Let's try this again... "Coins of the 7 Ancient Wonders"

Since the last thread got deleted because someone was very, very naughty...

Can you help me create a list of possible ancient coins that actually depict the 7 Ancient Wonders of the World?

The prior thread had several excellent examples, and I hope that the original posters can replicate their contributions here.

Bonus points if the coins are contemporary while the Wonder was still intact (except for the Pyramid of Giza, probably not very common, if they exist at all).

Secondary points if the coins are contemporary with the Wonder but do NOT depict the actual Wonder.



Another reference at History.com

 

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I know there are great ancient commemorative & issue coins. Sadly I don't have any at this time pertaining to the 7 wonders. At 1 time I had the hanging garden of babylon. One of the wish I still had it moments

 

Sorry Doug, nary a one.

 

Well, I've definitely got the whole Rhodes thingy under control ...

 

Ephesus ... okay yup, I got dem too!!

 

Alexandria .... uh-oh ... where do I start? (maybe TIF would be better at this one?)

 

Ummm, close enough? ...

Okay sure, maybe I don't have exactly what you were asking for, but I tried my best to add some "jazz-hands" to your thread

Cheers

 

Aw man... the original thread was deleted?

Here's the lighthouse of Alexandria on a drachm of Hadrian:


EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian
year 18, CE 133/4
Æ drachm, 32 mm, 23.3 gm
Obv: AYT KAIC TPAIAN A∆PIANOC CEB, laureate and draped bust right
Rev: Isis Pharia right holding a billowing sail with both hands and left foot, sailing toward the Lighthouse of Pharos, which is surmounted by a statue and two Tritons, each blowing a buccinum (sea shell trumpet); L IH (year 18) above center
Ref: Emmett 1002.18

 

hi

 

Sorry, all I have is a drachm of Helios from Rhodes, which Steve has already posted....

 

This is good stuff... keep 'em coming!

@Mikey Zee, go ahead and post! The more the merrier! ;-)

 

Anyone else find it strange that the Pyramids of Giza never made it on the back of any ancients?

 

I got one of those overpriced Alexandria Lighthouse coins recently. Antoninius Pius Dated year 12=AD. 148/49 AE Drachm (34.7 mm, 23.80gm) Emmett 1592.

 

If ever I was going to chase after something out of collecting niche, it would be a coin showing the lighthouse at Alexandria. Just wow.

 

I like your very colorful Antoninus Pius with Isis reclining on the bed beautiful coin.

 

Okay, here it is.....


Like everyone else, I'd LOVE to have coins depicting the 'Seven Wonders'.....and since examples of the Pharos Lighthouse seem to be available, I guess I'll eventually go after one of those.

BTW: I always enjoy seeing Steve's coins!!!

 

I don't think you can make a set of ancient coins showing all of these seven ancient wonders.

Great Pyramid of Giza: not depicted on any ancient coins as far as I can tell. There is a bronze coin from Cappadocia that is described as showing a pyramid but I don't think it represents the Great Pyramid of Giza. There are a handful of Roman Egyptian coins which might show the Great Sphinx (examples here and here).

Hanging Gardens of Babylon: as above (@Smojo: you mentioned formerly owning a coin showing the hanging gardens. Can you tell me more about it? I haven't found any.)

Ephesus, Temple of Artemis: many different examples in Roman Provincial coins

Olympia, statue of Zeus: Many coins show Zeus seated on a throne but may not be a true reproduction of the Olympia status by Phidias. Shown in Wikipedia there is a coin from Elis, Olympia, which seems to be true to the descriptions of the original statue. I wasn't able to find this particular type of Elis coin in any of my Greek coin books,high-end catalogs, or online databases. It must be extremely rare! There are some very rare Roman Provincial coins with reverses showing the Phidias Zeus, including coins of Hadrian, Caracalla, and Geta (and perhaps more-- I didn't check source references).

Mausoleum at Halikarnassos: I haven't seen it on an ancient coin but there is a representation on a 16th century medal.

Colossus of Rhodes: I haven't seen a Rhodes coin (or any ancient coin) showing the entire statue. There are coins of Nero's colossus which resembled the Colossus of Rhodes but with Nero's head.

Lighthouse of Alexandria: depicted on several different emperors' coins struck in Roman Egypt.

It is entirely possible that some of the above types exist and that I simply missed finding them.

 

Great Rhodes coin, Mikey-Z (I actually don't have that Rhodes coin-style => that's still on my coin-radar)


Oh, and thanks for the 7-wonders update, TIF .... you're my favourite

 

Thanks, @TIF !

(Let me add here that I'd be willing to spend only ~$100 US on any one coin... preferably less)

So... it seems that the "low-hanging fruit" with actual depictions of the Wonders would be:

• Lighthouse at Alexandria
• Temple of Artemis
• Statue of Zeus (due to price constraints, any coin with any depiction of Zeus is acceptable)
• Colossus of Rhodes ("just the face" would be acceptable)

For the other three (Babylon, Giza, and Halikarnassos), I would be satisfied with coins from the proper time period and geographical location. Would those be 'doable' with the budget I have mentioned (<$100/coin)?

 

Possibly do-able (except for Giza; see below), but tough. It is possible to occasionally find a lighthouse of Alexandria for less than $100. The condition won't be very good, of course.

It may be even harder to find an Ephesus Temple of Artemis in that price range. A "face only" Rhodes and the "any seated Zeus" will be the easiest to find in that price range, although you won't get a seated Zeus from Olympia. Even the head-only Olympia Zeuses will probably exceed your desired price.

I don't think any ancient coins were struck in/around Giza, so I'm not sure how you'd want to handle that entry. Babylon choices are plentiful and you could kill two birds with one stone by acquiring an Alexander III-style drachm struck in Bablyon, with Zeus enthroned reverse.

You will definitely be able to pick up something from Halikarnassos for well under your per-coin budget.

Edite to add: there is currently a less-than-$100 small bronze coin from Elis, Olympia, with head of Zeus (not looking very Zeusy though) on Vcoins.