Ancient Persian—My Recently Aquired Newest Ancient

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Lifetime tet of Alexander 332-326 BCE

 

This is my oldest coin (fossils excluded)--the lion/boar hemiobol from Mysia, circa 525 BC

 

This is an old scan of a trite I bought years ago at a CNG auction. It is Lydian from 600-610 BC

 

Once again, I am super jealous of your newest purchase, Deacon Ray! I ask forgiveness.

This coin is on the top of my wish list for next year!

My oldest coin is the same kind as Mikey's:



Here is bro's:


It's a tiny thing, 4.5mm from about 625 BC.

Erin

 

Another fabulous presentation , congrats Ray.

 

I do like these siglos! The countermarks on them are always interesting too (your side-mark is really fascinating @Andres2 !). Nice coin @Deacon Ray !


Persian Empire
Darius I to Xerxes II, r. 485-420 B.C.
Sardes Mint, AR Siglos, 15.87mm x 5.6 grams
Obv.: King running right holding spear and bow
Rev.: Incuse punch
Ref.: SGCV 3428, Carradice Type IIIb, Group A/B

I might need to redo that photo... I don't think the coin is that dark.

 

OLDEST EGYPT:


Egypt SCARAB Middle Kingdom 2065-1650 BCE Scarabaeus Sphinx


OLDEST CHINA:


China Shang Dyn 1766-1154 BCE Ant Nose Ge Liu Zhu 2.6g 19-5x11 very scarce H 1.10


OLDEST WESTERN: (also my smallest diameter)


Ionia AR Tetartemorion 4mm 0.13g 530-500 BCE Rosette - Incuse sq punch 5 pellets SNG von Aulock 1807


Iona Kolophon AR Tetartemorion 530-520 BCE Archaic Apollo Incuse Punch 0.15g 4.5mm- SNG Kayhan 343


OLDEST GOLD:


PERSIA Achaemenid Daris I-Xerxes II 485-420 BCE AV Daric 14mm 8.3g LydoMilesian Sardes king wearing kidaris kandys quiver spear bow Incuse Carr Type IIIb Group A-B pl XIII 27 (FIRST full Gold coin used in commerce or transactions between states)

 

I have both of the more common designs of Persian sigloi, the "king with bow and spear" and the "king with bow and dagger":

 

Love the bankers marks!

 

Nice coin and of course another fabulous D-Ray graphic!

My oldest coin:


KINGS OF LYDIA, temp. Ardys - Alyattes
c. 630s-564/53 BCE (dates from a CNG listing of a similar coin*; I do not have the reference books nor have I read the latest thoughts)
Electrum trite, 4.8 gm, 13.4 mm. Sardes mint.
Obv: head of roaring lion right, sun with four rays on forehead
Rev: two incuse square punches
Ref: Weidauer Group XV, 64; BMC 2

* "Recent research (mostly forthcoming in publication, but cf. White Gold p. 20) has shown that the earliest Lydian electrum had begun before circa 630 BC, predating our traditional attribution to Alyattes. This redating affects Weidauer Groups XV, XVII, and XVIII, as well as the lion paw fractions and boar head coins that Spier linked to the early Lydian coinage (see the following lot)."

 

Great coin Ray and everyone else. This one is currently my oldest until my recent auction wins get here.

Lucania, Metapontum, 510 - 470 BC
Silver Stater, 25mm, 7.71 grams
Ear of barley with six grains either side / Incuse of obverse.
HN Italy1482

 

My oldest coin:
Athens AR Tetradrachm 353 - c. 340 B.C.; 16.873g, 25.8mm
Obv: head of Athena right with eye seen in true profile, wearing crested helmet ornamented with three olive leaves and pi-style floral scroll.
Rev: owl standing right, head facing, to right AQE in large lettering, to left olive sprig and crescent.
SNG Cop 63

 

My current oldest:



Carthage 300-264 BC

 

Some real oldies but goodies in this thread

APOLLONIA PONTIKA
AR Hemiobol
OBVERSE: Anchor, A in field
REVERSE: Swastika with two parallel lines in each quadrant
Struck at Apollonia Pontika, circa 500BC
.28g, 6.54mm
SNG BM 149; Moushmov 3146
ex. Aegean Numismaics

 

.
Ionia, Miletos
AR
6th century BC
Lion right, roaring head turned back left/ star and pellets

9mm .9g

 

Great coins everyone and as always a beautiful presentation @Deacon Ray !

Here is my Persian Siglos


My oldest is probably my Athenia Tetradrachm

Ca. 454-404 B.C.

 

Awesome posts, CoinTalk Ancient friends! Many thanks for the feedback!

Blessings to all of you!

 

Larissa Drachm ca. 4th century B.C.

 

That's a real beauty @DBDc80, and pouts my Trihemiobol to shame.

THESSALY, LARISSA
AR Trihemiobol
OBVERSE: Head of nymph Larissa three-quarter facing left in necklace, hair confined by fillet & floating loosely, with ampyx in front
REVERSE: ΛAPI (Laris) above, horse feeding right.
Struck at Larissa 395-344 BC
.75g, 10mm
SNG Cop 135