Greek AE

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Valentinian, Oct 11, 2017.

  1. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    I recently bought this small Greek AE. I don't collect Greek AE but it was cute so I bought it anyway:

    MysiaLampsakosPoseidon.jpg
    10-9 mm. Small! 1.10 grams.
    Bearded head right (sometimes identified with Poseidon)
    Forepart of winged horse right. ear of grain below, letters 10:00-12:00 maybe ΛAM
    Mysia, city of Lampsakos.

    Many coins of Lampsakos have the "Forepart of winged horse" which is almost a characteristic identifier. But, finding a match for Greek AE can be very difficult. There is no one book that can serve to identify Greek AE, and no one book series is (yet) close to complete. It used to be you needed the 29 volumes of BMC Greek to have a good chance of finding a match for a Greek coin you owned. Then the 8-reprint volume of SNG Copenhagen (Danish) seemed better (with more photos) but they were far from complete too.

    Here is a start on the coin's ID:

    Type of Sear Greek II 3904, which is larger.
    Hoover's volume including Mysia is not out yet.
    BMC Mysia Lampsakos --, but 67 is larger and "4th-3rd c. BC"
    SNG France 5 "Mysie" 1108 is similar but larger at 3.05 grams. "4th c. BC"
    SNG von Aulock 1301 and 7403 are similar but larger (2.42 grams, 2.77 grams, and 15 mm)

    I have found the type distinctly larger but not yet in this size. However, I have more reference works to look through. Years ago I complied a list of reference works I used for Greek AE. Maybe someone else will find it of use:

    http://augustuscoins.com/ed/catalogs/GreekAE.html

    For example, it lists

    Kunker 133 (2007, Oct. 11-12) including the "Friedrich Popken collection of Greek bronze coins" HV. VHQP. 2553 ancients, all in color, many with enlargements in color. 809 very high grade Greek AE, 27 RP, 23 Celtic, 438 G, 178 RR, 670 RI, 8 DA, 149 Byz with some AE. [This might be the most beautiful catalog of Greek AE ever printed.]

    Greek AE tend to be inexpensive. Many are very rare yet lack a premium. There is a lot to like about Greek AE, but they never excited me. However, that catalog excites me. Over 800 nice Greek AE coins, most small but photographed both life-sized and enlarged, focusing on a theme for which good references are hard to obtain. For this theme I collect the catalogs even though I don't collect the coins! (By the way, Popken does not have the illustrated type.)

    I invite you to post some Greek AE and any citations you have for the types.
     
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  3. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    VERY VERY nice @Valentinian ! What a great bronze. I love that Winged Horse!

    I have several bronzes from Makedon, Sicily, Magna Graecia, but only this one from Greece "proper":

    Athens 224-198 BC AE 12 Athena 2 Facing Owls RARE Agora 71.jpg
    Athens 340-317 BCE BC AE 12 Athena attic helmet R- Double bodied Owl with head facing E olive sprigs kalathos RARE BMC 224
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2017
  4. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    Two bodies merging to one owl's head is neat, and, of course, Athens is a great city (especially compared to Lampsakos!)
     
    Alegandron likes this.
  5. ancientone

    ancientone Well-Known Member

    Great little Æ @Valentinian. Greek bronze that do not excite you can be sent to my house please. :)

    One of my favorites.
    phokis3.jpg
    Phokis, Federal Coinage. Circa 371-357 BC
    Obv: Head of Athena facing.
    Rev: Phi within wreath.
    AE 13mm.
    SNG Copenhagen 113-116.
     
  6. Mikey Zee

    Mikey Zee Delenda Est Carthago

    Here's a bronze I liked enough to grab off a FAC auction.

    Ae-25 mm of Maroneia in Thrace, after 148 BC. Av. head of Dionysos right Rv. Dionysos standing left, holding grapes with a olive-green patina, weight; 13.46gr. Moush. 394

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  7. Mike Margolis

    Mike Margolis Well-Known Member

  8. LaCointessa

    LaCointessa Well-Known Member

    I have one very similar (in design) to @Mikey Zee's only because of the generosity of @Parthicus! I can't find my final attribution, so this one will have to do.
    it's 19.05 mm and it weighs 8.6 gr
    SNG Vol: IV Fitzwilliam Musuem
    Ref: Leake, Eur. p. 70. 14
    ID: SNGuk_0402_1735


    image2 (2).png

    Untitled.png

    During attribution I learned that this word in Greek is the name of the place famous for the production of wine.
     
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2017
  9. GerardV

    GerardV Well-Known Member

    Must be something in the water. I don't normally buy Greek coins either, but this coin was irresistible for some reason.

    MYSIA. Pergamon.
    Æ19, 6.0g, 12h; Mid-late 2nd century BC.
    Obv.: Helmeted head of Athena right.
    Rev: ΠΕΡΓΑΜΗΝΩΝ; Nike advancing right, holding palm and wreath.
    Reference: SNG von Aulock 1378-9; SNG Copenhagen 363.
    from the collection David@PCC

    IMG_0117.JPG
     
  10. John Anthony

    John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

    I like the small cute ones. Here's an AE15 of Metapontum with Athena and three barley grains, cool blue patina...

    s-l500.jpg
     
  11. LaCointessa

    LaCointessa Well-Known Member

    absolutely precious!
     
    John Anthony likes this.
  12. Ajax

    Ajax Well-Known Member

    Great coins everyone. I don't have a lot of Greek bronzes so this one remains my favourite for now.
    28048.jpg
    Pamphylia, Aspendos. 4th-3rd centuries B.C. AE 17 (17.2 mm, 4.17 g, 4 h). Forepart of horse right / Δ-M, sling. SNG Cop 253
     
  13. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Holy Cow! Ed with Romae Aeternae has one on eBay for $720...
     
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  14. LaCointessa

    LaCointessa Well-Known Member

    A sling? I don't understand.
     
  15. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    What you throw rocks with. A shepherds weapon, also used in war.
     
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  16. LaCointessa

    LaCointessa Well-Known Member

    Thanks @Alegandron. Yes. What David used to take out Goliath - but I can't make my eye recognize it.

    Okay...i am looking down on the part where the stone is placed before it is swung around on strings or cords I can't see before the stone flies out. I see it now. Thanks.
     
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2017
    Alegandron likes this.
  17. John Anthony

    John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

    That's not a sling, that's a doggy treat for Cerberus.

    bone.jpg
     
  18. Ajax

    Ajax Well-Known Member

    I always think of a dog bone when I look at it.
     
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  19. LaCointessa

    LaCointessa Well-Known Member

    That's what my brain kept seeing! LLool and then it changed to a type of saddle to go along with the beautiful horse. But now I am definitely seeing the sling where the shot is put.
     
  20. John Anthony

    John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

    Another AE15, Arados - Zeus and Prow of galley. I love the sand patina on this one.

    arados.jpg
     
  21. LaCointessa

    LaCointessa Well-Known Member

    This coin is so beautiful, @John Anthony. My eye is having difficulty making out the obverse. Is Zeus looking out at us? I love the reverse.
     
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