Rw Coins.Qxp

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Rw Coins.Qxp Auction Report Single-owner collection of ancient Greek & Roman coins discovered in Lichfield he much anticipated sale of a single- Towner collection of ancient Greek and Roman coins discovered in Lichfield has totalled over £40,000 hammer in a two-day auction held on 13th and 14th February. The collection of 400 lots of classical coins was offered on the first day, fittingly, by established Lichfield auctioneers Richard Winterton Ltd in Silver Denarius, of Silver Denarius, of Mark Silver Antoninianus, of their city centre salerooms. Experts at the Antony and Octavian OBV. Ahenobarbus, oval Flan, OBV. Balbinus rev. Fides Mvtva Head rev. Prow and trophy v.f, auction house had estimated the collection at Marc Antony with incuse ‘V’ Avgg e.f, Sear 8485. Richard around £25,000. However the huge amount of between ear and eye rev. Sear 1456. Richard Winterton, Winterton, Lichfield. Feb 13. Lichfield. Feb 13. HP: £300. pre-sale publicity in the local and international Octavian v.f, Sear 1507. HP: £340. ABP: £411. Richard Winterton, Lichfield. ABP: £363. press whipped up a bidding frenzy which was Feb 13. HP: £380. ABP: £460. to leave many of the pre-sale expectations standing. Some of the world’s leading authorities in this highly specialised field of numismatics made the trip to attend the sale on Wednesday Silver Denarius, of Julius Caesar OBV. Venus (right) rev. 13th February. The live internet bidding facility Trophy and Captives f, Sear also enabled those long distances away and Group of Roman Imperial 1404, slightly off centre, from around the world to participate in real bronze coins from Licinius 1 - together with another Venus Silver Denarius, of Octavian time enabling buyers everywhere to make Aelia Flaccilla, f/v.f and (left) g.v.f, Sear 1405. Richard OBV. Octavian rev. Trophy on successful bids. better. (25) Richard Winterton, Winterton, Lichfield. Feb 13. prow v.f, slightly off centre/off HP: £320. ABP: £387. centre Sear 1556. Richard We have placed the coins in this sale in high Lichfield. Feb 13. HP: £380. to low price order so that the leading lots can be ABP: £460. Winterton, Lichfield. Feb 13. HP: £300. ABP: £363. viewed in the early columns. Individual The prices quoted are actual highlights include a Roman Republic Apulia Hammer Prices (HP) followed by the Approximate Luceria Bronze Quincunx at £340 and a silver Buyer’s Price (ABP) which Antoninianus, also £340. A group of Roman includes an average buyer’s Imperial bronze coins from Licinius 1 - Aelia premium of 21%. Flaccilla brought £380 and a pre-Roman 450- 350 BC Lucania silver stater realised £360. Day two witnessed a packed saleroom with Pre Roman Italian, 400-350 the internet and phones lines buzzing. This BC, Lucania Region, City of Roma Republic silver Thourioi silver stater, Athena Denarius 141 BC, L. Atilius included Part II of a collection of scent bottles facing right, wearing Nomentanus, helmeted Head which we reported on pp 50 & 51. Lot 422, a ornamented crested Athenian of Roma XVI behind, rev. boxed gentleman’s 18kt Blancpain wristwatch Helmet/Bull butting right, Victory in Biga, L Atri (AT in sold mid estimate for £1,800. In the works of Tunny-Fish right in exergue, monogram) below Horses, minute letters along exergual Nom in exergue, Sear 101 art, Lot 536, an oval portrait miniature of a bar, GCV 443 v.f. Richard Silver Denarius, of v.f/n.v.f, rare. Richard military gentleman by Giuseppe Sacco (1805- Winterton, Lichfield. Feb 13. Diadumenian rev. Princ Winterton, Lichfield. Feb 13. 1889) sold to an Italian buyer on the phone for HP: £360. ABP: £436. Ivventvtis, Diadumenian HP: £300. ABP: £363. £1,700. Lot 669, two Beswick Beatrix Potter holding standard e.f, large ‘Duchess’ figures brought £1,000. Editor’s Flan, Sear 7449. Richard Winterton, Lichfield. Feb 13. Note: included the rarer ‘Duchess with HP: £320. ABP: £387. Flowers’ and also ‘Duchess with Pie’. Respectively they currently fetch about a £1,000 hammer and £100 hammer at auction. Highlights in the furniture section included Lot 723, a George III Irish mahogany peat Group of AE FOLLIS, bucket, discovered amongst the contents of a Roman Rupublic, Apulia, including those of Diocletian, Luceria bronze Quincunx 217- Silver Denarius, of Julius Maximian, 3 x Constantius I, Stafford estate at £1,600 and Lot 741, a 1980s 212 BC, OBV. Cross rev. Caesar OBV. Elephant rev. Galerius, Galeria Valeria, ’Nomos’ dining table designed by leading Cross with five pellets and L. Pontifex Emblems g.v.f/v.f, and Severus II, 2 x Maximinus II, architect Sir Norman Foster at £1,500. Rare, sold with old descriptive another, different dies, g.f, Maxentius, Licinius I, v.f and The next specialist Fine and Decorative Arts ticket, v.f. Richard Winterton, better. (12) Richard Winterton, Sear 1399. (2) Richard Sale which will include a watch section is on Lichfield. Feb 13. HP: £340. Winterton, Lichfield. Feb 13. Lichfield. Feb 13. HP: £280. ABP: £411. HP: £300. ABP: £363. ABP: £339. 9th May. ANTIQUES INFO - May/June 13 Auction Report Roman Republic AES GRAVE, Sextans 225-217 BC, OBV. head of Mercury Roman Republic Early Group of five Roman facing left, two pellets below, Group of seven Roman Silver Denarius, of Augustus rev. Prow of Galley facing Republic Denarii, with M. Denarius 169-157 BC, OBV. Republic Denarii, all rev. Bull g.v.f, Sear 1610. head of Roma rev. Luna in Brockages with Anon 211- right, two pellets below, v.f, Vargunteis Sear 133, Q. Richard Winterton, Lichfield. chip at top, Sear 587, Minucius Rufus Sear 152, L. Biga f, slightly dished Sear 135 BC, M. Cipius M.F. Sear Feb 13. HP: £200. 75, together with two others 166, Mn Aemilius Lepidus together with an Italian Titurius L.F. Sabinus Sear ABP: £242. Volsinii (?) Sextans 3rd 249, L. F. Sabinus Sear 249, both 157-155 BC, rev. Sear 168, L. Marcius Philippus Victory in Biga e.f, and f, Sear 170, C. Sulpicius C.F. Century almond-shaped flan L. Furius Cn F Brocchus OBV. Club rev. Two pellets, Sear 365, these contem- Sear 76, and cn. Lucretius Sear 189, with a Double trio 136 BC, v.f, Sear 114. (4) Struck Denarius of L. Titurius chipped at base otherwise v.f. porary forgeries, M. Volteuis (2) Richard Winterton, Sear 314, L. Scribonius Libo Richard Winterton, Lichfield. L.F. Sabinus Sear 250, and a Feb 13. HP: £110. ABP: £133. Roman Imperial Denarius of Lichfield. Feb 13. HP: £150. Sear 367, Q. Servilius Brutus Mark Antony countermark ABP: £182. Sear 397, these plated. (7) Vespasian Sear 1479, varied Richard Winterton, Lichfield. Images are in descending state. (7) Richard Winterton, Feb 13. HP: £130. ABP: £157. hammer price order. The Lichfield. Feb 13. HP: £280. price range is indicated at ABP: £339. the start of each section. Ancient Greek silver Tetrdachm of Alexander III the Great, 336-323 BC, Head of young Hercules facing right, wearing Lion's skin Silver Denarius, of Clodius head-dress/Zeus seated left, Silver Denarius, of Orbiana Albinus rev. Romae Aeternae holding Eagle and Sceptre rev. Concordia Avg G g.v.f/f, v.f/f, Sear 6146, together with GCV 6721 variant g.v.f. Sear 8191. Richard another silver Denarius of Richard Winterton, Lichfield. Winterton, Lichfield. Feb 13. Septimius Severus rev. Silver Denarius, of Gnaeus Feb 13. HP: £242. ABP: £236. HP: £150. ABP: £182. Victoriae Brit-Victory e.f/v.f, Pompey Junior OBV. Roma Sear 6385. (2) Richard rev. Hispania and soldier Winterton, Lichfield. Feb 13. Brass Dupondius of Caligula g.v.f, Sear 1384. Richard HP: £130. ABP: £157. (GERMANICUS), rev. Signis Winterton, Lichfield. Feb 13. Recept Devictis Germ SC, HP: £220. ABP: £266. g.f, Sear 1820. Richard Winterton, Lichfield. Feb 13. HP: £100. ABP: £121. Roman Republic Silver Roman Republic silver Denarius 41 BC, L. Servius Denarius 54 BC, Q. Servilius Refus, L Servivs Rvfvs, Caepio Brutus, Head of L. bearded male Head, rev. The Junius Brutus, Brvtus behind, Dioscuri, facing side by side, Roman Republic Denarius, rev. Head of C. Servilius each holding a spear, Sear C. Vibius C.F. Pansa 90 BC, Silver Denarius, of Cato Utcensis OBV. Female Silver Cistophorus, of Mark Ahala, Ahala behind, Sear 503 f/n.f, oval Flan. Richard g.f, Sear 242, together with (Roma or Libertas), rev. Antony and Octavia OBV. M. 398 g.v.f, weak strike on face Winterton, Lichfield. Feb 13. L. Julias Bursio 85 BC, v.f, Victory v.f, Sear 1381 and a Antony rev. Octavia g.f, Sear of Ahala, oval Flan. Richard HP: £150. ABP: £182. Sear 268, C. Annius 82-81 silver Quinarius OBV. 1512. Richard Winterton, Winterton, Lichfield. Feb 13. BC, v.f, Sear 289, and C. Bacchus rev. Victory v.f Sear Lichfield. Feb 13. HP: £220. HP: £200. ABP: £242. Egnatius Cn.f, Maxsumus 1383. (2) Richard Winterton, ABP: £266. (Maximus) 75 BC, g.f and scarce, Sear 325. (4) Richard Lichfield. Feb 13. HP: £90. Winterton, Lichfield. Feb 13. ABP: £109. HP: £120. ABP: £145. Coin Values For those interested in Roman Republic Silver checking coin values Denarius, 42 BC, C. Vibius there is an extensive Varus, Head of young Bacchus, selection of results going rev. Panther springing back twelve years on Pre Roman Italian 380-345 towards altar C Vibius in Pre Roman Italian 480-388 our Premier Online BC, Calabria Region, City of exergue, Varvs on right, Sear BC, Bruttium Region, City of Database at: Taras silver Didrachm, naked 496 g.v.f/n.v.f, struck off Kaulonia, silver stater, Kava www.antiques-info.co,uk Horseman, helmeted, centre, with another, Bust of (Retrogade) Apollo/Stag Silver Denarius, of Galba prancing right holding spear Minerva wearing Corinthian GCV 462 v v.f/g.f.
Recommended publications
  • TIMELINE of ROMAN IMPERIAL COINAGE
    27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 B.C. AUGUSTUS 16 Jan 27 BC AUGUSTUS CAESAR Other title: e.g. Filius Augustorum Aureus 7.8g KEY TO METALLIC COMPOSITION Quinarius Aureus GOLD Gold Aureus 25 silver Denarii Gold Quinarius 12.5 silver Denarii SILVER Silver Denarius 16 copper Asses Silver Quinarius 8 copper Asses DE-BASED SILVER from c. 260 Brass Sestertius 4 copper Asses Brass Dupondius 2 copper Asses ORICHALCUM (BRASS) Copper As 4 copper Quadrantes Brass Semis 2 copper Quadrantes COPPER Copper Quadrans Denarius 3.79g 96-98% fine Quinarius Argenteus 1.73g 92% fine Sestertius 25.5g Dupondius 12.5g As 10.5g Semis Quadrans TIMELINE of ROMAN IMPERIAL COINAGE B.C. 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 A.D.A.D. denominational relationships relationships based on Aureus Aureus 7.8g 1 Quinarius Aureus 3.89g 2 Denarius 3.79g 25 50 Sestertius 25.4g 100 Dupondius 12.4g 200 As 10.5g 400 Semis 4.59g 800 Quadrans 3.61g 1600 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 91011 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 19 Aug TIBERIUS TIBERIUS Aureus 7.75g Aureus Quinarius Aureus 3.87g Quinarius Aureus Denarius 3.76g 96-98% fine Denarius Sestertius 27g Sestertius Dupondius 14.5g Dupondius As 10.9g As Semis Quadrans 3.61g Quadrans 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 TIBERIUS CALIGULA CLAUDIUS Aureus 7.75g 7.63g Quinarius Aureus 3.87g 3.85g Denarius 3.76g 96-98% fine 3.75g 98% fine Sestertius 27g 28.7g
    [Show full text]
  • Agorapicbk-15.Pdf
    Excavations of the Athenian Agora Picture Book No. 1s Prepared by Fred S. Kleiner Photographs by Eugene Vanderpool, Jr. Produced by The Meriden Gravure Company, Meriden, Connecticut Cover design: Coins of Gela, L. Farsuleius Mensor, and Probus Title page: Athena on a coin of Roman Athens Greek and Roman Coins in the Athenian Agora AMERICAN SCHOOL OF CLASSICAL STUDIES AT ATHENS PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 1975 1. The Agora in the 5th century B.C. HAMMER - PUNCH ~ u= REVERSE DIE FLAN - - OBVERSE - DIE ANVIL - 2. Ancient method of minting coins. Designs were cut into two dies and hammered into a flan to produce a coin. THEATHENIAN AGORA has been more or less continuously inhabited from prehistoric times until the present day. During the American excava- tions over 75,000 coins have been found, dating from the 6th century B.c., when coins were first used in Attica, to the 20th century after Christ. These coins provide a record of the kind of money used in the Athenian market place throughout the ages. Much of this money is Athenian, but the far-flung commercial and political contacts of Athens brought all kinds of foreign currency into the area. Other Greek cities as well as the Romans, Byzantines, Franks, Venetians, and Turks have left their coins behind for the modern excavators to discover. Most of the coins found in the excavations were lost and never recovered-stamped into the earth floor of the Agora, or dropped in wells, drains, or cisterns. Consequently, almost all the Agora coins are small change bronze or copper pieces.
    [Show full text]
  • The Roman Empire – Roman Coins Lesson 1
    Year 4: The Roman Empire – Roman Coins Lesson 1 Duration 2 hours. Date: Planned by Katrina Gray for Two Temple Place, 2014 Main teaching Activities - Differentiation Plenary LO: To investigate who the Romans were and why they came Activities: Mixed Ability Groups. AFL: Who were the Romans? to Britain Cross curricular links: Geography, Numeracy, History Activity 1: AFL: Why did the Romans want to come to Britain? CT to introduce the topic of the Romans and elicit children’s prior Sort timeline flashcards into chronological order CT to refer back to the idea that one of the main reasons for knowledge: invasion was connected to wealth and money. Explain that Q Who were the Romans? After completion, discuss the events as a whole class to ensure over the next few lessons we shall be focusing on Roman Q What do you know about them already? that the children understand the vocabulary and events described money / coins. Q Where do they originate from? * Option to use CT to show children a map, children to locate Rome and Britain. http://www.schoolsliaison.org.uk/kids/preload.htm or RESOURCES Explain that the Romans invaded Britain. http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/homework/romans.html Q What does the word ‘invade’ mean? for further information about the key dates and events involved in Websites: the Roman invasion. http://www.schoolsliaison.org.uk/kids/preload.htm To understand why they invaded Britain we must examine what http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/topic/past/roman-empire.html was happening in Britain before the invasion.
    [Show full text]
  • Presidential Address 2014 Coin Hoards and Hoarding in Britain
    PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS 2014 COIN HOARDS AND HOARDING IN BRITAIN (3): RADIATE HOARDS ROGER BLAND Introduction IN my first presidential address I gave an overview of hoarding in Britain from the Bronze Age through to recent times,1 while last year I spoke about hoards from the end of Roman Britain.2 This arises from a research project (‘Crisis or continuity? Hoards and hoarding in Iron Age and Roman Britain’) funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and based at the British Museum and the University of Leicester. The project now includes the whole of the Iron Age and Roman periods from around 120 BC to the early fifth century. For the Iron Age we have relied on de Jersey’s corpus of 340 Iron Age coin hoards and we are grateful to him for giving us access to his data in advance of publica- tion.3 For the Roman period, our starting point has been Anne Robertson’s Inventory of Romano-British Coin Hoards (RBCH),4 which includes details of 2,007 hoards, including dis- coveries made down to about 1990. To that Eleanor Ghey has added new discoveries and also trawled other data sources such as Guest and Wells’s corpus of Roman coin finds from Wales,5 David Shotter’s catalogues of Roman coin finds from the North West,6 Penhallurick’s corpus of Cornish coin finds,7 Historic Environment Records and the National Monuments Record. She has added a further 1,045 Roman hoards, taking the total to 3,052, but this is not the final total.
    [Show full text]
  • Costs of Living in Roman Palestine Iii by Daniel
    COSTS OF LIVING IN ROMAN PALESTINE III BY DANIEL SPERBER THIRD CENTURY PRICE-LEVELS Continued *) Glancing back over our price-lists, it will be seen that while I and II cent. prices are relatively simple to analyse and compare with one another, (thanks to the general economic stability of the period), the material for the III and IV cent. presents a considerably different pic- ture. For this was a phase of monetary deterioration and economic flux. Thus, even a dated III cent. price given in denarii is of little use until we determine how much silver was in a denarius of that date. And even then one cannot easily compare the resultant price (now in terms of pure silver) with those of a former century. For the value of the denarius does not seem to have declined in an exact ratio to its diminu- tion in silver content. Rather it would appear, in an attempt to stem its rapid fall in value, silver was somewhat overvalued in relationship to gold; in other words, there appears to have been a shifting silver-gold ratio throughout the period.') Only when all these factors have been taken in account, can one attempt to compare III and IV cent. prices to those of the preceding centuries. Elsewhere 2) I have examined the problems of III and early IV cent. currency developments and metrological terminology in considerable detail. Here I shall do no more than give a brief summary of some of my findings. *) See vol. IX, pp. I82-2II 1) For the problems of gold and silver "standards" during this time, and the con- temporary Rabbinic appreciation of these economic concepts, see my forthcoming article in Numismatic Chronicle 196 8, entitled "Rabbinic attitudes to Roman currency".
    [Show full text]
  • Ancient Roman Measures Page 1 of 6
    Ancient Roman Measures Page 1 of 6 Ancient Rome Table of Measures of Length/Distance Name of Unit (Greek) Digitus Meters 01-Digitus (Daktylos) 1 0.0185 02-Uncia - Polex 1.33 0.0246 03-Duorum Digitorum (Condylos) 2 0.037 04-Palmus (Pala(i)ste) 4 0.074 05-Pes Dimidius (Dihas) 8 0.148 06-Palma Porrecta (Orthodoron) 11 0.2035 07-Palmus Major (Spithame) 12 0.222 08-Pes (Pous) 16 0.296 09-Pugnus (Pygme) 18 0.333 10-Palmipes (Pygon) 20 0.370 11-Cubitus - Ulna (pechus) 24 0.444 12-Gradus – Pes Sestertius (bema aploun) 40 0.74 13-Passus (bema diploun) 80 1.48 14-Ulna Extenda (Orguia) 96 1.776 15-Acnua -Dekempeda - Pertica (Akaina) 160 2.96 16-Actus 1920 35.52 17-Actus Stadium 10000 185 18-Stadium (Stadion Attic) 10000 185 19-Milliarium - Mille passuum 80000 1480 20-Leuka - Leuga 120000 2220 http://www.anistor.gr/history/diophant.html Ancient Roman Measures Page 2 of 6 Table of Measures of Area Name of Unit Pes Quadratus Meters2 01-Pes Quadratus 1 0.0876 02-Dimidium scrupulum 50 4.38 03-Scripulum - scrupulum 100 8.76 04-Actus minimus 480 42.048 05-Uncia 2400 210.24 06-Clima 3600 315.36 07-Sextans 4800 420.48 08-Actus quadratus 14400 1261.44 09-Arvum - Arura 22500 1971 10-Jugerum 28800 2522.88 11-Heredium 57600 5045.76 12-Centuria 5760000 504576 13-Saltus 23040000 2018304 http://www.anistor.gr/history/diophant.html Ancient Roman Measures Page 3 of 6 Table of Measures of Liquids Name of Unit Ligula Liters 01-Ligula 1 0.0114 02-Uncia (metric) 2 0.0228 03-Cyathus 4 0.0456 04-Acetabulum 6 0.0684 05-Sextans 8 0.0912 06-Quartarius – Quadrans 12 0.1368
    [Show full text]
  • A Handbook of Greek and Roman Coins
    CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE Cornell University Library CJ 237.H64 A handbook of Greek and Roman coins. 3 1924 021 438 399 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924021438399 f^antilioofcs of glrcfjaeologj) anU Antiquities A HANDBOOK OF GREEK AND ROMAN COINS A HANDBOOK OF GREEK AND ROMAN COINS G. F. HILL, M.A. OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COINS AND MEDALS IN' THE bRITISH MUSEUM WITH FIFTEEN COLLOTYPE PLATES Hon&on MACMILLAN AND CO., Limited NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY l8 99 \_All rights reserved'] ©jcforb HORACE HART, PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY PREFACE The attempt has often been made to condense into a small volume all that is necessary for a beginner in numismatics or a young collector of coins. But success has been less frequent, because the knowledge of coins is essentially a knowledge of details, and small treatises are apt to be un- readable when they contain too many references to particular coins, and unprofltably vague when such references are avoided. I cannot hope that I have passed safely between these two dangers ; indeed, my desire has been to avoid the second at all risk of encountering the former. At the same time it may be said that this book is not meant for the collector who desires only to identify the coins which he happens to possess, while caring little for the wider problems of history, art, mythology, and religion, to which coins sometimes furnish the only key.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction
    Southern Ontario Model United Nations Assembly XLIV Crisis: Second Punic War Introduction: Delegates, Welcome to the Southern Ontario Model United Nations Assembly’s Second Punic War Historical Crisis. The Second Punic War, also known as the Hannibalic War, was a conflict that occurred from 218 – 201 BCE in the Western Mediterranean. The war was fought between Carthage, a dominant commercial empire, and the emerging power of Rome. This conflict marked the second time that the two powers had fought, and with Rome having been victorious in the first Punic War thirty years prior, Carthage was eager for revenge. It also featured the rise to the annals of history a variety of great men, such as legendary Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca and Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus. The rise of Rome in the Western Mediterranean would lead to an epic showdown that would change the course of history. In this particular committee, the SOMA Crisis Staff and Heads will create a simulation of these historical events, hopefully making them as enjoyable and interesting as possible, while maintaining historical fidelity. This background guide will give you a basic Page |1 Southern Ontario Model United Nations Assembly XLIV Crisis: Second Punic War knowledge of both the situation and how you, as a delegate, can influence the Crisis, but further research, as well as inquiry into the process of Crisis is welcome and encouraged. With all this in mind, we are excited to welcome you to SOMA XLIV Crisis Committee and we hope you enjoy your time with us. Margaret Fei Clarke VandenHoven Alec Sampaleanu Helen Kwong Director of Crisis Head of Crisis Jr.
    [Show full text]
  • Are Pyrrhic) Finding a Plausible Context for RRC 9/1
    PRE-PUBLICATION CIRCULATION (3/14/20), please email [email protected] with comments and corrections, including, but not limited to any observed typos or recommended copy edits. #NotAllElephants (are Pyrrhic) Finding a Plausible Context for RRC 9/1 Liv Mariah Yarrow This paper revisits the history and historiography of a specific type of Roman bronze currency bar weighting approximately five Roman pounds. The curious design—an Indian elephant wearing a bell on one side and a female pig on the other—has inspired current interpretations, especially an assumption that it must have been created in the aftermath of the Pyrrhic War. This presumed dating for this bar has complicated how we understand the development of Roman coinage in the third century—a contentious topic with the debate often divided between those who wish to make the evidence fit the literary sources and those who restrict their dating to the physical evidence.1 There is no smoking gun (or, no new DNA evidence, to update a tired metaphor). The evidence offered here is all circumstantial. Nevertheless, when taken as a totality it demonstrates that there is no definite reason that the elephant and pig bar need be assigned to the 270s BCE and that the balance of evidence suggests such a date is far less plausible than one in the first Punic War. The evidence is presented in five sections: (1) the discovery of specimens and their interpretations to date; (2) a historiographical analysis of ancient literary testimony that has been central to these earlier interpretations; (3) comparative iconography that suggests the bar may evoke events of the First Punic War, especially the triumph of L.
    [Show full text]
  • GREEK and ROMAN COINS GREEK COINS Technique Ancient Greek
    GREEK AND ROMAN COINS GREEK COINS Technique Ancient Greek coins were struck from blank pieces of metal first prepared by heating and casting in molds of suitable size. At the same time, the weight was adjusted. Next, the blanks were stamped with devices which had been prepared on the dies. The lower die, for the obverse, was fixed in the anvil; the reverse was attached to a punch. The metal blank, heated to soften it, was placed on the anvil and struck with the punch, thus producing a design on both sides of the blank. Weights and Values The values of Greek coins were strictly related to the weights of the coins, since the coins were struck in intrinsically valuable metals. All Greek coins were issued according to the particular weight system adopted by the issuing city-state. Each system was based on the weight of the principal coin; the weights of all other coins of that system were multiples or sub-divisions of this major denomination. There were a number of weight standards in use in the Greek world, but the basic unit of weight was the drachm (handful) which was divided into six obols (spits). The drachm, however, varied in weight. At Aigina it weighed over six grammes, at Corinth less than three. In the 6th century B.C. many cities used the standard of the island of Aegina. In the 5th century, however, the Attic standard, based on the Athenian tetradrachm of 17 grammes, prevailed in many areas of Greece, and this was the system adopted in the 4th century by Alexander the Great.
    [Show full text]
  • Debasement and the Decline of Rome Kevin Butcher1
    Debasement and the decline of Rome KEVIN BUTCHER1 On April 23, 1919, the London Daily Chronicle carried an article that claimed to contain notes of an interview with Lenin, conveyed by an anonymous visitor to Moscow.2 This explained how ‘the high priest of Bolshevism’ had a plan ‘for the annihilation of the power of money in this world.’ The plan was presented in a collection of quotations allegedly from Lenin’s own mouth: “Hundreds of thousands of rouble notes are being issued daily by our treasury. This is done, not in order to fill the coffers of the State with practically worthless paper, but with the deliberate intention of destroying the value of money as a means of payment … The simplest way to exterminate the very spirit of capitalism is therefore to flood the country with notes of a high face-value without financial guarantees of any sort. Already the hundred-rouble note is almost valueless in Russia. Soon even the simplest peasant will realise that it is only a scrap of paper … and the great illusion of the value and power of money, on which the capitalist state is based, will have been destroyed. This is the real reason why our presses are printing rouble bills day and night, without rest.” Whether Lenin really uttered these words is uncertain.3 What seems certain, however, is that the real reason the Russian presses were printing money was not to destroy the very concept of money. It was to finance their war against their political opponents. The reality was that the Bolsheviks had carelessly created the conditions for hyperinflation.
    [Show full text]
  • Roman Coins and Their Values, David R. Sear, the Millenium
    Roman Coins and their Values , David R. Sear, The Millenium Edition Volume I, The Republic and The Twelve Caesars. 280 BC-AD 96 Glossary ........................................................................ ............ Page 8 Roman Imperial Coinage, 27 BC-AD 491 The Twelve Caesars Legend Abbreviations ................................................... ................... 15 1. The Julio-Claudian Dynasty .........................27 BC-AD 68 . Page 311 Denominations of Roman Coinage .............................. ................... 17 Augustus ...........................................................27 BC-AD 14 ......... 312 Reverse Types ............................................................... ................... 26 & Agrippa ......................................................................... ......... 336 Mints, Mint Map, and Mint Marks................................ ................... 65 & Julia ............................................................................... ......... 338 Dating Roman Coins: Tribunicia Potestas, Imperator .. ................... 72 & Julia, Gaius & Lucius Caesars ........................................ ......... 339 Pontifex Maximus, Pater Patrae, Armeniacus, Britannicus, etc. ....... 73 & Gaius Caesar ................................................................. ......... 339 & Tiberius ......................................................................... ......... 339 Abbreviations: Cuir., diad., dr., ex., gm., hd., l., laur., mm., etc ........ 74 Livia .................................................................................
    [Show full text]