Hi. I didn't intend to insist on this coin, but only because it's Christmas season and here we are in the heart of December. The coin's reverse has a clear big star, thought to be the famous one of Bethlehem. There's also a lamb down to right of the same reverse ( I don't know what symbol could it be of ). The obverse represents Zeus. I do appreciate your comments and opinions on that interesting coin, I believe. Thank you.. Charles.
These are autonomous issues of Antioch. The idea that the star represents the star of Bethlehem described in the Bible is a modern fabrication, if you ask me. The Ram is the sign of Aries, and stars occur on many, many ancient coins. Does the star on this coin represent something special? Something different than an ordinary star? Maybe, but there's no way to prove it. Still, they are wonderful coins, and yours is a particularly nice example.
What date were these made? It seems really weird to have a Star of Bethlehem (a decidedly Christian symbol) on a coin with distinctly pagan gods.
Superb comments. I was wondering about the lettering on reverse : M and Delta down, along with Sigma upper right, and maybe Pi an I etc.. Charles
They're dated to the first 50 years of the 1st-century, roughly, long before Christianity had strong enough of a foothold to be represented on coins. It is indeed pagan symbolism - like I said, the notion that the star represents the star of Bethlehem is a modern concoction. The man behind it is Michael Molnar, an astronomer who "believes" the reverse design represents Jupiter's occultation of Aries in 6 BC, which he then connects with the star of Bethlehem. So, as you can see, it's one conjecture built on another. I could probably make up half a dozen equally viable theories as to the interpretation of the reverse.
JA. You mean the first 50 years years of the first century BC or AD ? Then, what if the so- called star of Betlehem happen to be the famous glowing star " Sirius " itself?. According to Astronomy, this star exists today as it had always existed. So the astronomer Molnar might be right in a way ( I just say, might be right ). Notice that the star on reverse has 8 points or wings, not 5 or 7 or 6 as usual.
I'm not sure about the exact dating - I've read everything between 15 AD to 56 AD - maybe the letters are dates. I haven't researched the type that much. Yes, the star could be Sirius, or Jupiter, or another bright object, or just a generic rendition of a star. That's my point: we don't know what it is, other than a star, and short of any empirical data, it's impossible to prove any theories.
That sounds perfectly logical. Btw, can't we at least interpret the possible meaning of the lettering on the reverse ? there's an M and Delta down the lamb. Then up to the right there's a clear Sigma preceded possibly by a Pi and an I etc.. Charles
These were issued under Augustus and magistrate(?) Silanus. Looking at similar coins, the legend on the reverse appears to be EΠI ΣIΛANOY ANTIOCEΩN and ΔN stands for year 44, or 13/14 AD. But I'm copying a dealer's attribution here so caveat emptor. I don't have time to verify this today, just too busy with other things.
JA. This coin was found together amid the same hoard of ancient Greek coins. They all date back to the Seleucid era. Could this help find out the reality of that autonomous controversial coin? Thanks a lot..
I double-checked the attributions on Wildwinds, and it seems correct - an issue of Augustus, his legate Silanus. ΔM is the date, year 44.
