Vo/2, NO.8 Numismatic Art of Antiquity AUGUST 1988 $1.25 4th in a series Arab-Sasanian copper presents varied typology by Slephen Album types. with standard Arabic legends but incorporating purely Sasanian The widespread use of Arab­ elements, including headdresses, Sasanian copper coins has only busts, and marginal ornamentation, recently been recognized. Unlike the are featured until at least AH137, virtually uniform silver. the coppers primarily at the Jayy and Shiraz present a great variety of distinctive mints. 11 types. with each mint characterized by its own typology. While the obverse In contrast to the silver dirhams, usually portrays a Sasanian style bust. the coppers are not found in hoards. the reverses are varied, with poru-aits. but only as stray or isolated finds. animals, mythical hybrid beasts. and Moreover, they were essentially a pure inscrip'tions just as frequent as loca1 coinage, and rarely traveled far the standard fire-altar. Many of the from their mint of origin. Hence they types have been catalogued recently by are Quite rare, and usually found in 22. Anonymous AE fals, Kazirun mint (written out in full), undated, Curiel and Gyselen, where reference is worn or corroded condition. The unpublished mint (though several specimens have been recently made to other scattered references in most common types sell for $50-$100 discovered). Note the unusual reverse type: horseman r.. holding 10 in fine condition. which should be unidentified object in left hand. the numismatic literature. The regarded as a decent grade for the Arab-Sasanian copper seems not to series. have commenced until after 660, struck. This is important for certain 12 perhaps as late as the time of 'Ubayd The Arab-Sasanian coins present a of the early Umayyad caliphate. periods, notably the time of the Allah ibn Ziyad,. the earliest governor remarkable historical source, given Unfortunately, present catalogs are cited on the copper coinage. However. that most examples. especia1ly of the second civil war (AH60-73/AD680- not organized in a fashion that it extended beyond the terminal date silver, give the name of a ruler or 692) (fig. 8), and for the Kharijite facilitates the exploitation of the of the silver, with the latest recorded governor, the mint and the date. Thus rebellions in Iran (AH75·77fAD694· numismatic source for its historical they can be used to trace the history 696) (figs. 15 & 16). and is useful for date being AH94, at Darabjirti. The Please turn to page X form of the date changed gradually, of each mint at which they were understanding the provincial structure with some mints retaining Pahlavi until at least AH92, others switching to Arabic as early as AH83. The Queen of Palmyra earliest dated post-reform coppers from the former Sasanian territories bear the year 100 (Hijri), but it is Zenobia struck coinage for propaganda likely that some mintless and dateless by Vincent Kosik influence and direction, the great Ancient Palmyra, located in what coppers with purely religious Perhaps no other personage has minting city of Antioch on the is now eastern Syria, was a vigorous inscriptions might already have been captured the mystique of Cleopatra Orontes struck an immense coinage of trading metropolis benefitting from struck in the late 90's. Moreover, the better than the Palmycian Queen base silver plated antoniniani. It must the caravan trade routes passing reform of AHIOO was never Zenobia. who even claimed ancestry be remembered that a female head of through it between the Roman empire thoroughly implemented. Hybrid from Macedonian kings. Under her state was not a totally foreign idea to and the Far East. Like so many of the people of the Roman world. today's nations. it sought political Imperial women, especially in the ties based on its commercial interests, House of The Severi, played a pre· Maintaining a close association with dominant role in the affairs of Rome as a colony, it contributed to Miscellanea • government. It is true a woinan could the defense of the border by supplying not rule without a male counterpart, the army with skilled archers and • Walker announces new holders because the soldiery would not accept mailed cavalry. her presence as commander-in·chief. In the mid·third century A.D. a Thomas D. Walker, numismatist from San Antonio. TX announced at This, however, could easily be accom­ series of events brought Palmyra to lhe ANA convention in Cincinnati lhat he will soon be offering for sale plished by propping up a junior male the forefront of territorial gain and to collectors a lucite holder specifically designed for ancient coins. member of the household, as done by rule in her own right. First, the Samples which Walker demonstrated at the convention included mounts Julia Maesa with Severus Alexander Sasanians conducted an invasion of for coins of the "Twelve Caesars". "Adoptive Emperors", Severan and Elagabalas. As the reader will Asia Minor with the disastrous Emperors", "Tribute Penny", and "Alexander lhe Great". The holders are see, Zenobia made good use of the coin results of defeating the Roman army made of clear hard lucite covers with a colored sandwich core of white, types she selected to gain political and capturing the Emperor Valerian in blue or black. Coins of various diameters and irregularities are recognition and sway public opinion in accomodated by the use of a unique poly ring which compresses as needed. her favor. Please turn to page XVII Approximate retail prices are $20 to $40 per holder, depending on size and number of mountings. • Superior issues special summer list INSIDE r" .... &.'o~ ,. Superior Galleries has issued a special summer list of coins and THE CELATOR: -' antiquites for sale from inventory. Offerings include an interesting array ;;ml,'0_ of Seleukid. Phoenician. and BibUcal coins as well as a wide range of -X~ ~ ... o antiquities. Send $1.50 for the profusely illustrated catalog to Superior, Point of View II '" to ~ 9478 West Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212-4299 Book News IV 8l'" People VI & -g~ • Roman Coins Values finally out Market VII • 8 1be long awaited revision of Roman Coins and thejr Values is in the Dust IX u process of being distributed to book sellers, and orders should be staning ~ . &. to be fllled shonly. B.A. Seaby, publisher of the hobby's "bible" on Coin File XIV - n Roman coins by David R. Sear, treated collectors and dealers at the ANA Trivia XIV ~:_." convention to a sneak preview of the new edition. The previous edition Calendar XV has for some time been out of print and very difficult to obtain. XXII ~2 Classifieds ~! Prof. Directory XXII til" ~ .J The Celator August 1988 best of its treasures for national Governments come and go, but there museums and public enjoyment, but have been collectors of ancient coins the total ban on export of antiquities since the third century BC. I suspect 7/,e CeloIor's does little to achieve that objective. that there will still be collectors of It does. in fact, encourage an illicit ancient. coins long after the present trade. I think it is time the regimes in those Mediterranean Puinl oj View ... governments of these countries take a countries have perished. more realistic view concerning the Our letterbag this month was Commentary by Wayne G. Sayles exportation of ancient coins and filled with interesting exchanges. If artifacts. The past belongs to you have opinions or useful tips that mankind, not just to the particular you would like to share - Let us hear he story that everyone has the Turkish government's attempts to authority governing a locality. your point of view! been waiting for finally was retrieve those coins known as The T released to the public this Decadrachm Hoard? If they lefl that July as C01lfloisseu.r magazine pub­ country illegally, so have tens of lished an article by Ozen Acar and thousands more. Let's face it. none of Melik Kaylan outlining their tale of the ancient coins we see on the world "intrique" surrounding the origin and market were released to collectors by Letters to the Editor sale of coins from the famed the Turkish government. Decadrachm Hoard of 1984. The Of course it is impossible for Dear Editor: Connoisseur article was also reprinted anyone to prove the origin of 99% of in the July 6 issue of Coill World. the ancient coins bought and sold As a new subscriber I find your suspected) were covered in sections of Although collectors have for many every day, so the danger of losing short "Coin File" very useful. Is it Hall & Metcalf ed., Methods of years witnessed the capricious nature one's prized tettadrachm is not very possible to obtain these items that Chemical and Metallurgical Investi· of governments in the Mediterranean real. In the case of the Decadrachm appeared in past issues? Have they gation of Ancient Coinage, 1972. area, never has one of those govern­ Hoard, we may have that elusive 1% been collected and published in book Most useful to me was three sections ments touched us quite so close to whose origin can be proven. Very bad form? Please inform. by Lawrence H. Cope. home. The idea that one might be luck it seems for the parties Daniel W. Michaels I recommend this book to anyone subject to forfeiting a collec,tible, concerned. Washington, D.C. one who has an interest in the bought in good faith. because another What is particularly bothersome to technical side of ancient coins. nationality considers it a part of their me, is that the notoriety of this case (Believe it or not Daniel, you. are not Douglas Smith the IlI'st person to ask that qu.estion.