Vo/2, No. 6 Numismatic Art of Antiquity JUNE 1988 $ 1.

25

Symbols on coins
Celestial displays inspired ancient coin designs
by Robert M. Cutler
In ancient and medieval times. celestial displays often were assumed to
have earthly significance . and these connections were reflected on the
coinage. Unfortunately for historians and numismatists, we are not always
able to distinguish a device referring to an astronomical event from one
which characterizes the coin's denomination, indicates the mint, punctuates
the legend or ornaments the design. This essay deals with symbols of
celestial events whose interpretations, from the present coign of vantage.
may be related to the rise and fall of the most important empire in the
history of western civilization: the Roman-Byzantine Empire. We will also
note some curious coincidences between the dates of historical occurrences
and the dates of celestial events - which were probably thought to be
portentious by the Romans and Byzantines.

An Empire is Born. the comet as a bulbous. flowing star

The beginning of the Roman
Empire can be traced back to the first
of the caesan, the eponym of leaders
for two millenia up to the czars and
kaisers of recent times. Julius Caesar
became Rome's uncontested dictator
when he defeated Pompey the Great in
May of 48 BC. Less than four years
later, shortly after the great Caesar
had been assassinated. a comet
appeared in the heavens. According to
Plutarch. the comet was visible for
seven nights after Julius' death, after
which the sun was dimmed unnatur-
ally for an entire year. (This latter
phenomenon was observed again upon
the comet's next return in AD 531,
during the long and glorious reign of
Justinian I (AD 527-65).
A design used on the denarii struck
for Julius' great-nephew and adopted
successor. the first Roman emperor
Augustus (27 BC - AD 14), depicted
with eight long rays (SR 384). The Augustus
legend Divus Julius shows that the AR-Denarius
comet was thought to be symbolic of
the divinity of the late Caesar.
Ostensibly, the pious Augustus
believed that 'the comet carried the
deified Julius to his eternal home on
Mount Olympus. However, Gibbon
notes that Augustus' ~secret
Alexandrian coins used
superstition referred the comet to the
glory of his own times.~
distinctive dating system
by Keith Emmett A.D .• four months before the Roman
A New Religion leap year. For illustrative purposes,
and a New Capitol All Alexandrian coins with very
few exceptions bear the regnal year of August 29 will be used to describe
Of comparable importance to the
the ruling emperor. The regnal year is the Alexandrian year.
Roman Empire's birth was its
based on the Alexandrian year which The regnal dating system did not
subsequent Christianization and the
became the official year during the record the total number of years of
establishment of its new capitol. reign of Augustus. rule in Egypt but showed the total
These events followed Constantine The original Egyptian Vague or whole or partial years the emperor
the Great's (AD 307-337) reported was recognized in Egypt. The year the
Civil year of 365 days consisted of 12
vision in the sky of Christian months of 30 days and added 5 days emperor became Imperator was
symbols. According to Firmianus which were called "epagomenal" days marked as the first regnal year no
Please turn to page IX to the end of the year. The revised matter how short it was. Therefore if
. Alexandrian year added one extra day an emperor came to power on August
to the 'epagomenal' days every fourth 1 he would have his first regnal year
year giving a year of 365 1/4 days. from August 1 to August 28 and his

Miscellanea • • • •
The exact date when the Egyptian
Vague or Civil year became the
Aiexandrian year is still under debate
year 2 would begin on August 29 and
go to the next August 28. Partial
yean of reign would occur only in the
• GobI retirement announced but the evidence indicates that it must lst and last yean.
have occurred about 5 A.D. when In order to determine the absolute
It was reported by Hans M. F. Schulman in a recent issue of Coin.
AugustuS rectified the calendar of A.D. dating of the coins one would
World that Dr. Robert GObi has retired after 22 years as head of the
University of Vienna's Institute FUr Numismatik. Schulman stated that Julius Caesar at Rome. have to know when the emperor came
the Austrian Minister of Science and Research, Dr. H. Tuppy, has The Alexandrian year began on the to power - whether it was before or
detennined that the studies for numismatic science would be discontinued 1st of Thoth which was identical to after August 29. Knowing from
due to economic considerations. Dr. Gijbl, who accepted the seat in 1965 August 29 or 30. The normal starting Roman sources the A.D. dating when
after it had been vacant for 102 yean, expanded the program from ancient point was August 29. but in a year the emperor came to power one can
numismatics to include world numismatics. The Vienna Institute boasts following a leap year it started one work forward and determine the
one of the oldest and largest collections of ancient coins in the world day later on August 30. The first absolute A.D. dating for all regnal
leap year occurred on August 29. 6 Please turn to page XVII
• Metcalf speaks at Mt. Saint Mary
William E. Metcalf, Chief Curator at the American Numismatic
Society, and a member of the Institute for Advanced Study. Princeton, INSIDE
..,
[ r" ....
recently gave a slide presentation on Roman coinage to students of ancient
history at Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh. THE CELATOR: ~9~
Dr. Metcalf is a frequent lecturer on college campuses. In 1988-89 he
).
~ :em&,
0 _
will be in residence at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, where ~. -~~

he will work on his forthcoming book, a comprehensive treatment of . fI-"o

Roman coinage frOm Augustus to Diocletian. Point of View II ~ ~tl"
Dust IV [;l
Book News V s
• Empire Coins changes address People VI ~
~.,

~~
Dennis Kroh, President of Empire Coins, Inc., has announced that ~ ~o

effective June I, 1988. the address of Empire Coins will be: Empire Market VII "o.
Coins, Inc., Cinnamon Tree Building, 801 W. Granada Blvd., Suite 305.
Ormond Beach, Florida 32074. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday
Cooin File
Trivia
XI
XI l..,
~
_.
a•
[:
0

through Friday. Calendar XIII ~]

Kroh explained that the office of Empire Coins, Inc. has not actually
moved. TIle new address just replaces their old post office box number.
Classlfleds XVIII ,
ir ~i
Prof. Directory XVIII ~
• i!i0
" ~
••
II
Commentary by Wayne G. Sayles
ne of the" exciting aspects of
O collecting is the feeling of
elation one may derive from
the discovery of something hidden or
• • •
surely I wouldn't see the same faces
ready to challenge my desire to own
the treasures forthcoming.
I thought about the time I found a
wiU admit to having been the one to
dri ...e that lot to such lofty heights.
On the ride home I had a chance to
reflect on the day's experience. It was
a beautiful day, one of those days
when you're glad you live in
Wisconsin. They usuaUy come right
at the end of winter. I didn't find my
Otho sestertius or another one of
Tranquillina. But I did, for a time,
enjoy the thrill of the search and the
anticipation that goes with it. I
The' C81alor
certainly ha ...e ample opportunity to
look at ancient coins and e ...en the
opportunity to find bargains, but I
seldom take the time anymore to just
go out for a drive in the country. I
hope Richland Center has another coin
auction next spring. and that someone
has a couple ancient treasures to entice
me away from the otTtCe for a day!
Ha...e a nice summer and thanks for
letting us hear your point of view.

unique. In a sense, we all are looking

for something undiscovered or elusive.
It is sometimes humorous to note just
how far we will go in this quest.
One day earlier this month. white
wandering down Main Slreet in Lo(li,
I was stopped by Jim Peterson. Jim
and his father run the local meat
processing plant - a standard feature
of most small towns in Wisconsin.
One of the conditions of small town
living. which has its pros and cons, is
familiarity. Now Jim. and most
everyone else in town, blows that I
am a lover of ancient Greek and
Roman coins. So. when Jim noticed
an ad in the local ~S hopper" announ-
cing a Coin Auction. he took note.
Memorial Cents," "Wartime Coinage Set" 19~2·1948,
" The Silver Slory," "The $2 Bill,"; rolls of various coins.
some misdye co ins: very old Roman coins.
TERMS: Cash or guaranteed good check with identifica·
Ilon.
AUCTIONEERS: Danny Sheafor, Richla nd CerTler.
When he disco ...ered that the auction
was to include Roman coins, he did
the neighborly thing by bringing it
promptly to my attention.
Sure enough, upon inspection. the
ad did mention some ....try old Roman
coins w 10 be included in the Richland
Center sale.
Now Richland Center is not known
as a hotbed of antiquarian activity. It
is a rural farming community about
60 miles northwest of Madison in a
rather unpopulated portion of the
state. But, not too long ago a
Raphael painting was reportedly dis-
co...ered in Medford. Wisconsin; and
Medford makes Richland Center look
like Gotham City. Willing to risk
the hour-long dri ... e (each way), just
on the off chance they might have an
Otho sestertius hidden in the lots, I
trucked off (literally) filled with
anticipation in my little Toyota
pickup.
I thought of Bob Levy and his
experiences at the NF A auction -
sestertius of Tranquillina for $1.50 in
a junk box along the Seine at Paris,
and the little hoard of Macrianus and
Quietus that came my way for $2
each. Then I thought some more
about the Medford Raphael. The
drive didn't take long.
The auction was held at the
community center in Richland Center,
and my heart was pounding as I
entered the room. There were only a
dozen or so bidders in attendance, and
all but one were wearing bib overalls
or the like. Now, I am not one to
stereotype, but this was defmitely not
Beverly Hills.
J introduced myse lf to the
auctioneer, and asked to view the lots
of Roman coins. After some lengthy
confusion, he produced a small
~baggy· with a rubber band sealing it
shul Inside were fi ...e Roman bronzes
marked simply "B.C.·
One was a centenionalis of
Constantius D, one a barbarous radiate
of Tetricus I, and three were s mall
AE-3J4 pieces from the fourth
century. My anticipation vanished
rather abruptly.
I did octe, however, that the local
Lion's club was sponsoring lunch for
the auction, and the ladies had put out
a spread of home-baked pies that
would rinl the entries at our State
Fair. A cup of coffee and piece of
fresh rhubarb pie (the first of the
season) did much to relieve the
hollow feeling that lot viewing had
created.
Out of curiosity, J stayed for the
calling of that single lot of ancients;
it was only #46. The lot went for
$12 - and as some are prone to extol
the virtues of being underbidder - I
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor:
Here are a few more titles which
might help to answer Doug Smith's
questions (eelalOr Letters May 88):
• Ladd. The Illustraud Grading
Guid~ to Anci~nl Numismatics
(About a third on the minting
process).
• Campbell. Gruk and Roman
Plat~d Coins (Out of Print ANS
NNM).
• Eddy, The Min/ing 0/ An/onini-
anii A .D. 238-249 and the Smyrna
Hoard (ANS NNM #156).
• Hill, Anci ~ nt M ~ thods 0/
Coining, One of the Numismatic
Chronicle reprint set
His questions were all good and so
was your answer, i.e. that there is no
single book that tells you everything
you want to know about ancient coins.
Perhaps you should consider a
question and answer column. The
answers could be obtained from
dealers, museum staff, or others who
are experts in the various fields.
Thomas P. McKenna
Fl. Collins, CO
(W~ #Im;e from IUM to IUM pllblislled
a/~41IU~ calWJ "Ask 1M E.xpert$~. II is a
pop/Jar /orfMll'JIId w~'lliry 10 do mor~
it ,)
• ••••
I would like to suggest a IOpic for
a possible future article - inscriptions
and abbre ... iations 00 Roman coins.
The Romans loved to abbreviate their
written language on monuments,
documents and of course on their
coins. Often the lettering they chose
appeared to be indeed syncopated,
consisting of one letter. This can be
quite bewildering for the a ...erage
collector. A fuller understanding of
the inscription offers one a greater
appreciation of the coin, as well as the
history to which it alludes. I think
this might make an interesting
Tlu Ctlator is the right
publication at the right time. As
collectors become more and more
disenchanted with ·investor" coins, it
seems many are turning 10 ancient
coins for their his tory, beauty and
di ...ersity. I count myself in that
number and I am very happy to see
The Ctlator on the scene. It not
only informs and educates with its
well-written articles, but it also
keeps the collector aware of auctions,
dealers and other sources of ancient
coins and literature. Give yourself a
pat on the back!
John L. Gomer
California
(SOfIU hav~ said w~ p41 ourselves on
1M b4ck 100 mw:h in this ,~ader forum.
I've '~p~tJUdly asud my IMlhu {who has
a penchant for ps~udonymsJ to SlOp
seMillg jn thos~ overly compli~ntary
uII~rs, bid $he's g~tliltg a lUlu Itord of
hea,ing and somewhat obstiMl~ iIt Mr
adWJItCing ~(JJ'S. KlIOd it off Moml)
•••••
Watch your insolent tongue sonny!
of Mom
•••••
While researching facts about each
new ancient coin I acquire, I often
need a map 10 familiarize myself with
a particular location. Although I do
have Michael Grant's fine Anci~nt
History Atlas, I wonder if there is an
ancient atlas available in large format
with color keyed maps? Do you know
ofsuch an atlas?
P.S. after seeing a photo of the
ANS 125th Anniversary medal in TII~
Ctlato,., I ordered one. What a
wonderful rendition of ancient coin
.. _.g.
--"'- I

subjecL PatricitJ Marsolais

Deadline for the July issue is William A . Palumbo
RIuxk Island
Friday, June 10 (W~ agree! p~,ltaps IMr~ is a w~ll·
blown Ctilifornia awlux who has writlen
a 'boot orr. 1M s,",j~ct. tJJId wlwtria, ~
,~ading lhue very lines. who wOl/Jd ~
willing 10 sltor~ JUs expulise with '" iIt a
sht owrvw.7)
Postmaster: send address changes to: •••••
P.O. Box 123, Lod!, WI 53555
Just a short note to say thanks for
Phone (608) 592-4684 your marvelously informative news-
The Celatot Is an independent newspaper published on the fnt day of each
month at 10905 Hwy V, lOOI. WI.. It is circulated intemationally through paper TAe Celtllo,.. As of your 3rd
copy to be recei ...ed and devoured by
aubec;rJlllona and special diatrhrtions. Sub.crlptlon rate..... $15 per y..r
(second class) within the United States; $18 per year to canada and oveca... my "inkless" hands... I have allowed
via surface mail; $35 per year outside North America (Air Printed Matter). several of my subscriptions to other
Advortlolnsl and copy _lIna Is 1M .8OOnd Friday of ooch 1I'<II'<h. publicatioos ' to expire u I lot very
UnaoIidted ~ and newt r ' " are welcome but cannot be Nlumed. tired of 1ookiol and lootiDI and
Socond ......... "11". penn. pending. loci. WI 53555. Copyright C , .... 1ookiol foe anythinl of interest on
CI:;t'. c.binet. ancient coins Mtd artif.as.
wayne G. Soytoe ....... .. ... _ _ Your ideo of ~ semiDIn is a
_ Soytoe ............... _ _Ian _ 0 1 innovalive _
&OOd Iodt ia.Yoor _ home.
'lbaab IIId
KrlI er.y . . . . . . . . . . . . . , , , ., CopJII..8youI
K8Nn Voeltl" ......•• ,' .• • . ~ . Sup/otuoU Cowfort
T......
New York
(Hammond, Alltu of 1M
ROIM" Wo,ld in ANiqai" is a large
G,~d and
format, beautifully bound book, but does
not have color keyed maps. It sells for
under $50. We do DOt mow of my olben.
AJ for the ANS anniversary mcclaI - every
true lover of numismatic art simply mu.st
have one!)
•••••
Thanks for creating Tile Ct/ator.
I look forward to e ...ery issue. And I
am pleased that it has become sUch an
obvious smashing success.
K..".,h G. Cooley
Mauacluaetts
( n- iI • 6i,II .la.vilqo Oft; dw WfJll of
• 1De.1 ut4lhlUluM_ wlUcli , . . .:
"NodtiItf r~ , . . . dIM IfICa# - Mu
*" 1M it ,..".,. /we." We ,..,,. II)
NUnc u. wu. oW ..,u.,• .. wW
~ I:ap tIU . . ill .wi frw • """
t'" II) COffW.)
The Celator June 1988 III
"

presents:

TWO GREAT AUCTION SALES

r-ae Ct1Taior Sole

(luly~I988

Featuring:
• •
Thousands of Ancient Coins, singles and in large and
small lots; some great rarities in affordable condition;
Roman, Greek, Holyland, etc., as well as a superb collection of Foreign Gold
Coins, mostly 19th Century or earlier. Also including a collection of Estate
Jewelry, U.S. Type Coins, Foreign Silver, early 19th Century Official Checks,
and mUCh, much more.

Coin Catalogue. $8 Write or call:

AntlquHies Catalogue· $8
Antiquities Subscription ~ $20 Harmer Rooke Ltd.,
.. Please Specify Preference .. Dept C
3 East 57th Street
New Yor1<, NY 10022

NYS (212) 751-1900

WATS (600) 221·7276

,flfmJ ?liJ 5locIion

(luneI988
Featuring:
Ancient Egyptian Arl from
the collection of
Thomas V. Tallarico
also:
A selection of Pre-Columbian,
Roman & Greek Antiquities,
Ancient Glass, Ephemera & Numismatic Related Items

StiU on Exhibitwn -
Also featured:
The Richard Doyle Collection
of The NituJ R. Lewis
Early American Glass Colkerion
of
Pre-Columbian Art
through June 17
• IV
" ...
,. . ,
,,~ • f ,~ r.1" , ,.,.1, '

The Celator June 1988

which followed that event, the coin

Dust
INVESTING IN ANCIENT COINS of the
MAKES SENSE
The Reasons Are:
Ages
the pages of the
1.) GRADING: You would have to be blind and deaf not to hear the controv&rsy O\lQf Numismatic Chronicle
U.S. coin grading. Ancients am still bought and sold the way coins were always sold, until
the last lew years. A gOf9&OUS coin Is always going 10 be gorgeous and no one can ever
lell you afferenL An ancient coin which makes sense for an Investment is not sold on
grade only. The sbike, the centering, and the style, i.e., the artistic abWily 01 the man who Vol. V
engraved the de, ani always taken Inio consideration. Every coin almost has to be N.S. - 1865
different as they are each an Individual worK 01 miniature art. The technical grade of the
coin is only one 01 many factors which determine a "Masterpiece: If this sounds diflicul~
II is not, as long as you deal with someone reliable who knows ancients. AND BEST OF Find of Coins Nea r Sidon
We extract the following as giving
ALL, TWO YEARS FROM NOW NO ONE WIU TELL YOU, "soRRY, BUT DUE TO
MARKETPLACE CORRECTIONS, THE GRADE OF YOUR COINS HAS CHANGED." an apparently truthful account of the
2.) SALABIUTY: A fact of life is lhat the only place flat U.S. coins have any chance discovery of a large numbu of coins
01 being sold lor any kind of money Is In the U.S. Call up Spink or Bank Leu and ask their ~ar Sidon, and as illustrative of t~
opinion of numerically graded U.S. coins. Ancient coins have a vast network of dealers,
collectors, buyen; and seners all over the world. A ooln boUght here can be sold numismatic knowledge of the author,
who. in 1M head of Pallas, recognises
anywhere, be it England, France, Germany, SwilZartand, etc., and the grade Is not going
to change because one country has a specialized grading standard thaI no one else that of Alexander the Great, and is
recognizes. pleased to find Phillip II. under the
3.) DIMINISHING SUPPLY: The blQ98St problem now lor ancient coins Is fincfng gui.u of Apollo, or the youthful
enough cOoIce coins to fill needs. As more and more people make the switch to andents Hercules:-
and since they almost an want top grade coins, they obviously cause the supply to
diminish. There may be the occasional hoard that shows up, but only a small number will
be top quality. The rest will be corroded, damaged, badly s\rud(, ek:. THERE ARE NOT About three years ago, some
n
ENOUGH "MASTERPIECE" ANCIENTS TO GO AROUND. workmen, digging over the ground of
4.) POTENTIAL FOR PROFIT: From aD of the above, one can readily see thai as this garden on our left, in our good
more and more people want to coIIectIInvest In andents, and since many coins wiU not fit city of Sidon, fo und several copper
the criteria 01 what they want, and since the supply is definitely limited, ANCIENT COINS
HAVE BEEN INCREASING A ND WILL CONTI NUE TO INCREASE IN PRICE. NOW IS pots which contained a large quantity
THE TIME TO BUILD A COlLECTIONlPORTFOUOI of ancient gold coins. The poor
fellows concealed the discovery with
have built and continue to build some 01 the best collections In this country. We
We
the greatest care; but they were wild
recommend GREEK GOLD AND SILVER and ROMAN COINS OF THE FIRST AND
SECOND CENTUIRES, in partic:Uar the 12 Caesars. with excitement, and, besides, there
were too many of them to keep such a
If any ot the above ate ot Interest to you and II what we say makes some common secret. The governor of the city heard
seooe, THEN CONTACT USI
of it, apprehended all who had not
fled, and compelled them to disgorge,
Rare Coins & Classical Arts ltd. He recovered two of the pots. placed
Dr. Arnold R. Saslow them beside him, and required them to
·Specialists in Museum Quality Coins· refill them with coin. In this way he
Member: ANA, ANS, SAN. AINA. INS. Fellow RNS obtained between two and three
thousand; but it is certain that there
P.O. Box 374 remained hundreds, if not thousands,
South Orange, NJ 07079; Phone: (201) 761.{J634 which he could not get. The French
~ consul told me that the whole number
was over eight thousand. They are all
coins of Alexander and his fa ther
Philip, of the most pure gold. each
one worth a little more than an
English sovereign, As there is no
mixture of coins later th an
Alexander, the deposit must have been
made during his reign, or immediately
after. I suspect it was royal treasure,
which one of Alexander's officers
concealed when he heard of his
unexpected death in Babylon,
intending to appropriate it to himself,
remained where he had hid it. If we
remember how much more valuab le
gold was then than now, the amount
of this deposit will surprise us; nor
does it seem likely that any private
man in Sidon cou ld have gathered
what was, probably, at that time
equivalent to forty thousand pounds,
and all of this particular coin of
Philip and Alexander.The latter
appears as he is usually figured, and
his face is too familiar to need
explanation. Philip I had not seen
before, and was particularly pleased
to find him associated with the
chariot and horses, of which he was so
proud and so vain."
. From '7ke Land and the Book,"
by Dr, W.M. Thompson, an American
Missionary in Syria and Palestine, p.
134.
Malter offers
books, coins
Joel L. Malter & Co., Inc., has
announced that on Sunday, June 5,
1988, the firm will be conducting an
important numismatic book and coin
auction. The auction will be held on
campu s at the University of
California - Los Ange les, (James
West Center). The first part of the
auction will include a fine collection
of important numismatic, art history
and archaeology books.
"Atocha" coins and artifacts are the
highlight of the second part of the
auction. In addition to the 2, 4, and 8
Reale coins Malter will auction an
80+ pound silver and smaller gold
bar, as well as a silver plate. All
.. Atocha" items are accompanied by a
cenificate of authenticity issued by
Treasure Salvors, and signed by its
president, Mel Fisher. Ancient Greek
and Roman coins along with some
modem foreign, U.S. coins and world
bank notes are also included, Malter
concludes the auction with some nice
prints by Roberts and Hogarth and
also includes a nice collection of
Ashanti gold weights from Ghana in
Africa and some African mask too.
Catalogs are $5 each and can be
obtained by writing to Joel L. Malter

COINS but being apprehended, slain, or driven

away by some of the revolutions
& Co. at P.O. Box 777, Encino, CA
91316. or by calling (8 18)-784-7772.

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Free Illustrated List Ponterio & Associates, Inc.

3823 Park Boulevard
Box 33588, San Diego, CA 92103
TOM CEDERLIND 1-800-854·2888 or 619-299-0400
Licensed Auction Company # 968
P. O. Box 1963·C Richard H_ Ponterlo - President
P.N.G: .308
Portland, OR • 97207
The Celator June 1988 ·v

BOSTON...
IS Foreign and Ancient Coin
Mecca o/The Northeast!

Greek reference BAY STATE COIN SHOW

Dictionary ends tedious searching
The orig inal title was, Idellti! ; ·
calion des M onfUl ;s p ar las Nouve lle
Methode de Letters Ja lons el des
Legends Fragmentees: Application de
lo Methode ow: Monnais Grecques er
we searched for that missing letter on
a coin? Well, Icard helps one to find
it.
Take, for ins tance, the city of
Camarina. One may find the city
August 7, 8, 9,
November 18, 19, 20
"57" PARK PLAZA HOTEL
included along with early Italian and Over 23 years ...
Greek alphabets in the useful 565 page "New Eflgland'sLarges/ Coin Show!!!"
reference . Icard is available in
softcover and is sold by most Chairma n: Ed Aleo
numismatic booksellers at a modest Box 400, Winchester, MA 01890

aux Monnais Gauloises. Fortunately,
O bol Intern ational shorte ned it to
Dictionary o/Greek Coin Inscriptions
for their 197 9 reprin t. Mos i.
however, simply refer to the work by
the name of its author - Icard.
This is not a book to read cover to
cover. It is not even a book that one
refe rs to often, for there are no plates
or visual crutches. It is simply fill ed
wi th in scri pti on after inscript ion.
Boring? Maybe, but when you need it
nothing else will do !
T his re markable dic tionar y of
Greek coin inscriptions (Autonomous
and Imperial ) not only give s the
re ader a tra ns lation of those
sometimes elu sive Greek names, but
actu ally allo ws one to recons truc t
miss ing legends by starling with a
recognized segment in the middle of
the sequence. How many times have
Pdce~.;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;.:=~~6~17~-~72~9~-~96~7~7~~::
lis ted under KAMAPINAIO N, and
also under PIN AION, as well as
under NAIO N. If you can read the
ending of the name on a coin, you can
at least narrow done the possibilities, OUR SUMMER PUB LISHING SCHEDULE
and some times identify the city on the
first try. Obviously, if you can read
June -Our major Summe r 1988 catalog (now at the printe r) fea tures
the beginning of the name you use
CLASSIC G OLD
Icard li ke any other dic tionary.
ANCIENT GREEK SILVER; ALSO BRONZE COINS OF SYRACUSE
Suppose the ending is NAION instead
FI RST C ENTURY R OMAN COINS
of NAIO N? That's no problem, since
Icard gives most major endings and E NG LISH HAMMERED COINS
variants. E NGLISH MILLED COINS INCLUDING MINT STATE CROWNS
Any collector that has tried to ScoTIISH AND IRISH COINS
attribute Greek bronzes by inscription BRITISH TRADE lOKENS
will readily appreciate how useful the EXTENSIVE HISTORICAL NarES AND COMMENTARY
Icard dictionary can be. Not only can
it save hours of tedious research, but July - A book catalog includ ing ra re books and auctio n catalogs
it can also identify possible alternates
in certain hard to attribute pieces. August - Our annual ''Summer Bargain List"
A brief place name appendi x is
SPECIAL: $2 for all three issues
.''D"""""\
• ! ' ;"
.
'. , ~" ,
"

Say you saw it in The Celator 'Davisson 's Lta. • CoMSpri"fl, M9{.56320 - 612-685-3835

R.I.C. Volume IX Reprinted

The ninth volume of Roman Imperial Coins has been recently reprinted, and is NOW IN STOCK. This covers the coinage issued by the emperors Valentinian
through Theodosius I (364-395 AD). The original volume was published in 1951, written by J.WE . Pearce and edited by H. Mattingly, CJ-I.V. Sutherland,
and R.A.G. Carson. This volume has not been available since 1973, and is missing from many numismatic libraries. This current 1988 reprint has been printed
by utilizing the original plates for very high..quality reproduction, and fearures 44 pages of intrOOuction, 334 pages of text, and 16 plates of photos. It is
uniformly hardbound in green buckram to match the other volumes in this series, and as mentioned above is IN STOCK for $75.00

We also have many or the other volumes or R.lC. in stock. T hese are ESSENTIAL for every collector or Roman Coins:
Volume I (Augustus - Vitellius)_ Covers the frn;t 100 yean; of the Postage & Insurance: Add $3.00 for the first vol.,
$1 .00 for each adclijional volume.
Roman Empire. New 1984 Revised Edition . . _. "" _...... $90.00

Volume n (Vespasian - Hadrian). Now OUT OF PRINT, and Watch for our upcoming
unlikely to = be reprinted. Get this while they last ..... $75.00
Mail Bid Sale
Volume ill (Antoninus Pius - Commodus). Very close to being of Numismatic Literature
OUT OF PRINT (less than 50 copies extant) . __ . __ . _ . ... $75.00

Volume IV (pertin .. - AemiIian). Originally three different Over 400 lots o,i;;;6ks, including many but of Print
volumes, this reprint has all three volumes bound in one large and Rare volumes. Most pertain to Ancient Greek,
volume .... ... .. . . _ . _... . . _. ... . . . . . _. . _. _.... . .. $120.00 Roman & Byzantine Coins, ahhough there ate many of
Medieval & Modem coins as wen as antiquities and
art and history.
Volume V (Valerian - Maximianus pre-refonn)_ OUT OF PRINT
and in the process of revision (due in the mid - 90s). We W ill
Pay $180 for decent used copies of Vol. V (parts I & 11). Please
See us at the following coin shows:
Ship.
May 27 - 29 C.O.t.N., Los Angeles Aprt Hinon
Volume VI (Diocletian - Galerius). Large volume arranged by June 2-5 Long Beach Numismatic & Philatelic Expo
mints. Covers coins minted 297 - 311 A.D. Essential for this June 9- 12 Maryland State Numismatic Assn.,
period . ... . .. . .. .. _. . __.... . . .. .. . ...... . " ...... $60.00 Bahimore Festival Hall
June 16 -1 9 Dallas Coin Convention at Market Center
Volume VII (Constantine - Licinius). Large volume of coins
minted 311 - 337 A.D . ___ _. . . _ . . . . ... ........ ...... $60.00

Volume vm (Family of Constantine) . Massive volume of coins

minted 337-364 A.D. A recent work published in 1981. . .$175.00
801 W. Granada Blvd. #305
Volume IX (Valentinian - Theodosius) see top of this ad $75.00 Ormond Beach, FL 32074

Volume X (395-491 A.D_) to be published in about 20 yean; 9 04·6 77·7314


Born in Luristan
Sadigh wholesales wide range of coins and antiquities
Mehrdad Sadigh shows a few of the many antiquities which pass
through his New York gallery.
Royal Mint engraver's
workbench part of auction
G1endining's may be famous for the
sale of Coins and Medals, but on the
6th July they are to sell a splendid
mahogany work bench once used by
Benedetto Pistrucci, the man who
designed the George and Dragon that
is still used on our coinage 170 years
after it first appeared. It is surely the
most famous coin image in the world.
Pistrucci came to England as a
young man with a reputation as a gem
and cameo engraver, but he was soon
to be employed by the Royal Mint.
His other designs included the official
Coronation medaJs for George IV and
Victoris, and the famous un-
completed large Waterloo medal. He
died at his home near Windsor on the
16th September 1855. and his effects
were sold by auction two months
after his death.
The solid mahogany HSteel
Worker'sH bench (Lot 43 in the 1855
auction). stands 3 feet 6 inches high
on two pedastals, each containing nine
drawers labelled for tools, etc. The
bench eventually found its way to the
London workshops of John Pinches,
the medallists and medal manu·
facturers, and it is now being sold
along with John Pinches Archive
Collection of Coins, Medals and
Badges, on 6th July. 1988. In 1855 it
fetched the princely sum of £3-15-0;
Glendining's, however, are hopeful
that it will sell for around £500.
-country. Claiming to have a wide
For further information please
contact: Daniel Fearon, Glendining's,
Bienstock House, 7 Blenheim Street,
New Bond Street, London WI Y 9LD.
Telephone: 01-493-2445.
Illustrated Catalogue of the John
Pinches Archive Collection, £5 ($10).
Leonard is
Dept. Mgr.
at Superior
Numismatic author and collector
Robert D. Leonard has been appointed
to the position of manager of ancient
and foreign numismatics at Superior
Stamp & Coin Co., of Beverly Hills,
California. Leonard recently authored
"A Numismatic Illustration of the
Bible in the World Coins supplement
H
to Coin World.
Leonard is a member of the
Numismatic Literary Guild as well as
professional organizations such as the
ANS, ANA, and AINA.
Superior regularly conducts major
auctions of numismatic material, and
will be conducting an important
auction of ancient and foreign coins in
conjunction with the NY Inter-
national show this December.
The Celator . . June 1988
The 5th avenue address and "800" Hence the need for an "800~ telephone
telephone number may seem a little number. He does not issue lists, since
intimidating, but the man behind the his inventory turns over rapidly, but
curtain is as real and down to earth as will send photos or ship items on
they come. Mehrdad Sadigh sells approval to established customers.
Ancient Artifacts and Coins from his Sadigh's gallery, located at 303
New York office/gallery in a way Fifth Avenue (Room 1515) in lower
that most customers will find Manhattan. is open to the public and
unconventional at the very least. all sorts of Egyptian, Greek, Roman,
Sadigh, a 26 year old Iranian born Byzantine and Islamic artifacts
immigrant claims to have been in the passing through are usually on
business since he was 15 years old. display. If you are impressed by
That is not really too surprising, flowing ferns and track lighting, stay
when one considers that his family has uptown. But, if you want to look at
a five generation history of collecting some untouched, honest-to·goodness
and dealing in antiquities. Originally antiquities at a price you're likely to
from Hamedan, the ancient city of appreciate, don't miss a visit with
Ecbatana. Sadigh boasts a direct link Sadigh! If you can't get to
with 2500 years of art history. Manhattan, just pick up the phone and
Hamedan is located in a moutainous call 1-800-426-2007 you will be
region known to many as Luristan. It pleasantly surprised by the response.
is a place where civilizations have
flourished and fallen in endless
succession Over the past three
millenia.
Currently working with his father,
Aziz, who came to the United States
only six months ago, Mehrdad has
established a network of contacts that
must qualify him as one of the largest
suppliers of antiquities in this
range of sources throughout the
Middle East, the young entrepeneur
handles a wide variety of artifacts
from coins, pottery, mosaics and glass
to such monumental artifacts as stone
reliefs and mummy cases. His
specialty, according to Sadigh, is
cylinder seals which he collects
earnestly, and sells in price ranges We Want To
from $30 to $15,000.
With an inventory of high priced
artifacts. one might think of Sadigh as
Know About
YOU!
remOVed from the meniality of
beginner interests· but such is not the Write to:
case. Mehrdad is quick to emphasize The Celator
that he works with "all collectors,
P.O. Box 123
from kids 10 or 11 years old to some Ladi, WI 53555
who are in their 80s or 90s." The
with your news and views
young antiquarian speaks of a ~ deal" in
which he sold a $12 coin to a teen-age
collector, as proudly and matter-of-
factly as the sale of two hundred
terracotta oil lamps to a dealer.
Sadigh does a large volume wholesale THE
trade with dealers and promoters, but
also works closely with individual
CLASSIFIEDS
BRING RESULTS
collectors and museums to fill their
specific needs. For the latter, he
relies primarily on telephone contacts.
Presently buying
• Ancients
• Byzantine
• Medieval
Castle Coiml & Currency
7440 S. W. Oleson Road
Portland, Oregon 97223
(503) 244-6433
Member. ANA."d SAN
'The Celalor .. ~uIMl1988
Ancients Alley grows
Greater NY Convention generates exceptional interest
by Wayne G. Sayles
The Greater New York Numis-
matic Convention proved to be one of
this year's most delightful surprises
for specialists in the field of ancient
and medieval coinage. Held April 29 -
May I, at the Omoi Park Central
Hotel in Manhattan. the show drew
over 3,500 visitors according to
estimates by Moe Weinschel, Conven-
tion Coordinator. The Greater NY
show is held in conjunction with the
AlNA convention twice a year in the
spring and fall.
An "Ancients Alley" was initiated
by Weinschel in 1987 and has grown
in popularity with both dealers and
colieclOrs. One section of the show
has been reserved exclusively for
dealers in ancient coinage. The dealer
response to this spring's show was so
strong that several were unable to be
placed in the main sect ion for
ancients. As a result, Weinschel plans
10 greatly expand the ancients sections
for the fall show.
In addition to high traffic on the
floor, the mood seemed to be very
definitely on the "buy" side with
many dealers reporting strong sales.
Ancient Coin Specialist Dr. Arnold
Saslow, of South Orange, NJ told The
Celator "This is the strongest show
we have had in New York. in seven
years, excluding the New York
Internationals." Saslow, along with
others, indicated that sales across the
board in fine Greek and Roman gold
and silver were brisk.. Saslow
attributes this buyer enthusiasm to
what he sees as an undeJpriced market.
"In comparison to any other area of
collecting - quality ancients are still
the cheapest coins around," said
Saslow. Although some collectors
may have differing views, it is an
uncontestable fact thai high quality
ancients are continuing to climb in
price while buyer enthusiasm has not
significantly diminished. Some see the
continuing rise as a product of
"investment," or "speculative" fever;
but there seems to be little evidence
of this actually being the case.
Virtually every dealer admits that
premium quality coins are difficult to
buy. If and when they are available,
the Current weakness of the dollar
makes them expensive. The simplest
explanation for current trends would
seem to be found in the laws of
supply and demand - and the demand
is remarkably strong for certain types
of coinage from the ancient world.
New York was also the scene of
two public auctions of ancient coins.
The first was held by Classical
Numismatic Auctions, Ltd., on April
29 at the Sheraton Centre Hotel.
According to Victor England,
promoter of the auction, nearly 90%
of the coins offered were sold.
England stated that all coins were
offered with reserves. The total of
prices realized came in at just under
$250,000 - almost exactly the level
of support England had projected
prior to the auction.
The official auction of ancient coins
at the Greater NY show was held by
Empire Coins of Holly Hill, Florida,
on April 30. In contrast to the CNA
auction, Empire offered all lots at
.'VII
anddr the
unreserved prices and, as might be
expected, sold 100% of the lots
placed on the block.
Prices realized in both auctions
were actually considered strong by
knowledgeable observers, although
many pieces fell far short of
estimates. Both auctions seemed to
have s trong support from mail
bidders.
Some highlights of the CN A
auction included a superb XF gold
stater of Philip II, Macedon.
hammered down at $4.950. while a
stater of Croesus (560-546 BC) from
Lydia brought $7,750 in equally nice
condition. The cover coin, a Siculo-
Punic dC{;adrachm (264 Be) brought
$14,250 in choice VF condition. A
rare "Wappenmunzen" drachm of
Athens brought $2.700 in VF while
David Liebert, of the Time Machine Company, manned his first-ever
an archaic Athenian tetradrachm (6th
bourse table at the Greater NY convention.
century Be) brought $5,250 in XF
condition, but with somewhat porous
metal. coinage. A Syracusan decadrachm, at the bargain price of $675 in VF. An
Among the Roman issues, an XF signed by Euainetos, was hammered unpublished drachm of Sardeis in
denarius of Julius Caesar, with the down at $6,500 in EF/VF condition, Lydia greatly exceeded estimate at the
dictators portrait. brought $2,800. but with hom silver on the reverse. hammer price of $400 in VF. Bidding
One of the real surpri', w was a $1,100 An exceptional tetradrachm of in the Roman issues was somewhat
hammer price for a superb XF bronze Lysimachos, from the Pella mint, in erratic, with a possibly unique
follis of the Byzantine e mperor extremely fine condition and exquisite orichalcum ses te rtius of Galba
Justinian I. A follis of Phocas, also style brought $950. while a very drawing only $500 in VF and a Gem
XF, brought $475 in an impressive attractive Sidon mint gold stater of EF denarius of Vespasian with
display of strength for the long Alexander the Great managed only "Judaea" reverse pulling $1.900 in
undervalued Byzantine bronzes. $1,250. Another popular coin, a bids. The cover coin of this sale. a
In Empire Coins' public auction tetradrachm of Demetrius Poliorcetes rare orichalcum dupondius of
#9, many multiple lots were offered (294 -288 BC) with the Poseidon Pertinax, brought $4,250 in choice EF
of Greek, Roman and Byzantine standing/Nike on a prow motif went condition.
Auction strong in ancients
Christie's provides more for antiquarians
Christie's sale of Ancient, Foreign
and United States Coins with Medals
and Bank notes includes a fine
selection of ancient coins that will
suit all collecting tastes.
Highlights of the sale are a fine
group of choice Roman Aureii and
several impressive Greek specimens.
Leading the group of coins from
Italy and Sicily is an attractive Stater
of Leontini in the finest style. Mithridates VI, Pontus
estimated at $1,000-$1,500. One of AR-Tetradrachm
the most distinctive archaic Greek
coins, the Stater of Neapolis in Thrace
showing a grinning Gorgon, is military power but still lagged well extreme rarities are featured. An
estimated at $2,000-$3,000. There are behind the Greek world in many other extremely fine Aureus of Tiberius is
also three fine examples of Staters areas, including monetary matters. followed by a rare Aureus of the
from the famous "tortoise" coinage of Both of the coins are Asses, the prince Nero struck under Claudius and
Aegina, the island-state neat Athens. largest denomination. One example is showing a most charming youthful
The sale also features a large group of Roman and shows the head of Janus on portrait. Following four more Aureii
gold and silver pieces from the period the o bverse and a prow on the reverse. of Nero are an extremely rare
of AleIander the Great and his father, while the second example , from example of Galba and another of
Philip 11. Etruria, features a six-spoked wheel Vitellius, who both failed to hang
Perhaps the choicest Greek coin in and an anchor. Both are unusually onto power during A.D. 69, "the year
the sale is a superb portrait Tetra- well-preserved for this series and are of the four Emperors". The Galba, in
drachm of Mithridates VI of Pontus. estimated at $800-$1,200 each. about extremely fine condition, is
Estimated at $2,000-$3.000, this piece After an interesting group of expected to bring $6,000-$8,000
shows the king with long flowing Roman Republican Denarii, a strong
while the Vitellius. in choice very
hair and clearly captures the spirit of Imperatorial section follows, includ· fine condition on a very large
a man who, with severely limited ing three fine portrait coins of Julius
planchet., should fetch $5,000-$7.000.
resources, fought against the Romans Caesar and a rare Denarius of Antony Vespasian. who was eventually
for fifty years. and Cleopatra. All four coins are victorius in A.D. 69, is represented by
The Roman Republican coins on toned attractively and are expected to
two Aureii, one a superb extremely
offer begin with two superb examples bring $1,000-$1,500 each. The fine enmple on an exceptional
of large bronze coinage or "Aes Imperial section also includes many "medallic" planchet
Grave." These huge impratical coins other high-quality silver and bronze
After a large group of gold coins
date from the 3rd Century B.C. when pieces, but the highlight is a group of of Titus through Antonius Pius, all in
Rome, in her struggles against over 30 Roman Aureii. Many are
Carthage. was emerging as a great extremely fine or better and several Please turn to page XV

'1'1'
Rules to follow
Investment in antiquities requires buyer caution
by David Liebert
There has been much published in
recent years regarding the desirability
of art in general and various forms of
ancient art in particular as investment
vehicles. Articles have appeared in
major national publications such as
Time. The Wall Street Journal.
Business Week. and U.S. News and
World Report, extolling high quality
antiquities as a hedge against inflation
and a sound investment. particularly
in the current volatile economic
climate. The widely read advisor
Sylvia Porter in her "New Money
Book for the 80's" recommended
classical antiquities as one the the best
types of art for rapid growth. Experts
in the field. from the chairman of
Sotheby's praising the virtue of
objects in the multi-thousand dollar '
range, to the local flea market dealer
with a few mediocre antiquilies for
sale. are fond of pointing out the
relatively inexpensive nature of anti·
quities as opposed to other forms of
art in the current market. At a time
when the late artist and popular icon
Andy Warhol's cookie jar collection
achieved the rarefied heights at auction
usually reserved for Meisen pottery
and Chinese Porcelain one can hardly
argue with the thesis . As a dealer
myself, I obviously have a vested
interest in promoting the sale of
antiquities for whatever reasons. As a
collector as well, however, I try to
advise my customers to buy antiqui-
ties for the right reasons. To this end
I would like to take an objective look
at the whole area of antiquities as an
investment particularly for the
collector of modest means.
Taken in historical perspective,
ancient art has certainly appreciated in
value over the years. One can easily
point to outstanding examples of art
which were purchased in the 20's and
30's for modest sums and resold in the
70's and 80's for tens of thousands of
dollars. However, the mere dollar
amounts, no matter how dramatic, do
not tell the whole story. For
instance, the value of the dollar in the
The
Time Machine
Company
is always eager to aid beginning
collectors with moderately
priced coins ard antiquities.
Gaff David Liebert direct to
discuss your interests
and needs.
Important
Terracotta Figure
of Aphrodite,
Greco-Roman
Found in
the Holy Land
P.O.R.
We have many more interesting
antiquities and ancient coins in
stock. " you are not on our mailing
list. you are missing some of the
best buys in ancient art. Send for
your free catalogue today. For
more information contact:
Time
Machine Co.
P. O. Box 282,
Flushing Station,
Queens, NY 11367
(718) 544-2708
and thus cannot pay full value.
more, I strongly advise potential
investors in ancient art to consider the
following rules.
on your financial outlay will be the
satisfaction you receive from owning a
part of history, in this way you can
20's and 30's was much higher .than it
is today · so what was the effect of
inflation on this seemingly great
profit'? While the prices of ancient
art have risen in the past, will they
continue to do so in the future? Until
the last few years, ancient art did not
rise in value as rapidly as other fonns
of an, that is why it is being touted
today as a "Bargain."
Would the investor have been
better off buying a fine piece of
Egyptian sculpture in 1920 or 100
shares of telephone stock or perhaps
an old master painting'? On the lower
end of the market, dealers in the 20's
were selling scarabs, amulets, terra·
cotta heads and the like for the
equivalent of a few dollars and as late
as the 70's they still were. Even
today, most of these items can be had
for under a hundred dollars. While
this should make such works highly
attractive to the prospective collector
it is hardly as conducive an argument
to the investor. Add to this the well
known pitfalls of all art investment,
abundant forgeries, unscrupulous
promoters who sell their merchandise
far above its true value, not to
mention outright swindlers, the
possibility of a newly discovered
hoard of objects coming on the market
just when you must sell your
example, changes in taste depreciating
the value of your holdings: you can
readily see that ancient art is not to be
considered a risk free investment even
for the experts.
The potential investor should also
bear in mind that art bought at retail
must often be liquidated at wholesale
either at auction or through a dealer
who is entitled to make a fair profit
The C!IIator .Jul\8. 1988
For all of the above reasons and
1) Always assume the main return
never lose and will assuredly be
richly rewarded in your collecting
endeavors.
2) If you can't afford it, don't buy
it.
3) If you have any doubts about the
condition, authenticity or artistic
value of the piece, don't buy it.
4) Only buy from a dealer who
will guarantee the authenticity of the
merchandise and give you a reasonable
right of return if you find you can't
live with it after a short time.
S) Buy from a dealer who will
accept the piece back in trade or for
resale after a few years when you
want to upgrade to a better object.
6) Learn as much as you can about
the an you wish to acquire and seek
the help of recognized experts and
museum curators as much as possible.
7) Buy the best example of a given
type of object you can afford. If you
can't afford it at the moment try to
arrange terms with the deaJer. Most
dealers try very hard to accomodate
their customers in this regard.
8) Don't be the slave of current
popUlarity. Try to form a collection
that reflects your personal taste, you
will enjoy it more, and you might
just contribute to the advancement of
science by forming a representative
collection in a little studied area of
antiquity. This type of collection can
have the added financial inducement of
unpopular objects being cheaper before
they are "discovered."
9) Try to spread your financial risk
by buying a variety of Objects forming
a logical collection which will be
wonh more than the sum of its parts.
10) Work with a dealer you can
trust and outline your goals honestly
to him. If your sole aim is secure
financial appreciation say so, but don't
be surprised if he tells you to buy
U.S. Savings Bonds.
l1MI Celator
Celestial
Lactantius. tutor to Constantine's son
Crispus (AD 317-26), these symbols
were the superimposed letters '1 and
P. as commonly used by early
Christian writers to represent the
word XplO"tO'U (Christ). However.
according to Eusebius of Caesarea, the
bishop who drafted the Nicene Creed
and baptized Constantine on his death
bed, the vision included the sign of
the. Cross with the words LV tOtrtWl
VllCa (meaning ~in this sign
conquer"). In any case, Constantine
was thus said to be inspired to
vanquish the four-fold forces of
Maxentius at the Battle of the
Milvian Bridge (AD 312), to legalize
Christianity by promulgating the
Edict of Milan (AD 313), and to
build a future capital city of the East
at Byzantium (renamed Constan-
tinople in honor of its founder, and
dedicated in AD 330).
Numerous coins struck for the
House of Constantine and for others
show Christian symbols such as XP
and +p monograms. The most
prominent examples of the
superimposed X and p are those that
dominate the reverse sides of certain
bronzes struck for Constantius II
(AD 337-61; SR 3907), Magnentius
(AD 350-3; SR 3917 and 3922), and
Decentius (AD 351-3; SR 3932-3).
However, the coins that refer most
celarly to Constantine's heavenly
directive are the folies with the
reverse legend Hoc Signa Viclor Eris
struck for Constantius II, for
Constantius Gallus (AD 351-4), and
on behalf of Constantius II for
yetranio (AD 350; SR 3942).
". A Sta r is Born
In the year I 054, late in the reign
of Byzantine emperor Constantine IX
Monomachus (1042-55), and long
after Rome had been eclipsed by the
empire's new capitol at Constan-
tinople, astronomers recorded a
spectacular event. A star had exploded
and in its death throes had given birth
to a supernova (believed at the time to
be a new star in the constellation
Taurus, but known today as the Crab
Nebula). Its light was said to have
turned night into day, and probably
persisted for days or weeks. Did the
Byzantines believe that this stellar
creation augured a bright future, or
that it foreshadowed the end of the
empire? We are not certain. But we do
know that in the very same year, Pope
Leo IX (1049-54) excommunicated
the Byzantine Patriarch Micahel
CeUularius, who repsonded by
rejecting the papal legates. This break.
the great schism between the Roman
Catholic and Eastern Orthodox
churches, was irreparable. and would
result in the fatal isolation of
Byzantium from the growing
European powers.
Whether or not the Byzantines
regarded the supernova as vaticinal,
their gold coins were modified so as
to show a star on each side of the
emperor's portrait (SB 1831). This
was not the flfSt time that such a
device had been used on 'the coins. In
fact, emperors thus framed by stars
appear on the folies as early as the
time of Justinian II (AD 685-95; SB
1271~2), and Jesus is accompanied by
pairs of stars on foUes of Michael
VII DuelS (1071-8; SB 1878-9) and
NicepbOlUs III Bolania.., (1078-81;
SB 1888). Nevertheless. many
authorities believe that the stars on
&he gold sttuck for Constantine IX
ae related to the supernova of 1054.
Alta' his reian. wicb the substitution
of his successor's portrait oatbe'
coinage, the stars were removed.
We may note here for completeness
that. on a rare electrum issue struck
for Alexius I Comnenus (1081·1118)
at the Thessalonica mint, a large star
between the standing figures of
Alexius and Mary probably represents
a comet that graced the occasion of an
imperial visit to the mint city (1105-
6; SB 1927). We now know that this
comet was the same one that had
attended Julius Caesar's death and
Augustus' rise to power, and had
returned to mark the Golden Age of
Justinian.
Constantiu8 II
AR-3 mlliarense
A Dubious Centennial
Returning to consideration of the
supernova of 1054. we note that the
Byzantines seem to have commemor-
ated each centennial of the event on
their coinage. For example, one
century after the supernova, during
the reign of the fearless warrior
Manuel I Comnenus (1143-80), the
stars appeared again. This time a pair
of stars was placed on the electrum
coins. on each side of the portrait of
Jesus rather than on the reverse side's
portrait of the temporal' ruler (SB
1959).
Actually. during year 100 of the
supernova, the fortunes of the empire
seemed to be on the rise, as Manuel
prepared his expansion into Italy. But.
however propitious the supernova's
centennial may have seemed to the
Byzantines, their westward thrusts
were soon to be repulsed, lending
support to those who might have
questioned a favorable interpretation
of the astral oracle. In fact, the power
of the western states (though little
noticed by the Byzantines) was
consolidated and enhanced, as a war of
FRANK L. KOVACS
COINS AND ANTIQUITIES
OF
GREECE, ROME, AND BYZANTIUM
P.O. BOX 25300
San Mateo, California 94402
Illustrated Fixed Price and
Mail Bid Sale Catalogues
Continued from page I
succession ended (1153) with most of rival emperor-in-exile at Thessalonica
Britain and France under the control (1246). In fact any Byzantines who
of the Plantagenet monarchy (1154. interpreted the supernova's bicenten-
1485), which was destined to nial as a buccinator novi t~mporis
dominate Europe for centuries to promising their capital's eventual
oome. recapture from the Latins were not to
A Hopeful BiteDtennial be dissapointed. Their capital was
Two centuries after the appearance regained by 1261.
of the supernova, the Byzantine Once again, a pair of stars was
capitol city of Constantinople had added, to frame the portrait of Jesus
been lost to the Latins (1204), and the of John's metropolitan gold coins (SB
Byzantine emperor-in-exile at Nicaea 2028). and to separate the standing
was John III Ducas-Vatatzes (1222- figures of John and Jesus on the silver
54). However, John had been coins (SB 2037). In addition, a pair of
successful at expelling the Latins stars adorned the portrait of Mary on
from Anatolia and at defeating his Please turn to page XVI
If this calibre of numismatic art excites you -
it is only one of hundreds of beautiful
treasures from the past residing
for the moment in our trays.
Write for a complimentary
copy of our catalogue.
PR, Pa\7L RyneaRson
P. o. Box 4009
MALIBU, CA 90265
ANCIENT ROMAN
& GREEK COINS
Illustrated Prke Lists
Numismatic Literature
Auction Representation
Want List Search Service
David P. Herman
Classical Numismatist
1322 35lh SI., SuR. 101
Orlando, Florida 32809
422-5915
TEL. (415) 574-2028
.,,
 x The Celator
Reader responds
Fourrees illuminate mint and counterfeiting practices
by Robert R. Kutcher
Dear Editor:
I must confess that J am not an
Ancient Coin Scholar. nOf an expert
of any kind in the field
Numismatics even though I do have a
small collection of Ru ss ian Coins.
But even so I would like to respond
to some of Doug Smith's questions as
they were posed in the May 1988 issue
of The Celator. But first, I cannot
believe that Mr. Sntith is a beginning
collector of any coin, let alone ancient
coins . His capacity to ask such
pertinent and technically advanced
type of questions proves that. Also, I
must agree with you (W.O.S.) that he
has not approached "most dea1ers . ~ It
has always been my experience that
the ancient coin dealer is a friendlier
and more helpful person than any of
the fast buck bullion dealers. I have
picked the brains. many times of
ancient coin dealers like Alex
Malloy, Frank Purvey, Allan
Davi sson , Ed Waddell, Tom
McKenna, Ban Lewis, Charlie Wolfe,
etc. j ust to name a few . And, all of
them have been very patient and
helpful. going beyond my initial
questions.
Please, Doug. try the dealers again,
but do not bother them with ques-
tions when they are busy. At most
shows and conventions there are slack
times on the bourse floor when these
people will be happy to talk for a few
minutes. Mr. Smith might even take
along some goOO cheese. some fruit
and some wine and he will be
of
surprised at how much information he
can get fcom some of the dealers. But
he should be careful about the wine he
takes to Bact Lewis. for Bact is a wine
connoisseur. Allan Davisson, on the
other hand, grows his own grapes for
the wine he makes, and some of it is
quite good. too. So, one need not
always talk about ancient· coins to
these dealers as they all have a few
other interests, too.
Mr. Smith's first question about
"fouree" (fourre • fOUITe - foure • etc.
I have seen it with many spellings)
are good questions. Many advanced
collectors are confused about plated
coins, coins with a silver rich surface,
and the silver wash coins. The words
"fourree and "subaerati," are as far as I
can find out, nothing more than
French and Italian words for a plated
Many ancient ooins
exhibit test cuts
from ancient times
when coins were
checked to insure
metal content.
Forgers sometimes
cut the COins
themselves before
plating to give the
illusion of good
metal throughout.
coin. Yet, some authors and numis·
matists avoid the use of these terms as
if they had a bad connotation, and
prefer to say plated instead. It may be
though, that these people fee l that the
foreign words would not be
understood where as they are sure the
"plated" would be clear to all. These
fourree and subaerati coins are
described very well in William
Campbell's ANS book, Greek and
Roman Plated Coins. It is number 57
in that series and was printed in 1933.
The two hundred, plus or minus. page
report is not a definitive work on the
plated coins, but it is none the I~ss
very worthy of every advanced
collectors library.
It is known that plated coins were
made almost as early as the flTSt coins
were struck. They ace known in aU
June 1988
the more precious metals, gold.
electrum and silver, with silver being
the more common. I have an early
Ionian electrum plated coin in my
coIlcetion along with the plated coins
down to plated denarii of the Severan
Dynasty. In fact. I have almost one
hundred plated coins in my ancient
collection. But then, 1 have been
collecting the fourree. serrati and the
ancient broctcages a1most as long as I
have been collecting ancient coins. and
that is over thirty years. But, back to
Mr. Smith's first question. ~ are coins
known in silver and fourree fcom the
same dies'" It is not very often that
one can even find two ancient coins
from the same dies, so it would seem
no less than a miracle to expect to
find a good silver coin and a plated
coin that were from the same dies.
But, yes. they are known to exist. I
even have a few in my own collection.
In 1974 I was given a hoard of
Armenian silver Trams, numbering
704 pieces to work on. At the time I
was working in a scientific laboratory
for testing highway materials. It had
the latest equipment for weighing and
making the specfic gravity determina-
tions. and it had binocular micro-
scopes. I was asked to weigh the
coins and record the die axis. the
legends and field macks, and to see if
I could find a Bedoulcian Catalogue
number for each of the coins. (see The
Numismatic Chronicle, volume 141 of
the Royal Numismatic Society of
London, 1981. pages 166· 172) I have
this group back again and in it there
ace over fifty plated coins of Hetoum
Please tum to page XII

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The Celator June 1988 XI

SuRE ... JANUS WILL. Rft IMI>~RIA\' M1N"t <>~ ROMA

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TRIVIA QUIZ Clip & Save

The origin of this plant was to
Romans, the blood of Venus;
to Moslems, the sweat of
Coin
10·.;::;--------- File
Mahomet; and to Christians,
the blood of the first martyr. Sinope, I
Can you name It?
(Last month's answer on page XVUl)
,AA.~~~~
I Third Century BC
,I
I

Head of Sinop/Apolio I
I Waddington 204, 50
: Sinope was the most important Greek colony on the southern shore I
of the Black Sea in what is today Turkey. It was a natural maritime I,
QUOTES FROM THE PAST center with two excellent harbors. Sinope was the home of the
I' philosopher Diogenes, and was important even in Roman Imperial I
I times. Silver drachms and bronze coins of Sinope are fairly common, I
"Innocent and infinife I however, the city also struck larger silver coins which are today quite I
are the pleasures of observation" I rare. The tetradrachm pictured above portrays the turreted city I
goddess Sinope on its obverse and on the reverse Apollo is seated on
Henry James I the Omphalos, holding a lyre. The Omphalos was a stone at Delphi, I
(1843·1916) I said to be the center of the earth. In his right hand, Apollo holds a I
I plectrum, an instrument made of gold or ivory, with which the Lyre I
-------------------------
L was struck. J

The follovdng qUestio£~!~!~i!u!t~~!~~!' p~~fo!!!£fmerests and adivfties.

While you are obviously not obligated to divulge any information about yourself, the broader base we have for analysis
the more accurate our reader profile vdll be and the more responsive we can iJl!come. We do not necessarily need names,
addresses, etc. If you prefer, just send the swvey back in an unmarked envelope. We don1 mean to get personal!
(Optional) Name: _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ Address: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _
Please circle the appropriate response or rank numerically if more than one applies
1. My primary interest is in: 4. The features I fmd most useful in The Celator are:
a. collecting coins a. Feature articles
b. collecting antiquities b. Regular features (antiquities, people, art, calendar, etc.)
c. studying ancient cultures c. Dealer display advertising
d. other _ _ _ _ _ __ d. Professional directory
e. Letters to the editor
2. The period of greatest interest to me is: f. Other _ _ _ __ _ __ _ __
a. Greek before 100 B.C.
b. Roman Republican 5. The features I find least useful in The Celator are:
c. Roman Imperial a. Feature articles
d. Roman Egypt b. Regular features (antiquities, people, art, calendar, etc.)
e. Greek Imperial c. Dealer display advertising ,
f. Byzantine d. Professional directory
g. Islamic / Oriental e. Letters to the editor
h. Other _ _ _ __ _ f. Other _ __ _ __ _ _ _ _ __

3. I most often make purchases through: 6. I have responded to _ _ _ ads in The Celator.
a. Shows and Conventions
b. Dealer Lists 7. My annual budget for acquisitions is (question optional)
c. Advertisements in periodicals a. less than $500
d. Private appointments b. more than $500
e. _ _ _ _ _ _ __
8. The Celator may release the information contained in this
survey to requesting dealers -- YES I NO

Please Mail this fonn or a facsiniiIe to:

The Celator - P.O. Box 123 - Lodi, WI 53555
 ,
XII

Fourrees Continued from page X

I alone. Dr. Paul Z. Bedoukian has that in any scientific endeavor one
examined a number of these pieces. must remain cautious until all of the
including four good silver and four information is in.
plated coins all from the same dies. At present. Dr. L.A. Saryan. a
He has agreed that all of these coins chemist. as is Dr. Bedoukian. and a
seem to be the work of the ancient friend of Dr. Bedouldan's, is running
Armenian mint and that they are aU both non~destructive and destructive
from the same dies. But he declined to chemical tests on some of the good
say that the plated coins are founee silver and on some of the plated coins
coins until he has the results of some from this hoard. I have promised Dr.
chemical tests. He did himself subject Sacyan and the Armenian Numismatic
the eight coins to specific gravity Society that they can be the ftrst to
tests and has found, without publish the results of these tests and
exception, that the questioned plated the story behind them. I will,
coins are indeed of a lower specific however, see that a copy of The
gravity than the other coins, but he is Armenian Numismatic Journal that
still unconvinced that these are this report appears in is sent to The
toume coins. The good Dr. knows Celalor, that is if the report is not
Ancient Coins
• Mail Bid Sales
• Fixed Price Lists
• Buy or Bid Sales
• Numismatic Literature
Specializing in moderate priced Judaean coins
(serious want-lists solicited)
printed in Armenian, as they some-
times are.
Again back to Mr. Smith and his
questions. If his question about the
good silver coins from the same dies
as foucree coins is meant to ascertain
whether or not the plated coins are all
the work of the official ancient mints,
the answer is a definite no. Some are
and some are not Take for example
the very recent Galilean hoard of
gilded antoniniani. While these coins
may not be too good of an example,
they do show that some plating was
done in ancient times outside of the
mint on offtcial coins after the coins
were struck. The hoard contained
sixteen gilded antoniniani of Cacacalla
and of Elagabalus. Two of these coins
were examined scientifically by Mr.
W.A. Oddy, who found that the
plating had been carried out by coating
the coins with mercury and then
pressing on gold leaf. Both the
technique and the presence of
corrosion over the gold gilding has
dispelled any doubts about the anti-
quity of the plating. It was concluded
that the gold foil plating had been
done to deceive those persons of
ancient times who were unfamiliar
with the new double auceus that was
the cuts, the coins appeared to be of
solid gold, which had been tested and
found to be authentic. It has also been
reported that similarly plated coins
have now been found in excavations at
Sasa, near the Lebanese border with
Israel.
Contrast the Galilee hoard with
the Piraeus hoard of Athenian plated
coins that was found in 1902. This
hoard is said to have contained
thousands of the Athenian fourr~e
dcachms and tetradrachms (one of
which was tested by William
Campbell) of the style that was
minted at the end of the fifth century
B.C. It was mentioned by one author
that some of these foucrk coins were
found to have die links with some of
the good silver pieces already in the
Numismatic Museum of Athens. But
remember, it is not inconceivable that
ancient counterfeiters were at times
able to secure official dies through
conquest or deception or to even have
made very good copies of the dies and
then produced plated coins and
possibly some good silver coins from
the copied dies. So Mr. Smith. it is
really not conclusive one way or the
other whether or not the (ourr~ one
possesses is an "Official" misrepre-

- William M. Rosenblum/rare coins

introduced by Caracalla only a few
years before these coins were plated.
The deception was carried out even
po box355evergreen,colQ80439 further, as two of these coins had
303-838-4831 chisel cuts through the flans and as
the foil covered the inside surfaces of
Advertising in
Just Makes Good Sense
sentation of a good coin, or a real
contemporary counterfeit of a real
coin.
I am not too sure of the next part
of Mr. Smith's question. "When did
they start plating after striking as
opposed to fouree?" I assume he is
asking about the silver wash coins, or
possibly he is thinking about the coins
with a silver rich surface. At the time
of the Sevecan Dynasty the denarius

7Ae CeIoJor... $6.50 per column inch

ranged in base metal content from
30% to as much as 55%. Caracalla's
new double denarii, the antoninianus,
was as low as 20% silver to 80% base
Where else can youfind
metal. To make these very low silver
the kind of targeted coverage your coins appear to be the old good silver
ad gets for that price? coins. the blank: planchets were fust
"pickJed" in acid to leach out as much
of the surface's base metal as possible.
~ The silver rich surface planchets were
then washed clean and struck as usual,
Full Page 112 Page 114 Page and this would heal over the silver
$390 $195 $97.50 P.O. Box 123 surface to look like very good silver.
Many of these coins today appear to
discounts for multiple insenions Lodi, WI 53555 have a pebbly surface as the small
bumps of silver left on the planchets
surface were flattened somewhat by
the striking of the coin.
By the time of Galilienus. the
ALEXANDER antoninianii had become nothing more
than a small billion or very low
silver (5% or less) coin, To enhance
these copper colored coins, they were
given a silver wash. It is thought that
the new coins were placed in a low
acid soluti9n (vinegar) with some.
pure silver and thus the coins were
1 Please turn to page ·XIII/

BUYING & SELLING

1. Macedonia. Alexander 1/1 the Great, 336-323 b.c., AR tetradrachm. Bust Heracles wearing lion-skin
headdresslZeus std. I. on throne, hok:ts eagle & sceptre. XF, attractive deep gold & grey toning, lifetime issue.
SNG Cop. 681. $475.00 1100 B.C.
'- 2. As above, choice XF, high relief, gold rev. tOning. Exceptional style, posthumous issue. M.714. $750.00 to Modem
3. As above, superb XF, beautWul style, excellent die workmanship. Thorrpson 241. $875.00
4. As above, near XF, broad flan, nice style. M. 720. $475.00

Royal
NUMISMATICS
1. Personal check or money order,
no credl cards. Check must clear.
WriU for Free List: ~
2. Fifteen day return option Anything Anywhere
P.o. Box 7699, Roanoke, VA 24019 3. We pay postage and Insurance P. O. Box 02826
703-362-5750 evenings 4. All coins guaranteed genuine
Portland OR 91202

The Celator , ,,",u"¢t988
Fourrees
----------------~~~~~
given a very thin coating of silver.
This is what happens today if you try
books not only show a little of what
to use a coin dip for some silver coins
and then try to use that same dip for
some copper of bronze coins. During
the reign of Aurelian, when the
antoniniani were without silver at all,
it appears that there was an
improvement in the technique of
applying the silver wash to the newly
struck coins. Today, many of these
coins still show the silvery coating
and the better of these specimens can
command a much higher price than the
ones without this coating.
I might add that some issues of
ancient coins were all of the fourr~e
type. As some of the issue of denacH
from the Roman Civil Wars of 68·69
A.D. are only the plated coins. Check
Seaby's Roman Silver Coins. vol. II,
coin number 364 in the Civil Wars
section. Notice that this is a plated
coin and notice too. that there is a
value listed for it. Then note that all
the other plated coins listed there do
not have a value listed. As there was
no real central government in 68-69.
it was easy to get away with issuing
the founee coins. And too, the issuers
were the ones fighting to be Emperor
and used the plated coins to pay for
their needs outside of Rome. A
similar situation can be found in the
first century B.C., when at various
times the Roman State supponed the
official plating of their denarii. At
these same times there was an opposi-
tion party in Rome that also issued .
coins. but advocated good silver coins.
who issued the Mserrati Mor saw-edged
coins. These serrati were designed to
show the interior of the coin. and thus
furnish a guarantee that the coins were
not plated. Be that as it may. there are
a number of occurrences of plated
6serrati" coins in existence. And too,
the British Museum has in their
cabinets base metal blank planchets
that are serrated ready for the plating
process.
I had intended to respond to most
all of Mr. Smith's questions, but I
too obviously got a bit carried away .
But I would suggest that to help
answer his seventh question, it would
be wise for him to obtain the last
several volumes of the Royal Numis-
matic Society's Coin Hoards. These
Subscribe to the only full service newspaper
specializing in ancient coins and antiquities:
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-------------------------
'I'
' XIII
Continued from page XII
-
has been reponed as having been
unearthed and their numbers, but in
Coming Events ....
most instances they show the disposi-
tion of the hoards. And I would also
suggest that Me. Smith join some coin
May 27-29 C.O.I.N., Airport Hi~on,
clubs. The Society for Ancient
Numismatics. or SAN. is the first one
Los Angeles, CA
I would recommend. SAN can be
reached at P.O. Box 2138 Terminal May 31-
Annex , Los Angeles, California June 1 Superior Stamp & Coin Co.
90051. I think that it is still only $10 Auction, Beverly Hills, CA
a year. SAN's Journal is 8 112 x 11
inches and is filled with fine articles
and excellent photographs.
June 2-5 Long Beach Show, Convention Center,
Local coin clubs are also a good Long Beach, CA
place to find other ancient coin
coUectors who can help the beginner, June 5 Ma~er auction, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
and it might be possible to get these
locals together to form a small local JuneS Christie's auction, NYC
ancient coin club. as we have done here
in Lincoln. We now have fifteen to June 9-12 Mal}'land State Numismatic Association
twenty in OUT ancient group with
about eight of us who are very active Baltimore Festival Hall
with the ancients.
I must also say something about June 16-19 Dallas Coin Convention, Mar1<et
Numismatics International (N!). Center, Dallas TX
While this group is devoted to all
types of numismatics, all that is but June 24-26 Garden State Numismatic Association,
U.S. coins, they do have some good
articles about the ancient coins in
Hyatt, Cherry Hill, NJ
their monthly bulletin. This group is
located at P.O. Box 670013, Dallas. July 6 Harmer Rooke ·Curato!" sale, NYC
Texas 75367-0013. and their dues are
$15 per year. The Nt Bulletin runs July 8-10 Mid America Coin Convention, MECCA
twenty to twenty-five pages an issue Convention Center, Milwaukee, WI
and it has no advertising. just articles.
The back page is devoted to member's
notices, where we can ask for help July 20-24 American Numismatic Association
with questions or help in locating Annual Convention, Cincinatti, OH
COins, books, or just information.
Several years ago the NI Bulletin
started a monthly series, ~ An
Introduction to Byzantine Coinage."
Each of these articles are of the coins
of one of the Byzantine Emperors. and
they started with Anastasius I and
have progressed to Romanus II in the
May 1988 issue. These articles are
Munzen ond Medaillen AG
written by my good friend the Rev.
I.C.G. Campbell, a man who was a For 45 years
practicing archeologist in Turkey
before World Was: II, who specialized
in Byzantine art. I must say, too, that we have been serving
he is a very knowledgeable numis-
matist. Another reason for my collectors of Ancient Coins ...
recommendation of Nt is that they
have at times found some of my small
works worthy of publication.
and we would like
to serve you too!
·Monthly Illustrated Fixed Price Lists·
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 XIV The CeIator June 1988

HUM/SMA TIC HERALDRY:

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ANCIENT
BIBLICAL
COINS
WRITE FOR FREE ILLUSTRATED
CATALOGUE ...

H.KOGEN
P.O.BoJII: 2137
NATANYA 42121 ISRAEL
Gallienus Macrianus
253·268 AD 260·261 AD

Constantinople
330-346 AD

Constantius II Constans
337·361 AD 337-350 AD

FEATURING COINS OF AUGUSTUS

Jean
I. Aft cistophofUI. But h d . r .. IMP CAESAR belo.,. I AVGVSTVS belo,,· capricor n r .• btUlnl
cOTnucopi.~. all In .. ruth. Rle 417. SCARCE
2. A.R e!sto phor"'l IMP CAESAR belo., hd . of AUlu!!u,
orn amented with two U",. RIC 411. RARITY 21
30 AR tnndnchln. Antlochl, ad OTanlem , lAur. hd. of Au ......
rock. rln, lad Oront.. a .. lmm!". " her leet . SOl 101.
f',almost VF 31) ,00
I AVOVSTV$ .bon u rl ln dtd altar
t".
VPfVP 550,00
r . /TJ'che 01 AnUoch lI d. on
PIP 200.00
ELSEN
4. AR dtnuh.... LIo .. . . hd. 01 AU .. IUIl.. r . / 0.111$ and Luthi" eu.au . ,,- , lael".. , Ihlelcb ... 41
I IXU' between them. RIC 20'1 VPJVP 110.00
• Mail Bid Sales
5. AR denarius. But bd. of AUlu . tlU r . / OB CfV18 SERVATOO within oak wruth. Sear " :.
WI'" 110.00
and Public Auctions
O. AE as of Ntmau,ul. Hd of AUi""1 1.. Ilu , . hd. 01 AUIUltul r . IMP DM P PP I Crocodlle • Numismatic Literature

-
cha ined 10 p l lm U et . COL NEM R IC 150 Nice VP 115.00
• Monthly Illustrated Price Lists

(i'\ .A;;:~a;;~;~i~
7. AR denarlul. :Bare hd. 01 Au. u.lu. r .• AVOVSTVS DM P I IMP X ACT. Apollo .1 •. • hOldlm-
hre Ind plect r um. Sur 310. PI P 100.00
• . AR Qulnarlu$. :Bllt h d. r " CAESAR DtP VII I MIA RE'CEPTA. VieIO." .~ . on cllll mf'Uca.
lboll! VP 150.00

I
P. AE ... Bile hd T. , CAESAR AVOVSTVS PONT MAX TRIBVNIC POT I N ){AI:'ClLIVS
TVLLVS m VIR AAAPP Ilound llrlt &C. Sur 413 . Ob~. let"end .. u k U 3:OG. A le w s man
Pl tl on reyetlt. Vtr r , harp portrait . 1$.00
TERMS OP SALE
AU eoinl ,ua ranloud unuln,.
P1U H add '3.00 for POIlU ' an d In,uraace. Avenue de Tervueren 65, Bte 1
PlUH Hn d "fmenl 'IOlth ,)rde • .
""11 rdund lntludlnll _l.In If 7011 are not
laU l lied. Colnl ",1111 K returned 11110 IIUI.
1040 BRUSSELS·BELGIUM
Phone order. att rKOJDm.alled. Orderl will
be btld 1 dan .... IUn. purnenl. Tel: 02/734.63.56
"The Celator June 1988
Cederlind issues fixed
price list supplement
Tom Cederlind. of Portland,
Oregon, recently issued a supplement
to his fixed price list #80. Included
in the 58 additional pieces offered for
sale at fixed prices are many
exceptional pieces.
An EF and rare stamenon nomisma
of Isaac I with Christ on the obverse
and the emperor with military attire
and drawn sword on lhe reverse is
offered at S 1,200. An equally nice
pair of tetradrachms from Athens
(449-413 B.C.) are available for
$ 1,450 and $1,000. Both are nicely
centered and well struck: on large
flans.
A group of seven huge Ptolemaic
bronzes, in a nice state of preser-
vation. are being sold at prices ranging
from $85 to $650.
Ptolemaic bronze. an AE-40 of
Another
Cleopatra VII offers one of the very
few flattering portraits of this
notorious lady at $395.
Among the Roman bronzes offered
is a rare and interesting As of
Faustina the Younger. On its reverse
is a scene of Venus restraining Mars.
Venus is said to have been depicted
using the features of Faustina and the
type has been thought by some to be
satirical because of Faustina's
Christie's
the fine to very fine range. and
estimated from $600 upwards. the
sale features a magnificent Aureus of
Faustina I. The coin is practically in
mint state and would seem to be as
close to perfection as any two
thousand year old coin could be. It is
estimated at $4,000-$6,000. Follow-
ing is an impressive run of four choice
extremely fine Aureii of Commodus,
Jiulia Damna, Caracalla and Geta.
Though each is superb, the last is
surely most outstanding . Because Geta
ruled for only three years before being
murdered on the orders of his brother
Caracalla, his Aureii are extremely
rare and hardly ever seen at auc tion.
The pre-sale estimate on the piece is
$5,000-$7,000. Rounding out the
Aureii are examples of Gailienus and
Diocletian.
After well over forty lots of
multiple Roman coins. many of
considerable quality, the sale features
late Roman and Byzantine gold. There
is a mint state Solidus of Magnus
Maximus, estimated at $2,000-$3.000
as well as examples from Justinian II,
Theophilus and others.
The sale will be held at 10 AM on
Wednesday, June 8 at Christie's
Galleries at 502 Park A venue, New
~OO©DIllOOll' ~OO@
STEPHEN M. HUSTON
ClaSSical Numismatist
San Francisco, CA 94119
Write for sample list
Office: 582 Market , Suite 1011, San Francisco.
supposed penchant for the gladiators.
The coin. in F-VF. was valued by
Cohen at 12 Francs and is offered by
Cederlind at $175. For a copy of this
latest s upplement. write to Tom
Cederlind at P.O. Box 1963.
Portland. OR 97207.
CNA plans
more sales
Victor England in Histori cal Coin
Review, published by the Quarryville.
PA dealer. has announced plans for
two more auctions in 1988. The first
--
will reportedly be a large Mail Bid
Sale scheduled for early September.
and the second will be a New York
We Compete
We Don't Have to be a Goliath to be
auction to coincide with the timing of
the New York International show in the best ad buy of the coin & antiquities media.
December.
US THEM
The firm conducts auctions under
the name Classical Numismatic 1. 2 1/4 " ad column width 1. 1 3/4" or less column width
Auctions. Ltd. Their latest auction 2. $6.50 per column inch 2. $14 + per column inch
was held at the same time as the
3. Targeted readership 3. General readership
Greater NY Numismatic Convention
last month. England may be contact- 4. Free ad composition, 4. Camera ready art only
ed at P.O. Box 245. Quarryville, PA
17566.
layout, and art work
-
Continued from page VII
Numismatic Art of Antiquity
York, NY 10022. Telephone and mail
P.O. Box 123, Loeli, WI53555
bids are welcomed. Public viewing
will be on June 3. 4. 6 and 7, from 10
a.m . to 5 . p . m. or by prior
appointment.
Bank Leu Ltd Zurich
Numismatics
Geta, AU-Aureus
Catalogues are available for $10
from Christie's Publications, 21 -24
44th Avenue, Long Island City, NY
-
11101. All other inquiries should be
directed to James Lamb or Amy
Corcoran at 212-546-1056.
Christie's Coin Department is now
accepting consignments of fine Roman
and Greek coins for their fall
numismatic auction to be held in New
York in September.
iMllll@DIllW~Ib
OODOO® Every year we have an auction of very important ancient coins
in spring.
We issue occasional lists.
Our stock ranges from Hemitartemoria to Dekadrachmai, and
from Quadrantes to Multiple Aureus Medallions.
We actively buy and sell at al/ price levels.
P.O. Box 3621
Bank Leu Ltd
In Gassen 20 CH-8001 Zurich Switzerland
Telephone (from the US) 011 411 2192406 Telex 814 616
 XVI The Celator June 1988

Celestial Continued from page IX

John's billaD coins from the mint at retrospect as a harbinger of ultimate

Thessalonica (SB 2065). Finally, we
may note that stars (which mayor
may not represent the s upernova)
appeared atop staffs held by John and
St. Theodore on some of John's silver
coins (S8 2031), and a single large
star appeared above the city towers on
billa D coins of Thessalonica struck for
lohn's successor, Theodore II Dueas·
Lascaris (1254-8; SB 2083).
A Foreboding Tercentenary
In the 300th year of lhe supernova,
the event may have been viewed in
doom. The uneasy sharing of power by
John V Paleologus (1341-91) and
John VI Cantacuzenus (1347-54) had
been unsuccessful in the maintenance
of the state's strength . Most notably
and ominously. the Black Death had
depopulated the capital in 1348 and
the Genoese had annihilated the
Byzantine navy in 1349. Now the
Ottoman Turks proceeded to extend
their domain into Europe itse lf
(1354), as Byzantium suffocated in its
continually shrinking borders between

- CLEOPATRA, QUEEN OF EGYPT

eastern and western powers. For the

Alexius I, Comnenus
EI-Nomisma

ftrst of the caesars, and to the Roman-

last time, a pair of stars was restored,
to complement the portrait of Mary
on some of the debased (and todilY
scarce) gold coins struck for the two
About 35 B.C., after accompanying Mark Antony to the Euphrates, Cleopatra VII retJJmed Johns (58 2225).
Ib Egypt. En route, she entered Damascus, which welcomed her as Its rescuer from The Empire is Extinguished
lturean bandts. Damascus's city fathelS rxder9d the majestic portrait of this legendary
queen to be stamped on coins In celebration of her visit. This is one of those coins. Still another century later, no one
could doubt that the end of the empire
Obverse : Diademed bust of Cleopatra VII
was at hand. After a prolonged agony
Reverse: W~hin a wreath, Tyche of Damascus is seated left on a rock,
The river god Chrysoras swims beneath her. of decay from its former greatness,
the empire did not aggrandize its
Byzantine Empire. Byzantium, whic h
had preserved the gifts of Roman
civilization (and had added its own)
from the onset of the Dark Ages to
the fl owering of the Renaissance. had
fulfilled its purpose, and had outlived
its usefulness. Byzantium's las t
emperor, the heroic but ill-starred
Constantine XI PaJeologus (1448-53),
died fighting when Mohammed II the
Conqueror (1451-81) and his Ottoman

- Svornos - 1890 Very Fine Plus $ 1,250

"We wrote the book on allCient Biblical coins"
write for our free illustrated catalog
eternity, nor did it commemorate the
supernova. on its coinage. The coins
were now entirely without gold (only
silver) and were of poor manufacture
AMPHOIU. barely recogni zab le for their
P.O . Dox 805 portraits and legends. and of extreme
Nyack. NY 10Q60 rarity today (58 2260).
914·358-73&1 Exactly 1500 years earlier.
Pompey's death had assured life to the
Turks overwhelmed the defenders and
poured into Constantinople on the
29th day of May. in the 400th year of
the supernova.
Note: Reference numbers of coins
are from David Sear's books Roman
Coins and Their Values (SR) and
Byzantine Coins and Their Values
(SB).

William B. Warden, Jr., • Numismatist

Specializing in Coins of the Near East
ROMAN EMPIRE
F.R.N.S., A.N.A., A.N.S., SAN. , N.I. , S. I.N.-LM.
1) Septimius SeVenJl, 193-211 AD., AR Denariul, A,D. 201 . Rev. ISPAHBAD PRINCES OF TABARISTAN
PART
__ MAX
_PM _TR _Villi,
_ RIC
__ 176,_
choicfJ
_ EF _(lovely
__ portrail
---$$165slyle) _ For over a centutY alter the Sasanian Empire .uccumbed to the
adVancing arm las 01 Islam the province 01 Tabarls tan stubbomly
2) Caracalla, 198-217, AR D&nariUI. Rv. VENVS VICTRIX .. RIC FOR EARLIER PARTHIAN RULERS SEE MY APRIl. 1988 Celatw managed to maintian its Independence under Pllfslan princes who
311b,RSCI858, EF $165 ADVERTISEMENT. were Zotoaslrians and known as Ispahabads . During the period 01
3) Cataealla, 198·217 A.D., AR Derlarius, Rv. Serapil stg. lacing I., 7 11·761 AD. they also sfNCk coins in silver but 112 !he weigh t 01
RIC 194, RSC 195. EFlaEF $165 SASANIAN EMPIRE Ihe Sasanlan drad'lms.
4) ElagabUJs, 218-222 A.D., AR Derlarius, Rv . Sol advancing left, 21) Aldaahir I. 22..2'" A.D., AR Drachm, GobI 10 & SWW 10, aEF_ 32) FarJman. 711 ·728 A.D., 112 Dradvn, AH 108. Tabaristan mini,
and star in left 1ieId, RIC 28, RSC 154, EF $150
5) Elagabalus, 218-222 A.D ., AR Denarius. Rv . Providen~a Itg. lell, ~~~-=~=c~~~~=-~~~~~~"""
22) Narseh, 2930303 A .D., AR Dradlm, Gobi 76 & SWW 26. toned
Walkar BMC I, ,b, in AU cond. $55 and in UNC. S65
33) Kburshid, 740-761 A,D .• 112 Drachm, AH 124, Tabaristan mint,
RIC 42, RSC 189b, aEF $110 VF+ B $150 Walkar BMC I, d, EF-AU cond. $55 and In UNC. $65
6) Severus Alexander, 222·235 A.D., AR Denarius, Rv . VIRTVS 23) Yazdgard II, 438'''57 A.D., AR Drachm, VH + Vah ·Ardashlr
AVG, BMC 522·23, RIC 224, choice EF $140 minI. most likely ~GobI165 & SWW .7, 8B&aEF-S75
7) Maximinul I, 235-238 A.D ., AR Denarius, Av. FIDES 2.. ) Ardashir III, 62tH>30 A.D" AR Dtachm, '.'1. 2. BYSH _ Bishapur
MILElVM.BMC I. RIC 7a. RSC 7, aEF $95 mint. Gobi 227 & SNW 70, Ioned EF 100 UMAYYAD C ALIPHS, post·reform colnlge
8) Gordian III. 238-2.... A.D .. AR Antotllnlanus. Rv. Herc:ules Itg. 25) Aldashlr III. 628.£30 A.D .. AR Oradlm , r.y. 2. WAC _ UflC«tlin 3") temp. of 'Abc! ai-Malik ibn Matwan, 685-705 A.D ., AR Dirham,
naked, dub set on rock. RIC 95, RSC olO4 . toned aEF---S70 minI.GobI227&~70,lonedaEF& BB $150 AH 79, firll 'lIar 01 Issue during the coinaoe reform by Ihis Caliph,
9J Phifip I, 2 ....·2..9 A.D., AR Antooinianus. Rv. Ph~ ip on horseback. 26) Ardaahir III, 62&-630 A.D., AR Drachm, r.y. 2, APR _ uncertain aI·Basra minI, nice VF+ Ihula: $ISO
ADVENTVSAVGG, RIC 26 (bJ, RSC 3, toned aEF $65 mini, Gobi 227 & SWW 70, Iooed aEF $100 35) lemp. of 'Abd ai-Malik Ibn Marwan, 6850705 A.D., AR Dirham.
10) Trajan OecIUI, 2"9-251 A.D., AR antooinlanus, Rev. Dada slg. AH 81 aI·Basra minI. EF·

-
$0(5
1. holding standard , AIC'2 (b), RSC 16. lustrous choIc4I EF. superb HUNS OF IRAN SACTRIA & INDIA 36) temp. 01 al·Walid I, 705-715 A .D .• AR Dirham. AH 90, Klrman
on smatllhidl _ wealdy struck rev._
....
portrait
____ ___ planchel
__ but_eU'emely
~_~_~~S
27) Kldarile Huns, 8I'\Or'Iy'mouI luue, type 01 ShapJr III, AR Draclm, minI. EF·AU. $75
..Ih Century A.D .• GobI Em. HI, MAC l "l1 .\c:Iw1y aEF &BBB- 37) I8mp. 'lImar Ibn abd aJ.·AzIz. 717-720 A.D .• AR Dirham, AH 100,
II ) VaI&rian I, 253-260 A.D., AR Anbninianul (with 1uI111I'Yering), Damascus minI. lustrous EF $35
Rv. VOTA ORBIS, RIC 29". RSC 279, nice Vf $'iS 28) Napki Huns 01 KablA & Zabul, Napkl Maika type, 5th Century 38) temp, YazkllI, 72Q.72" A.D .. AR Dirham, AH 104, Wasil minI.
12) Constan~ne II, 337-340 A.D., AE 3, London minI. RIC 287, EF_ A.O" AR Drachm in good Illver, MAC 1507-1509, aEF---SB5 UNC $45
~----~----~~~~~--~I~ 39) temp. Hisham, 72,(-7043 A.D., AR Dirham, Ah 123. Wasil mini,
ARAB·SASANIAN UNC ~5
29) Umayyad's, Samurl Ibn Jundab, Governor 01 Basra 670-673 40) temp , Marwan 11,7«-750 A.O.. AR Dirham, Ah 131, Wasit minI.
INDO-GRHK AD .. AR Dnu:hn, YE .. , • AH 52153 (A.D. 673), DA. Dwabglrd
13) Menander, 160-1"5 B.C., AR Drad'lm, Obv. Diademed busl 01 mini , Walkar BMC, Vol, I. no. M.26. MAC 1357, EF & B (of hilklrical Ef.AUU.~"'~~la~"~Um~"'~.~C.~
over._
. 6ob~~U::;"~'32~A~H~"~A~""~:",~'~5,.,.
King thruating apear, Av. Taxila minI. Pallas holding shield 1acirIg. Ilmportance as SamUri Ibn Jundab al·Fluri was one 01 the
!.Sew 7604var., MAC 1788, lustroul choic4I EF $160 s./laba', or Companion, olihe Prophet Muhammad) $300 HAVE MANY MORE DIRHAMS IN STOCK, IF THERE ARE AtfY
1..) Antialcidas, 145-135 B.C" AR Drachm, Obv. Helmeted bust of 30) Umayyad, Ziyad Ibn Abi Sufyan, Viceroy 01 the East, governor 01 PARTICULAR TYPES YOU WANT PLEASE SEND ME WANT
king facing righI, Rv. Pushkalavati minI, Zeul enthroned three- Basra & Kula, 665-67. A.D., AR Drachm. AH 531 A.D. 672, BISH LISTS.
quarter face to I., holding rika and ~ter. wilh Iorepart 01 Elephanl (BYSh) • Bishapur mini, Walker BMC I. 'ANS.9, wilh elm no. 11 II
at hi,leet, Sear 7630 VaI'., MAC 1&40, RARE, EF $ISO 2;"5 on obv. (deemed by lome as !he gleatest man 01 his 108,
adopled by the Caliph Mllawlya as his brother, and ona 01 hi.
PARTHIAN EMPIRE mU1SiayS of the lmayyad cause) EF $100
15) Phraatas III; 7057 B,C., AR Draeh:'n, Ed:latana minI. Sellwood 31) Umayyad, Caliph Wawlye, 661.s&OA.O., AR Drachm, ve .. , • Til".. 01 Sal e:
39.2, klned aEFNF $95 52153 AH (A.D. 673), OA • Darabgrd mint, WlJkllf BMC I. 35, EF a All coin. are guaranteed genuine and COO'f8Ctfy anributed • A '''-

-
B (lhese coins were mo. ,likaly struck in Mllawiya name by Samura
.U.
16) Orodes II, 57-38 B.C., AR Drachm. Ecbatana minI. Sellwood
toned good VF $65
17) Phraatal rv, 38-2 B.C., AR Drachm, Ecbatana minI. Sellwood
ibn Jundab to ingratiale himself with the Caliph jLl" before his
dismissal as pemor 01 Basra) $160
day relum privilege lor any reason · All Penn sylvania residents
musl .ad 6% &alas tax 10 their ordllf • For oyersaas coIlectotl, III
price. 118 io U.S. doIlarl, and payment i, to be made In this
SO, lOned aEFIEF $95 PlEASE NOTE I HAVE COlLECTED THIS SERIES OF CO...S AS currency by either draft or mor1&y Ofder drawn on a U.S. Bank •
16) AttabanJs ll, 10.38 A.D., AR Drachm, Ecbatana mint, Seltwood WELL AS DEALT IN THEM FOR OVER 25 YEARS . AND HAVE Order. art fiHed out In orelar of receipllllcl mailed out ptomplly ,
63.6, EF $55 EXTENSIVE STOCK, IF THERE IS ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR however II customer I. unknown to me, I will wall un~1 dleck
19) Vologases III, 105-1 .. 7 A.D ., AR Drachm, Ecbatanl mint, YOU ARE LOOKING FOR PLEASE WRITE ME . ALSO IF YOU paymenl has deared my bank belote shipping· Please indude $3
Sellwood 78.4, EF $45 HAVE ANYTHING TO SCLl OR TRADE. lor postage lot orders uflder $200, and $5 if over.
20) Vologases Ill, 105· 10(7 A.D., AR Dtachm, Eebalana mint,
Sellwood 78.5, EF $4S

William B. Warden, Jr. - Numismatist

P. o. Box 356 • New Hope, PA 18938 U.S.A.• Phone (215) 297·5088 (from 10 8.m . • 9 p.m.)

... ... ............ .... _ . . ... . ... . . . ... .. ...... ,._ ... _ ..
" ,, .. ....
XVII
The Celator June 1988

Dating Continued from page I

years. Since the Alexandrian year the 9th regnal year of Diocletian (the the emperor)'. ordinal numeral is given. It should be
began on August 29 and went to the 8th of Maximianus). noted that as the flan size decreased
next August 28 it is apparent that a There are a few Alexandrian coins A chan of the numbering system is the regnal year became more and more
given regnal year consists of parts of which do not bear a regnal date. The given below as an aid in dating. In abbreviated until on the dichalkon
two Roman years. The fIrSt or last early bronze coins of Augustus and some cases the date is written out in denomination it was more customary
regnal years might consist of only one Livia do not bear a regnal date and are Greek. The genitive form of the to use Greek letters only.
Roman year depending on when the approximately dated. The coins of
emperor obtained power or when he Aelius are unique as they bear the
Greek Dating System:
died.
When emperors, during their reign,
Roman dating of TR. POT. COS. 11
(in Greek). A few coins of A_
,- ,,, ,,-
'A_ 'A_
,,- U
" AA-
,,- MA- ..
.
3>
struck coins in the name of their sons, Commodus as well as a questionable
coin of Trajan bear a Roman as well as r- or- " ,,- " .c- " M'- 42
wives, mothers or successors the coins
would naturally bear the regnal dates a regnal date. The consecration coins
,- ,•
E_
,,-
>E _
" ,,-
<E- "
" ,.- "
of the ruling emperor. If the of Carns ace undated but were struck: ,-
,-_ ,,• " ,,- "" "
emperor's sons or successors came to in what would have been his 2nd H ,,- "" ,,-
>S-
'H_ " 'H_
power at a later date they would start regnal year. The last undated. coinage e- , ,e-'H- " ,e_ " .e-
""
,- ,. " "
-
'0
over at regnal year 1 of their own
reign. For example, Elagabalus
occurs under the reign of Diocletian.
These last undated issues were
,-
,-
struck coins of Severus Alexander in probably an experiment between the
M_ "'0
his 5th regnal year and when Severus ,-eo Ws.d •• v.lue ...... k only)
Alexandrian and the newer Roman
Alexander came to power he issued reform coinage. .
coins in years 1 ~ 14.
There are a few rulers who did not The Regnal Year
start their regnal years over at year 1 The regnal year, as a rule, appears
when they came to power, but on the reverse of the coin. Some of v..... I: ETOVC A
continued the previous emperor's the early emperon such as Vespasian. Ve .... 2. ETOV~4£VTEPOV. ETOVC B
regnal years. Pan of the problem was V..... 3. ETOV~ TPlTOV, L TPlTOV, ETOVC r-
Claudius and Nero had the regnal date V. .... 4. ETOV~ TE TAPTOV, L TETAPTOV
probably due to the fact that the on the obverse but the experiment did Ve . ... ~. ETDVr IEMWTOV , ET DVC E. L .EMITDV
ruling Caesars were elevated to the Ve .... O. ETOV~ EKTOV, ETOVC S
not last past the reign of Trajan. V. .... 7 . L EB6DMOV, ETOVC l
title of Imperator before the ruling The regnal year is preceded by the V. .... 81 ETDV~ Dr-toDOV
emperor passed away. The coins of marker 'L' which, jUdging from the V..... 9. LEN, LENA, L ENAT, L ENATOV, ETOVr ENATOV , ET e,
Caracalla and Commodus fall into ET ENAT
later representation of 'ETOVC' must V..... 10. L 6E, L 4EK( AT) , L 4EKA, L toEKATOV
this category.

In the reign of Diocletian the coins
of Maximianus, Constantius I and
Galerius start their regnal dating
system in different years. The first
regnal year of Maximianus was struck
in year 2 of Diocletian and this one
year difference in regnal years
continued until the mint's reform in
296 A.D. The first regnal year of
Constantius I and Galerius occurred in
-
have had the force: 'of (the) yeac'. The V..... 11, L EN4EKATOV
most usual representation of the V..... 121 L 4W4EK(A), L 4WdEKAT, L dW4EKATOV
Ve .... 13, L TPICKAI(4E), L TPICKAldEKA
regnal year just gives the Greek Vo .... 19. L ENNEAKd
capital letter which corresponded to
Not • • Th. ye .... 13 and 19 fo ... m. ..... .mbl. the ~a ... dinal num ..... l
the Greek: numbering system which fo ....... Gei ••• n ho .... ve ... e~p.nd . th.m to .n o... din.l nume .... 1 fo ... m.
was very close to the Greek alphabet
In numerous cases, the year is spelt When Re.din<;J d.t ......t~h out fo ... p .... Hd d.t... A y..... 14
~ould .Pp ........ y ..... 10 eLI) 0 ..... y ..... 4 (L4). Llk .... i •• • y••,.
out in Greek: with the ordinal number 4 could b. Y'"'.'" 1 (LA), y.a,. 11 (LIA ) , y ••,. 14 (Lid), ye . ... 24
in the genitive case. Therefore the (LKd) , .tc.. Sam.. lett .... s ,. ••• ontIl. oth ... l .tt .... s ,..I\. n th.y .....
..o ... n.
actual meaning of the dating symbols
was: 'of (the) Nth year (of reign of

ALEX G. MALLOY, INC.

Announces
"...
H.....II:i1ll

Ancient Art and Antiquities c~

Mail Bid Auction XXV

Closing Date July 1st 1988
684 ANTIQUITIES, FEA TURING:
-96 Paeolithic to Modern Tools and Weapons.
-46 Stone Stamp Seals rrom 5000 B.C. to 500A.D.
-63 Cylinder Seals rrom Uruk IV to Parthian.
-40 Western Asialic Early Man Stone. Terracotta and Metal Objects
-36 Egyptian King Name Scarabs. .
-
42 EgYPlian Design and Animal Scarabs in Steatite and Hard Slone
- 6 Egyptian Vessels .
-41 EgYPtian Amulets in Faience and Stone.
-33 Egyptian Art in Stone, Metal, Wood, Faience and Terracotta.
-21 Biblical Holy Land Artiracts.
-35 Greek and Erruscan Pottery Vessels and Terracotta including
Attic and Magna Graeaa. '
-32 Roman Antiquities in Metal, Terracotta and Ivory, including a GI'MII Gold LJ1L!I F.ant&lwldt. a.:I
G"-aMG.-~
Roman Wall Painting Fragment.
-18 Roman Glass Obj«ts.
-37 Ancienr Intaglios and Cameos.
-26 Ancient Gold Jewellery or Babylonia, Troy, Egypt, Greece & Roman
- 8 Bronze Fibulae or Various Cultures.
-44 Ancienr Greek, Roman, and Early Islamic Oil Lamps.
-59 Medieval Artifacts or Early Christian, Coptic, and Byzanrine Cui·
tures, as well as Medieval Germany, France, England, Spain,
italy, and the Early Renaissance.
INC.
BAl.!!:"
CATALOGS AVAILABLE FOR $2.50 YORX 10&.0

--- Fully Illustrated

... wilhfull attributions according to the latest scholarship and referenced to the leading
museum collections.
Office and Gallery
19 Danbury Road, Ridgefield, Connecticut
Phone 20343S-0396
 XVIII The Celator June 1988

HOARD SPECIALS ••••

ROMAN AE :
(a) 20 EF
(b) 40 F·VF
(e) 100 G·F
(d) 1000 Poor · Fair
' WIDOWS MITE" type lepta
120 B.C. - 70 A.D.
(e) 50 poor. Fine
(I) 25 "better strikes~
in flips and attributed
PTOLEMAIC AE: ANTONINIAN II:
(g) 25 large. fair to fine (h) 50 fair to VF
Any of the a bove bts (A thru H) $295 each Rates:
postpaid. Satisfaction Guaranteed $5.00 for 1he first 20 words 20¢ each additional w ord.
.£omlon Coin galleries
Mission VIOjo Mall Syria-Palestine city coins. F r ee
Mission Viejo, CA 92691 price lis ts, very reasonab le prices.
1-5 at Crown Valley (7 14) 364-0990
Simon Cordova, P .O. Box 2096,
Citrus Heights, CA 95611 -2096
Greek, Ro ma n , Medieval coins.
Monthly catalogs with very reason- .. Keep in g Anc ient Rome Ali ve."
able prices and discounts issued for 21 A Bi-monthly journal devoted to
years. Francis J. Rath, Box 266, ancien t Rome and its infl uence.
Youngstown, NY 14174. Subscriptions $5 . Sample copy on
request. 27824 Hummi ngbird Ct. ,
Roman b r onze coi ns, AE3 & 4, Hayward, CA 94545-4042.

- AD 2 60-400 . Av g. F-VF, good

variety. $7 ea., 3/$ 18, 10/$ 50. Mike
Burton, Box 4 56 Seb astopal, CA
95473.
Plaster Casts from
.
excep tional
denarii of the twelve caesars. 24
pieces (obv. &. rev. of 12 coins) from
1Or/1CDS4
Ancient Artifacts
'"!..-:g?; For sale: Many out-of-print and
Julius Caesar to Do mitian . $24
postpaid. Scholar Copies, P.O. Box
A.Ways Moderately Priced· FffIfJ catalog
new numismatic books . Send want 123. Lodi, WI 53555.
lists to: Stoffel Vogelaar, Mulrany,
P. O.Box 4093
Torrance. CA 90510
• (213)
544-6399
WestpOrt, (Mayo), Ireland. YOU MAY OBTAIN
LARGE TAX REFUNDS
MEHRDAD "G reek Coins From T be Jobn by donating your dJplicate ooIns and
SADIGH sfamps to help handicapped children. For
The Professional Directory Ward Collection" 300 exquisite free useful Information and Ihe new 1985
is your Index to a variety 303 5th Ave. color slides within ten descriptive ru les (written by a tax-attomey) write:
hardbound volumes. 1974 Sotheby. THE NUMISMATIC INSTITUTE
of sources and services Room #1515 P. x 7476 I 60680
All for $ 300. Also, one reprint paper
New York NY eight volume set of Henry Cohens'
classic. First $ 150. Both like new.
- ANTIQUmES & COINS
Our now 40 page Hlususted cataJogve
includes
10016
800-426-2007
Vincent Kosik, 2614 Adams Street,
Hollywood, Florida 33020.
May 88 • Trivia Answer:

--
Grt19k.
AntiquitUs
Romt.1, EgypfBn, La-istan. Englsh 212-725-7537 ( Coinl 'illtBoo1$M< )
QHIic, Engfsh mer;fsvsJ .. objects hom most
0IhBr sntittnl aJ/1.Qs.
Coins
Greek. Rctnl¥J, Byzantine, English Celtic ..
English MtxIHJVllI coins at pr/cBs 10 suit B1I
EVENINGS
(301) 876-71 4() or
Christian Blom Ancient
podfeu.
W. M .... .. flOOd rfIPIUtiot'I lex tal ptiC8$
(301) 235-1696
Greek, Roman and . Greek &
;nd .ICCl/nIIft (lftdng; 01o'8( ~ of ..
catalogw Ales IiI'IJ 10 deBJen worldwide,
P/sa$8 .i_ tit .I«" ' " ropy b;
World Coins Roman
Olel lRJorlel !.1Inlifuilies
JOHN CUMMINGS L TO. Ancient Greek, Roman , Egyptian, Etc.
write for free sample list Coins
P,O. Box 38, Granflam. 2504 N. Quantico St.
UncoInshil'8, NG31 SM, England
Artifacts. Bronzes, Statuettes,
PoHery , AmJlets • Send lor free rlSt Arli ngton, VA 2 2207
and books about them
.w.rrr:.- AnlIqJIy ~A--=. Member: Antiquities Dealers Assoc. 703-533-311 9
. "" ~ nw."-
P.O. 8ox,.0- _____ noon 10 midnight FREE SAMPLE
CATALOGS
PEGASI COINS Thomas P. McKenna

~
ntiquitin - Old & New World
nei M!, Med~'41 & Modern Co inl
ntique Sal'". IftI /f UffWIlts, P.o . Box 4207 P. O. Box 1356-P
Ann Arbor, MI 48106
~Objects in Many Med~
CoII~tib '"
Phone: (313) 434-3856 Ft. Collins, Co 80522
L ppraiserr ."d AuctioneK I Educational
Numismatics
Classical nwnismatist serving ~gin­
ners through adwmctd colkctors. Stnd
(303) 226-5704
aassical Fine Arts for fru ilIl1StToted caltJJbg. Sp«lfy:
,~ Museum
Quality
• auallty Ancl«lt. : Choice and
scarce coins over $100. Lucien Birkler
Sharp • Barga in Ancients: Attractive
Professional Numismatist
JOEL MALTER & Co. anCIents (not junk) under $150.
Uniface
Die Struck • Medieval CoIns: Hammered
16661 Ventura Blvd .• Su~e 518 European from 500 to 1650 A.D.
Encino. CA 91436 USA Bonded Silver • Antiqu itIes: Artifacts (other
1 ~ Wrileforour
..~~ ~... S 0f
free lit
MAIL: P. O. Box 777. , Scholar Copies than coins) from Stone AQe
through Renaissance periods. 1\
..,: Greek •
Encino. CA 91316 USA Collections. Ancient An Displays
Want llts ..,..,;ced. ~/ion$.~. , ;. l Ro~an.
(818) 7B4-m2 or 784-2181 S,nd JOT Lists: AppraIaIs Md
Aan.
IllS'" devaAsalions
buyw .,
Pf/1rlOfm«I.
nu/eriIIL Byzantine
PETER ROSA and Medieval coins
7 Suoo:ymead.
New York We alUM most major auctions
qt.1J{]) 'RJ'[GlfJJ'["i =::.. -~~. ]oruzthan K. Kern and will represetll you
Bachelor or Am 1100 17th 51...... N.W.
~"R&=ISU'RfJ5 Numismatics Washington D.C. 20036
Ancient, Medieval, Early 202-833-3770

/'!I. American Numismatics

.- The Time
ItR60S
~UMISMATICS
Machine Co. Attractive Quality
Greek & Roman Ancient Coins
Rne Archaeological Price Lists
Att and Coins Audion Representation
Want List Sarvice 444 S. Ashland
P.O. Box 282 - FkJshing 51a.
Queens. NY 11367 P. O. Box 4102 Lexington, KY 40502
(718) 544-2708 Clifton, NJ 07012 (606) 269-1614
,..'_:, ' "
The 'CeIa!or
., ' ~~ ..'. ',
June 1988
, ....

QUALITY ANCIENT, ,
MEDIEVAL & ENGLISH
SAN.

{I
Quality coins at fair prlc:es,
A.NA
V.N.A.

'Ancient~~
Ancient Coins
and Antiquities BUY, SELL· TRADE
aunen,! (oillS:
&. 9.ntIQllilirs·,

Write for our BuylBld

Bob & Marian Robbins

~
7910 Woodmont Ave,
Fixed Price Lists, Buy-Bid Sales, - SUite 1104 P.O. Box 9104
Public Auctions. • Buy - Sell . Betnesdl'l!e'P. 20814
301~70
Tacoma WA 98409
Annual Subscription $20 (206) 475-3795
Sample upon request.
• Free Lists ", ,,",.,,, ',~'~""" ; "' ; "'" ,,'.-,,--.- -,,'--'-'- ••
Royal Numismatics
VICTOR ENGLAND P.O. Box 7699
Box 245
Roanoke, VA 24019
Quarryville, PA 17566
(717) 78f>401l (703) 362·5750 evenings
ttrmpire
PHOTOGRAPH
QIoins COINS" BILLS ee
ANCIENT COINS • Instant PoIatoId PrlnII ~
Ancient & World Coins Specializing in AND BOOKS • ColOr or Bladt • WhJte
••
_.......... F--- l"t 0
• Exotic Ancient • Same Slze 01 Enlarged
PONTERIO • Classical Central Asian
P.O. Boz 609 ;
Bolly BIB. PL 32017 ,
& ASSOCIATES, INC. • Islamic, & Indian Coins
(904)677·1314 c.tI or Send Fof
,
3823 Park Blvd.
P.O. Box 33588
San Diego, CA 921 03
Write for samp/9 illustratlKi list

OMAR HAMIDI
P.O. Boll: 2937
Redwood City, CA 70- ,"
Ii
(6t9) 2994J41JO
(BOO) 854-2888
P.O. Box 10317
Tommce, CA 90505
(213) 530-4303
S.P.Q.R.
THE CENTURION wants you to
~ARIES PHOTOGRAPHIC
(415) 385-5073

~
PNGI308 join his Legion of ancient coin col-
ANA-LM
lectors. Send him your name and
Dr. Arnold Saslow address and receive script worth $5
Director on future purchase + other offers.
• Museum Quality Ancient
You don't want to Coinage & Classic Antiquities
~onbon QIoin tia1ltrit1l
miss even one • Development of Greek: & Roman
Suite 132 Mission Viejo Mall
Coin Portfolios
issue of - Appraisals & Evaluations Mission Viejo, CA 92691
(714) 364-0990 or582-3481
The Ceiator Rare Coins &
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The Professional Directory
P.O. Box 374 Is your Index to a variety
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ANCIENT of sources and services
Visiting: (201) 761.0634 COINS
San Francisco?
The Silicon Valley? FIXED PRICE LISTS Special Offerl
Stanford University? CATALOGING SERVICES AEF Follis of
Ancient COUNTERFEIT ALERT
Constantinus I,
Visit TREASURE BOOKS
... ISLAND Greek & THOMAS D. WALKER
The Great
Mnt: London, ludunum, or Trier
~-)
We eany a large Roman P.O. Box 29188
inventory of Ancients as
well as the largest Coins San Antonio, TX 78229 Vel)' nice $35 each
(512) 696-5393
Philatelic stock in L/Clnlus, same $35 ea.
and books about them
the Bay Area. SubscripHons: one year, at least 4 3 for $100
Issues, $15.00 U.S. & canada. $25.00
TREASURE ISLAND FREE SAMPLE Foreign. Write for acompllmentary copy if
ZAIDMAN &
you haven't seen my lists.
91 Town & COuntry Villege CATALOGS
Palo Alto, CA 94301 LOPRESTO
(415) 326-7678 112 E. Broadway
Thomas P. McKenna Long Beach, CA 90802
P. O. Box 1356-E We will travel anywhere .•.
We will do the packing ... (213) 437-8481 or 0819
PI. Collins, Co 80522 W9 will arrange for shipping ...
(303) 226-5704 And, we will pay top price,ln cash
SpecializIng
In Ancient ' . FOR
and World

Colosseum
. Coin Exchange,lnc. ·
" Numismatics
and. Antiquities

t.THUR.J.
ancient coins
LIN~
WORTHWHILE
NUMISMATIC
LIBRARIES
~e.rge ]Freberick )i.lbe
--
. tile lnapelin lay
_.......-
WriU!or ~ill" Numiuudir 1100b
P,O. Box21CL iHustrrJUd ctJIJlJog
-.NJ0773O
(201) 2&4'1161
.
. ._~aucIon~ '~ - ',",.",
,.
RFD I, Box 240
Wallis, TX 77485 <.i~
.
_

•
,
,
P.o. Oraww 3100 .
CrooIIIno, CA 12325 • '"
Q~ .<\B •
A.<\ ;
11 lap
(409) 478-6796 (714) 33N527 .
 • ",,,,",",* ' oz ...

xx The Celator June 1988

- Harlan J. Berk, Ltd.

54th BUY OR BI D SALE
The Closing Date is June 29, 1988

- • 2 3
s1t 6 8

20 34

-
50 52 •
78

43
•

-
285

- 311 318 310

PICTURED ABOVE ARE SOME OF THE COINS AND ANTIOUITIES THAT WE ARE OFFERING
317 319

IN OUR 54TH BUY OR BID SALE. IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR COPY
OR NEED PRICE LISTS ON ANY OF THE ABOVE, PLEASE CALL OR WRITE.

612 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60611

PNG 178
ANA - LM 762 (312) 337-0981 or (312) 337-0995