDLY prototype shekel (619) 299·0400 REQUESTED TO ASK FOR realized $242,000 OUR SPECIAL OFFERS. (800) 854·2888 • World's Largest Coin Auctioneers Athena GmbH PNG #308 • Ancient Coin Collector Program OUostr. 5 ANA-LM • Quarterly Price Lists D-8000 Munchen 2, Gcnnany • Prompt Want List Service Tel: (004989) 591147· Fax: 598220 Call 1-800-421-0754 today and ask for David Vagi. director of Ancient Coins. Brian Krill Superior Galleries Dealer in Ancient & Medieval Coins S~Mng mll.cwr" ,in" 1930 94 78 W. Otympic HL Beverly Hills. CA 90212 Specializing ill Ancient Greek, Roman & Judaic Coins 'l!Ioni'ron (!loin P.O. Box 558 Wholesale Ancients Burtonsville, MD 20866 Suite 132 Mission Viejo Mall Mission Viejo, CA 92691 (301) 236-0256 (714) 364·0990 or 582·3481 ROMAN IMPERIAL Specialist in Ancient Coins 2Jlmpirr about them, and twO major auction sales per year. • Periodic reference book lists & sales In 'he pas',.,..o l<' October 1994 51 Professional Directory ( Coins ) ( Coins ) ( Coins ) Over 2,000 numismatists FRANK STERNBERG AG and anti quarians Schanzengasse 10, CH-8001 A full-setvice firm for read these pages! Zurich, Switzerland collectors of Classical tel. 01 141 112523088 coins and antiquities. Shouldn't they be fax. 01141 112524067 For a free catalog, write or call: seeing your ad? 4125 W. Mineral King , For a copy of our current Suite 316 rale ca rd , con tact: Bought and Sold COINS AND MEDALS Visalia, CA 93277 (209) 636-0945 Ancient, M ed ieval and M odem The CelaTON. NUM ISMATIC LITERATURE David S. Michaels P.o . Box 123. Lodi, WI 53555 GEMS. CAMEOS, JEWEI.,RY I Numismatist phone or fax (608) 592-4684 AUCTION SALES For thefillest of Islamic, Indian, n~lktrian :lIld Central Asiall Coinages Ilumismatic art, writefor a cOinplilllel1talY copy NUMISMilTIK of our fixed price and LANZ mail bid catalogues. MO CHEN PRo PavL P,yneaRson Dr. Hubert Lanz Lui tpotdblock. Maximiliansplntz 10 27 years in issuing 0 ·803)3 Munchen. Germany Write for sa mple illustrated li s! catalogues of ancient coi ns. Tel. (49) (89) 29 90 70 ,...... , Persic Gallery ECONOMOPOULOS JOllathall K. Kem CO. Edgar L. Owen ENTERPRISES Uachelor of Arts Ancient Coins CLASSICAL Numismatics Ancient. Medieval, Early & Antiquities NUMISMATICS American Numismatics Greek Roman Byzantine Bought & Sold Imerestill8 material Nicholas T. Discollnt... for all Economopoulos Call or write for free list P.o. Box 199 441 S. Ashland Holicong, PA 18928 Lexington, KY 40502 Phone: (20 I) 398-9557 (215) 491·0650 (606) 269-1614 RD2, Box 710, Andover, NJ 0782 1 52 The Gelator Professional Directory ( Coins ) ( Coins ) ( Coins ) KIRK DAVIS SOUTHLAND Greek Roman Medieval NUMISMATICS, LTD. write for free catalogue POST OFFICE BOX 324 ~ CLAREMONT, CA 91711 USA STEPHEN M. HUSTON GREEK CCassica(?I{.umismarist ROMAN Greek, Roman, Byzantine Post Office Bolt 193621 J UDAEAN & Medieval Coins San Francisco, CA 94119 USA for the Connoisseur • 415 • 781_7580 • BIBLICAL CITY COINS 'Wrile for illUSlf41tti UHaiOjI'U , Occasional Catalogues & HOLYLAND ANTIQUITIES Our complimentary illustrated VIKEN M. HAVANDJIAN Free Ust 01 inexpensive ANCIENT COINS catalogue is yours upon request. P.o. BOX 50417 _d .... uI' Visiting: San Francisco? The Silicon Vaney? ~. RARE AMPHORA Stanford University? ,'$> ~ COINS Jewish· Biblical _~ Specializing in the Greek· Roman TREASURE Coinage of Judaell Visit ... Coins' Weights ISLAND * Ancient Antiquities' Jewelry We carry a large inventory of Ancients as well as the largest * Medieval Free illustrated list available uPO" request Philatelic stock in the Bay Area. * Modern Lists Available "We wrote the book William M. Rosenblum on Biblical coins/" TREASURE ISLAND P.O. Box 355 3703 EI Camino Real AMPHOIV. ~·),"'\ Evergreen CO 80439 q. - P.O. Bo~ 605 - ~tJ Palo Alto, CA 94306 Nyock. NY 10960 ~. ~ Phonelfax: (303) 838-483\ ~ Q14.,)!)a.7J64 ,. (4 15) 855·9905 ~ ISLAMIC & INDIAN COINS From the earliest times to the prescnt day QUALITY Price lists issued regularly, ROMAN COINS •(lvailable Ilpon request S·C COINS - ro, 110, ColI.. no . - STEPHEN ALBUM PO BOX 992, ANCIENT & MEDIEVAL COINS 7386 P.O. BOX ALEXANDRIA. MN 56308 BUY · 5t U . AI~'fU. I >.U SANTA RO SA, CA. 9;407 U.S .A. PO Box 15134 Portland, OR 97215 phone: 707-526-3421 Catalogue Upon Request : 232-3372 fax, 707·526·3266 October 1994 53 Professional Directory ( , EquIp. & Supplies ) ( Jewelry ( Numismatic Services ) PHOTOGRAPH A,N.A. ANCIENT your coins instantly Mtmb~" Spencer Peel( in color or black & white TREASURE COINS 'J{jJ.mismatist WEAA YOUR PASSION Accredited Member American Society of Appraisers With a Roman Coi n Tic Tack, Money Cli p. or Sterling Chann Appraisals for Charitable Donation Equitable Distribution - Estate AE Antoninianus $19.00 Insurance and IRS purposes AR Denarius $39.00 New York Auction Representation All coinJ are VF or heifer (nnd allribliled) Send check or money order plus :rour %ent in tne 'Big J'tppf<. $3.00 S&H per total order to: e l ll or Send Bonded - Insured For Free Brochure a ANCIENT TREASURE COINS 1206 Copper Stone Ct., Suite #101 P.O. Box 526, Oldwick, NJ 08858 P.O. Box 2937, Redwood City, CA 94064 (908) 236·2880 Phone (415)361-0618 Chesapeake. VA 23320-8235 INTRODUCING ( .Shows & ConventionS ' ) TARGET MARKET GOALS G lasrubber We provide clients a prinred rerwrt of The finest too/ever invented for cleaning Prices Realized for ony Greek. ROlII(ln ancient bronze coins and artilacts Republic(ln. or Roman Imperial coin. Other u ... BOSTON ... . -. Ancient and Foreign Coin Our darabase covers 200 major sales '.''-0- held worldwide since /972. and is Mecca a/Th e Northeast! continually updated. Use our Service ·.it~ . BAY STATE COIN SHOW before bidding in a sale. Ollr reporls ...... Ootober 29, 30, & 31, 1994 can help identify coins that are wlder ..-- ~ or overvalued ....hen compared 10 a sale March 17, 18, & 19, 1995 -.."" ktoncl- . cata/ag's 101 esrimale. Queries (l fe $25 (U.s. ) each. Blilk discolIlIlS m·ai/able. w".'" o~ the""iqutl 'G~~ "'$M "57" PARK PLAZA HOTEL ..tIoi6ur. I{) da!ers. Pleas. Cf)(lu"r \1$ Itx No cam/Juler i:; needed. qUam,ly p 54 The Celator Paid AdvertiSement THE BACK PAGE malerial, although I rarely go to Germany or Switzerland Dear Celator Reader: to buy directly or attend auctions. I know a lot of my Although my September Gelatorseems to have ended colleagues are constantly in Europe, some spending 2-3 up at the bottom of an amoebic swamp that myoid friend weeks "scouring" various countrysides. I find that I can Dr. Alan Walker of Zu ri ch fame seems to think abound consistently buy the malerial l need and for prices that I throughout NJ (the Garden State), there were enough think are more in line with "reality" by not allending "name fri ends who did get their copy, and then faxed me Herr sales" in countries where Cokes cost about $8 and a Skywalker's letter, that I can at least respond. I guess my "decent" hotel converts to several hundreds of dollars per first reaction was sheer astonishment. I have known Luke night. It is my choice, and it is how I have become very for quite a number of years, and certainly am aware thai successfu l in the rare coin business over the past almost h,e is a very clever chap, and actually a lot 01 fun to be with 20 years. unless you want to take him to some Ethiopian restaurant While we do not have "Queens & Princesses" over here and then expect him to be loads of fun afterwards. My (we ll, actually we do, but not the type the ·Zurich Jedr astonishment is that he. and probably a lot of other refers to). we do have a very large group of serious dealers, seem to have missed the fo rest by intently exam collectors. While they do not always have the "financial ining a few trees in terms of my com ments on Bruce and intellectual resou rces" that in Alan's mind will allow McNall. NFA, whalthe firm has done lor collectors, and my them to "become serious collectors" as apparently moslol personalleelings on its demise. Herr Walker's clients do, they still love ancient coins and No I am not trying to be ~ a bud" with McNall. I have not ancient coin collecting. t know taxi drivers, grocery store been one of those asked to furnish him lellers of tribute as cle rks, and hairdressers who may not fil into the "Euro apparently a lot 01 the "Hollywood Cro wd ~ has rece ntly pean mindset" or what makes an "appropriate" cottector, done as he tries to plea-bargain his way out of many years but they are still very dedicated to their pursuits. 01 priso n for the four cou nts that he had pleaded "nolo Hey, if Madonna wanted to dance around while wear contendre" to in term s 01 his bank fraud problems as just ing 3 dekadrachms, I would be happy to seil ihem to her, reported in the Wall Street Journal. I have no long-term as I have them in stock. "gain" by giving the man credit for what he has done, in my What I do not do is try to pretend that I am some sari ("I opinion, for ancient coin collectors and collecting in the "academic" wh o is "accidentally" making a living by buying U.S. But on the other hand, I don't see how you can ignore and selling ancie nt co ins. If you want to discuss "Late what has happened to ancient coin collecting, in a posi Roman mint-marks" or "Roman Provincial iconography" tive fashion. that can be directly attributable to McNall , with me at a show, I will happily decline, thank you , bul will unless one stopped off at Woodstock on the way back politely point th e way to a dealer wh o will delight in such from the ANA Convention and spent just a few too many minutiae. I buy and sell coins for a living, that is what I do. hours happily wallowing in the mud. I don't give symposia, in facti rarely attend symposia, and I think one 01 the problems with interpretation is depen used to routinely lall asleep during RNS meetings in dent on which side 01the Atlantic one spends most of their l ondon while some learned discourse was in progress on time, and how one perceives the ancient coin business. "Die-linkage of Mauretanian bronzes". But I do a darn For full-time dealers, it is a business. good job of gelling museum quality coinage for my I know that many of The Gelator reade rs have never extensive clientele, and I certainly am very clear on the met me, nor seen me at a show, never talked to me in fact that Bruce McNall did more than most to establish person, etc. J assume even less have met Alan Walker or ancient coin collecting here in Ihe good old US of A. most of the other European dealers who are very well known in Europe, but only come to one or two major shows Upcoming Show Sc hed Yle: yearl y over here. Therefore your perceptions of us may LQng Beach Expo, Oct. 6·9th long Beach EXPQ Cen indeed eminate from my "Back Page ~ on one hand, and tu. ThurS.-Sun. show, hours 10-7, 10-4 on Sun., new Herr Alan's episodic leller-writing on the other. expo configuration, but still co rn er table in the Foreign & I have been in the ancient coin bu siness full-time for 17 Ancient Section. years and been a "garden-variety" collector for 23 years. I do about 20-24 coin shows every year in Ihe U.S., thus BostQn ShQw. Oct. 28-30. Park Plaza ("57") Hotel, Fri. I think that I have a "clear pulse" on the ancient coin market Sun., 10:30-6, 10:30-4 on Sun., this is Ihe usual BQs ton in the U.S. I believe that t clearly understand how U.S. show, keep supporting ill collectors of ancient coins think, and understand what they buy and wh y th ey buy. In deference to Alan. I think lb.. df'U7.0tJ d? ~aofow I have a much clearer idea of the ancient market here in the U.S. than a major dealer who lives in Europe, works for Rare Coins & Classical Arts Ltd. a major European firm , and rarely is in personal contact ·Specialists in Museum Quality Coins" with the masses of U.S. ancient coin collectors on a Member: ANA, ANS, SAN, AINA, INS, Ex-Fellow RNS regular basis. I also lived in Europe for over three years, attended P.O. Box 374 " At the Gallery" more Eu ropean auctions than I care 10 re collect, sat South Orange, NJ 07079 111 South Orange Ave. through innumerable post-dinner banquets, and consis· Phone: (201) 761 -0634 South Orange, NJ 07079 tently return to Europe to meet my contacts and to buy FAX : (201) 761-8406 Phone: (201) 762-1588 October 1994 55 INDEX OF DISPLAY ADVERTISERS Celator Classifieds Allum. Stephen ...... , 48, 53 American Israel Numismatic Associabon ,...... 54 Rates: $5.00 for the first 20 words, 20¢ each additional word. Amphora __ . ,...... , 44,53 Anciotn1 ~ Rare CoW1s 6, SO Anciotn1 Ga lleries 47 Ancient Treasure Coins _ .... " ...... 54 BULK LOTS Ancient Roman bronze Wanted to buy - Bronze Age weap Anc",nl Work! A~s. lid...... " ." .... " .. " ...... , 47 Antioch Associates ,. ___ _ 17 coins. Buy direct from the source of ons or related antiquities. Wri te to: ...... Pho1og ra»/lk: 54 supply, just imported, have not been Roben W. Smith, P.O. Box 563, Rock Anemi. Gallory ,. 47 AthonaGmbH ,. ___ .51 picked over. Average condition fair, land, ME 0484 1 or can (207) 594- Basok , Alexander ' ,...... " ... " ... " ..... , 3S Bay Slate Coit1 Show ., ,, __ _,,54 good, YG & fi ne. Sold "AS IS", no 4526. Beach. George M ,. . , ,...... " ...... 33. 51 B9r1< , HaMan J . Ud. .. .. " ..... ,,, ...... Cover. SO returns. 100 for $63, 200 for $115, Berman, Allen G ...... , " ...... , ,...... 25. 51 FOR SALE: Beltinger. MareT., ____ _.53 500 for $260, & I ,000 for $470. Francis ANS Museum Notes #23- Biom. Chri.tian 50 Rath, P.O. Box 266, Youngstown, NY #29 all soft cover, also The Western C& Over 500 Lots oj Greek, Roman and Byzantine Coi"s F/;"A TURING: • Ancien l Gold and Electrum coins; Greek Silver and Bronze coins; Ancient Judaean Silver Allcient coills/or eve,y interest and pocketbook Prorusely Illustrated Catalogues Available Now! The Price or $10.00 Includes the Prices Re Coin Galleries has been conducting Mail Ilid Auctions fC:lluring Ancie11l coins for over 40 years. OUf sales are quarterly, in the Spring, Summer, Filll and Winter. with Ihe neXI one scheduled for February, 1995. Those wishing 10 consign malerial should contact us as soon as possihle. Coins for inclusion in our February sale should be in our hands no taler Ihan Deeemhcr 1. 1994 r------, : ../ttztb'/ AELIUS CAMARINA AGATHOCLEIA 136- 138 AD 415-405 BC & STRATO I Aureus Didrachm Circa 130- 125 BC 530.000 530.000 Tctradrachm 57.000 PERSIAN SIGLOS, 450-330 Be. Each $3 0, 10 for $290. or 100 for $2500 ROMAN ANTONINIANI AS THEY COME, 100 for $450 or 1000 for $4000 HARIAN J. BERK, LTD. 31 N. Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602 (312) 609-0017 FAX : (312) 609-1309 #178