So I was wondering if anyone has any of these coins. It appears that the star and star/crescent motif on the reverse appeared in 44 BC at the same time as Caesars famous comet. I am attempting to corroborate this. Wildwinds is not cooperating with my computer just now-won't access. I am figuring since the coins also declare this Kingdom as friends of Rome that the star was part of this capitulation? So i need to know if the any coins minted before 44 BC have the star/crescent.They have dates-years of the reign. Kings of Cappadocia Ariobarzanes III Eusebes Philoromaios (52-42BC) AR drachm- 3,9 gram, 18 mm, dated RY 9 (44/3BC) obv: diademed head right rev: Athena standing left, holding Nike, spear and shield; star and crescent left, monogram right, date in exergue Simonetta 1b
Well, its difficult to tell really, and nobody will ever know one way or the other (though many will say they know conclusively). Unfortunately for you the star and crescent are very common motifs which span many cultures and time frames. In all likelihood in this case they are just indicators of the 'divine'.
Thanks for checking this out. It is just that many of the same types with this King do not have the star. So it could be dated to see if those w/o the star are all before 44 BC.
As may be seen in this issue from an earlier one of these kings- no star. I have not found any star motif(yet anyway) on these types from before 44 BC. Just looking to see if it is a possibility. The comet of 44 and the death of J.Caesar is one of the most pivotal events of history linked to an astronomical event. A prequel to the entire Christian era. The divine right of the Roman empire and religion( I am not an expert in this however) I believe hinged on the deification of the Caesar line and the comet of 44. KINGS of CAPPADOCIA. Ariobarzanes I Philoromaios. 96-63 BC. AR Drachm (16mm, 3.73 g, 12h). Diademed head right / Athena Nikephoros standing left; monogram to inner left. Simonetta 50; Simonetta, Coins 37c; HGC 7, 846. VF, toned.
Caesar's Comet was known to ancient writers as the Sidus Iulium ("Julian Star") or Caesaris astrum ("Star of Caesar"). The bright, daylight-visible comet appeared suddenly during the festival known as the Ludi Victoriae Caesaris – for which the 44 BC iteration was long considered to have been held in the month of September (a conclusion drawn by Sir Edmund Halley). The dating has recently been revised to a July occurrence in the same year, some four months after the assassination of Julius Caesar, as well as Caesar's own birth month. According to Suetonius, as celebrations were getting underway, "a comet shone for seven successive days, rising about the eleventh hour, and was believed to be the soul of Caesar The Comet became a powerful symbol in the political propaganda that launched the career of Caesar's great-nephew (and adoptive son) Augustus. The Temple of Divus Iulius (Temple of the Deified Julius) was built (42 BC) and dedicated (29 BC) by Augustus for purposes of fostering a "cult of the comet". (It was also known as the "Temple of the Comet Star".[7]) At the back of the temple a huge image of Caesar was erected and, according to Ovid, a flaming comet was affixed to its forehead: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar's_Comet Looks to me it is more used by Augustus for Julius Ceasar
The comet was already in vogue throughout the wrold as a sign of divine right to rule. Check out this paper on comets on coins- it actually has the star/crescent motif we are discussing here. Mithradates VI already claimed divine right by being born during a bright comet passage. His stater with the comet in his crown is hard to find and expensive. Wonder if any folks here have one? http://www.coinweek.com/ancient-coins/comets-meteorites-ancient-coins/ "On his silver coinage, Mithridates made Pegasus his personal badge, an indirect reference to the constellation where the comet of 134 was seen. A starburst and crescent in the field reinforce the celestial connection. Small bronze coins of this period, which bear no inscriptions, show a horsehead and starburst, and a starburst with a long tail. One reverse, often catalogued as a “palm branch” (a traditional symbol of victory) looks very much like a comet." The deal is that the King of Cappadocia is claiming connection to the "big kid" on the block in the inscription on the coin.
If you're interested in the comet of 44 B.C., there's a book by John Ramsey and A. Licht titled "The Comet of 44 B.C. and Caesar's Funeral Games" that is pretty interesting. I'm about two-thirds of the way through it now.
