Log in or Sign up
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
Early portraits on coins
>
Reply to Thread
Message:
<p>[QUOTE="Finn235, post: 3470752, member: 98035"]Thought this might be a fun collaborative/discussion thread.</p><p><br /></p><p>Even though the human form began appearing on coinage within about a century from its invention in the late 7th century BC, the Greeks mostly shied away from placing their rulers' porttaits on coinage, preferring to stick with icons and patron deities. This tradition was upheld until the death of Philip III and the subsequent implosion of Alexander's empire, when Ptolemy and Seleukos boldly placed their living image on their coinage as they wrestled for control with the other Diadochi. Portraiture would become standard fare for the Hellenistic world, and inspired one Roman Dictator in Perpetuity to do the same....</p><p><br /></p><p>Ptolemy and Seleukos were not the first, however. While the Greeks of the classical age declined to appear on their coinage and the imperial Achaemenids opted for an idealized image of their semi-mythical founder, the western frontiers of the Persian Empire were ruled by powerful satraps who felt no binding taboo against showing their immediate subjects exactly who they paid their taxes to.</p><p><br /></p><p>I haven't ventured very far into this area of numismatics, but I do find it fascinating. Let's see your earliest coins bearing the mug of a living, breathing king, emperor, or satrap!</p><p><br /></p><p>First up is my least ambiguous, an obol of the Cilician satrap Tarkumuwa, better known by his Greek name Datames</p><p>[ATTACH=full]923145[/ATTACH] </p><p>Cilicia, Tarsos</p><p>AR obol of Datames</p><p>385-362 BC</p><p>Obv: Head of Datames left in helmet, Aramaic TRKMW before</p><p>Rev: Head of Arethusa, copying Kimon</p><p><br /></p><p>My others are all less certain.</p><p><br /></p><p>This one is certainly of a Cilician satrap, but nobody has been able to deduce who</p><p>[ATTACH=full]923148[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Another, possibly the same person? Possibly with his wife?</p><p>(No longer my coin)</p><p>[ATTACH=full]923149[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>These two are attributed to Pharnabazos (413-374 BC), predecessor and colleague of Datames, although not all are conviced the portrait is of him</p><p>[ATTACH=full]923151[/ATTACH] </p><p>I argue that it is likely the case; compare the facial features to this one of the same ruler, depicting "Herakles with bare head"</p><p>[ATTACH=full]923152[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>And finally, an enigmatic issue that may be one of the few coin portraits of a sitting Achaemenid emperor, although the jury is still out on whether this could be Artaxerxes II, Artaxerxes III, or merely Achamenes ("Great King") in Greek style</p><p>[ATTACH=full]923153[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Let's see some more early portraits![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Finn235, post: 3470752, member: 98035"]Thought this might be a fun collaborative/discussion thread. Even though the human form began appearing on coinage within about a century from its invention in the late 7th century BC, the Greeks mostly shied away from placing their rulers' porttaits on coinage, preferring to stick with icons and patron deities. This tradition was upheld until the death of Philip III and the subsequent implosion of Alexander's empire, when Ptolemy and Seleukos boldly placed their living image on their coinage as they wrestled for control with the other Diadochi. Portraiture would become standard fare for the Hellenistic world, and inspired one Roman Dictator in Perpetuity to do the same.... Ptolemy and Seleukos were not the first, however. While the Greeks of the classical age declined to appear on their coinage and the imperial Achaemenids opted for an idealized image of their semi-mythical founder, the western frontiers of the Persian Empire were ruled by powerful satraps who felt no binding taboo against showing their immediate subjects exactly who they paid their taxes to. I haven't ventured very far into this area of numismatics, but I do find it fascinating. Let's see your earliest coins bearing the mug of a living, breathing king, emperor, or satrap! First up is my least ambiguous, an obol of the Cilician satrap Tarkumuwa, better known by his Greek name Datames [ATTACH=full]923145[/ATTACH] Cilicia, Tarsos AR obol of Datames 385-362 BC Obv: Head of Datames left in helmet, Aramaic TRKMW before Rev: Head of Arethusa, copying Kimon My others are all less certain. This one is certainly of a Cilician satrap, but nobody has been able to deduce who [ATTACH=full]923148[/ATTACH] Another, possibly the same person? Possibly with his wife? (No longer my coin) [ATTACH=full]923149[/ATTACH] These two are attributed to Pharnabazos (413-374 BC), predecessor and colleague of Datames, although not all are conviced the portrait is of him [ATTACH=full]923151[/ATTACH] I argue that it is likely the case; compare the facial features to this one of the same ruler, depicting "Herakles with bare head" [ATTACH=full]923152[/ATTACH] And finally, an enigmatic issue that may be one of the few coin portraits of a sitting Achaemenid emperor, although the jury is still out on whether this could be Artaxerxes II, Artaxerxes III, or merely Achamenes ("Great King") in Greek style [ATTACH=full]923153[/ATTACH] Let's see some more early portraits![/QUOTE]
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
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
Early portraits on coins
>
Home
Home
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Activity
Recent Posts
Forums
Forums
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Posts
Competitions
Competitions
Quick Links
Competition Index
Rules, Terms & Conditions
Gallery
Gallery
Quick Links
Search Media
New Media
Showcase
Showcase
Quick Links
Search Items
Most Active Members
New Items
Directory
Directory
Quick Links
Directory Home
New Listings
Members
Members
Quick Links
Notable Members
Current Visitors
Recent Activity
New Profile Posts
Sponsors
Menu
Search
Search titles only
Posted by Member:
Separate names with a comma.
Newer Than:
Search this thread only
Search this forum only
Display results as threads
Useful Searches
Recent Posts
More...