Hello to any of you I’m just wondering about the exergues of byzantine coinage. More precisely whether the exergue should be read in Latin or Greek, or both? Coins from Thessalonica in Latin would be “TES”, but in Greek it would be “ΘΕϹ”. - That is easy. Coins in Alexandria are always in Greek: “AΛΕΣ” - That is also easy. But I have doubts for other cities. Should it be read in Latin or Greek? Now I want to ask: Is “CON” Greek or Latin, or both? Is “THEUPO” Greek or Latin, or both? In Carthage we have both “CAR” and “KAR” in exergue as you know. Is it because one of them is Latin and the other Greek? In case you have a definitive answer, then I would like to hear it. Thanks and have a nice day
The inscriptions on Byzantine coins are sometimes a mish-mash of Latin and Greek letters, reflecting the medieval mish-mash of Latin and Greek culture. That said, THEOUPOLIS is the Latinization of Greek ΘEOY ("of God") + ΠOΛIΣ ("city"). City names ending -polis are ultimately Greek in origin. There is a letter P (Rho) in Greek but it carries the "r" sound. Although "C" is sometimes found in Greek, it is actually a late form of Σ, not to be confused with Latin C. CON vs KON, then, is relatively straightforward: Latin CONSTANTINOPOLIS vs Greek KONΣTANTINOYΠOΛIΣ. However, CART and KART are both Latin (note the Latin letter R which does not appear in the Greek alphabet). The various sounds possible with Greek K were divided among C, K, and Q in the Latin alphabet. The alternate Latin spellings apparently derive from the Punic origin of the name, nuance of pronunciation and the element of time. Be careful not to confuse Greek Σ with Ξ, which it sometimes looks like. In Greek, Ξ (Xi) carries the "x" sound while X (Chi) is somewhere closer to the sound made when clearing one's throat. Σ (Sigma), of course, is "s". Thus, AΛEΞANΔPEIA. Perplexing, isn't it? (But fun!) If I am wrong on any of these points, I will gladly accept correction.
Byzantine coins mix Latin and Greek letters. This was also frequent on Oriental inscriptions since the 3rd c. AD. Try to decide if this Byz. coin (not mine) has legends in Latin or Greek : + bASILIOS CE COnStANtIn' PIStY bASILIS ROMEO' these are Latin letters but phonetically they form the Greek legend : Βασίλιος καὶ Κωνσταντῖν(ος) πίστοι βασιλεῖς Ῥωμαίω(ν). "Basilius and Constantine faithful kings of the Romans".
Fascinating. I forgot to ask a similar question about the regnal years. Look here with the red rings: The "4"-sign is 5. And the "G"-sign is 6. Those signs must be Greek? Right? In case one knows, I would like to know it. Thanks
Yes, Greek elements creeping in. For the numeral 5, Latin V has been written more like upsilon, its Greek equivalent. 6 can be represented by either the Greek letter/numeral ϛ (digamma) or VI.
