VO/2, No. 11 Numismatic Art of Antiquity NOVEMBER 1988 $1.

25

Insights from antiquity

Seutonius related character of the 12 Caesars
by Micbael Swoveland was killed. In 45 B.C .• Caesar
Caius Suetonius TranquiIJus served defeated Sextus Pompey at Munda and
as secretary to the Emperor Hadrian, had himself declared dictator for life.
until A.D. 121, when he was Caesar had great plans for the city of
dismissed along with several other Rome and the empire, but did not live
members of the imperial court for to carry out these plans. On the Ides
improper behavior toward the (15th) of March, 44 B.C., he was
Empress Sabina. It was during this assassinated by a group of Senators.
period that Suetonins wrote his Lives led by Marcus Brutus, who feared he
of Famous Men, as well as other intended to make himself king.
works on history and science. All of There were many interesting coins
these are lost, ex.cept for a few struck by Caesar, most of these are
fragments of Lives of Famous Men . silver denarii, although gold and
Suetonins' most famous and valuable bronze was also used. Perhaps the
work, The Lives of the Twelve best known of Caesar's coins is the Rome, Augustus
Caesars is complete, except for the denarius which shows on the obverse, AU - Aureus
fIrst few chapters of the life of Julius an elephant trampling a serpent, with 27 B.C . • 14 A.D.
Caesar. In his book, Suetonins paints the name CAESAR underneath. There
vivid pictures of the lives and deeds of were many other obverse types used
the first rulers of the Roman Empire. on Caesar's coinage, most show the
bust of a goddess. such as Venus or provinces to Octavian, and the eastern Antony then fled to Egypt. and the
Julius Caesar Ceres. There are also several types provinces to Antony. Control of following year committed suicide
Julius Caesar was born in 100 B.C. which have a portrait of Caesar on the Africa was given to a former Consul with Cleopatra. In 27 B.C., Octavian
In his youth, Caesar opposed the obverse. Coins with portraits are named Lepidus. Soon, however, became the first Roman emperor, and
powerful dictator Sulla, and had to considerably more expensive than Octavian and Antony were at war. In
flee Rome for his safety. Soon was given the title Augustus by the
those without. One other coin 31 B.C .• Marcus Agrippa, a general Senate. Augustus went on to
however, Sulla pardoned Caesar and he worthy of note is the denarius minted and close friend of Octavian, defeated
returned to Rome, to embark upon a completely reorganize the govern-
by Brutus, to celebrate Caesar's Anto.ny at the Battle of Actium.
political career. In 58 B.C. Caesar assassination. The reverse shows two Please turn to page XX
began his Gallic War, and as a result daggers with a libeny cap between
of his successes in Gaul won great
popularity with the people of Rome.
them. and bears the date Ides of
March (EID.MAR).
Two Megawatts
In 55 B.C. he crossed the English
Channel. and became the first Roman
to explore Britain. In 49 B.C.
Augustus
Octavian was born at Rome in 63
Scientist nukes ancients
Caesar's opposition at Rome, led by B.C. In his will. Julius Caesar named by Michael Goodrich -Stuart Ancient Roman Republican denarii
Pompey the Great, ordered him to Octavian as his heir. Octavian raised (Ann Arbor, MI) -- A University might, for example. contain 90-95%
give up his army. Caesar, refusing to an army, and with the help of Mark of Michigan researcher is using the silver, 5-9% copper, 0.5% gold and
do so, led his army across the Antony, defeated Caesar's murderers schoo l's two-megawatt nuclear 0.1% trace elements. A denarius
Rubicon, thus provoking a civil war. in 42 B.C. Octavian and Antony then reactor to verify the authenticity of deviating substantially from this ratio
The following year Caesar defeated reached an agreement, the terms of ancient coins and other metal is suspect. In contrast, some ancient
Pompey, who later fled to Egypt and which gave control of the western anifacts. Greek coins, notably the Athenian
Adon Gordus, U-M professor of Owls. are virtually pure silver, says
chemistry. obtains a precise assay of a Gordus, thanks to the quality of are
from the Greek mines. But despite
Miscellanea. • • •
coin's content by bombarding a tiny
quantity of metal with neutrons from
the reactor. The results of this
detailed analysis provide information
that purity, all share several trace
metals in common -- and in very
similar percentages from coin to coin.
• Byzantine Conference in Houston that can be used to prove a coin Metal samples for analysis are
The Fourteenth Annual Byzantine Studies Conference will be held genuine -- or that it's a modern fake. obtained by rubbing the edge of a coin
November 10..13 at Sl Thomas University in Houston, Texas. Conference The process works because the against a piece of quartz tubing. The
organizers have scheduled sessions on "History and Internal Life of the metallurgists of antiquity had no way rubbing leaves a streak of metal on
Empire; Early Byzantine Objects and Their Uses; Byzantine Literature: to obtain absolutely pure metal for the tubing, much like a pencil writes
Language and Image; Palaelogan and Post-Byzantine Arts; and Middle their coins. By examining a number on paper. According to Gordus, the
Byzantine Problems" for day one of the event. Days two and three are of known-genuine coins of the same amount of metal removed is so minute
packed with equally inviting topics presented by a host of highly type, Gordus can obtain an average no museum or collector seeking to
respected scholars. For information contact Thalia Gouma-Peterson, The assay of the coins' component metals.
College ofWoa;ter, Woa;ter, OH 44691 or call (216) 263-2151. Please turn to page XXII

• Borrmann speaks to S.F. group

Gerry Bomnann. a member of the San Francisco Ancient Numismatic INSIDE r.., . .
Society, presented a talk and slide show to the group at their September &" 0 ..~
meeting centering on the ancient cities of Nishapur and Persepolis. The THE CELATOR:
club meets monthly. for meeting times write to Paul Henkin, Secretary. ~;.&'
f'5.'"
0_
1820 Spruce St. #7, Berkeley CA 94709.
• Congress set for Jan. 5-9 Point of View II ~

Baltimore Maryland is to be the site of the first Joint Archaeological Book News 1111
Congress ro-sponsored by the American Philosophical Association; People VI
American Schools of Oriental Research; Archaeological Institute of Market Villi
America; and The Society for Historical Archaeology. The Conference is Dust XIII
H~o
oriented toward professional arch~logists. college and university
Coin File XVI ii'i
• !!.
professors. museum curators. secondary school educators and
administrators, civil servants and public administrators, students, and Trivia
Calendar
XVI
XVIlIl
- [:
~1
amateur enthusiasts. Details about the Congress, accomodations, exhibits.
events., etc. may be obtained from First Joint Archaeological Congress. Classlfleds XXIlIl
t!
c/o Archaeologicallnstinlle, 675 Commonwealth, Boston, MA 02215." Prof. Directory
.
XXVI
. , ~.
~
II The Celator November 1988

ancients - they'll point a finger in the that enjoyment with a friend - and let
right direction. Please do say hello! us hear your point of view.
Until then, enjoy your hobby - share

• • • Letters to the Editor

Commentary by Wayne G. Sayles
Dear Editor: This letter is in response to
Professor Richard D. Weigel's request
e have repeatedly stressed the scheduled for release on December 1. There is nothing wrong with your in the October issue of The Cefalor
W importance of reader response
as a pre-requisite to the suc-
cess of any periodical. It seems our
The annual will be produced in a
magazine style format, 64 pages,
printed on 50# offset paper with a
Cewtor page numbering.
Edward Cohen (September letters)
should collect Legonary Denarri of
for information about Constantinian
commemorative mules. In my own
collection, I found one of the "true
message has been well received. since rich textured cover. Photos will be Marc Antony! rarities" described by David L. Vagi in
our mail bag was overflowing with screened at 100 lines per inch (as !Leg. N; Leg. IX; Leg. XIV; Leg. hi s September article: a Constan-
letters this month. Of course the opposed to 85 lines in our regular· XIX; Leg. XXIV; Leg. XXIX.] tinopoli (no final "s" on this
controversial nature of last month's publication). We plan to produce a Thomas Cllrtis, variety)lSoldiers with Standard piece
editorial comments and the debate similar edition each year to appear on A. H. Baldwin and Sons, Ltd. from Heraclea. It is at least Fine in
over rights of the press versus rights December I, in time for holiday gift London appearance, but technically the AE4
of the individual brought about a givers. This years edition will (1 S mm) coin may be described as
brisk exchange of views. As might be . present a selection of what we feel are • •••• Very- Fine (VF) but wealky steuck:
expected. opinions were mixed. What some of the best articles and features from worn dies.
strikes us as unusual is that there is. to appear in The Celator during the Congratulations on the 1, 100 Next, I found a similar quality
for the rust time in our memory, an frrst 17 issues. Subsequent annuals satisfied subscribers. As SI. Thomas Roma/Victory on Prow mule with
actual dialogue developing between will present articles from the said. if something is alive and healthy, rather compact designs that appear to
collectors. dealers and students of previous year. At an appropriate it will grow, and Th Celalor have been engraved expressly for the
coins and artifacts from antiquity. point, an index of articles will be ceniinly does. ABA (15 mm) reduced module flan.
We are, as a very succinct group of included. LuciaM Cuppo Csaki, Mr. Vagi wrote that this type makes
numismatists and antiquarians , To ans;er an almost certain New York only "scant appearances," and "he
referred to the two unique examples
• •••• cited in RIC, from Lyons and Trier;
"Surrounded by a vast ocean of modem U.S. collectors" unfortunately, the mint-mark on my
the ancient numismaffst here really suffers from the I questioned the meaning of the example is not clear.
'Robinson Crusoe' syndrome" David R. Sear work "celator" when I first ordered Finally, I found an AE4 (15 mm)
your publication, but Mr. Ed Waddell Roma/VOT XX MVL T XXX in
informed me of the meaning of it. I Wreath coin in VF condition from
developing our own sense of group question in advance, we are not think it-would be a good idea to place Nicomedja (Old Sear 3797, New Sear
awareness. including the outstanding series of 'a short definition of your logo in the 3897). Perhaps this type may also be
Following the release of our articles by Stephen Album. This editorial section, or in the credits area considered to be an intentional mule. I
second issue. in April of 1987, we series about Islamic coinage will; for the benefit of the uninitiated. would · be interested in comments
received an insightful letter from upon conclusion, be presented in its· Vale! from Messrs. Vagi and Weigel and
David R. Sear in which he said "I entirety as an independent survey or CMtHanson other readers.
should like to offer you my off-print. ViTginin Robert M. CUller
congratulations on your interesting The annual is offered at $5.95 MaryllWi
new publication 'The eelator.' I postpaid via flTSt class to the U.s. and (TM tum celator is an anglicized
really hope it flourishes and helps Canada and will be mailed in a plain vusWn of tM. LatiN c«Uuor, wlUcli /MC/U •••••
ancient coin collectors in this country white envelope. Overseas orders will an artist wlr.o works in b4J relief, II was 1M
to find a true identity. Surrounded by be accepted at $9.95 postpaid via air lerm applied in lUtCie", times to (JI'tuls
wllo ctJTWd tM. diu /()r' slTiliNg coins.)
rllt Ctlalor has done a fine job
a vast ocean of modem US collectors, printed matter. Since the supply is covering ancient numismatics over the
the ancient numismatist here really becoming critical for certain back past two years; however there are
suffers from the 'Robinson Crusoe' issues of TM Celator, the annual will ••••• some areas that I feel have been either
syndrome, and must often wonder be the only source for many of these neglected or completely ignored..
whether he is completely alone in the fine articles in the future. We very What I want to ask your readers is:
In March, 1988 Tlte Celalor ran
world. " highly recommend it 1) Does anyone know about any
a fine article on the subject of
While the syndrome is still very It was a pleasure meeting many of reference to the Kabbalah on coins'
counterfeit detection, by David
much with us, the growing wave of our readers at the Long Beach show or medals (direct or indirect)? Hendin; however, I believe most
fraternalism and willingness to and at Coinex in London this month. 2) Can readers supply me with
readers would like to see a more in-
communicate reflected by our letters As we go to press we are packing for information reo non-run-of-the-mill depth article on this problem which is
t6 ~the editor show real promise. It is the Classical Numismatic Bourse in Janus beads on coins or medals?
a concern to most collectors.
almost certain that a stand on any Dallas and will also be attending the (Bifrons only, not three or four).
Although it is certainly true that
issue w'ill bring some reaction, but CNB in San Francisco on November My interest is in: heads, male or
Medieval European coins leave much
that reaction is a good and necessary 18-19. We will, of course, be at the female? Who is right and who is left? to be desired artistically, it is also
element in our overall growth as a NY International show in December Old or young heads? Attribution?
true that the modem world in which
fraternity. We welcome and as well. We can usually be found on A postcard to - Robert Turfboer, we live owes much to the' Middle
encourage your opinions. the bourse floor on Friday aternoons P. O. Box 3327, Joplin, MO 64803 - Ages, and the history of the period is
Changing the subject, the first and all day Saturdays. If the photo will be wannly welcomed and of every bit as fascinating as Classical
edition of The Celator Annual is above doesn't help, ask any dealer in c:oune be "'know!edged. history. I would like to see a few
Robert TlUjboer articles on the subject in future issues
Missouri of T4e CdIJlor.
Deadline for the December issue Mic~l S. Swoveland
• •••• North CaroiiM
is Friday, November 11
I was very interested in your (As indicated in an e(Jl'liu ~Poinl of'
account of the "incident" at the View, ~ we have II featlUe 011 cOlUllerfeil
Greater New York Show . I am coins coming SOOII. As for MedieYtJl ~,
certainly pleased that the "disruption we admit to only touching Oft the Sllbjw as
was quelled professionally." I hadn't il relates to e(Jl'iiu periods. Sorry, bill we
realized there was a professional way C(1tl't covu el¥rything in 28 pages. Puhaps
Postmaster: send address changes to: to suppress press coverage and censor more Oft 1M. subject as we grow.)
existing film footage. ,.
P,O. Box 123, Lodi, WI 53555 I feet that as an independent •••••
Phone (608) 592-4684 newspaper The Celator should be
The Celator Is an independent newspaper published on the first day of each racing to Acar's defense, however
month at 10905 Hwy V, lodl WI. It is circulated internationally through
subscriptions and special distributions. Subscription rat.. are $15 per year
much you disagree with his opinions. For More -.
This defense would include revealing
(second class) within the United States; $20 per year to C~ada; $40 per y!,.ar the names of the attacking dealers. Reader
outside North America (Air Printed Matter); and $48 to ~ia and the PacifIC.
Advertlalng and copy d •• dllne is the second Friday of each month. Phillip Davis
Illinois
Comments
Unsolicited article. and news releases are welcome but cannot be returned.
Second class postage, permit pending, lodi WI 53555. Copyright e 1988,
Clio's Cabinet. (For 1ItVtIU of lhe "attacking dealers,"
read 1M glUSt edilorial by Dr. Arnold see the responses to
Wayne G. Sayle. • ••.•.•••••• PublisherlEdHor Saslow in CoUt World, Del. 12. 1988. We last month's
Janet Sayles ••••••••••••••• ArtJOlstributlon have no intention of sensationalizing lhis Speaking Out
Kri. Crary . . . • . . . . . . . . • . . . .. Copy/layout flImI nor racing 10 anyone', defense.)
00 page XII
Karen Voeltzke •••••• •• ••••• PhotoiGraphlcs
• •••• ..... .. .
. . .. . . " "." .-."."". " . " -
.... _. -.. _......-_.... ---. -. -...... _..... -_.... -.' ...... -" .. _.
 -, .. " .. " ..
. , ...
, " .
The Celator November ·Hiaa III

ANCIENT COINS AT CHRISTIE'S

D iocletian, Aureus of Antioch,

Sold fo r $4,180 at Christie's, New York
June 8th, 1988

Aureus of Vespasian,
Sold for $8,800 at Christie's, New York
June 8th, 1988

Whether you are buying, selling or require a

valuation, Christie's can offer excellent advice.
For further information, please contact James Lamb
or Amy Corcoran at 212/546-1056 or write to:
502 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022
'We are now accepting consignments of fmc
Ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine coins for our
February 7, 1989 numismatic sale.

CHRISTIE'S
NEW YORK
... .... .. .. ..
' ~ ~ , ... .. , .... -.'. -.' .-... '.'.', ........... .-. '.', ' ,',. , ' ' ' -. ...
.. .....-.........-, ... ..... ... -.'.'.'.' . '.', ' ...'.' '.':.
1111 :rile celator', ' November 1988

Studies on Early Byzantine
Gold Coinage by W. Hahn and
W. E. Metealr, eds. Pub-
lication or tbe ANS, New
York. Tbis is a pre-publication
review. For additional infor-
mation , please contact the
ANS, llStb at Broadway, New
York, NY 10032.
Sludies on Early Byzantine Gold
Cojnaee. soon to be published by the
ANS. is a collection of essays by N.
Fairhead and W. Hahn rThe Monte
Judiea Hoard and the Sicilian Moneta
AlI.ri under Justinian I and Justin 0 ·),
W. Hahn CMicrochemical Analys is
of the Metal Content of Some Eighth
Century Coins of Rome and
Ravenna"), D. M. Metcalf ("The
Minting of Gold Coinage at
Thessalonica in the Fifth and Sixth
Centuries and the Gold Currency of
IIlyricum and Dalmatia"), W. E.
Metcalf ("The Joint Reign Gold of
Justin I and Justinian I"), Cecile
Morrisson ("Carthage: the Moneta
A..uri under Justinian I and Justin n"),
w. A. Oddy ("The Debasement of the
Provincial Byzantine Gold Coinage
from the Seventh to Ninth Century")
and J . Smedley rSeventh Century
Byzantine Coins in Southern Russia
and the Problem of Lightweight
Solidi"), with an introduction by .W.
Hahn and W. E. Metcalf.
As the story goes, William
Metcalf was passing through one of
the ANS offices while some staff
members wondered where to put an
additional table, which would provide
needed workspace but did not seem to
fit anywhere. "You always think of
piecemeal solutions ..... mumbled the
Chief Curator, ..... instead of looking
at the total picture." He pointed at a
spot in the room and moved on. It
was the proper place, and the table has
been there ever since.
Sf non ~ vera, ~ ben troyata: the
story reveals the author's ability to
see the total picture. Transferred to
numismatics, this ability means that
the joint introduction integrates in a
whole a number of fascinating but
quite diverse contributions. More than
a presentation. the introduction is an
evaluation of the numismatic pro-
blems studied by the contributors. I
might add (and here. I think, one can
recognize the Metcalf touch) that this
evaluation is done with the scalpel:
one word suffices to assess strengths
and weaknesses, bringing each
scholarly position into sharp relief.
A sign of the critical assessment by
W. Hahn and W. E. Metcalf is the
organization of the material by
geographical areas, as opposed to
chronological or thematic arrange-
ments preferred by other authors.
Although somewhat idiosyncratic
(four praetorian prefectures and three
"extraordinary cases"), s uch organi-
zational pattern focu ses on
attributions and allows us to place
coinage in its proper historical .
context, thus providing indispensible
evidence to any serious historian.
The essays by D. M. Metcalf, W.
E. Metcalf and C. Morrisson
exemplify what die studies can (and
cannot) do. The contributions by D.
M. Metcalf changes substantially
current views on the mint of
Thessalonica. The essay by W. E.
Metcalf presents a valid methodo-
logical alternative to other approaches
which favor the accumulation of
disparate data in order to derive basic
principles. In the present essay, less is
more; given one sound principle,
so und conclusions will follow, if
proper deductive reasoning is applied,
any additional data can enlarge such
conclusions, but never contradict
them.
C. Morrisson uses die linkage to
refute the theory that letters on the
reverses indicate officinae and
establishes that they do, in fact,
indicate dates.
W . Hahn's prese nce is felt
throughout. Many a numismatist
could say to him, nec tecum nec sine
xe yjyera possum (I cannot live with
you, nor without you). His views are
often disputed, but can never be
bypassed. Metal analysis is nowadays
something of a numismatics status
sy mbol, and is duly represented in
this volume.
Although generally excellent, this
publication bas some shortcomings.
Some important names are missing
from the list of contributors.
Ostrogothic coinage is hardly dis·
cussed, although deploring the lack of
studies in this area is quite frequent in
numismatic circles. Barring some
editorial miracle, C. Morrisson's
elegant French becomes in the English
translation a virtuoso performance in
linguistic contortions.
Another disturbing fact: in their
essay on the Monte Judica hoard, N.
Fairchild and W. Hahn mention
letters of Pope Gregory I on money
matters and speculate not only on the
existence of a Jewish community, but
even on its harassment by church
authorities. However, no refererence
is given for Gregory's letters ; the
authors only cite (without page
number or full name) a "Geschichte
Siziliens im Althertm" by A. Holm.
Speculation without supporting
evidence is useless; as to the letters of
Pope Gregory, they are readily
available in the very modem CSSL
edition. do indeed contain abundant
information .on financial matters in
the s ixth century and should be
consulted by scholars working in this
area, so that the absence of specific
references is quite amazing.
But these are minor faults. All in
all, this book comes as a breath of
fresh air in a world where too many
claim to provide "conclusive
evidence," ~ definitive solutions" and
the like. While numismatics is by
nature unfinis hed business, because
new finds a1ways add to knowledge,
Studies on Early Byzantine Gold
Cojna&e truly is what the authors
modestly hope it to be: something
which historians must notice, a
worthy companion to the major works
of Grierson and Hendy on Byzantine
coinage. We must be thankful to the
ANS for giving us this book.
Luciana Cuppo Csaki

ANCIENT GREEK BRONZE COINS

Roman coin magazine to
OF EUROPEAN MINTS resume publication in U.S.
From the Lindgren Collection After more than a year of absence,
a magazine known as Roman Coins
by Henry Clay Lindgren, PhD and Culture will resume pUblication
in January 1989. In 1987. the rise of
Listing 1850 coins issued by mints ranging from Hispania to the Aegean the German Mark had forced the
Islands. Each coin is illustrated. attributed. described, and indexed. publisher to cease operations. This
Fonnat will be typeset, with facing text and plates. Approximately 225 situation would have been permanent
pages, 88 plates, hardbound. had it not been for the support of a
professional numismatist. Mr.
Publication date February I. 1989 with expected price $75, plus shipping. Charles Coyle, who shall now be
Booklet of estimated values available for $5. publishing RCC in the USA.
The new issues of RCC shall
PREPUBUCATION OFFER continue to offer in-depth infonnation
on Roman coinage and its links with
$60 Roman history. religion. literature,
politics , art and architecture. The
magazme sha1l also maintain the same
with shipping included. profusion of high quality photographs
(Add $5 for estimated values). and art work.
A past RCC article on the first
Roman mint ever discovered
OR (Heidenkopf. France) has sparked
$120
for a copy of the new book and a copy of
BOSTON...
AncienJ Broflu Coins of Asia Minor and lM lLwlnt Foreign and Ancient Coin
from the Lindgren Colketion· by Henry Clay Lindgren and Frank L Mecca o/The Northeast!
Kovacs (1985), shipping included
(total retail value $147.50). BAY STATE COIN SHOW
·card cover; add $20 if hardbound copy is desired November 18, 19, 20 ~ 1988
Prepublication orders, with payment, March 17, 18, 19 · 1989
must be received by January 15. 1989 by: November 17, 18, 19 - 1989
"57" PARK PLAZA HOTEL
Room re5ft'YJltiofts: '17-481·1800
renewed interest among archaeologists
and encouraged a search for additional
sites. In the past year, three Roman
mints have been found. In one case, an
excavation conduc ted by anthro-
pologists some fifteen years ago at
Oberlarg (Alsace, France), has only
now been recognized as a Roman mint
by comparing the previou sly
unidentified bronze artifac ts with
those of Heidenkopf. Future issues of
RCC will cover these discoveries in
detail.
The next iss ue of RCC s hall
include an article on Magna Mater; a
highly unusual cult which the Romans
felt compelled to adopt during the
darker years of the Second Punic War.
The progress of her status, from a
necessary evil to a favored Imperial
religion is traced through ancient
authors and coinage.
The same issue shall also consider
two 'good' emperors (Severus
Alexander and Gordianus III) and one
'bad' ruler (Maximin us). In
particular, through coinage and ancient
authors, the projection and perception
of their policies shall be ana1yzed.
In addition. another article shall
investigate certain Roman counter~
feiting techniques, illustrated by a
fragmentary casting mold recently
found in Trier, Germany.
A trial copy ($5) or a year's
subscription ($27.S0 for four issues)

Chrysopylon Publications OYer 23 years ...

"New England's Largest Coin Show!!!~
can be obtained by writing to:
Charles R. Coyle, P.O. Box 2186,
Ann Arbor, MI, 48106.
P.O. Box 25300 Chairman: Ed Aleo
Back issues (Vol I II, Vol 2 #1-4,
San Mateo, CA 94402 Box 400, Winchester, MA 01890 Vol 3 #1·2) are still available at
617-729·9677 $6.80 a copy.
The eelator November 1988

AUCTION XXII
NOW ACCEPTING FINE QUALITY
GREEK AND ROMAN COINS
FOR

CONSIGNMENT

SCHEDULED FOR:
WINTER/SPRING 1989
WILL CONSIDER .SINGLE COINS
AND
COLLECTIONS

Our auctions consistently

achieve the highest prices for
quality ancient coins

Santa Barbara Museum (1975)

Boston Museum of Fine Arts (1980)
John Hopkins University (1984)
CE
D Please send me all publications for one year.
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VI
People in the News
Fortuitous Recovery
Saslow coins stolen at San Francisco Airport
A suitcase filled with show
supplies and approximately 1,400
Greek and Roman coins in silver and
bronze was stolen from Dr. Arnold
R. Saslow, President of Rare Coins &
Classical Coins Ltd. of Soulh Orange.
NJ and Palm Desert, CA on
September 18. The theft occurred
while Saslow was c heclcing into the
United Airlines terminal at the San
Francisco International Ai rport
following the NCNA "Jack Tar" coin
show.
Upon arriving at the ai rport.
Saslow became separated from one of
his bags whic h was thought to have
been put on the wrong plane. Still
missing 2 112 days after his return to
Palm Desert, Saslow reported the
Dr. Arnold R. Saslow incident to San Francisco airport
police as a possible theft.
The coins which were contained in
., .-. -- . - ,•.••• -I •• ,.' -'. -_ •• ' .'•. ' ._ •. - ...... the missing suitcase were Constan-
tinian bronzes, Alexander silver
( WE'RE PROUD OF 'i drachms, and Alexandrian billon
( OUR RECORD! '
, ( tetradrachm collection, an album of
Roman coins in silver & bronze, etc.,
( Over 1,100 \
Early works offered
Satisfied
Peter Seaby books to be auctioned
Subscribers Glendining's, the London specialist
auctioneers of coins and medals, are to
sell a major portion of the Numis-
The Celator matic Library formed by Peter Seaby.
The sale will take place on Thursday,
Subscribe today! November 17, 1988.
The library has been collected by
Seaby over the past forty years or
more. He is now disposing of that
portion which consists principally of
early works, many in fine bindings ,
while retaining other books more
essential for current research. The
books being sold have been catalogued
as 100 lots.
Are you interested in
CHOICE WORLD COINS?
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Ponterio & Associates, Inc.
3823 Park Boulevard
Box 33588, San Diego, CA 92103
~ 1-800-854-2888 or 619-299-0400
~ Licensed Auction Company # 968
Richard H. Ponterio - President
P.H.G. #,u IJI. #1l6oJ
;iI:i:r;;:;G;;;:;;;ii:lliiOi;:;;;=iiOiiiiiii=;iI:i_lOiiitiiiiiiiiiiOiiiiiiiilliiiOiiliiiiiilliiliiii4:.:.~;)~!,:,. ::.~ : ~~ ~: .~.~ .c.~ . ~~:~~:. :.:.: .
all in the $20 - $150 price ranse.
Saslow estimated the value of the lot
at $60,000. Historically, stolen coins
are seldom recovered and the thieves
rarely apprehended.
Unknown to Saslow, the
following Thursday, September 26.
Detec ti ve Russell Suggs of the
"Columbian Task Force" of the Los
Angeles police department was on a
stake-out in downtown LA when he
noted a suspect taking a heavy package
out of a car trunk and entering the
Century Coin Shop. He reportedly
observed the man showing a quantity
of coins to David Griffiths. owner of
the shop. Leaving the shop suddenly,
the suspect and a female accomplice
were s topped by Suggs. The
accomplice attempted to flee, but was
subdued after an extensive chase.
Both were reported to be identified as
illegal aliens from Colombia.
Griffiths. in an effort to aid police,
called Mark Teller. well known coin
dealer in Encino to see if coins had
been reported stolen. Teller in tum
One important accession around
which this collection has been based is
a number of numismatic books from
Sl Mary's College, Oscott. Birming-
ham, which included the library of
Daniel Henry Haigh (1819-79), the
noted specialist on Anglo-Saxon
coinage who lived at the college in his
retirement. A further group was once
in the library of Thomas Sharp (1693-
1758), archdeacon of Northumberland,
most probably inherited from his
father, John Sharp (1645-1714),
archbishop of York. whose Obser-
vations on the coinage of England
provided material for several early
works on British coinage. Books from
both those sources are among these
now offered for sale.
AU the books have the owner's
bookplate. and most of those that
have been rebound, or expertly
repaired, have received the personal
attention of George Miller of
Oswestry.
Peter Seaby. son of A.H. (Bert)
Seaby, the founder of B.A. Seaby Ltd.•
is well .known to the many collectors
who bought their coins from him, and
Fuld joins Gillio
Pacific Coast Auction Galleries,
Inc., has announced that Dr. George
Fuld will join the fum headed by Ron
and Dennis Gillio as Vice Pres ident
and Director of Auctions. T he
GilIio's have conducted major auctions
since the early 1980s which often
include a broad selection of ancients.
Fuld plans to expand and enlarge
the auction program which has
regularly included sales at the Long
Beach and Hong Kong expos.
Collectors interested in the Pacific
Coast auction schedule may write to
Dr. Fuld at 1013 State St.. Santa
The Celator- November 1988
called Numismatic Fine Arts and
Superior Stamp & Coin. both of
Beverly Hills.
The coins were taken by police to
Superior where they were identified
by Ira Go ldberg as having the
handwriting of Dr. Saslow on many
of the coin flips. Incredibly. Saslow
walked into the Superior offices,
totally unaware of the presence of
police who were showing the coins to
Goldberg, and made a positive
identification.
The persons apprehended are being
prosecuted by the Los Angeles district
attorney's office. Police ask that
anyone flying with coins should not
check them in, even if in bulk lots and
not wonh much individually. They
also suggest that show organizers
notify airpon police forces when a
show is setting up and breaking up so
that they can station officers at
terminal entrances; and commend the
efforts of those individuals who
partic ipated in trying to locate the
owner of the stolen material.
also for his pioneering work in
developing Seaby's Standard Catalogw
of British Coins.
Also in the same sale are other
Numismatic Books, Tokens and His-
torical Medals, including the final
portion of the John Pinches Archive
Collection. Copies of the catalogue
may be obtained from the auctioneers
at Bienstock House, 7 Blenheim St.,
New Bond St., London WI Y 9ID for
the price of £5 (U.S. SI0).
British journal
moves toward
classical era
The old-establisbed British Jownal
Antiqw'cy has placed a new emphasis
on the classical period and promises to
offer readers more articles and
features relating to classical arch-
aeology in future issues. The journal.
edited by Christopher Olippindale of
Ginton College, Cambridge, is in its
62nd year and is released quarterly.
Subscriptions are $40 for individuals
and $60 for instJtuuons. Order
through Matthew Bedell. Journals
Marketing Department, Oxford
University Press, 200 Madison Ave.,
New York, NY 10016.
OLD NEWS!
The newest thing in ancient coins
is Pantheon. Offering bid or buy
lists of Greek. Roman and
Byzantine coins.
Call or write for a 'ree list.
PANTHEON
P.o. Box 730051
Royal Oak, MI 48073
.... -.'.'.'.'.' .~3) . ~.~2* ....... -.... '.
The Celator. November 1988 VII

MONTHLY FEATURES
CLASSICAL NUMISMATIC LITERATURE
CLASSICAL NUMISMATIC AUCTIONS, LTD.
GENERAL ANCIENTS
Rl. Sear, David. Roman Coins" Their VII·
GEl. Jacob. Kenneth. Coi ns " Chrl stianl ty. ues. Latest edition of the work. Over a hundred
Survey of coins cited in the bible. 511.50 new types added since the last rev ision. Prices
GE2. Price, Manin. Coins, An Jliustrated have been updated. Excellent general handbook
Su rvey. E~cellent British Muse um publication 10 Roman coins. $49.95
on the histof}' of coins. $75.00 Rl. Seaby. Roman Sliver Coins. Volume
GEJ. Miller. Michael. Clnslcal Greek and I. Rep Ublic - AuguSluS. Important and u~e ·
Roman Coins. The Investors Handbook. A ful f« the Republican series. 530.00
general overview 10 inv esting in ancienL'l. R3. Seaby. Roman Silver Coi ns - Volu me
Septimius Senrus & Julia Domna. Rome. 201 AD . AY Aureus. (7 .55 51S.15 2. Ti bcrius . Commodus. $30. 00
gms.). SEVERVS AVG PART MAX, laureate bust right. IYLIA AVGVSTA, draped GREEK COINS R4. Seaby. Roman Silver Coins • Volume
bust right. RIC 161a. Toned superb XF. Ex: Brand Sale, Pari Ill, 1983, lot 368 . G2. Jone!, John Melvillc, Dictionary of Greek 3. Perlinax • Balblnus '" Pupienus. $30.00
realized SIr . 36850 .- Es timate $22,01)0.00 Coins. A great dictionary dealing with Iherrn:1 as. Seaby. Roman Silver Coins . VOlume
and terms on Greek coins. $45.00 4. Gordian III • Poslumus. $30.00
G3. Sear, David. Greek Coins" Tbelr Val. R6. Seaby. Roman Silver Coins • Volume
un. 2 Volumes. A comprehensive look at over S. Carausius • Romulus .. This new work is
SALE V 7900 coins of anc ient Greek world.
G4.
575.00
Sellwood, David. Co in age of Parlhl a.
one of the first comprehensive efforts thaI has
been made on this late Se3"ies. $30.00
December 9, 1988 SWldard work.
Gs. Se llwood, David. An Introduction 10
$32.00 R7.
R8.
SPECIAL RSC 1·5. $140.00
Askew, Robert. Coinage o r Roman Brl.
Numismatic Public & Mail Bid Sale Suo anian Numism atics. A good intro 10 this tian .. Covers 800 plus issues thaI relate to Bri·
tian and Rome. $12.00
difficult series. $30.00
New York G6. Hendin, David . •Gulde to Biblical Coins. R9. Stevenson, Robert. Dictionary or RD·
man Coins. Answers your need to know ques·
Updated with prices. $35.00
A SALE THAT WILL TPiKEPLACE AT THE START OF GIO .. Houghton, Arlbur. Coinage of th e SeA tions on Roman coins. $45.00
ACTIVITIES FOR THE leudd Empire. Good work on this e~tenlive
BYZANTINE COINS
series. $65.00
NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL G13. Grose, S.W. Fitzwillia m Museum, Cat.
BI. Sear, David. BYZInline Coins and Their
FEATURING BETIER QUALITY GREEK, ROMAN, a logue 01 the McClean CollectloD of Greek
Coins. 3 Volumes. More than 10,000 coins Valu ts. Over 2600 coins listed. Incl udes a new
BYZANTINE, DARK AGES & ENGLISH covered in this monumental work. 5295.00 section on the issues of the Tr,bilond E"'pir,. A
must f« anyone intere.md. $85.00
GREEK IMPERIAL COINS
CONSIGNMENT INFORMATION Gil . Sear, David. Greek Imperial Coin, a nd ENGLISH COINS
Their Values. Good general coverage. $61.50 EI. Seaby. Coins of England " th e U.K.
Our rates are competitive. OUT settlements are prompt. 1988 edition of slandard work. $20.00
We work to get your coins shown . and sold.
Contact us for further information
Show Schedule for 1988
Classical Numismatic
Auctiotls, Ltd. November 18·20.
1981.1989
Boston
AUCTION SCHEDULE
November 18.19.
Public Audlon • December 9. 1981 CND San Francisco
(New York)
(InvltalioD Only)
December 1.3. NOVEMBER SPECIAL .......... MSPl
Mall Bid Sale - February 23, 198' ·NOVEMBER SPECIAL ...........MSPI THESSAL Y, Trlcca. 480 -400 BC.
Howard Johnson Plaza THESSAL Y, Larls$B. 400·360 BC. Hemidrachm. Tricca was a center for the
Public Audloll • April 11, 1'" (Formerly Sheraton) Drachm. The famous Thessalian festival worship of Asklepios. Another repre-
Mall Bid Sale - September 26, 19" Lanham, MD scene - a youth wres tling a bull on the sentation of a ThenaHan youth wrestl-
Public AudioD. • December 7, Itl' obverse. The reverse depicts one of the ing the forepart of a bull. Reverse de-
December 10 ·12. famed Thessalian horses. cf. Sear Greek picts the forepart of a horse. cf. Sear
Contact !he office for consignment deadlines if New York International Coins 11 2111. A choice VF coin for ....... Greek Coins # 2226. A select VF speci.
you have material f« sale. Sheraton Centre .... .. . ..... . . ................... ".$375.00 m e n for .................................... $225.00

High.lights from our upcoming

CLASSICAL NUMISMATIC AUCTIONS, LTD. Sale V

600 Plus lots of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Dark Ages & English Catalog with prices realized $10.00

LOT 6 LOT 32 LOT 375

ETRURIA, Populonia
4th Century BC. Didrachm of 20 Units (8.23 gms.).
Gorgon's head facing, tonque protruding, X X be-
low.
Tenacles of a sepia.
SNG ANS 85. Toned Superb XF.
May be the finest known example of this issue.
(3500)
SICILY, Syracuse ROME
405·380 BC. Dekadrachm. (43.36 gms.). Vespasian
69·79 AD. AE Sestertius. (25.74 gms.).
Signed by Euainetos.
Galloping quadriga driven left by charioteer. Bust of Vespasian right.
Head of Artemis-Arethusa left, dolphin around, IVDAEA CAPT A
EY A(IN), below. Judaea in mourning beneath palm, Emperor
Gallatin RXI/DII. VF+NF, exceptional metal slanding behind. RIC 427. Good VF.
Ex: Garrett Collection May 1984 # 757
quality.
(14,000) (3000)

Ordering and Subscription lnformadoD: All coins are guaranteed genuine and as described. Seven day return for lIDy reason. Postage is added to all bills. Under $200 add $3. Over $200
add $5. Payment by check or VISAIMC. Send all raised information. Subscriptions are available to all our publications. In the US $20. Overseas $30. This includes Auctions and all fixed
price lists. A free copy of our monthly list is available upon request. Thank you. Office hours are from 9:30 AM • 4 PM Monday - Friday.
 YIII '. .
...The. .Celator,
. .. Novernl1et·,1.988

Important in daily life

Ancient bells ring out long fascinatin g history
by David Liebert
It is imposs ible to determine when
the first bell was made, perhaps it
was a cave man who hit a hollow
gourd by accident. who can say? What
we can be sure of however, is that by
the Late Bronze Age the bell was
already in wide spread use in the Near
East. As can be seen from the
Biblical book of Exodus 28:33-35 and
39:25-26 where golden bells are
mentioned as part of the High Priest's
vestments.
Certainly. from the Early Iron Age
onward, bells were an important part
of dail y life in the Mediterranean
world. They were among the most
valued possessions of travelers. For
this reason they 3re often found in
ancient ship wrecks of the Phoenician.
Greek, and Roman periods and later.
In the Assyrian empire. bells were
often placed on the trappings of
horses and are seen on the beautiful
Assy rian palace reliefs fo und at
Nimrud. Simil arly, nomadic tribes-
Pai r o f Lurlsta n horse
bells connect ed by chai n
The
Time Machine Company
is altNays eager to aid beginning collectors with moderately
priced coins and antiquities. Call David Liebert direct
to discuss your interests and needs.
~- ........
men used bell s on their mounts as
evidenced by buri als of horses in
Luristan wh ere many bronze bells
were found, often in association with
horse trappings. The visi tor to the
Near East today can still see bell
bedecked camels in Bedouin encamp·
ments looking much the same as they
must have looked on the ancient silk
route to Chin a.
Bells also served an amu letic
purpose as can be seen from faience
examples of the late period found in
Egypt. Pliny the Elder records this
practice as one of the customs of
Egypt. Archaeological excavations
have also shown that from the XXIII
Dynasty onw ard (that is fro m the
eighth Century B.C. until the Coptic
period) it was the custom of Egyptian
mothers to keep track of small
children by affixing bronze bells on
their wrists with metal bracelets.
Curiou sly enou gh despite thi s
widespread use of bells in Ancient
Egypt they were not used for horse
trappings although they were placed
on domestic animals such as cattle.
In the Classical world bells played
an important role bo th in religio us
and secular li fe. For example, many
Greek bells are discovered in votive
deposits or as grave offerings for the
deceased. In Pompeii, many bells
were discovered attached to utilitarian
objects such as lamps. These may in ,
fact have had a votive purpose. The
discovery of what are clearly cow
bells, in various parts of the Roman
empire, shows that they adorned the .
necks of domestic animals as well . In
fact, bells have been found in
excavations througho ut the Ro man
Empire from England to Parthia.
Assyrian bell o f
c o nica l form
Bells were also widely used as
mu sical instruments d uring thi s
Positive 10 provided for
unknown Hellenistic king
Asinnalus of Media, a previously
unknown Hellenistic monarch of the
first century B.C. has been identified
by Alex G. Malloy. This king,
c learly po rtrayed wear ing an
Armenian· intluenced high tiara on a
coin to be offered in Malloy's
November 30 mail bid Auction
XXVI, seems to have been previously
unknown to historians. While at
least two other specimens of this coin
are known ( bo th in mu seum
collections), neither of the other
specimens bear enoug h legend to
provide a proper attributio n.
According to cataloguer Allen G.
Berman n • • • this li sting represents the
first publication of the complete
legends on this coin, thu s thi s
speci men presents the only positive
evidence for the existence of King
Asinnalus of Media."
Also of special note is the
upc omm i ng Mallo y sale are
exceptional runs of named Republican
bronze, Celtic, and a collection of
Danish coin s featurin g mos t kings
from 1042 through to the Renaiss ance.
Individu al coins of speci al note
Roman or Byzanti ne bell
missing handle & clapper
period. Often, bells were grouped
together and affi xed to a central
handle to make an instrument similar
to the systrum.
Ancient bells frequentl y appear on
the market today and are rarely very
expensive. At least one ancient bel1
sold at mail bid auction in the last
year for less than $20.
Thus, an ancient bell can make an
inexpensive and interesting addition to
any collection.
Asinnalus of Media
include gold pieces from C·ologne,
Cru sader Jeru salem, En g land ,
Scotland, and the medieval Roman
Senate among others, as well as
rarities of Georgia (Queen Rusudan
447 A.H. Dirham), Spain (superb
Henry II real), Serbia (Stephen VIII
Gros without legends), and the Arab·
Sass anian series (mint state year 31
Dirham of the Hamadihan mint).
Readers may obtain a copy of this
1,500 101, fu ll y illustrated catalogue,
via first class mai l for $3.50 by
writing to Alex G. Malloy. Inc. ,
P.O. Box 38, South Salem. N.Y .
10590, or by calling (203) 438-0396.

Jean
Just In time for the Holidays
we offer 8 small ..lectlon of Byzantine pottery 011 lamps
In Very Ane to Excellent Condltkm
some: with crosses and other early Christian symbols
ELSEN
• Mail Bid Sales
$50 each or 4 for $125 and Public Auctions
• Numismatic Literature
We have many mofB intefBsting antiquities and ancient coins in stock. If you • Monthly Illustrated Price Lists
are not on our mailing Jist, you are missing some of th6 best buys in ancient art.
Stmd for your fffHJ catalogue today. For more information contact; ~ • Ancient, Medieval and Modern Coins

Time Machine CO. (tl)

,,_
JEAN ELSEN
Avenue de Tervueren 65, Bte 1
P. O. Box 282, Flushing Station,
Queens, NY 11367 1040 BRUSSELS-BELGIUM
(718) 544-2708 Tel: 02/734.63.56
,.
.. ..' ............... ........ ' ....................'.' ... . .. ...... . ..... -."' . ..
. .
.
 The· celBtor November 1988
Linville Islamic coins
Malter sets two auctions of coins / antiquities
Joel L. Malter and Company, Inc.
has announced two upcoming auctions.
The first of these will take place on
Sunday, Dec. 4 in Los Angeles. This
auction will feature the Dr. Richard
Ainley Collection of fine Classical
antiquities. A top quality collection
of ancient glass, many from the
Ainley Collection, will be on the
auction block. Egyptian artifacts,
Standing room only
Gorny auction response impressive
by Kerry Wetterstrom
The. Giessener MOnzhandlung
Dieter Gorny auction of ancient coins
on October 11 was marked by standing
room only for the Greek portion of
the auction. The crowd thinned
somewhat after lunch as the sale. held
at the Grand Hotel Continental in
Munich. progressed into the Roman
Republican issues. Most of the
European countries as well as the
United States were represented by
bidders in the sale room.
Some of the highlights of the sale
in OM (use 1.80 as a factor to convert
10 U.S. dolWs) w...:
Lot 36 • Bruttium. Brettii. AV
Half drachm with_a bead of Herakles
on obverse and Nib in a galloping
biga on ' the reverse - 13.000 DM
Rosenblum Fall mail bid
sale closes on Nov. 21
The Fall mailbid sale of ancient
and world coins held by William M.
Rosenblum will close on Monday
November 2 t. The 394 lot sale
includes 158 lots of coins from the
ancient world plus a wide selection of
medieval and modern coins.
Among the Greet coins offered are
several didrachms from southern Italy
including an extremely rare example
from Hyna in Campania. The piece.
estimated at $400, features a helmeted
Athena obvene and a man-headed buD
reverse with letters YPINA in
retrograde above. Another . lot
features 14 greek·, bronzes from 14
different cities in good to Fine
condition estimated at $425 .
Likewise, four Sicilian bronzes are
-offered in a lot at $45 estimate.
Rogers issues list #1
of fixed price ancients
Calvin I. Rogen; of Redwood Cicy,
California has issued his tint Fixed , with Shield!Amphora at $650; an XF
Prist list of ancient coins for sale.
Rogers offers 56 lots of Greek,
Parthian and In4o-Greek, Roman
Republican and Imperatorial. Roman
and Greet Imperial and Byzantine
coiDS mostly in the $50 to $500 price
range.
, Some notable examples, illustrated
" :-iCruafsiii'Oir'me 'fiSt; ' iIie' ;l' Vf'Siaie'r ,·,,"'f508': '-' '.' _., _ ... :' -. - - _. ,'
I. ' " 'j. 'J. 'J, >:, 'f, 'J.
many in bronze, as well as Roman and
Greek antiquities will be featured in
this auction.
Also included are weapons, seals
and ancient jewelry, many of which
being museum quality. A nice
selection of Tibetan art is also
included. The auction concludes with a
superb collection of Pre-Columbian
ArL Formed over the past 3S years,
(estimate 14.000 OM).
Lot 43 - Sicily. Agrigentum. AV
OHitron circa 415-406 B.C. SNG
Munich - 88 Var. realized 6,000 OM
(estimate 3.500 OM).
Lot 83 and 84 . Two choice
Syracusan teua<lracbms of Boehringer
470 & 472 types realized 10.000 and
9.500 OM respectively against
estimates of 8.500 & 6.500 OM.
Lot 123 - Gold stater of Tauric
Chersonnes. Panticapaion with a
beautiful style head of Pan on the
obverse. reali7.ed 49.000 OM against
an estimate of 40,000 OM.
Lot 137 - Gold stater of
Lysimachus in superb condition
realized 10,500 OM against . an
estimate of 6,000 OM.
Greek silver includes a nice run of
drachms and tetradrachms of northern
and central Greece.
The Judaean series is well represen-
ted as one would expect. Rosenblum
specializes in the coinage of this
region. Also offered is a selectioo of
Greek Imperials and Roman Imperial
coinage including some early pieces of
the Twelve Caesars.
Copies of the catalog are available
for $5 from William M. Rosenblum.
P.O. Box 355, Evergreen, CO 80439.
Lots will be available for viewing at
the Classical Numismatic Bourse in
Dallas October 28-29; at the Denver
Area World Numismatist Meeting
November 4; and at the Classical
Numismatic Bourse in San Francisco
on November 18-19.
of Thebes in Boeotia (379·371 B.C.)
denarius of Julius Caesar with
Elephant trampling serpent for $295:
and a VF denarius of Geta from the
Loadicea mint for $95.
For a copy of Ragen' Fixed Price
List number one write to: Calvin J.
Rogers, P.O. Box 7233, Redwood
City, CA ,9406.3. Q( .call . (415) ,3.69-
Villi
',':<'~, ',' ~ '<-!:1
this California collection includes feature his collection of Islamic and
many rare and desirable pieces. Byzantine gtass and bronze weights.
llIuSb'ated catalogs are $15 each. This is undoubtedly the largest and
The second auction is tentatively finest collection of such weights ever
set for January 29. 1989, and will to take place. This auction will
also take place in Los Angeles. This conclude with many exceptional
auction will feature the late Or. Greek, Roman and Byzantine coins.
Frank Linville's collection of Islamic Bronze, silver and gold coi ns are all
gold coins. In addition to Or. represented in this final selection of
Linville's coins. the auction will also the auction, Illustrated catalogs are
$10 each. Both the antiquity and coin
catalogs can be purchased for $20.
Write to Joel L. Malter Co., Inc., P.
O. Box 777, Encino CA 91316.
Lot 397 • Kings of Syria: Tryphon
Tetradrachm, a superb example. Check your mailing label.
realiz.ed 29,000 OM against estimate If the address is incorrect,
of 15,000 OM.
Lot 723 • A superb aureus of the U.S.P.S. will soon be
Elagabalus with Roma seated and sending your copy of The
CeialOr to their trash bin.
holding Victory on the reverse (RIC-
26) realized 21,500 OM against Help us stay ahead of the
estimate of 16,500 OM. hassel, keep your subscrip-
Lot 811 - A superb aureus of tion up to date and your
Licinius realized 9,600 OM versus address current Your help
estimate of 8,500 DM.
Information about future Gorny is appreciated.
auctions may be obtained by writing
to the firm at Maximiliansplatz 20,
0-8000, MWIi<:b 2, West Germany.
NUMISMATIK
LANZ
Munchen
Auction 46 November 28
in Munich
Ancient Coins
• Celtic
• Gn>ek
• Roman
• Byzantine
Auction 47November 29
Medieval and Modem
Coins and·Medals
1152 lots
Caialogs including prices realizcd $15 each
available from:
Numbmatik Lam Miinchen Lucien Birkler & Co.
LuiIpOIdbIock I Maximiliansplatz 10 1100 17th St, NW
D-8000, Miincben 2, West Germany Suite 1000
Telephone (089) 29 90 70 Washington, DC 20036
,.·~e'-'ax·
,&" jg', onA9
~ , 8~o n762·······
::tZoZ,V •• • .• • , · . ..... .:t-'
• • • • ' _. u .. 1000\ 0"-3770 .·.·.··.
"""..:u.y .~.
x The Celator November 1988

Bridge coins
HepthaHte countermarked coins used In Bactria
by David R. Dawdy
The Hephlhalites were one of many
peoples who moved from the steppes
of Central Asia into the Hindu Kush
and into India. They were known as
the White Huns, as opposed to the
Black Huns with AttHa as their
leader who were invading Roman
Europe. The Hepthalites apparently
showed up fir st in the reign of the
Kushan King Huvishka (c. AD 158-
195), By the 350s AD they assened
their independence from the Sassanian
Empire, and established a state in
Sactria. During the 4008 they
gradually expanded to gain control of
•
all Afghanistan . The Sassanians
contained them on the west, so that
they expanded nOM . soutn. and east.
About 460 they conquered Pakistan.
and it is that conquest which interests
Fig. 1: Hepthalne AR Drachm
us in terms of the coins counterstruck
for use there.
based on Sassanian type
The coinage of the Hephthalites with cursive Greek script
struck for Bactria ju st prior to the for use in Badria
conquest of Pakistan was based on
Sassanian coins, and has cursive Greek
script reading SRIO SHANI, King of
Kings. The reverse has a fire altar
with attendants, as do the Sassanian
prototypes. Figure 1 illus trates a
typical drachm of Bactria (MACW

Ancient Coins
• Mail Bid Sales
• Fixed Price Lists
• Buy or Bid Sales
• Numismatic Literature

Specializing in moderate priced Judaean coins

(serious want-lists soliciteti)

William M. Rosenblum/rare coins

po·box355evergreen,colo.80439
303-83&-4831
•
ANCIENT ROMAN
& GREEK COINS Fig. 3: Hepthaln. Drachm
Illustrated Price Lists wnh double countermari<
Numismatic LiteratUre
Auction Representation
Want List Search Service
David P. Herman
Classical Numismatist 1491·92). Some of these coins are as are the coins illustrated in
1322 35th St., Sune 101 countermarked. Mitchiner describes Mitchiner. Figure 3 shows another
Orlando, Florida 32809 the countermark as a "beetle" such drachm, but with two
(MACW 1493-94). Figure 2 shows countermarks, both over the cursive
422·5915
the beetle countermark, which is super Greek legend.
imposed on the cursive Greek legend, The countermaik in Figure 2 is
quite clear. It appears to be a fire
altar, not a beetie, and contains an
inscription in Numismatic Northern
Brahmi of about 300-600 AD
(Mitchiner, page 24). The script has
two characters, seemingly SaHa.
Thus, the countennark apparently is a

FRANK L. KOVACS provisional coinage for the conquest

of Pakistan, with the countermark
continuing the fare altar design, but
substituting the inscription for king
in Brahmi for that in Greek. Thus,
COINS AND ANTIQUITIES these coins should be considered
bridge coins between Mitchiner 1491 -
OF 92 and the similar coins with Brahmi
legend Sri SaHe shown as Mitchiner
GREECE, ROME, AND BYZANTIUM 1536-37, and should be listed and
displayed with the latter.
The small group of Hephthalite
coins, from which those illustrated
P.O. BOX 25300 were selected, were obtained from
Steve Huston. All references are to:
San Mateo, California 94403 Mitchiner, Michael, Oriental Coins
and their Values, The Ancient and
Classical World, 600 B.C. - A.D.
TEL. (415) 574-2028 650, Hawkins Publ., London, 1978.

Illustrated Fixed Price and

Mail Bid Sale Catalogues
The cel8tor November 1988 XI

Plan to Participate in .9 1988 ®

New York International Sale

December 8 and 9, 1988 at the
Sheraton Centre Hotel
ANCIENT AND FOREIGN COINS

Featuring an Attractive Offering of Ancient Greek and Roman Coins

• Nearly 100 lots of Greek, Roman and Byzantine Gold and Electrum, featuring an
outstanding group of Electrum Staters and Fractions representing the earliest phase of
coinage; a Judaea Capta Aureus , and a considerable number of Roman Imperial Aurei;

• A representative selection of Ancient Greek Silver including a lovely group of Sicilian and
Siculo-Punic Tetradrachms, and a small but choice group of Jewish Revo~ Silver.

• Interesting Republican Denarii including examples of the Muse Coinage of Q . Pomponius

Musa, numerous eeins of Julius Caesar, and an affordable Denarius of Cleopatra and
Marc Antony;

• The Twelve Caesars In Sliver;

• An extensive offering of nearly 150 Roman Imperial coins consisting of many choice and rare
Silver and Bronze specimens such as a lovely Clstophorus of Augustus, rare Sestertii of
Caligula and Claudius, Denarii of Marciana and Didius Julianus, attractive examples of the
coinage of 238 A.D. (Gordian I and II, Balbinus, Pupienus, and Gordian III as Caesar), rare
medallions of Annius Verus and Commodus, Com modus alone, Claudius II Gothicus,
Constantine I, and Constantius II; and a Drachm of Antlnous.

A wide range of coins to appeal to both the advanced and beginning

collector, as well as to the general student of Ancient History.

Profusely Illustrated Catalogue

Available Now!
The price of $10
includes Prices Realized.

.--------------------,
I
I STACK'S
123 West 57th Street
I
I
I New York, N.Y. 10019 I
I Enclosed please find $10 for the December 8, 9, 1988 I
(2U) 582-2580 I Auction Sale Catalogue and Prices Reali zed (after sale). I
Telex 666125 (UW)
I Name I
FAX: (2U) 245-5018 I Street I
123 West 57th Street L ____________________
I City State Zip ~
I
New York, NY 10019

America's Oldest and Largest Rare Coin Dealer and Leading Coin Auctioneers (or Over 50 Years.
XII The Celator November 1988

Speaking Back
Collectors fear 'too much' protection from copies
Dear Editor : honesty so much as his expertise. fraud if sold as something they are after some negotiation, I bo ught the
No matter what you do to police not. lot and took it home.
On fakes: I collect ancient fakes, the saJe of coins it will remain a fi eld Few dealers note a coin as First I sorted it by type, and then
barbarics, fourrees, and the like and of Caveat Emptor. I asked a major improved unless it has been poorly sorte d the Jannaeus pieces by
want to insure they are not included dealer for a suggested reading in fake done (brush c leaned or tooled with a condition. And when I had sifted out
in censures aimed at items made to determination and was told he hoped nail). Fakes are just a part of the the very best 50 or so pieces, and
deceive collectors. no one writes o ne since the book whole idea of ethics in numismatics started looking closely at them, I
The problem is where to draw the would serve more to aid the c rooks going all the way down to over- suddenly realized that many of them
line. Are real Paduans going to be than the collectors. Many dealers grading and "artistic" photography. were ide ntical - same shape of flan.
marked as copies? Will some dealers offer a lifetime guarantee of I recently saw an aureus that off-center in the same direction, same
fear to sell ancient questionables, authenticity but in reality this usually looked so pretty but had absolutely die flaws. Yes, they were fake.
(ourrees. and barbarou s? Some of the translates as "you prove it; we'll take flat reverse fields in place of a apparently cast.
replicas being offered are marked; it back:' slightly concave reverse. My expert After further examinatipn and
some are clearly not ancient' becoming Busy de alers don't examine every pronounced it fake. Since I have seen sorting. J was able to identify at least
something of a loken; some are uniface coin that closely (even with a so few aureii I am afraid to buy one. a dozen different varieties of fak e
or joined in such a way as to make no microscope) and some I've talked to For me this is a healthy attitude. As Jannaeus coins in the lot - that is.
c laim on being a coin. The problem don't have the eyesight left to see the the prices of all anc ients rise it might varieties of nan shape, centering,
comes when these items are repre- problems. A buyer of a coi n be a healthy attitude to adopt for style. etc. In other words, at least a
sented as something they aren't. frequently puts it in the safe depos it other coins that are not very familiar dozen different mold pairs had been
The dealer you took to task for box (the unfortunate necessity of the to me. used! And they had to be fakes because
selling such trash is careful to note hobby even for us small and junky If I could answer the ques tio ns in each of these dozen instances I was
these as not ancient (although I would collectors) where it awaits being sold above (especially the questionable able to find at least two e xactly
prefer he used a nastier term than by the estate. Even obvious fakes coins one) I might be ready to support matching coins.
ftPad uan" [his quotes) to describe casts could pass unnoticed for years in sanctions on people who deal in fakes I started looki ng at the other
of no relation to Cavino). Purchasers perfect ignorance. sold as fakes. I note few dealers deal types, and found a similar story.
of these items cou ld certainly peddle The other question is what to do in ancient fakes (barbaric, fouree. etc.) Unfortunately I did not have an
them as reaJ just as they could join about questionable coins. I have seen and I fear that your movement might opportunity to st udy the lot
the scholar unifaces or (if the market coins pronounced fake by one expert make it harder to find what I consider completely and have some photos
is du mb enough) paint the plaster and and good by another. What about very collectible items devised to made because my immediate concern
package in a plastic holder, coins that are real coins that have been deceive the ancient man on the street was to get that lot back into the
I have purchased a fake coin from "improved" by tooling (improved by Doug/as Smith hands of the dealer who had sold it to
one of your regular display adver- lowering the Gordian number??) What Maryland me (innocently, I believe) and to get
tisers. When r discovered it and about coins that have been cleaned my money back.
reported it (in person at a local show) completely and toned (Ieam to do this * •• * • Incidentally. David Hendin, who
the man said even if fake (it was lead and you realize why certain colors are knows these coins well if anyone
painted with copper paint) it was so common)? What about coins with This letter is prompted by your
does, had looked at this lot before me,
worth the price I paid fo r it from his solder dripped in test cuts and sold as article in which you quote from my
and apparently had not noticed
junk box. I did not press the matter - "some encrustation?" All of these latest mail-bid catalog as "adding
anything amiss. Indeed. the scam was
in aJl honesty I didn't want to offend (except, in my opinion, the tooled to insult to injury" because I had exceedingly deceptive. for a number of
him and close a good source of junky change type) are very collectible coins mentioned my specific inclusion of reasons.
coins. I do no t doubt the man's ] F they are described as such, and Paduans, forgeries and fantasies in the
In the ftrst place, these coins are so
sale. (Perhaps your umbrage on the cheap that one doesn't even imagine
point accounts for your declining to fakery coming into play. Secondly.
mention my sale as a "news" item.) they are of course very crude coins
Your concerns on the point are very that us uall y come in terrible
legitimate. Let me say that I never condition - so that the fakes don't
intended to handle such materials as really require a high degree of
this; but when one is a dealer buying technical excellence to pass muster. If
groups and lots and collections, it is anything, the forger's challenge is to
ANTHONY, Collecting Greek Coins. #813 .. ...... .... .............•.. .$14.75 j ust inevitable that this kind of make his fakes look as crude as the
material turns up. Meanwhile too, originals ! The deceptiveness of this
BURNETT, Colnag. In the Roman World. 168 p. maps, diagrams + 200 Paduans and fantasies have long held a lot was enhanced by a number of
photos. #8116.....•••.•• ...... .... ........•.•. ........ .. .. .. ........ .... .. .. .. .. .. .. $25.00 more or less respected place in further factors too. The use of a large
numismatics - for example, Stack.'s number of different molds made it
BUTCHER, Roman Provincial COins, #886 ............ .. .. .. .......... $20.00 landmark sale of the famed Knobloch diffic ult to notice pairs of identical
Collection included a whole section coins; I had spent a number of hours
CARRADICE & PRICE, Co/nag. In the Greek World, #8-45 ... $27.0 0 of them. in sorting before I noticed it. In
At any rate, when such items addition, the fake coins were not
EVANS, Soldiers of Rome; Praetor/ans and Legiona/res. New. 171
p., many maps, charts, and drawings. #8-118 .. _. .. .. _......... .. ........ .$17.95 started turning up in groups that I fresh-looking; most of them had a
was buying, I offered them for sale. little bit of encrustation (in fact, they
HEN DIN, Guld8 to Biblical Coins. #899 ..............................................$35.00 described in ways that I hope were looked as though they had been
accurate and proper, and discovered to c lea ned of patina, but not
HOBERMAN, The Art of Coins & their Photography, # B123 .. .$95.00 my surprise that there was in fact a
completely!) F urthermo re, the lot
tremendous amount of interest in such contained an admixture of genuine
JONES, Dlctlonary of Ancient Greek Coins. #875 .. .. .... .... ..... $45.00 material. on the part of collectors.
coins - low grade mostly, heavily
Quite a few collectors, I know, try to patinated and crusty.
MANTON, Roman North Afrlca_ #8119 ................... _ .............................. $35.00 acquire such materiaJ - when properly
The result of all these deceptive
described, and at proper prices - in fac tors was the creation of a lot
MATTINGLY, Roman Coins. #81 08........•..••...................... .. .. .$30 .00 o rder to learn from it. And a lot of
which I, as a dealer, did not even
NASH, Colnag. In the CAltlc World, #8113 .....•............ ..... .... $20 .00 these items can also be inuins ically
think of questioning. I was fortunate
fascinating for a variety of reasons.
that I did not lose any money on this
SEAR, Roman Coins & Their Values. #87 ..................... .. .. .....$49 .95 But nevertheless, 1 do share your
concern when it comes to copies that lot. but without doubt this was a
SELTMAN, Greek Coins. Reprint. 311 p. + 64 pI. #8-43 . .. .. .. .. ... $29 .00 are in fact highly deceptive. This is a scary experience. When ordinary,
common. J annaeus leptons are being
growing problem, and it can only get
We also offer: Book auctions and catalogs of used, out of print cunningly forged, we have a very big
worse as technology improves, as
and scarce books on ancient Greek and Roman coins and history; a coins become more valuable, and as problem
large stock of Numismatic Chronicles; other RNS publications ; and Frank S. Robinson
more people come into the field who
ANS Numismatic Notes & Monographs. New York
are not very expert. Your report on
the struck copies of gold aureii gives
me the willies! And let me regale you **•*•
Please add $4 for postage with a report of my own which
While I do not object to you
U.S.P.S. Special Handling $2 additional should likewise provide some goose-
expressing your opinion on copies and
bumps. counterfeits in "Speaking Out," I do
At the recent New York show, I
THOMAS P. MCKENNA was shown a lot of about 1,500
Judaean bronzes. At least haJf were
not agree that most collectors would
accept your recommended "interna-
tional boycott of all pruchases of
P.O. Box 1356-F, Fort Collins, CO 80522 the very common Jannaeus issues. But
other than legitimate coins and
in looking over the lot, I noticed that
303-226-5704 quite a few of them were in unusually
medals."
nice condition; and because of this. Please turn to page XX 1111
The Celalor ' . November 1988
has been claimed by the Duchy of
Dust Lancaster as "treasure ttove," we hope
that it may be submitted for

of the examination to some competent

numismatist, and that we shall. ere

Ages long, be made acquainted with further

details.
of the
N.S. Vol. IV, 1864
Find of Coins at Eccles
On the 1 hh of August last, a
large hoard of silver coins was found
buried in what is now the footpath of
a new junction road, which is being
made from Wellington Road, Eccles.
past the boundary wall on the west
side of the ancient residence known as
Monk's Hall. We extract the
following particulars from the
Manchester Guardian. It appears that
a young man walking along this
footpath, seeing something glitter,
picked it up. and finding it to be a
coin, sought farther, and found about
a score of similar coins. After some
days, these were shown to a
neighboring antiquary, Me. J.
Harland, F .S.A.. who, hearing that
some coins were still left in the
ground, persuaded the finder to
resume his search, which resulted in
the discovery of a vessel containing
about 6,400 coins. This vessel is
described as having' been urn-shaped,
of coarse reddish earthenware, and
slightly ribbed inside, the only
external ornament being a border of
small square indents. Unfortunately,
it was in an extremely friable
condition, and only portions of it
could be preserved. Out of a thousand
coins which were examined, 964
proved to be short-cross pennies of
Henry II or III. Of the other thirty-
six. nineteen were pennies of Jo~n ,
and the remainder principally penmes
of William the Lion. It would appear
as if not a single long-cross penny
was present, so that in all probability
the hoard, if carefully examined, may
throw some light upon the disputed
long and short-cross question. As it
Bank Leu Ltd Zurich
The Jewish Coinage
We see announced as shortly ready
Numismatics
for publication, "The History of
Jewish Coinage, and of Money in the
Old and New Testament" by Frederic
W. Madden, M.R.S.L. The work
will be comprised in one volume,
royal 8vo., with 244 woodcuts. and a
Plate of Alphabets. by F.W. Fairholt,
F.S.A.
The British Museum
The department of Coins and
Medals in the British Museum has.
during the year 1863, acquired 826
articles, of which 195 are Greek, 111
Roman, 513 Mediaeval and Modem, 7
Oriental. The most remarkable of
these are - Greek: a rare didrachm of
Thebes; a very rare tetradrachm of
Messene; a fine tetradrachm of Chios,
very rare tetradFachms of Ialysus and
Lindus; and two copper coins of
Tiryns, a place hitherto unrepresented
in the Museum cabinets; a fine
didrachm of Ptolemy the Fifth; and a
large number of Ptolemaic coins.
Roman: a rare solidus of Eugenius; a Every year we have an auction of very important ancient coins
solidus of Libius Severus; one of in spring.
Constantine the First. Mediaeval and We issue occasional lists.
Modern: a rare sequin of Hugo Our stock ranges from Hemitartemoria to Dekadrachmai, and
Lubens. G.M. of Malta, 1582-1595; a from Quadrantes to Multiple Aureus Medallions.
large gold coin of Sigismund the We actively buy and sell at all price levels.
Third, of Poland; rare silver roubles
of Peter the Second and Peter the
Third of Russia.
HOARDS ...
... Of ancient coin maveQs are Bank Leu Ltd
asking for our free lists of Greek, In Gassen 20 CH-8001 Zurich Switzerland
Roman and Byzantine ooins. Telephone (from the US) 011 4112192406 Telex 814 616
Join the throng .
Call or write today!
PANTHEON
p,o, Box 730051
Royal Oak, MI 48073
(313) 583-3268

FIXED PRICE LISTS and AUCTIONS

COINS

Write for lisll:

Send Today
STEPHEN M.HUSTON For
Classical Numismatist
P.O. Box 3621
Free Illustrated List
San Francisco, CA 94119
(415) 781-7580

Office: 582 Market Street, Suite 1011, San Francisco TOM CEDERLIND \
Catalogues Authentication Coin Photography
P. O. Box 1963-C
Portland, OR • 97207
. XliII. The Celator November 1988

ANCIENT ARTIFACTS ,
," .

& COINS
We can offer these antiquities and coins at near-wholesale prices because we
buy in tremendous quantities. We also handle many museum-quality antiquities
with values up to $50,000 for the advanced ccllector. Please ccntact us with
your specific needs or just call and say 'hello! These specials are offered at Syro Hittite Terracotta Heads
extremely low prices and are available for a limited time only. ca. 2,500 B.C., approx. 2" High
Thus, we suggest you act quickly and join the ranks of
Mehrdad's many satisfied customers.
Different Styles $25 each
All items are guaranteed genuine as described and can be returned as-sold for
any reason within 15 days. Please add $1 p & h on orders under $1 00.
Luristan Bronze Spearpoint
1,200 - 800 B.C.
Different Sizes & Shapes
Type A -16" long $245 each
Type B - 9" long $85 each Greek Iron Arrowhead
from "Homeric Times"
ca. 700 B.C., 2-3" long· oxidized
$7 each Lunstan Bronze Arrowheads
Sassanian Silver Dirhams ca. 1,200 - 800 B.C., 3 - 4 1/2" long
6th - 7th century A.D. Various Rulers cho~e - various styles $20 each
$15 each
Egyptian Neolithic Flint TipS
ca. 4,000 B.C. - 6000 years old!
$9 each Assyrian Faience Seals
Geometric Design, 700 B.C.
$25 each
Parthian Silver n",eh'~~
200 B.C. - 200 A.D. Va,im" Hu"rs:
Roman Denar,,, Size $35 each
Ancient Biblical Coins I
Widows Mites
Alexander Janaeus .
Attributable
2,000 years old $9 each

•
Sumerian Shell Money
4,000-3,000 B.C. 1" d"meter
Egyptian Faience Ushabti
2 - 2/12" High, 26th Dynasty - 650 B.C. Earliest known "money" $9 each
"Servant of the Dead"
Blue-Green Glaze $59 each

Roman Faience and Agate Necklace

Phoenician Terracotla Head Fragments
2 - 21/2" Tall, Ca. 300 B.C.
24" in length, 200 B.C.
BeautWul & Wearable $75 each
Elamain Bronze Orachms
200 A.D., Pers"n, Thick $1 0 each
$19 each Rn.rum Fbulas, Patinated
Phoenician Mother Goddess Holding Child
11/2 - 2" long, Terracotta, 7" Tall, Ca. 300 B.C. $95
each
100 B.C. - 100 A.D. $17 each

Roman
Glass Bracelets
1 1/2 - 2" diameter
ca. 3rd Century A.D. 100 A.D., Cho~e
Varoius COlors
$35 each
Holy Land 100 A.D. Terracotta Drinking Cups/Bowls Holy Land Terracotta Oil Lamps
Sm.2 1/2-3" diam. $19 each ca. 100 A.D., Approx. 3" Long

Lg. 4-5" diam. $29 each Different Shapes $25 each

The Celator November 1988 xv

Greek Archaic Period

Painted Pottery vaSe~,(;Baet-.;ud..K,~r!a;t;;e~~,,,-_
Ftying Eros (cupid)"& ~
II "xll" Ca. 530-320B.C. ~~.UUU

Egyptian Mummy Mask - Late Period

Wood Wrth Gesso, 10" x S"
on Luc,e Stard $600

Large Egyptian Usahbti

26th Dynasty - 600 B.C.
-
Blue/Green Glaze, Approx. 6" tall
inscrbed Shining forth the Osiris
the servant and scrbe Horeth"
$395 each

Luristan Bronze Finial

Master of Animals
1,200 - SOO B.C. -10" taU
on Lucie Stard $800
Egyptian C~I:~~i~~I~~X';(e~:~k
Painted. I xS- Greek Tenacotta Warrior
ca. 300 B.C .. Good COndition Some Original Paint. 11" tall
on stand $1 ,450 - 4{)0 B.C., on stard $750

'Luristan Bronze Ho",e B" 1,200-800 B.C.

3 1/2" x 5 1/2" on Lucile Stard $1 ,900
Roman limestone Uon Head
From Egypt, 300 B.C., S" xS"
Mehrdad Sadigh on stard $750

ANCIENT ARTIFACTS & COINS

I 1-800-426-2007 I
Visit our New York Gallery at

Syro-Hitt,e Statue, 2,500 - 2,200 B.C.

303 Fifth Ave., Room 1603,
New York, N.Y. 10016,
-
Terracotta, Buff Color, 13" tall Roman I
on stard $900 From Original Floor From Syria
or Call (212) 725-7537 ca. 100 A.D., set in frame. 50· x 15"
Su,able for table top $950
 .XVI The Celalor Nolfeinbe( 1988

HE'{ BLORG •.. HERIi.'S BUYING & SELLING

ANDl).{ER ONE SIGNElO 6Y "mAT
GU'I "c. PLuRIf!,US Ur-tUM". WORLD
1100 B.C.
to Modern

Wrile for Free List: ~

Anything Anywhere
P. O. Box 02826
Portland OR 97202

Clip & Save MUHAMMED II, 1296-1316 AR Tanka, VF or better, each $3

IDENTlFIED ROMAN AE, ca 250-500 AD, VG or better each $5

Coin File •
26th DYNASTY USABTl, intact & nice each $45
LURISTAN AE ARROWPOINTS, ca 1000 Be, inlact, each $8
Please include $2 postage. First come.jirst served.
Antoninus Pius
AE - Sestertius
Kenneth W. Dorney
DEALER IN ANCIENT COINS
145-161 A.D.
P.O. Box 493362 Dept. CE
Bust/Cos 1111
Redding, CA 96049-3362
RIC 765

nus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus, acquired the name

Pius from the Roman Senate upon succeeding his father, through
QUOTES FROM THE PAST
- adoption, the emperor Hadrian. History records little of his reign,
perhaps because h was a rare time of peace and stabil~y. His reign
and that of his adopted sons Aurelius and Varus is often called "The
Golden Age of the Antonines-. This sestertius, struck during his
'Things don't tum up in this world
fourth consulship, recalls the glory of Hadrianic sculpture in a period until somebody turns them up"
when art nourished. The reverse seems to depict Antoninus nimbate
(a circktt similar to the halo used by Christian artists to portray James A. Garfield
Christ) and holding a spear and branch. It is the first appearance of a
nirrllus on Roman coinage, perhaps 10 depict Ihe e""",ror as Apollo.
L
------------------------- ..

TRIVIA QUIZ
What central Greek city was
named for Hs circular shape,
which was dictated by the course
of the river Strymon? Under the
Specializing in
Romans this city was the capital
of Macedonia Prima. ANCIENT CENTRAL ASIAN
(last month's answer on page XXIIII)
ISLAMIC and INDIAN COINS

Ci:.ale~

Wnte for sample illustrated liJI

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specializing in ancient coins and antiquities:
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-------------------------
·The Cefalor November 1988 XVII

Joel L. Malter & Co., Inc.

CLASSICAL ANTIQUITIES AND
PRE-COLUMBIAN ART AUCTION
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4TH 1988 IN LOS ANGELES

Featuring: The Dr. Richard Ainley collection of fme classical antiquities. One of this auctions
highlights will be the over 130 pieces of beautiful ancient glass. The Ainley collection will also
offer choice artifacts from the Greek and Roman worlds as well as the Near-East Egyptian
artifacts include, a fme mummy mask and important canopic jar. Another highlight will be a fine
selection of ancient weapons in bronze. The second half of the sale will feature a quality
collection of Pre-Columbian Art - one of the fmest offerings of such materials in years. This
collection of Pre-Columbian art was assembled in California over the past 30 years and is now
_.
offered for sale.
Mummy Mask in Gilt and
Painted Colors on Unen,
Ptolemaic Egypt

Mexico, Veracruz 900-1100 A.D. Peru, 15th Century A.D. Egyptian Canopic Jar
Large Standing figure 01 Xipe-Xotec Chancay Figure of Woman with Inscription in Alabaster
Museum Qualityl Terracotta with dark paint XVIII Dynasty, from Thebes

ANCIENT ROMAN AND GREEK COINS, ISLAMIC GOLD

COINS AND GLASS WEIGHTS, FOREIGN
AND U.S. GOLD COIN AUCTION
JANUARY 29TH-31ST 1989 IN LOS ANGELES

This auction will feature the Dr. Frank Linville Collection of Islamic gold coins and glass
weights. In addition a superb collection of ancient coins, many in gold, will be offered. The
sale will conclude with an outstanding group of U.S. gold coins as well as a fme selection of
modem foreign coins. Phoenician Glass Olnochoe
-'
in Blue, Yellow & White Glass
7th · 5th Century B.C.

Illustrated Catalogs:
Classical and Pre-Columbian Art Auction. Auction (XXXVIII)
Islamic and Ancient Gold Coins, U.S. Gold and Foreign Coins. Auction (XXXIX)
Catalogs $15 each, both for $25.

JOEL L. MALTER & CO., INC.

P.O. BOX 777
16661 VENTURA BLVD. #518 -
ENCINO, CA 91316
Phoenician Glass Oinochoe
(818) 784- 7772
in Blue, Yellow & WMe Glass Cal. Lie. #828
7th· 5th Century B.C.
 XVIII The Celator November 1988

Academic argument
Addison defended ancients In 'classical' style
by Rev. Robert C. Stroud
Although the field of ancient
numismatics is enjoying increasing
popularity, there remain many who
regard it (and presumably numis-
matics in general) as a superfluous
waste of time. Living in a utilitarian
age, most contemporary numismatists
are well acquainted with people's
demand for visible, measurable
evidence of the field's ~ value. ~
might the collecting of ancient
coinage be justified, some query, in
terms of making the world a better
place? What, in essence, is the
usefulness of gathering, studying and
discussing these artifacts from the
past? Collectors often receive blank
stares when attempting to relate to
olhers the rewards of their pursuit.
Various defenses are employed in
responding to this question. Perhaps
the following citations. from a 260
How year old document, will enable each
of us to offer an even more effective
argument in defense of the passion
•
which has captured us.
Published in 1726, Dialogues upon
the Usefulness of Anciem Medals by
Joseph Addison, addresses this
Question directly, with a flair one
might anticipate in a work of that
period. The genre is that of an
educated dialog. and the stage for the
discourse is set with the following
observation by an unenlightened man
of leisure:
"Nothing can be pleasanter than to
see a circle of these {numismatic]
Virtuoso's about a cabinet of Medals,
descanting upon the value, rarity and
authenticalness of the several pieces
Medals... built on such mean
materials, should appear ridiculous to
those that have not taken the pains to
examine it."
After this, Philander invites his
two colleagues to discourse on the
subject, and Eugenius acknowledges:
"I must confess. I find myself very
much inclined to speak against a sort
of study that I know nothing of."
Now, however, after hearing
Philander's eloquent invitation to
discuss the subject, he possesses "one
strong Predudice in favour of it."
Somewhat more critically, their
colleague Cynthia states that he is

-~
3 t1m !7L 7enu that lie before them. One takes up a
coin of gold, and after having weU
("mally glad to hear a defense of ~ a
science of which I have long wished to
II2 &venJJ. &raJ, CWaikins glen, 'Jof>J I4B9I weighed the figures and inscription
tells you very gravely, if it were
hear the Usefulness.~
Thus, the criterion by which the
(607) 515-9696 brass, it would be invaluable. field is to be judged is its utility_ To
Another falls a ringing a Pescennius suggest that the pursuit adds to the
To: All Collectors and Dealers of Moderately Priced Ancient Nigu, and judiciously distinguishes ql;Jality and enjoyment of life rings
and British Coins and Tokens the sound of it to be modern. A third hollow in the ears of the utter
desires you to observe well the Toga pragmatist . Alas, this fact has
What: Mail Buy/Bid Sale of Ancient, British, and a few on such a reverse, and asks you remained unchanged for centuries.
Miscellaneous World Coins and Tokens whether you can in conscience believe How then might a numismatist of the
the sleeve of it to be the true Roman early eighteenth century have argued
When: Closing dale is November 15, 1988 cut." in defense of our hobby or livelihood?
In the defense of hi s pursuit, the What follows is Philander's defense
Highlights: Macedon and Athens Tetradrachm,; Sestertii of protagonist. named Philander, intones:
Augustus, Agrippina Sr., Claudius, Domitian, Trojan of the hobby and science of numis-
"} must confess ... the knowledge of matics.
Decius; Denarii of Sabina, Plautil14, Geta, Macrinus,·

- Orbiana; IE 1 of Jovian; 40+ lots of Byzantine;

Hammered Gold Unites of Charles I and James Ii
80+ lots of British 17th-19th Century Tokens (many
high grede, inclu.ding several Unc.); 40+ lots of
miscellaneous pre· 1900 Coins of the US and World
Medals has most of those dis-
advantages that can render a science
ridiculous, to such as are not well
versed in it. Nothing is more easy
than to represent as impertinences any
In the first place. he argues, "you
are not to look upon a cabinet of
Medals as a treasure of money. but of
knowledge ... the intrinsic value of an
old coin does not consist in its metal
parts of learning that have no but its erudition. " On the subject of
How: S end for a free list; postage is appreciated immediate relation to the happiness or metals, he later notes there exists a
convenience of mankind ... it is no great difference between ancient and
wonder therefore that the science of Please turn to page XXIII

WILLIAM B. WARDEN, JR.

P.o. Box 356, New Hope, PA 18938
(215) 297-5088
Roman Empire
1) Hadrian. 117· 138 AD., AR DenarWJs. Av. CIemen1ia holding pa18ra left OW( altar and seeptel' 10 right
RIC 117, gem EF·AU $475
2) ---'---"--' Av. Roma _ted holding $(:&ptei' and lpell. RIC 332, good VF $185
3) - ' - ' - ' Av. SaIu. standing right feeding ou1 01 pattrl 1 ~ coiled aroond a/tw'. RIC 267 & RSC
, 1336, good VF $125
4) AnIoninu:I Piul . 138-161 A,D., AR OonarIus, Rv. Clasped hand. holding caduceul between two c:orn
I ...... RIC 136& RSC 344. aEF $200
t 5) Marcus Al,I"eliul, 161 · 180 A.D., AR
316, Vf $145
O&nariu'. Av. Roma tacing left holding VICIory and spear, RIC

I 6) Septimus ~I, 193-211 A.D., AR Denarius, Av. Mer. holding VIC'Dry and spear. RIC 197 & RSC
470-1. good VF $510
7) --' --' --' Rv. PART MAX PM ffi P Villi. two CQpMI _ted ~ 10 back. each on a round shield
and wilh Iheif hand. tied behind bad\. RIC 176 & RSC 370. 1lJI)ef"b portrail & gem EF $l i 5
8) ca-acaa.. 198-217 A,D.• AR QenaIius, Rv. SerapIs llanding racing left. RIC 194 &n RSC 1i5.
good VF $ 165
9) - ' - ' - ' Av. Venus ltandng left hoIcing Vidoly and scepter learWIg on sIjejd seton hDImtt. RIC
311b and 606a. EF $165
10) Geta, 209-212 A,D., AR Denarius, Av. Pax atancfng 10 front MIl head to left. RIC 81 . Godden (olum
described u either Pax or PrtMderuia1 or Aetemita.1) .tarw:ling wont, heI .I., holding lighted
toreh and globe. RIC 81 & RSC 200. EF $1 65
11) Elagabalus, 218·222 A.D. , AR Denarius, Av. Sol advaneing. holding _pier to leftwilh ltar In left
field. RIC 28 & RSC 154, EF $150
12} --'-' --' Av. Annena .tanding halt left , holding com 88f. and re sting left ann 00 rudder.et 00
globe, betor. hef modius filled with com earl, RIC 59 & RSC 13 , VF +NF $75
13) Macmus, 217·21 8 A.D., Greek Irroerjal lsS\HI AR T8VlMtadlm, Sear 2950. good VF $250
14) Severut Alexander. 222·235 A.D.• AR O&nar'I.it, Rv. Concordia aealad to left holding patera and
ccrnucopIa, RIC 275 & RSC 38, EF $100
15) - ' - ' - ' Av. Annona tlaOding troru. head lett. holding oem &af1 and cornucopia, al her IMI lett.
modiut llied wit! com e arl, RIC 133 & RSC 23. good VF $S5
16) --'--'--' Av. ~hoIding com e... OYermodiulliledwilheom eart, hand 10 ~IOW(
1OtPW, variety 01 RIC 296. RARE · aEF $125
17) Maximinul l. Zl5-238 AD .• AR Denaiut. Rv. Fidet ,tanding racing, head right holding tlandard In
each hand, RIC 71. RSC 7, aEF $95
18) Oiodelian, 2&4-305 A.D., A£ FoUis (wilh nice geen patirlaj, TheMalonica mitt, Ex'-'oel L. Malter
audionl34 , IoI 841 , goodEF $125
19) Maxentiu,. 306-312 A.D.. AE Follis, Oslia mint Rv. the Oiosc:uri ,tanding fadng ead'! other, each
holding I'IorM by briele wilh wort and twint in belwgen the I)oscuri, RIC 16, Sear RC 4'1'1 ed.

-
tl37T7. EF $"
 ,

The Celator November 1988 XVIlIl

Huston's mail bid sale

offers 'Collector' coins Coming Events ....
Stephen M. Huston of San
Francisco has released Mail Bid Sale
List 84. a fuUy illustrated catalog of
Greek, Roman, Byzantine and
The sale represents Huston's semi-
annual mail bid. now in its ninth year.
The coins offer a wide variety, all nice
pieces. selected with collectors in
Oct. 28 - 29

Nov. 5
Classical Numis. Bourse - Dallas

London Coin Fair, England

Medieval coinages and numismatic
reference books to be sold closing
Friday, Nov. 4, 1988.
List 84 contains more than 100 lots
with every coin illustrated, obverse
and reverse in actual size plates facing
the description. Estimates in U.S.
dollars are provided, and lots range
from $25 to $175 in value.
Helios Christmas list
-
mind.
A free copy of Huston's Mail Bid
Nov. 18 -19 CNB • San Francisco
Sale List 84 will be sent to readers on
request. Write to: Stephen M.
Huston, Classical Numismatist. P. O. Nov. 18-20 San Jose Expo., Convention Ctr.
Box 3621, San Francisco CA 94119
or phone (415) 781-7580 to speed Nov. 18 - 20 Central States Fall Convention,
delivery of the list before the closing Dayton Convention Ctr., OH
date.
Nov. 18 - 20 Prescott Coin Show, Sheraton
Resort,Prescott,AZ

has variety of offerings Nov. 25 - 27 CSNA Conv. ,Onta~o, CA

Variety is lhe theme for Helios'
up-and-coming Christmas list. Greek,
Roman, Egyptian, Mesopotamian and
Byzantine antiquities are offered for
both beginning and advanced col-
lectors.
A drawing card to their table at
the Greater New York/ AINA
Convention was a wooden display case
containing the hand and foot of an
Egyptian mummy. This acquisition,
along with Attic Greek vases, Dec.1- 3 Lanham, MD coin show, Howard
cylinder seals and a piece of Assyrian Johnson Plaza, formerly Sheraton
basalt statuary all contribute to a
diverse grouping for the Christmas
season. Dec. 4 Joel Matter auction, Los Angeles
A free list may be obtained by Dec. 8-11 NY Intemational, Sheraton Centre
writing to Helios, P. O. Box 25, mid-town Manhattan
Westminster MO 21157, or by
phoning (301) 876-7140 or (301) 235-
1696. Dec.8-9 Stack's auction, New York/"

Dec. 9 Classical Numis. Auctions NY sale

Prescott coin show to
include auction by Wolf
The Prescott Coin Show, an annual
event held in Prescott, Arizona, will
feature its first auction of ancient,
medieval, and modern coins on
November 19. The mail bid I bid
"timed auctioit""'WlIIPbe conducted by
Michael and Sandy Wolf of Dewey,
Arizona.
Featured in lhe sale are 484 lots of
ancient Greek. Roman and Byzantine
coins, including a set of ANACS
certified coins of the " 12 Caesars".
Coins in the set are offered
independently and as a group - the
highest aggregate bid to determine the
melhod of sale. All of the examples
in this set are struck in silver except
for a bronze of Caligula. A portrait
denarius of Julius Caesar, graded
Jan 5 - 8 FUN convention, Orlando -
Feb. 15 Glendining auction, London
ANACS VF. is estimated at SI ,275.
An inviting denarius of Augustus in
EF, and a lovely denarius of Nero, Mar. 10-12 Northwest coin show, Minneapolis
EF, are also included in the group. A •
video tape of the coins mJY be rented
for pre-auclion inspection of lots.
Michael and Sandy Wolf have been
part-time coin dealers for the past 15
years and belong to several numis- ARE YOU INTERESTED IN OBTAINING
matic organizations. Michael is a
professor in math physics at a private SOME OF THE FINEST ANCIENTS IN
university in Prescott. They staff
tables at several Arizona shows, as THE WORLD?
well as at the Long Beach Numismatic
and Philatelic Exposition. For a free
auction catalog write to: Michael The Celator is chock full of ads offering ancient coins for sale. To many
Wolf, P.O. Box 233, Dewey, AZ, of you, we are jJst a name, amidst a forest of similar firms. You may
86327 or call (602) 772-7144. assume that most ancient dealers, deal in very similar coins.

YOU ARE WRONG!!!

14th ANNUAL PRESCOTT, AZ, COIN SHOW
Nov. 18-20. 1988 - Sheraton Resort & Conference Center If you are building a collection of any of the following:
a""
Mall Bid / Bid Board Auction
Byzantine bronze or silver, Greek bronzes, Parthian, Bactrian Indo-
(dosing date: Nov. 19) Greek, Constantinian bronzes, Late Roman bronze, Roman Republican
over 500 lots 01 andent & medieval coins 1n.1 price ranges bronze, Roman Colonial or Greek Imperial coinage, ancients in genre in
wiItI bolh old and new Sear numbers !of relemnco less than Very Fine condition, or ancients in genre for under $100 - per
leaturing the 12 c.-.rs with ANACS .uthentiflC8tion
and gracing certificates, also two dozen mote certified ancients
For more information and free catalog, contact
coin,
YOU PROBABLY WON'T BE AMONG OUR CLIENTELE
-
M. Wolf, P.O. Box 233, Dewey, AZ, 86327 WE SPECIALIZE IN SOME OF THE FINEST AND RAREST ANCIENT
(602) 772-7144 COINS THAT CAN BE OBTAINED WORLD-WIDE

If you love Roman or Greek gold-CONTACT OUR FIRM

If you love beautiful Greek tetradrachrns--CONTACT QUR FIRM
ANCIENT BIBLICAL COINS If you want to build a fantastic 12 Caesars Collection, whether in gold,
silver, or bronze-CONTACT OUR FIRM
Struck in Israel 2,000 years ago, these coins have become one of the most If you drool over the coins that you see in the major auctions, and want
rapidly growing fields in Ancient Numismatics. Referenced to Biblical cities, to own exactly similar coins--
rulers and events, the popularity of these coins has increased values tremen-
dously in the past several years. Many types are still relatively inexpensive THEN BY ALL MEANS CONTACT OUR FIRM
in Israel (under $10) and have reached record high sales in several leading
(By the way, we do not issue price fists)
1988 auctions.
DON7 MISS TilE BOAT!!! It is important to be on our mailing list Just
mention seeing our ad in The C~laJor and you will receive free catalogs and
Rare Coins & Classical Arts Ltd.
Dr. Arnold R. Saslow
bOOks on.~;e"t Biblical CO~,~~: .tl.. sOW"Ce. (Deal"'~inqUiriesi"~V~ ·Specialists in Museum Quality Coins·
Member: ANA, ANS, SAN, AINA, INS, Fellow RNS _
H. KOGEN . ,..,. ~1!1J P.O. Box 374
• P.O. Box 2 I37 . ~ ¥'
THE WIOOWSMITE Natanya 42121 'FESTusiNERO South Orange, NJ 07079; Phone: (201) 761-0634
Mark 12:41 Israel Acts 24:27
 xx
Seutonius
ment. He restored peace and order to
- an empire that had seen nothing but
fighting and civil war for the past
hundred years. Augustus added many
new roads and buildings to the
empire. Of the city of Rome be often
boasted that he had. "found it of
brick. but left it of marble." Perhaps
the most important event of this reign
was the birth of Christ. which took:
place in the province of ]udaea about S
B.C. The great historian Livy lived
during this reign. Augustus died in
A.D. 14 at the age of seventy-six.
A wide variety of coins. in all
meta1s (gold. silver, bronze. copper).
were struck. during Augustus ' forty-
one years as emperor. Of particular
interest to Astronomers is the
denarius which shows on its reverse a
comet that appeared in the sky soon
after Julius Caesar was assassinated.
A gold aureus shows Caius and Lucius
Caesars. Augustus' grandsons and
incended successors, .on the ,reverse, a
popular denarius also bears this
design. Most of Augustus' coins
show his portrait. however some of
his early coins show a Victory or the
bust of a god such as Mars or Apollo.
His popularity with the Romans is
clearly demonstrated by the large
quantity of commemorative coins
struck after his death. Commem-
orative coins were still being struck
in his honor in the mid third century.
His wife Livia also appears on several
coins.
Tiberiull
Tiberius was born in 42 B.C. In
his youth and middle age he was an
, MiiIizeD UDd MedailleD AG
I Perhaps the best known of
I
j' For 45 years
II
t
we have been serving '.
i
I
f
collectors of Ancient C~ins ...
I
i• and we would like
•
II to serve you too!
I 10 B.C. After hearing of the murder
I of Caligula, and fearing that he too
! a door in the palace. was discovered by
t
~.
-Monthly DIustrated Fixed Price Lists-
- Public Sales - Appraisals -
- Large Stock in All Price Ranges - .
- Buying and .Selling -
••
Please contact:
Miinzen und Medaillen AG
P. O. Box 3647 - Malzgasse 2S
CH - 4002, Basel, Switzerland
... ...... . Tel. (061) ~3_ 7.5...:14 ........ ........--... .
able military commander, and spent
much time campaigning in the. East.
After the death of Agrippa in 12 B.C.,
and Lucius and Caius Caesars in A.D.
2 and 4, Augustus reluctant1y chose
Tiberius as his successor. Although
he was an efficient emperor, he was
unpopular with the senate. the Roman
people, and in particular with later
Julius Caesar
AR - Denarius
historians such as Suetonius and
Tacitus . He had many people
murdered during his reign, including
the popular Germanicus Caesar, of
whom he was jealous. 'The ministry,
crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ
took place during the later years of
this reign . About A.D. 26. Tiberius
retired to the island of Capri. where
he spent the last decade of his life.
He died, or was perhaps murdered by
Caligula, in A.D. 37. ·He was
seventy-eight years old at his death.
As with the previous emperor,
Tiberius issued coins in gold. silver,
bronze. and copper. Among them is
the famous "Tribute Penny" of the
Bible. actually a denarius. The coin
shows the emperor's mother. Livia,
seated on the reverse. This emperor
The Celatcir November 1988
Continued from page I
also issued coins honoring Augustus of Claudius' reign. Claudius proved
and Agrippa. Several coins were
struck: in honor of Tiberius after his
death.
himself an able emperor, and greatly
improved the situation of the empire.
However in his later years he became
cruel and many people were unjust1y
Callgula put to death. In A.D. 54, Claudius
Caius was born in A.D. 12, two was fed poison mushrooms by his
years before his great-grandfather, fourth wife Agrippina. in order to
Augustus. died. He was given the clear the throne for her son Nero.
nickname CaIigula (which means Claudius was sixty-four at his death.
little boot) by the soldiers who Many coins were struck in honor of
served under his father, Gennanicus. Claudius' British invasion, among
Caligula became emperor upon the them is the denarius that shows a
death of Tiberius in A.D. 37. In the triumphal arch on the reverse, and
early months of his reign he showed bears the inscription DE BRITANN.
signs of becoming a good emperor. Claudius also struck coins honoring
Then after recovering from a serious his mother Antonia. his father Nero
illness, he became insane. He had Claudius Drusus, and his brother
many people cruelly put to death. Germanicus. 'There were several coins
including members of his own family. issued in honor of Claudius after his
Claiming to be all the gods at once,
death, most by the emperors Titus and
Caligula insisted the Romans worship Domitian.
him rather than the old gods.
Suetonius tells us, "In his temple Nero
Nero was born in A.D. 37. After
his birth, Nero's father (Cn. Domitius
Abenobarbus) stated that only some-
thing "detestable and pernicious to the
public could ever be produced of him
and Agrippina". In A.D. 50, Nero
was adopted by Claudius. and named
as his heir. In A.D. 54 Agrippina
murdered Claudius. and Nero became
emperor. The following year, Nero
Caligula had Claudius' son. Britannicus ,
AR - Denarius murdered. and in A.D. 59 he had his
own mother killed. Many others lost
stood a statue of gold, the exact their lives to Nero. most notably the
image of himself, which was daily Stoic philosopher Seneca. In A.D. 64,
dressed in garments corresponding a great fire broke out in Rome.
with those he wore himself." He also
proposed making his favorice horse,
lncitatus, a Consul. This mad reign
was brought to an end by members of
the Praetorian Guard, who murdered
CaHgul. along with his wife and
daughter in A.D. 41.
Caligula's coins is tbe As which
shows the goddess Vesta seated on the Nero
reverse. There were many attractive
Sestertii minted during this reign.
1be large size of the coin allowed for
AE - Sestertius
life-like portraits of the emperor, and
detailed reverse designs. In higher
destroying about half the city. The
people blamed Nero for this 1m. and
grades they are much sought afcer. and Suetonius seems convinced he was
therefore very expensive. responsible. Nero however placed the
'. blame with the Christians. and used
Claudlua
Claudius was born at Lugdunum in
the fue as an excuse for carrying out
• one of the most dreadful persecutions
in the history of the Church. In AD.
· 68 the Senate declared Nero a public
might be killed, he hid himself behind enemy. and sentenced him to death.
Nero Oed to the home of a friend.
a soldier. and proclaimed emperor by where he took his own life. He was
the Praetorian Guard. In A.D. 43 thirty-one years old at his death, and
Claudius invaded Britain, making it a the last relative of Julius Caesar.
Roman province. This event marked. For all his faults. Nero did have an
the beginning of four hundred years of · eye for art, and the artistic quality of
Roman occupation of that island, and Roman coins peaked during his reign.
was perhaps the most important event . Please turn to page XXI
If this calibre of numismatic art excites you -
it is only:one of hundreds of beautiful
treasures from the past residing
· for the· moment in our trays.
Write for a complimentary
copy of our catalogue .
PRo Pa\7L RyneaRson
P. O. Box 4009
......... _ .. . ...... _ ... _ ........
..............................
MALIBU
.. ..._-_.- . . -. , .......
.. ........ CA 90265
..... ...- .. ...~
 The .Gelato, Nove,m ber 1988 '. ' XXI

Seutonius Continued from page XX

-
Among these artistically appealing His coins show such reverse figures as was the ftrst Roman emperor, since Elder. Titus did much to help the
coins is the sestertius which shows a Pax, Victory, and Securitas. Col· Augustus, to die of natural causes. survivors of these disasters, and has
view of the harbor of Ostia, complete lectors should beware of fakes as The most sought after coins of this gone down in history as a just and
with several ships. a pier, a light- many exist reign are those from the "Judaea humane ruler. Seutonius tell us that
house. and the personification of the Vitelllus Capta" series. These coins were issued after Titus became emperor he never
Tiber reclining in the foreground. Vitellius was born in A.D. 14, and to commemorate Titus' defeat of lhe had anyone put to death, even lhough
There is also an As that is very spent his youth on the island of Capri, Je ws in A.D. 70. The obverse of these there were some who would have
significant historically. it shows the with the emperor Tiberius. In later coins show either Vespasian or Titus. justly deserved that fate. After only
temple of Janus. with the doors years he was given command of the The reverse usually shows a date two yem as emperor, Titus died in
closed. This is significant because the legions in Germany, who proclaimed palm, to the left of which stands a the same villa as his father had died,
Romans only closed the doors to the him emperor in A.D. 69. Vitellius he was forty·one years old. The
temple during the rare periods they was a glutton, who devoted more Roman people mourned Titus as the-y
were at peace. There is another As time to costly banquets (at which he would a relative, and as they had
which shows Nero on the reverse, would gorge himselO than lhe affairs mourned no other emperor before or
dressed as Apollo, playing the lyre, of s tate. Vitelli us' troops were after.
the instrument Nero "fiddled" while defeated by Vespasian, who was Judaea Capta coins were issued
Rome burned. declared emperor in July of A.D. 69. bearing the name and portrait of
Vitellius was murdered by a group of Titus, but they were all sbuck during .
Galba Vespasian's supporters in December of the reign of his father Vespasian.
Galba. born in 3 B.C.• was the flISt that same year. Domitian Titus struck a very interesting
Roman emperor who was not a Vitellius' coins are more common AR • Denarius sestertius which shows on the obverse
relative of Julius Caesar. Under Nero than those of Olho, however most are the emperor seated on a throne which
he was appointed governor of Hispania scarce. Among his" more interesting has been placed in lhe midst of arms,
Tarraconensis. where he was known figure, perhaps the emperor, to the the reverse shows a rare view of the
types is the As which has on its right there is a Jewess seated weeping.
for his cruelty. Before the death of Colosseum.
Nero in A.D. 68, he was proclaimed The Inscription reads IVDAEA
CAPTA. This design most commonly DomUlan
emperor by his troops . After the Domitian, the last of the Twelve
Senate declared in his favor, he left appears on lhe As and sesrertii. There
Caesm, was born in A.D. 51. When
is also a denarius which shows a
Spain for Rome. His frugal ity and his brolher Titus died in A.D. 81, he
Jewess seated at the foot of a trophy,
cruelty made him very unpopular with became emperor, and at (Ust showed
the inscription reads simply
the people of Rome. He was killed signs of becoming a moderate ruler,
IVDAEA. Vespasian was lhe first
by Otho afler only seven months as but in lhe laler years of his reign he
emperor. emperor since Claudius to be deified
became cruel and unpopular, and may
after his death, Several coins were
Galba's coins exhibit very life· like have been insane. It was during this
issued in his honor, most by his son
portraits, and well executed reverse reign that the second persecution of
Titus. Among them is lhe sesterius,
designs. Given the fact that Galba AE· the Christians took place, and even the
which portrays lhe emperor Vespasian
only ruled seven months, many of his emperor's niece, Domitilla, was put to
coins are relatively inexpensive. seated in a quadriga which is being
reverse a pair of clasped hands, and death, proving lhat after only about
drawn by elephants, the inscription
bears the in sc ription FIDES reads DIVO AVG YESP SPQR. seventy years this new faith had
EXERCITVVM, this coin was gained converts among the higher ·
Titus classes, and even in the emperor's
probably minted by Vitellius to
Titus was born in A.D. 41 , the year household. As stated above, Domitian
encourage his troops to remain loyal
before Claudius ' son Britannic us. was unpopular, and many conspiracies
. to him. Titus and Britannicus were educated
.,~,). were fanned against his life. In AD.
r' i'
I ....
I. Vespaslan together. It is said that on the night 96 one succeeded, with the help of his

~. .
.,(~" '

.. ~
;
Vespasian, the son o f a tax·
collector, was born in the country in
A.D. 9. In A.D. 43, he took part in
the Claudian invasion of Britain. In
Nero had Britannicus poisoned, Titus
was present and drank from the cup
that contained the poison. Titus
became quite ill and it was some time
wife Domitia. The last Flavian
emperor was forty· five years old at
his death.
Many different coin types were
Vitellius AD. 51 he served as Consul with the before he recovered. When Vespasian issued during this reign, including
emperor Claudius. He was appointed was sent to put down the rebellion in several types to honor Domitian's
AR • Denarius by Nero to put down a rebellion in Judaea, Titus went along. When rather unimpressive wm in Germany.
Judaea. He was declared emperor by Vespasian was declared emperor and Among them is the sestertius with a
his troops in A.D. 69 and proved left for Rome, Titus was left in design similar to that of lhe Judaea
Otho , himself a just and wise ruler. charge of the Jewish war. By A.D. 70 Capta coins. The palm tree however
Otho was born in A.D. 32. He had Suetonius lells us, "From lhe begin· he had captured Jerusalem and won lhe is replaced by a trophy, the inscription
hopes of being appointed heir by ning to lhe end of his government, he war. When Vespasian died in A.D. reads GERMANIA CAPT A.
Galba. When Galba adopted Piso, conducted himself wilh great moder· 79, Titus became the first son to
Otho had them both killed, and was ation and clemency.~ Construction succeed his falher as Roman emperor. (ed. note: Allhough the work of
declared emperor. Vitellius, was begun on the famous Colosseum During his reign several disasters Seutonius has given us much of what
commander of the German legions, during this reign, and many other befell Italy, including a fire at Rome, we know about t~ character of early
was proclaimed emperor by his troops buildings were erected as well . a plague, and lhe eruption of Mount Roman emperors, it should be
at the same time as Otho. Soon Vespasian also did much to encourage Vesuvius, which destroyed the cities remembered tMt early historians and
Vitellius defeated Otho's troops and learning and the arts. By the end of of Pompeii and Herculaneum and chro niclers were seldom totally
Otho, realizing all hope was lost, his reign, Vespasian had restored the killed many, including Pliny the objective in t~ir views.)
committed suicide. His reign lasted
only three month s. He was thirty
seven yem old at his death.
Apparently only gold and silver
empire to the position of greatness it
had known before the reign of Nero,
and lhe civil wars of A.D. 68-69. The
founder of lhe Flavian dynasty died,
-
coins were minted during Otho's near the place of his binh, in A.D. 79. ANCIENT
reign, they are all rare and expensive. It is worthy of note that Vespasian
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..........' .............,'.... ... ...... ... .... ... .... ..... ......... .. .
 .el. ,.", ....

XXII The Celator November 1988

AES RUDE HOARD Nuclear Conti nued from page I

verify a coin's status has yet objected.

- Among Gordus' most important

discoveries using the technique was a
case several years ago when a wealthy
Iranian brought in $1 million of
ancient gold Persian art objects for
testing , All were determined to be
107.5 grams fake. He was told of the results in
41.5 grams time to avoid being the victi m of
further fraud -- he was about to spend
another $1 million!
"Modern forgers tend to pay a
great deal of attention to emulating
the correct style," says Gordus. "But
These are examples from a
hoard of AES RUDE, while they might deceive the eye, they
manmade crunks of bronze usually ca n't deceive scientific
that were the earliest form analysis."
of Ro~n Republican currency, Those forging costly coins usually
and circulated C. 500 B.C. to
do a very good job, often using
300 B.C. Fu l ~ patinated, as genuine metal. Fake gold coins,
four)d in Sicily.
Gordus says, are likely to be made
from real gold. But where the
forgers make their mistake is in
A. 90-1 10 gram examples each ............................................ $75.00 alloying the gold with copper alone.
B. 75-90 gram examples each .............................................. $55.00 Genuine ancient gold coins almost
C. 55-75 gram examples each .......... ............ ........................ $45.00 always have a silver component as
D. 30-55 gram examples each ..............................................$35.00 well as copper.
E. 10-25 gram examples each ............................ THREE for $50.00 Over time, says Gordus. forgers
F. Under 10 gram examples ......................... ........ .. FIVE for $50 .00 have constantly improved their
techniq ues, moving from easily-
-As far back as the 5th century B.C. or possibly earlier. bronze is known to have
detected cast coins to centrifugal
been usfld in CfH'ItraJ halyas a medium of exchang8 and valued by weight. In its
most primitive form it is refemKJ to by Pliny as aes rude. i.e. amorphous bronze casting (a technique first used in
in an unworked state.• -E. Sydenham in The Coinage of the Boman 8epub1ic. dental labs which virtually eliminates
visible casting bubbles). A more
recent innovation is the use of plastic
.-,,-ORDER DIRECT FROM: .-r:::--.. dies to actually strike fake coins. But
even a struck counterfeit of the finest
style can't stand up to Gordus'
detailed analysis.
If there is a flaw in neutron
analysis, it's that literally hundreds
of coins known to be genuine must be
analyzed before a statistical mean can
be established for that single coin
type. Such a job would demand full-
time work over a lifetime --
something Gordus is not equipped to
handle.
So while he has verified hundreds
of coins for the university's museum
(including a sizable collection of
Ottoman coins) and has done the same
for a few other institutions. hi s
service is not generally available to
collectors.
~ I did once make an exception to
that ru le," He says. "A prominent
alumnus sent in a gold coin for
analysis and I couldn't refuse."
And while that coin appeared
genuine, having the correct gold and
silver content, Gordus could still not
state with absolute certainty it was
the real thing.
Gordus says the most efficient and
cost-effective way to determine a
coin's authenticity remains having it
examined by experts in the field. A
trained, experienced eye costs much
less than neutron analysis .- and it's
faster, too.

AMPHORA ~ -;g,;~\
~L\~ P.o. Box 805' ~j THE CELATOR IS NAMED FOR AND DEDICATED TO THE
":10= \)A Nyock, NY 10960 ~, . ffoi..& COIN DIE·ENGRAVERS OF ANTIQUITY WHOSE ART REMAINS
914-358-7364 ' " •.• AS POWERFUL AND APPEALING TODAY AS IN THEIR TIME

ALEX G. MALLOY, INC.

Announces
Ancient and Medieval Coins
Mail Bid Auction XXVI
Closing Date November 30th 1988
I,SIOlots, FEATURING:
•• AncientSpain.
'27 Papal
' 32 Celtic
' 29 Anglo-Saxon and England
- 204 Greek & Hellenistic ' 12 Scotland and Ireland

.,..,.
' 2' Parthia • 3

-
Anglo-Gallic, including ex:E.R.
Bactria & Indo-Greek
Roman Egypt
"4 Greek Imperial
.,.
' 48
Duncan Elias specimens
French Royal
French Feudal
." Roman Republican Bronze
' 64 Roman Republican Silver
' 2'
"2
Spain and Portugal
Switzerland
• 8 Roman imperatorial '73 Germany and Austria
- 265 Roman Imperial ' 22 Denmark
." Byzantine Coins & Seals '17 Hungary
.,.
' 24 Sassanian including Bronze
Arab-Sassaman
Hephthalite (White Huns)
' Il
• 4
Poland
T r,11I h ,mia
• 8 'Il Bohemia
' 98 Medieval Islamic '20 Balkans, including Bosnia, Bul-
• 8 Medieval Armenia & Georgia garia, Slavonia & Serbia
' 44 Crusader including Gold '11 Russia & Russian Principalities
." Medieval & Renaissance Italy ." Baltic

-
Including special seCtion of 23 lots of Old and New Testamen t reference coins.

ALEX G. MALLOY INC.

CATALOGUFSAVAILABLE FOR S3.50 n SALJ:N

Fully Illustrated NJ:W YORK 10390

First Class Delivery

Office and Gallery
... alllotsjuJly catalogued and transcribed, with atlributions according to the latest scholarship, 19 Danbury Road, Ridgefield , Connecticut
and referenced to the leading museum collections. Phone 2Q3-4!18.-!J3?!l ..
The Celator . November 1988
Dialogues
modem metals:
RI have seen an Antiquary lick an
old Coin, among its other tryaIs, to
distinguish the age of it by its Taste.
I remember when I taught at him for
it, he told me with a great deal of
vehemence, there was as much dif.
ference between the relish of ancien(
and modem brass. as between an apple
and a tumep. R
Philander's ftrst and most obvious"
use is "shewing us the faces of all the
great persons of antiquity." He notes
that "we are obliged to the study of
coins for having made new discoveries
to the learned," by means of the
relating of some individuals "whose
names are not to be found any where
except on Medals." To this. however.
the cynical Cynthia expresses the
classical utilitarian retort:
.. A man's memory finds sufficient
employment on such as have really
signalized themselves by their great
actions, without charging itself with
the names of an insignificant people
whose whole history is written on the
edges of an old coin."
Philander responds that if one is
only seeking "such persons as have
made a noise in the world," some
important personages , including
"heathen Deities," Roman virtues "of a
more thin and shadowy nature/ and
the "Genies of nations," have also been
preserved for us on ancient coinage.
Beyond that, he contends, ancient
coins have directly influenced great
painters such as Raphael and Rubens.
The more conciliatory of his
friends contributes an observation of
his own th at "as it is impossible
without [insights provided by some
ancient coins] to understand several
parts of your ancient authors, [the
study} certainly hath its use."
Philander praises the manner in
which the coins of Rome convey
details about clothing. architecture,
weaponry and a wide range of other
aspects of ancient life. He continues:
"Medals give a very great light to
history, in eo,nfirming such passages as
are true in old Authors. in settling
such as are told after different
manners, and in recording such as have
been omitted ... a cabinet of Medals is
a body of history... [Minting] was a
kind of Printing, before the art was
invented."
Whereas one might invest many
hours reading tomes pursuing know·
ledge, he alleges:
"This too is an advantage Medals
have over books, that they tell their
story much quicker. and sum up a
whole volume in twenty or thirty
reverses. They are indeed the best
epitomes in the world, and let you see
with one cast of an eye the substance
of above a hundred pages."
The message conveyed on a coin "is
much safer to quote" than the opinion
of a mere single author suc h as
Seutonius, for its authority stems
from "the Emperor himself. or to the
whole Body of a R oman senate."
Referring to its im munity from
textual corruption, Phil ander pro·
claims, "besides. a coin is in no danger
of having its characters altered by
copiers and transcribers." These
metallic gems preserve the knowledge
of temples and forums fa llen in to
rubble. "These are buildings which
the GOlhs and Vandals could not
demolish, that are infinitely more
durable than stone or marble, and
(with some modest exaggeration] will
perhaps last as long as the earth
itself. "
Cynthio intones that "a little
malicious rust would demolish one of
your brazen dedifices as effectually as
a Goth or Vandal," and the defender of
the faithful launches into a discussion
of patina which may "preserve a Coin
better than the best artificial varnish."
Beyond this, he relates the fact that
some people prefer coins which have
been clipped or countermarked in some
fashion. "I have read an Author of
this taste," says Philander, "that
compares a ragged Coin to tattered
Colours."
Philander strives to "prove that all
arts and sciences receive a considerable
illustration from this study." Nor
does the numismatist desire to
trivialize the science. even though it
does appeaJ to humanity'S innate
curiosity.
"Should I tell you gravely. that
without the help of Coins we should
never have known which was the first
of the Emperors that wore a beard, or
rode in stirrups, I might turn my
science into ridicule. Yet it is cenain
there are a tho usand little impert·
inencies of this nature that are very
gratifying to curiosity."
Thus ends the first of Philander's
three recorded dialogs. Those which
follow are quite entertaining and
formative, journeying beyond the
question whi.ch initiated the discussion.
The second dialog is concerned with
the "great affinity between Coins and
Poetry." and is amply illustrated.
Philander contends that the numerous
correspondences between coins and
ancient poetry arises from the fact
that both those people designing and
minting the coinage, and the poets
"lived very near one another. were
acquainted with the same customs,
conversant with the same objects and
bred up to the same relish for wit and
fancy."
The third dialog offers an
intriguing exposition of the "parallel
between the ancient and modem
medals." By this time Cynthia has
accused Philander of "breaking his
night's rest. You have so filled my
head, says he. with old Coins, that I
have had nothing but figures and
inscriptions be fore my eyes."
Philander notes, "it is a sure sign a
man loves money. when he is used to
find it in his dreams." Eugenius
chimes in. "there is certai nl y
something Uke Avarice in the study of
Medals. The more a man knows of
them. the more he desires to know."
Nevertheless, after three dialogs on
the subject (recorded on 165 pages of
text) our three companions have
become sated with the subject. We
read: "Cynthia and Eugenius. though
they serve well pleased with
Philander's discourse, were glad
however to find it at an end." And,
so too readers might be glad to see
lh..i.s.. "book review" nearing its
conclusion. However, before clos ing,
another virtue of the collecting of
ancient coins deserves mention.
Ancient coins are capable of
transferring an infectious interest in
history in a virtually unique way.
Coins, as no other item, allow
people to handle history. Certainly,
museums contain other artifacts and
artistry. But museums remain limited
in the sense that few individuals can
possess or have direct, intimate access
to their riches. Coins, on the other
hand, are readily accessible, and the
reasonable price of multitudes of
common pieces place them within the
reach of virtually all people. It is
one thing to gaze upon a statue
sculpted by an ancient artist. It is
quite another to possess a coin used to
purchase food ac entertainment in ages
past. To balance in your hand a valued
piece of artistically sculpted metal,
once handled by other individuals a
wack! and an eon away.
Advertising in
7/,e
Just Makes Good Sense
Full Page 1/2 Page
$390 $195
$6.50 per column inch
Where else canyoufind
the kind of coverage your ad gets
for that price?
~GImw
P.O. Box 123
Lodi, WI 53555
, xxiii
Continued from page XVIII
The value of ancient coins in
teaching history is obvious. Their
worth in instilling within students a
hunger for history is perhaps less
evident. One teacher of classics,
however. has written a fine article on
the subject. and stated that "the
American teacher of Latin, Greek,
classical mythology, etc., has some
direct links with the Greco·Roman
heritage which should not be
overlooked." He concludes, stating
that in his personal experience, "the
st udents always show so me
enthusiasm for the Roman coins."
Thus ends this review of a
numismatic work from two and one
half centuries past. Rather than
simply speaking to those already
converted, it is hoped that these
insights may help to persuade some
who are yet unconvinced of the field's
value. This review is. penned in the
spirit of Philander, who at the very
outset of his three dialogs said, "in
hopes of making two s uch
considerable proselytes, I am well
content to talk away an evening with
you on the subject"
I I
Say you saw it in
rae CeIo!or
MINT STATE?
Michigan has no mint. But it does
have Pantheon. Offering inter-
esting lists 01 Greek, Roman and
Byzantine coins.
Call or write for a free list.
PANTHEON
P.O. Box 730051
RoYilI a.k, iii' 48073
(313) 583-3261
CeIoIor
1/4 Page
$97.50
-
 XXIIII
Copies
-
When I began collecting ancient
and medieval coins some 30 years ago,
an enormous gap existed between my
resources and finer examples of
numismatic art and it has widened as
investors have joined the fraternity. I
have purchased numerous "fakes" and
they are so labeled in my collections:
1. Copies have filled in spaces in
my presentations to school and public
audiences (again labeled as such with
the cost of authentic specimens) that
were and are cost prohibitive.
Audiences can gain some appreciation
of the appearance (and cost) of rare
an.
2. Collectors learn history relating
to their ancient and medieval coins.
Those interes ted in the history o f
numismatics should not ignore the
times and cultures of the Paduans and
Becker.
3. The books and articles on Becker
were my first introduction on how to
recognize ~fakes~ without relying on
the ability of my dealer.
4. The ~b lac k museum ~ coins
themselves serve as a reference point
in considering authenticity of cur·
rently considered purchases. At a
recent auction by one of the dealers
advertising in Tht Ctlalor. I
acquired two coins that match ones t
already have labeled as "fakes." If I
had not earlier acquired the ~ fakes," I
would have relied on the dealer's
judgment.
5. I cannot afford to send every
coin I acquire to ANS or ANA for
authentication.
The real problem occurs not when
someone considers forgeries "inter·
esting stuff' and either collects it
(myself) or offers it for sale (the
judge). but when neither the collector
nor the dealer can leU the difference
between copies and the real thing .
Removing obvi~us, inexpensive
Rates:
$5.00 for the first 20 words, 20¢ each add~ional word.
Spe cial Post Free Offers:
Se aby. Roman Silver Coins 1-4:
S27.50 each; 5: S29.50; set SI22.50.
Roman Coins & Values, new edition:
S4'/ .50. Plant, Greek Coin Types &
Identification : S22 (was S32). Hill.
Dating & Arrangement Undated Coins
- Rome, AD 98-148: S27.50 (was
$37.50). R.I.C. 1: $89; 4 : $109; 6 &
7 : S59 each; 8 : $ 159; 9 : S69. Philip
Grierson Fes' ';chrift: SliD. Other
numis matic books new & old; rare
Carausius (not high grade); Later
London bronze. Want Lists welcome.
S toffel Vogelaar, Mulrany,
Westport, Mayo, Ireland.
Two Free Lists: 1) Ancient Coins.
2) Token Coinage of the British
Empire. Cordova. Box 2096, Citrus
Heights CA 95611-2096.
Greek, Roman, Medieval coins.
-
Monthly catalogs with very reason·
able prices and discounts issued for 21
years. Francis J. Rath, Box 266.
Youngstown, NY 14174.
YOU MAY OBTAIN
LARGE TAX REFUNDS
~ram~~Ii~'/~ci~=techi:~. }r::
free usellJl Informallon and the new 1985
ruIesE~~~~~
.... .................. _....... .. .L!-
.. --
... --
...--
· fake~ ~ such as those offered by the
judge (I have purchased both authentic
coins at reasonable prices and "fakes"
from him) is not the answer to
controlling the expensive repro·
ductions of Rosa that even experienced
experts have problems with . This
requires labeling, legislation, enforce·
ment, and education • not overall
boycotts.
I am not a dealer nor do I intend to
become one. My opinions are those of
a collector who has benefited from
and enjoys obvious reproductions for
what they are.
Considering your closing reference
to cancer in humans. 1 believe the
solution you propose is akin to a
radical mastectomy when a lupectomy
would suffice.
Thanks for the opportunity to
comment. You have an excellent
publication - keep up the good work.
Thomas G. Swain
••• ••
I am happy to see you Speaking Out
against the number of spurious pieces
which trade more or less openly in the
marketplace . I share your concern
that some dealers choose to offer
spurious numismatic material. I do
not want to stop any efforts to
remove such material from the
marketplace, but I would like to
point o ut that the numismatic
community has long accepted various
classes of counterfeit coin as perfectly
legitimate to collect and study. I
quote two paragraphs from the Code
of Ethics of the American
Numismatic Association:
I agree not to sell. exhibit, produce
or advertise counterfeits. copies.
restrikes and reproductions of any
numismatic items if their nature is
not clearly indicated by the word
Archaeology, Antiquities, an·
cient numismatics. Hundreds of
books stocked. access to many more.
Alexander to Zenobia. Want list
inquiries promptly answered . Cata-
logue SI.OO. ANS, ANA. Albert
Leibs. Drawer 460 Oriskany. NY
13424.
Wanted RIC Vol. I 1923 ed. (or
unrevised reprint). Please send offer
to: Pekka Kemppinen Kuusmiehentie
22D, SF-00670 Helsinki, Finland.
Roman Coins, Imperi al, Colonial,
and Provincial. Write fo r Free price
lists. Simon Cordova. P.O. Box
2096. Citrus Heights. CA 95611-
2096.
Ke f ;1ing Ancient Rome Alh'e.
A Bi·monthly journal devoted to
ancient Rome and its influence.
Subscriptions S5 ($3 after 6130).
Sample copy S I. 27824 Hummingbird
Ct., Hayward. CA 94545-4042.
Oct. 88 _ Trivia Answer:
"Kantharos"
.. .--
. . --
. ..--
...--
. ......
... ;;;;;!,I
..........
~ counterfeit, · ·copy," "restrikes, ~ or
"reproductions." incused in the metal
or printed on the paper thereof, with
the exception of items generally
accepted by numismatists and not in
any way misrepresented as genuine;
I agree to represent a numismatic
item to be genuine only when. to the
best of my knowledge and belief, it is
authentic;
The phrase in the first paragraph
Quoted above. "with the exception of
items generally accepted by nunUs,
matists " is the major difference
between the ANA requirements and
the Hobby Protection Act. What ace
these "generally accepted~ exceptions
to the ANA bylaws?
Celtic tribes issued imitations of
Greek coins in a variety of styles.
Would you cast these ancient
"jrrtitations" into the melting pot? A
strict interpretation of H.R. 9448
might classify these as fakes and place
them beyond the reach of researchers
and collectors?
An cient counterfeits include
fourres which are struck on copper
core surrounded by s ilver foil.
Whether these pieces were struck by
officials as part of a policy of official
fraud or by co nt e mporar y
counterfeiters isn't known, but
fourres have long been accepted as
ancient artifacts and very much a part
not only of ancient commerce but also
modern collector interes t. Fourres
should be described as such. although
this can be Quite problematical in the
cases of coins where the copper core
might not show. In theory, specific
gravity or even more arcane testing
could answer the question, but
spec ific gravity can't be measured
accurately enough to offset the margin
of error introduced by the equipment
used by most of today's serious
numismatists.
Also occasionally seen are bronzes
cast from an ancient counterfeiters
mold as well as the whole class of
imitative pieces known as ~barbarous
radiates." being barbarized copies of
Roman coins and playing a major role
in late Roman history. especially in
Northern Europe.
Medieval times found the
Hungari ans imitating Byzantine gold
types in base metals, not to mention
numerous other issues whic h are
nearly direct imitations of other
medieval types, although admittedly
with various details clearly different.
Paduans are medals which were
struck in Roman style and with
Roman content during
Renaissance. most notably by Cavino
in Padua. Italy. These pieces have
long been copied by later "artjsts.~
the
and while the original Paduans are
highly desirable collectables. the later
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The Celator November 1988
Continued from page XII
cast copies enjoy cons iderably less
status . I have been particularly
shocked by the number of obviously
cast copies of these pieces which have
traded at shows in the past few years,
sometimes as "P aduans" and
sometimes as the genuine article, and
mostly at huge multiples of what I
consider a fair price for a cast copy.
Another class of counterfeit which
would certainly be acceptable under
the ANA regulations are the
contemporary counterfeit half'pennies
of George Ill. These pieces were
certainly part and parcel of the
commerce of his times, especially in
the colony which later became the
United States. H.R. 9448 doesn't
recognize as collectable such vendible
numismatic institutions as the
"Machin's Mills" bronzes of the U.S.
Colonial Period, or the "Blacksmiths"
of the Canadian series.
Since nobodY 'seems to enforce H.R.
9448. it may seem I am splitting
hairs, but I think the distinction
between truly collectable "imitative"
issues and dangerous forgeries is
important. The AN A has been too
busy counting bag marks to venture
into the realm of educating collectors
about the history of coin technology
and counterfeiting technology, and a
few dealers seem to lack the ability to
dis tinguish between numismatic
treas ures and numis matic tras h,
especially when they have a financial
interest in not making such
disti nctions. While I agree that the
sale of modem counterfeits should be
stopped. I myself occasionally sell
fourees and Celtic types which might
easily Qualify as ~imitative." I feel
that the sale of these pieces is well
within the acceptable practices as
outlined by the ANA. and 1 am
certainly selling such pieces to
collectors who underst and the
imitative nature of the material they
are buying.
lance donated some modem
counterfeits to the ANA in the vain
hope that they would be used for
educational purposes, but now 1
publish - but DO NOT SELL .
interesting counterfeits in Counterfeit
Alert. a regular feature in my fixed·
price lists of coins. I agree that the
sale of modem counterfeits should be
stopped and feel that the education of
the customer is an important step
along the way.
I applaud The Ctlalor for its
efforts on behalf of the hobby.
Thomas D. Walker
San Antonio, TX
.m
...
~~zzzz:zcz==
. The Celator ... November 1988 ... XXV

Annual
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Introducing:

in Signature (magazine-like) format,

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" XXVI The Ce)ator Novilinbi!i 1988

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THE
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The Celator November 1988 XXVII

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CALVIN T. ROGERS /lR60S

Classical Numismatics ~UMISMATlCS
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AND
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 XXVIII The Celator November 1988

Harlan J. Berk, Ltd.

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