Sure it has some graffito, not a "mint" coin, some corrosion on obv. die,... But nice centering on an unusually broad flan, with a great eye appeal (imo). Show your Thebans (Steve... ) !
I think the fact that the graffito is actual letters and not just random scratches it adds to the coin. It is quite a beautiful. I like the details on the amphora and the nice whack-a-mole mallet above. Great coin.
Wow, what a beauty. Graffiti or not, I'll take it. The detail in Hercules' club alone makes this a wonderful coin. When you want to unload it, just let me know (and I'm not kidding). Way to go Batman!!
I like this type but have yet to see one I want enough to buy. Yours is certainly worth coveting, graffito and all. Beautiful!
Super coin! I don't know much about these, but I'm assuming BO-IΩ refers to Boeotia, and I know other varieties of the coin have letters that refer to magistrates. So I find it curious that the graffito happens to have two letters in the left field and two in the right. Was someone trying to assert some unofficial authority over the issue?
Interesting observation about the graffito... from someone who's pretending or taking himself seriously (??). BO-IΩ should only refer to the magistrate imo (not an uncommon one, often combined with symbols other than the club (bow, dolphin,...)).
I'm not sure I follow you. Are you referring to me or the guy who scratched the coin? If you're referring to me, I'm not the John Anthony that wrote Collecting Greek Coins. I'm just a newbie that happens to share the same name - I don't take myself too seriously, and neither should anyone else. In fact, I didn't find out about the book until after I joined this forum and picked a user name. I should probably ask Peter to change it, to avoid any confusion. If I've completely misunderstood you, I apologize.
*Sweet* => awesome, my cool Bat-friend => man, I can't believe that you found an ancient with my High School insignia etched into it!! (Go Spartans, Goooo!!) ... well, I bought this baby from ya, so I hope that you like it (enuf) ... Thanks bro (cool coin ... unlike a few others, I love this type) Cheers Boeotia, Thebes AR Stater Date: 363-338 BC Diameter: 21.5 mm Weight: 11.8 grams Obverse: Boeotian shield Reverse: Amphora, KA-LLI across field; all within incuse concave circle Reference: BCD Boiotia 555
No... Just the guy who scratched the thing... Playing with history or seriously thinking he's making it... (English is not "natural" to me so if anyone think I'm insulting them, might just be that I had a glass of wine (and a few more), or that I just can't clearly express my thoughts even if I try )
I only have a drachm with problems and a stater with wear. I would someday like to add a hemiobol (they show half of a shield). The drachm has TH E B H or Thebes while the stater is DA IM. Not all these are magistrates but I do not know the details and dating.
wonderful coin batman! I have to say, I think the graffiti is interesting as well, I wouldn't consider it much of a minus if any at all....makes you daydream about who put it there and when. JA, I have to admit, at first I thought you were the guy that wrote the book and nearly asked before I looked at the copyright date of the book. it was published in the early 80's...and I thought you were about my age, so doing the math..i assumed you didn't write the book as a 12 year old. but how hold is vlaha? I could see him writing a book..
Digging a little further in the subject, this serie (BO-IW), as suggested by JA, was struck in the name of the federation, not a magistrate as I thought Dating seems a little more conflicting, ranging from 338-315 BC to 395-387 BC
It would appear I'm a little older than you. I was in college in the 80's, and far too busy chasing tail to write any books.
Here is one I got last year: BOEOTIA, Thebes AR Stater, ca. 395-338 B.C. 12.05 gms, 21 mm Obv: Boeotian Shield Rev: Amphora with ΘE-OT across field all within incuse concave circle. Grade: aVF nicely centered with some horn silver Other: Theot-, magistrate. Struck circa 363-348 BC. Similar to Sear 2384 & 2389, Hepworth 60, BCD Boiotia 546. From Allen Berman September 2013. Thebes was perhaps the greatest & largest city in ancient Greece. Located in central Greece, the city was the arch-rival of Athens, supported Sparta during the Peloponnesian war and was subsequently destroyed by Alexander the Great.