I know that Roman coins from the Egypt where unique in some aspects. These coins would indicate which year of the reign they would be minted. The above coin was minted in the first year of Carinus's reign indicated by the L (signifying year) and A (Greek for alpha or one). Two questions for our experts: A) Did any other area of the Roman empire (or of the entire Ancient world) indicate a coin's date or regnal year? B) From where does the "L" signifying year derive? "L" is not Greek. Is it Coptic? I know that the Greek word for year, ETOYC, is found on some coins. (This above coin is from year 5 of the reign of Aurelian) Thank you in advance. guy
A) The coins minted in Viminacium around 240-250 AD did have dates, from year one after Roman reign began in 238/39: http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/moesia/viminacium/i.html I believe there are dates on at least some coins from Syria too:
A) Roman Imperial coins (particularly of the second and third centuries) often list the number of years emperors held certain offices, which ends up giving us petty accurate dates for when those coins were issued. Many Byzantine coins also had regnal years on them. Other dating crops up on eastern coinage, including Sassanid and some cultures of ancient India. B) No one knows for sure where the L comes from, but it is generally believed to be derived from the Demotic (an ancient Egyptian script) symbol for year.
Two more ancient cultures that dated their coins: The Bosporan Kingdom put years on their reverses, along with the current Roman Emperor. The Parthians put not only years, but months on the reverses of their Tetradrachms. These coins were designed for trade with the west, and dating was not a feature of the more standard coinage used in the interior of their empire. More examples may occur to me, but that's all for now.
The practice of dating their coins in Egypt pre-dates the Romans. Coins of the Ptolemaic Kingdom also carry the regnal year. Ptolemaic Kingdom, Cleopatra III and Ptolemy X Soter, 110 - 109 B.C. and 107 - 101 B.C., Tetradrachm Obv:– Diademed head of Ptolemy I right wearing aegis Rev:- PTOLEMAIOY BASILEOS, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed, L I (year 10 of Cleopatra's reign) left, PA right; Minted in Paphos, B.C. 110 Reference:– Svoronos 1668, SNG Cop -, Noeske - Some coins of the Seleukid Kingdom also carry dating but this time relative to the founding of the Seleukids. Seleucid Kingdom, Demetrios I Soter, tetradrachm, 162-150 B.C. Obv:– Diademed head of Demetrios I right inside a fillet border Rev:– BASILEWS DEMHTROS SOTEPOS / BXR, Tyche seated left on throne ornamented with tritoness, holding short scepter and cornucopia; in outer left field, controls; in exergue Minted in Antioch on the Orontes, Seleukid Era 162 (151/0 B.C.) Reference:– Seleucid Coins 1641.8h; SMA 131. Obverse struck a little off center. Regards, Martin
Thank you everyone for sharing your knowledge. :bow: I am always humbled and amazed by the depth of insight offered by people on this forum. Eyestrain: Is this the type of Parthian Tetradrachms that have the date on the reverse? I may have this reversed, but my understanding is that the image of Tyche on the reverse (as above) on these Parthian tetradrachs was used for coins circulated more locally and it was the more common "archer seated" reverse that was used Empire wide? I would appreciate clarification on this. guy
Yes, the tetradrachms were generally all minted at the Seleucia on the Tigris mint for use in the Mesopotamia region. The drachms (almost all of which feature the archer reverse) were used throughout Persia/modern-day Iran.
This is an example of the Parthian month/year date type (Vologases IV). The year is 464 of the Seleucid era (152 AD) and is shown in Greek numerals between the reverse figures. The month is Apelaioy (or November as I understand the system). Well over half of the coins I've seen are off centered and only the ones favoring the bottom will show the date. Collectors try reading the top half of letters but I selected this one for the good clear month.
Very interesting. Beautiful coin doug, and the Ptolemaic Tetradrachm posted above by maridvnvm is quite a beautiful example, as are all the other coins posted by people here.
I agree with Doug that finding a month on a Tet can be very hard. Most of these coins, especially later ones, were on small flans so this info was not struck from the die. I disagree somewhat with eyestrain about these coins, (tets), being used for trade with the west. My understanding was they were for use by the Greeks who lived in Mesopotamia, part of Parthia. I have never read these travelled very widely, being mostly found in the same area as they were minted. Maybe trade with "western" people within Parthia is what eyestrain meant. Chris
Another minor point worth mentioning is that the tetradrachms are struck in a more debased silver than the drachms. I really doubt there were many regions where the two circulated together and certainly not at a 4:1 exchange. Eastern money has a great tendency to be pretty close to the right weight or fineness or people would discount it in favor of other coins. That's why we had the profession of money changer who knew which coins were full quality and which were backed more by a ruler's strong arms than by his strong currency. I agree with both the above posters. The tets were made for use in the Mesopotamian areas under Parthian rule but I'd not go so far as calling that part of the Parthian homeland. This buffer state probably went a long way in preventing even worse relations between Rome and the Parthians (which were always at or near war until the Sasanians took Parthia and became the enemy of concern on that front).
It makes sense to my simple mind that the tetradrachms' production and circulation would have been restricted to the more Hellenized regions of the Parthian Empire and possibly its nearby Hellenized neighbors. The reverse of only the tetradrachms have the Greek personification of Tyche, equivalent to the Roman fortuna: This symbolism would have meaning only to the most Hellenized parts of the previous Seluecid Empire. guy
