Hello. The reverse of this ancient bronze coin has Greek lettering. However there's an unusual figure on the reverse, with a possible corncupia to the left. The obverse is just fine and clear. I need some identification and your kind comments as usual. Thanks..
You should slowly try to read the inscriptions on these coins ! On the right it is easy to read basileus. I also can not read the name directly. But on the left is a nice clue, for this reads "AUTOKRATOROS" which means self-empowered. This usually is a nice indication that this was no hereditary king, but an usurper that took over the throne by force or intrige. If you than search for Seleukid usurpers, it is most likely that this coin is an issue of Diodotus Tryphon. And indeed, he issued coins with on the reverse a macedonian helmet with Ibex horn.
...and more clear than mine. Today we have trouble recognizing head gear with ear flaps, a finial and Ibex horn. These come with various symbols left of the helmet but yours has three initials which I wonder if indicate a magistrate for that issue??? There is one on acsearch that has the same letters (AsigmaK?). I'm not sure what mine is. A branch??? http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=2141379 Those who like them big and expensive will prefer the tetradrachm version ($36k): http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1896026 It does show a lot of details on the helmet that we lack. I'm just not ready to pay 2000X as much for it.
I see a small arrow pointing to the little man stood on an egg on the back of a flamingo looking back over his shoulder at the whole scene..... but I'm weird.
No. Not weird. That's either wide imagination or sense of humor. No shark nor flamingo. That's an Ibex' horn. By the way, on the second row after the word Basileos to the right of reverse, I can read in Greek Tryfon. But after Tryfon immediately there's a point and the letter Sigma ( S in Greek). What meaning could the Sigma mean here ? Is it a mint mark ? Charles
No, that's no point, that was not invented yet. It's an O (omicron) that is often written this small. The name in Greek style is simply Tryphonos.
