Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 1874594, member: 19463&quot;]YOC is correct regarding the SMHA.&nbsp; In this case the gamma is a coded weight standard but exactly how the code works, I do not understand.&nbsp; On other coins we see the Greek numbers A through E with each successive letter appearing on smaller and smaller coins (A&#039;s are larger).&nbsp; Gamma is the most common of these so I would guess that the gamma standard was in place for a longer time.&nbsp; In that same location there are also coins with an S which I do not take as part of the same code series but probably indicating a semis or half.&nbsp; True, S could be the numeral 6 but those coins are larger than the E (scarcer series).&nbsp; All this is great until one mint (Thessalonica) put out one series with letters A through E in that location indicating officinae.&nbsp; All these are the same size and the mintmark in exergue does not have an officina.&nbsp; Each mint seemed to be free to use their own system of shop numbering and some changed the way they did it along the way.&nbsp; The last field letter used was M and those coins are really small.&nbsp; There are a few coins with two different letters on the two sides of the coin and many with no field letter.&nbsp; There is opportunity here for someone to spend a lifetime studying these.&nbsp; There are about 2200 varieties of the falling horsemen and the study would require examining and weighing many specimens of each.&nbsp; I am not a specialist but have quite a few.&nbsp; </p><p><a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/fh.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/fh.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/fh.html</a></p><p>The best assemblage belongs to Dane:</p><p><a href="http://www.catbikes.ch/helvetica/feltemps.htm" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.catbikes.ch/helvetica/feltemps.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.catbikes.ch/helvetica/feltemps.htm</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Serious studies of late Roman coins are not common.&nbsp; The task is huge.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in