Featured Follow the coin theme GAME - ancient edition - post ‘em if you got ‘em

Nickel was not used again for coins for 2000 years. The alloy was about 25% nickel and 75% copper as I recall. There are only a few types of these Bactrians. Many are very corroded.

Agathokles. Baktria Cu-NI single unit 3.3g., c.190-180 BC /Panther and vine
ex. CNG 37, 804 (March 1996) at $50 and FSR February 1998 at $259. Frank did well on this one. This is the smaller of two denominations. Doubles are more popular.



Next: another Baktrian

 

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A nice cupronickel coin! In fact, some scholars argued that the material came from my hometown, Yunnan province of China, which was one of the nearest place of Ni-Cu's origin to Bactria. Bactrian Greeks may got the material via the "South Silk Road" recorded in Hanshu.

Here is my coin, an interesting imitative obol of Eucratides I in Bactria.

Next: more imitation coins issued by Nomads.

 

Don't know if it was issued by Nomads, but it's certainly an imitation. The location of the hoard find suggests it's Sarmatian in origin:


Elagabalus AD 218-222, 3.28 g, 18.2 mm, 6 h.
Fourrée Denarius, imitative issue, (after AD 250?).
Unknown (Sarmatian?) mint.
Obv: ΛNTONINVS PIVS FEL ΛVG; Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: CONCORDIΛ; Two standards between two aquilae; NILIT in exergue (sic, the N backwards and replacing the correct M, and the L looking like an upside-down T).
Refs: imitation of: RIC 187; BMC 275; C 15; Thirion-344.
Notes: See CNG E-Auction 281, June 20, 2012, lot 369 (same dies).

Next: Concordia Militum issue.

 

New theme, Yaudheya copper unit.
This ~3 AD Indian Yaudheya coin was minted in a republican confederacy. There's Kartikeya (Hindu god of war), holding a spear and, a rooster stands next to him. The Bramhi legend reads 'Yaudheya Ganasya Jaya' meaning 'Victory to the people of Yaudheya'. Reverse has an (unknown) goddess and a conch shell.
Next, post another republican coin (non-Roman).

 

Non-Roman Republic


India - Shakya Janapada
AR 5-Shana
6th-5th Century BCE
25mm x 21mm, 7.05g
Obv: Central Pentagonal punch plus several banker's marks
Rev: Blank
Ref: Hirano Type I.8.29
This is one of 19 known.
Coinage from the Ghaghara Gandak River region.

At this time, any of the 16 "Janapada" was defined as a tribe, country, kingdom, or a republic in northern India. Shakya was a Republic in northern India near present day Nepal.

The best-known man from Shakya was Prince Siddhartha Shakya. He later gained enlightenment and became know as Buddha Gautama or The Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

This coin, being from the Janapada and the time, was quite likely produced during and under the authority of the Man, probably his Father, who became the Buddha

Next: Another non-Roman Republic

 

This sent me down a fun hunt, Wikipedia has a good article on List of Republics.

Republic of Carthage
c. 220-210 BCE
AE Shekel
Obv: Bust of Tanit left
Rev: Horse standing right, head left, ghost legs, staff in background


​

Next: Another non-Roman Republic

 

This coin falls in a grey-zone - does self-rule qualify as non-Roman. It was not a sovereign state at the time that this coin was minted, it was a Roman protectorate that enjoyed its own government.

In the Lycian confederacy, which consisted of 23 cities or republics, the largest were entitled to three votes in the Common Council, those of the middle class to two, and the smallest to one. The Common Council had the appointment of all the judges and magistrates of the respective Cities. This is certainly the most delicate species of interference in their normal administration; for if there be anything that seems exclusively appropriate to the local jurisdictions, it is the appointment of their own officers. Yet Montesquieu, speaking of this association says: “Were I to give a model of an excellent Confederate Republic, it would be that of Lycia”.
-Hamilton, the Federalist Papers​

Lycian League, Masicytes, circa 48-20 BC, AR hemidrachm, Period IV, Series 4
Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right; Λ-Y below
Rev: M-A, cithara (lyre); filleted palm frond in left field, all within incuse square
Size: 16mm, 1.92 g
Ref: RPC I 3305; Troxell107
Notes: more here on this coin

Next: a coin issued autonomously, semi-autonomously, or pseudo-autonomously

 

Semi-autonomous issue:


Time of Valerian I to Gallienus, AD 253-268.
Roman provincial Æ 23.2 mm, 5.86 g, 6 h.
Troas, Alexandria Troas, AD 253-268.
Obv: CO ALEX TRO, turreted and draped bust of Tyche, right, with vexillum inscribed CO/AV over shoulder.
Rev: COL AVGO TROA, Marsyas standing right on pedestal, holding wineskin.
Refs: Bellinger A497; SNG Copenhagen 103; SNG von Aulock 1463; BMC --.

Next: Vexillum.

 

Arcadius, A.D. 395-408
AE22, 5.7 grams, Antioch mint

Obverse: D N ARCADI-VS P F AVG
Rosette-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right

Reverse: GLORIA ROMANORVM
Emperor standing facing, head right, holding standard and globe

Mintmark: ANT

Reference: RIC IX Antioch 68C, pg. 294







Next: To stay roughly in the same time period, an AE2 of Honorius...

 

Honorius' version of the above coin:


Next: an AE2 or larger coin later than Honorius but before Anastasius

 

12 hours

Southern Tang Dynasty of China
Emperor Liu Chang (Li Jing) | 959-975 CE
AE Cash | 2.94 grams | 25mm
Obv: Tang Guo Tong Bao
Rev: Plain
Ex. Recovered from Musi River in Palembang, Sumatra

​

Next: Another Chinese coin

 

next: another cash coin

 

Tang Dynasty of China
759-762 CE
AE Cash | 2.68 grams | 24mm
Obv: Qian Yuan Zhong Bao
Rev: Plain
Ref: Hartill#14.114
​

Next: Another East Asian coin

 

EAST ASIA COIN


China Shang 1766-1154 BCE or Zhou Dynasty Ghost Face Ant Nose 1.65g Hartill 1.4



China Shang Dyn 1766-1154 BC Ant Nose Ge Liu Zhu 17-4x10 very scarce H 1.10



China Shang Dyn 1766-1154 BC Ant Nose Ge Liu Zhu 2-6g 19-5x11 very scarce H 1.10


Next: BCE East Asian Coin

 

Been awhile.. so a little kick start:


Titus AE As. AD 80. IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P COS VIII, laureate head left / PAX AVGVST S-C, Pax standing left, holding branch and caduceus.

Next up: a coin featuring PAX .. in these times we all need a little peace!

 

CLAUDIUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P VI IMP XI, laureate head right
REVERSE: PACI AVGVSTAE, Pax-Nemesis advancing right, drawing out fold of robe at neck, holding caduceus above serpent preceding her
Struck at Rome, 46/7AD
3.6g, 19mm
RIC39, BMC40

Next: Denarius of Claudius

 

Titus
79-81 CE Æ Sestertius (33.5mm, 22.76 g.)
Rome mint, struck AD 80-81.
Obv. Laureate head left.
Rev. Pax standing left, holding olive branch and cornucopia.
RIC II 155 Brown patina.

Next up: I'm too slow. Claudius denarius

 

Claudius denarius with Praetorian camp reverse.

next... Claudius bronze.

 

Next -- Pileus

 

CALIGULA
AE Quadrans. 2.95g, 19.5mm. Rome mint, AD 40. RIC 52. O: C CAESAR DIVI AVG PRON AVG, S-C flanking pileus. R: PON M TR P IIII P P COS TERT, legend around large RCC.
Ex Archer M. Huntington Collection (ANS 1001.1.15974), Jencek Auction 22 (10 June 2014), lot 69

Next: Another quadrans