I recently picked up a relatively inexpensive copy of Catalogo completo della collezione Dattari Numi Augg. Alexandrini, A. Savio, ed. (Trieste, 1999). I don't specialise in Alexandrian coins generally, but was wanting a copy of the catalogue to help hunt down any Flavian specimens that are plate coins. My recent Alexandrian acquisitions also fuelled my interest in obtaining a copy. Plus, I'm an attribution nerd and only cite catalogues I physically own (I never copy and paste attributions). Here are a few photos to give an idea of what all the fuss is about. I understand the 2007 second edition has additional plates discovered after this 1999 first edition was published, but I don't think it makes much difference in regards to the Flavian section. It's a frighteningly difficult catalogue to use (the handwriting and coin rubbings can be hard to decipher at times) and there are multiple errors as well. However, owning this book will encourage me to hunt down more Dattari plate coins, which can't be a bad thing! Here is a neat one I already have. Domitian Æ Diobol, 9.78g Alexandria Mint, 85-86 AD Obv: AYT KAIΣAP ΔOMITIANOΣ ΣEB ΓΕΡM; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: No legend: Apis-bull standing, r.; before altar; date LE above RPC 2511 (10 spec.). Emmett 279.5. Dattari-Savio 576 (this coin). Acquired from Praefectus Coins, April 2020. Ex Dattari Collection. I'll beat someone to the punch here. lol Show off your plate coins!
Excellent catch David, I don't have a plate coin but I have a couple of Domitian that are depicted on the the page you exhibited. Egypt, Alexandria. Domitian. A.D. 81-96. AE drachm. Egypt, Alexandria. Domitian. A.D. 81-96. AE drachm (34.7 mm, 23.61 g, 11 h). Alexandria mint, Struck A.D. 95/6. [AVT KAIC ΘЄ] OVIOC ΔOMIT [CЄB ΓЄPM], laureate head of Domitian right / Frontal elevation of triumphal arch; L - IE ( yr. 15 = A.D. 95/6 ). Emmett 257.15. Near VF / VF, very dark green smooth patina. Scarce (Emmett "frequency" 2). RPC II, 2728. From the D. Thomas Collection; Wz Group CEM; Ex Walter Niggeler Collection; Ex Bank Leu/Munzen und Medallien.
Nice one, David! Here's another from the pages of Dattari-Savio: ANTONINUS PIUS Billon Tetradrachm. 12.57g, 23mm. EGYPT, Alexandria, RY 10 (AD 146/7). Dattari-Savio pl. 115, 8247 (this coin); Emmett 1426.10; RPC Online 14265 (this coin cited). O: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: L ΔEKATOV, draped bust of Sarapis wearing kalathos and taenia, right. Ex Robert L. Grover Collection of Roman-Egyptian Coinage, previously held by the Art Institute of Chicago (1981.507); ex Giovanni Dattari Collection
Good topic! I have a few ex-Dattari Collection coins (I keep an eye out for them, along with a few other collections I like), but this one is my favorite. The only one of mine, I think, that has one of those fun pencil rubbings in Dattari-Savio. It was the original Dattari 4731 coin, though it wasn't pictured in the 1905 catalog. Another interesting detail about this coin. Both dies are, as far as I can tell, otherwise unpublished/unphotographed and the obverse has a unique legend break. I suppose the coin is not exactly rare by Roman Provincial or Egypt, Alexandrian standards (where one regularly sees coins with only a few other examples, or none), as I've found at least 12 photographed examples (9 in RPC Online, plus the pencil rubbings). But having an apparently unique obverse legend break (G-ORDIAN rather than GO-RDIAN), which I don't know that anyone had previously taken note of, makes it an interesting one for me. Roman Provincial. Gordian III (238-244). Billon Tetradrachm (23mm., 12.35g, 12h). Struck in Egypt, Alexandria, 243-4 AD. Obverse: Α Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ƐΥ (see Numis. Notes below). Laureate, draped & cuirassed bust of Gordian right, seen from behind. Reverse: Bust of Helios facing right, radiate & draped, seen from behind. In fields, L-Z (Regnal Year 7). References: Dattari 4731 (this coin, not illustrated); Dattari-Savio plate 252, 4731 (this coin illustrated); RPC VII.2 Online Temp. 3037 (this coin illustrated, #11417); Milne 3466; BMC Alexandria 1859; Emmett 3407; K & G 72.137. Pedigree: Ex-Naville Numismatics (London) Auction 60, #308; Ex-Giovanni Dattari Collection. EDIT: Scratch that, I guess I have one other that may be illustrated with Dattari's pencil rubbings (plate 210, 9612), at least according to Naville Numis., and RPC (I don't have my own copy of D-S yet so I haven't double-checked this one for myself, which of course is a "best practice"): https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coin/321513 https://www.coinarchives.com/a/openlink.php?l=1549796|3233|365|c46789577c8b17c7d0e784c85c416dda
Wildwinds coin...in my collection and formerly in a museum Claudius, AE19 of Attalea, Pamphylia. 41.54 AD. 4.44 gr. Bare head of Claudius left / ATTAΛEωN, helmeted head of Athena right wearing crested Corinthian helmet. Reference: RPC I 3366; BMC 13; Baydur 157; Istanbul 7726. https://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/claudius/RPC_3366.jpg
Nice capture, @David Atherton ! Here is one of mine: This one is a plate coin in our own CT member, @Nicholas Molinari 's book: @Nicholas Molinari : "Your first coin is a plate coin in Potamikon, number 343 in our catalog so Sambon 663; Taliercio IIIa.16; MSP I, 343, featuring Acheloios Sebethos as a man-faced bull. Taliercio cited three examples of this type, so yours is the fourth known of that particular variety." "According to my notes, ACR E-Auction 28 lot 12." Campania, Neopolis 275-250 BCE AE 18, 4.99g Obv: Laureate Head of Apollo, NEOPOLITON (in Greek), Theta at r. Rev: Achelous advancing r, crowned by flying Nike, IOTA SIGMA under Achelous Ref: Sambon 663; HN Italy 589; SNG ANS 474; SNG Copenhage - ; Comment: Achelous was a river god from the Achelous River (largest river in Greece). Derivation of his name predates the Greeks, and later the River God became the god over all rivers, lakes, streams, and waters not controlled by Neptune. Provenance: Plate coin in Potamikon, number 343 in our catalog so Sambon 663; Taliercio IIIa.16; MSP I, 343, featuring Acheloios Sebethos as a man-faced bull. Taliercio cited three examples of this type, so yours is the fourth known of that particular variety. ACR E-Auction 28 lot 12. LIVIA @Sulla80 graciously pointed out that mine was a plate coin! Egypt, Alexandria. In the name of Livia, wife of Augustus Diobol circa 1-2 (year 31), Æ 23.5mm., 7.46g. Draped bust r. Rev. Athena standing l., holding Nike and leaning on shield; L-ΛA. Dattari-Savio Pl. 3, 60 (this coin). RPC pag. 692, 5 (this coin cited). Very rare. Nice brown-green tone. Very Fine From the Dattari collection. Naville Comments: In our opinion is correct the interpretation of Dattari on this coin and the date shown on the Rev. is L-ΛA and not LMA as suggested from RPC. ex Dattari-Savio Pl. 3 60-this coin RPC page 692-5-this coin RARE Ex: Naville Numismatics
SHAPUR I SASANIAN KINGS. Shapur I. AD. 240-272. Æ Tetradrachm (10.78 gm; 27 mm). Mint I (“Ctesiphon”), phase 1a, ca. AD 240-244. Obv: Bust of Shapur I right, wearing diadem and mural crown with korymbos / Rev: Fire altar, flanked by two attendants wearing diadems (type 2) and mural crowns. SNS type IIa1/1a, style Abi, pl. 20, 5-A8; Göbl type II/1; Paruck 95; Saeedi -; Sunrise 731(this coin). From The Sunrise Collection Ex: Pars Coins And this one is kinda cool with the Die Matches: PERTINAX Roman Empire - Pertinax (193 A.D.) AE sestertius. Rome mint, 19,60 grs. 28 mm Obv: LAETITIA TEMPORVM COS II. IMP (CAES P HELV - PERTINAX AVG) Head, laureate, to right.. Rev: LAETITIA TE -MPORVM COS II / S - C Laetitia standing l. holding wreath and sceptre. Ref: RIC 17. C. 21. Ex: Lucernae @Julius Germanicus ' comment Nice ! Yours is one of the 26 specimen of RIC 17 that I found. Those were, according to Woodward, struck with four obverse dies and six reverse dies. Your Sestertius´ obverse die is Woodward AV 2 (illustrated in Woodward, plate XII, Nr.3, and BMC 27, plate 2, Nr.2), and it should be a double die match with the coin illustrated in Banti, Nr.11. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/pertinax-is-here.299894/#post-2800119
Nice acquisition David. Is that monster going to fit on your bookshelf? Here are a few Dattari plate coins.
Yes, but just barely! My major qualm about the volume is that it is not a very practical catalogue for attributing coins. There are no coin descriptions or any index, just plates of rubbings which are sometimes impossible to read. On top of all that, many times the coin rubbings are unlabelled and lack a date or number. Luckily, I have a PDF copy of the original 1901 catalogue, but that is only of help with the coins originally cited in that volume. The majority of the rubbings in this 1999 edition were added by Savio and have no corresponding descriptions. Needless to say, it is a most vexing book!
Hi All, I resurrect this entry to keep all the Dattari info in one place. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-dattaris-mystery.357304/#post-4290197 - Broucheion