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<p>[QUOTE="Curtisimo, post: 3182168, member: 83845"]Okay I'll play! I'll start with the ones I *think* I know the most about.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]820173[/ATTACH]</p><p>It seems that there is some disagreement about whether these early "coins" of Magna Graecia should even be considered coins (I believe this is a drachm of Metapontum with some nice reverse doubling <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />).</p><p><br /></p><p>One theory I have read is that these are actually festival tokens that were made specifically for regional festivals hosted by the poleis of southern Italy and would have served more of a religious function instead of an economic one. Some of the reasons I have heard that make these strange as ancient coins go is that they are thin and large diameter in a time when most metal meant for exchange was thick and irregular shaped with a small diameter. The later coins of Magna Graecia from these same cities would soon become thicker and smaller.</p><p><br /></p><p>The incuse design is also a distinguishing feature. The alignment is usually so good that some have suggested these were struck with hinged dies. Your double struck example seems a hit against this theory.</p><p><br /></p><p>Since these may not be coins they may not fit into the Greek tradition as you have outlined.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center">.....................................</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]820174[/ATTACH]</p><p>This one is cool because it should get credit for two traditions that were developing a great geographic distance from one another. It was struck by the Persians to meet the needs of the Greek population of coastal Anatolia and apparently found its way through the Persian Empire (probably as bullion) to the opposite end of thier empire in India were it was reused in the Indian tradition through the use of the punches as you have outlined.</p><p><br /></p><p>As such it belongs to both the Greek and the Indian tradition.</p><p><br /></p><p>Edit to add: It's seems the countermarks on this specific example may not be from India (though were similar in intent?). I know that Indian punched Siglos exist and one day I hope to score one. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>So... um. Was I close?[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Curtisimo, post: 3182168, member: 83845"]Okay I'll play! I'll start with the ones I *think* I know the most about. [ATTACH=full]820173[/ATTACH] It seems that there is some disagreement about whether these early "coins" of Magna Graecia should even be considered coins (I believe this is a drachm of Metapontum with some nice reverse doubling :)). One theory I have read is that these are actually festival tokens that were made specifically for regional festivals hosted by the poleis of southern Italy and would have served more of a religious function instead of an economic one. Some of the reasons I have heard that make these strange as ancient coins go is that they are thin and large diameter in a time when most metal meant for exchange was thick and irregular shaped with a small diameter. The later coins of Magna Graecia from these same cities would soon become thicker and smaller. The incuse design is also a distinguishing feature. The alignment is usually so good that some have suggested these were struck with hinged dies. Your double struck example seems a hit against this theory. Since these may not be coins they may not fit into the Greek tradition as you have outlined. [CENTER].....................................[/CENTER] [ATTACH=full]820174[/ATTACH] This one is cool because it should get credit for two traditions that were developing a great geographic distance from one another. It was struck by the Persians to meet the needs of the Greek population of coastal Anatolia and apparently found its way through the Persian Empire (probably as bullion) to the opposite end of thier empire in India were it was reused in the Indian tradition through the use of the punches as you have outlined. As such it belongs to both the Greek and the Indian tradition. Edit to add: It's seems the countermarks on this specific example may not be from India (though were similar in intent?). I know that Indian punched Siglos exist and one day I hope to score one. :) So... um. Was I close?[/QUOTE]
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