Ae of Macedon as Roman Province, Gaius Publius Tamios

Here's a coin you don't see every day - the first one I've ever handled. This coin was minted after the Fourth Macedonian War (150-148 BC), as Rome established its first permanent dominance over the Greek world, dividing Macedonia into four client republics. The Achaean League put up some resistance, but was quickly defeated - Corinth was destroyed in 146 BC, the same year Carthage fell. A momentous time for the Republic!

This is an important coin as it names the Roman quaestor Gaius Publius Tamios. "In the Roman Republic, quaestores were elected officials who supervised the treasury and financial affairs of the state, its armies and its officers." -wiki

Not a Republic coin per se, but the first bronze issued in the new province of Macedonia. (Two provinces actually: Achaea and Epirus, but none of the scholarship I came across pinpoints the exact location of the mint. Is it possible these were minted in Rome for use in Macedonia?)

What an un-Greek looking Athena, no?



Macedon as Roman Province, District of Bottiaia.
Gaius Publius Tamios, Quaestor
AE20, 7.6g, 12h; Macedonian mint, c. 148-146 BC.
Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right.
Rev: ΓΑΙΟΥ / ΤΑΜΙΟΥ; Cow standing right; monogram beneath.

 

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Your first ancient coin, how nice. I don't care if she don't look Greek, that is one beautiful Athena, and the horse on the back is a nice touch too.

 

Lovely!

 

JA: nice coins. Your selections of new coins are beginning to remind me of Doug and Martin. That's a compliment in case you don't realize it.

 

Thank you, but this one was acquired for a client. So many collectors around these parts focusing on RR and related coinage has broadened my horizons, which is always a good thing.

 

This falls into the "Roman Republican Provincial" category in my collection and names the same quaestor, but is a Roma/Wreath type. I have not found any sources discussing the mint either.

 

Very nice indeed. I've seen these types for Tamios as well, but not often. Evidently both are quite scarce.

 

Wonderful coin JA!!!!

I thought it looked a bit 'Roman' and 'Un-Greek 'as well.

Those are the first I've seen until now.

 

Maybe there are coins that ought to be cataloged in the series of " historical coins ".

 

you have to give it away? bummer.

my first thought was the reverse showed a grazing horse, like the ones from troas, alexandria...but it's a cool cow.

 

Very cool JA, love the crested helmet, the cow looks a little bit like eeyore.

 

I love 'em and leave 'em, lol. I got her for the weekend though.

 

more like Don Martin





... just jokes, brother (ummm, do people even remember Don Martin from MAD magazine?)

 

I have one of these bronze coins by Gaius Publius, but of much lower quality. My Athena is even more un-Greek looking than @John Anthony (almost looks like she has a 20th century male profile/hairdo).


148-146 BC
Gaius Publius Tamios, questor in the district of Bottiaia
Roman province of Macedonia
AE 20 - 9.95gm
Obv: Crested helmeted head of Athena r.
Rev: ΓAIOY TAMIOY ΠΟΠAIΛIOY, cow feeding right, monogram ΤΒ? under cow
Reference: SNGCop 1322, Lindgren Europe 1350

 

Susi, I'm glad you bumped this thread because there are some errors that need to be corrected. We are so accustomed to the Roman name Publius, that we forget Tamios is actually Publilius. Also, I recently read Pierre A. MacKay's article Bronze Coinage in Macedonia, ANS Museum Notes 14, in which he gives compelling evidence that these coins should be dated to 168-166 BC.

MacKay published in 1968, and some of the attributions you find online use the corrected dates, but many don't. I guess knowledge takes time to trickle down. At any rate, I'll give a synopsis of his arguments when I can, but in the meantime, anyone interested in these coins, and Macedonian silver of this era should get Museum Notes 14 - it is not expensive.

 

@John Anthony, I would be delighted for any updated info you are able to provide. I bought this coin 5 years ago simply because it was attributed to a Roman quester, not because I collect coins of Macedonia. So I simply took the vendor cataloging as correct, and did no followup research.

If these coins should be dated to 168-166 BC, does this mean they can no longer be attributed to Gaius Publius? Or does it mean that our dates for Gaius Publius serving as questor are incorrect?

 

My grandpa left me some MAD magazines.

 

@ancientcoinguru The latter. Both quaestors Tamios and Fulcinnius are spelled out on the coins, so they are definitely Roman Republic Provincials. MacKay's analysis, based on typology and the relationship of certain overstrikes to the history of the region, simply places them about 20 years earlier. I don't have the time to compose a synopsis at the moment, but like I said, MN #14 is cheap, and it's better to hear it from MacKay. Here's one for 5 bucks.

You did a wise thing picking up this coin. They are not a dime-a-dozen, and an important part of RR history. They're very scarce in any condition.

 

Yes. Money from my paper route went to buy comic books, MAD magazine and coins. I went to the back page first to see if I could figure out the fold in. That was before I could get my hands on a fold out.

 

EEYORE!!! That is why I got it from John!