Great timelapse video of the excavation
According to a note at Flickr, this was compiled from three days worth of photos.
20100708
UK treasure hunter finds 52,000 Roman coins
Yahoo coverage of Frome Hoard (with a few more pix but mostly covered in write up below)
or for even better coverage click on the link below to the PAS website for great coverage of this interesting and important find:
Portable Antiquities Scheme Article about the Frome Hoard with photos of the coins and excavation
LONDON – A treasure hunter has found about 52,500 Roman coins, one of the largest such finds ever in Britain, officials said Thursday.
The hoard, which was valued at 3.3 million pounds ($5 million), includes hundreds of coins bearing the image of Marcus Aurelius Carausius, who seized power in Britain and northern France in the late third century and proclaimed himself emperor.
Dave Crisp, a treasure hunter using a metal detector, located the coins in April in a field in southwestern England, according to the Somerset County Council and the Portable Antiquities Scheme.
The coins were buried in a large jar about a foot (30 centimeters) deep and weighed about 160 kilograms (350 pounds) in all.
Crisp said a "funny signal" from his metal detector prompted him to start digging.
"I put my hand in, pulled out a bit of clay and there was a little radial, a little bronze Roman coin — very, very small, about the size of my fingernail," Crisp said in an interview with the BBC.
He recovered about 20 coins before discovering that they were in a pot, and realized he needed expert help.
"Because Mr. Crisp resisted the temptation to dig up the coins it has allowed archaeologists from Somerset County Council to carefully excavate the pot and its contents, ensuring important evidence about the circumstances of its burial was preserved," said Anna Booth, of Somerset Council.
Somerset Coroner Tony Williams scheduled an inquest Thursday to formally determine whether the find is subject to the Treasure Act, a formal step toward determining a price to be paid by any institution which wishes to acquire the hoard.
The hoard is one of the largest ever found in Britain, and will reveal more about the nation's history in the third century, said Roger Bland, of the British Museum. The find includes more than 760 coins from the reign of Carausius, the Roman naval officer who seized power in 286 and ruled until he was assassinated in 293.
"The late third century A.D. was a time when Britain suffered barbarian invasions, economic crises and civil wars," Bland said.
"Roman rule was finally stabilized when the Emperor Diocletian formed a coalition with the Emperor Maximian, which lasted 20 years. This defeated the separatist regime which had been established in Britain by Carausius.
"This find presents us with an opportunity to put Carausius on the map. School children across the country have been studying Roman Britain for decades, but are never taught about Carausius our lost British emperor."
The discovery of the Roman coins follows last year's discovery of a hoard of Anglo-Saxon coins in central England. The so-called Staffordshire Hoard included more than 1,500 objects, mostly made from gold.
The Portable Antiquities Scheme is a department of the British Museum which deals with treasure finds.
or for even better coverage click on the link below to the PAS website for great coverage of this interesting and important find:
Portable Antiquities Scheme Article about the Frome Hoard with photos of the coins and excavation
UK treasure hunter finds 52,000 Roman coins
LONDON – A treasure hunter has found about 52,500 Roman coins, one of the largest such finds ever in Britain, officials said Thursday.
The hoard, which was valued at 3.3 million pounds ($5 million), includes hundreds of coins bearing the image of Marcus Aurelius Carausius, who seized power in Britain and northern France in the late third century and proclaimed himself emperor.
Dave Crisp, a treasure hunter using a metal detector, located the coins in April in a field in southwestern England, according to the Somerset County Council and the Portable Antiquities Scheme.
The coins were buried in a large jar about a foot (30 centimeters) deep and weighed about 160 kilograms (350 pounds) in all.
Crisp said a "funny signal" from his metal detector prompted him to start digging.
"I put my hand in, pulled out a bit of clay and there was a little radial, a little bronze Roman coin — very, very small, about the size of my fingernail," Crisp said in an interview with the BBC.
He recovered about 20 coins before discovering that they were in a pot, and realized he needed expert help.
"Because Mr. Crisp resisted the temptation to dig up the coins it has allowed archaeologists from Somerset County Council to carefully excavate the pot and its contents, ensuring important evidence about the circumstances of its burial was preserved," said Anna Booth, of Somerset Council.
Somerset Coroner Tony Williams scheduled an inquest Thursday to formally determine whether the find is subject to the Treasure Act, a formal step toward determining a price to be paid by any institution which wishes to acquire the hoard.
The hoard is one of the largest ever found in Britain, and will reveal more about the nation's history in the third century, said Roger Bland, of the British Museum. The find includes more than 760 coins from the reign of Carausius, the Roman naval officer who seized power in 286 and ruled until he was assassinated in 293.
"The late third century A.D. was a time when Britain suffered barbarian invasions, economic crises and civil wars," Bland said.
"Roman rule was finally stabilized when the Emperor Diocletian formed a coalition with the Emperor Maximian, which lasted 20 years. This defeated the separatist regime which had been established in Britain by Carausius.
"This find presents us with an opportunity to put Carausius on the map. School children across the country have been studying Roman Britain for decades, but are never taught about Carausius our lost British emperor."
The discovery of the Roman coins follows last year's discovery of a hoard of Anglo-Saxon coins in central England. The so-called Staffordshire Hoard included more than 1,500 objects, mostly made from gold.
The Portable Antiquities Scheme is a department of the British Museum which deals with treasure finds.
20100703
Link to Weber Plates
Here is the link to the plates for the Hermann Weber Collection texts that we linked to a while back. This link should now make the 3v online Weber complete. Just cut and paste.
http://people.virginia.edu/~jdk3t/WeberPlates/
http://people.virginia.edu/~jdk3t/WeberPlates/
20100702
Greece/Seleucid; Demetrius II Nikator BCE 129-125 (Second Reign)
AE 18 mm, 5.17 g, 12h, Beirut mint.
SC 2185, CSE 710 v, HSC 1135 (R2)
O: diad., hd r. beardless, diad ends falling straight behind (though obv is o/c), dotted border.
R: ΒΑ[ΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ] curving on r., in Phoenician script curving to left “Of Laodicea , mother (i.e. metropolis) in Canaan ”. Ba’al Berit (Poseidon) stg facing holding phiale and trident, dotted border. Rev. mintmark ΛA to l., and Phi with O above to right. With control in r. field above.
20100626
Greece/Seleucid; Demetrius II Nikator, Second Reign BCE 129-125
AE 18 mm, 2.97g., 12h, Tyre mint, SE 184=BCE 129/8
SC 2199.1, Newell Tyre 183, HSC 1142 (R2)
O: diad., draped bust r, beardless, dotted border.
R: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ in two lines above, Phoenician "L'Tsur" in ex., ship's ram l., dotted border, Date in ex on l., ΔΠΡ, Mint mark monogram of TYP above ram and IEP AΣ, Symbol behind ram Palm Branch.
Ex: Amphora (David Hendin) via Forum. Likely found in Israel.
20100617
Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus VI Epiphanes Dionysos BCE 144-142/1
AE 18 mm, 7.59 g, 11h, perhaps Chalcis
SC 2017b, HSC 1049 (R2)
O: rad and diad., hd r. diad ends waving up behind behind, dotted border.
R: BAΣIΛΕΩΣ/ ANTIOXOY in two lines on the r., EΠΙΦANOYΣ/ ΔIONYΣOY in two lines on the l., cantharus.
Symbol (inner r.) Palm branch
Control in ex: AP
(coin is much nicer in hand than depicted in photo. The actual patina is greenish black)
20100616
Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus IX Cyzicenus BCE 114/3-95
SC 2352c, HSC 1246 (S-R1)
O: diad. Hd of king with short, curly beard, diad ends falling straight behind, dotted border.
R: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY in two lines on r., ΦΙΛΟΠATPOPOΣ on l., Dionysus stg l., holding cantharus and thyrsus.
Primary control: (outer left above) E
Secondary control: (outer left below) Pi with serif and semi-circle over it.
20100615
Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus VII Sidetes BCE 138-129
AE 10 mm, 1.36 g, Antioch
SC 2069, HSC 1106 (R1)
O: Ships ram left.
R: [ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ] ANTIOXOY, Pilei surmounted by stars.
20100605
Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus III BCE 223-187
SC 1265, SNG Spaer 799v, ESM 619, HSC 484 (R2)
O: diad., hd r. often of crude style with incipient baldness at temple, dotted border. North to south die shift.
R: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ above ANTIOXOY below, horse grazing l., controls on left and right.
Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus IV Epiphanes BCE 175-164
AE 21 mm, 4.84 g, 12h, Beirut mint, c. BCE 168-164
SC 1449.4, SNG Spaer 1077, HSC 664 (R2)
O: rad., diad., hd r. one diad end flying up behind and the other falling forward over shoulder, dotted border. Obv. Control behind hd CI
R: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY curving on r., in Phoenician script curving to left “Of Laodicea , mother (i.e. metropolis) in Canaan ”. Ba’al Berit (Poseidon) stg facing holding phiale and trident, dotted border. Rev. mintmark ΛA to l., and Phi with O above to right.
20100527
NDE methods for evaluating ancient coins could be worth their weight in gold
Demonstrating that chemistry sometimes can inform history, researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Colorado College and Mount Saint Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Md., have shown that sensitive nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques can be used to determine the elemental composition of ancient coins, even coins that generally have been considered too corroded for such methods*. Along the way, the researchers' analysis of coins minted in ancient Judea has raised new questions about who ruled the area while giving insight into trading patterns and industry in the region.
Elemental and isotope analysis of the metals in ancient artifacts sometimes can pinpoint the places where the metal was mined, because ores in a given region often have a unique composition. This can be combined with historical records of when mines in the area were operating to determine when the coin was likely struck. The results not only help date the coin, but also offer insight into trade and power relationships in the region.
To compare the effectiveness of various nondestructive analytical methods with destructive methods often used to determine the age and origin of ancient coins, the group studied coins minted by Kings Herod Agrippa I and Agrippa II in what is modern day Palestine and Israel, a biblically and historically significant period.
The vast numbers of a particular coin, a prutah, found in the archaeological record has led scholars to disagree about when they were struck and by whom. The provenance of the coin is important because it is used to establish dates for places and events in the early years of Christianity and the onset of the Jewish War (66-70 CE) against the Romans and the Diaspora that followed.
To better establish whether the coins were minted by Agrippa I (41-45 CE) or Agrippa II (after 61 CE), the team performed X-ray fluorescence and lead isotope analysis to fingerprint the ores used in the production of the coins. These NDE methods are not commonly used on corroded coins because the corrosion can affect the results—in some cases making it difficult to get a result at all. The team showed that these problems could be overcome using polarizing optics and powerful new software for X-ray fluorescence analysis, combined with careful calibration of the mass spectrometer using Standard Reference Materials from NIST**.
The lead isotope analysis, performed at NIST, showed that the coins that had been attributed to Agrippa I were indeed from that era. More interestingly, however, the group found that the copper from which the coins were made most likely came from mines that scholars thought hadn't been opened until a century later.
"All the archaeological evidence has thus far suggested that the Romans had moved into Arabia in the 2nd century CE," says Nathan Bower of Colorado College. "What this analysis shows is that the Romans may have reached the region earlier or found that these mines had already been opened. Either way, our findings suggest that the Romans had a much closer relationship with this particular region than scholars had previously thought."
To follow up on their research, the group is planning to perform more tests to determine if the mines in question may have been operating even earlier than their recent findings suggest.
** NIST's Common Lead Standard Reference Material, SRM 981, and Neodymium Standard Solution, SRM 3135a were used in the study.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-05/nios-nmf052710.php
Elemental and isotope analysis of the metals in ancient artifacts sometimes can pinpoint the places where the metal was mined, because ores in a given region often have a unique composition. This can be combined with historical records of when mines in the area were operating to determine when the coin was likely struck. The results not only help date the coin, but also offer insight into trade and power relationships in the region.
To compare the effectiveness of various nondestructive analytical methods with destructive methods often used to determine the age and origin of ancient coins, the group studied coins minted by Kings Herod Agrippa I and Agrippa II in what is modern day Palestine and Israel, a biblically and historically significant period.
The vast numbers of a particular coin, a prutah, found in the archaeological record has led scholars to disagree about when they were struck and by whom. The provenance of the coin is important because it is used to establish dates for places and events in the early years of Christianity and the onset of the Jewish War (66-70 CE) against the Romans and the Diaspora that followed.
To better establish whether the coins were minted by Agrippa I (41-45 CE) or Agrippa II (after 61 CE), the team performed X-ray fluorescence and lead isotope analysis to fingerprint the ores used in the production of the coins. These NDE methods are not commonly used on corroded coins because the corrosion can affect the results—in some cases making it difficult to get a result at all. The team showed that these problems could be overcome using polarizing optics and powerful new software for X-ray fluorescence analysis, combined with careful calibration of the mass spectrometer using Standard Reference Materials from NIST**.
The lead isotope analysis, performed at NIST, showed that the coins that had been attributed to Agrippa I were indeed from that era. More interestingly, however, the group found that the copper from which the coins were made most likely came from mines that scholars thought hadn't been opened until a century later.
"All the archaeological evidence has thus far suggested that the Romans had moved into Arabia in the 2nd century CE," says Nathan Bower of Colorado College. "What this analysis shows is that the Romans may have reached the region earlier or found that these mines had already been opened. Either way, our findings suggest that the Romans had a much closer relationship with this particular region than scholars had previously thought."
To follow up on their research, the group is planning to perform more tests to determine if the mines in question may have been operating even earlier than their recent findings suggest.
###
* M. Epstein, D. Hendin, L. Yu, and N. Bower. Chemical attribution of corroded coins using X-ray fluorescence and lead isotope ratios: A case study from first century Judaea. Applied Spectroscopy, Vol. 64, Issue 4, pp. 384-390 (2010).** NIST's Common Lead Standard Reference Material, SRM 981, and Neodymium Standard Solution, SRM 3135a were used in the study.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-05/nios-nmf052710.php
20100520
Roman (Britain) / Constantine II, as Caesar CE 317-337
AE 3/ Reduced Follis (20 mm, 3.26 g) London mint, c. CE 317
RIC VII 117 London (R3)
O : FL CL CONSTANTINVS IVN N C, laur., draped bust r.
R: SOLI INVIC-TO COMITI/S-P in field/ PLN in ex.
Ex: J.S. Vogelaar (1949-2010) Collection
Ex: CNG EA 204, portion lot 384 (11 Feb 2009)
not my normal interest or purchase despite the fact that I have acquired a modest collection of London mint items over the years. The big motivation for this acquisition was Lee Toone's article about Vogelaar in the May 2010 issue of the The Celator.
According to Lee Toone the following additional information was provided about this piece:
"Vogelaar only had one example of this coin. It was bought from a British dealer called Cherry (I forget his first name) on 16th October 1990 for £11 ($21.35 US at time-JG) - Vogelaar #198. One of his earlier purchases."
20100508
Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus X Eusebes Philopator c. BCE 94-probably c. 88
AR Tetradrachm; 27 mm, 14.82 g, Antioch mint, Second reign 93/2-probably c. 88 BCE
SC 2434.1, CSE 379, SNG Spaer 2788, HSC 1288 (S)
O: diad. Hd of Antiochus X r, without sideburn diadem ends falling straight behind, fillet border.
R: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOV in two lines on r. EVΣEBOVΣ ΦΙΛOΠATOPOΣ in two lines on the l., Zeus enthroned l., one upright shown, holding Nike and scepter, laurel wreath border.
Primary controls outer left, secondary under throne.
ANXL
20100426
Apologies
I haven't posted in a few weeks due to my being out of the country, though now I am back and will do my best to start posting again.
I had been in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro and parts of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais States. I saw a couple nice collections of world as well as more specifically Brazilian coin collections at museums in my travels. I may post more about these later. There were a few ancients in the mix though these were just provided as examples of earlier coinage.
For now I need to relax having just come back.
The ruins of the Casa da Moeda (Mint) in Rio at the Paço Imperial. It was found during the restoration work there and dates from 1699-1814 when it was in use.
Brazil Colonial; AE 40 Reis 1753 issued during the reign of Jose I. (28.75 g., 40 mm) KM 184 ex: DPL Numismatica, Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil Colonial; 80 Reis, 1809, ND. KM290.1 Host Date 1796 ex HJB
Brazil Empire; Dom Pedro II AR 500 Reis 1865, KM 464
-->Brazil Colonial; João as Prince Regent, Rio de Janeiro mint 1816. KM 307.3, overstruck on 8 Reales of Charles IV (1788-1808) of Spain minted in Mexico City (mintmark visible at 6 o'clock on obs.)
Brazil Empire; Dom Pedro I; 1824-R on 1817 (Under type is a Spain 8 Reales of Ferdinand VII from 1817 probably KM 466.3 or 466.4 but likely the more common Madrid mint), KM 368.1, apparently struck over already holed coin (?) according to dealer.
Brazil Empire; D. Pedro II, AR 2000 Reis 1888, KM 485.
Brazil Colonial; João VI, 1820-R, 10 Reis, KM 314.1
Brazil Empire; D. Pedro II, 1000 Rs., 1878 mintage 47,000
I had been in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro and parts of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais States. I saw a couple nice collections of world as well as more specifically Brazilian coin collections at museums in my travels. I may post more about these later. There were a few ancients in the mix though these were just provided as examples of earlier coinage.
For now I need to relax having just come back.
(below) Brazil Colonial; João IV 1640-1656, AR 200 Reis c/m 250 in Brazil 1663. This piece is ex: the shipwreck of the Santíssimo Sacramento, a Portuguese galleon that ran aground and sank with the loss of 400 lives in May 1668 in the Baía de Todos os Santos, Brazil. Salvage took place in 1976.
Brazil Empire; D. Pedro II, AR 2000 Reis 1888, KM 485.
Brazil Colonial; João VI, 1820-R, 10 Reis, KM 314.1
Brazil Colonial; 40 Reis, 1809 ND, KM 278.3, Host date 1735 20 Reis
20100322
the Numismatist April 2010 issue
My article about the Bar Kokhba Zuz I acquired a few years ago was published in the latest issue of the Numismatist. If you'd like to see the info about the coin go directly to http://tinyurl.com/yhvrppd.
If you are not a member of the ANA and don't get to see the magazine but would like to receive a copy of the article, please email me at yofijr@hotmail.com to receive a copy by email.
If you'd like to become a member of the ANA, go here
http://tinyurl.com/ydqy2vy to explore the possibilities.
20100321
Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus III BCE 222-187
AE 13 mm, 2.32 g, Sardes mint.
SC 977.1, HSC 517 (R1-R2), WSM 1112, pl. xxxi, 10
O: Laureate hd of Apollo r., with hair knotted in krobylos behind, long wavy locks falling loose on neck. fillet border.
R: ΒΑΣΙ[ΛΕΩΣ] (above.) ANTIOX[OY] (below.) elephant l., with trunk draped over tusk.
controls none visible.
Ex: D. Alighieri Collection
Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus III BCE 222-187
AE 15 mm, 3.53 g, Sardes mint.
SC 983 v, HSC 518 (R1-R2), WSM 1435, SNG Spaer 490
O: Laureate hd of Apollo r., with corkscrew curls.
R: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ (on r.) ANTIOXOY (on l.) Apollo stg l., testing arrow and resting elbow on tall tripod.
controls none visible.
Ex: D. Alighieri Collection
Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus II Theos BCE 261-246
AE 14 mm, 2.08 g, Sardes mint.
SC 528.8 or .9, HSC 278 (R1-R2)
O: Laureate hd of Apollo r., with long wavy locks or loose spiral curls flowing down the back of neck, sometimes with tight roll beneath wreath.
R: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ (on r.) ANTIOXOY (on l.) kithara usually with symbol (in this case an anchor) below facing r.
controls on outer r. and l.
Ex: D. Alighieri Collection
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