Greece/Seleucid; Demetrius II Second Reign, BCE 129-125

AR Tetradrachm, 28 mm, 13.86 g., 12h, Tyre mint, SE 186=BCE 127/6

SC 2195.4b, Newell Tyre 173

O: diad., draped bust r, beardless, dotted border.

R: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ (curving) on r., ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ on l., eagle stg l on ship’s ram, palm branch under far wing, dotted border.

Mintmarks: A/PE above club surmounted by monogram TYP in l. field and AΣin r. field above with date CΠΡ

Control, between eagle’s legs, monogram ΓΗΡ

Greece/Seleucid; Demetrius III Eucaerus BCE 97/6-88/7

AE 20 mm, 5.63 g, Damascus mint, SE 217=BCE 96/5

SC 2455.1

O: diad. hd of Demetrius r, bearded, dotted border.

R: BACIΛΕΩC ΔHMHTPIOV ΘEOV in three lines on r., ΦΙΛΟΠATOPOC CΩTHPOC in two lines on l., Hermes stg facing holding palm and caduceus, dotted border.

Controls on outer left one above and one below and HΔ monogram in ex. on rt. date on l., in ex. ΖΙΣ

Hermann Weber Collection in 3 Volumes

The three volume set of the Sir Hermann Weber Collection is available via the Internet Archive and can be found on the left side of this page under links. The volumes are all complete except for the plates which are unfortunately not included.

Without the plates these books are an interesting curiosity more so than a resource. If the plates are added in the future I will upload links to those as well.

Vol. I. Introduction: [Notes culled from "Autobiographical reminiscences of Sir Hermann Weber... " London, Priv. print., 1919] Auriol find class. Hispania. Gallia. Britannia. Italy and Sicily. --

Vol. II. Macedon. Thrace. Thessaly. North western, central and southern Greece. --

Vol. III. pt. I. Asia: Bosporus. Colchis. Pontus. Paphlagonia. Bythynia. Mysia. Troas. Aeolis. Lesbos. Ionia. Caria. Lydia.

Vol. III. pt. II. Asia: Phrygia. Lycia. Pamphylia. Pisidia. Cilicia. Cyprus. Galatia. Cappadocia. Syria. Phoenicia. Palestine. Arabia. Mesopotamia. Persia. Persis. Characene. Bactria. Africa: Egypt. Cyrenaica. Libya. Zeugitana. Islands between Africa and Sicily. Numidia. Mauretania. Incerta

Jacob Hirsch Auction Catalogues Available

For those of you interested in old auction catalogues, Google Books has provided four classic catalogues for us to utilize without ever leaving the comfort of our homes. Please note the links on the far left side of this page, which will take you to the respective catalogues.

As more become available we will create links to those as well.

The most important of the four is the Rhousopoulos Auction catalogue from 1905 that sells when available for US$1,200 or more. Now it is available complete with plates for only the time it takes to locate the link.

I wish to thank Ed Snible's site http://digitalhn.blogspot.com/ for first posting this information.

Greece/Seleucid; Demetrius II (First Reign) BCE 146-138

AE 14 mm, 2.10 g, Tyre mint, SE 167=BCE 146-145

SC 1970.1, SNG Spaer 1680-1682 v.

O : diad. Hd of Demetrius r., diadem ends falling straight behind, dotted border.

R: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ curving on r., ΔHMHTPIOY curving on l., palm tree dotted border

Date across field; ΙΞ--P

Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus I Soter BCE 280-261, in the name of Seleucus I

AR Tetradrachm, 28 mm, 16.73 g, Laodicea ad mare mint

SC 357.8 (this coin)

O: hd of young Herakles r. in lion skin headdress, dotted border. (weak obs. Strike)

R: ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ on r., BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ in ex. Zeus enthroned l., holding eagle and scepter, dotted border. Mintmark on left above, Dolphin l., controls on left below and beneath throne.

Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus X Eusebes Philopator c. BCE 94-probably 88

AE 21 mm, 8.29 g., 12h, Unattributed Issue of Northern Syria, First reign, c. BCE 94.

SC 2427 variety, Babelon 1532 variety (control) NEW VARIETY with inscription in ex.

O: Diademed hd of Antiochus X r. with fringe of curly beard, diadem ends falling straight behind.
Dotted border.

R: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOV in two lines on r. EVΣEBOVΣ ΦΙΛOΠATOPOΣ in two lines on the l., pilei of Dioscuri, each diademed and surmounted by star. PK monogram C control.

New inscription convention horizontally in ex note enlargement below (this is not an overstrike):


Acquisition: 2009

Greece/Armenia; Tigranes II ‘the Great’. 95-56 BCE

Æ Half Chalkous (4.8 g, 18 mm, 12h). Tigranakert mint. Struck 69-55 BC.

M&D 44; CAA 101 corr.; AC 66

O:Draped bust right, wearing five-pointed Armenian tiara decorated with star between two eagles

R: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ BAΣΙΛΕΩN [TIΓPANOY], Herakles-Vahagn standing slightly left, holding club set on ground and lion skin; Δ-H across inner field.

The Δ-H controls appear on a tetradrachm of Antioch during his occupation of the Seleucid capital, so perhaps this coin may have also been struck during that time, since it shares the same controls...though the tet also has an M in the lower inner left.

Indo-Greek; Menander BCE 160-145

AR Drachm, 17 mm, 2.38g, -------- mint?

M. ---; Bopearachchi ----

OBS: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΟΤΗΡΟΥ MENANΔΡΟΥ Diad. Bust of Menander rt. Inscription around

REV: Kharoshthi legend “Menadrasa Maharajasa Tratarasa”

Monograms.

Athena left.

Greece/Seleucid; Demetrius II BCE 129-125

AE 17 mm, 5.97 g, 1h, Antioch mint BCE 129-128.

SC 2170.1g, SNG Spaer 2171

O: laureate hd of Zeus r., dotted border

R: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY in two lines on the r., ΘEOY NIKATOPOΣ in two lines on l., Nike adv l., holding wreath and palm branch.

Controls: Ξ inner left, palm branch lower left

Greece/Ptolemaic Egypt; Ptolemy I Soter BCE 305-282

AE Hemiobol 15 mm, 4.2 g Tyre mint, Struck after 294 or 289/8 BCE

Svoronos 630 (Ptolemy II); Weiser -; SNG Copenhagen -; Cox, Excavations at Curium, ANSNNM 145, 73 (Ptolemy II); Lorber, “Ptolemaic Bronze Coinage of Tyre”, INJ 16, p. 14, 1

O: Diademed head of Alexander right

R: ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings displayed; in left field, club and monogram ΠΑ

Bar-Kochba Treasure Chest Discovered in Judean Hills

Examples of coins found in this hoard (top 3 and bottom left are Bar Kokhba era, bottom center is a coin of Hadrian [Gaza?] and an aureus of Tiberius)

Here's the link: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/133354 or another with similar info (and less hyperbole):
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090909095100.htm

Here is the J'lem Post's coverage: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1251804529782

I would also post Ha'aretz' but their coverage was very poor and included horribly incorrect info such as the hoard included Roman gold coins "minted in Israel as well as throughout the Roman Empire." Perhaps the reporter needed space filler knowing that the average reader wouldn't fact check, just like the Ha'aretz editor.

Great pix of some of the coins found in situ and after cleaning (in the first article posted). Other than a couple statements verging on hyperbole, the article is generally OK, though it may be the largest find of the period found by archaeologists, not the largest if private finds are considered and one consults Mildenberg.

"Prof. Frumkin pointed out the significance of the particular cave, near the site of ancient Beitar, which was the site of the “last stand” of the rebels led by Bar-Kochba in their struggle against Roman rule in Judea from 132-35 CE. "

Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus VII Sidetes BCE 138-129

AR Tetradrachm, 30 mm, 16.74 g, Antioch mint.

SC 2061.1m, SMA 275

O: diad., hd of Antiochus VII r., diadem ends falling straight behind, fillet border.

R: BAΣΙΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOV in two lines on r., EVEPΓETOV on l., Athena stg l resting l hand on grounded shield and extending r beyond royal epithet, where she supports Nike l. extending wreath into border spear standing vertical behind her, laurel wreath border.

Primary control in monogram (outer l above): ΔΙ
Secondary controls (outer l below): AI

Greece/Seleucid; Alexander II Zabinas BCE 128-122

AR Drachm, 15 mm, 4.14 g, Antioch mint

SC 2221.3a, SMA 342, CSE 306

O: diad hd of Alexander II r., diadem ends falling straight behind, dotted border.
R: BAΣΙΛEΩΣ on r., AΛEΞANΔPOY on l., filleted double cornucopiae oriented to r.

Primary control in mongram of HΔP inner l. above.
Secondary control inner l., below: Δ

Greece/Seleucid; Seleucus VI Epiphanes Nicator BCE c. 96-94

AR Hemidrachm, 13.9 mm, 1.741 g, Antioch mint, BCE 95-94

SC 2419, CSE 376 (obs die link with this coin)

O: diademed hd of Seleucus VI r, with short curly beard, diadem ends falling straight behind dotted border.

R: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛΕVΚOV in two lines on r., NIKATOPOΣ in two lines on l., filleted double cornucopiae, oriented to r.

Primary control (outer l.): PK monogram above A
Secondary control (between fillet and cornucopiae tip): C

It appears that SC is incorrect in referencing SC 2419 with CSE 367, when 367 is clearly SC 2420 and the coin illustrated for SC 2419 in the SC plates is actually CSE 376.

Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus VI Dionysus BCE 144-142

AE 19 mm, 4.32 g., Marisa (Maresha) mint

SC 2028.1, SNG Spaer 2111v, CSE 830, Babelon 700

O: laureate hd of Apollo r., hair knotted at back, wavy locks escaping down neck, dotted border.

R: [ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ] on r., ANTIOXOY on l., Tyche stg r., in profile, extending r. hand with phiale(?) and holding cornucopiae over shoulder, dotted border.

Controls (inner l.):
H
Δ
Λ
M

Ex: Ira Ettinger Collection

Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus VIII BCE 121-96

AR Tetradrachm, 28 mm, 15.64 g, 12h, Antioch mint (third reign) BCE 109-96

SC 2309.2e; SMA 408

O: diad., hd r, diadem ends falling straight behind, fillet border.

R: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOV in two lines on r., EΠΙΦANOVΣ on l., Zeus enthroned l., holding Nike and resting on sceptre, laurel and wreath border.

Primary control outer l: P/E above A
Secondary control under throne

EX: CNG EA 213 (01 July 2009), portion of lot 581, CNG noted that all coins had find patinas. All were average VF.

Medieval English Coins with interesting provenances

Not quite my usual post, though I have always had a weakness for interesting stories and these are examples for sure:


Henry III (1216-1272), Penny, 1.44g., Voided Long Cross Coinage, Class 3b, (1248-1250), London - Nicole, crowned facing bust of Henry, i.m. star, HENRICVS REX III, rev., voided long cross with trefoil of pellets in each angle, NICOLE ON LVND, (N.987; S.1363)

Provenance: Old Spink stock ticket in the hand of Douglas G. Liddell (1918/9-2003, see info below).
Ex Stepengley/Steppingley Church Hoard, Bedfordshire, September 1912.

(deposition c. CE 1270 according to Michael Dolley & W.A. Seaby “The Anomalous Long Cross Coins in the Anglo-Irish Portion of the Brussels Hoard” p. 294, Mints, Dies and Currency: Essays Dedicated to the Memory of Albert Baldwin By R. A. G. Carson, 2006)

Hoard consisted of 518 coins (2 Short Cross, 485 Voided Long Cross, 13 Irish Voided Long Cross, 16 Scottish Voided Long Cross and Stars, 2 Lippe Sterling imitations), found in the Church of St. Lawrence at Steppingley, (Thompson Directory #342, also NC 1914).




Tomb of Henry III at Westminster Abbey


St Lawrence Church , Steppingley

The church of St. Lawrence, rebuilt in 1860 by the Duke of Bedford and the rector, is a building of local sandstone in the Early Decorated and Perpendicular styles, consisting of chancel, nave, north aisle and a tower containing 4 bells : it is seated with open oak benches for 240 persons. The register dates from 1562, but is continuous only from 1647.

13th Century: The church consisted of a chancel, nave, north and south porches and west tower. It was said to be the smallest church in the county. The Gentleman's Magazine of 1849 said "it is probably the smallest in the county with a low tower not rising above the neighbouring hayricks."


1858-60: The east wall of the chancel collapses and brings down most of the church with it. The Duke of Bedford agreed to rebuild the church and commissioned Henry Clutton. Work began in December 1858 and the new church was opened on the 19th October 1860.

1912: During restoration work on the church a hoard of 13th century silver coins were found beneath the chancel floor.

from: http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.digitised_resources/steppingly_timeline.htm


from: Lawrence, L.A. & Brooke, G.C. “The Steppingley Find of English Coins” Numismatic Chronicle 1914 (page. 60)[ full article pp. 60-76]

Douglas G. Liddell (1918/9-2003)

Mr Liddell was a former Managing Director of Spink and one of the biggest influences in British Numismatics, from his induction into Spink in 1946 right through to retirement in December 1987. He was made a Director of the company on the 1st June 1965 and Managing Director from 1977.

www.spink.com/news/newsletters/2003/200305coin_news.asp

****************************************************************

Henry VI, first reign 1422-1461

AR Groat, 25 mm, 3.4 g, Calais mint Annulet issue 1422-1427

North 1424; SCBC 1836

O: Crowned facing bust in tressure of arches; pine cone stops, +HENRIC' DI' GRA' REX ANGLIE Z FRANC

R: Long cross; three pellets in each quarter. VILLA CALISIE, double saltire stops, POSVI DEVM ADIVTORE MEVM

Auction notes: Near Fine, toned

Ex: Reigate Hoard (closed after 1455 likely during the War of the Roses), 1990

Ex: Glendining & Co, 8 December 1992

Ex: VAuctions 237, lot 85 (closed 19 November 2009)

THE REIGATE HOARD OF
ENGLISH SILVER

In 1985 Roger Minty took up metal detecting and living in Reigate already knew of a hoard of 987 medieval coins which had been discovered there in 1972. For five years Roger carried on his hobby finding the usual everyday items such as musket balls, buttons, rings and various other items. On Saturday 22nd September 1990 Roger had two hours to kill before it went dark and so decided to go to a nearby field. A medieval trackway ran about 50 yards away and as the field was shortly to be developed, Roger felt it was worth 'one last go'. Almost as soon as he started detecting Roger picked up a massive signal but thought his detector had gone out of tune. He retuned the machine and moved on. After an hour or so he'd found nowt but junk and found himself over the massive signal again. This time he decided to dig the signal, it was going dark and he didn't have time for more detecting anyway. Six inches down he encountered hard cracked clay and carefully removed two blocks. He removed more earth and bits of pottery then found two medieval groats. Pulling away at the pottery in the hole revealed masses of coins stacked vertically in concentric circles at the botom of the hole. It was a medieval coin hoard. By 10.45 pm that night Roger had a heavy bucketful of medieval coins, silver and gold, containing about 2500 coins! Roger and the local archaeologist spent all the next day digging and checking the hole. In all they retrieved 6,701 coins, 135 gold and the rest silver. The hoard dated from 1272 to 1455 (as did the 1972 hoard) and contained gold nobles, half-nobles and quarters and silver groats, half-groats and pennies. It is the largest post-1351 UK hoard on record. One coin, a Henry 6th Leaf Trefoil half-noble, was previously unrecorded. Also in the hoard were 10 French gold saluts, 21 Scottish silver coins and 6 other non-English issues.

Source:
http://www.whites.co.uk/component/story/title/the-reigate-hoard.html