Identification help please

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Ricardo123, Jul 1, 2019.

  1. Ricardo123

    Ricardo123 Well-Known Member

    I’m having trouble with this tetradrachm. Can someone on this board help me ?
    657D67B1-2625-497C-A119-A03B6353366B.jpeg
     
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  3. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    I see "ΔIOKΛ" in the obverse legend (11-1 on the clock), Greek lettering that translates to "DIOCL". And the reverse is the Alexandrian version of the goddess Spes. I hope that helps you in your hunt... I don't want to give you the answers as the hunt is part of the fun. :)

    (when you figure it out, you might even say, "Thank ya, thank ya very much!")
    Screen Shot 2019-07-01 at 4.12.01 PM.png
     
  4. Ricardo123

    Ricardo123 Well-Known Member

    Thanks a lot. I can manage english and spanish, but greek......
     
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  5. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    I sea what you did there ;):D.
     
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  6. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    I'm just figuring it out too, so I'm not a master at all... it DOES take practice and exposure. Here's my basics as to what I do to help myself:

    A = A
    B = B
    K = C
    Δ (Delta) = D (D is the first letter in the word Delta)
    Є or E = E (not too hard)
    Γ (Gamma) = G (G is the first letter in Gamma)
    I = I
    Λ (Lambda) = L (L is the first letter in the word Lambda)
    Θ (Theta) = Usually is like a Th sound (Th are the first sounds in Theta)
    Π (Pi) = Usually represents a P (P is the first letter in Pi)
    P = R (funny, huh!)
    Σ (Sigma) = S (S is the first letter in Sigma)
    Ω (Omega) = Usually represents W (I think of it as flipping the Omega upside-down and it has similar bumpiness as a W does)
    Ξ = X (both Ξ and X are strange)​

    [Others please correct me if I'm wrong anywhere or add to if you have more to share.]

    So, for example the emperor Marcus Aurelius Probus has a legend on Alexandrian coins that list it as: "M AVP ΠPOBOC"
    Translates to: "M AUR PROBOC"
    (I'm not sure why they end often in "-OC" and not "-VΣ" for "US")

    There's obviously more letters (like Phi), but they don't come up for me as often, so I don't have any helpful tips (or I already figured out enough to be able to decipher it).

    The greek alphabet is also used for dating... here's a page about that too:
    https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/6144/ancient-coins/
     
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2019
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  7. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    Oh, um... you need to change one letter in the word "sea" to make it "see". I can only assume that's the word you meant, anyways... :rolleyes: it's crazy the impact that a single letter can have! :woot:;)
     
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  8. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    I'm curious, Ricardo, if you have made progress with figuring out your coin?
     
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