Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;ancientnut, post: 2434849, member: 73212&quot;]I agree, Doug. Archaic is very difficult to define.</p><p><br /></p><p>Other than separating city issues into archaic and classical, David Sear in Greek Coins and Their Values, seems to avoid date ranges or definitions.</p><p><br /></p><p>In the preface to his Handbook of Greek Coinage series, Oliver D. Hoover, perhaps inadvertently, illustrates the problem:</p><p><br /></p><p>He gives the following date ranges:</p><p>Archaic - 7th century to 479 BC</p><p>Classical - 479 to 336 BC</p><p>Hellenistic - 336 BC to 31 BC</p><p><br /></p><p>However, he also says:</p><p><br /></p><p>&quot;During the Archaic period, human representations follow a style similar to that in contemporary sculpture: the eye is often represented full face, even when in profile, and the mouth is always formed into what is called the &quot;Archaic smile.&quot; Full-length figures are represented in a manner similar to that of ancient Egyptian wall illustrations, with the head and legs correctly in profile, but the torso viewed from the front. Movement follows a similar archaic convention: a running figure is depicted as if it were in a kneeling stance. For birds in flight, the body is rendered in profile while the wings are seen as if viewed from below.</p><p>In Greece and the East, coins of this period had rather thick, almost globular, flans, and no reverse types; instead, they had an incuse of some form...&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>Thus, he defines the Archaic period first as a date range, then as a matter of style, and finally as relating to fabric! Of course, there are coins of Archaic style struck later than 479 BC (Athenian tetradrachms being but one example). And there are coins which used reverse punches later than 479 (electrum issues of Mysia among many others).</p><p><br /></p><p>I&#039;m so confused!...<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie56" alt=":inpain:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie103" alt=":yack:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/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