Eagle right, facing left

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by GeorgeM, Nov 27, 2020.

  1. GeorgeM

    GeorgeM Well-Known Member

    Not sure of this one. Possibly a Diobol from Alexandria (Egypt)? Milne 123a is the closest I could find (it shows Claudius on the obverse). It's approximately 21mm & quite thick.

    Any pointers? Am I on the right track?

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  3. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Tetradrachm of Gallienus. Here's one with a different reverse type:

    [​IMG]
    Gallienus, AD 253-268.
    Roman billon tetradrachm, 8.70 g, 23 mm.
    Egypt, Alexandria, AD 266/7.Obv: AVT K Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC CЄB, laureate and cuirassed bust right.
    Rev: Homonoia standing left, raising hand and holding double cornucopia; L IΔ (= regnal year 14) before, palm frond behind.
    Refs: Dattari (Savio) 5246; BMCG 2186; Cologne 2937; Milne 4136; RCV 10580; Emmett 3816.14; K&G 90.93.
     
  4. GeorgeM

    GeorgeM Well-Known Member

    Wow. I wasn't even close!

    Good to learn that these have regnal years stamped on them. So, I don't need to focus so much on letter matches on the reverse. Were you able to make out the ruler from the legend, or through other means?
     
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  5. GeorgeM

    GeorgeM Well-Known Member

    How about this one? Another billon tetradrachm? Similar reverse, with Otacilia Severa:

    20201127_194819.jpg 20201127_194815.jpg 20201127_194806.jpg 20201127_194800.jpg
     
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  6. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    The obverse legend on yours quite clearly reads AVT K Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC CЄB.

    Similar name but an error. That one is of Severina, the wife of Aurelian.
     
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  7. GeorgeM

    GeorgeM Well-Known Member

    Ah. Clearrrrrrly.

    I have enough trouble making out the 26 characters I learned in grade school. Was totally at sea here.



    Thanks! The previous owner labeled these with shorthand ("Oct Sev") & I'm learning emperors, empresses, usurpers, honored concubines, dishonored grandmothers, etc as quick I can.
     
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  8. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Severina (wife of Aurelian) year 6

    Both coins have clear obverse legends but it can take a bit of practice to learn the Greek letter forms as used on those coins. It also helps to get a list (preferably the book by Emmett) that gives the obverse legends for the various years. In the case of your Severina, that name is preceded by OYΛΠ (Ulpia) as it is on my cleaner but not as well detailed year 7 below. This late, all the coins will be tetradrachms since the AE denominations like the diobol became obsolete after the Severans.
    pa2640b01961alg.jpg

    It is necessary to learn the Greek alphabet AND add a few extra letter forms like the S between E and Z which also served as the number 6 and the 'lunate' sigma which looks like our C. My Severina above is defective in some letters which is just something you have to get used to and not let it trip you up. It is also common for the cross bar in A to be weak or missing making the letter look like a lambda. In this case my H is missing the cross bar and the E in CEB is missing the middle stroke. Perhaps you noticed that the 'year' symbol L was sometimes replaced with the spelled out 'year' ETOYC.

    Several of us here are very much into Alexandrians and would love to help you with the ones you get.
     
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