CHINA; Later Zhou (后周) Dynasty (Five Dynasties Period) CE 951-960

Shizong CE 954-959
AE Cash after CE 955

O: Zhou Yuan tong bao
R: plain

Sch. 414
H. 15.12

According to Hartill, these coins were cast from melted-down bronze statues from Buddhist temples. "When reproached for this, the Emperor uttered a gnomic saying to the effect that the Buddha would not mind this sacrifice. It is said that the Emperor himself supervised the casting at the many large furnaces at the back of the palace. The coins have amuletic properties because they were made from Buddhist statues, and are particularly effective in midwifery--hence the many later-made imitations." (Hartill, Cast Chinese Coins, p. 114)

CHINA; A Small Selection of Northern Song (北宋) Dynasty Cash CE 960-1127

Zhenzong CE 998-1022 

O: Xien Ping yuan bao  CE 998-1003
R: plain

Sch. 469
H. 16.43

Renzong CE 1022-1063

O: Huang Song tong bao CE 1039-1054
R: plain

H. 16.103

Yingzong CE 1064-1067

O: Zhi Ping yuan bao (clockwise Seal Script) CE 1064-1067
R: plain

H. 16.156

Shenzong CE 1068-1085

O: Yuan Feng tong bao (clockwise Running Script) CE 1078-1085
R: plain

H. 16.235

Zhezong CE 1086-1101

O: Yuan You tong bao (clockwise Seal Script) CE 1086-1093
R: plain

H. 16.261

CHINA/Yuan Dynasty (元朝) CE 1279-1368

                                 

Wuzong (Khaishan) CE 1308-1311
Zhi Da tong bao 1310-1311  
AE cash 3.58g, 23mm
H-19.39, S-1098, FD 1723 

Ex: Arthur Hummel Sr (1884-1975) Collection

Amb Arthur Hummel Jr (1920-2001) Collection

Find a quick bio re Khaishan here

ISLAMIC/Ilkhanid; Arghun AH 683-690 / CE1284-1291

AR Dirham, 22 mm, 2.43g, Tabriz mint, AH 684/CE 1285-1286.

Album 2146

O: shahada in square, mint above.
R: Uighur inscription, with Arghun in Arabic at the bottom field.

image obtained from: http://altaycoins.com/makaledetay.asp?dil=Mg==&id=MjI=
This site provides an excellent intro to Ilkhan coins and how to read them if you don't already know how.

The Uighur inscription indicates that this coin has been struck under the authority of Arghun Khan. The Great Khan at this time who is unnamed here is Kublai Khan CE 1260-1294.

IRAN/Sassanian; Shapur II CE 309-379

AR Drachm, 24 mm, 3.28 g, nd nm legible Gobl 102

O: bust right in merlon crown Pahlavi inscription around.
R: fire altar surmounted by bust of Ahura Mazda in flames with attendants on either side.
inscription on altar and to either side of attendants.

Ex: FSR MBS 84 lot 424 (April 2012)

China/Northern Song (北宋) Dynasty; Zhezong CE 1086-1100

AE large Cash, Yuan Fu era CE 1098-1100 seal script

H. 16.335, FD 1010, S 604

O: Yuan Fu tong bao
R: plain

purchased at the LanSu Chinese Garden, Portland OR in 2013

CHINA/Ming (明) Dynasty; Emperor Sizong (Chongzhen) CE 1628-1644

AE Cash
Hartill 20.292
S. 1226-1229 v

O: Chong Zhen tong bao
R: plain

Purchased at China Treasury Antique Gallery, 61, Shamian Main St., Guangzhou, PRC for RMB 10 (USD 1.22) in 2002.

Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus IX Philopator c. BCE 114/3-96/5

AR Hemidrachm, 1.82 g, 13 mm, 12h, Antioch mint, c. BCE 96/5

SC 2371,  Hoover 1241 (R2)

O: diademed hd of Antiochus IX r, clean shaven, diadem ends falling straight behind, dotted border.

R: [ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ AN]TIOXOY in two lines on r., [ΦΙ]ΛΟΠATPOPOΣ on l., Nike advancing l., holding wreath. Controls E/A/Π outer l., field.

Germany; DDR 1949-1990 (25h Mauerfall)

German Democratic Republic 1969, 5 mark Commemorative for 20th anniv of the DDR
29 mm, mintage 50,222,000, Nickel Bronze (10% Ni 90% Cu)
KM#22.1

ISLAMIC/’Abbasid Governors; al-‘Abbas b. Muhammad c. AH 130's-140's

AE Fals 20 mm, 5.19 g, 3h, al-Jazira (modern Iraq) mint, c.AH 143 (c. CE 760-761) undated

Album 304

O: Within circle, la ilah / illa Allah / wahdahu(“There is no god but Allah alone”); in margin, amara al-amir al-‘Abbas bin Muhammad ‘azz Allah nasrahu(“Ordered by the amir al-‘Abbas bin Muhammad, may his victories be the glory of Allah”); outer circle.

R: Within circle, Muhammad / rasul / Allah (“Muhammad is the apostle of Allah”); pellet above first line; in margin, bismillah duriba hadhal-fils bi’l-Jazira (“In the name of Allah was struck this fals of al-Jazira”).

al-'Abbas b. Muhammad was appointed Governor of al-Jazira by Caliph al-Mansur

Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus VII BCE 138-129

AE 20 mm, 5.6 g, 12h, Sidon mint, SE 180/BCE 133-132

SC 2105.1 v

O: diad and draped bust of Antiochus VII r., diad ends falling straight behind, dotted border.

R: [ΣΙΔΩΝΟΣ]/ΘEA[Σ] in two lines on l., L’Sidonim in Phoenician curving on r., Astarte stg l., on prow, l., holding aphlaston and naval trophy, dotted border.

Date on r., ΠΡ

Obv. Controls behind head not visible on this example. 

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

AE 18 mm, 5.33 g, 10h, Tyre mint, SE 

SC 1968.4

O: diad hd of Demetrius II r, diad ends falling straight behind, dotted border.

R: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY in two lines in upper field, TYPIΩΝ L’Tsur (Of Tyre in Phoenician) in two lines in ex., stern of galley l., date LOP above, No controls.

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

AE 20 mm, 5.91 g, 12h, Tyre mint, SE 168/BCE 145-144

SC 1968.2

Newell Tyre, 100

O: diad hd of Demetrius II r, diad ends falling straight behind, dotted border.

R: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY in two lines in upper field, TYPIΩΝ L’Tsur (Of Tyre in Phoenician) in two lines in ex., stern of galley l., date LHΞP above, No controls.

Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus III BCE 223-187

AE 13 mm, 3,86 g, 12h, Sardes mint possibly after BCE 197

SC 983.6

WSM 1438, plt. lix, 15

O: laur hd of Apollo r, with corkscrew curls. 

R: [BΑ]ΣΙΛΕΩΣ on r and [A]NTIOXOY on l., Apollo stg l., testing arrow and resting elbow on tall tripod.

No controls. 

Ex: "D.Alighieri" Collection

Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus III BCE 223-187

AE 12 x 14 mm, 2.15 g, 12h, ΔΕ/Λ mint associated with Antioch, possibly before BCE 211

SC 1064B

WSM 1195

O: laur hd of Apollo r, dotted border.

R: [BΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ] on r and ANTIOXOY on l., Apollo stg l., testing arrow and resting l. hand on grounded bow. ΔΕ/Λ Primary control outer l., above.

Ι(long serifs) secondary control outer l., below.

Islamic/Ayyubid; Salah ad-Din al-Ayyubi "Saladin" CE 1169-1193

AE Fals, 4.27g, Damascus mint AH 587/CE 1191-1192

Balog 147

O: al-Malik/an-Nasir with fleur de lis above al-Malik and a crescent above an-Nasir
around the date of which only "500" can be clearly read.

based on the ornaments, this is clearly Balog 147

R: Yusuf/bin Ayyub in center and around duriba bi-Dimashq "struck at Damascus" 

England/Plantagenet; John Lackland CE 1199-1216

AR Cut Short Cross Penny c. CE 1207-1216

O: [HEN]RICVS RE[X]  5b type

R: short cross ILGER O[N LVNDE]

SCBC 1351

North 976/1 var.

The long awaited last volume of RCV will be available from mid-December 2014

Roman Coins & Their Values Vol. 5

The eagerly and long anticipated fifth volume in David Sear’s Roman Coins and their Values series will be available from mid December 2014.

This fifth volume contains a comprehensive listing of the Roman coinage of the period CE 337—491 together with background information on the history of each reign and the principal characteristic of its coinage. The catalogue is organised primarily by ruler with the issues then subdivided by denomination and by reverse legend and type.
Contains clear black and white photographs and up to date values for VF and EF coins, in both UK sterling and US dollars. An excellent addition to the series, and a valuable reference for any collector of this period.

Please click on the link to be taken to the source of this text and a recommended dealer who is selling the text pre-publication.