Identification Help : Cyprus / Salamis or Kephallenia / Paleis (Pale) / Argos or ??

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Montmercure, Nov 11, 2023.

  1. Montmercure

    Montmercure Active Member

    I come back to you to submit a new epigraphic enigma concerning what I think is a monogram appearing on a small Greek silver coin (Tetartemorion or Hemiobol)
    I hope you will be willing to help me

    The coin in question is of the following type (see below)

    R468.jpg



    The obverse represents: "a Turreted female head - right", some numismatists recognize Aphrodite.

    The Monogram on the reverse is supposed to represent the city / Polis / province where it must have circulated around the 3rd century BC
    In my opinion, this monogram can be devided into several ways:
    Π + X
    Π + X + Ν

    Or, less likely:
    Γ + I +
    Γ + I + X + Ν

    Or in other less obvious combinations that don't come to mind

    Numismatic proposes “uncertain” origins such as:
    - Cyprus / Salamis / reign of Pnytagoras (Πνυταγόρας)
    - Kephallenia / Paleis (Pale)
    - ARGOS (Imhoof-Blumer - "Griechische Münzen", Munich 1890, page 9 n° 16)

    The way they arrive to those proposals is not indicate exept Imhoof-Blumer, but his justification seems a bit "tirée par les cheveux" (far-fetched) or at least original to me - perhaps this is an effect of the Google translation (German > French)?

    So We faced two camps :

    Camp 1 :
    CNG – Savoca – Roma Numismatic – CGB and a few others which propose an origin of - CYPRUS / Salamis or Kephallenia / Paleis (Pale)

    Camp 2 :
    Imhoof-Blumer, cited by Leu, Naumann and Künker who propose an origin to ARGOS

    Numismatic dealers do not take risks and are careful not to certify the location
    CNG even specifies: “The coins of Salamis do feature turreted portraits of Aphrodite, but other than that and the possibility of rendering the monogram as PN, there is little to confirm the identification of this coin »

    Apart from this sort of coin, have you ever encountered such monograms?

    Can you give me a clue because I admit to being "dry" on this point?

    François
     
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  3. Curtis

    Curtis Well-Known Member

    What a lovely little AR fraction! Being an enthusiast of tiny Greek coinage, I always enjoy seeing tiny coins.

    Unfortunately I can't contribute much. But...

    In addition to this specimen (twice), Roma Numis. has auctioned >5 others (8 total listings I see) placing them in Cyprus, Kephallenia, sometimes with other suggestions, always as Tetartemorion:
    https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?term=Keph+AR+tetart&company=93

    Also to consider:
    Two variants: one with wreath, one in linear circular border.
    There are a couple with a additional character in the field. T to left. Or, most interesting: P + kerykeion + (?) to right.

    Also, just random, it isn't actually related (these ones are from Magna Graecia), I'm sure, but this reminds me of the bizarro denomination "pentetetartemorion" (or "pentatetartemorion"), 5/8 of an Obol! One here OR some here.

    Greek silver fractions are wonderful little treasures!
     
    paschka likes this.
  4. Montmercure

    Montmercure Active Member

    Good evening and thank you for your response

    In recent sales, i have identified 33 different Tetartemorion (or Hemiobol) with the mysterious monogram associated or not with symbols (caduceus...) or letters.

    That's why i splited the sellers into 2 camps (camps 1 or 2) depending on the origin proposed by the seller.

    Origin which in all cases (except Imhoof-Blumer who is not a seller) is denoted by the adjective "uncertain".


    I also scanned the monograms present on the coins of Alexander and Philip II (there are many) ..... without success.

    This monogram (wherever it comes from) appears to have only been used on this coin, which is curious.
    It would have to appear (in significant numbers) on an excavation report, perhaps this would give an idea of its origin ?
     
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