Dear friends of ancient coins! We discussed this problem several years ago, but without achieving a satisfactory result. Now I have rediscovered it and am starting a new attempt. Many depictions of provincial coins from northern Greece show garments with a saw-like edge, as on this coin from Nicopolis. Does anyone have any idea what this is? Thank you for any answer Jochen
Yes, I remember at least one such thread, and I recall being satisfied with the answer, but I can no longer remember where or what... Several possibilities come to mind. My vote would be the first, below (although she seems to be wearing it more as a belt around the waist) Here is a male wearing something similar in a sculpture from 5th cent. Cyprus, with this description from Getty images: "A himation, with diagonal folds, is draped over the left shoulder and forms small zigzags on the vertical edge":https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/...ss-male-votary-in-greek-news-photo/1198412641 Another possibility is that it is the die-cutters' representation of the folds often shown on the far edge of the himation (?), as often shown on sculpture/friezes: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/253483 Here is a modern representation, illustrating the folded decoration at the margin of the garment: https://kimmygutierrezart2130.wordpress.com/2016/09/15/greek-himation-dress/ For a numismatic example of the latter two, here is the Diana/Artemis on my "Dreadlocked Gallia" denarius of Hostilius Saserna:
For what it's worth (probably not much), the mantle worn by St John Baptist on this florin is described as "sheep skin mantle" Q
I never saw the original thread but looking at your coin the first thing that I thought of was the person is wearing a train or a pleated garment and this was how it was depicted on coins.
