Vo/3, No.9 Numismatic Art of Antiquity SEPTEMBER 1989 $2.

00

Cinderella coins
Rarities not expensive
by Simon Bendall
Late Byzanti ne coin s are the
Cinderellas of ancient numismatics and
yet they are in many respects one of the
most in teresting seri es to collect.
Al though the coins are scarce and often
found in poor cond itio n, the series has
much to recommend it. It is extensive,
with more than 375 different types
being issued between A.D. 1258 and
1453, and new types appear with some
regularity. Palaeologan coins, for
PalaeoJogan is the name of the last
Byzantine dynasty, were struck in gold,
si lver, billa n and copper at various
times during the last two hundred years
of the Byzantine empire.
No other ancient co ins are
inexpensive for their rarity. Common
gold hyperpyra usually retail at about
$200 while even the rarest types fetch
only fiv e to eight times this figure.
The com mo nes t silver coins seldom
exceed $100 and again the rarest hardly
top $ 1500. Bronze coins seU between
$40 to $70 in fine condi tion, almost
regardless of rarity since few dealers are
sufficiently knowledgable to have great
I expertise in this series.
During the reigns of Michael VIlI
(1258· 1282), Andron;cus U (1282· 1328)
and Andronicus III (1328-1344) the
des igns of the copper and silver scyphate
coins were changed annually at both
Constantinople and Thessalonica.
Thus. instead of a limited number of
stereotyped depictions o f Ch rist. the
Virg in and a few major saints. there
appeared a bew ildering array of new
designs. Apart fro m the appearance of
Saints Theodore and Tryphon who had
already appeared on the Nicaean coinage.
we now see St. Andronicus. John the
Baptist, St. Nicholas and the prophet
Ahijah as well as Cherubs and Seraphs.
Other des igns are formed by
monograms, badges, indictional dates,
crosses of various forms and even a
representation of the e mpty throne
prepared for Christ's second coming,
upon which rest the instruments o f the
Passion. While it is not usually
possible to arrange all these types in the
correct chronological sequence within
each reign, it is surely more interesting
to collect many radically different coins
Please turn to page XXII
Miscellanea .
" •
• Subscription rates to change
Effective September 1. 1989 subscription rateS to The Celator will 10-
crease to $24 per year for U.S. and Canadian subscribers. The rate for all
other areas will be $48.
The increase. announced by publisher Wayne G. Sayles, was required due to
accelerating costs of publication. The tablo id has, in recent months, under-
gone signific ant improvement in the quaJity o f paper stock, as well as the
amount of editorial and feature copy. The change from 35# to 50# paper has
also impacted distribution costs.
As a special consideration to current subscribers, The Celator will accept
renewaJs or extensions of up to two years at the pre.<;ent rate through
September 30, 1989. ($15 for one year or $28 for two years for U.S.; $20
per year to Canada; $40 per year overseas. Renewals afler September 30 will
be billed at the new rate.
• Lanz elected to association post
Dr. Hubert Lanz was recently elected president of Verband der Deutschen
Munzenhandler, a leading association of European coin dealers.
Lanz, director of the firm Num.ismatik Lanz Miinchen. will serve a three
year tenn as head of the 42 member association which was established in
1952.
For a free membership list write to the association's secretary Peter Siemer
at Beim Andreasbrunnen 5. D2000 Hamburg 20, West Germany.

Year of impact
Coins of 44 B.C. hold special place In history
by Matthew Rockman
In the year 44 B.C, a year which
changed the world, coins were struck
that step by step tell the story of the
last months of the great dictator Julius
Caes ar, and the events immediately
following his death. But in what order
were they struck? Was Caesar portrayed
on coins before his death? Why? By
Whom? What did the Romans think?
Many people have tried to answer these
questions, but their answers never seem
to agree. This paper will serve to sort
o ut which of these questions can be
truly answered. and. will aJso talc.e a look
at the styles of the four monetales I of
that year. These four men. Marcus
Meuius, Caius Cossutius Maridianus,
Luciu s Aemilius Buca. and Publius
Sepu lliu s Macer took part in an
experiment. the results of which may
have included the birth of the Roman
Empire.
redileship. In 64 B.C. he was e lected
Pontifex Maximus (chief priest). In 59
s.c. Caesar was consul with Marcus
Bibulus, and in the same year, he
formed the triumvirate with Pompey and
Crassus. In 58 B.C .• he was given the
rule of IIlyric um. Cisalpine. and
Transalpine Gaul. He went to Gaul,
completely subdued the native tribes,
and then in 55 B.C. he invaded Britain.
In 49, he was asked to return to Italy as
a civilian without his army. He crossed
the Rubicon River. entering Italy with
his army, defying the senate. Pompey
and the whole of the senate ned,
Pompey was lcilled in Egypt, and Caesar
became the undi sputed master of the
Roman World.
Coins were first struck in Caesar's
name in 50 B.C These coins generally
display the head of Caesar's patron deity.
Venus, on the obverse. and spoils fro m
the wars in Gaul on the reverse. Roman
Government was presumably ruled by
the public through their elected officials,
so to show a portrait of a consu l ar
dictator on the circulating c urrency of
the Republic would be unthinkable. In
44 B.C however. the Republic ended.
The coinage of 44 B.C. can best be
examined when divided into three main
during Caesar's last months. Senatorial
records (Fastii ) dating to January
twenty-six record him as Dictator for the
fourth time (Dictator Quart) , and
Cicer0 3 records that on Lupercalia 4
(February fifteen) he was Dictator for
life (Dictator Perpetuo). Some time
between January twenty -s ix and
February fifteen. Caesar became
perpetual dictator. Since we can't date it
precisely, we'll say the Dictator Quart
period lasted until the days immediately
preceding the fifteenth of the latter
month.
As Dictator Quart. Caesar placed his
own private s laves 5 to work in the
INSIDE
THE CELATOR:
Point of View II
Book News 1111
People VI
Market XII
calendar XXV
•
mint. He changed the number of
mo netales from three to four. and he
gave each of them the official title Aere
Argento Aura Flando Feriundo, or
Monetal of Bronze, Silver, and Gold.
The second period of coinage of 44
B.C. la sts ju st one month. from
Caesar's assumption of the title Dictator
Perpetuo, which again we'll say is the
fifteenth of February .. to the death of
Caesar o n the Ides of March 6 . Most of
the coins of the year were struck during
this period, including many of those
dubbing him lmperator. Ponitifex
Maximus. and Dictator Perpetuo.
Please tum to page XXVIlIl
r . " ....
o· ,.
9: po
:;"'&'
0_
-X~
el ..... O
"'~~
8:'"
~'"
~~
..•-.,0~
~o

periods. The frrst period lasted just six Coin File XX

AR - Denarius weeks. from the first o f January to the Trivia XX r
o -
•
Julius Caesar, 44 B.C. fifteenth of February. Cassius Di02 Prof. Directory XXXII 2,=
Caius Julius Caesar was born on the records that on the fi rst of the new year, Classifieds XXXIlIl ~g
twelfth of July, 102 B.C.. In 87 B.C. ~~
Caesar was made dictator for the fourth ~~

he was made a priest of Jupiter by ~.

time and consul for the fifth time. His ~

Marius. In 68 B.C. he became qurestor, coUeague in the consulship was Marcus

and in 65 B.C. he obtained the Antonius. who was second in command
II The Ceiator September 1989

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

Just received your August 89 issue

••• and was a little surprised by one of the
•••• *
by Wayne G. Sayles articles. Reading certain parts was like
a deja vu experience! I have just received my first copy of
In September of 1983 I gave the first
The Celator, and I must admit to being
pleasantly surprised by the quality and
y all means, take a moment to publication. of several talks on the Roman Tenth

B read, on page 16 (XVI) the

poignant commentary aired by
Radio Segovia (Spain) this past June.
It is a remarkably humorous, and yet
equally sad account of the most worthy
project to be undertaken in a good
while.
Sad, because the support for Project
Segovia '92 has not been sufficient to
sustain even a meager existence for the
two intrepid Americans, Glenn Murray
and Ron Landis, who have been the
project's "burr under the saddle" so to
speak and continue to work on-site as
project advisors and coordinators. The
two have, through sheer tenacity and
incredible willpower. managed to
"legitimize" the Spanish mint
restoration project and achieve tax-
deductible status for U.S. contributors.
Still, the ardor for American involve-
ment seems lacking.
Perhaps this malaise is fueled by a
"It just keeps getting bigger and bigger"
conditioned response to sending money
to foreign lands for "worthy" projects
while many continue to exist here at
home. In spite of our many foreign aid
programs. Americans have always
tended to be isolationist. It is
understandable that hobbyists interested
in U.S. coins and medals would have
little interest in the Segovia mint
restoration. but we antiquarians should
be, as a group, much broader minded.
Segovia has been the site of a mint
for much longer than the existing
structure would reflect, although the
building in question is incredibly
significant historically. The Greeks and
Romans both struck coins in Spain and
several issues were minted at Segovia.
The current restoration project
recognizes the importance of that fact
and the projected museum dedicates a
part of its facility to the history of
hammered coinage.
If there is anyone spot in the world
that would seem ideal for a museum of
minting history, it is in Segovia.
Although Rome, Athens and other
To make a long story short, we must
make some adjustments to offset the
increasing costs of production. It has
been over a year since we made a price
adjustment (from $12 to $15 per year)
and in that year the newspaper has
nearly doubled in size and tripled in
weight (due to improved paper quality).
We also expect another subs tantial
increase in postal service fees soon.
After careful consideration, and value
comparison, we have concluded that an
increase to $24 per year (U.S. and
Canada) is sufficient and appropriate at
this time. All overseas subs will be
billed uniformly at $48 per year. As a
special consideration to our faithful
readers, we will accept, through
September 30, renewals or extensions
for up to two years at the current rate
($15 per year U.S., $40 to Europe, $48
to Asia, Africa & Pacific). We regret
price increases, but remain committed to
quality and service. The latter
necessitates and justifies the former.
Thanks to all who have been patient
with us during our recent office move.
There have been times when I'm sure
mail was misplaced or telephone calls
were not returned. If you were missed,
it was not through indifference - please
try again. See the masthead below for
our new express mail address and FAX
number.
As we enter the Fall season, activity
will undoubtedly pick up and many
exciting things are bound to be in store
for the fraternity. This month we'll be
at the Greater NY Show and the CNB in
Chicago, hope to see some of you there.
Until then, enjoy the pages that follow
and by all means let us hear your point
of view.
Legion (Decima Fretensis) at the
Southern California
Numismatic Society.
Ancient
All in all it was a very enjoyable
article and one of extreme interest to
me. Coins of the period of Nero and the
revolt against him, as weB as Tenth
Legion Fretensis countermarked and
anti-Nero countennarked coins are my
speciality the last decade. Being both a
collector of Roman coins and a Jew, I
find a fascination with these particular
types.
Please pass on my regards to the
author. It's not often that I can find an
article that ties in with my interests.
Richard Baker
California
......
Congratulations on your award from
the Numismatic Literary Guild.
I was at the banquet, but missed the
opportunity to shake your hand!
Deborah Carver
Coin World
(Thanks, Coin World didn't fare too
badly either!)
•••••
I recently received my first copy of
The Celator and am most impressed
with it. It fills a gap for those who
collect ancient coins. The prior lack of
a periodical is what motivated me to
start Roman Coins and Culture. (There
was SAN but I had not heard of it then.)
I must thank you for your kind words
about RCC on page 1. The printer for
this iss ue did not quite live up to
expectations but Mr. Coyle has found
another who should give better results.
When I finally get caught up with
my work, I would like to write some
short articles for The Celator, if you
wish.
Again, thank you for your nice
comments.
readability of your publication.
I'm a j ournalist myself, currently
news editor at The Fresno Bee. a
175,000 circulation daily in Central
California. I've always been interested
in classical antiquity, particularly the
Greek and Roman pe riods, though 1
could hardly be classified as a "classical
scholar. " I started collecting ancient
coins about two years ago, when I
bought a copper As of Antoninus Pius
as a keepsake of a vacation. When I
returned to the states, I was astonished
to learn ancient coins were widely
available here, and at far better prices.
Since then, collecting has become
something of an obsession with me, and
I've read everything I could on the
subject. Most of the available material
is quite flat and opaque, written for the
professional historian, not interested
amateurs like myself (the wonderful
books by David Sear are an exception).
That's why The Celator is such a
revelation to me. On the whole, it is
well-written and attractively packaged,
with plenty to interest the amateur
collector and professional historian
alike.
I am interested in contributing
articles to The Celator. I'm currently
working on a piece for the Bee's
business department on the investment
potential of ancient coins. Please let
me know how free-lance materials are
handled at The Celator, i.e. deadlines,
remuneration. etc.
David S. Michaels
California
(Free lance articles are welcomed and
essential to the success of The Celator
since we do not have a staff of writers.
At the present time we do not pay for
articles whether published or not.
Contributors receive extra author copies
andfirst-time contributors receive afree
one-year subscription to The Celator.
Authors should expect a three to six
month delay in printing due to the
......
heavy backlog of material on hand.)

antiquarian tourist sites host myriad James Meyer

Renaissance palaces, loaded with great RCC Editor
treasures, there could be no better place
for numismatics to shine in its own
glory.
We urge those of our readers with the
Deadline for the October
means to help to contact Glenn Murray
at Project Segovia '92, EXCMO
issue is Friday, September 8
Ayuntamiento de Segovia 40001, Over 1,450
Spain.
We seem to have a problem with The
Celalor. It just keeps getting bigger and
Satisfied
bigger. Now, most publishers would
see that as reason to call their travel
agent and book a nice vacation to Tahiti
Postmaster: send address changes to: Subscribers
P.O. Box 123, Ladi, WI 53555
with (or without) Mama and the kids. Phone (608) 592-4684 Fax (608) 592·4682
As most of you know, however, we
produce The CelaLOr with a very small
The Celator is an independent newspaper published on the first day of each month at 226
Palmer ParKway, Lodi, WI. It is circulated internationally through subscriptions and special
The Celator
staff and our c irculation is limited (we distributions. Subscription rates are $24 per year (second dass) within the United States Subscribe today!
don't even have a travel agent). and Canada, $48 per year to all other addresses (Air Printed Matter). Advertising snd
Therefore, growth creates rather than copy deadline is the second Friday of eadl month. Unsolicited articles and news releases
solves problems. We believe that all are weloome, however publication cannot be guaranteed. Second class postage, permit
of our readers benefit through a variety pending, locli, WI 53555. Copyrighte 1989, Clio's Cabinet.
of advertising, consequently, it has been
our policy to hold advertising as well as Wayne G. Sayles .. ....... _.. Publisher/Editor
subscription costs to a minimum. At Janet Sayles ...•• , .••• , , •.. ,Office Manager
the same time we have invested in the Steven Sayles. , ••...• , .... . .Production Asst.
technical improvements necessary to Christine Olson , ...... .. .....Distribution Asst.
make The Celator a high quality
The Celator September 1989 III

Electrum

to be featured in our sale of

Ancient, Foreign And United States Coins With Bank Notes
Thursday. September 7th at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
On view in our galleries at 502 Park Avenue, New York, NY
on September 5th and 6th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Catalogues are available by mail for $10 from Christie's
Publications, 21-24 44th Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101.
*
to be followed by an important sale of

*
Ancient And United States Coins From A New York Estate
Thursday. December 7th at 2 p.m.
On view December 5th and 6th
Catalogue will be available in early November
* Consignment Deadline - September 25tb *

For further information, please call James Lamb or

Amy Corcoran at 212/546-1056.

~
CHRISTIE'S
NEW YORK
1111
BOOKS~~u
CARSON & KRAAY, Es says presented to Humphry
Sutherland. 15 essays on Roman coins. 250 p. + 24 plates . ... .$29.00
CLAIN-STEFANELLI, Select Numismatic Bibliography.
406 p .... ..... .. .... ..... ... ............................. ,, .... .................... ... ........... $19.00
GRANT, Roman AnnIversary Issues. 204 p. + 2 plates OP ....... $9.75 Monnaie Et Donaliva Au Bas-
Empire , Pierr e Ba s tien.
HENDIN, Guide to BIblical Coins. 224p. with drawings. 16pi...$35.00 Publ i shed by WeUeren
(Belgium ), 1988. For order in g
HILL, Ancient Greek and Roman Coins, A Handbook. information in the US a nd
302 p. 16 pL. .. ........... .... ... .... .... ... ................... ........................ .... .. $ 19.00 Canada, contact Sp in a Press
Ltd., P.O. Box 242 , La ke
JENKINS, Coins of Greek Sicily. 31 p.17plates. OP ....... ...... .$9.75
Peekskill. New York 10537.
If clarity and understatement are the
KING, Roman Sliver Coins, Vol. V. Dioe/etlan through
Romulus Augustus. 214 p........... ......... .. ........................ ......... $32.50 essence of French culture, this latest
book by Dr. Pierre Bastien on money
MATIINGLY, Roman Coins. 300 p. + 64 plates ....................... .$3 0 . 00 and donati ves in the Late Empire
(Monnaie el Donativa au 8 0s-Empire )
NEWELL, Royal Greek Portrait Coins. is French par excellence. "Money and
t937 edition. t25 p. OP .... ........ .... ... .......................................... ..$19.00 donatives" is quite an understatement,
because the book really is a monetary
SELTMAN, Greek Coins. 311 p. 64 plates ................................$29.00 history of the Late Empire and of the
key role played by donatives in the
SYDENHAM, The Coinage of Caesarea in Cappa doc/a
165 p. with photos + 2 plates. OP ........... .. .............. ........... .. ....:... .. . $14.00 economy of the time.
The opening statement is a classical
WILLIAMS, The Sliver Coinage of the Phokfa ns. definition, "Donatiyes are a distribution
138 p. 16 pL. ... ............ ................................... .......... .................... .$19.00 of money or precious metal for the
benefit of soldiers and their officell. "
WRITE· Fixed ~rice catalog of quality coins. This telle sentence contains the crux of
FOR • Aucbon of medium-priced coins. the problem, for, whi le not all donatives
FREE: • Catalogs. books on Greek, Roman , & Byzantine coins. are money (there were also gift s of
j ewelry and precious garments), all
Please add $4 for postage money could, at one time or another, be
V.S.P.S. Special Handling $2 additional used as a donative, indeed be struck for
that purpose. The very important
people got the heavy multiples of the
THOMAS P. MCKENNA aureus or the solidus, the moderately
important ones the silver and the gold,
and the little people in the streets got
P.O. Box 1356·F • Fort Collins, CO 80522
the bro nze in the fo rm of
303-226-5704 "scanennoney", small change thrown at
the crowd like confetti at a wedding.
If all money could be used as a
donative, when was it in fa ct used as
such, where and why? To determine
Seaby H A Seaby Limited when coins were used as donatives and
8 Cavendish Square London WIM OAJ when they performed the other normal
fun ctions of currency may seem a
Tel 01~13707 Mon-Fri 9.30 to 5.00
hopeless task--i t certainly is a gigantic
one. Literary sources give only scanty
information. The y are treated
Ancient Roman and Greek Coins and British Coins exhaustively in the historical essay
which constitutes the first part of the
Coins bought and sold book. Coins tell the story, but
indirectly so. There are pitfalls, such as
Monthly Seaby Coin and Medal Bulletin
the assumption that vota quinquennalia
Extensive Antiquities Department. Free list available were regularly celebrated five years after
the event. To di s pe l suc h
Numismatic and Archaeological Books
misunderstandings, Bastien sums up in
a series of charts the regnal and the
anniversary dates. Hoard evidence is
The 1990 edition of Coins of England and the UK, the standard
reference work for British coins. is now available. Write today and examined. Throughou t all difficulties,
the author succeeds in pinpointing the
we will send you a sample of the Coin and Meda1 Bulletin and a copy
donatives and determinin g to what
of the list of Seaby books, many of them standard works of reference
extent they fueled the economy. These
for collectors. Why not send us your coin wants list as well? conclu sions transcend the limits of
numismatics and are most important fon
historians.
Th e determinati on of what
conStitutes donatives presu pposes a
general knowledge of coins struck in the
La te Empire (268-4 76 A.D. ).
Donatives were given for anniversaries
or other special occasions, hence the
necessi ty of knowing the historical
circ umstances leading to the issue of
donatives. Thus the book presents an
overview of denominations and issues
used for donatives. Here again, we have
left: The a ca~e of understatement. The overview,
Monuments of meant as a framework for the discussion
Ancient Rome as of donatives, actually is a catalogue of
Coin Types, gold and silver coinage of the Late
hardback, 168 pp, Empire. The emperors' names, arranged
in chronological order, are printed in
245 illustrations.
capital letters; pertinent denominations,
One of our fifty issues , minIs and dates fo llow. This
numismatic and catalogue can be used very conveniently
archaeological by anyone wishing to find out at a
titles. glance who stru ck wh at, when and
where. An index li sts all rulers in
alph abetical order. Th e hi storical
The Celator September 1989
background for each ruler is neatly
arranged in footnotes, consistently (and
mercifully) printed on the same page as
the ruler in question. The occasions for
the donatives are also discussed here:
Dr. Bastien is particu larly apt at
condensing an astounding amount of
information in a few lines of tex t,
without omitting different and often
conflicting views on a given topic.
Thus Monnaie et do nativa contains,
among things, an update on most
scholarly opinions. Scholars seldom
agree, but for Dr. Bastien what matters
is the quest for historical truth . To
know such truth, which can only be
found on the basis of ri gorou s
numismatic and historical ev idence, is
to preserve a part of wes tern
civili zation . Seen in thi s li ght,
disagreements among numismatists are
marginal indeed. Amicus Plato, sed
magis arnica veritas: theories not based
on solid evidence vanish with a slight
touch o f the author's pen. Two
examples: the first one about the
Emperor Julian's beard, on p. 91 note
15, "The variations in the size of the
beard noted in RIC VIII probably have
only slight chronological importance."
For the second example, I prefer to sum
up the discuss ion on P. 110 note 2,
o mitting the names. Scholar A
suggests a date fo r a certain
denomination, with no reasons given .
Scholar B agrees with scholar A, still
with no reasons given. Scholar C
proposes an earlier date for, alas, the
flimsiest of stylistic reasons. Scholar D
suggests a later date, again for no
reason, and at thi s point Dr. Bastien
comments politely: "It's possible." As
far as I know, no die study has been
done as yet, and the two sets of
documents which might provide tennini
fo r the coins have not been examined,
either. In the meanwhile, it is better to
conclude, with Dr. Bastien, that we do
not have adequate knowledge of the
chronology of these coins; bearing in
mind that it is no small merit to
pinpoint exactly where we stand, for, as
Socrates taught long ago, to know that
we don't know is the beginning of
wisdom.
But make no mistake. In a book like
this, numismatics has given all it can
give. The book is truly a reconstruction
of the donatives during the Late Empire.
As the author modestly notes, new finds
will certainly add to or modify present
knowledge-- but unti l that happens,
Monnaie et dOnaliva is a work which
no serious historian or numismatist can
ignore.
LUCiana Csaki
Ostrogothic coins
treated In new
Csaki monograph
An abs tract of th e planned
monograph Coinage of the Ostrogothic
Kin gdom in Italy, by Luciana Cuppo
Csak i ha s been included in the
In strumcnla sludiorum. an update on
work in progress released to participants
at the IX Congress of the International
Federation of the Societies of Classical
Studies (F1 EC), Pisa, 24-30 . August
1989.
For a copy of the abstract, please
send $1 .00 for postage and handling to
Spina Press, Ltd ., P.O. Box 242, Lake
Peekskill , NY 10537.
The Celator September 1989 v

Numismatic Fine Arts

NTERN A T ONAl N C

CURRENTLY
ACCEPTING CONSIGNMENTS
One of the most respected names in ancient numismatics, NFA has consistently
achieved the highest prices for coins sold both privately and through auction. Our
complete access to the international market assures your coins the most effective
exposure and consequently exceptional prices.

Brutus aureus
Auclion XXII , lot 23
Estimate : $100,000- 125,000
Price reali:ted: $2 \0,000
3: I Enlargement

Amphipolis AR letradrachm Alexander of Carthage AV aureus

Auction XXII, 101250 Auction XXII, lot 126
Estimate: $ 1OO,(X)() + Estimate: $100,000 +
Price realized: $150,000 Price realized: $210,000
2: 1 Enlargement 3: I En largemem

Augustus A V aureus
Auction XXII, lot 28
Estimate: $25,()()(}"30,OOO
Price realized: $70 ,000
3: I Enlargement

Quality
Single Coins & Collections
For Auction or Private Sale

Contact us about your consignment today!

~-----------------------------,-------------------------
CE
D Please send me all publications for one year. Enclosed is my check or
Please send coupon with order to: money order for $30.00.

NUMISMATIC FINE ARTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

NAME
10100 Santa Monica Blvd. ADDRESS
6th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90067 CITY _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __
Telephone: (2 13) 278- 1535 STATE _ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ ZIP
My collecting interests are: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
VI
NEW FINDS.... Economopoulos forms new
firm dealing in ancients
Nicholaus T. Economopoulos recent-
ly announced that he is now self
employed and dealing in classical
numismatics as Economopoulos Enter-
prises.
Economopoulos was most recently
associated with E. J. Waddell, Ltd. in
Bathesda, MD. Prior to that he was
Recenlfy I realized that a relatively common Faustina II denarius I had collected was an
unusual variant, with the absence of a globe below Concordia's chair on the reverse. I
have desaibed the coin as fonows:
Obverse: Draped bust right, FaustinaAVG PIIAVG FIL
Reverse: Concordia seated left on low seat holding flower and resting left arm on
oomuc:opine (noglobe below seat), CONCORDIA
A review of reference catalogues shows that the denarius is a variant of RSC 53, BMC
Al080, RIC A502a. A review of some recent dealer catalogues reflected a similar coin
only on a July 87 list authored by Frank Kovacs (lot 205). It would be interesting to see if
any 01 your readers have found other examples.
Bruce Raplee
California
Nicholaus T. Economopoulos
EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT
MONETA INTERNATIONAL
NLG honors writers
•
The New Numismatic Monthly
specializing In ancients
The 1989 Numismatic Literary Guild
because it's different and in/onnative.... with lots of reading material.... and award program winners were announced
the/onnatisthato!aMAGAZINE · August 10 at the American Numismatic
READ ABOIIT: ROMAN MtNTS, SILVER COBS, Association's annual convention in
COWNIAL COINAGE (US), RECENT AUCTIONS, NUMISMATIC Pittsburgh. The NLG is an
L1TERA11JRE, MARKET TRENDS ••••.•••••••••• & MUCH MORE IN international guild of numismatic
writers and publishers with both
MONETA INTERNATIONAL
ASK FOR YOUR FREE COPY TODAY professional and non-professional
members.
BY SENDING $1.00 (banv.note or stamps) to cover por;tage
PUBLISHER: VERNON PICKERING P.O. BOX 704
Each year the guild recognizes
ROAD TOWN, TORTOLA· BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS West Indies
excellence in various categories of
publishing. Among recipients of
ANS receives grant from
Booth Ferris Foundation
LONDON
The American Numismatic Society
has just received an unrestricted $15,000
grant from the Booth Ferris Foundation,
Two Auction Sales of Ancient Coins an important New York philanthropy.
For Coinex week in London The Foundation's primary interest is in
private education, but a limited number
Monday 9th October of grants are made to worthy social
Ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine coins, service and cultural organizations in
and coins of the Islamic World. New York City.
This award brings the Society to
AND within 7% of its $4 million goal. Only
A Collection of Greek and Roman coins, featuring a substantial $253,000 is needed to complete the
group of choice Sestertii and coins with architectural types. Endowment Campaign. ANS President
Sold in conjunction with Empire Coins, Inc.
of Ormond Beach, Florida.
Both cataJogues together; $15 post free Pegasi releases list #47
Pegasi Coins catalog #47 of ancient
Glendining's, 101 New Bond Street, London W1Y 9LG. coins and antiquities has been released to
TeL 01·493 2445.Telelc 298855 Bien G. Fa" 01·491 9181. subscribers. The firm specializes in
moderately priced ancients of collectable
quality.
The current offering includes several
very attractive coins of particularly
Glendining's - affiliated to Phillips, the International Fine Art Auctioneers. artistic merit. A 20mm bronze of
lON DON·PARIS · NEWYORK · GENEVA·BRUSSElS·ZURICH·lliEHAGUE Rhegion with an impressive lion's s.calp
The Celator September 1989
employed by Merrill Lynch for over 3
years as a Financial Consultant in
Houston, Texas. His educational
background is very closely related to
ancient numismatics. He earned a BA
in Classics at Rutgers College, an MA
in Classics at Penn State, and has done
post-graduate work at the University of
Colorado and the University of
Pennsylvania in Classical Archaeology,
with emphasis in numismatics.
Economopoulos explained that the
emphasis of the fum will be placed on
service, especially when working with
collectors' want lists. "If I learned
anything at Merrill Lynch. it was that
service to the customer and being
available for consultation was of
primary importance. I look forward to
meeting my friends and clients at major
coin shows, and through the mail with
frequent lists." As of September 15,
Economopoulos can be contacted at
Economopoulos Enterprises, P.O. Box
199, Holicong, PA, 18928.
awards this year were two firms
specializing in ancient coinage. Harlan
J. Berk was honored for his World Coin
News column "What's Old" while
Wayne G. Sayles accepted an award in
the numismatic magazine category for
the 1988 edition of The Best of the
Celator.
Information about the guild, its
members, and activities may be obtained
from the Executive Director David T.
Alexander. P.O. Box 970218, Miami,
Florida 33197-0218.
Harry W. Fowler has asked
Development Officer Roxanne
Greenstein to step up efforts to gain
support from other foundations and
corporations.
The Society hopes to complete this
Endowment Campaign before the end of
the year. Contributions are welcome
and should be sent to the attention of
Mrs. Greenstein, American Numismatic
Society, Broadway at 155th Street, New
York. NY 10032.
reverse is listed in VF condition at
$145, while another bronze of the same
city with lovely portraits of Apollo and
Artemis is being sold for $115. A
scarce hemidrachm of Abdera with
Griffin obverse is listed at $135.
For a sample copy of Pegasi Coins
fixed price lists write to the frrm at P.O.
Box 4207, Ann Arbor, MI 48106.
The Celator September 1989 VII

MONTHL Y FEATURES

A Mail Bid Auction Sale

of

CLASSICAL COINS
Featuring

Ancient Greek (1-175)

(Gold & Silver)
Greek Bronze Collection (176-245)
Greek Imperials (246-283)
Roman Republican (284-370)
(Including a collection of struck bronzes)
Roman Imperial (371-624)
(All metals)
Byzantine (625-650)
Medieval European (651-751)
An Important Collection
of English Hammered (752-827)
Scottisb, Irisb (828-834)
Contorniate, Becker, Paduan (835-837)
Large Lots (838-865)

CLOSING DATE
Wednesday
September 27, 1989
5:00 PM

VIII

CLASSICAL NUMISMATIC AUCTIONS, LTD.

Catalog $10.00 with prices realized

VICTOR ENGLAND
Box 245, Quarryville, PA 17566·0245, (717) 786·4013
VIII The Celator September 1989

Scarce and popular

Ancient jewelry combines technical and artistic skills
by David Liebert
Although jewelry was fai rly common
in antiqu ity and although it generally
withstands the natural ravages of lime
rather well, particularly if made of gold.
it is among the scarcest of all antiquities
to appear on the market because it was
always the target of preference for tomb
robbers not for its intrinsic beauty but
sad to say for its melt down value.
Thus while a plundered tomb might stin
contain archaeological riches in pottery,
paintings, glass or other materials it
would be unlikely to find precious metal
unless the ancient thieves were rather
inept Unlike coins which were easily
lost in the course of daily commerce
jewelry was a prized possess ion during
life and often buried with the deceased.
Thus most known ancient jewelry
comes from tombs. Although jewelry
survives from most ancient cultures for
various reasons which are no t entirely
clear more seems to have survived from
classical times than any other period so
this article will concentrate on the
jewetry of the Roman world.
While we cannot be s ure if the
su rvi vi ng examples represent a true
statistical cross section of the ancient
production, it is clear that gold because
of its beauty and malleability was as it
is today the material of choice for
precious jewelry in the Roman world.
Such gold was always pure, what is
commonly called 22 or 24 carat gold
today. It sho uld be noted however that
an a lloy of gold and silver known as
Electrum was also quite popular. Silver
objects were by no means rare although
the metal has not survived as well as
more subject to corrosion. These
precious metals were refined from ores
which were widely available in the
ancient world then cast into ingots
which were formed into sheets and wire
for the manufacture of jewelry. The raw
meta1 was also cast in both the lost wax
process and the moulded process on
occasion directly into jewelry, and some
of the moulds for these procedures have
even survived. A fact which has
regrettably not been lost to modem
forgers.
In addition to precious metals, base
metal such as copper, bronze and lead
was much in use for jewelry in ancient
Rome, as were other materials such as
wood, stone and glass. Glass was
particularly favored for the production of
rings and bracelets and as a substitute
for precious and semiprecious stones
although the fact that most surviving
jewelry was made for funerary use may
have something to do with this. Glass
bracelets and rings would seem to have
been somewhat fragile for normal wear
in the proportions they have survived.
Roman bronze ring
with glass intaglio.
However, the many glass beads found in
various sites attest to their popularity
for necklaces, pendant earrings and the
like. Similarly sto ne beads were also
quite popular. In addition to the making
of beads, s tones both precious and
mundane, were heavily used in
decorating rings, pendants, earrings and
simi lar obj ects. Perhaps the most
popular of these were the ubiquitous
stones carved in intaglio or cameo with
dieties, animals, plants, genre scenes
etc. These stones were usually set in
rings but often appear on the market
minus their settings. They are so
imponant to the modem collector in fact
that I am planning a future article
devoted soley to them and will go no
further at this lime.
Roman bronze broach
with enamel inlay.
permanently. In general, again the
styles tended to be simple and elegant
although there was much variation and
some Roman j ewel ry can look
positively baroque to the modem eye.
Let me conclude with a few words of
advice to .the collector. Ancient jewelry
need not necessari ly be expensive,
particularly if not made of precious
Roman silver pendant metal. Roman bronze rings can still be
in the shape of a bird. had for a few dollars. However, care
must be exercised in the purchase of
In general the types of jewelry found ancient Roman jewelry as fakes do
in the Roman world were much the proliferate and can be difficult to detect.
same as we see today. Rings, earrings, One should become familiar with the
pendants, brooches, pins, neckJaces and exact techniques used. For instance,
drawn wire was not in use in the Roman
bracelets predo minated. Although the
period, and granulation wire was
exact design could be somewhat
different. For instance, unlike modem individu ally soldered, not cast. As
earrings which are made to be removed, always your best defense is to purchase

The Roman earrings were worn semi only from a reputable source.

Time Machine Company Don't forget to Tell your friends

is always eager to aid beginning collectors with moderately
priced coins and antiqu;ries. Call DaVid Uebert direct about The Celator
to discuss your interests and needs.

FIXED PRICE LISTS and AUCTIONS

:FeaturintJ Coins of tIie Ptokrnils

Roman mosaic glass bracelets C1-3 rd C. A. D.

Only 4 available about 3" in diameter. Really
superb examples worthy of any collection Write for lists:

$175 each STEPHEN M. HUSTON

We have many more interesting antiquities and ancient coins in stock. If you Classical Numismatist
are not on our mailing fist, you are miSSing some of the best buys in ancient art. p.o. Box 3621
Send for your free catalogue today. For more information contact: San Francisco, CA 941 19 - USA
(415) 781-7580
The Time Machine Co.
Office: 582 Marl<et Stre et, Suite lOll, San Francisco
P. O. Box 282, Flushing Station,
Queens, NY 11367 Catalogues Authentication Coin Photography
(718) 544-2708
The Celator September 1989 Villi

Royal~Athena Galleries
Select Works of Fine Art from the Ancient World

EGYPTIAN MIDDLE KINGDOM BLACK GRANITE EGYPTIAN JOINED PAIR OF PAINTED

PORTRAIT HEAD Xlith Dynasty LIMESTONE CANOPIC JARS XXlst-XXXth Dynasty
(1991 -1 786 B.C .) H.51/4" (1080-343 B.C.) H. 103/4"

ATIIC BLACK-FIGURE COLUMN KRATER

ROMAN NEO-ATTIC AMAZONACHY RELIEF FRAGMENT
Two charioteers in quadriga I Three youths
1st-2nd Century A.D. 85/8" x 6 1 /4~
w~h horse. Ca. 530 B.C. H. 10 1/8"

Royal-Athena now sells more select works of ancient art
than any other gallery, having tripled its sales this past
year. We attribute this rapid growth to our thirty years of
internationally acknowledged expertise and connoisseur-
ship, the desire to exhibit the widest range of ancient
works of art, currently over 301Xl objects, at the best
possible prices, in an open and friendly atmosphere.
Weare currently selling to over 6(X) collectors, colleagues
and museums in 17 countries. May we add your name?
Send for our FREE full-color 2D-page brochure.
The following publications are also available:
ART OF THE ANCIENT WORLD, Vol. IV (1985),
192 color plates .................... $15.00
THE AGE OF CLEOPATRA (1988),
29 color plates ......................... 2.00
GODS & MORTALS: Bronzes of the Ancient World
(1989),49 color plates ................. 4.00

We are proud to be sponsors of the following exhibitions at the Narural History Museum of Los Angeles County:
THE FIRST EGYPTIANS - now extended through November 5
CARTHAGE: A MOSAIC OF ANCIENT ruNISIA ~ September 9 to January 7

royal-athena galleries ~ new york - beverly hills

Jerome M. Eisenberg, Ph.D_. Director Established. 1942

153 East 57th St., New York, N.Y. 10022 36, Place des Antiquaires, 125 E. 57th St., 332 North Beverly Dr.• Beverly Hills, Ca. 90210
Tel.: (2lZ) 355-2034 Fax.: (2lZ ) 688-0412 New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel.: (2lZ) 593-1193 Tel.: (213 ) 550-1199 Fax; (213) 550-1395
Monday-Saturday, 10 to 6 Monday-Saturday, II to 6 Monday-Saturday, 10 to 6

Royal-Athena at Nahan Galleries {SoHol Royal-Athena at B.A. Scaby LId.

381 W. Broadway, N.Y., N.Y. 100lZ 8 Cavendish Square, lA:mdon WIM OAJ, England
Tel.: (212 ) 966-9313 Tel. (44)1-631-3707 Monday-Friday, 9:30 10 5
Monday-Friday, 10 to 6, Saturday-$uTlooy, 1\ 107 (Send for a free copy of "Antiquities Forum·')
x The Celator September 1989

Greek and Roman coins

ANCIENT ROMAN featured in Christie's sale
& GREEK COINS On September 7th Christie's of New
lUustrated Price Lists York will offer an extensive selection of
Numismatic Literature numismatic material; including Greek
Auction Representation silver and electrum coins, bank no tes
Want List Search St!rvice and U.S. Commemoratives and a fine
collection of United States Double
David P. Herman Eagles. The highlight of the auction
Classical Numismatist will be a pair of rare Louisiana Purchase
1322 35th St., Suite 101 Exposition Proof gold dollars.
Among the Greek coins to be sold
Orlando, Florida 32609
are significant groups from Syracuse,
(305) 422·5915
Macedon and Thrace. Featured among
the Syracuse coins will be the rare 5-
Litrae of Philistis, wife of Hieron II
(Estimate $650-750). The sale includes
a selection of gold Staters and
Say you saw it in The Celator Tetradrachms of Lysimachus, as well as
electum from Mytilene and Cyzicus.
The segment of Roman coins includes a
Bronze Sestertius of Galba. The most
interesting foreign coins being auctioned
are the Gennan Double-Thalers from
Austria and various Gennan states.
The elltraordinary walnut cabinet that
previously housed the Herbert J.
Erlanger Collection of Nuremberg
Coins and Tokens marks a special
addition to the sale (Estimate $4,000·
$6,000). The neo-classical style cabinet
was built in the early part of this
century in accordance with Mr.
Erlanger's specifications. The chest
contains forty-four coin drawers and
features an intricate system of secret
compartments. Mr. Erlanger's distin-
guished collection was dispersed earlier
this year in Zurich. For information
about (he sale call James Lamb or Amy
Corcoran at (212) 546-1056.

If this calibre of numismatic art excites you -

it is only one of hundreds of beautiful HOARD SPECIALS
treasures from the past residing A. $475 Byzantine AE (100) fair·fine.
B. $675 Greek AE with Roman Colonials (100) fair·fine
for ihe moment in our trays. C. $695 Widow's Mite" type lepta (tOO) fair-fine
Write for a complimentary D. $495 Roman bronzes (100) VG·VF
E. $195 Roman bronzes (100) fair·fine
copy of our catalogue. F. $495 Roman bronzes (500) mostly lair
G. $280 Ancients (1000) mostly poor
Please add $8 (orpostage and packing
PR. PavL RynE(\RSOn
P. O. Box 4009
.£muIon Coin §oJ/eries
Mission Viejo Mall, SuHe 132
MALIBU, CA 90265 Mission Viejo, CA 92691
~5 at Crown Vatley (714) ~

!7lormer ~ gJ/eries
f""»""s:
SLenIee SfucIion XXXIII
Session I
Closing Date: September 13, 1989
200 l..i'JtS of Classical Amiquities,
Includillg artifacts from Eqypt,
Greece. Rome, and the Anciem
Near East.
100 Lots of Pre-ColumbiaJl Art
Tribal Arts -Indian and Ethnographic
Orielltal Amiques

Session II
Closing Date: A uctian Calnuku
September 27, 1989 September 7, 1989
George A. DickillSOIl
Early American RotJles
Collection of Stamps
&: Glass, Beautiful Collection
September &: December 1989
of Exposition MaJerial from the
Bell Z. Swanson
Centellnial of 1876 through the 1980's
~ Collectioll of Pot Lids
Collection of Over 2,000 Antique Buttons
Antique Medical Instruments including %mnrr :Rmk fiaI/erio
Quack Medical Boxes, Raby Feeders, 9lmmer %xI<e .£iJ., "] &sI 57/h St.,0\'"", );rk, :N)J IOO22
Medicine Dosage Spoons, and more
Antique Corkscrews ~ Zl2 15£ IgDO 'WJ:n& 800 22I 7276 :7a.:x Zl2 7S8 IJI1
The Celator September 1989 XI

WHERE DO YOU BUY A.N.A.

CERTIFIED ANCIENT COINS?

QUALITY INVESTMENT HIGH GRADE ANCIENT COINS

AUTHENTICATED AND GRADED BY THE AMERICAN
NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION CERTIFICATION SERVICE (A.N.A.C.S.)

90 DAY RETURN
PRIVILEGE

GREEK, ROMAN AND BYZANTINE HISTORICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL

COINS OF THE FINEST QUALITY DATA WITH EACH COIN

In U.SA: 1-800-759-7273 In CoIOIado: 303- 322-0101

FAX # 303-333-5300
r-----------------------------------ir--------------------------,
I For more infor mation CALL TOLL FREE ~ II PLEASE PRINT
II 1-800-759-7273 ~ II
II M r., Mrs .• Ms. , Mlss,_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
I Legacy NllJIUsmaUcs has bullt a 16 year reputation of service. professionalism and II Addr ess,_ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _
lintegrtty. A company profUe Is available for review. II City State Zip
10 II Ph - ( - - - - - - - - - - ,- - - -
I Yes, Please send me a ~ copy of "Profiti ng In ClassiC AnCient Gold & Silver Coins: II one
II (Optional)
:0
Uncludtng 10 Top Recommendations for 1989"
Yes, Please send me a free copy of your Fixed Price catalog :: ~
ID I am Interested in finding out more abou t investment grade classic ancient coins. II ~=-~
IPlease call me at ( ) .. . Best time to call___ (i
I
I
I
I
I
L
I ______________
LEGACY NUMISMATICS
3773 CHERRY CREEK DRIVE NORm SOITE '150
PTARMIGAN PLACE
___
DENVER __________________
COLORADO 80209
II H~~~~~
II ..
II
II
~~ER
• 1416

II Authorized su:,~.~~~~~N~~~~.~~~!..C.s.
~~ __________________________ ~
1m
 XII The Celator September 1989

Art and the Market

Numismatic contributions
Art of Polykleitos is subject of Wisconsin symposium
The Institute for Research in the
Humanities, in conj unction with the
Department of Class ics of the
Univers ity of Wisconsin will host an
imponant sy mpo sium titled
"Po/ykleilos. The Doryphoros and its
Influ.ence" on October 26·28, 1989.
'''Ihe sy mpos ium, ce lebrating the
Coins and antiquities
centennial of the Madison Society .
Archaeological Institute of America,
will be held at the Wisconsin State
Historical Society in Madison.
The fIrs t two days of the symposium
will include papers about several aspects
of classical Greek art with at least three
sessions detailing evidence from coins
of the period. Brunilde Ridgway of
Bryn Mawr will deliver a paper titled
"Paene ad exemplum: Polykleitos'
other works"; Carmen Amold· Biucchi
of the American Numismatic Society
will discuss "Classical Sculpture on
Ancient Coins" and Nancy Ramage of
Ithaca College will deal with
"Reflections of Polykleitos in Asia
Minor."
A reception will be held in the
Sellery Roo m of the State Historical
Society from 4:30 to 6:30 on Friday,
October 27 . On Saturday, October 28,
the fin al sess ion will be held at the
Institute of Fine Art in Minneapolis
where an example of the famed sculpture
will be on exhibit. Transportation from
Madison to Minneapolis as well as

Hirsch auctions 4250 lots accomodations and dinner reservations

The fi rm of Gerhard Hirsch will hold
auction number 163 consisting of 4,250
lots on September 27·30. Included in
the sale are 628 Greek coins, 170 coins
of the Roman Republic, 630 lots of
Ro man Imperial and 125 lo ts of
Byzantine and Islamic coinage.
Highlights include a gold Distater of
Alexander the Great estimated at DM
20,000 and an Electrum stater of
Miletus at DM 19,000. Also included
Choice gold
Hong Kong auction includes ancients
Over sixty choice ancient coins are
featured in the 1445 lot Septe mber
Hong Kong International Coin Show
Sale to be conducted September 5th and
7th by Pacific Coast Auction Galleries.
Two gold coins of Egypt highlight
the Greek offering. a Pentadrachm of
Ptolemy I , 305-283 BC, Extremely
Fine, estimated at $4000 • $4500; and
an Octadrachm of Ptolemy II, C. 260
BC, Extremely Fine, estimated to bring
$10,000 up.
AU· aureus of Otho
among the Ro man coinage is a sil ver
Miliarense of Gratian estimated to bring
DM 2,000.
Antiquities are included in the sale
and include an ornate glass amphora as
well as a nice se lec tio n o f bronze
weapons.
Catalogs are available from Gerhard
Hirsch Nachf., Promenadeplatz 10,8000
MUnchen 2, West Germany.
High quality Roman gold Aurei on
the auction block include those issued
by Otho, who ruled briefly from January
15 to April 17 , 69 AD, nice Very Fine,
(est. $ 12,000 up); Vitellius, who was
also proclaimed emperor by his troops
during 69 AD, Extremely Fine (est.
$1 1,000 up); Vespasian, the ultimate
winner of the "emperor louery" of 69
AD who re igned for the next decade,
Superb (est. $ 12,000 up) ; and
Domitian, 8 1-96 AD. Extremely Fine
(est. $12,000 up). These are followed
by a group of Kushan Empire gold
Staters, C. second·fourth century AD,
expected to realize from $350 to $ 1500
each.
W orthy of me nti on among the
beautiful si lver coins of Greece is a
Tetradrachm of Syracuse, 466-430 BC,
with goddess' head and slow Quadriga,
Extremely Fine (est. $5000 up); and
three Staters of Cilicia fro m the cities of
Malcus (c. 385-333 Bq, Nagidus (c.
400-380 BC) and Soloi (c. 386-333
Glass Amphora
Hirsch Auction No 163
Bq, ranging from nice Very Fine to
Superb, estimated from $5000 to $6000
up.
The Roman offering opens with
fourteen premium Quality Republic
Denarii, most graded Extremely Fine or
bener, which are still quite reasonable,
carrying estimates of $250 to $400;
plus a portrait Denariu s of Julius
Caesar, 44 BC, Very Fine, expected to
realize over $3000.
History buffs will be interested in a
"nickel"·size bronze coin depicting the
famou s lovers Marc Antony and
Cleopatra struck in Chalc is (modern
Lebanon) c. 31 BC where C leopatra
ruled from 36 to 30 BC, Fine, estimated
at $850 up.
Virtuall y all ancient coin s are
pictured, many enlarged or in color, in
the deluxe catalog available for $ 10
(along with prices realized) from Pacific
Coast Auction Galleries, 1013 State
Street, Santa Barbara, California 93101;
telephone (805) 962-3197.
may be coordinated through Loretta
Freiling at 140 1 Observatory Drive,
Madison WI (608) 262-3855.
Superior sale
to feature
Fischer coins
Superior Stamp and Coin Co. will
be holding an important auction o f
ancient coins in conjunction with the
New York International Show on
Friday, December 8. The sale will
include coi ns from the Louis Fischer
collec ti on and othe r important
consignments with over 800 lots being
offered. Fischer collected in the 1960's
and 70's concentrating on nicer quality
coins.
H ighlights o f the sale include coins
of the 12 Caesars in gold and silver with
a rare aureus of Galba topping the list.
decadrachms of Carthage, Egypt and
Syracuse are included, as well as a
section of Judaean coins with shekels,
tetradrachms and rare bronzes.
For the Roman enthusias t, a
collection of seldom offered contomiates
will be sold. Overall value of the
material in this sale is estimated at $1.5
mil lion.
The catalog, expected in October, is
normally priced at $15.00 but will be
offered to readers of The Cefator for the
special price of $7.50. Say you saw it
in The Celator when you write to
Superior Stamp and Coin Co, 9478
West Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA
90212-4299 or call (800) 421-0754.

Specialist in Ancient Coins ANA convention lacks lustre

also stock World Minor Coins, Medals, Crowns,
Artifacts, Books and Coin cases by Way ne G. Sayles
Reactions from dealers and visitors
Our inventory is among the finest in America, Due to maintaining the
w ho a ttended thi s yea r's ANA
most active convention schedule of all ancient coin dealCl1l, we buy and sell
convention in Pittsburgh ranged from
a tremendous selection of all types of numismatic material.
disappointing to boring as the g igantic
ESPECIALLY NEED affair wound down after a long week of
Gold and Silver of the 12 Caesars activities. Many expressed the opinion
that the show was over after PNG day as
We attend and will represent you at major auctions. far as ancients were concerned.
In the past two years we have completed five sets of the 12 Caesars in Gold.
Expectations were high prior to the
WE FILL WANT LISTS
convention, with the organizers setting
and publish quarterly catalogs
aside a special area for ancient and
All coins guaranteed genuine and have a 14 day return privilege medieval coins, but the usual fever pitch
GEORGE M. BEACH of an ANA gathering was lacking.
Some expressed the opinion that
Numiscellaneous enthusiasm was dampened by a lack of
P.o. Box
113 Owosso, MI 48867 • (517) 634-54 15 new material on the market. Hoard
Over 20 years in business material was available early, but many
ANA District Rep.· Central U.S. Director, C.N.A. dealers recovering from a slower than
expected summer were not quick to
invest in large Quantities of Byzantine
gold or Roman silver.
Retail u ade on the floor was rather
slow as well, due perhaps to the lack of
a strong local collector base. The
number of dealers manning tables was
also down substantially, with many of
the usual faces walking the floor rather
than setting up for the show. The high
overhead of a week long show as well as
high table fees at some of the larger
shows has apparently taken its toll.
Although this show may not have
measured up to some in the past, there
was still a good selection of material in
dealer stocks and the slow pace put
some dealers in a "selling" mood.
overall. the ANA is still a major show
for ancient and medieval coin collectors,
filled with peripheral activities, and
worth the trip.
The Celator September 1989 . XIII·

1£nu~nu
OUT next auction-sale will be held in London on the evening of Monday, OCTOBER 9th in conjunction with the
highly respected numismatic auction-firm of Glcndining & Co. (since 1900, famou s fo r the sale of
coins & medals) during the week of CO IN EX, one of the largest and most successful coin-shows in Europe.

Featured are 203 lots of Greek, Roman and Byzantine coins, including many choice items not
having ap peared on the market in quite some time, and an excellent selection of Roman scstertii as
well as other Roman imperial and colonial coins. A special section of coins with
architectural reverses (such as the two Circus Maximus sestenii shown at right) closes the sale.

FULLY-ILLUSTRATED CATALOGU ES are $ 10, and will be available in Early September. Requests
without payment will no t be honored. Our ~ customers & subscribers will receive it automatically.

Glendining's and Spink & Son will also hold separate auctions of ancient coins at this venue.
Please notify us if we can be of service by representing you at any of these or other sales.

LOT VIEWING for our sale will be held at the Greater New York Numismatic Convention September 7· 10,
and also during the C hicago Classica l Numisma tic Bourse September 23-24 (by invitation only).

These coins may also be seen by appointment at our Florida office until September 2200, and thereafter
at the offices of Glendining & Co., 7 Blenheim Street, New Bond Street, London.

OUT NEXT sale will be held in early M ay in New York. Please contact us if interested in disposing of your collection.

~mpire QIninz, ~nt+

801 West Granada Blvd ., Suite 305,
Ormond Beach, FL 32174-8278, USA
Phone (904) 677-7314 - FAX (904) 677-7324
Office staffed 9 AM - 5 PM EST Monday · Friday, other times leave message

SPINK COIN AUCTIONS

Sale No 71
WEDNESDAY 11 th OCTOBER '89
Cavendish Hotel, LONDON, SWl.

OUR SALE for COINEX WEEK

Greek; Roman, European, Medieval & World Coins
A wide variety of Ancient Greek Coins in gold and silver including a collection of Macedonian
Regal Coinage containing amo ng oth er rarities, a Dekadrachm of Alexander the Great.

Also a fine collecti on of Roman Coins in gold, sil ver and bronze, formed over the las t twenty years. ,

European medieval Coi ns, property of th e late Chri stopher Blunt.

A varied selection of World coins including a superb collection of Portuguese and Brazilian gold ;
West Indian counter marked coinage; Europea n silver and Numismatic Books.

Send $10 for fully illustrated catalogue_

sR!!!
· k ~~ S~, ;::;':~:~:n
*' 5,6 & 7 SI. Smy
Tel, 01-930 7888. Fax, 01-839 4853. Telex, 916711.
~.
English Paintings and \\~rs . $iI\~ . .IeweIIe!y and Paperweights Oriental, Asian and Islamir Art . btilfs . Ak'daIs . Celns . Bullioo &nk~
.: XlIII
From The Inventory of Superior...
Superior is pleased to once again offer more selections fro m our inventory. All items are priced to sell and we suggest a prompt telephone call to reserve your
choice. All items are subject to prior sale, and limited to one-Qf·a-kind. Reserve your selection by calling (800) 421.()754. Major credit cards accepted. California
residents add appropriate sales tax. Sorry, no C.O.D. or collect calls. Add $3 .00 for shipping and handling.
Ancient Greek
2 Caiabril. Til... c. 268·228 8.C. SiM
Didrothm 17.3701. Diad. held of NfnIP/I I.
w-.ing _itIG ItId tlkilloce. !leY: NII:.IO tIo!'
... ttd on nom ~lting right. which hoi
crOWrll \OI~h 101 ~'" l\lIOl; bnlth hom,
Itrjlon; blfare ham. dilphin. VlIslo-D34.
Tontt U...... ~
1'15 0
, sa,. SIIirm. t. 500 B..C. sn. Dillrodlro
!8.91. StIinIn fool witIo wins durIy mort·
H. lin: ............ IhiIed illo WI toni-
plrlmtn11. SGC·130¥. £f .•..... mae-
IZ50
6 SiWy, SI"K<A' A/jlthokles. 311·289 B.c.
SiIYIr fttrlllrndt'" 116.61111· HNd 01
~ I• .........., ......... oj <0lIl. Raw:
Nil. ....., Ie tilt ..list "....., 'ight.
IIKting 1rOIIfrI' ... ,...., '*'-: ito WI
III III~ Iris.... 1lIwitg-950. Ef U1*
2400
.--,..,
9 Sicily. Srr_ lfilton •. 275·215 ac.
Siwtt 16 UIIII 113.42;). Dild...d .dod
hlld of a....n Phiisfis I. R": IIi.. ito
~ riQtrt. SGC-988v; BMC·S48. bled.
EF ... .. 111m"
1375
Ie Sdr. sc.·P_II-. t. 35().JOO B.C.
Sk 1111"* __ 111 J7g). Ouaqlg_
;"tI righl • .m." by dlariat. . 1IIiIg Cf\lW1t
od by ~ A..: IItIid 01 Tanit righ" In.
doIphiJllIOinf. JriinIIS NR·SIlI plat, fj.
18 (11mI III'IISI dil) Alm/qtl oml IlIn ·
tlMlV atignld 10 Seinls). Lustnllll.
H. . ~
'}.),O
Sic.Io·P.... RSMQIIT 1'"111'" mint! c.
" 350·300 8.C. SAt, III1'''KIIm 116.74111.
Ftm* '-""lilt, _.I11III
with earn. fIer:
Ikll" wtlilt riJIII. ,.,.1111 beIIiniI.
J..1oins, SIIR·50 (1971 pi. 21, !IlL 13.
Wstnllll. Ef. . ..• l2J5tt
1775
G<l!u 336-323 8.C. Gold SIIl.I8.S3Ij).
lin d of Athtnl ~ .. taring tfll10d
heInol o...-t8d wiII1la1f*1\. 1IfII". ~
... n..... lilt. IIllling .. ra'lIIlfICIlty~l.
MuIle,·2. .limo" Mini Sit" . 14i50-
14 M---... ~ Ale.... III. lilt
Gmt 336-323 B..C. Sih. Til.......
n7.25tL ...... ,.,.-...atyll '"" dIt8d
" . 191318 BU .... ot htrItia rigM.
....ring iorfl .... Raw: hi• • otod lilt.
hollilgillijllllld I~'''; 10 lilt. ""-i.
ti.:) l1li11 n field. SGC·6123v; Ne..... pi
VII no. 22. Ef . ~5'"
LfZ5
11 Corinth. t. 520 BL. SiMr StI.... 18.58gI.
PwgoIO. IIying lilt. Rrr. Ina. ....... or
1 ..1$\ih pin ..... IlMI n. Choiu Yf.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. fJl9II"
GSO
18 ~. KIktIIdon. t. JSO.XlO B..C. Silnr
Dnd.. 1J.16gJ. Ilol 11..... Itft. AIIr.
Srn. ......"ill irtcuw squn. with
" ..... IId~. SGC·37' 5, laNd Ef. obto
I bit 011 c:tntt, .. U15""
~~5
---
19 IIidrrNo. KingdIm. NikonIIdn I. w-.
149-128 B..C. smr Ttlrllrlrldwn 01 142/1
B.C.116.98gI. Di..-... ~Id of Nbrnedes
II ,ignt. A.... ZaUll1l11ding lilt; monog,am
Ind 11011. SOC 7213 m. w. dd. PI. XXXII.
9 ••. La", ftlll. EF ClIlie,1 .... $.550"
1,,00
21 AioIis. kymt. 2nd C..,lury 8.C. SiIvtr
liu... Khm 11l.12g~ IIud GIllot A",uon
K, ... n;.t. '* bound wiI~ riIbon. Rev:
liaise PIciIIi90t anHnIIo! _ I I r.t;
• IfrithiI IMnI WIIIth. SGC-4I8Jv;
BMC·14. s.n EF . . .... S-I2S9-
d.
25 ..... KIll........ t. 500 II..t. SoJr.-
OidriICMI (ug;. faI,,"" .t wintooI bol'
rigtrt Roo-: a..q..n;1f nc: ... oquor-. SHG
Cop-1. ClIlic, VF . . ...
26 Islands olf CIriI. 1(0 •• C. 3~
DichulIII 16.91g1. HMO of IItrlklll 'igM
~11rf II bit lUI. An: V.1Id f"" .. ~Id
1111. BMC 22. IF ......... , .. 1 _
00
21
O@
lydia, Bet.,. KroisOl. 650·561 B.c. Ute·
tr .... Third 511111 (4.11111.1.iGrf. lItod 'ii/11
..ith ,odin. gIaIMI on
0bI0nI pmdr. \hidId into , _ _ _ .
for.......
SGt-3l98; BMC1. Yf.... Ind.. gWUr
• Iion'I Ior!hIIrf .•..•..•..•.. I ¢
28 lyU. Belort KroisOl. 650-5111 8.C. £lie.
tr .... n.irf Stoia" (4.68gI. iJon'l IItId rigtrt
witlo ............ on ...... Iloo:
Ilbkrng /MIld!. MidId itto 'WII __ .
SGC·3396; SNG ... .lrAIIo;t.2S89. f.Yf. biI
olf ~t... . .. 1J1M"
30 s.ukid Kingdom. s.IUos I. 312·280 B.C.
SMr TIUda:lvn 118.63t1. Mintld It Suaa.
t. 298·280 B.C. IItId of ,..... lIttIidn
rigtrt. Aw. Zu lulld Itft. Scarc& HrMI
ESM pi. XXI¥. 14. Yf .. I,.l)$"
31 S*ukid Kingdam. AntiOd1D1 IV. 115-164
B.C. Siwf Tel,odll~hm. Mined 11 AM'
"'t
PlOlImeis. DildImod IItIrf 01 An.iocIIoIlV
~ IMhiId.. Raw: Zu .11Id
11ft haWi19 Nib aid ~I& 8MC 16-21
tar; 1IougIttooI182. a..a Yf .•. 19M"
The Celator September 1989
!'Inion f'Iriod. t. 3SO B.C. Silwer 0bGi1.41gl,
'YoI1<11f ill'" IItId of A.MN 'ight. R.. :
0"" Itlndin, right. "'Id IIC~ on 11ft lily
~. 10 riQtrt poIoa. IItInw insa1IIiGn cf
Mtsh .lJC I pi t l1li. 4SA. YF. .., 0« ""t.
.... ... .... .!525
~1-?
32 Stltutid KiItdam. An1iocllC1 I'l 115·164
Bt. Siwtt ft1llrfrachm. Mintld 11 AM '
PIcHt'"". Dililomed IItIrf at .lntiochollV
righr, rrtonOIJ"" bIImd. Reo: z.u. 1111""
lilt. holding lib aid ",Pill BMe 1621
Nr. ~hlon 181. n .. .. _
J9 Ptniln I'IriM. GIll t. 350 B.C. SiM 0baI
'6a~ t81g). HthttIrf bud II ollIMN right. Rer.
p, Owl 111ndio. rigIII; 10 "'It. aM-sprrj_
"0": cf An ......... Yf. fOld ,...... tl@5
\95
•
1..,.,..... I'aiod III ArtI.n.11II ~
33
•. t. 450-330 II.C. Golf OR 18.3711·
fir .... IOthtr Itllt Gr.1I KnII """"'"
.....1iI: Ftriod. t. 311).200 B..C. SiMI
..,.. ItiIIoIir!Q ... .., bow. lin: t:HInt
punch. SGC·(S19. Yf . . ... . .15" " ..,.., isWi !.IlIgI. Hud1 Raw: hIli wi1tI
.. inti ~Itd 11......" lilt ito fiIId 10 lilt
~ la OO !'I1to."braw itolcrifljOon. d. M,sh AJC I.
pi 3 m 14K. C!>oiel VF. abo off tlfttl!.
g5 Q AlII . .. I~
,~O
B.c. Sit/.
41 1Ie~ D)'IIHty. "Plld III, Glli t 40
(311-4 8.C. AE 15 dilld vur 3lA.II. 401.
ApWaton. RIIr. ,...... lnndI. MtItI. 400;
Mull. AJC I, pi ~ no 501. Choice YF. ""'"
1-'1 Pltina .., ,... .. . 1.J26G'
35 l'toIe!rIIie KiIgdom of Egypt. PlDIIIIIV yt
~'OO
1SO·145 &C. Gold IktM-KMI 127.131).
Rn: VeiN ~Id oj An_ • Pitht "K"IIIhind.
RIII'r. IlIUIt ~ SOC·lmA: cf.
S,_
s.-
014 fIi. 41. IU] u Sot,.
","1970. "'I 255. MirII Sll1l.ligh
42 "tOCMn 0yNsr,. Hmd .............. 4 fI.C..
ol.o. I . olE 15. MdIor willi long I11III. 11ft:
IlouIiII eorruopiH with .... QduICua
IIiI1 r... . ...... 1!lJ*'" '*- .....,Melli. 511 (.... 'n\. Choiel
1000
~l'f>
Vf ......................... ~
IY5
900 48 B. Kokhbt War. A.D. 132-t15. J\[ 24 lllltod
)'I. l lA.D. tl2I3J). PHn broneh 1IKItIUnd·
... by ...... h, fin: lyra of lour Ilrin".
Meoh.·112; Mil-23. I;!ooic.o VF ... jJ)5O
q~5
eo
36 PtoItrnai: KiIed- of ftrpt. I'\oIaf '11.
l'IIilo llll1o,. 180·\45 B.C. Sil..,
TI1'IidracNr(14JSgI. Milt"" 11 .....
u-. .If"""
113n12 Be. La .....11I hied of PI...."., 1
rifIt •......., aegis. IIw. lilt
on lh .... dItboI1. S..'·nlll .... PtoIImy 1111
MorlhGlm (Nordi,k rmu. ..itlc .lrIIlcrifti
1915·1116; 108. Suporb EF ... , ..Jil'W 49 Bet K..... w•. .l.1I. 132·135. SiI¥.-
o.n.;.l2.01g). 0ItIrf ,.. 2 (.l.Il. \33j4J.
q'p IkId 01 . .pH. RIII'r. NIt BrIne/\. MnIt.
aq, 189; .... 41. 0wnI VF •.•..•.. ~
Juduln Y95
.4»
51 Bet 1taIr"" W• . .l.D. 132·tl'5. SoJr.-
\ItNriI.II 0 .3OtI. oltlrilutld 10 .... 3 IA.D.
31 fWIiIn Pnd. t. 350 B.c. SiIM 0traI ~51g). 134151. Immon 'SIWr(orf within ..... th.
"YHD" ill......., of ollIMN..,....... Aw. I),e hlflCliIrf;';; i'lltfiptiGn "fin I~
i~ c,utod ,..".~ Rw. Owt It""*,,, riQ/!l h",lIom Q! JerulllI",: ' Mnh·202A;
IlCing Ifont 10 lilt. oM lwig; 011 ,ighl
Hlinw ~ '1'11)". MIsII..lJC l It
l .. 2. Yf. ,.a lor 1M isM . .. lRf
MiId·132. Ef • t525'
Y6°
b<jO
95 0
 Septeo:nber 1989 ·:·:xv

Roman Republican

52 Bar Kothba W•. A.o. 02·135. Sifm 81 I'~elus. A,D. 69. Slt'ltf Denoriu. minted It )00 flUitiJII.h.rinr, w~, .1 Mart"' Aureius
De118ilIs 13.30UI. Attributed 10 yet. 3 (A.a. Rornt.lIU"111 1INd.1 Vitelius .;gIl1 . R..: died A.a. 115_ GOOj Aura", 17.11\11. Mintld
13415). &och oIlI'l~: "Shini&n': Rev: 65 AEMIl!A,8. M. Almiitr. S~ .. u. wid PIAl. PONT MAXIM. 'lUll Mlted rig lll, holtling at 110"", A.O. 146·161. Draped OOlt at
Eiongorllod Iyno 0' 1Me1 .tr~; "for rho f'1.U1 ... K,p'8tIIS. JI'IOfIfyII1. 58 8.C. SiMr pall" n:I Yfrtio:lI sceplfl- RIC·1l7 , faUS1;na J..,iDr left. Rev: Dove It ..ding

••
ft"OOm of JerulaIem': Mesh. 209; Mild Orolnus. IGng Arlt .. moeing bt.i ... I Ef . .. 1)J'5ll ,q;n. RIC lAm. P\usl50l/b1. Choi:a Vf, 10ft.
205 . .\bout Ef, somt fl.'....
duo to luin II'

~:-'-"",~~
portrait . . I~
1M<
"J-O '3 1,,0

54 RorlWl Prot"rilon. Vole,",. Gro'"" A.D.

'M6. AE 16 dl1ed yeer 2 (A ,Q. lil. m~­
~.
~ 82 ':.'~'~"~_l"~
l~Jtntlheaol
Mllted 11 """"" AD. 77178
lelt RI¥: ER'fIOItM" .tI...mg loft ~oed by
115 M"iminUi f. A.O_ 235-238. AE 37 Minted
11 Torsos in CIcio. Uuralt. ~aped aoo eui!_
bU'l 01 Mpmnus I right. Re" Thl Thrte
mn within .. reath. AIV: l."""
brlnth; in 55 AEMllIA·8. M. Aeml"" StI",U' n:I Pib
f'1autius HI'\lWUI. rI'lIlI1rytrS 58 B.C. SiMr
Y;'tory. "CoIllJll!lllOl.tl' ell'lI' 8t~ish v;'-
torits of AgrittKa who 10........ Iollllt. 01
G'IKII ,tanding. lll'»e on thtr o.n.ide
holding flower. ~t. SG lev.HI- 'il96. VF, 11-
fiekj. dIU "l 8", Mlsh. 221; Mesh. AJC
II. pi 30. no. 8. Choice VF . 1)?5" Olrl8riUS. King AtIllS kneeling be,"", I Br~ian ill A.D. 78:' RIC'Il6: BMC-205. t'lKt'" ''''$4 I~
.
<ernel t90t. Rn: J~itll in ~edriga !tIt. lustrous. ~.Iy $upelb fOe I~
~~5 SyJl.9lJ; Ct-422/1!bl. Supe,b 100 beautilul- E~ Pr;nc& WIIId""k SiJIft (1935110' 232 ?,s0
~5 ""
Iy toned. 1p5'
1-75
"'. "\
..
108 CI<KIII. A.D. 198-217. SMr Ttt'arhctlm

-t\e ,
~I..
114.00.,1 Minted It laodic:e. in S)'Iirt A.D.
205-207. l.a!nltl nped bust 01 C .I~b

•
tighl. Rn: Eagle standing front. hIIId !tit ,

. , , ;/. wrel th in bt,k. I tIt bltween Io~.

,.
• • • •
51 IIomon Proturllon...... iu, Grll., . .1..0. ~ .,,., BoIilger-57. Superb Ef ~

15·26. At 15. Dllld Y'" 41"'.0. 111. V....

Inl, vrith smallnndIlI1l tmti. IIIv: Kon-
~ Y7?
tII_, w;m two "101 h.-lies tnd lid. 67 AiMILlA·8. M. Aemiu. Set_ n:I PIAl. 83 VI.pasion. A.D. 69-79, Silver Oonarius
Mesh. 225. mo_ . .~ PIMius Hyps_ID . ......,.,... 56 BJ:. SM' """lid It """" A.a. 74. lautalt. hl1iei 01
Ot",rius. King Aral.. knleling baHt. I Yaspasian right. !ltv: PON MAX TR P COS
175 eln'lll right. Row: Jup~er ;., qo.o8drigllolt. V, Yospsian aillad "",1lIIdiIg bran:h n:I "1 Bllbin",. A.D. 238. Ai SollerWI IT'intld
S,Jl.9lJ; Craw·422!1. Choice Vf . 17BIf '<1111'" IIIC·77; £.364. EF, ItM"IId . ~ It Rornt. llUralll dnipld and euir. b",t of
Billinus right. RI¥: P MTil P COS • p P.
150 ","P S..... ID strtdini li lt, holdng brard afICI
plruonium. C-2t RIC-16. About Ef, ehoie.
tnwn pltinl urt5
111 Ellogebtlls. A.D. 218·222. SOtr Dwriua.
mint.! II IIomo. lMnll. rlllpld n:I <uir.
bust 01 Elaglboll. right. f\ev', FlOES
&75
59 Rom,n ProcIotou.. A,uoniul ftIi>;. ' .0. MtllTVM, ficin .tlrldinO '1K'rIg head right.
52·59 . .I.E 16 41ted ,.. 14 IA.O. 45). h· hokIilg mrdartl nI Yail.m RIC·7J: £.J8.
scription wiIIIin wfllth. Rev: Two Cl'llued Vmall¥ Mint 51111 . . .... ~
!111m br..ches. Mesh. 232. Choiet Vf, 'or 69 CAlPllRNIA·24. C. Pisc LI. fn9. monryer.
is_ . . }8{ L 67 B.C. SiIo..- DIn.nus. Hllld 01 Apolo 175
rigllt wlIh Niot !ltv: Nlked r.;, .....1n
70 lIIiIoPng 191. holding .... b<lnch. 8-9 Trljln_ A.D. !J6.m. SiIoer 1I1I1dr_
C, ....·408I\1I044IAA9), TOOI4. Superb (14.87gl. Mim ed II 1,,. A.D. lO3·m.
Ef . .. ~ llUltile lIud 01 Trajan riUllt, ~pport~ by
..gil . tandilg ,ight: btl.., dub. !ltv: 119 I'Iliip I. A.D. 24.249. SiMr Anloninilnul
'1-75 liullale bust 01 MIIqllrth 'ight. BMC """till It fIomI. A.D. 248. R_It, bo.t
If'hoenitiI).1l XXl, no. 12. Choiet 'IF yrS' right RI¥: Sho-wolt Mkirllj ~ n:I
1IemvI, RIC·IS; C·17B_ Choir:. 'If. 'uItJOUI
15 0 112 Julil Sooemiu IMotller 01 Eltgebakosl died .. ~
A.D. 222. SMr Dena .... mint.! It R(WIIt.
Dr.ped busl at JtN Sceomiu righl. Row: ['3S
City c..o..,. AeIia c.pil ..... ,.... ullltm) Ver'kIS MIIed lilt. IIoIrIin;lIPjllt wid SCII'-
60
MIf'tUS ............0. IMlO. AE 22. Busts lie; It '*
teol I d'!id. tIC IEIagIIbU~243;
C·I,1. TMtd. EF . prS
01 Marcus Ivtlius nl Lucius
Vis-I -';' R)NTEIA·17. P. foolaius P.t. Capito. JPJfWYII'.
t. 55 B.C. SI..r Den ..... H..... ted Irld
I'ws. Rn: Bust 01 S"tPl I. Aos-35;
d,aped bust 01 MIII1 right. troplrjo bellirll, 'I-';P
KId-58. l'erv ' .... F/'o'F 1}50
R..: Wanior III horMbaek 'ighl, tlwulling
93 Antorinu. ~s. A.D. 138-161, Gold Aureus
1-00

$
IIi. 'pu, 11 (laulsh _my who is IIboI.t
10 lilY • 1ttinI oombltlllt: "",,,1 and ovil fI'WI1ed A.D. 15 ~152. Lanaoi'leMj IIh_ R.. :
.~ below on right. 5)'11-900: Cnw-429n. Piu •• tlrllng 1011 holding ~ RIC·206;
C·305. VF. I~
Toned Ef . $~

1~5 'l6 ifJ

120 PIiip 1 A.D. 244-249. AE Seslert"l oim,",

tfi1\\ 113 Sew"" Aluarller. A.D. 222·235. Sil¥er

It Rornt. A.D. 248. Lacoeltl and !hpad
bust 01 Philip 1 right. Rt " Antelope wal·

~
Oenarius IT'inted It 110".,., A.D. 23,.235_ ing IIh. RI~-1JI. ~F, booeIy oli¥I g,.., patina
lour..l, held 01 Sev.", AIIundtr 'ight.
Rev: Yirt'" stanrliroJ right. loot III hemet.
'J"
1I0illirg ltept" nI PlllIoniun. RIC-259. 350
Su(lerb EF. . 'JW
" MUSSIOlA-4.l. Mussib longus. fTOIIe\'II,
t. 42 B.C, SMr Denll"," Diad.Irnl ... iIed
bust 01 Conr:orM right. A.v: Platlorm in·
S4 Antorinus ~s. A.D. 138-161 Gold Aura",
trlnttd A.a. 15a-159, BIJI htrtd eui"ssod [95
se,ibed ClOACIN III wtlir::11 stm Iht two w"n ~s nQ/1t 11M: ~I mtiheing.
61 City CoiIIgI. 1IDstrI,/'hiip Il A.D. 244-249. .tltUl' at YwILli DolKin.. Syd-1l93; RIc.2S4c. Superb EF . . .... . . IJ.59!I'
,I.E 28. Rich,.. euif. IIId ~aped bust of C, ... -4941421. EF. Jp5' Ex iHS3-Uu 1954 '296 Yg60
Phiip H rigm . Rrt: "AKTUA O'I'ICAPlA"
wilhil"sti: w,uth. RM-52. Vf. lltr-.;. ').Q5
live patinl rod fll" 11].i(!' 124 Diaclon ... A.a. 284.305. 5i ... , ArgtntiLli
13.31;1 Minted It TicOwm. &- A.D. 295.
1350 l.u,.. t. he.d 01 ~lItiln right. Alv:
~IRTVS MllITVM . OOxlltilo, MumlllLII,
ConSllm'" n:I Golo riu, SlKrilicing OVer
l,ipod in frant at , .. l .. rated ~1tTIIl,gltt;
Ibovt~, tIot. RI£.18IIIv. yirtual, Mint
Stlt, $)901)
72 PLAUTlA·15. l. PI..,n", Pleneus. monoye,. 95 futinrr Senior. wiI, oj Antmil'lus ~l A.D.
L 47 BJ:. SMr Denarius. Mask 01 MeGlsi, 138-161 Gold ALwOlJ. 17,31g1, Mimed 114 S-us Aloundo!, A.D. 2220235. lan.hI 1300
62 City Co:JinIvo. Nllpolis. Com"",,*,s. A.D. ll cing with a'panll 11 ."",1 01 1_ R..: pO!l~ 11 IIome Ie. A.D. lUll_ chpIrI nI euir. bust rig/lt. Rev: I'lx MllId
117-192. AE IS. Bust 01 Commodus right. Auro" ffying right eonot.Jct'rlg the leu, fltmn.. Rev: Fort....
Draped bust rigIrt 01 loft, holding 01.. brlnr:n n:I se"ll1l"
RI¥: Ito,n pacing right Vf, lovely g"" horses ollht SIll. Cr ..... 4531l1. Ef. wonder· t1~ with lIud 10 !th. holOing PIle" RIC-4Il2; C-466. Cho;'. VF, ....Iy gIosl"j
patinl. . 195 tu MId"," htred . I~ IIId 'udder. RIC-3491; 8MC-369_ EF; and olNe IIIIIn I'ltiJil . 1Jl5'
I ", ..Iy ","u. ! . ,~
37 $ 0,>0 "}5
'3195
Roman Impertorial

f)~
18\~i
~v 99 Futinrr Junior will oj M........ died A.D.
Superior Stamp & Coin Co., Inc.
9478 W. Olympic Boulevard. Beverly Hills. CA 90212
63 Cit, (;ojnlgl. No....... E~lIs.
211·222. Ai 25. wltllMllt.1 EIIgIb .....
A.D. 73 J"" Ceo .., dild 44 B.C. SiIYar Oonari ...
MinI,", 48-47 BJ:. DiIrIoIned hucI 01 Piol»
175. Gold Au"", ..... led A.D. 148-141.
Draped bust riQht. fie.: Yaros 'landing Ioh.
(213) 203·9855 . (800) 421 ·0754 . FAX: 12 13) 203·0496

right; "". ooctrtllil ..,n

o;wllttrmalt 0' Venus right wreathed with 0Ik. lin: RIC·515b IA. P-.... I_ EF . 14fo8O'
It nod. Rw. Mount GIrizin willi .n.1IId
Ikll. R... J9; BMC·95. VFlf I}J!
CAESAII below troplrjo at Gallic arms.
S)'II-IJ09; Cr .... 45212. c-.tes W;.
0'6<P
lory in Go-J. EF . JJ95'
115
'2-75
. -XVI - 'The Ceiator -

Segovia radio station

Bank Leu Ltd Zurich
Numismatics
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 af( price levels.
Bank Leu Ltd
In Gassen 20 CH-8001 Zurich Switzerland
Telephone (from the US) 011 4112192406 Te/efax 011 4112193306
heralds mint restoration
(TRANSLATION: Commentary.
RADIQ SEGOYIA, June 6. 1989)
THE MINT
It's news that the mint, which we've
all been watching deteriorate from one
fire to the next, is the object of projects
and illusions on the pan of some good
intentioned Segovians and some
foreigners - and this phenomenon should
be studied - who feel all of the sudden
"hooked on" o ur city. Foreigners
whom, in this Cain and Able, dog-eat-
dog city, should be given the utmost
attention, but whom usually aren 't
given even the slightest notice since we
don't even acknowledge those among
ourselves who make the mistake of
doing good for others.
Now it's news because for once,
wonderfully, they're thinking of putting
in Segovia and in the mint, what should
really be put there, or in part - restored,
logically and naturally, and not one of
those marvelous inventions that later
tum against the inventor by converting
into some head-crusher or other fatal
device.
It all began when the mint,
meanwhile a flour mill - notice the
relation one thing has with the other -
wound-up abandoned without purpose or
duty, and an imaginative Mayor thought
it's best use was to convert it into the
home of the International University of
Sanlander.
This strange and twisted relationship,
doubtless born of some utopian fantasy
but for the most part far from
practicality, floundered when those in
c harge - sent here by the VIMP
(International University of Menendez. y
Pelayo in Santander), o nly discussed
topics such as lIle Red Pepper Crisis of
Valverde del Majano (town) in 1515,
Central American Gastromomy, and the
price curve of bird-feed in the dark-
ages ... finally overcome with difficulty
mostly because the initiative was
cloaked by others of similar importance,
and because the owners of the mint
staged a difficult and prolonged process
of conversations with the would-be
should be a mint. We Segovians were a
little bewildered willl this latest idea,
"How cou ld o ne suppose to use
something for the purpose it was
originally intended, instead of looking
for some new-fangled use capable of
producing miracles?"
The bad thing about Anglo-Saxons is
they're stubborn . This American gently
began convincing us that it wasn't just
him, but a whole slew of institutions
dedicated to thepromotion of coUeeting
coins, medals, and such things, that
were interested in recuperating the mint
- which was one of the oldest, steeped in
tradition, most beautiful and valuable of
all lIlose in the world. Numismatics,
they say, beg your pardon.
And the thing began to take shape.
And little by little, as transcendental
things are done, the efforts all
connected. And enter in this slew that
thing which they call the
Quincentennial Commission, which
turned out to be of some use after all,
and in any case, City Hall began to see
the light and made the expropriation,
which was the fust step, and to take
heart in the project to create a coin
mu seum here, and an engraving and
coining workshop, and a school for the
same, and now even an information and
evaluation center of international
importance - all of which are productive.
vitilizing, non-polluting, and of great
inte(~t.
Thanks to everyone. To the
American who knew how to show us
that things tend to serve for the purpose
they were made. Thanks to the public
servants who pursue this effort with
enthusiasm. Thanks to those abroad
who acknowledge the importance of
determination, and have the Idndness of
spirit to dedicate to Segovia that which
was Segovia's, from King Alfonso VII
to Isabel II (the mint, 1158-1869).
At Lloyds Hall in London, they still
announce maritime disasters on the bell
of an 18th-century ship. London is no
longer lIle great port which it once was.
Boats no longer have bells. England no
longer rules the seas. But L10yds
continues to be the g reatest maritime

COINS owners, while everyone else here was

playing football with the mayor's head,
as we all wen remember. (the Mayor
subsequently resigned after a lengthy
impeachment process).
, Things being as they were, an
American [Glenn Murray] arrived in
Segovia and started saying that the mint
insurer. And they continue to ring the
bell. When things are what they are,
aU's for the better.
(Those wishing to support the efforts of
"Project Segovia" may contact organizer
Glenn Murray at Project Segovia 92 ,
EXCMO. Ayuntamiento de Segovia
40001, Segovia, Spain.)

Jean
ELSEN, S.A.
Send Today • Public Auctions
• Numismatic Literature
Bor • Monthly Illustrated Price Lists
• Ancient, Medieval, Islamic and Modern Coins
Bree Illustrated List
Avenue de Tervueren 65, Bte 1
~ 1040 BRUSSELS-BELGIUM
TOM CEDERLIND (D ) Tel: 011-322-734-6356
P. O. Box 1963-C
Portland, OR • 97207 ~
The Celator September 1989
Evidence presented
•
Hoard comage tested under electron microscope
(The following letter from Dr.
Stanley L. Fiegler of Michigan State
University to Ms. Sylvia Hurter or
Bank Leu, Zurich, summarizes the
analysis performed by Dr. Flegler on the
Black Sea Hoard coins submitted to
him. The publishing of this letter
(obtained through an independent source)
does not represent an opinion on the
part of The Celator abo ut the
authenticity of these coins, bur rather is
offered 10 illustrate the complexity and
sophistication of current methods of
analysis.)
Dear Ms. Hurter:
This repoft is in reference to the
diobols from the Black Sea Hoard. I
have done an extensive analysis of a
total of 33 coins from the hoard over the
past three months using techniques such
as scanning electron microscopy at the
Center for Electron Optics at Michigan
State University with fifteen years
experience. I have analyzed many
thousands of samples for a variety of
clients over the years including many
ancient coins. I am very familiar with
the literature on scientific investigation
of ancient coins. In addition, I collect
ancient coins and have done extensive
experimental work on my own
concerning various treatments to coins
to alter their appearance, or produce
artificial toning, etc.
There exists over one hundred pages
of scientific data from my analysis as
well as several dozen electron
micrographs. This report summarizes
my findings for the sake of clarity. Any
®et~atb ~itfc~ ~c~fo(get
Roman Marble Fragment
22.8 x 18 em, 2nd Century AD
PROMENADEPLATZ 10 • 8000 MUNCHEN 2 • TELEF ON (089) 29 21 50 • TELEX 528 105
ANTIQUITIES· BUYING AND SELLING ' AUCTION REPRESENTATION
data from any analysis can be sent if
you wish. In addition, I have extensive
references from literature that support
my conclusions; these can also be sent.
I have organized my findings into eight
major categories.
ITEM ONE
Two of the diobols, both from
Messembria, have about 1% lead mixed
in with the silver-copper alloy. Lead is
extremely useful because it is the only
tool scientists have that can give
anything approaching a date for an
ancient metal artifact. Carbon 14 dating
does not work with metal artifacts . .
Newly mined lead contains detectable
amounts of radioactive lead 210 mixed
in with the other non-radioactive
isotopes 204, 206, 207, and 208. The
lead 210 originates from Uranium traces
in the ore. After refining, the amount
of lead 210 gradually diminishes with a
half-life of about 21 years. With
present detection methods, the absence
of lead 210 indicates the artifact is more
than 100 years old. Lead 210 analysis
has been used in au thentication of
paintings that contain lead based
pigments.
The most sensitive technique for lead
210 analysis is to measure the specific
energy of the alpha and beta particles
producec! in the decay chain. One of the
lead containing coins from Messembria
was analyzed in a Princeton Gamma
Tech counter with a solid state
Germanium detector and multichannel
analyzer. No trace of lead 210 could be
detected, therefore the lead in the coin is
at least 100 years old or older.
MUNZENHANDLUNG
Medieval
Modern
Ancient
All items from our next sale.
Catalogues available
TELEFAX (089) 2283675, WEST GERMANY
COIN S · MEDALS· NUMISM ATIC LITERATURE
ITEM TWO
The deposits on an ancient metal
artifact are an excellent criteria as an
indication of authenticity. There are
many methods of producing artificial
toning or deposits on silver coins.
Fortunately, these can be detected. For
instance silver chloride or "hom silver"
is sometimes found on ancient silver
coins. A similar effect can be achieved
by treating a silver coin with
hydrochloric acid. The effect is really
rather excellent and looks similar to the
eye or under low magnification in a
light microscope. However, when
examined in a scanning electron
microscope, the artificial silver chloride
has large crystals of very uniform
appearance while the ancient silver
chloride has smaller non-uniform
crystals and the effect is non-uniformly
distributed in a microscopic scale.
None of the 33 diobols examined had
any indication of any artificial toning.
A number of the coins had deposits.
The deposits were identified using
scanning electron microscopy,
petrographic light microscopy, and
energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis.
For example the lead containing coins
had deposits consisting of the lead
minerals Plattnerite, Cerussite, and
Galens. All of the diobols contain iron
within the alloy. A number of these
coins had deposits consisting of iron
minerals Limonite, Hematite. and
Magnetite. A significant point is that it
is the trace elements that have
undergone corrosion to produce deposits.
In addition the deposits are intermixed
on a microscopic level, i.e. at a
AUCTION NR. 163
27-30 September, 1989
Featuring over 4200 lots
Coins· Medals· Antiquities
Egyptian: Fragment of a Temple Relief
29.8 x 14.1 em, 1st Century BC
. XVII
magnification of 100 times you see
small areas of Magnetite mixed in with
Hematite and adjacent to this an area of
Limonite. As an example of these
mineral deposits, I have sent two
photographs via Federal Express, to Me.
Dieter Gorny in Monte Carlo. The
photographs are due to scanning electron
micrograph taken at a magnification of
20 x. This was taken by detecting the
backscattered electrons that are produced
when the electron beam strikes the
sample. The backscattered electrons are
a result of the interaction between the
electrons in the electron beam and the
nucleus of the atoms of the sample.
The importance of the image produced
by the backscattered eleclTons is that it
produces an atomic weight dependent
image. That is. in the black and white
photograph, the very brightest areas,
labeled Ag. are silver with few deposits.
The areas less bright, labeled H, are the
mineral Hematite. The areas slightly
less bright, labeled M. are the mineral
Magnetite. The dark areas. labeled L,
are the mineral Limonite. This
photograph may then be compared to a
photograph taken in a light microscope.
The corresponding areas with a red color
are the mineral Hematite, labeled H.
The corresponding areas in black are the
mineral Magnetite. labeled M. The
corresponding areas in yellow are the
mineral Limonite, Labeled L. similar
distributions of these and other minerals
were found on many of the coins.
Deposits such as these are typical of
deposits that have formed over the
centuries on ancient coins; they are not
Please tum to page XX
XVIII The Celator September 1989

SYRO-HITTITE HEADS
terra cotta. 2.000 B.C.
SUMERIAN SHELL MONEY. Syria, approx. 1_1 1/2" long SYRO·HITTITE DIVINITY
PHOENICIAN TERRA COTTA buff colored terra cotta.
Earliest known money. Mesopotamia, different styles $29.00 each
AMPHORA C. 300 BC .. 7" tall. 3,500-3,000 B.C., $14 ea.
approx 511l" tall. c. 2000-B.C ..
(line condition) $125 each different types $425

LARGE
EGYPTIAN NEOLITHIC FLINTS HOLYLAND HEAO FRAGMENTS EGYPTIAN
6,000 yrs. old! 1"-1';'" terra cotta, from household voti ve
. 26th Dyn . i
$14 ea. statues, '-1 112" appro x., 300-100 B.C.,
Osiris. the servant and scribe. Horeth")
$19 ea. 6" tall. $495 each
------~~----_r----__ ~----_r--~~~=-----~----~~~~=--

..

GREEK IRON ARROWHEADS

ROMAN GLASS BEADS EGYPTIAN FAIENCE USHABTIS c. 700 B.C., difl. shapes, ROMAN GLASS BOTTLES
am ber/while wound glass , · SERVANTS OF THE DEAD· from "Homeric Times", oxidized, greenish color. c. 100 B.C.
c. 100 A.D. 'It long . 26th Oyn .. 600 B.C. , inscribed small tall ... $125 each
(can be strung) $9.00 each (with translati on) 4" tall $95.00 each 1"·2", $10 ea. • tall ... $225 each

CARNELIAN. INSCRIBED WITH

ANCIENT PRAYER
LURISTAN BRONZE SPEAR 15th· 16th Century, approx. 1"
ROMAN BRONZE BRACELETS suitable for setting, $29 ea.
POINTS. 1200-800 B.C. design on terminals, A.O.·1oo
5"-6", (fine condition), $89 ea. (wearable), $25 ea.
The Celator September 1989
ALEXANDER THE GREAT
SILVER TETRADRACHMS,
Extra Fine ... $325
ALEXANDER THE
DRACHMS , v. nice .. .$11 0
HOLY lAND TERRA COTTA Oil
lAMPS & BOTTLES c. 100 BC-
AD 500, different styles and
shapes, $39 ea. $75 for' two
AFGHANISTAN ANCIENT
BEAD NECKLACE. from
3000 BG, approx. 16" long
wearable, lapis ... $175
Turquoise ...$95
XVIlIl
BC ANCIENT HOLY lAND COINS wi
RDMAN BRONZE COINS Head of Roman Emperor & goddess BYZANTINE HOl Y lAND
AD 100-300, various types, AD 200-300, (Antoniniani) GOLD COINS w!face of Christ
r_.L..__.(i.d.en.ti.fi.ab. l.e).$.l.o.ea• ._ _....I_S•iI.ve.r.....S.55.e.a•. _ B.ro.n.ze.....$.2.5.ea• .....I_.,AD 1000, Gold ... $495 ea.
Bronze ... $95 ea.
AUTHENTIC ANCIENT COIN JEWELRY
These Ancient Coins are set in Gold Vermeil or Silver. The Pendants
have vermeil or si lver chains. Th e Earrings are set on silver posts.
,
''':1 rI
ALEXANDER TETRADACHM / DRACHM
336-323 BC EGYPTIAN MUMMY BEAD
SASSANIAN SilVER DIRHAM
Drachm earrings or cuff links: AD 500-600 NECKLACE w!faience ,m,,,.,
vermeil. .. $3501 silver. .. $325 Earrings: vermeil...$110/ silver .. .$95 26th Dynasty, c. 600 BC, 24"
pendant: vermeil. .. $450 /silver .. . Pendant: vermeil...$85/silver ... $75 long , wea rable ,$95 ea.
,
~ ,
ANCIENT BIBLICAL COINS
Bronze widow's mites. New
Te stament, mark 12:41-44,
SilVER DRACHM ROMAN BRONZE COIN (identi fi able) $10 ea.
200 AD t 00-300
links: vermeil...$225/
Earrings or cuff links: ve rmeil...$115 /
silver ... $95
L~p~e:nd~a~n~t:~!'r~:'=i~~~~.~._.$_11_0_+-__p_en...,dant: vermei I. .. $85 / si Iver... $75
HOLY lAND MOTHER GODDESS -
SUMERIAN STONE BEAD PARTHAIN SilVER ORACHMS terra cotta votive statue, c. 300 BC,
approx. 6" tall, $125 ea.
NECKLACE lB" long, black , grey, white 200 BC-AO 228, Different rul ers.
beads, c. 3000 BG, wearable, $45 ea. (VF - EF condition), $45 ea.
 xx The Celator September 1989

Black Sea Continued from page XVII

typical of deposits that have been
produced using artificia1 methods. In
my opinion, deposits such as these
could not be produced using artificial
methods including burial in soil over a
period of a few years.
ITEM THREE
Two coins were cut in half in order
to measure the elements in the center of
the coin and compare this to surface
analysis. A total of 20 different points
were analyzed on each coin. The results
were very significant. The composition
of the center of both coins was 29 to
31%silverand68to71%copper. The
surface composition of one coin was 72
to 75% silver and 21 to 23% copper.
The surface composition of the other
coin was 52 to 63% silver and 27 to
38% copper. The difference is
• ITEM FOUR
absolutely not due to a silver coating.
There is a gradual increase of silver near
the surface. These coins have undergone
BOSTON...
Ancient and Foreign Coin
Mecca o/The Northeast!
BAY ST ATE COIN SHOW
25th Anniversary Year
November 17, 18, 19 - 1989
"57" PARK PLAZA HOTEL
Room r eSfry.tlonr. 617-482-1800
Over 24 years ...
W ew &lgland's Largest Coin Show!W
Chairman: Ed AJeo
Box 400, Winchester, MA 01890
~ 617-729-9677 A observed in the minute cracks and pores
extens ive surface e nrichment and
depletion, a phenomenon ili at has been
extensively reported in the metallurgical
analysis of ancient coins. In a silver-
copper alloy, it is the copper that is
preferentially removed by surface
corrosion resulting in an increase in the
measured silver content and a reduction
in the copper content. Due to the fact
that the coins have a high proponion of
copper, the enrichment and depletion
effects are major. Ancient coins with a
high silver content have enrichment and
depletion of lesser amo unts. Minor
variations in corrosion conditions in the
hoard coins have resulted in variation in
the measured surface composition . In
my opinion, effects such as these could
not be produced artificially.
Energy disper s ive x-ray
microanaJysis of the coins revealed iliat
there are at least four different aJloys
based on the presence of trace elements.
One with iron and nickel; a second aJloy
with iron, nickel, and lead; a third with
iron, nickel, and zinc; and a founh with
iron and zinc. The trace element levels
were generaJly in the range of one
percent. All of these trace elements
have bee n extensively reported in
ancient silver coins and are an indication
of different batches of ore.
ITEM FIVE
All surface analyses detected the
presence of aluminum and silicon in
trace amounts of 1 to 4%. Aluminum
and silicon oxides are present in soil and
clays. Deposits o f cr ysta lline
aluminum and s ilicon oxides were
of the coins. Subjecting the coins to
cleaning with a weak detergent solution
in a ultrasonic cleaner did not remove
the deposits or change the observed x-
ray spectrum. This is an indication that
the coins have been in the soil for many
years such that the clays have begun a
cementing action within the matrix of
the coin. Merely rubbing with clay or
shon term buriaJ would not produce this
effect
ITEM SIX
The coins I analyzed had an average
weight of 1.15 grams. According to
B.V . Head in lIisloria Numorum, the
coins should weigh 19.4 grains (1.257
grams). I believe the low weight may
be accounted for in the following
manner. First, assume that these coins
were a deliberately debased issue, and
that the coins were made the same size
and volume as the non· debased issue.
Silver has a specific density of 10.5
grams/cc and copper has a specific
density of 8.92 grams/cc. An equal
volume of a high silver alloy will
therefo re weigh more than an equal
volume of a low s ilver alloy .
Specifically if we compare a 30% silver
alloy as found in the hoard coins with a
90% silver alloy as found in the Bank
Leu coin, the 30% alloy would weigh
0.91 that of the 90% alloy. If we
multiply 0.91 times the expected weight
of 1.257 grams we abtain 1.14 grams
whic h is almost exactly the observed
weight of the hoard coins.
ITEM SEVEN
All of the coins were extensively
studied in the scanning e lectron
microscope at magnifications ranging
from 10 x to 20,000 x. Absolutely no
traces of any casting artifacts were found
and no traces of any undenype were
found. Many complex planchet cracks
were observed. In my opinion, this
virtually ensures that the coins are not
cast counterfeits and that they are not
restruck ancient coins.
More or less in conclusion, I wish to
state that the more I analyze these coins
the more convinced I become that they
are of ancient origin. I have yet to find
any indication that they are modern
counterfeits. I have one major point of
contention with those that are of the
opin ion that they are modem s truck
counterfeits. If there is an individual
with the incredible talent and time to
produce dozens of different dies, why
would they make the mistake of using a
low silver alloy and making the coins
underweight when the known weight
could be found in a common reference
like fJistoria Numorum? I believe that
the hoard coins pro bably were a
deliberately debased issue. The
numismatic literature has many samples
of debased Greek issues. If you have
any question about my anaJysis, I may
be contacted at 517-353--8798 during the
ho urs 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M .
E.S.D.T. (14:00 to 22:00 G.M.T.)
Sincerely yours,
Stanley L.Flegler, Ph.D.
Faculty Specialist
Center for Electron Optics

Clip & Save

QUOTES FROM THE PAST
Coin File
------------------------- "In season, all is good"
: Locris :
Sophocles
I AR - Slater I
I 369-338 B.C. I
I Persephone/Ajax I
I Sear 2326 I
I In Homer's tale of the Trojan war two heros by the name of Ajax are I TRIVIA QUiZ
I mentioned. The more famous (the friend of Achilles) was from Salamis. I Alexander the Great Is said to have
I The lesser known, but equally important, was from Locris, a district in I decreed that only the famous painter
I central Greece along the eastern coast. The Locrian's chief city was I Apelles should execute his likeness
I Opus and most Locrian coins bear the name of that city (OrrONTIQN) . I with the brush. He bestowed the same
I Coins struck after the subjugation of Locris by Philip II bear the generic I honor upon a sculptor from the
I name AOKPON. The obverse of this coin bears a representation of I Peloponnesus. Who was the only

- I
I
Persephone and is stylistically very close to the same image on
contemporary and earlier Syracusan coins. The reverse portrays the local
I
I
sculptor allowed to create the likeness
of Alexander?
.J (Last month·s answer on page XXXIIII)
L
-------------------------
hero Ajax in a classical herolwarrior pose.

BUYING & SELLING '--:::~\il::,,~~GOOD

0'
LORD, fARSWORl\1,
DO \JOU REALI1:E WI-lAT
WORLD ll-1IS MEANS- .. ?
COINS
1100 B.C.
to Modern

IIWritefor Free List: (I

Anything Anywhere
P_ 0_ Box 02826
Portland OR 97202 •
 ...
september " 989 XXI

STARTERS • • •

Q: How can I stan collecting ancient coins?

A: Buy a few inexpensive coins

and the books to identify them.
The rest comes automatically.

SPECIALS:
• Jacob, Coins and Christianity,
hardback $12
• 10 mixed Roman bronzes,
Constantine and later, all decent
and attributable

total

..

\otN\W~\NG N
.R\c.na{cI\~-;~
s\~
• Reece & James, Identifying Roman Coins,
hardback $12
• 10 mixed Roman bronze radiates
all decent and attributable

total

Postage Paid
Salis/action Guaranteed

Order From:

Elysian fields
P.o. Box 35
Horicon, WI 53032
,!XII.
Byzantine
rather than coins which are basically the
same except for date, officina letter and
mint mark: as do collectors of the early
Byzantine coinage.
Although the design of the gold
hyperpyra remained basically unchanged
throughout each reign, they bore sigla
or secret marks, denoting each issue.
T hese marks were apparently changed
every four months, probably coinciding
with the thrice-annual payment of the
army. Thus between 1258 and c. 1355
over 400 varieties of the gold hyperpyra
were struck, each with its different sigla.
The large number of issues is due to the
fact that the gold coinage was struck at
Constantinople, Thessalonica, Phi la-
delphia and possibly at other cities as
well as a mint moving with the emperor
on his travels. When the gold coinage
was succeeded by a high-value silver
coinage, these new coins and their
subdivisions also bore sigla denoting
each issue.
Most of the early Palaeologan coins
struck before 1360 are scyphate or cup
shaped in form. Many collectors have
avoided these since they have difficulty
in finding specimens that do not exhibit
signs of double striking. They should
not neglect the scyphate coinage for this
NUMISMATIK
LANZ
MONa-IEN
Send this ad (or a FREE _mpk d 011£ d NI' latest auction cataIog5 and tell us what you are coI.lecting.
Miinzen und Medaillen AG
For 45 years
we have been serving
collectors of Ancient Coins ...
and we would like
to serve you too!
·Monthly lIIustrated Fixed Price Lists·
• Public Sales· Appraisals·
• Large Stock in All Price Ranges •
• Buying and Selling·
P[eas~ send us your want list. We willjill it! '
Please contact:
Miinzen und Medaillen AG
P. O. Box 3647 • Malzgasse 25
CH - 4002, Basel, Switzerland
Tel. (061) 23 75 44
. .. ....."
reason since the double-striking of the
obverse or convex side of the coin was
the standard method of production for all
scyphate coins.
Byzantine techno logy was not so
advanced that they were able to produce
obverse and reverse dies with exactly the
same radius of curvature. Thus if the
obverse and upper die had a wider radius
than the lower die, a blow struck
vertically would only imprint the design
in the very centre of the coin (fig. I).
___-+---Contact
~I ~ Arc
FiG. 1
On the other hand, if the upper die had a
narrower radius than the lower, then a
vertical blow would o nly impress the
design at the edges of the coin (fig . 2).
Dr. Hubert Lanz
Luitpoldblock
Maximiliansplatz 10
0-8000 Milnehen 2
West Germany
Tel. (49) (89) 29 90 70
Fax. (49) (89) 22 07 62
The Celator
Continued from page I
intersection can clearly be seen running
between the two arrows. It is clear that
4--=== Con\3ct all scyphates are double SUllek and that a
Arcs wait for o ne that isn't will be
"""",mOOd.
F IG. 2
Thus, to o btain the full design obverse
dies with a wider radius than the reverse
die was used, and to obtain a fu ll strike
two blows were sUllck, between which
the upper die was rocked about 45 0 (fig. Fig. 5
3 and 4). The first blow would strike
the left hand two-thirds of the design and
Palaeologan coins are the link
the second blow, the right hand two-
between the anc ient and mediaeval
thirds. While a full impress ion of the
worlds, with an increas ing amount of
design was obtained, there is always a
line of intersection between the two Western influence making itself felt
until the middle of the fourteenth
strikes, usually running verti cally
century when the increasing power of
between about 1 o'clock and 5 o'clock
the Ottomans severe ly curtailed the
on the obverse of the coin, since in fact
Western states ability to influence the
the right hand side was usually struck
eastern Mediterranean world. The
ftrst.
Byzantines considered themselves as
Fi rst Conl~ct Arc Romans and even to the end the
emperor s bo re the title Basileu 5
Romaion , 'King of the Romans', and
indeed the feeling has lasted even until
\4- recently. After the Second World War,
the British author Patrick Leigh Fermor
was in a bar in Panama and, hearing two
barmen talking to each o ther in Greek,
ordered his drink in Greek. Romaios
eisai? "Are you Greek?" he was asked
Although Palaeo logan coins are
classified as 'ancient' and studied by
purely numismatic methods such as
Secood Contact Arc overstrikes and die-links, they are also
mediaeval coins and can be studied
through the use of documents .
Certainly, while the relevant documents
are nowhere near as copious as those
which survive in Western Europe, they
are more pro lific than those which exist
for the Byzantine coinage of even two
centuries earlier.
These documents take several forms,
of which the most readily available is
probably that of contemporary
histori ans such as Paehyme res who
FIG. 3 records that after the recapture of
Constantinople from the Latin s by
Michael VIII c. 1262, Michael changed
the design on the gold hyperpyra from
Arco(
ob,;~imfrcss~
lU~~~OW
I
Imprcssion
Junction Ridgc
Arcof
ob>crse Unpl"cS$ion
the figure of the Virgin enthroned to
that of the Virgin praying amidst the
walls of Constantinople. or of Muntaner
wbo recorded that Andronicus n struck a
specially debased silver basilikon to pay
his Catalan mercenar ies. This is
particularly interesting since at present a
specimen of this debased coin does not
seem to exist.
Cootinuous combincd
arc of rcvcrse impf(ssion
FIG. 4
While both strikings were often made
with the same obverse die, o n many
occasions two differe nt dies were used,
and if these bore different variations of
design, then these variations appear on
the same coin. Figure 5 is a good
example of this phenomelaon. Il depicts
the obverse of a silver trachy of John III
Vatatzes with the design of a you thful
nimbate bust of Christ. The right hand
side of the coin was struck ftrSt with a
die where the nimbus contained panels
Biflon Trachy of Michael VIII
from mint of Thessa/onica
with ftve pellets Gontained by an upper
double line and a single lower line. The
die used for the second stiking. which
The later Middle Ages was a time of
expanding western trade and it is
produced the left-hand two thirds of the
design, depicted Christ with a nimbus
therefore no t surprising that Italian
merchants recorded their business
containing a single pellet enc losed
b~twe~l) t'>Yo dOl} bl~ lin~ .. :rhe line of . PJease turn to page XXIII
·'tlie celator · September 1989
B.yzantine
dealings in Mediteranean trade. The
earliest, Francesco Balducci Pegalotti, a
Florentine merchant. wrOle a handbook,
La Praclica della Mercalura, which
recorded all that he had learned
throughout his career. While some of
the material that he recorded is as early
as c. 1270, some of it is as late as c.
1340; it is from his work that we know
that during the reign of Andronicus III
the Byzantine currency comprised a gold
hyperpyron worth 12 silver basilika,
each of which was worth 8 billon
tornue, each of which. in its tum, was
worth 4 copper stamena.
Silver basi/ikon of Andronicus III
Some 40 years later the fam ily of
Datini di Prato composed a similar but
inferior work from which we can
unfortunately learn little new. A
century later we have the account books
of a Venetian trader in Constantinople,
Giacomo Badoer who seems to have
recorded his every transaction between
September 14 36 and February 1441.
Fro m his work we learn that for the last
century of the Byzantine empire, the
hyperpyroll was money of account only
and that the large Byzantine silver coin.
also called a Sfavraton, was worth half a
hyperpyron. This information is also
confirmed by a Byzantine document
which was found as end-papers used to
bind a fifteenth-century book. The
document was pan of the account book
of an ano n ymous but important
churchman of Thessalonica covering the
period 1419~ 1437. Among other items
are recorded his monthly payments in
stavrata nomismata or in hyperpyra.
These coins are reckoned in aspers, a
small Turkis h silver coin and this
Are you interested in
CHOICE WORLD COINS?
You should be receiving our publications
MORE THAN THREE
MAIL BID CATALOGUES ANNUALLY
Featuring RARE and CHOICE gold and silver coins 01 the
world as well as ancient coinage and world paper money.
A sample catalogue is $1 0.00 postpaid.
Jncludes Prices Realized
An annual subSCription is also available
within the U.S. and $35 outside the U.S.
Ponterio & Associates, Inc.
3823 Park Boulevard
Box 33588, San Diego, CA 92103
1-800-854-2888 or 619-299-0400
Licensed Auction Company # 968
P.N.G: _,XlII
Richard H. Ponterio - President
equation reveals to us that the slavraton
was the large Byzantine silver coin
weighing c. 8.00 gm. and that although
it was worth o nly half a hyperpyron by
account. two of the stavrata being the
equivalent of the old gold hyperpyron .
yet it could colloquially be known as a
hyperpyrofl, presumably because it was
the highest value Byzantine coin .
One unresolved problem is when
exactly th is new silver stavraton was
introduced into the currency. The last
gold coins were struck by the end of the
joint reign of John V and VI in 1352,
Gold hyperpyron of John V and VI
the SfavralOn was certainly part of the
coinage during the reign of Andronicus
IV (AD 1376-1379). A new hoard
Silver stavraton of John V
The cost is $30
XXIII
Continued from page XXII
shortly to be published in the R evue
Numismatique indicates that John V
was issuing stavrata and small silver
coins equivalent to their eighth prior to
the reign of Andronicus IV.
There exists a treaty between the
of each sort of silver coin, how much
will I have to pay fo r each in
nomiSmala? ..
The nomismata at this time was
still a gold coin but we do not know of
--
Venetian Duke of Crete and the Emir of any two silver coins that were, so to
speak, different and yet so close together
Aydin dated March 1337 which required
the Venetian merchants to pay a duty of in their relationship to the gold coin.
two stavrata on every cask of soup. On Andronicus 1II reduced the weight of the
the renewal of this treaty in 1353, the basil ikon from about 2.00 gm. to
duty was changed to five gigliati, a type about 1.2 gm. but these two weights are
of silver coin issued in Provence, too far apan lO represent coins at 7 and
Naples and the Emirate of Aydin which 9 to the hyperpyroll. While it wo uld be
weighed about 4.00 gm. If the two nice to think that these mathe matical
sums were equal it gives the stavratOIl problems reflected actual transactions, it
of 1337 a weight of c. 10 g m. No ten is more likely that they were composed
gram silver coin of Andronicus III exists
but th ere are many regular s il ver
soley for their mathematical rather than
numismatic contenl
.....
basilika of this reign which make the I hope that this short article has done
likelihood of a large silver coin something to indicate the fascination of
interposed between the basilika and this series of coins with the various
hyperpyra rather unlikely, especially sources avail able for their study and
since it almost certainly would have done something to rescue them from
been me ntio ned by Pegalotti. It is their undeserved neglecl
possible that the 1337 treaty could be a
later copy with the original date left
unchanged but with the amount of the
duty changed into a denomination that
contemporaries of the copy wo uld Solution to mathematical problem
understand Multiply 7x9 silver coins '" 63
Add 7+9 silver coins = 16
--
Information, however hard to inter- Multiply 63 by 100 and divide by 16
pret. can come from the most unusual 63x l OO - 6300 + 16 . 393 .75
sources. Cons ider an early fourteenth First. divide 393.75 by 7 .. 56.25
then divide 393.75 by 9 = ~
century mathe matical treatise. Many of
its problems involve coins. Sum 21 100.00
reads: "I have 100 nomismata and I
decide to send a servant to buy silver I obtain 393.75 silver coins of each type
coins, some at the rate of 9 to the and pay 56.25 gold coins for those that
lIomismata and some at 7 to the are 7 to the gold coin and 43.75 coins
lIomismata. To obtain equal numbers for those which are 9 to the gold coin.
Aigai Numismatics is currently offering the
finest ancient Greek, Roman and Byzemtine
numismatic art in the marketplace today.
Before you buy, think quality and remember
.... Quality is our business.
NVN\IJMATI<I
AlGAl
-.-~I~
-11,~
2800
K E V IN
$.
UNIVERSITY 4+
R. <H E E K
aa
-
DENVER, COLORADO 802.10
USA
(303)-329-5922
Call or send us your want list
9:00 - 5:00 M-F ....
Aigai Numismatics will have a table at:
Sept. 7-10 Greater N.Y. Numismatic Cony. Omni Park Central
Oel.19-22 Denver Coill Extravaganza Sheratoll Tech Center
Dec. 9-/1 N. Y. i mernalionai Nwnis. COIIV.
A. N.A.
... ' /-, '.'
S.
.... , . . A.. N.
, . , .., ,. A.N..S.
 XXIlIl The Celator September 1989

CNB holds inaugural

Ancient Coins show at Chicago O'Hare
• Mail B id Sales

-
• Fixed Price Lists
• B uy or Bid Sales
• Numis1lU1Jic Literature
Specializing in moderate priced Judaean coins
(serious want-lists solicited)
William M. Rosenblum/rare coins
po box355evergreen,colo.80439
303-838-4831
If you are sponsoring an event of national interest
- send your schedule of events to The Celator
P. O. Box 123, Lodi, WI 53555
WHOLESALE TO ALL!
100 ancient coins in flips and attributed. A diverse lot
including Nero, Caesar Augustus, Alexander the Great,
Biblical "Widow's Mite", etc. Only $475.00 postpaid , with
satisfaction guaranteed!
The Classical Numismatic Bourse
will be held for Ihe first time in
Chicago on September 23-24 at Hotel
Sofilei, 5550 North River Road, near
O'Hare airport. The show will be open
to the public from 11 am to 5 pm
Saturday, and 11 am to 3 pm Sunday by
invitation only.
Dealers scheduled to attend include
George Beach , Harlan Berk, Lucien
Helios offers collection
of Egyptian artifacts
Egyptian reliefs, bronzes, basalt
figures - all are part of a collection
being offered by Helios - Old World
Antiquities of Westminster, Maryland .
The collector of quality Egyptian art
should find many items of interest by
inquiring for a free listing of the quality
pieces being offered.
Highlights include an exquisite, large
bronze of the goddess Sekhmet and
diorite Ptolemaic Period statuette of
Harpocrates. The collection is further
BirkJer, Eldert Bontekoe (Pegasi), Tom
Cederlind, Alan Davi sson, Victor
England, David Herman, Dennis Kroh
(Empire Coins), Bill Rosenblum, Andy
Singer, Karl Subak, Ed Waddell , and
Charles Wolfe as well as The Celator.
Additional eNB locations this fall
include Dallas and San Francisco. For
invitations contact any of the dealers
listed above.
enhanced by a fine tomb painting of an
Egyptian female, and by a beautiful
limestone relief depicting a sacrific ial
bull being led by an attendant. The
relief bears two registers of deep cut
hieroglyphs.
A listing of the pieces being offered
may be obtained by writing to Helios,
P.O. Box 25, Westminster, MD 21 157,
or by phoning (301) 876-7140 or (30 1)
235-1696 in the evenings.

£onJon Coin galleries

Mission Viejo Mall
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
1-5 at Crow n Valley (714) 364-0990

ANCIENT COIN
SPECIALIST
GREEK, ROMAN, BYZANTINE COINS
AND
CLASSICAL ANTIQUITIES

Egyptian Limestone Relief

Bags for numismatists sold

By popular request the Saket Co. has
come up with 5 different "Assortment
Packs" of clear zip-close bags, clear
poly bags, hi-clarity cellophane bags,
and white carryout bags to meet you r
without having to buy thousands of
each size.
The flfm 's free price list shows all
the combinations that you can receive.

- various packaging needs.

The "Assortment Packs" will benefit
business, industry, offices, as well as
numismatists who need many different
sized bags, allowing them to take
advantage of wholesale quantity pricing
Prices for the " Assortment Packs" start
as low as $25.00. Visa and Mastercard
are accepted. For more information
please write to The Saket Company,
7249 Atoll Avenue, North Hollywood,
CA 91605-4105 or call (818) 764-01 10.

SEND $2.00 FOR SAMPLE CATALOG

OR $25 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION

EDWARD J. WADDELL, Ltd.

7910 Woodmont Avenue, #1104
Bethesda, MD 20814

(301) 654-0470
The Celator September 1989 xxv

CNA closes mail bid sale

VIII on September 27
Classical Numismatic Auctions, Ltd.
announces their next sale, CNA VIII, a
mail bid sale with a closing date of
Wednesday, September 27, 1989.
Catalog ues will be available after
August 21 and this sale again will be
issued in a large format style with each
coin photographed above its description
for ease of use!
This sale is comprised of an excellent
mi xture of ancient Greek. Greek
Imperial, Roman Republican, Roman,
Byzantine, Medieval and Hammered
English coins with something in every
price range and grade for the collector.
Highlights in the Greek section include
an extremely rare silver oboll'rom Enna
(lot 12, est.: $300\ the mythical setting
for the Rape of Persephone; a rare
tetradrachm from Terone in Macedon
(lot 47, est: $1000.); an eiec(I'um stater
from Cyzicus in Mysia (lot 100, est:
$3500.) showing a winged monster with
a human body and a griffin's head.
The Roman sectio n includes an
excellent representation of coins of the
Twelve Caesars including a sestertius of
Nero (lot 421, est: $1500.) with the
reverse type of Roma seated and a
denarius of CaliguJa with Agrippina on
the reverse (lot 405, est: $ 11 00.). A
rare siliqua of Constantine III is also
included in the sale and represents an
opportunity to obtain this rare emperor
Harmer Rooke to hold
•
next sale in two sessions
Harmer Rooke Galleries of New
York will be holding their Absentee
Auction XXXIII, which is comprised of
two sess ions. The closing date for
Sess ion I is September l3. Featured in
this session are 200 lots of classical
antiquities, including artifacts from
Egypt, Greece, Rome, and the ancient
Near East. Also included are 100 Jots of
Pre-Columbian art. as well as tribal am
(bOlh Indian and Ethnographic) and
Oriental antiques .
Session II offers a wide selection of
antiques inc luding early American
boWes and g lass, Exposition material
from the Centennial of 1876 through
the 1980's, a collection of over 2,000
antique buttons, and antique corkscrews.
Also featured in this session are antique
medical instruments with such items as
quack medical boxes, baby feeders and
CLASSICAL NUMISMATIC nOURSE
A P riv a te In vi tat iona l Bourse For The Collector
Featuring major dealers of
A ncient & Early Foreign Coins
from a round the country.
Coming Events ....
(lot 6 15, est: $1000.).
Sep.S-7 Gillio Auction. Hong Kong
A nice selection of Hammered
Sep. 7 Christie's Auction, New York
English gold coins is also included in
Sep. 7 -10 Grealer NY Show, NYC
the sale. The sale ends with a section of
large 10tS"'""Which are sure to represent Sep. 8 - 10 CSNS conv., Banle Creek, MI
some bargains for the diligent collector. Sep.9 Matter Auction, New York
Catalogues will be avail able after Sep. 19 Swiss Bank Corp Auction, Zu rich
August 21 and may be obtained for $10 Sep. 23 - 24 CNB, Chicago
by writing to CNA, Ltd. P.O. Box 245, Sep.27 Hirsch Auction 163, Munich
Quarryville, PA 17566-0245. Sep. 29 - 30 San Diego Show, Holiday Inn
Oct.S-8 Long Beach Expo
Oct. 9 Empire/Glendining Auction ,
Warden list #20 London
Oct. 11 Spink Auction , London
includes more Oct. 12 - 14 COINEX, London
Oct. 27 - 28 CNB, Dallas Marrion
classical coins Oct. 30 - 31 Dieter Gorny Auction, Munich
Nov. 4 London Coin Fair, Marble Arch
Fixed Price List #20 issued by Nov. 10·11 CNB, San Francisco Holiday Inn
William B. Warden has been mailed and
Nov. 16 - 19 Great American, Santa Clara, CA
reflects a growing interest in the field of Bay State Coin Show, Boston
Nov. 17 - 19
classical coinage.
Nov. 29 - Dec. 1 Hirsch Auction 164, Munich
Warden, primarily known for his vast
experience in Sasanian coinage, has
Dec. 7 Berk/England Auction, New York
included a nice selection of Greek and Dec. 8 Superior Auction, New York
Roman silver and bronze in this latest Dec. 9 - 11 Stacks Auction, New York
Jan. 4 - 7 FUN Convention , Tampa
offering . Notab les include a VF+
tetradrachm of Perseus from Macedon at
$900 and an EF didrachm of Selinos in
Sicily at $800.
For a copy of Warden's List #20
write to William B. Warden, P.O. Box
Reader Response
356, New Hope, PA 18938. is essential to the success of any publication. We are sincerely
inte~sted in your comments, criticisms, suggestions and desires.
Share your news, views and observations with others who enjoy
the fasc ination of antiquity as much as you do. Write to:
The Celator - P.O. Box 123 - Lodi, WI 53555
medicine dosage spoons. The closing
date for the second session is September
27. GREATER NEW YORK
Fully illu strated catalogues are
available postpaid for $ 10 each (specify NUMISMATIC CONVENTION
Session I or Session II) or $15 for both
sessions. For catalogues or auction
infonnation contacl Harmer Rooke Ltd.•
FALL MEETING
3 East 57th Street. New York. NY September 8,9,10,1989
10022 or call (800) 221-7276.
OMNI·PARK CENTRAL HOTEL
7th Ave . & 56th St. ,New York Cily
You don't want to September 7,1989
miss even one Photo 1.0. & SET - UP COMMENCES 10 a.m .
DEALER 10 DEALER DAY
issue of
12 NOON TO 7 p.rn
The Celator Bourse Open Onty To Deaters
(Deater Guest 1.0. WIth $25 Donation to A.I .N.A )
Subscribe today!
Open to the Public-Sept. 8, 9 & 10 at 10 A.M.
AUCTIONS BY:
STACK'S - Sept. 6-8 - U.S & Foreign
JOEL MALTER GALLERIES - Sept. 9 - Ancients
MEDALS & EXONUMIA AUCTION - Sept. 10
CONVENTION FEATURES
U_S., Foreign. Ancients Arcade, Medals - Exonurnia Hall, Meetings

REGIONAL SHOWS HELD IN Educational Forums, Free Numismatic Newspaper . LiteralUre. E)(hibits.
San Francisco. CA Young Numismatists Led By Larry Gentile. Sr.
Chicago. JL
Dallas. TX
Washington. DC OFFICIAL AIR CARRIER : DELTA AIRLINES· Special Rates
New York, NY CALL : 1-800-241 -6760 refer to File #H0214
SPECIAL CONVENTION RATES AT HOTEL
"Value and Integrity
information and an invitation to the show nearest
to you. write louay. For information & reservation forms :
MOE WEINSCHEL
CLASSICAL NUMISMATIC nOURSE P.O.Box 277. ROCKAWAY PARK , NY 11694
BOX 245, DEPARTMENT I (718) 634-9266
FREE ADMISSION & SHEKEL TO ALL REGISTERED VISITORS
QUARRYVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA 17566
 XXVI
Condition versus rarity
ANCIENT SILVER HOARD spurs ancient coin debate
FROM THE BIRTHPLACE OF COINAGE by Bob Levy
(Moderator)
As I approached my safe deposit box
MILETOS TWELFTH STATERS FROM THE the other day intent on perusing through
my collection of Roman lmperatorial
SIXTH CEIITURY B.C. and Imperial coins through Nero, I
noticed something exlremely odd which
An amazing archaleologbl find allow. ua to on., the. . reSCNting ancient ~lvltf cotn.
has been occurring all too frequently of
at new com~ prk:... The anc'-nt Greek city 01 MNetoa, on the . . ., co. .t 01 Turtley. late. There was the sound of muffled
In the provine. 01 ionlll, W" • very Important ...port a nd tnldlng city. bickering coming from inside my box!
Cofnage !\lid btI,.ly commenced In the neighboring 'ltilOn 01 Lydia, about 100 ye.,. "Oh no", I thought to myself, "not
before the MII••'an. ' ••ued the.. boIdty .truck .Itv.r one-twelfth .blt..... The coln.ge of those two again!" My l..epidus denarius
eblndaret units 0' .U",r obvloua/y mllde commerce much ".1' then weighing bullion for and Claudius As have been waging an
ev.ry trIInuction, end the.. tweftth ewMni of about 1.2 grems 01 llitv., thow different de-
",.., 01 clrculatfon, te.tifylng to their ewerydlly use by the .nc~t Gr. .h. ongoing argument about the rarity
Struck during the Archaic Period of 0rMk art, the. . chIIrmlng 1II1v., coin. dille betwHrl
versus condition issue that seems to be
550 end 500 B.C. TM two type. both show the tontpilrt 0' • fierce, I'OaIring lion, one wtttI at the forefront of munismatics today. I
him facing left, end the other teeing right Both types he...s • etar omIImenl on the revet'M. promised them that I would do my best
They ere cabllogued In "Greek CoIn. end their Value.," Yol. II by David Sear, numbers to arrange for them a platform from
3532, (he.d 'eft) for 85 pounde 'tertlng, and number 3533 (heed right) tor 75 pounds sterl-
Ing. The BrItI.n pound .tertlng I. ebout SUM) U.S., meklng the dcMllr Clltlilog vel~ $100.00
which to publicly air their views if they
to $120.00 In Very FIM. would subsequently shut up so that the
other coins could get some quality
interaction time without being drowned
out by the constant battle of words!
What fo llows is the rarity versus
condition issue -- from the coin's point
of view.
F'ne FIoo
We CIIn ..II e .Ing.. Fine COin, •• pictured .bo'le for only $39.00, or. pair, with the lion
flclng both len.nd rtgM. '01 $69.00.
-, '*1
- ""'--
",.-iJl... ~"'
r.-::!!~ :
AR - Denarius of Lepidus
"My greetings to you all. I am a
Very Fine Very Fine denarius of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus,
For better center.d coinl, with .... weer, we CIIn ..II Very Fine I I . coin. for $69.00, esteemed member of the famed Second
or e pair of different type. lor$119.00. Triumvirate. The other triumvirs were
Mark Antony and Octavian, nephew of
Julius Caesar. who later became known
as Augustus. I was minted in 42 B.C.,
a scant two years after Caesar's
assassination. (To paraphrase you
humans, at that time 1 was but a
glimmer of shiny metal in the die-
cuuer's eye!) The Second Triumvirate
had been formed on November 27,43
B.C. The two dominant partners in this
Ean Fine Exv. Ftne alliance - Antony and Octavian -
WI hIve I few choice lpeclmens, IUbtect to first come, first Ht"Ie, of the Ie..t worn, celebrated the event with issues of
be.t centered, be.t .tyle, Ind Ilrgest fttIn coinl for $139.00 tor I .ingle coin of either type. portrait gold while Lepidus was content
Subject to IvenelHlIty. with the production of only silver
denarii featuring his portrait on the
obverse and Octavian on the reverse. I
-
--
MAIL ORDER POLICIES:
1. AlIcohi ~~..cI .. ~ ANA..cI_ am one of the few surviving remnants
- ...... y-~ ......... of that large issue."
2. FowtNn day rwbIm pmMtot • Of "PP"W" . . . . *' be . . . . . - "Like most of my type, I am not
...... "kI".
3. P--' chick. 01 uMnown custorn.r. mnt cit... 'IISA..cI
....t..card
very attractive from a technical point of
view . We usually were flatly struck on
4. K.mucl!y ruIderItI er1c15"1o uIH " • .
5..... cohi MIlt In-.d Of regIetencl 0rdIft .... then UOO a s mallish flan which affects our
erIcI $2..00 lor poItagI..cI hnIing.
e. pluM
Moe!: cohi _ _ 01. IIiI'Id. s.tond cfIoIcft _ ~ portraits and legends . I myself was
7. VIUIa by 'FF Ii 1llnent0ftlr· lucky to have a nice broad flan and
legends that are totally legible (albeit a
little flat!) My condition is "choice
very fine" and, if you want a portrait of
JONATHAN K. KERN
Professional Numismatist
l..epidus, you won't find many nicer than
me because I am rare! That brings us
to the issue at hand.
1m
Bachelor of Arts in Numismatics "My point is that rarity is more
important than condition. My "friend",
Office (606) 269·1614
the As of Claudius (sometimes I'm
between 10 A.M. & 6 P.M. EST. tempted to add an extra "s" when I
FAX (606) 266·7900 describe his denomination!), differs from
me on this issue. Look at the great
44 South Ashland Ave., Lexington, KY 40502 collections of the past - Bement,
Haebedin, Mazzini, Niggeler to name
but a few. All were great because of
rarities. Many of their rarities were
The Celator September 1989
on ly in "very fine" condition. A coin
did not have to be "extremely fine" to be
included. Rarity reigned supreme - one
took whatever condition was the best he
could come across and then went for a
new type. Variety, including as many
rarities as poss ible, was the key factor.
That, I believe. is the way it should be!"
"Mind you, the Claudius As is a very
attractive piece and he is virtually mint
state. But it's unbelievable to me th at
I'm worth about the same today as he
is! He's just a common As of Claudius.
He's not rare like I am! Why, his type
is about as common even today as hand-
swords and leather sandals were when we
were minted! Claudius may have been
an emperor but, sure as the gods, he
wasn't a very physicall y imposing
figure what with him limping around
the palace all the time! And that speech
impediment! Must have been a real
treat taking orders from him! And --"
Sorry, denarius, your time's up .
Thank you for your comments. I now
turn the floor over to the As of
Claudius.
"Salutations, my friends. I apologize
to any of you offended by my
colleague's ramblings. Being flatly
struck has obviously affected his men-
tal capabilities. Before I present my
side of the argument, let me formally
introduce myself. I am a portrait As of
the 4th Roman emperor, Claudius,
having been struck into this world from
a copper planchet in S3 A.D. My
reverse type, the goddess Minerva
advancing while brandishing a spear and
holding a shield, is clearly a revival of
the Greek Athena Promachos, a popular
motif on many regal issues of the
Hellenistic Age. Her prominence on the
coinage of Claudius displays her
suitability as patroness to an emperor
who proved his abilities as a military
man of action through his initiation of
the conquest of Britain in 43 A.D. and
as a scholar as witnessed by hi s
antiquarian studies and writings. These
points were obviously "forgotten" by
the Lepidus denarius as he made fun of
the emperor on my obverse. As for my
personal attributes I must admit that I
have a lovely, reddish-brown patina and
that I am nicely centered possessing a
strong strike with exceptional detail.
My condition, in a word, is superb."
HAs for the issue before us - what is
so strange about a "rare" Lepidu s
denarius in "choice very fme" condition
being of the same value as a "common"
H
As of Claudius in Hsuperb condition, as
I am? The crux of the matter is that, in
about mint state condition, I am rare.
Especially when one takes into account
the atmospheric conditions that erode
my metal much more so than silver
over the years and, believe me, we're
Please tum to page XXVII
The Celator September 1989 XXVII

Debate
M€9~
Continued from page XXVI
II
'
+--0 I
~i
'
-,,:J.. .
I : -, ,

I L. :
P.O. BOX 7451 • MINNEAPOLIS, MN • 55407

BID OR BUY SAL E

~ Closes September 29,1989

You may order a coin immedialely at the lisled price. If yours is the first order
received, the coin will be shipped to you. Or, submit a bid below the listed
price. The high bidder on September 29, 1989 will purchase the coin.

N ROMAN IMPERIAL SILVER - IN A BID OR BUY SALEI •

Here's a great opportunity lO purchase nice, affordable coins of Imperial
Rome. T recently purchased a collection covering a wide range of emperors
and types. All are denarii unless noted.

These coins are generally nicely toned. Some have small imperfections
commensurate with the grade. These are nice collector coins. Best of all,most
are under $1001

1) Augustus, Peronia/Parthian kneeling, RS0!84, P $145

talking lots of years! (Like close to
2,OOO!) Even though common I bet I'm
one of the top 5 examples of my type
still in existence! As for you, Lepidus
denarius - granted, your type is rare.
But, when found, you and your kind are
in "very fine" to "choice very fine"
condition. You usually are somewhat
flatly struck on a small f1an and are
often rather porous in metal quality. I
don't mean to be disparaging but your
style is rather, shall we say, lacking?"
"I respect the old, famous coin
collections of the past. You were right
- rarity was king. Nice condition was
sought after but was not the overriding
factor in whether or not to acquire a
piece. But, that is the past! Times
have changed. Condition is king now;
rarity is secondary. I'm not saying
that's right or wrong - I'm just stating
that that's the way it is. A perfect
example is a Mark AntonylOctavian
denarius - talk abOllt common! Yet one
in superb condition sold at auction in
the United States last year for $3,6001
That very same coin was recently
auctioned in Europe for over $4000!
Crazy? Maybe, maybe not. It's just
that the line between rarity and
condition has been crossed in ancient
numismatics. A course once taken is
seldom abandoned."
Please...
Check the date on your mailing label.
If it has passed, you are in danger of not
receiving future issues. Renew today!
AE - As of Claudius
"Now rarity plus condition is another
matter. That is the ultimate dream of
any coin! I'll give credit where credit is
due - show me an "extremely fine"
Lepidus denarius and I'll guarantee that
it's price would shoot by mine so fasl
that I'd be left holding onto my reverse!
For now you can argue till you turn a
dark grey tone but things won't change-
I'm common and still worth as much as
you. Furthermore, you have the portrait
of a wimp on your obverse when you
compare him to the likes of Claudius,
who is so rea{jslically portrayed on my
obverse. He overcame his physical
afflictions to become one of me most
famous Roman emperors! Ever heard of
"I, Lepidus"? Not a chance! What is
Lepidus known for other than being a
part of the Second Triumvirate? Why,
being left behind at the starting gate
while Antony and Octavian raced to
become master of the Roman world.
What a manl And, on top of that __ "
This debate, I fear, is far from over.
Our public airing from the coin's point
of view seems to have degenerated into
the mud-slinging war of words to which
I've grown accustomed. This arg ument
may go on for centuries. Maybe I
should invest in a separate deposit box
for these two. At a different bank. In
another state. Maybe even in a foreign
country far, far away ......
All items are guaranteed genuine. 10 day return privilege. Please add $2 for
shipping. MN residents add 6% sales tax. Phone orders are encouraged
(612) 822-8157. Thank You. Kenn Hollister
I will have a table at the Ml"lS/NOW show, Septe mber 29-October 1, at the
Mecca Center inMilwaukee. I hope to see myoid friends aswell as meet some
new coneetors. I'll see you there!
2) Augustus, Apollo/Octavian ploughing, SR 460, P $185
3) Augustus, Octavianljulius Caesar in temple, SR452 F $195
4) Tiberius, "Tribute Penny", SR467, P-VF fouree? $195
5) Tiberius, "Tribute Penny", SR467, P-VF $265
6) Calba, legend in wreal.l:!, SR721, P, edge crack $165
7) Vespasian, sacrificial iriif!:lements, SR770, VF $85
8) Vespasian, Ceres holding staff and com, F $55
9) Vespasian, jupiter facing, alter at feet, SR776, VC-F $38
10) Domitian, Minerva holding spear, SR 895, nice VF $95
11) Domitian, Pegasus walking, SR872, P-W, edge crack $95
12) Trajan, Arabia with camel, SR979, F $55
13) Trajan, Genius standing, alter at feet, SR989, P $35
14) Trajan, Mars walking with trophy and spear, SR987, F $35
15) Another, P-VF $48
16) Trajan, Victory standing left, RICl28 nice P-VF $48
17) Trajan, Victory with wreath and palm, R1C59, F-VF $38
18) Another similar, F $35
19) Trajan, Pax standing holding plow and cornucopiae, abt VP $48
20) Trajan, Figure seated o n curule chair of comucopiae, F $35
21) Hadrian, Hercules seated on globe, SR 1082, F corr. obv $25
22) Hadrian, sacrifICial implements, RIC 19B, gd F $45
23) Hadrian, COSIII figure seated, Venus?, nice P-VP $55
24) Hadrian, COS III figure seated Annona? P-VF $50
25) Hadrian, Pax holding o live branch and cornucopiae, RI0!4, VF $70
26) Hadrian, Africa seated faCing left, SR1078, F $55
27) Hadrian, Concordia seated left, RIC4c, F-VP $48
28) Hadrian, Zeus sacrificing at alter, RIC90, F-VF $55
29) Hadrian, Nilus redining right hippo and crocodile, SR I092, VF $95
30) Hadrian, Salus feeding snake, SR 1095, VP $58
31) Antoninus Pius, Diana holds deer and plate of fruit, RIC217, VP $95
32) Antoninus Pius, Diana holds prey? attractive VP/F- VF $55
33) Antoninus Pius, Pietas sacrificing at alter?, F $25
34) Another, VF patches of verdigris $35
35) Antoninus Pius, commem. issue, funeral pyre, SR1302, P-VF $55
36) Antoninus Pius, Modius of grain, RIC62, vp $55
37) Antoninus Pius, commem. issue, eagle standing, SR1300, P $45
38) Antoninus Pius, Vesta holds simpuJum, SR 1234v. P $35
39) Marcus Aureliu.;, Minerva holding owl and shield, SR1384, VF $65
40) Marcus Aurelius. Concord seated, Si,!408v, F/VG $30
41) Comrnodus, Victory advancing left holding wreath, F-VF $45
42) Commodus, Virtus standing right with shield and !;pear, VF 558
43) Commodus, Apollo resting against column, SR1617, P-VF 515
44) Septimius Severus, Minerva shield and spear, Sr: 1769, VP fouree $45
45) Septimius Severus, Severus holding olive branch, SR l753, VF $40
46) Septimius Severus, trophy or arms, SR1757, F-VF $45
47) Septimius Severus, Apollo holding patera and lyre, SR 1746, F dark $30
49) Septimius Severus, Victory inscribing shield, VP $65
50) Septimius Severus, Liberalitas standing, R1C442v, F-VF cleaned 535
51) C2racalla, Serapis standing, SR1830, XF $95
52) C2racalla. Mars advancing left, SR 1923. g<:I VF $68
53) C2racalla, emperor holding two standards and spear, SRI952, VF 560
54) C2racalla, figure sealed Pax?, VF 548
55) Severus Alexander, Sol holding whip, SR223Ov, XF $78
56) Severus Alexander, Liberty standing, SR2214, F $38
57) Elagabalus, Laetitia standing, SR21Ot , fl-VF $48
58) Gordian 1II, Security seated, SR2476, VF beautiful tone $60
59) Gordian JJJ, Hercules leaning on club, SR2478, abt XF large nan 560
60) Gordian III, Diana holding torch, SR2470, ch VF' $60
61) Another, VF $55
62) Gordian 1If, Apollo seated resting on lyre, SR2474, gd VF $60
63) Maximinus I, Fides holding two standards, SR2337, F $35
64) Paustina Sr. , Concordia standing, SR1354v, F-VF $48
65) Julia Domna, Fortune standing, SR1837, gd VF $65
66) julia Domna, Vesta standing, SR1853, VF $55
67) julia Damna, Providentia seated, fouree , VF $65
68) Julia Domna, Cybele nanked by lions, SRI844, VF 558
69) Julia Mamaea, FelicitaS seated, SR2307, VP $58
70) Julia Maesa, Pudicitia seated, SR2183, gd VF 585
71) Valens, Siliqua, Restitutor Repub, emperor standing, nice VF $145
72) Valentinian II, Siliqua, Roma seated, SR4I58, VF small nan $48
73) Honorius. Siliqua, Roma seated, SR4250, VF small nan $48
 XXVIII The Celator September 1989

Coins of the bible

SEABY'S SUMMER BOOK SALE!! - SPINK'S

We are pleased to offer the following list of books on sale. Take 10%
Reader poses question
off over $100; 15% over $175; 20% over $250. Add $1 .sO/book for
postage. Provide Street Address - We use UPS!!
DEAR MR, HENDIN
I have a question concerning the Bar Kochba series. If you look at many of the bronze
SEA BY BOOKS!! coins in your book and Meshorer's AlC, you will see deep scratches in the flan. I have
several in my collection (most are Hendin-l60 or 173 type) that have this feature.
Sear, D" Byzanfine CoinslVa/ues $95.00 People often ask about this. Could this have happened in the initial planchet
Nash, D., Coinage of Celtic World $27.00 preparation? But in some cases it shows up on the relief of coins already struck.
Price, M., Coinage of Gleek World $27.00
Reece, M., Coinage of Roman Britain $27.00
Jones, J.M., Dictionary Ancient Greek Coins $50 .00 DEAR COLLECTOR
Jones, J.M., Dictionary Roman/Byzantine Coins $60.00
Stevenson, S., Dictionary Roman Coins
Your question becomes much easier to answer if you remember that all of the Bar
$70.00
Sear,o., Emperors Rome/Byzantium $20.00 Kochba coins, both bronze and silver, were struck upon existing coins in circulation at
Plant, R., Greek Coin Types and Identification $32.00 the time. Apparently this was because Bar Kochba wanted coins issued, but did not
Sear, D" Greek CoinslVa/ues Vol I, Europe $45.00 have the wherewithal to create a full-service minting facility .
Sear,O., Greek CoinsNafues Vol II, Asia/Africa $45.00 The coins circulating in the area at that time - mostly city coins or Greek silver
Sear, D., Greek Imperial CoinslVa/ues $80.00
Reece, A., Identifying Roman Coins $12.00 drachms or tetradrachms - had to have a certain amount of preparation if they were to be
Hill, P., Monuments of Ancient Rome as Goin Types $30.00 effectively overstruck.
Sear, D" Roman CoinslValues $50.00 The silver coins were prepared by hanunering down the obverse and reverse designs.
Butcher, K, Roman Provindal Coins (Greek Imperials) $20.00 They were apparently not filed because of the precious nature of the silver metal. But
Seaby, HA, Roman Silver Coins Vol I-Veach $33.00
Jacob, K., Coins and Christianity $12.00
the bronze coins were larger and had higher relief, thus they were often filed as well as
Plant, R., Arabic Coins and How to Road Them $16.00 hammered. Since bronze was not a preciou s metal, it was acceptable to fi le it in
Broome, M., Handbook of Islamic Coins $55.00 addition to hammering it. So that's just what Bar Kochba's minters did. Bronze
Reece, R., Coins and the Archecl09ist $35.00 "planchets" which were really other coins, were prepared by filing down the surfaces and
Askew, G., Coins of Roman Britain $14.00 sometimes peening the edges.
When you notice that these scratches "show up on the relief of coins already struck"
SPINK BOO~!! you are really seeing the coins struck over the filing marks. However, since the filing
marks were sometimes deep, the Bar Kochba coin dies did not fuUy overstrike the
planchets - that is, the bronze did not fully flow into the dies. This was not unusual in
Mack, R.P .• Coinage of Ancient Britain $25.00 ancient times because, of course, the coins were hand struck. Furthennore, during Bar
Sutherland. C.H.V .• The Emperor and the Coinage (Julio - Claudian Studies) $40 .00 Kochba's times minters had the disadvantage of having to use available planchets, and
Mccammon, Al.T .. Currencies of the AnglO-Norman Isles $50.00
HiH. P.V., Coinage of Septimius Sevefus not making each series of planchets specifically to fit a set of dies. On ancient coins
$10.00
Berry, G.. Medieval English Jetons $12.00 what were struck on smooth planchets, one can plainly see the phenomenon of
Sellwood. D., Introduction to Sassanian Coins $25.00 "flattening". On the Bar Kochba coins, however, you see these file marks.
Sellwood, D., Coinage of Parthia $37.00 You will be lucky if you ever find a Bar Kochba bronze coin with clear letters or
Mattingly/Sydenham. "Roman Imperial Coins' 9 VciJmes
W'"' designs from the previous coin. They are quite scarce. Finding such obvious traces of
the previous coin is much more common in the Bar Kochba silver issues.
MISCELLANEOUS!!
Copyright 1989 by David Hendin

Carson, RAG .• Scripta Nummaria Romana (Series of

Essays. Illustrated, on Roman Coins) Published at $60.00 $30 .00
Kent. J.P.C., Wealth of the Roman World $15.00
Trau Franz, (collection) Coins of Roman Emperors $20 .00
DavislKraay. The Hellenistic Kingdom - Portrait Coins and History $38 .00
Head. BY, Coins of Andent Boeotia $20.00
Hill. G.F .. Descriptive CataJ09 of Ancient Greek Coins $20.00
Jenkins, G.K, Coins of Greek Sidly $12.00
Jenkins. G.K.. Carthaginian Gold and Electrum Coins $35.00
Newell. E.T., Coins of Western Seleucid Mints $55 .00
Newell, E.T., Royal Greek Portrait Coins (original 1937 ed.) $25 .00
Plant, R., Greek, Semitic and Asiatic Coins and How to Read Them $36.00
Ravel. G .. Les Poulains de Corinthe $85.00
Sellman. C., Temple Coins of Olympia $30 .00
Williams, R.T., Silver Coins of the Phokians $35.00
Bates. G.. Byzantine Coins $40.00
Rynearson, P., Byzantine CoinsNaJues $10.00
Hendin. D., Guide to Biblical Coins $35.00
Madden. F.W., History Jewish Coinage $25.00
Meshorer. Y .• Coins of/he Second Temple Period $30.00 This Bar Kochba bronze coin, struck 132-133 AD (Hendin-137v), shows clear
Romanoff P.. Symbols on Ancient Jewish Coins $15.00 evidence of the filing marks that were parr of preparation before striking. On the
Schall!. A., His/ory Jewish People - Hellenistic Period $35.00
Yonah, M.A., History Jewish People - Herodian Period $35 .00 obverse filing marks are clear above and to the right of the palm tree. On the
Porada. E., Ancient Art in Seals $25.00 reverse they can be seen below and to the left of the hanging vine leaf.
The Search fOf Alexander - An Exhibition $25.00
Rosen, J., (Colleclion)As"chaic Coins $18.00
Kindler. A .• The Coinage of Bostra $55.00
Berk, H., Roman Gold Coins in Medieval World 383-1453 AD $20 .00
Comparette, T.L., Aes Signa/urn $25.00
Matsson. G.O., God's Goddesses and Hero's
on Ancient Coins of Bible Lands
Sheppard and Musham. Money, Scales and Weights
Wang. Y .• Early Chines8 Coinas8
$35.00
$30.00
$35.00
t> IMPORTANT NOTICE (J
Huszar, l. , Munzkatalog Ungam (IOOO-present) $60.00

-- Lhotka, J., Medieval Feudal French Coinage

North, J .. English Hammered Coinage(2 Vols)
Walker, R.. Reading Medieval European Coins
Szego, A., Coinage Medieval Austria .
Sutherland, C.H.V .• English Coinage 600-1900
$500
$80.00
$8.00
$10.00
$45.00
CENTURION ANCIENT COINS
OFFERS ITS FINAL PRICE LIST
Weyl. A•• Die Saurmasche Mmzsamm/uing (German, Swiss, Polish,
FIXED PRICE LIST NUMBER III will be my final effort as a dealer
Medieval) A Classic GataJogover 100 plates, bound photocopy $35.00 in ancient numismatics, and all my stock will be offered at reduced
Hoberman, G., Art of Coins and their Phot09raphy
(Heavy Concentration on Ancient Coins) Art Book. Good Reference
prices. If you plan to buy ancient Greek, Roman or Byzantine coins
$85.00
Reed, M.. Odd And Curious $12.00 this year, and you are not now on my mailing list, I urge you to send
Walb;lr. G .. Cleaning and Presentation of Coins Madals $13.00
me your name and address to receive my catalog frec of charge.
I Included will be a tun of Marc Antony legionary denarii from Leg. II
i to Leg. XXIII. Those of you who are recipients of my ancient coin
I
I scripts, this will be your final opportunity to redeem them.
I I wish to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have done
I We stock about 400 Titles on Ancient and Medieval Numismatic business with me in the past.
I Subjects. List $1.00 (free with order). Special Inquiries Invited.
My P.O. Box number will be valid until the end of the year.
i SANFORD J, DURST Numismatic-ally yours,
1-,. 29-28 41st Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101 THE CENTURION JULIUS J. SEBASTIAN
I P.o. Box 06104
I (718) 706 - 0303 a.k.a.
A~~~~~~E:;~9~~S The Centurion Ancient Coins
I, Dealer Inquiries Invited
I
I
I
!
I
I
The Celator September 1989 XXVIlIl

44 B.C. Continued from page I

On the fifteenth day of March, 44
B.C., Caesar was assassinated by a
conspiracy led by Caius Cassius
Longinus and Marcus Junius Brutus.
The third period lasted from Caesar's
assassination to the end of the year.
One of Caesar's monetales, M.
Mettins, likely quit striking by the
beginning of April. The other three, C.
Cossutius Maridianus. L. Aemilius
Buca and P. Sepullius Macer continued
striking through early May. The four
monetales struck no coins for the
remaining six months of the year.
Probably the first coins struck in
fony-four S.c. were those without the
name of the moneyer. A gold aureus
appeared in January. The aureus, equal
to twenty-five silver denarii, was first
issued by Sulla around 80 B.C., and it
was not yet a widely used denomination.
The aurei were struck on a standard of
40 to a pound (approximately S.IO
grams). It has been suggested. and in
fact it seems very likely that this issue
was struck as a stockpile for the
Parthian campaign that Caesar was
preparing to embark upon 7. The
obverse shows Venus wearing a diadem.
with the legend CAES DIC QV AR
(Caesar. Dictator for the fourth time).
while the reverse shows the legend COS
QVINC (Consul for the fifth time)
within a laurel wreath. Many authors
(e.g., Banti and SimonettiS ) suggest
that the obverse portrays Caesar's wife
Calpumia rather than Venus. It has also
been suggested that lhe obverse portrays
Venus with the features of Calpumia.
No flffil evidence exists eith~r way. The
laurel wreath on the reverse likely
represents a specific one. However.
Caesar received so many wreaths that it
would be very difficult to detennine the
exact occasion for the wreath represented
on the coin. This coin can be dated by
its legendo; to the first period, or the
time from January first to February
fifteenth.
The first coins of 44 with a
moneyer's name on them were probably
struck by M. Mettiu s. Sometime
between January t and February 15.
Mettius struck a silver denarius bearing
on its obverse Julius Caesar's laureate
head, with a lituus9 behind. and with
the legend CAESAR DlCT QV ART
(Caesar dictator for the fourth time).
The reverse portrays Juno Sospita with
shield and spear. in a biga (two-horse
chariOl). with M.MEITIVS below.
This coin was the first Roman coin
the bear a portrait of a live Roman.
This was nOlo in fact. the first coin to
bear the portrait of a living person. The
Greeks had been portraying their kings
on coins for hundreds of years. Caesar
himself was portrayed on a bronze coin
of Corinth in 46 (Figure I). It was not
the flfSt Roman coin to portray a person
either. as the Romans had struck coins
with portraits of their dead ancestors for
years. All the same, a portrait of Caesar
on a Roman coin must have made quite the coin in the collection in the Hague,
an impact, just as it would if o ur I would agree with Kraay 13. in that the
circulating coins were struck portraying "diadem" is nothing more than an
our current president. A republic, like accidental die break. It must, however,
the United States o r Caesar's Rome, is be noted that the lituus is much more
ruled by several governmental branches. carefully engraved than the lituus on the
By 44 B.C .• however. the Republic was other dies, and that it is facing the
purely hypothetical. wrong way. ·It probably won't be
The laurel wreath worn here by definitely resolved until other specimens
Caesar was his favorite privilege, from the same dies are discovered.
according to Suelonius lO • because it The next coins of Mettius bear no
covered his baldness. a weakness harped reference to Caesar's dictatorship, and are
upon by his enemies. The lituus refers generally thought to have been struck
to Caesar's office of augur. The reverse along with Mettius's DICT QVART
coin. then when Caesar was perpetual
shows Juno Sospita, the protectress
deity of women. Juno Sospita had a dictator and then for a very short time
large following in the city of after his death. These denarii bear
Lanuvium, about twenty miles South Caesar's laureate head, with a lituus and
East of Rome. Lanuvium was most bowl behind. with the legend IMP
likely Meltius's native city. CAESAR, or without the lituus and
A unique denarius, in the Royal
bowl with IMPER CAESAR on the
Cabinet of Coins in the Hague. is obverse 14 . The reverse of both types is
similar to this type, but the lituus faces Venus leaning on a shield on a globe.
the other direction. This coin is viewed holding Victory. M.MElTIVS behind,
by A. Alf/)Idi II to be the key to dating a letter before. The globe has two
the series. He believes the lituus is possible meanings. First, it could
actually a diadem style crown. struck represent Rome's control of the world.
after Caesar's refusal of the same type of The other is that it is a celestial globe
crown on February fifteenth 12, and thus representing Caesar's new 365 day .
that Caesar was still Dictator Quart on calendar 15 . The letter next to Victory is
the flfteenth. He also suggests that the the last instance of die sequence
passage by Cicero stating that on the symbols on Roman coins. It is not
fifteenth Caesar was dictator perpetuo, clear how Mettius used them, as there
should actually say dictator perpetuo are eighty-five reverse dies known, but
<designata> (perpetual dictator only eight different sequence letters.
designate). However, on close Kraay suggests 16 that these issues were
examination of several photographs of PleaSe tum to page XXX

WHY?
The avaitability of antiquities on the U.S. ancient coin market has tripled in the past
ANCIENT ART
decade. Most ancient dealers are now routinely inventorying this material. And
despite the newness of many to the market. the proliferation of fa lse pieces has
AND
fortunately remained small. Wholesalers routinely supply genuine antiquities to U.S.
dealers, who routinely offer these genuine antiquities to their clients. However,
identification of such items remains another matter. Most of the attributions
attatched to these pieces remain a matter of "That's what everybody calls them" or
ANTIQUITIES
"I trust my sources."

At Alex G. Malloy, Inc. we simply do not find it acceptable to label a Romano-

Byzantine lamp as "Holy land ca. 100 B.C. " because a supplier said so. Antiquity
dealers for over twenty years, we pride ourselves in the museum quality cataloguing of
antiquities, citing. and using - the standard rderences on each facet of the field, from
excavation reports to museum collections. We fee l that our clients want to know not
simply that an item is "ancient." They want to know "Why'?" 2
CAUCASUS. lnd e. 1I,e.·LSI e. A .D .
1. Sarmalia.Lron. FLal diamond ,haped blade with nal\3' betow h.ad. long tang. knglh km. widlh 1.7em. cr. Petrie
Illlvar. Supc:rb 0000
2. . -,-. Iron. flat. diamond shaped blade , long lallg wilh nange al head. lenllih S,1em, widlh 1.2e m. d . Petrie 14l .4
Choie. ·Supc:rb ssm
CYUNDER'SEALS· .
J. OLD SYRIAN, MATURt: . 18$0.1720 II .C. Crum·oro,,·n Cairil" Cylinder s"aL. l'rc"""lalion S<:ene: Scaled figure
on cal (p;mlher), holding scept re. Sla, abo •• , belw""n .ola. di.e. bd",.
"and, 'uppli~nl Gudd." holding Ih,..,·
pronged flail, behinK .tandin8 figur • . Umm. d. Te;>;sier 434-4S8 fOf >Iylc. CI"»,,·,,I '1),1.. ~'lIh lov,",y ,Min",,'ion.
moiriedllllri roundedlorms . .. , .. . . ... ... . . ... . . .Choi~. )00.00
4. N"O-ASSYRl.-\N. Linear Slyk, '/1I1· 8Ih C.nlury o.c.
-.-. Black SlealileCylinder Seal. Winllc-d hero runlling IlOldillg l"ife, ranI leal'inK befo.e hilll . 2M",,,,. d. Iluehan ·
a n. AM S82. . .Choi~e 27';,00
~:GYPTIAN
S. Middle Killsdom. 2050-t7U S.c. Scarab. Carv.,d .teatile,beigc. Beloved Sobek advancing huhJing lUlU' and ankh .
16mm x Ilmm . cr. Matouk J21 . . . . ,Choke "'.00
6. Pboque orSd".. d., IHl h {)yna>ly. Muh i-<:oIorcd fai.,,,, •. Very ,,"u,ual, The pla'!ue i, "cry detailed. ""p<'Cially
braided hair and n«kla~(. Solar disk and .erpem lJruu, mi.sins· Maybe u~ for a nam<: plaque or pelldanL
\'dlM~1 a/,,'uy, huri a j~",,,lt· body "nrilh .. he"d oj" /im""-,,,. SIk' I.,,,·
Ihe ,'(j'U'tx' 01 P,uh.
S.-/(", ..' "'1"eM'ntt'l/lhr riesl,ut',i"" fX)"~'" oj III(' ,u m. Shr ub,-o ri<'Slroyt'ri Ihe ,'(>Id,' oliM ..it"J.:<'Ii in ,II,· I",d, " "·,,rld.
SOmm x )8""". d . C~I~IO!lu~ (",ncr.' (Ie" Amiquilic- Egypticn"", 12721. 12716.. . ..... Superb 1.000.00
ROMAN IVORY
1. W.IIIlf'-Br ...... Iv...,. CI .. b Fra,_.. I. I.tlo lrd Cenlury A.D. Thi~ pie...., was asrocialed with Hercul .... toem Ion,. . Choice 60.00
ANCIENT GLASS
, .. F!uk. Syria. Mid l u umury .... 0 . 9.2em hi¥h. 4.Scm dia. rim . Pate ,reen wil h ~polly ;ridcs<cen"c. F~t base wilh
body laperin, to neck. s.:vcn pinched rib!. around body. Wid. rim &; shon neck . lIok: crack in body. Very narrow
mOUlh openin,. cr. Hayes. Itoman &; pre· Roman Gla,~ in the ROM. 1221, PI. 16. cr. Glass al the Fill.. illiam
9. =~:., ~!~'li~~:;,; Mtd;i(;~~~ean:j~d.4ih ',,~~·,~~;'·A:U: 'sC;'; i'igh ; m·d;i.·~i;';.·Cica';' ,Oiof~'~,jr ·wiii.iour·
Choice
7:.s.: 1OO.00
indenlS a nd rim. FI~I base. Chip on rom. Salt (",,,,,jalion. Free· blown. Thelr"'!·b/own mnhurl was a let'hnique ill
..hich Ihe .enr/""'s il!f/alrdlrom "'''/I~IlI/a",,' Ihroughu hollo .. rod. II was IhrnshaprrJ ",ilh pin"h<'fs ",hilt-Oil u
pomil'od. This- ,url us"olly lell a ma,k ollhe bast' of Iheobj..·1 kno ..n afllpunly ma,k. cr. Malh.""n. p. xv. Chip
III rdgt. d. Malhe",n. Ancie", COta" allhe Yale Ullive.,ity ... r. Gallery. I2SO, p. 9). . ......... . . .. . C~ l?~,00
to . ....... hlamk. S~ria (M~nllukILJlh · 14Ih cenl u.y A.D. 12.1.m high. CoIOlte.'·yeliow beak er ... ith nared rim. Ring
around basc. Similar 10 d. AUlh, Ancic'" Glass al lite Newark Museum, 1216 (SO: I812), p. 162. . . . .... .... C!>uicc 3SO.00
Mt;ott:VAI- t:NGI.ANI)
II . P, .. t ... PiJ&rI",·. Bad~. 151h <enlury .... D. Kni,hts of Saint Cal""r;"" of Mounl Si .... i. P.wler badge ... ilh pin baek
.. ilh Catherine ... h..,t ... ilh ,ix names with annulet, 011 wheel. Thi.1 OId,,'oj*ni,hlS wuslountlrd in IQIH IOl""rri h ..r
shrill' "' Ihe bollum 01 MI . Sillui. MilChncr. Medi~val Pilgrim & Se<.:uLar 8;tdges, 61a .. .Superb 200.00

9 10 ALEX G. MALLOY INC.

FOR OUR MOST RECENT ILLUSTRATED FIXED PRICE LIST OF FULLY ATIRIBUTED ANTIQUITiEs 38 SALEIoI
PLEASE SEND $1.75. OUR MOST RECENT CATALOGUES OF ANCIENT AND MEDlEV AL COINS ARE NEW YORK 10~90

ALSO AVAILABLE FOR $3.SO FOR THE PAIR, Office and Gallery
19 Danbury Road
. .. with full attributions according to the latest scholarship and referenced to the leading Phone: (203) 438-0396 Ridgefield. cr
museum collections. est. 1967
 xxx
44 B.C.
struck in a mint separated from the
regular Roman mint, and that they were
meant to be used in the Parthian
campaign Caesar was preparing for.
AlfOldi 17 compares the portraits o n
these issues to those of the DIeT
QV ART issue, and proves that they
could not have been stru c k: at
geographically separate mints lS . I do .
however. agree with Kraay in thai the
sequence leuers indicate the amount of
bullion struck. This is illu strated by
several dies that were first used with one
letter; then, when a certain amount of
coins were struck, the letter was altered
to the next letter l9 .
Venu s was frequently used on
Caesar's coins fo r several reasons. She
was claimed as an ancestor by the e ntire
Julian famil y20, of which the Caesars
were a branch. Caesar credited all of his
victories to Venus, and had a s mall
statue of her with him at an times. She
was engraved on Caesar's signet ring,
and he used her name as a password at
his biggest victories at Pharsalu s,
Thessaly, and Munda. Spain21 .
Mettius also struck a quinarius and
sestertius. The quinarius (half denarius)
pictures Juno Sospita wearing a
goatskin on the o bverse, and Victory in
a biga , with M.METII below, on the
reverse. Here Juno Sospita again refers
-.... to Lanuvium. The sestertius (quarter
denarius) , known fr o m a s ingle
specimen 22 , shows Venus on the
obverse, and a virg in feeding a serpent,
with M.MEITI behind, on the reverse.
The reverse of this sestertius illustrates
an annual ceremony held at Lanuvium.
People would come from all of Italy to
If you aren't seeing this symbol on
catalogues you are currently receiving
Write for our membership list
Jean-Paul Divo
Secretary, I.A.P.N.
L6wenstrasse, 65
CH-8001 ZOrich, Switzerland
the great temple of Juno Sospita there.
A young girl would descend into the
serpent grotto under the temple with
food for the giant snake that lived there.
It was believed that if the girl was
virginal, the snake would not harm
her23. This coin is almost identical in
style and subject to two other coins: a
denarius issued in 64 B.C. by Lucius
Roscius Fabatus24 and a quinarius of
Luc ius Papius Celsus, struck in 45 25 .
Both have the same reverse type of lhe
virgin feeding the snake. All three men
were probably from Lanuvium. Perhaps
Papius and Mettiu s were both
apprenticed by Roscius, and later wished
to strike the same coin as their teacher.
Mettius's use of die sequence letters on
his denarii also point to his having been
a student of Roscius, who used different
symbols for every die26.
Thi s would be a good place to
examine the sestertii and quinarii of the
other monetaJes of 44 B.C. Mettius's
have already been reviewed, and none are
known o f Maridianus. Macer and Buca
bo th struck intere sting denarius
fraction s. None of these s maller
denominations are datable, as they do
not mention Caesar. Perhaps they were
struck during the entire period that the
mint was operating, o r perhaps they
were all struck when Caesar was
dictator. Either way, they are all rather
scarce, and each is interesting.
Buca struck a quinarius ponraying
Pax on the ob verse with her name,
"PAXS" , and clasped hands on the
reverse. The reverse legend is
L.AEMILIVS BVCA IIIIVIR, giving
The Ceiator
Buca's full title as a me mbe r o f the
Quauo urviri (lII IVIR) of monetales.
This is the only coi n o f 44 that
me n tio ns that t he r e were fo ur
monetales. This is the coin I would use
as a key for dating the denarii, as the
title Un VIR proves tha t all four
monetales were working at the same
time, and not, as Kraay suggests27 , that
Meuius died and his position was taken
by Maridianu s. Buca also struck a
sestertius with Selene. goddess of the
moon, identified by the crescent on her
head, on the obverse, and a star of six
rays on the reverse. These symbols, as
will be shown later, represent divinity,
bUI as Caesar was offi c ially deified
du ring his life, this is no help in dating.
Macer struck a quinarius with a bust
o f Vic tory on the obverse and Fortuna
steering the world with a rudder on the
reverse. Macer also struck a sestertius
showing Mercury and a caduceus.
The next period o f coining, from
February fifteenth to March fifteenth, is
when the largest number of coins were
struck. Here, as they were all struck at
the same time. I will group them by
moneta!, Maridianus, Buca, and Macer.
Caius Cossutius Maridianus struck
o nly two major types, the least of any
of the Quattourviri 28 . The first one has
Caesar's laureate and veiled portrait.
with hi s title C AESAR DICT
PERPETVO or mCf IN PERPETVQ
on the o bverse. The reverse again is
Venus. holding Victory and resting her
arm on a shield on a globe. These types
most likely can be dated to a short while
after Caesar's death .
Maridianus's other type again has
Caesar's laureate and veiled head right,
between a priest's bonnet and a lituus,
and his exceptional title CAESAR
PARENS PATRIAE, or Caesar, father
of his country, a title unofficially
granted to our own George Washington.
The reverse has C. COSSUTIVS
MARIDlANVS in saltire, with AAAFF
in the angles. AAAFF stands for aere
ar gento auro flando reriundo ,
Maridianu s's full title. The veiled
. portrait along with the priem bonnet
and Htuus used by Maridianus are
symbolic of Caesar's offices of Pontifex
Maximus and augu r. This type
probably dates to after Caesar's death, as
the portrait type with lituus and priests
bonnet were only used for one other
type, a denarius by Macer struck after
Caesar's death. AlfOldi29 suggests that
th e monetal s added the vei l
posthumously to pro pagandize the
treachery of the assassins for trilling the
c hief priest of the Roman People and to
"enhance the sacrilegious act of the
murderers." We can also assume that
the PARENS PATRIAE type dates to
after the abolition of the dictatorship in
mid-Apri.130. Maridianus's portraiture is
very crude, and shows a lot of variety
fro m one specimen to the next. They
hardly compare to the thin faced yet very
realistic portraits by Mettius.
Lucius Aemilius Buca struck a large
variety of types. The fi rst type had
Caesar's laureate head, crescent behind,
with the legend CAESAR 1M PM
(lmpe.rator, Pontifex Maximus ) on the
obverse, and Venus standing, holding a
small Victory and scepter on the reverse.
This coin displays the stro ngest, most
realistic portrait of Caesar. This coin
was struck: during the DICT QV ART
period. The portrait, as proved by
September 1989
Continued from page XXVIlIl
A ifOldi 31 , is a direct copy, not o f
Caesar's actual appearance, but o f
Mettius's denarii. Buca also issued
similar coins with the legend CAESAR
DICT PERPETVO as well as one with
Venus seated on the reverse. Another
type has the CAESAR DICT
PERPETVO obverse, and a reverse
showing a caduceus and a fasces without
an axe in saltire, with an axe, a glo be,
clasped hands, and L.BVCA in the
angles. Each of the things represents
the condition of the nation in an
o ptimistic way. The caduceus is the
sy mbol of felicitas. The axeless fasces
is the symbol of libenas. The axe
represents the pontificate. The globe
represents world domination, and the
c lasped hands represent pax and
concordia. It sho uld be noted, that
while the legend on all of Buca's denarii
(except for an extremely rare exception)
is CAESAR before his head, and DICT
PERPETVO beh ind, the legend o n all
specimens of the caduceus/fasces type. is
CAESAR DI CT before, and
PERPETVO behind. Buca's types
consistently show very strong ponraits,
showing Caesar with a thin neck, a
strong chin, and rather in contrast with
written descriptions of Caesar, a full
head of hair32.
Publius Sepullius Macer issued
mostly the same types as the other
monetaJes. Macer struck a type with
th e lege nd IMPER CAESAR
(Imperator), and Venus standing reverse.
He struck two types with the legend
IMP CAESAR, and with a star behind
Caesar's head on the obverse. This type
was contemporary with the D1CT
PERPETVO types, proved by the recent
d iscovery of hybrid33, combining a
DICT PERPETVO obverse with a
reverse type, previously known only
with the IMP and star obverse. M acer
struck six main varieties with the
legend CAESAR DICT PERPETVO,
three wilh Caesar veiled, and three with
him laureate. Two of each of those
showed Venus standing left holding
Victory and a scepter at the base of
which is a star, and the other one of
each showed Venus's scepter at the base
of which was a shield. Finally, one of
each of the star·at·base types shows
MACER written c lockwise, and the
others, counter-clockwise. Macer used
the star on a large number of his coins,
although the significance is unknown.
The types with the veiled head of Caesar
c an be dated to after Cae sar's
assassination (i.e. immediately after the
fifteenth of March to circa April 10).
This date comes from Alfold i's
illu stration34 of two denarii from the
same dies, one without the veil, and
another, struck when the die was in a
used conditio n, with a veil engraved
over the portrait. Macer's portraiture,
like Maridianus's, was very weak and
unrealistic and showed much difference
from one portrait to the next35 .
The final coins struck in Rome that
year were produc ed immedi ately
fo llowing Caesar's death o n March
fifteenth. Most of these are the types
with the legend DICT PERPETVO. the
minting of which continued for a shon
time after his death. Mettius probably
stopped striking very soon after Caesar's
death, if, as Kraay suggested, his issues
were for the Parthian campaign. In
mid· April, the dictatorship was made
Please tum to page XXXI
The Celator September 1989
44 B.C.
illega l, and so the title DIeT
PERPETVO could no longer be used36.
Maridianus's AAAFF type was probably
struck in late April. with the title
PARENS PATRIAE.
I would chronologically place a
denarius of Buea in the period from
April ten 10 early May. The obverse of
this coin shows the head of Venus, with
L.BVCA. The reverse JXlrtrays "on the
left, a male figure reclining, resting his
back on a rock and supporting his head
with his left hand. The trunk of his
body is naked, while a garment is draped
around his lower limbs. From the
right. Selene, with the crescent moon
resting on her head. descends towards
him. With her right hand. she extends a
torch, while her len hand and right foot
rest upon a rock. Between man and
goddess, in the background, stands a
winged aduh female, 'clad in long
drapery. In her right hand is a baton37."
This coin has, for hundreds of years,
been identified as the dream of the
dictator Sulla. Plutarch38 writes of the
dream:
.... .the goddess whom the Romans
had learned to worship from the
Cappadocians, whether she is Selene or
Athena or Enyo, appeared to Sulla as he
was s leeping. She handed him a
thunderbolt, and naming his enemies
one by one, she ordered him to strike
them. When he did so, all his enemies
fell down and vanished. Sulla was
encouraged by this dream; and after he
told it to his followers at dawn, he
marched upon Rome."
Fear's excellent article39 clearl y
explains that the scene has nothing to
do with Sulla. In the dream, Selene
gives Sulla a thunderbolL On the coin,
she bears her traditional attribute, the
torch. The obvious explanation is that
the coin portrays the myth of Selene and
Endymion. Selene is shown descending
Mount Latmos to her lover Endyntion.
The figure in the background, who has
been variously identified as Eros, Dike,
or Nike, is really Aura, the charioteer
of Selene. The scene is portrayed o n
many Roman reliefs. This scene dates
the coin to after Caesar's death through
the frequent occurrence of the scene on
sarcophagi. Even in the very year of
Caesar's death, cicer040 used Endymion
to exemplify the ~etema l felicity of
death~. Thus, the coin portrays not
Sulla, but Endymion, and is a funeral
tribute to the dead dictator.
The very last coins struck in Rome
in 44 B.C. were a series of three types
struck by Macer. The reverse common
to all three is a horseman, gaJ loping to
the right. with a second horse behind.
The desultor (circus rider) holds a whip.
He wears an odd· looking conical hat
(petasus), apparently part of the
desultor's standard costume. A similar
coin shows a desultor, also wearing the
petasus. A wreath is in the field, a
palm branch behind. These are
. apparently for presentation to the victor.
P.SEPYLLIVS is above, MACER
below. This reverse is a scene from the
games of the Parilia on April 21 in
which young members of the noble
class participated. In the event
portrayed, a desultor would jump from
one horse to another in full gallop. The
Parilia was celebrated by the young
Quintus Cicero in the hope of gaining
favor with Antonius41.
The first of these three coins has the
laureate and veiled head of Caesar
between a priests bonnet and Iituus ,
with the legend CAESAR PARENS
PATRIAE. This is the same obverse as
used by Maridianus for his AAAFF
issue, and the existence of common dies
must be assumed. This is the rarest of
the desultor series, as all known
specimens are struck from one obverse
die and one reverse die. The reverse is
not struck from any of the same dies as
the other desultor coins, but again, the
existence of common dies must be
assumed.
The second coin portrays a temple of
four columns on the obverse, with the
legend CLEMENTlAE CAESARIS (to
the mercy of Caesar). This illustrates
the temple that the senate decreed to be
built in honor of Caesar's clemency in
not having them all killed in the civil
wars. The decree was issued in early 44
B.C.42, but there is no reason to
assume the temple was completed when
the coin was struck. This coin was
struck from fi ve obverse dies and six
reverse dies, three of which were also
used for the third type.
The third coin portrays on its
obverse the veiled head of Marcus
Antonius between a vase and Iituus.
The lituus and veil are signs of
Antonius's new position as Augur.
They may also have been used to further
associate Antonius with the dead
Dictator in the eyes of the public.
Antonius is shown bearded in mourning
for Caesar. This is the second Roman
coin to show a portrait of a living
Roman. It required no senatorial
approval, no public vote. The power of
the senate had passed into the hands of
one man. This coin signaled the end of
the Republic. As Caesar himself
said 43 , the die had been casL Within
the next ten years, no less than fifteen
living Romans were portrayed on coin.s.
The Empire had begun.
There is a sing le specimen of this
type as a foum (silver plated bronze) in
a private collection. It is struck from
official dies, and so was most likely
struck by the mint to raise money for
Antonius.
The year 44 B.C. marked the end of
a nation that vanquished the forces of
Carthage, and the beginning of the
greatest Empire the ancient world would
know. The coins of that year tell the
story.
(Mal/hew Rockman's catalog of the
coins of the year 44 BC will be
published in a subsequent issue of The
Cefator)
Notes:
I. The monetales, or moneyers, are a
group of young nobles at the beginning of
their political career. They are annuauy e1ecled
to be in eharge of the coinage of that year.
2. Cassius Dio Book 43, chapter 49: "The
ned year after these events during which
Caesar was at once dictator for the fourth
lime, taking Lepidus as master of the horse,
and consul for the fifth time, choosing
Antonius as his COlleague..." Herbert Foster
translation.
3. Cicero, Phil. ii. 34. 87: "At eliam
adscribi iussit [Antonius) in fastis ad
Lupercalia C. Caesari dictatori perpetuo M.
Antonium consulem populi iussu regnum
detulisse; Caesarem uti noluisse."
4. Plularch, Caesar. 'The Lupercalia were
then celebrated, a feast at the first institution
belonging, as some writers say, to the
shepherds, and having some connection with
the Arcadian Lycrea. Many young noblemen
aoo magistrates run up and down the city with
their upper garments orf, striking all they
meet with thongs of hide, by way of sport;
and many women, even of the highest rank,
place themselves in the way, and hold out
their hands to the lash, as boys in a school do
to the master, out of a belief that it procures
an easy labor to those who are ;""ith child, and
makes those conceive who arc barren. Caesar,
dressed in a triumphal robe, seated himself in a
golden chair al Ihe rostra 10 view this
ceremony.ff Dryden lrarlslation.
. 5. Suetonius, Divus Julius 76. ffHe
placed his own slaves in charge of the mint
and the public revenues...ff Robert Graves
translation.
6. More properly, until Ihe days
immediately following Caesar's death, as time
would be required to prepare new dies.
7. An issue of aurii for the Parthian
campaign is perhaps implied by Cassius Dio,
Ancient Coins
& Antiquities
For Serious Collectors
Occasional Lists
XXXI
Continued from page XXX
Book 43, chapter 51 : "there was some hope
then, if ever, of subjugating the Parthian!.
The command of the war they unanimously
voted to Caesar, and made ample provision for
it." Herbert Foster translation.
S. Banti and Simonetti, (Corpus
Numorum Romanorum), Volume I, page 39.
9. The lituus is the wand of an augur, a
priest who made predictions by observing the
night of birds, lightning, etc. Caesar was the
sale augur or 44 B.C.
10. Suetonius, Divus Julius, 45: ".. . His
baldness was a disfigurement harped upon,
much to his exasperation; but he used to
comb the thin strands forward from his poll,
and of all the honon voted him by the Senate
and People, none pleased him so much as the
privilege of wearing a laurel wreath on all
occasions· and he constaRUy took advantage
of it.~ Michael Graves translation. Also,
Cassius Dio, Book 43, chapter 43: M ••• For
himself he wore the triumphal garb, by decree,
in all assemblages and was adorned with the
laurel crown always and everywhere alike. The
excuse he gave for it was that his forehead was
bald; aDd this had some show of reason from
the very fact that at the time, though well past
youth, he still bestowed attention on his
appearance ... " Herbert Foster translation.
II. AlfOldi, Andreas, "The Portrait of
Cesar on the Dcnarii of 44 B.C. and the
Sequence of Their Issu es.~ The Centennial
Publication of the American Numjsmatic
~ pages 27-42, 1955. Ciled hereafter as
AlfOkti.
12. Suetoniu$, Oivus Juliu s 79 ;" ...
iooeed, when the commons gree~d him with
'Long live the Kingr he now protested: 'No, I
am Caesar, not King'; and though, again,
when he was addressing the crowd from the
Rostra at the Lupercalian festival, aoo Marcus
Antonius, the ConSUl, made several attempts
to crown him, he refused each time and at lasl
sent the crown away for dedication to
Capitoline Jupiter.~ Robert Graves translation.
Plutarch, Caesar: "Antony, as Consul, was
one of those who ran this course, aoo when
he came into the Forum. and the people made
way for him. he went up and reached to Caesar
a diadem wreathed with laurel. Upon this there .
was a shout, but a slight one, made by the
few who were planted there for that purpose;
but when Caesar refused it, there was
universal applause. Upon the second offer,
very few, and upon the second refusal, all
again applauded. Caesar, tiooing it would DOt
take, rose up, and ordered the crown to be
carried to the capitol. " Dryden translation.
Please tum to page XXXIlIl
 XXXII The Celator September 1989

t\ndmt Artifacts EVENINGS

(301) 876-71 40 or RARE GREEK

•
(301 ) 235-1 696
&: Coins COINS ROMAN
Specializing in the
MEHRDAD Olr.! 7iJorlrf :JInlifutfieJ Coi nage of Judaea and
SADIGH WORWCOINS
303 5th Ave.
Ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Etc.
Artifacts. Bronzes, Statuettes,
Pottery, Amulets · Send for free list
* Ancient • ••
Room #1603 Member: Antiquities Dealers Assoc.
P.O. Box 25
* Medieval No List Issued
New York NY * Modern *•*
10016
William M. Rosen blum
800-426-2007 P. O. Box 355
DAVID AMSTER Evergreen CO 80439 39 WEST 55thSTREET
A N C I F. N T A It T NEW YORK, N.Y. 1001 9
212-725-7537 (303) 838-4831 AREA CODE: 212-24 6.5025

Museum quality Greek, Roman,

and Etruscan antiquities
20 yeaJ'S serving you...
at affordable prices. PEGASI COINS Ancient & World Coins
P.o. Box 4207
Authenticity Ann Arbor, MI48106
• ANCIENT COINS UtlCotuiilionally Guaranteed Phone: (313) 434-3856 PONTERIO
Classical numismaJisl SU\iing begin.
• MEDIEVAL COINS can orwrite for a free list Mrs through advanced collectors. Send
& ASSOCIATES, INC.
of current inventory for free iJ/ustraud caJalQg. Specify:
• ANCIENT ART & with color photos
3823 Park Blvd.
ANTIQUITIES Please incicate specific interests • Quality Ancients: Choice and P.O. Box 33588
· scarce coins over $100. San Diego, CA 921 03
Write for Free Illustrated 1637 WEST CHASE • Bargain Ancients: Attractive
catalogues of the Following: CHICAGO, IL 60626 anctents (not junk) under $150. (619) 299-0400
• Ancient Coins LIII 312-743-2091 • Medieval CoIns: Hammered (SOD) 854-2888
• Medieval Coins XXII European from 500 to 1650 A.D.
• Antiquities: Artifacts (other PNG#308
• Ancient Art and Antiquities XIV
than coins) fro m Slone AQ9 ANA·lM
through Renaissance periods.
Want fisls serviced. Consultations avaiJabie.
Appraisals WId estate eVlllua/klns perfonnod.
Actill8 buyer of all material.

tttmpiu (!tOmS ATTICA

1. miq""'" _. Old' N.w W~ld
'"ci6f1t, Medieval & Modern Coins.
n riQue ~/es. Instruments,
Ancient Coin Specialists
• Buying . Selling · Want Li~ • Books
• Appraisals' Consignments· Referrals
• Attendance at all major Shows & Sales
QUALITY ANCIENT,
MEDIEVAL & ENGLISH Ancient Coins
and Antiquities

<t
• Exclusive Auction Bidding Service
Collectibles '
fT Objects i n Many Media
• Sound Advice based on long experience Send for free
• Subscribers receive s~ fully iIluS\raled
praisen and A uct:ioneers fIXed price catalogues of ancient coins and illustrated list.
boob abootlhem., and two major auction

+
5ales per YeaI.
• Periodic reference book li:.15 & Rles Quality coins at f air prices. P.O. Box 836
Fixed Price Lists, Buy-Bid SaJes, Flagstaff, AZ 86002
Empire COins, Inc. II Public Auctions.

JOEL MALTER & Co.

801 W.OranadaBIVll.Suite305
OImond s-:b, FL 32174-8278 USA
Thone (904) 677·TII4
Office 1\(IU1$ 9--5, M·P
u._
-611Ni1'
~I
~
Annual S ubscription $20
Sample upon requ£st.

16661 Ventura Blvd .• Suite 518

Encino,CA91436 USA Pu(904)671.72l4 !"'~'! .'!" • •'\
VICTOR ENGLAND
Box 245
Fred B. Shore
MAIL: P.O. Box 777, Quarryville, PA 17566 Classical Numismatics
Encino,CA91316 USA (717)78&4013 Anciefll Greek, Roman and
(818) 784·7772 or784·21 81 Free Ustofinexpensiva Parthian coins of the highest
ANCIENT quality bought and sold
I ROMAN COINS
I
The Professional Directory MICHAEL & SANDY WOLF AIG.AI
.V-.IS""" .... T I ( I PO Box 36
~ P.o. Box 233, Dewey, fJ\Z86327 Fort Washington PA 19034
is your index to 8 variety
of sources and services
(602) 772-7144 ~'"
"lW 215 /275 - 3430
totK.VIN Il • .cHEEK
2800 S. UWlv""IITY • 2.2.
DENVER, COLORADO lotiO
q;.IJfJJ 'RJlGII2J1Cfo Visiting: USA Jonathan K. Kern
San Francisco? (JO.)-32Q-S'22 Bachelor of Arts
CfoR.I2:1ISUR.I2S~ The Silicon Valley? Please call or write lor our fixed pries Numismatics
Stanford University? list and show agenda 9:00 - 5:00 M-F Ancient, Medieval, Early

~
I American Numismatics
I . . TREASURE
I V,S,L. ISLAND
I
ancient rare coins
I
!
The Time We carry a large 8(
d.>"<!L· .1In .. .-I tell!
I inventory of Ancients as p.o. bo'\ 187. 'H' 11.1.10:;80
Machine Co. well as the largest
i-
I Rne Archaeological
Philatelic stock in
Greek
.... n~~d

•
In hu.
Byzantine
I Art and Coins the Bay Area. Roman • Judacan
! TREASURE ISLAND 444 S. Ashland
I P.O. Box 282 - Flushing S1a.
Queens, NY 11367
91 Town & Country Village
Palo Allo, CA 94301
Lexington, KY 40502
iI (718) 544-2708 (415) 326-7678
phon ... ,
""'mh .. ,, ~n.'
(<)t~) 9.19·2058
1m I·,,,,, "''' '''.1 ."n~
(606) 269-1614
I
I
I
I,
The Celator September 1989 XXXIII

(~ Coins & Books\# ) ( Coins &1'Books )

p;tr.'-,...fy' J. R OGER S ORACLE

11- Allao & Moml. De';,,,,,,.

e
CALVIN Specializing in:
~
- _. 1If
".~
ANCIENT COINS
• British Isles
I . a C Iasslcal Attracti ve Ancient Greek
And Rom an Coi ns
• • Ancient Greek & Roman
Specialists in Numis' matics For The Collector • Numismatic literature

Ancient Coins Ancients &

Affordable Prices • Free Lists Serious Catalogs Issued Regularly
Conservative Grading 2 Issues · $2
Auctions and M edieval
539 - 62 St.
Price Lists.
Fully illustrated
Brooklyn, NY 11220 GJJavWllS
SUP E RIOR STAMP & list free u!X'" request Cold SprlIIf, /.IN S6J10 Ltd.
CO IN C O ., I NC. (612) 685-3835
9478 West Olympic Boulevard
P. O . Box 7233
Redwood City CA 94063
Ancient
Beverly Hills. CA 90212·4236
(213) 203-9855
(415) 369-1508 Greek &
Our unique
- ,
Roman mail bid auctions
allowyou to
Coins
~/~ 2U
PAY THE
Christian 810m and books about them PRICE YOU
WANT TO PAY
Greek, Roman and Ancient Coins FREE SAMPLE our fully illustraud manlhly m4il bid
World Coins and Antiquities CATALOGS auctions contain uver 4{)() items of
write for f ree sample list ancien! coins and anJiquilies in all
Thomas P. McKenna price ranees. For free catalog contact:
2504 N. Quantico St. ~ 7910 Woodmo", . ".
Arlington , VA 22207
-
~....
Suite 1104
Bethesda MO 20814
P. O. Box \356-E Colosseum
703-533-3119
noon to midnight
s
301-6 4-0470 Ft. Collins, Co 80522 Coin Exchange, Inc. ..:-'
(303) 226-5704 P.O. Box 21CL
H. zlet, NJ 07730
(201) 264-1161
ARGOS
ANCIENT COINS
~UMISMATICS AND ANCIENT NEAR EAST
Attractive Quality
Greek & Roman Ancient Coins
ANTIQUITIES ISLAMIC & INDIAN Lucien Birkler
Harlan J . B erk. Ltd. C OINAGE
Price lists Six buy or bid sales per year & Co.
Auction Representation write or caY for free cafalogue
Our Speciclly Professional Numismatists
A .
~
Want List Service -~';. 312·609-001.
P . O . Box 4102
- ......~. 312-609-0017 ,vii)} for a free sample price
~ .;;J7
Clifton, NJ 07012
31 N. Clark St, list write to:
Chicago, IL 60602

WILLIAM B. WARDEN, JR.

FRANK STERNBERG
Nwnismalist
Schanzengasse 10, CH·8001
Zurich, Switzerland
tel. 0 11252.30.88
The Professional Directory
P.O. BOX 356
NEW HOPE, PA 18938
is your Index to a variety We altend most major auctions
(2 t5) 297-5088
of sources and services and will represent you
1707 L. St. NW SuRe 250

~ ·~lt Washington D.C. 20036

202-833-3nO

Boughl and Sold

~'l\RTI-ru~ J . LIN~ When you contact
the advertisers on
anc ie nt coins
COtNS AND MEDALS these pages, -
Ancient, Medieval and Modem IVrite f or remember to
NUMISMATIC UTERATURE illustrated catalog
say you saw it in
PHOTOGRAPH
GEMS, CAMEOS, JEWELRY R F D 1, Box 240 COINS & BillS ~~
Ancient 10 Modem Wallis, T X 77485 • In...nl Poierokt Prints ~
• Co&or or Black 10 White
AUCTION SALES (409) 478-6796
• S8me Size Of Enl8rQed
~~

C811 or Send FoI" fa ._- I~

Specioliziflg in ANCIENT Free Brochure
P.O. Box 2937
/0 "
P
ANCIENT COINS Redwood City, CA ""
CEN1RAL ASIAN Q
FIXED PRICE LISTS
ISLAMIC CATALOGI NG SERVICES
and COUNTERFEIT ALERT ['e]ARIES PHOTOGRAPHIC
INDIAN COINS BOOKS _ (415) 365-5073

THOMAS D. WALKER
P.O. Box 29188 Dept . C
Omar Hamidi San Antonio, TX 78229
Numism!l!LS{ (512) 696-5393
1ionhon Qloin ~aUeru5
P.O. Box 10311. Torr!lfl((. CA
(213) HO·4303
OO~05
Subscrip60ns: one lear. at least 4
issues . $15.00 U.S. Canada. $25.00 Suite 132 Mission Viejo Mali
Foreign. Write for a complimental)' copy if Mission Viejo, CA 92691
you haven' seen my lists. (714) 364-0990 or 582·3481
XXXIlIl
44 B.C.
13. Kraay, Colin M., "Czsar's
Quattourviri of 44 8.C.:The Arrangement o f
lheir Issues," Numismatic Chronjcle. seT. 6,
vol. 14 (1954), pgs. 18·31. Cited hereafter as
Ktuy.
14. The COrTect order of Caesar's titles,
according to Suctonius, Divus Julius, 76, is
'lmperator' before his name; and 'Pater Patrilt,'
or Father of his Country, appended 10 it.
15. Suetonius, DiYu$ Julius, 40: "Caesar
next turned to domestic reforms. Firsl, he
reorganized the calendar, which the college of
priests had allowed to fall into such disorder,
by inserting days or months as it suited them,
that the harvest and vintage festivals no
longe r corresponded with the approp riate
seasons. He linked the year to the course of
the sun by lengthening it to 365 days,
abolishing the shon extra month and adding
an entire day every fourth year. But to make
the first of January faU at the right season, he
drew out that particular year by two extra
months, inserted between November and
December, so that it consisted of fiftee n,
including the intercalary one inserted after
February in the old style." Robert Graves
translation.
16. Kraay, pages 28-3 1.
17. AlfOldi, pages 33-39.
18. Also proved by the NFA hybrid,
which see belOW, note 33.
19. Kraay, Plate II, 3.
20. Suetonius, Oivus Julius, 6: ..... and
her father of gOds - since the Julian!, of which
we Caesars are a branch, reckon descent from
the goddess Venus." Robert Graves
translation. The Julians are the descendants of
lulus, the son of Aencu, who was the son of
Anchises aDd Venus.
21. Cassius Oio, book 43, chapter 43 :
''To Venus he was, in general, devoted body
and soul, and he was anxious to persuade
everybody that he had received from her a kind
of bloom of youth. Accordingly, he used also
to carry about a carven image of her in full
armor, and he made her name his watchword
in almost all his greatest dangers." Herbert
Foster translation.
22. The only known specimen of this type
is preserved in the Paris Museum.
23. Propertius IV. 8, 3.
THE CELATOR IS NAMED FOR AND DEDICATED TO THE
COIN DIE·ENGRAVERS OF ANTIilUITY WHOSE ART REMAINS
AS POWERFUL AND APPEALING TODAY AS IN THEIR TIME
c§aler~
Subscribe to the only full service newspaper
specializing in ancient coins and antiquities:
_________ 1 Clip & Mail
: Please include me as a subscriber to The Celator:
• Name:
.~ ~
• City: State: _
: Enclose $24.00 for 12 issues (U.S. and Canada;$48 All other addresses.)
---_. __..__ ._---------..-
• Mail To : The Celator, P.O. Box 123, lodl, WI 53555
Continued from page XXXI
24. For the coins see: Roscia 3; British
Museum Catalogue, 3394-3510; Sydenham
915; Crawford 41211. For the mone ye r, see:
Magistrates of the Roman Republic, p. 451.
Also, Tr. PI. 55, Leg. Lieut. 54, Pro 49,
Leg. Envoy 49, Leg. Lieut. 43.
25. For the coins, see: Papia 4 ; British
Museum Catalogue, 4025-7; Sydenham 966;
Crawrord 427/3. For the mODeyer, see
Magis trates of the Roman Republic, page
448.
26. Babelon (Monnaie! de la Republiq ue
Romaine )Iists one hundred and fifty-five pairs
of obvcrse and reverse die symbols for thc
issue (Roseia 3)
27. Kraay. page 27.
28. Buca struck eight types, Macer struck
thirteen, Mettius struck fi ve, and Maridianus
struck only three.
29. Aillildi, page 33.
30. Approximately April 10. Cassius Dio
mentions it (Book 44, chapter 51), but gives
no exact date.
3 1. AlfOldi, pages 37-39.
32. Suetonius, Divus Julius 45. See note
10 above.
33. Numismatic Fine Arts International,
Inc. Fall Mail Bid Sale. October 12, 1988.
Lot 707.
34. Aillildi, pages 36-37, Plate IV, 11, and
Plate VI, 15.
35. Especially Alfoldi's plate II, 17, to
Plate III, II.
36. Kraay, Pages 18-19.
37. Fears, 1. Rufus, "Sulla or Endymion:
A Reconsideration of a Denarius of L.
Aemilius Buca," American Numismatic
Society Museum Notes. Volume XX (1975),
page 29.
38. Plutarch, Sulla 9.7-9
39. Feats, op. Cil
40. Cicero, Tusc. 38. 92.
41. Aillildi, page 33.
42. Plutarch, Caesar: HAnd they had good
re~n to decree a temple to Clemency, in
token of their thanks for the mild use he made
of his victory. For he not only pardoned many
of those who fought against him, but, further,
to some gave honors and offices ; as
particularly to Brutus and Cassius, who both
of them were prztors."
43. Suetonius, Divus Julius 32.
_____ • __ •
Zip:
.
•
:
•
•
: Natanya 42121 Israel
The Celator September 1989
"INTEGRITY LIVES"
Better U.S. & Ancient Coins. Artifacts.
Old Paper, Collectibles, AND MORE!
Request illustrated catalog.
lONG ISLAND UNLIMITED
153 MAIN STREET, DEPT l
SAYVILLE, NY 11782
Phone: (516) 567-8232
IRV ATKINS, ANA Life Member (#3096),
Member of Long Island Betler Business Bureau (since 1979)
SPECIALS: AR Ants. of Philip I, or Trebonianus Gallus, XF $35 each.
Lot of 5 diff. bronze Prutahs (ca. 103 Be - 67 AD) VG-F $1 00
Rates :
$5.00 for the first 20 words, 20t each add~jo n al word.
Computer filing (IBM): List. Sort, SH OW OFF YOUR ANCIENT ART,
Print o ut your collection. Easy, InternationaJ award winning jeweler will
powerful, Shareware. $ IO postpaid. set your ancient coins and smaJl artifacts
Bob's. 100 Overlook, Willow Grove, in gold or silver custom jewelry at
PA 19090. affordable prices. Send SASE to D.
Huber, 11 4 S. Kinney Ave., Thief
BARBAROUS COINS! Ancien t
River Falls, MN 5670 1.
Ce ltic imitations of Ro man Coin s
Ancient Greek, Roman, Judaean and
fou nd in Britain. All F -YF. $10 each or
Byzantine coins. Very reasonab ly
3 for $25. Also, reasonably priced
priced. Send want list to B. Levin, One
ancients. List on request. Hu gh
Independence Place. Suite 1908,
Kramer, PO Box 6914, Santa Maria,
Philadelphia, PA 191 06.
CA 93456.
Reasonably priced ancient coins. The n tber ancie nts: Africa ,
Write or call for free price lists. Simon Mideast, India, Southeast Asia. the
Cordova, Box 2096, Citrus Heights, Orient. Primitive Monies. Books. 100.
CA 95611; 916·961·9937. Free list. Semans, Box 22849P,
Seattle. WA 98122.
The Best of The Ctlator • 1988.
recent winner of a special numismatic Sep t e mber S p e cial : Corpus
Literary Guild award for literary Nummarum Romanorum , many vols.
excellence in the numismatic magazine onl y $35 each (was $45). Ask details.
divisio n, offers 21 entertain ing and Mionnet - Description des Midaillu
informative articles about ancient coins Antiques Grecques at Romaines. Mint
and antiq uities. 64 pages neatly bound 1972 reprint of this famous 16 vol
for easy preservation. Order postpaid for work: $1295. Whiting · Byzantine
Coins. Mint copy: $85. All postpaid.
$5.95 from The Celator, P.O. Box 123,
Lodi, WI 53555. Want lists of books and Roman or
Celtic coins always welcome. Ask for
Greek, Roman , Medieval coins. my unbeatable prices on "Roman
Monthly catalogs with very reason- Imperial Coinage " + Seaby books and
able prices and discounts issued for 21 new list of English. French & German
.years. Francis J. Rath. Box 266, books and Byzantine coins. Stoffel
Youngstown, NY 141 74. Vogelaar. Mulrany, Westport, Mayo,
Ireland.
$95 Export Specials LIKE NEW! Schjoth ; " Chinese
Currency" $28, Valentine; "Copper
20 HI\tl grade Widutvsmites. Coins India" $23, Carson -Kent; "Late
AVF orOOner. Include. different Roman Bronze" $26, " Survey
denominations and varieties.
OR N umismatic Rease arch" (Ancient,
25 Mixed Jewl$h Perutot and Medieval Oriental, Modem) 3v. (soft)
NewTestament types. Af or better. $36, Morgan; "Elymais" (soft) $9,
Ma<X8bee and Herocia'1 Kings. Miller; - Investor's Handbook" (Greek-
Roman ~.ielies and Je¥oish Revolt
OR Roman) $ 15, Remmetts; "Chinese
30 Mixed Romat'1 Bronzes. 3rd to SIh Charms-Amulets" $ 14 , Illustrated
Century. For bener. catalogues (ancients) Packed 9 x 11 112
Different rulers & denominations. x 16 carton (hundreds)! $48. Postpaid!
OR
20 Roman Colonial and Biblical City cains. Devensky, 9416 Longmeadow, Boynton
Ni<:a selection 01 l arge D&nominations. Beach, FI. 33436.
M el-East nWllS and diff9!en1 rulers
OR
Mxed lot 016 different sitwr coins.
Free list of anc ient coins, tokens.
Reasonably priced. Write: Applied
Greek. Roman and Medleval.
2 dfferent from each period. Statistics, Inc ., P.O. Box 452,
OR
Wholesale lot - tOO Broru:flS Ifom all ~s.
Oakhurst, NJ 07755.
E~ coin itldividJally diilPlayed on eerti~catB
or au\hef1ddty with histJrical doelmfIntation.
c.n~ieaIe 01
Aeadylorr.sa!e.
S95!nc11.odK poIIiQfI. Nndfng, *-. EIdI em. II;
h~~ cIoc\I'rIInIed and nclMcha' Y diIpUv-I 00
aMwtil:ily. For rm..d!.l •• ~
H, Kogen
YOU MAY OBTAiN
LARGE TAX REFUNDS
~donaling your dJplicate ooins and
s ps 10 ~ hanclcaP?ed ch~rXeo . For
free usellJl in ormation and Ihe new 1985 .
rules (writmn by a tax-attomey) write:
TH,E~~~ATIC
P.O. )[ 476 '~~
t 60680
P.O. Box 2137
If you ate noton my mailing list. August 89 • Trivia Answer:
write lor free iUustrated catalog "Helios"
"Ancient Biblical Coins.'
The Celator September 1989
Paid Advertisement
Dear Celator Reader:
It is hard to believe that summer is over already. I g uess the proof is that I just
return ed from the A.NA Convention in Pitlsburgh. Since ~ was very obvious that
very few Cala/or readers attended the show, I will sum it up in one word ·
BORING! The show is just too long. We decided to fi nesse PNG Day and yet we
were still actively on the floor from Tues. P.M. until late Sunday afternoon. The
one high·spot in the show was the fact that the A.NA poobahs did lislen to some
rational suggestions and there was in fact a distinct Ancient & Foreig n Section of
the show, with large signs et. at which certainly eliminated the mass confusion of
years past where collectors came to the show and then afterwards remembered
thai they forgot to find certain dealers. Now if we can get the major English
companies to read the fine print on their next year's ANA contract, we can look
forward to a unified showing of many of the worlds leading ancient dealers at future
ANA's.
The reason that I found the show boring was not that we were not busy - we
were - and not that we did not make money - we did fine thank you - but because of
the lack of fresh ancient material. With a nice condensed area to cover it was
much easier to make the rounds early on, and easy for everyone to determine, that
there was a distinct lack of nice ancient coins. So much for the falacy that
Europe is still full of coins and that with the arrival of the major European dealers,
one could consistently look forward to an abundance of fresh, choice, and
saleable material. This might have been true in the early 1980's but is certainly not
true any more.
Bank Leu, Munzen & Medaillen, Seaby, Spink, & Swiss Bank Corporation were
all in attendance and indeed they all brought along ancient coins, some more than
others. There were a number of true rarities in evidence, in particular in Greek
silver and some Roman gold but the real meat-and-potatoes of ancient coin
collection as practiced here in the U.S. was simply not there. Almost no 12
Caesars silver and with everyone needing denarii of Caligula & Claudius this was a
distinct blow. It is fine to advertise, as many do, including myself, that we can build
for you a magnificent collection of 12 Caesars silver, but it gets distinctly difficult
when the coins are not in evidence or you see a Claudius denarius in nice VF but
the owner wants $3200 for it. As far as Roman bronzes go, forget it. I know a lot of
Gelator readers are avid Roman bronze collectors, but where the coins are going
to come from is a matter of some debate. My suggestion to you, is if you are
offered a nice sestertii or As, rather than make a note and think about it for a few
weeks, buy the coln_ I simply don't see how you can make a mistake in Roman
bronzes at the moment as long as the coin has grade, nice surface, and Is
corrosion free_
Roman gold was evident as one would assume since the tendency is for such
items to come on the market after you get the runaway priceS at the recent NFA
Auction in June. I saw a lot of Roman gold being offered, but fell that little was
actually buyable as the prices matched the NFA prices but the condition was simply
not the same as the sparkling beauties in that recent sale. It is a little hard to get
excited about a Septimius Severus gold aureus with Geta & Caracal1a on the
reverse that is being offered in borderline EF for $25,000 when a superb example
with simply smashing full lustre made $28,000 at the sale. The new prices in
Roman gold at auction will continue to bring outstanding quality coins andlor
rarities onto the marketplace but the prices will need just a bit more time to get
adjusted.
There were some very interesting Greek silver coi ns being offered and the
prices have now come to terms with the wild fluctuations last year that were caused
by hoard material that was both nice and also rare coming onto the marketplace. I
felt quite lucky to be early-on at some of the Europeans tables and was able to buy
some really 1<iller" material.
And speaking of hoards - for the first time that I can remember at a gathering of
this sort - there were none. Oh yes, there was the usual bags of VF-ish Severan
denarii, and Alexander drachms, and Constantinian AE 3's, but the usual groups
of rarer Greek silver, Greek Macedonian gold, Late Roman solidii, and sometimes
Sicilian material were simply not evident. The why is very easy to answer.
They haven't found any. Indiana Jones seems to be doing much better at the
Cinema than his real-life counterparts in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, and Greece.
During the past year and since the last ANA, the number of hoards of choice
ancients has simply diminished into almost non-existence. Are we having just a
slow season as we are having a season of unusual wetness here in the East, is
hard to tell but ~ you are a consistent reader of The Back Page, you already know
my views on the matter.
What was very interesting for the first few days of the show was the heavy
trading going on for bags of ancient commonplace coins. Generic this and
consistent that. What may have escaped the attention of many of you is that Cable
. TV has discovered andent coins. Now besides the 18 kt. gold-plated bracelets
set with authentic synthetic blue saphires, you can now use your phone and call
into your favorite shop-at-home cable station and obtain a GENUINE silver
tetradrachm of Alexander the Great, who lived over 2000 years ago and "was one
of the Great Men of History". I mean really, they sell just about everything else, it
was only a matter of time until someone got them to give ancient coins a try, and 10
and behold -they sell. Like 150 silver tetradrachms of misc. Syrian Kings in less
time than it will take you to have read The Back Page. I thought it amusing to look
into the cases of some of the largest and most prestigious dealers of ancients in
the U.S. and see sandwich bags filled with "sow's ears" instead of the "silk" that
one normally sees.
I suspect from the hundreds of Byzantine gold solidii that have suddenly
appeared from Munich and from the activity in them, that a new major promotion is
being contemplated similar to the 2 iII·fated attempts several years ago by
American Express. I can hardly wait to see the 6-page full colour brochures which
will arrive in my mail extolling the virtues of Roman silver denar!i sets (all genuine
and guaranteed to be at least FINE in grade) but from who? The mind boggles as I
imagine Crazy Eddie, or "Guess- jeans or perhaps even Nintendo getting into a
"hot" market.
Well for the next 3 Weeks I think I will actually just catch my breath from what has
been the most hectic summer that' can remember since I started dealing in
ancients, and that was back in 1977.
xxxv
Let us for a moment talk about WANT LISTS I have for the past few months
noted an interesting phenomena. I have been getting consistent calls from a
number of dealers all trying to fill out want lists for clients. These usually consist of
the scarcer Roman Emperors which these dealers need for a reasonable price so
they can th en resell them to their own clientele and thereby ingratiate themselves
furt her as they are able to furnish what their clients want. Obviously they do not
bother telling their clients they called me to obtain the coins. If you are act jyely
tryjng to fill out a Roman Emperor sel - contact us directly. I know some of you
think that we only sell very rare and very expensive ancients, but once you have
had a chance to actually meet us, 1have seen that notion disappear in hundreds of
cases. If you are trying to fill in on your Roman Emperors, Empresses, Caesars,
Second Cousins of Unknown Emperors, etc. -give us a try_ You will find that we
are courteous, polite, and will actively try to help you in your needs. And since you
may be buying our coins anyway at a 30-50% mark-up (in some cases which I
-
suspect), all that could happen is that you will save (in some cases) a good deal of
money.
PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THE PREVIOUS PARAGRAPH TO MEAN THAT YOU
SHOULD WRITE AND ASK FOR A CATALOGUE OR PRICE-LIST - AS WE DO
NOT ISSUE CATALOGUES OR PRICE·LlSTS.
FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER WE WILL BE
FOR THE FIRST 2 WEEKS IN OUR N.J.
OFFICE & FOR THE LAST 2 WEEKS
IN OUR CALIFORNIA OFFICE
SHOW SCHEDULE:
New York Cily . The fall AINA Show, Sept 8·1 Olh, allhe Omn; Park Plaza,
at 56th & 7th Ave. This will be a big show with the usual meeting of the
Clan in NY as most ancient dealers in the U.S. will be in attendance at the
famous ANCIENTS ALLEY. As this show traditionally signals the start of
the fall ancient coin season, I suggest you attend. We will be attending
the Joel Malter Auctions held in conjunction with this show and if you
Deed the co~ns independentry inspected , graded, and commented on,
as well as bid on , we suggest you give us a call. I think at this sale,
--
~onsidering the attendance, and competition, you would be very foolish
Indeed to try to rely on a book bid to secure your lot. Remember this is a
Fri. - Sun. show with ample near-by parking, and show hours from 10-6.
Moe and his pack of merry men have made this into a very important show
and we urge you to attend.
Long Beach Expo· The Fall Long Beach is Oct. 5-8th at the Long Beach
Convention Center (obviously in California). We will have table 356 at
our usual spot at the corner of the Ancient & Foreign Section. We will be
at the show but only through Saturday as we have to leave on
Sunday for COINEX in London.
COINEX (in London) - We will have a table at Coinex although r suspect
most of you won't attend. What will interest you is that there are a number
of auctions featuring ancient coins in conjunction with the show and will
be held by Spink, Sotheby, Christies, & Glendinings. For all European
auctions I urge you to use an auction representative as you often
can't tell a thing from the photos and most of the coins are simply not
photographed . We will be in attendance at all of the above mentioned
sales and will visually inspect, grade, and comment on any coins in which
you have a serious interest. Unfortunately we will have to decline
ridiculous bids Min case the coin goes cheapM because other than a major
cataclysm hitting London, which would probably cancel the auctions
anyways, this type of bidding is simply a waste of time to any dealer with
whom you decide to leave your bids.
In closing, I saw Wayne Sayles (Cefator head honcho) at the ANA and he
mentioned that The Back Page has provoked a great number of letters to
the editor (him) . Most he tells me are very pos~ive, which I am delighled
to hear, but with a few from people who simply can't figure out what The
Back Page is all about or why in fact ~ even exists. Well first of all it is
paid advertiSing, the backbone of any magazine or newspaper and if
the content slill escapes you, continue to read it - you may yet
catch on.
Rare Coins & Classical Arts Ltd.
"Specialists in Museum Quality Coins"
Member: ANA, ANS, SAN, AINA, INS, Fellow RNS
P.O. Box 374 P.O. Box 699
South Orange, NJ 07079 Palm Desert, CA 92261
Phone: (201) 761.0634 Phone: (619) 345-7161
 XXXVI

Harlan J. Berk, Ltd.

the HONGKONG INTERNATIONAL COIN SHOW, September 6-8, 1989
or our 59th BUY OR BID SALE (available soon)

---

- Detail of Paestum Kylix Krater close toAttie $16,()()()

Selections from our 59th Buy or Bid Sale with over 750 lots

PNG 178
31 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602
ANA· LM 762 (312)609·0017 FlLK(312) 609·1309