Well, I received a shipment of coins today. Five coins to be exact. And all of them from Pantikapaion. Some are in better condition than others, all are different, and they all cost me $28 shipped from the same dealer. I hope this is not Pantikapaion overload; THRACE, PANTIKAPAION AE18 OBVERSE: Head of Pan left REVERSE: P-A-N, head & neck of bull three-quarters left. Struck at Pantikapaion 400-300BC 4.0g, 18mm SNG BMC Black Sea 890 THRACE, PANTIKAPAION AE16 Dichalkon OBVERSE: Beardless head of satyr Pan right, with ear of ass REVERSE: Forepart of Pegasos right Struck at Pantikapaion 310--304/3 BC 3.0g, 16mm SNG BMC Black Sea 872 THRACE, PANTIKAPAION AE20 OBVERSE: Head of Pan left REVERSE: Roaring lion's head left; fish below. S truck at Pantikapaion 400-300BC 5.0g, 20mm SNG BMC Black Sea 883 THRACE, PANTIKAPAION AE12 OBVERSE: Beardless head of Pan right REVERSE: Bow in case, inscription PAN above, TI below Struck at Pantikapaion 400-300BC 1.3g, 12mm SNGCop 50 THRACE, PANTIKAPAION AE18 OBVERSE: Head of Pan left REVERSE: Bow and arrow Struck at Pantikapaion 400-300BC 4.4g, 18mm SNG BMC Black Sea 894
These Pantikapaion coins have been growing on me lately. I would really love that set, and what a great price you got them for!
Thanks for the comments. This makes 6 coins from this region in my collection. I posted them in the order of the ones I find most pleasing. Interesting that Pantikapaion is now in the modern day Crimea which is in the news here of late. Yes, I thought about attempting to clean this coin, but my skills are rather rusty (pun). I may give it a go in the near future. Yeah, how could I pass on such a deal. The dealer said he has more of the same, but this is enough for me for the time being.
Mmmmm, PAN ... Obviously Bing, your incredible thrift-skills have scored you another awesome winner deal!! (congrats ... outstanding purchase)
I'll add coins shown before showing one of Bing's types with countermarks on both sides. These once sold for a lot more than they do now. In 1991, I bought a pair showing the original and contemporary cast copies found together in a hoard. Not long ago, I upgraded the struck one and sold the original original for a considerable loss. It is a fine example of a coin that lost half its value in 20 years. I have no idea of the purpose of the star/bow case countermark.
The only one I had prior to this purchase was one I obtained from a member of this forum. It has the same countermarks of Doug's coins: THRACE, PANTIKAPAION AE21 OBVERSE: Head of Pan left REVERSE: Roaring lion's head left; fish below Struck at Pantikapaion 400-300BC 5.3g, 21mm SNG BMC Black Sea 883
An impressive haul for an impressive price. I find this coinage very interesting, but I've always been outbid on the pieces I wanted.
i really like the first one, but the whole thing for the price you paid is awesome. i definitely those are cleaning candidates if you want to give it a go.
I wouldn't do any more to those coins than soak them in distilled water and give them a very light brushing with a very soft toothbrush. Sometimes pics accentuate deposits, when the coins look perfectly fine in hand. In fact, I've bought a few coins that I intended to clean, and when I got them, I was surprised to find that I liked them exactly as they were.
The third coin I posted looks like it needs cleaning even in hand. I might do as you say JA and soak it in distilled water for a few days. I don't think that can hurt it. Otherwise, it is a nice coin. Hard to take a decent image of any of them to be honest. I tried several different positions/lighting, and the ones you see are the best I can get.
The pics look perfectly good to me. I'm just saying that sometimes, in any pic, deposits can look far more egregious than they do in hand. I think it's a great type set - you've rekindled my interest in Pantikapaion so don't be surprised if I have some coins to post in the near future. Did I mention I was stalking you?
