The focus of my collection mainly lies with ancient eastern coinage. That is, from Seleukids and successors in the West upto Northern India in the East. Probably because this is a bit of a niche in collecting there are still lots of opportunities to buy nice coins from this region at relatively low prices. And again because of the niche status, i encounter quite a lot of wrongly attributed coins. Because often nobody really seems to care i try to give some of these coins asylum. The coin below was offered as an Indo-Scythian bronze. At first sight i can understand the idea. The obverse could be interpreted as standing Hercules. There is something which looks like a Greek text around where the Sigma S is written as C. This could well fit with the writing style of the later Indo-Scythian period (early first century AD). The reverse showed some blob in the middle. Around is something that could be interpreted as Kharoshti script. Then came the doubts. For this coin looks wrong for an Indo-Scythian. This made me take a better look. I put in a low bid and got it without much competition. For what is it? First i could read that on the figure side the legend read "Aristomenes" on the right and "Aristodamou"on the left. Never heard of, but Google provides help. Now i could read that on the blob side the text below the object was "PATRE/ON" revealing the true origin of the coin. Patreon=Patrae=Patrai=Patras are the names given to the Greek city on the Peloponnesos which was once part of the Agaian league. After the downfall of the league Patrae retained the right to produce coinage under Roman rule for a long period. The obverse shows Dionysos holding torch and staff. To the left the city monogram of Patrae. The edge legend "Aristomenes Aristodamou" is the name of the local magistrate under whose authority this coin was struck. This allows us to date the coin to the middle of the first century AD. The reverse shows a Cista, a basket used in the Dionysian rituals. Around it a wreath of ivy leafs and "Patre/on" below. The coin appears to be rare. I only could find three others on the internet. AE 18mm, 5.3 grams. For reference: Hunter 2 type. Because some people here are more into the classical Greeks and Roman provincials than i am, i thought this would be a nice find to share.
Very cool coin and great detective work!!! It sometimes seems like an 'obsession' or a 'vendetta' to get a coin attributed and identified correctly...and sometimes a huge surprise as well. I'm curious as to what those members far more adept at Greek issues have to say about the scarcity etc.....TIF and Steve---Are you out there???
In my eyes not a real obsession to get the right attribution. However, looking for the attribution often changes the meaning of the coin for me, from a metal disk to a piece of history.
I'm going to have to take your word @THCoins it looks like a tough one and I could see why someone would wrongly attribute it. I'm with the both of you - I get obsessed to attribute a coin as much as possible because I learn more about the coin and it becomes more than a hunk of metal.
The OP coin is not a bad looking coin. What is the size and weight? It feels good to correctly ID and attribute any coin. This one seems more difficult and I commend you. I couldn't have come close. Very good work on your part.
i'll be darned, good work THC. if i saw it listed as a indo-scythian i wouldn't doubt thats what it was. i would think it's a type i hadn't seen before...but that's not unusual really.
Great coin and an even better explanation. You know I have to take the list out again and add something...thanks...
Ummm, I can't resist showing my Indo-Scythian examples (is that wrong? ... ummm, maybe it'll spark more coin-conversation?) Indo-Skythian Kings, Azes AR Tet 58-12 BC Azes on Horse & Zeus with thunderbolt/spear Indo-Scythian Kings, Azes 58-20 BC Brahma Bull / Lion .... ummm, hopefully these addition are okay for your cool thread, my coin-friend?
Well, we should take every opportunity to make some more people aquainted with the ancient peoples from the eastern part of town. The two you show are more or less archetypical for the Indo-scythian coinage. Earlier, the Indo-Scythians were more like copycats, borrowing shapes and designs from their Indo-Greek predecessors. Like this one of the first ruler Maues:
These are my only two and they've sparked an interest in non-classical or eastern coins. Azes II*, Indo-Scythians, BC 57 -12 AR, drachm, 2g, 16mm; 6h, uncertain mint west of Taxila Obv.: BAΣIΛEΩΣ BAΣIΛEΩΣ MEΓAΛOY AZOY; king on horseback right, raising right hand, holding whip in left, Kharosthi letter "ņa" before Rev.: Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa rajadirajasa mahatasa ayasa; Pallas-Athena standing right with shield and spear, monograms on either side Indo-Scythians, King Maues 90-57 BCE (per CoinIndia; elsewhere, shown as 125-85 BCE) AE hemi-obol, 9.5 gm, 20 x 23 mm Obv: Elephant walking right, with raised trunk, within rectangular dotted border; Greek legend around, BAΣIΛEΩΣ BAΣIΛEΩN MEΓAΛOY MAYOY Rev: King seated cross-legged facing oncouch, within rectangular border, monogram above right, Kharoshthi legend around:rajatirajasa mahatasa moasa Ref: MIG 734a, Sen 15.1 (reference fromcoinindia)
Great additions ! Here another drachm with zeus on the reverse. (It is generally thought the horserider with spear pre-dates the horserider with raised arm.)
