Cyzicus hekte with Athena head

This is my favorite coin for today. In my opinion, the Athena's smile here is the same level with Mona Lisa...
It was founded alone by detectorist in the water near the shore, in the line of sight of the island Berezan'. This is an archaic greek settlement dated back c. middle VII century BC. This famous coins originate from there:
http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=317758
http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=317759

My next goal is to write a Volume 4 of my L&B library about Berezan' and this EL coins, finded there.

 

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Gorgeous coin! I am looking forward to more of your postings...

I found your published 3 Volumes...

 

Alegandron,
Yes, I am the author of this books. I have publish it in paper in one volume in russian language at 2015. About a half of a year was a period of work of translator and editor. My english is really poor - I am only reader in english, not writer.

 

@I_v_a_n oh good an Electrum expert! Are there any coins we know of prior to 650, possibly minted 660/670 b.c.e?

 

Welcome to CoinTalk Ivan!

Some very nice coins. I wish I could read Russian, that looks like a good book.

I think we can understand your English very well.

John

 

650 BC is fairly conventional date. It is determined by several discoveries during excavations of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus and some reasonable assumptions about the timing of circulation of coins and dies changes. We can say so, the most probable date of the first coins 650-625 BC. It does not means that it impossible for 670-660 BC, we only can think that probability (chances) of this dating looks more less than 650-625 BC (maximum chances on the basis of present day information).

 

My books available at amazon for free till 30 of august with the excellent translation into english and editing from the native english speaking professional

 

This post was written in better English than most born of English-speaking descendants

 

In that case I'll post my 600ish era coin. Not the beefy hekte's seen here, but I'll take what I can get.

Ionia
625 to 600 BC
Uncertain Mint
EL 1/24 Stater
Obvs: Raised swastika
Revs: Incuse square punch
7mm, 0.66g

 

Google translator with my editing works good

 

Hello Ivan, welcome to Coin Talk!

For those of you interested in reading Ivan's books, as he mentioned above they are currently available for free, but only in the Kindle editions. If you don't have an actual Kindle device, you can download a free Kindle for PC reader from Amazon when you place your order to read the books. The download file is small and took only a few minutes to install - and it's quite user-friendly. Here are the direct links...

Book 1
Book 2
Book 3

At first glance, these are extremely well-done and the translation is super. I'm looking forward to reading them this week!

 

Welcome again, Ivan ... congrats on the cool new book (looks like a total winner)

Can you please give me approximate dates for these two sweeties ... I always love getting info from the pros (thanks)








... man, I love having new cool coin-blood (sweet)

If not, that's cool too ... welcome (again and again)

 

Welcome, Ivan! Looking forward to reading the books. Thanks for providing those links, JA.

 

I seem to have an affinity toward all eras of Electrum coins. I started your book. The English translation flows surprisingly well.

My few examples, chronologically: (maybe you can tell me more about them)


Mysia, Kyzikos. 500-450 BC. EL Hekte. Lion, with right forepaw raised and open jaws, seated left on tunny to left / Quadripartite incuse square.
Ref: BMFA 1452. SNG Paris 216-218. SNG von Aulock 7297. Von Fritze I, 85.
11.2mm
2.66g


Mysia, Kyzikos. 500-450 BC. EL Hekte. Nude male kneeling left, holding tunny by its tail / Quadripartite incuse square. Countermark on Obv.
Ref: Von Fritze I 112; cf. SNG France 253 (stater); Boston MFA 1488
10.2mm
2.74g


Ionia, Phokaia. 478-387 BC. EL Hekte. Helmeted head of Athena left; behind, small seal upward / Quadripartite incuse square.
Ref: Bodenstedt Em. 91
10.3mm
2.53g


Lesbos, Mytilene. 412-378 BC. EL Hekte. Forepart of winged lion left / Sphinx seated right, in linear square.
Ref: Bodenstedt-63.
11.3mm
2.57g


Ionia, Phokaia. Circa 387-326 BC. EL Hekte. Wreathed head of Demeter left, hair in sakkos / Quadripartite incuse square.
Ref: Bodenstedt Em. 109.1.
10.1mm
2.53g


Lesbos, Mytilene. 377-326 BC. EL Hekte. Head of Apollo Karneios right, wearing horn of Ammon / Eagle standing right, head reverted, within linear square in incuse square.
Ref: Bodenstedt 104. SNG Copenhagen 316. SNG von Aulock 1727.
10.4mm
2.51g


Lesbos, Mytilene. 377-326 BC. EL Hecte. Head of Athena facing, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet /Draped bust of Hermes right, his petasos hanging behind his neck, in linear square.
Ref: Bodenstedt-86.
2.50g
11.9mm

2 of the photos are from the auction house. These smaller, refractive denominations are surprisingly hard to photograph.

-Michael

 

John Anthony,
Thanks for help with direct links to my L&B books.
I hope all of you will enjoy reading my books - I have trying to put a most reliable base for conclusions - a mathematics. That is why the central ideas goes with metrology and ancient weight systems.

I'll be very grateful to everyone for the reviews at amazon. This is a key point for the future of my books.

 

stevex6,
your AR siglos of late persian style. This one dated after Cresus before introduction of Type I AR siglos with persian king or hero. It can be dated somewhere between 547-522 BC, more chances for late dates (close to 522 BC).
About second coin. I think this one somewhere from Karia (Karpathos?) and looks like c. 500 BC. But on this case I can made a mistake - this coin out of my research interests.

 

Michael,
a good selection of hektes! I have choose this field for my major interests too (because of great prices for EL staters). But I have decide to stay in archaic period with the lions and bulls like in my avatar.

 

Good job, Ivan => Sear estimated roughly the same time period for my Siglos ... and the seller had 500-480 BC for the 2nd coin (so both of your estimates were bang-on)

Thanks (you rock)

 

OK... I hope, I pass the examine

 

Yup => you passed with Flying Colours!! (A+)



... thanks again (you seem like a great coin-guy)

Cheers