Cataloging Conundrum: Who struck this Pigasus?

This 9 mm bronze coin was a very welcome addition to my Pigasus squadron.

It is quite rare, at least in references and online databases, and there is disagreement about the attribution. I've read the Troxell reference which, thankfully, is online in its entirety. I haven't found the one other reference (Winzer).


MYSIA, Kisthene. Pharnabazos, satrap
413-374/3 BCE
AE, 9 mm, 0.75 gm
Obv: Bearded head right, wearing bashlyk.
Rev: KIΣ.; forepart of winged boar right.
Ref: Troxell, Orontes 7

It is cited in Troxell's "Orontes, Satrap of Mysia" (SNR 60: 27-39, 1981) yet the description doesn't match and by similar listings it is Phanabazos rather than Orontes. The obverse figure in this coin appears to be wearing a bashlyk, not a tiara as described in Troxell's work. Despite the apparent current thinking that this coin was issued under Pharnabazos, it is still cited from Troxell's article on the Mysian coins of Orontes.


Excerpt from Troxell:



It is difficult to search for examples when the descriptions and attributions vary so much. It is difficult for numismatists to definitively assign an attribution when few examples are known and all have wear, corrosion, or other issues which obscure original details.

Here are the only other examples I've found so far:


MYSIA, Kisthene. Pharnabazos. Persian military commander, 413-374/3 BC. Æ (9mm, 0.75 g, 5h). Struck circa 399-390 BC. Head right, wearing bashlik; [Φ behind?] / Forepart of winged bull [obviously a simple cataloging mistake; it is a boar-- TIF] right. Troxell, Orontes 7 (citing 2); Winzer 9.1 or 9.2. VF, green patina. Very rare.
CNG 288, lot 195 (10 October 2012)

CNG's cataloger had this to say about the above coin:

MYSIA. Kisthene. Pharnabazos (413-374/3 BC)
AE, 8 mm, 0.62 gm
Obv: Head right, wearing bashlyk; Φ to left.
Rev: KIΣ;Forepart of winged boar right.
Troxell, Orontes, 7.
Condition: Near very fine.
Gitbud & Naumann Auction 34, lot 169. 9 August 2015


MYSIA. Kisthene. Pharnabazos (413-374/3 BC)
Ae, 9 mm, 0.69 gm
Obv: Head right, wearing bashlik; Φ to left.
Rev: KIΣ (retrograde); Forepart of winged boar right.
Troxell, Orontes, 7 var. (arrangement of ethnic).
Very rare
Condition: Near very fine.
Gitbud & Naumann, Auction 27, lot 186 (4 January 2015)
The reverse style of this coin is quite different and the ethnic is retrograde.

...

I do not a appreciate a Φ behind the head in any of these four coins and if I understand correctly, the attribution to Pharnabazos seems to hinge on finding this on the one example from Winzer.

So, I have questions about this coin. Was it issued by Pharnabazos or was it Orontes? Someone else? Kisthene seems reasonable given the KIΣ.

If anyone has access to the Winzer book (A. Winzer. Antike portraitmünzen der Perser und Greichen aus vor-hellenistischer Zeit; Zeitraum ca. 510-322 v.Chr., March-Hugstetten 2005), I'd appreciate it if you could post a picture of the relevant page or pages.

...

Meanwhile, I'd love to see any coins or post you feel relate to this coin in any way

 

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Here is one on acsearch that might be worth reading....


http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1515598


Martin

 

Thank you, Martin. Despite using a variety of search terms I missed that example. I wonder how many others I have missed? Even now when I search acsearch with "Pharnabazus" as the term, this coin does not come up. Hmm. (edit: the listing was auto-translated. I reverted it back to its original German and copied the key search terms. It was the only hit looking for this coin in German. I wonder if I'll need to try other languages too?)

Here is a copy of that acsearch listing:


GREEKS
KINGDOM Achaemenid
PERSIAN satraps. Pharnabazus, satrap of Daskyleion, about 413 -.. 388 BC AE (0.51 g). 399 -. 390 BC Mzst.. Kisthene in Mysia. Vs .: Bearded head with Phrygian cap number, behind Φ (?) Rev .: KIΣ, Protome a winged boar nr HA Troxell, Orontes, Starap of Mysia, SNR 60, 1981, p 30, 7. Winzer 9.1. RR! Dark green patina, partial editions, ss
The type is assigned by Troxell Orontas who minted other, uniquely named coins in Kisthene. The Φ on the coin Winzer 9.1 however has this emission to Pharnabazus.
Gorny & Mosch, Auction 212, lot 2281, 5 March 2013


I'm still not clearly seeing the Φ although perhaps there is a hint of it on this G&M coin. The attribution to Pharnabazos seems to hinge on that one letter.

 

Cool coins and interesting write-up !!

I'm afraid I lack any of the type and only have the most remotely related coin types (like the the Mysia Lion/Boar).

 

I got nothing for ya, but must applaud your passionate pursuit of Pigasi. It's a nice addition to the squadron!

 

Fun fact:

Pigasus was also the name of a 145-pound (66-kg) domestic pig that was nominated for President of the United States in 1968. It was a theatrical gesture by the Youth International Party (Yippies). At a rally announcing his candidacy, just before the opening of the Democratic National Convention, Pigasus was seized by Chicago policemen and several of his Yippie backers were arrested for disorderly conduct.

Excerpt from the trial:

Defense attorney (William Kunstler): Do you remember what you were charged with?

The witness (Phil Ochs): I believe the original charge mentioned was something about an old Chicago law about bringing livestock into the city, or disturbing the peace, or disorderly conduct, and when it came time for the trial, I believe the charge was disorderly conduct.

Defense attorney: Were you informed by a police officer that the pig had squealed on you?

The witness: Yes.

 

Who struck this Pigasus?

Pretty sure it was Pink Floyd. They have been around forever. Looks like a concert token from one of their Pre-Roman Era concerts. I hear they killed it back then. btw Love the Roger Waters profile on the obverse. Rocks that cap.

 

@4to2centBC, in case you missed this (I posted it a couple of years ago), my first themed collection:



https://prezi.com/q7mw1k1zur65/pink-floyd-animals/

Let it load, hit Full Screen and play; sound up.



I need to edit the presentation since I've added many more coins

 

Good Heavens. You poor thing. We think alike.

 

The issue of attribution is sometimes complicated by the fact that the descriptions in catalogs are incorrect. I've run up against this a few times, reading the description of the coin, then examining the photograph of the coin described, then wondering, "How exactly did they get that?"

 

@TIF , everything aside on research: your coin is beautiful, nicely-struck, and a really cool subject on the reverse! And, in AE which is always tough to get in the nice condition that you have. That must have been a fun capture when you found it! Well done...

Now, back to the chase...

 

Ah, c'mon...do you really say it that way???
Can we get the TRUTH: say it in its UNEDITED version!

 

I might have said, "How the heck did they get that."

 

MYSIA, Kisthene. Roger Waters, bass guitar
413-374/3 BCE. Live at Pompeii
AE, 9 mm, 0.75 gm
Obv: Bearded head right, wearing bashlyk.
Rev: KIΣ.; forepart of winged boar right.
Ref: TIF, PinkFloyd 1

 

Wow TIF => that's a fantastic new Flyin' Pig addition!!

=> man, you really are the Queen of the Flyin' Sow, eh?

... it is a super side-series (I am totally jealous of your aerial pig-pen!!)

 

what a cool little coin! awesome "pig on the wing", but the bearded hat guy on the obverse is neat as well....not a typical greek coin fellow.

 

Is this the Winzer?

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Winzer

Awesome coin.

 

Thanks, and yes that is the cover of the book. If you know anyone who has it or see it available for full-content online viewing, please give me a heads-up

 

That is an utterly fantastic coin!!!! The 'pig' is great and that portrait LOL

 

It's remarkably lifelike