- Etruscan Coins and Culture

-Temple of Isis at Pompeii

-Twilight Coin Zone
 An Important Roman
Bronze Life-size
Head of Augustus

Fou nd during foundation ex(avations for the Engli~h

Church of All Saints on the Via del Bnbuino in the
Campus Marlius. Rome, on September 15, 1880. Sold by
the nntiquarinll Giuseppe Scalambrini to Don Marcello
Massarenti . Two other bronze heads were given hy
Scalambrini {Q the Capitoline Museums and three
additional fragmentary heads, now in the Walters Gallery,
were sold by ~assa rem i 10 Henry Walters in 1902. The
whereabouts of our A ugustus head were un known unt il
it recently was ncquired by the French collector Roger
Videau. It was first publisht.-.d by Rodolfo Lanciani in
,\'ou,!e deg/i sClwi di Anlichita. 1880, 466.
Ca. 20 B.C.· 20 A D. 127/8" 02.7 em .}

Royal-A thena now sells more select works of nnde nt art thnn Send for our FREE fu lk olor 20-page brochure. The follow ing
any other gallery, hnving quadrupled its 5nk'5 over the past two publications arc also available:
years. We ,mribute this rapid growth to our thiny venTS of
internationally acknowledged expertise and connoisscll Tship, ART OF THE ANCIE7'\T \,(,ORLO, Vo1. IV (1985),
the desire to exhibit the widest rnnge of ancient works of nn, 679 objectS, 192 color plates .. . .... ... ... $15.00
currently over 3000 objects, at competi tive prices and in an
open and friendly atmosphere. \X'e arc currently selling 10 THE AGE OF C LEOPATRA (1988),
over 650 colleclOrs, colleagues and museums in 18 countries. ISO objects, 29 color plates ............................ . 2.00
Whether you are interested in a Greek terrncotta head for
$200 or a masterwork bronze for $2,000,000. we would be GODS & MORTA LS: Bronzes of rhc Ancient World
pleased to ad d your name to our rapidly growing list of cliems. (1989), 180 objects, 49 color plates .. 4.00

G REEK, ETRUSCAN, RO MAN, EGY PTlAN & NEAR EASTERN ANTIQUlTIES

EURO PEAN SCU LPTU RE T HROUG H 1800 . O LD MASTE R PRINTS & D RAWINGS
ISLAM IC , SOUTH EAST ASIAN & ORIENTA L WORKS OF A RT
P RE-COLUMB IAN & TRIBAL ART · GREEK, RO MAN & BYZANTI NE CO INS

royal-athena galleries new york - beverly hills

Es[ablish ed 1942
Jerome M. Eisenberg, Ph.D ., Di rec[Qr
1;3 East 57th St., New York. KY. 10021 332 ~orth Beverly Dr .. Beverly Hills. Ca. 90210
Tel.: (212) 355·20.34 Fax: (21~) 688·0412 Tel.: (213) 550·1199 Fax: (21J) ')')0·1395
Munday.Saturday. 10 to 6 Monday-Saturday. [0 to 6

36, Place dt.'lI Antlquaircs. 125 East 57th St. . Royal·Athena at B.A. Seaby Ltd .
Ne\\' York. NY lOOn Tel.: (lIZ) 593-119\ i Davies Street. London WIY ILL. England
Monday·Smurday. 11 to 6 Tel.: (44) 071-495 ·2590 Monday.Friday. 9:JO to 5
(Scnd for a free copy o("Amiquiucs Forum")
 INSIDE THE CELATOR...

Vol. 4, No.9
2 Point of View
September 1990
4 Letters to the Editor

6 Etruscans by Ron Kollgaard

19 Antiquities by David Liebert

Page 6
20 People in the News
History of the Etruscans
by Ron KolIgaard
21 Art and the Market

24 Book News

25 Coming Events

26 Ancient Coin Twilight Zone by Bob Levy

29 Just for Beginners

30 Trivia - Coin File - Quotes - Humor

Page 26
Ancient Coin Twilight Zone
32 Temple of Isis by Marvin Tameanko
by 8 0b Levy
36 Coins of the Bible by David Hendin

38 Professional Directory

44 CelatorClassifieds - Index of Advertisers

Page 32
Temple of Isis at Po mpeii Postmaster : send address changes to:
by Marvin Tameanko P.O. Box 123. Lodi, WI 53555
Phone (608) 592-4684 Fax (608) 592-4082
About the cover: The Gelalor is an independent joumal published on the first day of each month at 226 Palmer
Pafi(way, Lodi, WI. It is circulated internationally through subscriptions and special
An Etruscan bronze figure of a distributions. Subscription rates are $24 per year (second class) within the United
horse, from Vufci(?) ca. late 6th to Slates and Canada, $48 per year to all other aclclfesses (Air Printed Matter). Adl/et'lising
early 5th century BG. From the and copy deadline is the seoond Friday of each month. Unsolicited articles and news
William Herbert Hunt Collection of releases are welcome, however publication cannot be guaranteed. Second class postage,
HHighly Important Greek. Roman permit pending, lodi, WI 53555. Copyright ~ t 990, Clio's Cabinet.
H
and Etruscan Bronzes sold for Wayne G, Sayles ... .. . . . .•. . Publisher/Editor
$517,000 at Sotheby's in New Janet Sayles .... . .... . .••...Office Manager
York, June 19, 1990. Photo Steven Sayles .. .. .. . .. .• .. .. Production Manager
courtesy of Sotheby's. Christine Olson . . ......... • , .Distribution Asst.

Deadline for the October issue has been advanced to Friday, September 7

September 1990 1

7he Celotor ~
Point of View ...
Commentary by Wayne G. Sayles
elcome to the newest
W ancient coin journal in the
world! Well, that's not
exactly true. By Webster's
definition, the tenn "journal" can be
applied to any newspaper or magazine.
By that criteria, we have already been
in the journal business for four years
now. Never-the-less, we proudly
present the all new journal before you.
For some reason, the word journal
seems to command a little more
respect than "tabloid." Not that we felt
like Rodney Dangerfield, but let's face
it - newspaper has its limitations.
"The specific goal of The Celator is, and has a/ways been,
to advance the appreciation of ancient art,
especially as reflected in numismatics and antiquities. ..
For those of you who are reading
these lines for the first time, perhaps
an explanation is in order. This issue
marks the beginning of a new era in
the life of our publication. Starting
(literally) on a kitchen table with a 12
page tabloid some four years ago, we
have enjoyed heart-warming support
from our advertisers and readers and are
now able to return a dividend on their
invesunent by dressing up the package.
We are committed to providing the
best publication about ancient coins
and antiquities that we can possibly
assemble. We are also very serious
about those little intangibles like
dependability, service, and integrity.
Everyone in business likes to think
that they take care of these virtues
(bankers like to plaster those words all
over their walls) but we really do try.
If we slip up, we expect that you'lI let
us know!
2 The Gelator
Allhough we have arbitrarily
adopted the title "journal", please do
not confuse The Celator with journals
of the oilier type. That is, journals of
a Society or Association whose
primary purpose is the dissemination
of scholarly research material. True,
we have published several exclusive
articles, revealing major new discov-
eries or interpretations; we have
presented catalogs of types previously
unpublished; and we have enjoyed
articles written by some of the most
well-known and respected numis-
matists in the world. Still, we are not
a scholarly journal and make no claim
to that effect.
We attempt to inform, educate and
entertain. We offer articles of
substance, alongside articles written
especially for beginners in our hobby.
We also offer articles and features
which are intended only for humor,
relaxation, and enjoyment. The
specific goal of The Celator is, and has
always been, to advance the
appreciation of ancient art, especially
as reflected in numismatics and
antiquities.
The passing of the original format
is a little sad in a way. As we watched
the last issue roll off the press it
seemed like an old friend was fading
away. We had become so comfortable
with the layout, and technical details,
that it really was beginning to get
easy. Perhaps too easy! Quality is
never static, and it was becoming
difficult for us to continue showing
improvement. The alternative was
unacceptable. We will undoubtedly
learn from mistakes along the way, but
we believe the opportunities before us
are vastly improved and we look
forward to a bright future.
Since this is a sort of farewell, we
feel an overwhelming sense of
gratitude to the many contributors who
helped make The Celator what it is
today. It is impossible to name them
all, but there are a few who simply
cannot go unmentioned. We will
always be indebted to Dennis Kroh of
Empire Coins, who was the salvation
of Vol. 1, No.1, with a full page and
a lI2 page ad. Without his support at
that critical juncture there might never
have been a NO.2. Editorially, no one
has contributed more faithfully than
David Liebert of the Time Machine
Company, who has voluntarily written
for 36 of our 38 issues. Other
subs tantial and long term
contributions, in the form of articles,
have been made by Stephen Album,
David Hendin, Simon Bendall. Ron
Kollgaard, Marvin Tameanko, Bob
Levy, Larry McKinney and Keith
Emmett. Many other authors, too
many to mention, have contributed
excellent articles as well. Certainly
not of less importance have been the
regular advertisers who support this
publication day in and day out, 12
months a year. Their loyalty and
patience has been exceptional.
We have taken the liberty of using
this column, The Celator's Point of
View, as a platform for general
announcements, philosophical discus-
sions, self-defense, opinion airing, and
just plain rambling. It is, after all,
one of the few benefits we publishers
can enjoy (no company car or
executive wash room). Often, it feels
like writing a letter to an old friend -
sometimes moralizing, but knowing
that the intent will be understood. For
that, my personal thanks to our many
faithful adherents.
Now, on to an exciting new issue
of The Celator and an equally exciting
new era. Remember, we also have a
section for you to express your point
of view!
 G~lh~. 1\])68-(,9 fim Recoil. 1\])66-70
&slrnius. 24.2 ",.. IUC 468 ShekeL 114.2 g., Mc~horcr 154
EHim.lIe: 5<>00-800 Est imare: $1500-2000

Ancient Coins at Christie's

Important Ancient , For e ign and
United Sta tes Coins

Wednesday and T llUrsday

November 28 and 29, 1990

·Consignment Deadline, September 1, 1990·

For further information, please contactJatnes Lamb

or Ch ristine Deu ssen at 212/546-1056,
Ch ristie's Coin Department,
502 Park Avenue, New Yor k, NY 10022.

~
~
CHRISTIE'S

September 1990 3

(I)
L( I (
Dear Editor:
You have a great magazine. I look
forward to each issue. May I suggest
that you occasionally publish an index
of past issues. Sometimes I remember
some interesting bit of information
from a past issue. but it takes me
some time to locate it in my collection
of back issues.
Robert Sacher
Newlersey
*****
Different people have come into
ancient coin collecting through various
avenues - I believe mine to be unique.
In 1945, I was stationed at
Marb urg, Germany. My duties
entailed my having a better grasp of
the language, so once a week my
leacher, one Herr Rabi would come to
my quarters for giving me a Jesson.
It was bitterly cold that night -
about the middle of December - when
Herr Rabi arrived with newspapers in
his shoes. He explained that it would
be June before he would Qualify for
half-soles - as it turned out, our feet
were the same size - I had an extra pair
of shoes and socks and he left dry and
wmn.
When the time came for my last
lesson, several months later, he
brought a small tin box with him and
presented it to me as a parting gift. It
contained some twenty or more coins,
the types of which I had never seen
before. I brought them home with me,
still not knowing what they were.
My older son, Dr. Jack B. Kelly III,
began to show interest in these coins
first when he was about ten years old.
We could get little clarification from
local coin dealers, so we contacted
outside dealers who sent us bid sheets.
We obtained Seaby's Roman and Greek
books and our interest grew as we
purchased 10l" of beginners quality and
began to attribute them. We found
that the little box had contained not
only Roman and Greek bronzes, but
Byzantine, ludean and several German
city-state coins.
We do not possess extremely
4 The Gelator
valu able coins, but have through the
years enjoyed a thought provoking,
stimulating and educational hobby!
Together, we are enjoying The Celator,
as well.
Bob Levy, who has written a
number of interesting articles for your
publication introduced me to you. As
a boy, Bob lived next door to us, with
neither of us being aware of !.he other's
interest in ancients.
Jack B. Kelly Jr.
Tennessee
*****
Ancient numismatics in Australia
continues to improve in popularity
with three companies (one in QLD,
NSW and Victoria) producing
illustrated lists on ancient coins. The
Australian Society of Ancient
Numismatics has now been meeting
for three years at Spinks (Australia)
Sydney offices in Martin Place on the
4th Monday of the month at 6 P.M.
and continues to go from strength to
strength. The meeting has no fixed
fonnat but opens with a review and
perusal of latest ancient coin lists and
auctions with ancient material in them.
Members are then invited to, in tum
show their items of interest (recent
acquisitions and/or selected series of
coins). Spinks also shows their
ancient coin lots coming up in a future
Spinks auction to members present.
Another opportunity exists for
members to utilize the extensive
library of Spinks for private research.
After 8 P.M . most of the members
then go to a nearby restaurant to enjoy
an evening meaL
Thanks for sending The Celator, it
has become one of those postal items
that I await with pleasure and
anticipation every month.
Colin Pitchfork
Australia
*****
The Celator ha~ done it again! By
ordering books from Celator ads I
saved enough to pay for a one year
subscription. It is the publication I
look forward to and enjoy the most.
One comment, July Celator book
review, p. 4, no address to order.
Please publish it for all readers.
FA. Liberatore
MassachuselEs
(The Bronze Coinage of Ancient
Syracuse, by Emilio N. FavorilO. is
available from The Celator , P.O. Box
123, LOlli, WI 53555./or $/9 postpaid.)
Dr. Saslow makes well the point
that style is a factor of great
importance to collectors . In fact there
are a number of dealers making a
living out of differences of opinion on
style and grading. Buying 'problem'
coins and selling them as 'good' is a
major segment of the market. Some
dealers handle only VF and better but
their definition of VF certainly covers
quite a range. I for one consider it a
major fault for an Athenian owl
tetradrachm to be missing the goddess'
nose and the owl's head but there are
people out there more interested in full
crests. Similarly there are some dies
with so ugly an Athena that being off
the flan would have been a blessing. I
wonder if you published photos of half
a dozen identical (by catalog number)
coins and asked readers to vote on the
'best' and 'wors t' if any consensus
would be reached. I would enjoy
seeing a column based on this idea.
Following tabulation and publication
of results your experts could comment
on style and condition elements they
saw making one coin better than the
rest.
Mary/and
(These experiments have indeed been
performed. See Dr. Allan Davisson's
article (The Ce/alor, june 1990, Page XI
about judgement of style. Style and
execution are often confused, e.g. Athena's
nose, and there is certainly no absolute
among dealers as to a preferred style or even
a preferred state ofpreservation. Some will
opt for perfect centering, some for perfect
surfaces awl. some for perfecl detail. And,
of course, some want it all. It is very
interesting /0 observe buying pal/erns, in
an auction which illCludes a run offour or
five examples of the same coin in
equivalent condition. Prices will often vary
greatly, for no apparent reason other than
personal attraction. We will focus on
addressing some of the questions of "style"
in future issues.)
*****
I grow weary of reader's constantly
protesting Arnold Saslow and his 'Back
Page'. I can understand how certain
comments made by Dr. Saslow would
be irritating to some people, but I find
his reviews of the major shows (which
are difficult for most of us to attend in
person) and his commentaries on the
national and world market valuable and
informative. I look forward to the
'Back Page' in future issues of The
Cefator.
Anthony B. Curasi
California
*****
 Numismatic FineArts

v-;;;,
.o ""''"-;-E:'
t I N T E RN A T IO N A LI N C

,<,~ ~~;;~~~~
Mail Bid Sale
Closing date: October 18th, 1990
featuring the collections of
Lawrence M. Cutler
Alex Struthers
and
Dr. H. St. George Tucker

• 2,500 coin and literature lots

• A large ofi"ering of Greek gold
• A vast selection of Greek and Roman silver
• An important collection of Alexandrian coinage
• An exceptional group of rare Byzantine gold

A IIIOlS will be avai lab le for viewing at our offices begin ning September 17th. Coin lots
also may be viewed at the Numismatic and Antiquarian Bourse in C hicago, at the
Holiday Inn (O'Hare), 5440 North River Road, September 14th and 15th.

Catalogue available mid-Sepfember

We look forward to your participation!

Numismatic Fine Arts International, Inc.

10100 Santa Monica Boulevard, 6th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90067
(213) 278-1535

September 1990 5
Etruscan culture and politics
influenced the development of early Rome
by Ron KolIgaard Ancient Etruria lies in modern
The Etrusc&ns had an enormous Tuscany as well as extending south \
impact on the development of early
Rome, both cu lturally and politically,
and yet surprisingly litt le is known
to the Tiber. The principle, though by
no means only, source of wealth was
an abundant supply of metals. Several
\
about them. Even their language independent cities began to form c. 750
remains largely a mystery, for, with the B.C. as small villages and settlements · ....';. . ....,),. ~ .
exception of a single religious book came together to better exploit the ~"\. t'!j "'~~:3'
~;.".
which was found in Egypt, no long metals and other resources in the area. ~ ~
~ .:1..,,_
works remain, and consequently little These independent city states control· ~ ~~"'~~"~~;
more than proper names are under- led various parts of the oountry, indud· \ \\ ~ / ' ;.U~i~_
,d' ,, ;-..-~;
stood. Snatches of Etruscan history
have been preserved in the works of
ing other,smaller cities, but never band-
ed together into a viable Etruscan Vol~tenae. /J-~
'-. \ r -
ftf: ,1 .->:-;
other ancient writers, although the
early relationship between the Etrus- ::f~~:;~t~o~id ~;~~~~ ,",",~~ :_oo" 2v'fe'J,Jy~., :'~!iU: \
~e~I~~~~~:~~.u~~e ~?~-~ ~(»; i:-~'.· ;~.: ~
cans and Rome, in particular the time
when Rome was ruled by an Etruscan
and was more an Etruscan c~y than a
Latin one, biased these ancie nt
Etruscans were as divid· ,!.:
ed as the Greeks of that time,
with similar results. Wars between the
,1 ... co.rtonal j'·;",
Ii. ~'. f, . ti).) .~ .
,t ·.. 'I
authors and leave much to be inferred.
..: ~ , tausium.. ""'1...""",;;.}.'

~~~~o~~on~~I~ho~~~t~~r k:~:d9;~: <.~ .:-/~

One of the best of these histories was O

composed by Claudius , before he rcru;"

became emperor of Rome in the first
century A.D. During his youth Claudius
had as a companion a d ishonored
Etruscan nobleman Plautius Silvanus,
and at one point he was married to an
Etruscan woman. Learning all he could
Claud ius composed a twenty volume
history of Etruria and became recog ·
nized as a lead in g expert on the
subject. Unfortun ately this work has
not survived into modern times.
Instead, archeology provides most of
the information that we have. In much
of Etruria el aborate tombs were
constructed with elegant paintings and
carv ings of household items. Many
tombs have been excavated giving us
a glimpse of Etruscan life. The coinage
of the Etruscans also provides
valuable information, as well as being
interesting in its own right.
Ancient Coins • Mail Bid Sales
• Fixed Price Lists
• Buy or Bid Sales
• Numismatic LiJerature
Specializing in moderate priced Judtu.!an coins
(serious want-lists solicited)
Wilfiam M. Rosenblum/rare coins
po. bcIx355evergreen,colo.80439
6 The Gelato(
any details is very limited. Ultimately
this lack of unity was to prove fatal for
it allowed Rome to absorb the Etruscan
cities one by one, eventually leading to
the extinction of Etruscan culture.
Even during the early years of the
Roman Empire many important
questions about the Etruscans went
unanswered. The work of surviving
ancient authors is complicated by
cultural differences which were not
really understood. Etruscan women ,
for example, were allowed a great deal
of freedom when compared to their
counterparts in other lands and are
frequently portrayed in art alongside
their husbands, although this was
interpreted by the Greek and Roman
writers as their being of rather loose
moral character. The extent to which
this was actually the case · if at all - is
303·838·4831
ia
~. ;;'~ Q;~.""ru"'.
I"":'?" '"
Vulci '(3]
"'. • \,i:1Jfni<:l~'-1
/'7'
Tarquini
not
known.
The
Etruscans
were also
accused of
be ing fat,
which is corroborated by many of the
sculptures which were included on
sarcophagi. This suggests that the
Etruscans may have interpreted a
rotund figure as a sign of wealth and
not, as later Greeks and Romans
thought, of laziness and sloth. While
the Etruscans had man y differences
with the Greeks, they did share
sim ilarities with several eastern
Mediterranean cultures. And indeed
some ancient authorities, quoted by
Herodotus, believed that they derived
from Lyd ia, although this was based
largely upon etymological arguments
that are probably best explained as
coincidence (For example, an alternate
name for the Etruscans was the
Tyrrhenians and there was a Lydian
city called Tyrra). The Etruscan
language, however, is quite distinct
and argues against some large scale
migration from the East, for which there
 Superior is Now Accepting
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September 1990 7
is no real evidence of anyway. Instead controlled by Volaterrae has been
it is possible that the Etruscans were a found, though it is possible that the
combination of an Italian native shifting coastline (which is much
population with some influx from the different today than it was in ancient
outside, although, like so much of their times) has hidden or destroyed such
history, the details will probably remain an outpost. There were commercial
unknown . These differences did not ties between Volaterrae and the rest of
prevent cultural exchanges and Etruria, as well as with some Greek
mercantile contacts. Etruscan art was states, probably through inter-
influenced by Archaic Greek styles mediaries in Popu lonia. A chest filled
which were brought from Corinth and with coins, many from the Greek city of
other major trading centers, although Phocea and dating from around c. 500
the Classical styles, which today are B.C. was discovered at Volaterrae, and
considered riche r and more elegant, attests to such ties. Unlike other parts
held little interest for the Etruscans. of Etruria the Volaterrans achieved
Many Greek deities and cults were also their greatest prosperity around the
embraced by the Etruscans and later third century B.C. as the Romans
transmitted to Rome. began to expand re lentlessly north·
A history of Etruria cannot properly ward. Before that time, however,
treat the country as a single unit any during the seventh and sixth centuries
more than a history of Greece can, for B.C., as Etruscans expanded fro m
in each case the proper history is that their homeland in all directions
of the individual city states. Volaterrae Volaterrans were prominent among
(this being the later Latin name, the those who went north, moving into the
original Etruscan name being Velauri) Apennines and Po valley, where
was the northmost of the major numerous cities and villages became
Etruscan city states. There are indica- partially Etruscanized.
tions of a strong maritime tradition and South of Volaterrae was the coastal
the cult of Ulysses (Utrurze) influenced city state of Vetulonia (Vet luna). In
the designs on many of the funerary ancient times the city was near a large
urns which have been uncovered in the lagoon, Lake Prilius, which has since
area. Un like other Etruscan city dried up. The favorable location in the
states, however, no prominent port past made Vetulonia a maritime power.
ANCIENT COIN SPECIALIST
GREEK, ROMAN, BYZANTINE COINS
AND CLASSICAL ANTIQUITIES
SEND $2.00 FOR SAMPLE CATALOG
OR $25 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION
EDWARD J. WADDELL, Ltd.
.. /____, 7910 Woodmont Avenue, #1104
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 654·0470
8 The Celator
Trading contacts in th.e region,
especially with Sardinia, were already
well established, going back several
centuries before the founding of the
city itse!!. Unfortunately Vetulonia is
the major Etruscan center for which the
least amount of information has
survived, although excavations of
tombs have yielded important artifacts.
Goldwork seems to have been a
specialty in the city, with the metal
being obtained from Carthaginians and
Greek cities in Campania. The downfall
of Vetulonia appears to have been due
to a city which very likely was founded
by Vetulonians. Russellae (Etruscan
name unknown), also situated on lake
Prilius, was just a few miles away from
Vetulonia. Although it may have
started as a dependency of Vetulonia,
Aussellae rapidly became a power in its
own right, and the massive fortifi-
cations which were built around both
cities is a testament to an uneasy
relationship. By 500 B.C. Vetulonia
was in decline and nearly vanished,
although the site gained renewed life
as the Romans began to expand into
Etruria two centuries later.
Populonia (Fulluna) lay just twenty
five miles north of Vetulonia on the
coast opposite the island of Elba. like
Russeliae, and many other smaller
cities and villages, Populonia was
originally dependent upon one of the
large city states . Archeological
evidence suggests that Vetulonia was
this power, although later Roman
historians reported that the city had
been founded by Volaterrae. Before
the establishment of the city itself, the
site was home to a semi-autonomous
emporion where a great deal of trading
took place with Carthaginians and
Greeks. These relationships were
maintained after the foundation of
Populonia and the city remained one of
the major importing areas for Greek
goods . These commercial contacts
also lead to a great deal of cultural
exchanges, including coinage. Popu-
Ionia appears to have been the first
Etruscan city to mint coins, c. 450
B.C., although this was stilt centuries
after its invention in Asia Minor. At
about this time the city became
powerfu l enough to become an
independent city state, in the process
gaining some degree of control over
metal rich Elba.
Vulci (Velcha) also lay near the
coast, south of the territory of
Vetulonia, and had access to the sea
via the Armenta river. Vulci was a
place of great wealth . Great quantities
of imported Greek pottery have been
 /
, "I
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Halyllnd PoUlty
2100·700 B.C., 3",6' hI.

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-
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3 "A. \ 4 , 7 ,
Rom.n GI•••
Ro m.n GI ...
100 B.C.· 200 A.D.. 2"-8" hi
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100 B.C. · 200 A.O" 2'-S" ht.
,

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01 Godd•• " Preg nant wOman . '
Rare , museum quality terra cotta,

'
700-500 B.C .. 6.5 " Only 2
available. This type of stalu. is 30
" sho wn in major museum
pub lication •.

".! 36
Ancient 011 Lamp.
Roman, Byzantine. Islamic, Anclant 011 lIImpa - Roman, Byzentine,
P.O. eo, 69~ Gracie Station. New Y<>II<. f'.IY 10026 Is lamic, tOO B.C.· 800 A,D.
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(212)722 - 4603
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these Items and much more. Large
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Anci ent
Sm a ll II. m,
600 B.C. - 600 AD .
• . Bronze Bells
b. Bronze Bracelets
c. Bronze Buckl".
d. Bronze Fibulae
e . Bronz. Rings
L I",n Arrowhead s
g . Iron Keys
h , lead Sling Shots
i. l ead Weights
j Stone AAG Heads

~?;~ ' w~ ''':-

.,m,,""
~~IB,~~~~~iameler.
0 •••• k

September 1990 9
found at Vulci, many pieces being in
some of the tens of thousands of
tombs which have been found near the
city. A home grown school of Greek-
inspired pottery also developed after
an influx of Ion ian Greeks fleeing the
Persian conquest of their homeland.
Stone sculptures were also made here,
and, because of the shortage of good
workable stone in Etruria, must have
been very expensive. Vulei was able
to greatly exploit the interior lands
which it controlled, as well as maintain
ports directly on the coast. Vulcians
were prominent among the Etruscans
who expanded south, through Latium
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10 The Ce/ator
and into Campan ia. In the process
Vulci became embroiled in the po litics
of Rome, at a time when it was under
the control of Etruscan kings, although
the details of th is involvement are
subject to controversy today. Near the
end of the sixth century B.C. relations
between the Etruscans and Greeks in
Campania grew tense, although both
groups eventually lost as the Samnites
invaded the region during the fifth
century and drove them out. Vulcians
then turned their expansionary
impulses north, although it was at
around this time that Vulcian power and
wealth peaked .
Tarquinii (Tarchnal) lay south of
Vulci, also near, but not on, the coast.
Three ports were controlled by the city,
though the ir Etruscan names have
been lost, and the city became the
strongest naval power in early Etruria.
This military strength went along with a
strong commercial fleet which plied the
route to Etruscan Campania and
perhaps well beyond. Wares from
Tarquini i have been found in the
Aegean basin and northern Africa, and
may well have been carried by
Etruscan ships. The naval routes were
complemented by the land ties which
the city had with the rest of Etruria
through a network of roads which
connected most major centers. As
elsewhere in Etruria there was a strong
Greek influence in Tarquinii and some
Greek inhabitants obtained much
wealth. And the SOn of One such
imigrant, Tarquinius Priscus, went on
to become king of Rome (c. 616-579
B.C.). Later, however, Greek traders
established an emporion at Graviscae,
one of the port cities, where the
foreigners had to confine their
activities, presumably because they
were less welcome in other parts of the
country. Relations continued to
deteriorate, and sometime around 480
B.C. the Greek presence at Graviscae
was halted. Tarquinian ships and
soldiers were probably the Etruscans
who aided Athens in her abortive
attack on Syracuse (c. 413 B.C.) , and
then gave aid to that city against the
Carthaginians about a century later (c.
307 B.C.).
The eastern territory of Etruria was
initially controlled by Clusium (Clevsin)
which had no direct access to the sea.
This lead to a smaller Greek influence
in Clusium as compared to the other
major Etruscan cities, and a significant
Umbrian presence. In fact it appears
that Clusium, as well as other cities in
the area, were originally Umbrian and
had been conquered as Etruscans
entered the region. Nevertheless, the
Greek hoplite style of armor was
adopted early at Clusium, perhaps
before the rest of Etruria. Clusians
extensively developed the large (by
Etruscan standards) territory which
they controlled, and a number of cities
which they founded became quite
wealthy and powerful in their own right
and were eventually able to assert their
independence. North of Clusium were
two such cities, Arretium (Etruscan
name unknown) and Cortona
(Curtuna?), from which Etruscans
advanced farther north. Perusia
(Perusna), to the east of Clus ium, was
another city founded by Clusium, which
was an important base for Etruscan
expansio n into Umbria as well as
northern Italy. After 400 B.C. Perusia
began to overshadow Clusium. South
of Clusium was Volsinii (Velsna), wh ich
gained independence during the fifth
century B.C ., and from which Etrus-
cans ventured into Campania . The
desire for independence by so many of
these cities must have been ruthlessly
opposed by the Clusians, although as
the ir power waned it became impos-
sible for them to maintain their control.
Two cit ies, Murlo and Acquarossa,
west and south of Clusium, respec-
tively, were finally unsuccessfu l in
their bids for independence, however,
as both cit ies were destroyed . It is
possible that the remaining populations
were transferred to Clusium itself.
The coast of southernmost Etruria
was controlled by Caere (Cisra) . This
city was one of the first urbanized
places in Etruria and was probably
where the Etruscan alphabet entered
Etruria proper following its invention in
the Campan ian city of Cumae . Five
ports existed on the coast near Caere
which, along with its southerly position,
made the city a very important trading
center with the Greek cities of Cam-
pania. Caere also expanded north,
taking the important metal producing
region of Mount Tolfa from their north-
ern neighbor Tarquinii . Caerian sea
power grew at the expense of Tarquinii,
and eventually Caere became the lead-
ing Etruscan naval force. This power
was not confined to Etruria, however,
and Caere fought with the Cart hagin-
ians against Greek naval forces from
Phocea, Massilia, and the Phocean
colony of Alalia in a battle off Corsica
c. 535 B.C. The Greeks won the battle
but the colony at Alalia was evacuated
and Etruscan interests were pre-
served. Caere and Carthage were
allies of convenience only, since both
were rivals for many of the same trad-
ing routes, and conflicts also occurred .
A battle may have been won by Car-
thage c. 455 B.C., to prevent Caere
from establishing a base on the island
of Madeira in the Atlantic Ocean . Ca-
ere also developed a rivalry with Veii,
which lay to the east, and which promp-
ted Caere to ally itseH with a non -Etrus-
can city which was also hostile to Veii -
Rome (Ruma?) . This cordial relatio n-
ship continued, for the most part, until
the early third century when Caere,
along with several other Etruscan
cit ies failed in a revo~ against Rome.
Veii (Veia), which controlled the
south eastern reaches of Etruria, north
of the Tiber, was the nearest Etruscan city
to Rome. Veii controlled only a few miles
of coastline at the mouth of the Tiber,
on which ships from the city could
pass to the sea, although Veii never
developed as a major sea power.
Instead the salt pans at the mouth
of the Tiber were exploited and ex-
ported to the rest of Etruria where
it was rare. Veii also developed an
extensive series of land routes con-
necting it with Etruria to the north,
and Latium and Campania to the south.
At first Vei i was a relatively poor city,
and did not have access to the rich
metal deposits which generated wealth
for most of the other major Etruscan
city states, but the increasing Etruscan mirror depicting
deve lopment of salt, trade, and Apollo and Artemis
agriculture made Veii the leading
Etruscan power in the sixth century Rome was not an Etruscan city, but
B.C. The level of development can still lying on the bank of the Tiber, the
be seen today in the extensive system boundary between Latium and Etruria,
of underground irrigation channels it could hardly escape Etruscan
which were bui lt th roughout the influence. Much of the early history of
countryside . Rome is shrouded in legend, in
Veian influence extended north of particular the period when Rome found
the city into Faliscan l enitory, wh ich itself under the Etruscan dominion .
was only partially Etruscanized. Veii The traditional date for the founding of
seems to have supported the rulers of Rome , 753 B.C., was finally settled
Falerii, the largest Faliscan town, and upon by Roman historians in the late
may have exerted some measure of Republic. However, it is false. Archeo-
conlrol over it. Falerii, along with the logical evidence shows that small
Faliscan towns of Narce and Capena villages existed upon the hills of Rome
were among the only allies of Veii before this time, and that they united c.
during its long tinal war with Rome. Veii 625 B.C. Etruscan influence had been
also extended itself to the south, and in the area before this time, primarily
seems to have had a generally because of its position between Etruria
peaceful relationship with Rome during and Etruscan interests in Campania.
the period when the Latin city was ruled This influence may have played a part
by Etruscan kings . This changed, in the urbanization of Rome.
however, when the Etruscan ruling Earliest Rome was ru led by kings,
class was expelled from Rome and the although little beyond that fact is
Republic founded. Later Roman writers known about them. Later tradition
tended to exaggerate the importance listed four kings for th is pe riod -
of Veii in early Etruria, and to portray starting with Romulus himseH - but this
the city as a permanent rival to Rome. is also false. After some period under
partly in order to justify the later Roman native kings, however, the city came
destruction of the city. under control of an Etruscan , Tar-
STEPHEN M. HUST ON
Cfassical ?Wmism.ll tist
P.o. Box 193621
San FranCiSCO, CA 94119 USA
(415) 781-7580
'EVt ry win iUJL5tratd actual.fiu.
'J#ite for- a copy or- OUT ~t c.aUliqjIU.
September 1990 11
quinius Prise us, whose traditional · back because of the heroic efforts of
regnal dates (616 -579 B.C.) do Horatius Cocles on the Sublican Bridge
correspond with modern archeological over the Tiber, but it would appear
evidence wilh a lime of significanl instead that Porsenna actually gained
Etruscan influence. It is unclear how control of the city from the fledgling
Priscus gained control of Rome, and Republic. Porsenna was motivated by
the later tradition that he did so the pleas of the exiled Tarquinii,
peacefully may also be incorrect. although he made no attempt to restore
Tradition also made Priscus a man of him to the throne. Porsenna may have
Tarquinii, which may actually be the intended that Rome remain under the
case, although some experts today dominion of Clusium, although pres-
would have him hail from Caere. During sure from other forces kept his tenure
this time there remained a significant short and the Republic was soon
latin speaking population, but there restored. It seems likely that this was
are also indications that Etruscan not the only such raid by Etruscans.
culture penetrated beyond a small Greek victories in Campania, however,
ruling class and that, in many were hampering Etruscan interests in
respects, Rome became a largely southern Italy, and more attention was
Etruscan city . Priscus was succeeded given to expansion into the north. This
by Servius Tullius (traditional dates reduced some of the pressure on
578-535 B.C.), a semi-historical figure Rome. Much is unclear about this
who may have been Etruscan if he period, however, a reference made in a
indeed existed . A second Tarquinii, speech by the Emperor Claudius, for
Tarquinius Superbus (traditional dates example, seems to suggest that there
535 -510 B.C .) was, according to was at least one other Tarquinil
tradition, the last king of Rome and was monarch, although it is also possible
replaced by the Republic. One more that there was simply one whose reign
figure appears to have, briefly, held the was divided into ~good " and "bad"
kingship. lars Porsenna, king of parts. It has also been suggested that
Clusium, marched his arm y south and the Republic evolved gradually, in a
made a surprise raid on Rome after the manner consistent with the decline of
expUlsion of Superbus. l ater Romans kings in many parts of the Greek world
asserted that this attack was beaten and indeed in parts of Etruria as well,
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12 The Gelator
and that the traditional account of a
violent revolution was largely propa-
ganda from later periods. What is
known, though, is that Rome expanded
into latium during the time of Etruscan
kings.
The Republic faced many enemies
in latium and in the tribes inhabiting
Ihe mountains beyond. Nearby Veii
was also a threat. At first Veian forces
were able to inflict a serious defeat on
the semi-private army of the important
Fabii clan, c. 476 B.C., and several
more battles were fought for pos-
session of an important strong point
that lay between Rome and Veii, which
the Romans finally secured c. 430 BC.
Total war broke out c . 405 B.C .. and
lasted for several years. Rome placed
Veii under siege and finaUy took the
city c. 396 B.C. Veii, which had been
the most powerful Etruscan city was
almost totally destroyed and its
territory now belonged to Rome .
Significantly the other Etruscan cities
did nothing to aid Veii, and Caere in
fact seems to have supported Rome.
The outright annexation of conquered
territory which followed the defeat of
Veii was not the usual course which the
Romans were to follow in Etruria, or
elsewhere in Italy. Typically, defeated
foes were coerced into alliances, and
thereby had to provide money or
services to Rome, and later were
granted some righ ts of Roman
citizenship. The imposition of Roman
colonies into defeated territories also
spurred the process of Romanization,
and eventually , as more rights of
citizenship were gran ted these terri-
tories became more firmly bound in the
growing Empire.
Roman expansion was halted for
the moment by a serious invasion of
Gauls. The Gauls at first moved
against Clus ium, but then attacked
Rome, taking the city (c. 387 B. C.) and
burning it to the ground. Again Caere
gave assistance to the Romans, and
held some of the city's most sacred
relics until the danger had passed .
Rome then expanded further into
latium and Campania, in the process
growing stronger than any of the
remaining Etruscan stales . The
hegemonic intentions of Rome were
now all too clear, and some of the
southern Etruscan cities took up arms.
Tarquinii, supported by non-Etruscan
Falerii attacked c. 359 B.C., with Caere
joining, perhaps reluctantly c. 353 B.C.
The Roma ns quickly defeated the
forces of Caere and that city was
accorded a rather favo rable peace,
although under the control of Rome .
Giessener Mlinzhandlung-----,
Dieter Gorny GmbH, Miinchen
Bruttium, Terina; Nomos (6.24) 420-400
Regling 78.
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AUCTION
September 24, 1990
ANCIENT COINS
844 Celtic, Greek, Roman,
Byzantine and Islamic coins
including a series of more
than 100 pieces from South-
ern Italy. some staters from
Abdera, approx. 40 rare and
high grade sestertii of Divus
Aug ustus, Agrippina, Nero
(Port of Ostia) and Didius
Julianus, as well as some rare
Byzantine solidi of Leontius,
Philippicus , Anastasius,
Theodosi us III, Leo VI and
Irene.
Auction Sa le No. 51
MEDIEVAL through MOD E RN
times. Sept. 2Sf26, 1990.
Auction catalogues are avail-
able a t US $10 each from
our company.
September 1990 13
Within two years the other two cities
were also beaten, and the territory of
Tarquin ii was devastated. The defeats
of Veii and Tarquinii were only some of
the disasters that befell Etruria during
the early fourth century: Greek forces
drove the Etruscans out of Campania
and seized control of Corsica, while
Gauls moved into and conquered the
Etruscan cities of the Po valley. The
Etruscans found their most lucrative
trade routes with the Greek world cut
just as the Romans were poised along
the coastal roads that lead to the heart
of their country.
The next several decades appear to
have been times of relative peace for
Etruria as the Greek world was
preoccupied with the growth and
expansion of Macedon and the
Romans were involved wi th the
Samnites in southern Italy. Rome also
had to contend with a revolt of some
Latin cities in 340-338 B.C. The
Etruscans were aware of these
difficulties, and rumors of impending
war swept Rome after the Romans
suffered a series of military defeats.
But the Etruscans made no move until
c. 310 B.C. when Rome no longer faced
serious threats. Tarquinii and Volsinii
sent an army south, but the superior
Roman Legions, with no other major
Sifncient Breek,
9krum & '13gzmdine
COINS
" lumps has been uncovered in a heavily
j Etruscan influenced region in the Po
( Send Today For Free Illustrated List)
TOM CEDERLIND
P. O. Box 1963-C
Portland, OR • 97207
14 The Gelator
enemies to contend with, were
victorious. Etruscans from many other
cities as well joined in this war, but
even these huge armies were not
enough. Volsinii was sacked and
another truce was forced upon Tar·
quinii. Truces were also established
with Cortona, Perusia and Arretium.
The end of Etruscan independence
was now in sight.
In 302 B.C. internal squabbling in
Arretium prompted the Romans to
intervene, possibly with force. They
soon became entangled with Russellae
as well and a bitter war (c. 302-294
B.C.) erupted, with Gauls and
Samnites, as well as several other
Etruscan cities joining in at various
times against Rome. The Samnites
were decisively defeated c. 292 B.C.,
and Etruria was soon subdued as well.
Russellae was dealt with so severely
that the site was virtually abandoned.
Volsinii, Perusia, and Arreti um each
were ordered to pay a half million asses
in reparations. For the most part the
Etruscan cities were becoming re-
signed to their fate, although Vulei and
Volsinii revolted and were put down in
280 B.C. The resulting peace treaties
left Volsinii as the only truly
independent Etruscan state. The final
collapse apparently began from within
when a series of internal strifes
prompted the Romans to intervene.
Volsinii was beseiged and fell in 264
B.C. The city was utterly destroyed,
and its surviving inhabitants were
removed to a new site that was far less
easy to defend. Rome was now the
overlord, although some measures of
civic independence were allowed. The
overwhelming power of Rome remained
foremost in the minds of the Etrus-
cans, who made no move against their
masters during the long and costly
First Punic War between Rome and
Carthage (264-2 4 1 B.C.) . The
Etruscan language and way of life
gradually began to decline in impor-
tance until the region became part of
the latinized heartland of the Roman
Empire.
Although there were strong Greek
influences in almost all major Etruscan
centers, coinage was adopted late,
and with a different tradition. While
Greek coins are often characterized by
civic badges and legends, inscriptions
are missing on many Etruscan coins
and the designs cannot be associated
with specific cities. Coinage was
undoubtedly known in Etruria soon
after its invention, and with the infl ux of
Ionian refugees following the Persian
conquest of western Asia Minor this
must have been strengthened. Coin-
age from the rest of the Mediterranean
world, in particular the silver of the
major Greek trading cities, would have
penetrated far into Etruria. These
coins were most likely valued only by
their weight, a procedure which was not
unknown in Greece itself for coins that
travelled far from their place of issue.
Nevertheless , during the early
decades of the Archaic period Etruria,
like most of the rest of Ita ly, existed
with a quasi-monetary economy where
bronze lumps, valued by weight,
served a function similar to that of
coinage. A large hoard of these bronze
valley, and has been roughly dated to
around 500 B.C. Most Etruscan cities
had access to large metal deposits, a
resource upon which much of Etruscan
power was based, and there was more
than an adequate supply to serve local
needs, to facilitate trade between
cities, and to be a way to store
accumulated wealth in an easily dis-
posable form. Presumably, however,
barter also played an important part of
the Etruscan economy.
The utility of coinage, as practised
by Greek traders, eventually had an
effect and Etruscan coinage began.
Populonia, with its extensive trading
connections, seems to have been the
site of the first Etruscan coinage. The
dating of these first issues is very
uncertain, and estimates range from
500·400 B.C. It is also unclear to what
extent these first coins were due to the
civic authority, and it is possible that
they were issued by private
individuals, although, if correct, the
civic government must have taken
over production at some point. It was
at about this time that Populonia
became an independent city state,
although this event mayor may not
have preceeded the introduction of
coinage.
The original designs of Populonia
may have been influenced by the
coinage of the Greek cities of Ahegium
or Phocea, cut with a strong Etruscan
flavor remaining. A facing gorgon, with
wild hair and protruding tongue and few
if any other symbols was a common
obverse device, with the reverse
completely blank. Most of these early
issues were in silver, and seem to have
been based on a basic unit with a
weight of about 12 grams, roughly the
same as an Aeginetan silver stater. In
addition to this early basic unit, silver
coins based on multiples of two, two
and one half, and ten units we re
produced, also with plain reverses.
Un like the rest of this series the
obverse design of the smallest silver
coin shows the octopus-like sea
creature the sepia instead of a gorgon,
although the obverse die used for
some two unit issues was small enough
that it could have been employed on
the one unit coins. Another deviation
from the usual pattern was produced
with some of the two and a half unit
coins which have a standing owl on the
obverse, looking not unlike that seen in
some Athenian issues. Th is similarity
may be coincidental, although the
copying of Athenian pottery desig ns
was routine at this time and Athenian
owl tetradrachms must have been
known in Etruria. A gold issue with a
bust of a female with rolled hair along
with a few cryptic symbols and a plain
reverse has been attributed as
belonging to this early series. Another
similar gold coin, with the bust of a lion,
has also been attributed to Populonia,
though this is less certain. It has been
suggested that these gold coins were
valued at twenty five units, which, if
they were issued with the early weight
standard implies that a tariff of about
15:1 between silver and gold must
have been employed in this part of
Etruria, which is higher than that
usually assumed in the Greek world. sh~t in the weight standard, although
Instead, however, they may have been that is just a guess. In addition to the
minted later , when Populonia would gorgon design, some of the twenty
have had access to large quantities of units of the second weight standard
gold from Campania and Sardinia. were issued with different obverses. A
At some point (c. 350 B.C.?) the facing bust of Herakles, looking very
basic weight standard of Populonia similar to the gorgon, and a three
was reduced to about six grams, quarters bust of Athena were issued.
although the designs of the coins Other designs were also employed on
remained similar. Double crosses smaller denominations. Later (c. 250
appear regularly below the obverse B.C.), as the fortunes of Populonia
gorgon, as well as on the reverse of were on the decline, many bronze
silver coins of twenty units, and they types were produced. The designs on
may have been intended as these were much more Greek inspired,
denominational marks. Other symbols, with full devices on the reverse, and
generally with an identifying ethnic
inscription. The gorgon design was
largely abandoned on these issues,
with some showing the bust of
Herakles , backed by a bow and club, a
bust of Athena with an owl on the
AR didrachm of Populonia reverse, and a bust of Hephaestus with
Obv. Head of gorgon a hammer and tongs. The exact
Rev. Cuttlefish tentacles meaning of these selections is subject
to conjecture, although the latter
such as cornucopia, stars and
almost certainly refers to the large iron
crescents, and the sepia also appear
smelting works which supplied the city
occasionally on the reverse. Some
with a valuable export commodity.
coins seem to have been overstruck
onto other Populonian issues , and At about the time that coinage was
traces of the old designs can be seen first produced in Populonia it also
through plain reverses. It's possible appeared in another Etruscan city
that th is restriking was re lated to the although, unfortunately, it is not
Miinzen und Medaillen AG
For 45 years we have been serving
collectors of Ancient Coins ...
and we would lik£ to serve you too!
-Monthly Illustrated Fixed Price Lists ..
.. Public Sales .. Appraisals ..
• Large Stock in All Price Ranges'
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CH • 4002, Basel, Switzerland
Tel. (061) 23 7S 44
September 1990 15
possible to get a conclusive attribution
as to the name or even the location of
this mint. Small silver coins with a
variety of designs that were evidently
influenced by the coinage of Rhegium,
have been found with the inscription
"Thezi" or "Thez le". No known Etrus-
can city has been identified with a
name simi lar to this. Some of the
types, which include a sea monster,
suggest a port city as the mint, which
is reasonable, since it is at trad ing
centers like Populonia where the
pressure to establish a coinage would
be greatest. The location of the finds
of these issues has been used as
evidence in favor of Vulci as the mint,
although that leaves the inscription
unexplained. Perhaps it is the name of
the person responsible for the minting?
It is by no means clear who was behind
the earliest Etruscan coins, and they
may have been privately produced.
Another line of evidence, however,
suggests a connection with the city of
Russellae which had access to silver
mines of Massetano after the (likely)
military victory of Russellae over
Vetulon ia. If this is the case then
"ThezifThezle" may be the name of a
port of Russellae which has yet to be
identif ied somewhere on the shore line
of the (now long since silted dry) Lake Greek city of Neapo lis, with ·Urina"
Prilius. That "ThezifThezle" was not an possibly having been colonized by
independent city when it began to mint settlers from Aurinia, a city in Etruria
may not be unusual, as the same may controlled by Vulci. The Campanian
have been true of Popu lonia when it mints "Velznani" and "Velzpapi" are
introduced coinage. also unknown. Iron ically the pro-
More early Etruscan coinage was duction of these coins in Campania
minted, not in Etruda proper, but in began as Etruscan influence in the
Campania wh ich was subject to region went into a steep decline.
extensive Etruscan and Greek coloni-
zation during the early Archaic period.
The Etruscan colony city of Vo lcei,
which lay just north of Lucania, may
have produced several series with the
ethnic "Velecha". The name Volce i is
similar enough to that of the Etruscan
city Vulci that it is poss ible that
colonists from there were instrumental
in the foundation of Volce i. Both Vulci
and Voleei were situated along im-
portant trade routes and had a great
dea l of contact with Greeks, thus
facilitating the need for an independent
coinage, Other Etruscan coins in
Campania have been found from
"Velsu", wh ich sounds similar to Volcei
itseH, though it seems more like ly that
these were minted in Campania itself,
perhaps from a city with the same
name as VoiceL "Uri" and "Urina" are
other so far unidentified mints which
seem to have been associated with the

HOARD SPECIALS AE semis, Volaterrae

A. $475 Byzantine AE (100)fair-fine.
B. $675 Greek AE with Roman Colonials (100) fair-fine
C. $695 "'vVidow's Mite" type lepta (100) fair-fine
D. $495 Roman bronzes (100) VG-VF
E. $195 Roman bronzes (100) fair-fine
F, $495 Roman bronzes (500) mostly fair
G. $280 Ancients (1 000) mostly poor
Please add $8 for postage and packing
..£onJon Com golloies
Mission Viejo Mall, Suite 132, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
1-5 at Crown Valley (714) 364-0990
16 The Celator
In Etruria itseH other cities began to
follow suit in the issuance of coinage,
although all too often the lack of any
inscription on the co in prevents an
identification of the mint. Volaterrae
began to issue large cast bronze coins
(c. 350 B.C" or possibly c. 300 B.C.) of
the aes grave type. Some of these are
extremely large, one type exceeding
seventy millimeters, and were probably
meant to function somewhere between
crude lumps of bronze, wh ich were
valued purely by weight, and true
coins. The standard obverse device
was a beardless jan iform head, a type
which was likely influenced by a similar
design used on Roman aes grave
coinage, although it may refer to an
Etruscan sky deity which was often
depicted in this manner. The reverse
typically had a variety of Etruscan
letters, one, two, three or fOUf pellets
to denote the denomination as either
uncia, sextans, quadrans, or triens,
with other symbols for the semis, As,
and dupondius. A large club or a
dolphin is also prominent on many
reverses. Some issues have the
janiform head wearing the petasus cap
 ROMAN SILVER

I II

Roman, Claudius, 44·45 AD. silvef denarius. Obv:

Roman, JUil.lS Caesar c. 44 BC, silver denarius. (lbv:
CAESAR.IMP.laureate head 01 Caesar to r., lilws & simpulum
10 I. Rev: M.METTIVS. Venus ,tg. to I. hid. a "';clof)' & leaning
I. elbow on a shie~ set on a globe, to I. H. Syd . 1056, Craw.
48013. Grade: SUPERB, magnificerl1 style & strike. rarely ever
S6fln tnts choice, orig inal lighl loning. Coet- $5500
CLAVDIVS.CAESAR.AVG.P.M.TRP. II II, laureate bust of
Claudius to r. Rev. PACI.AVGVSTAE .• Nemesis adv. to r., hid.
a caduceus & spining Into the folds of h&r robe. 10 r" a snake
adV. 1O r. RIC 28. E)(: KNOBLOCH COll. Commemorates the
victory of Claudius in Br~ain. Grade: CHOICE Abt. E_F.
excellenlllyle & ' trike. Cos l_ $2200

III IV

Roman, Olho, 69 AD, Iilver denarius. Clbv.

Roman, Vil8lllus. 69 AD, sHw.. denarius. Ot)V:A.VrTEl -
l IVS.GERMAN.IMP.TR .P. IalKeate bust of Vitellius to r. Rev:
lI8ERTAS.RESTIlVTA ., liberty stg . facing, head to r., hid.
pileus (Uberty Cap) & a long rod . RIC 81 . Rome mint. Grade:
E.fJCH V.F .. e)lC8/lent poI'tr8il of lIlis glunon who had the
nerve loass&l1l1'1alhewas 'restoring Iiberty". Cost- $1800
IMP.OTHO.CAESAR.AVG.TRP .• bust 01 Otho to r. wearing his
lamous dose-fitting wig . Rev: SECVRfTAS P.R, 5ecuritas
slg. to I. hid . • wreath & seeptre. RIC 10, Rarily-3. Grade:
solid E.F" fantastic portrait & strike with all details of wig visible
and even detail on 1he head of Securitas on the rev_ Seldom
seen sod1Oice. Cost-43200

v VI
•
'
11. , '
,
Romafl, Pertinax. 193 AD. silver denarius. Oby.
IMP.CAES.P.HELV.PE RTlN .AVG. laureate bust 01 Pertirmx to
Roman, AAtoninul Pius, died 161 AD. sil ver commemorative r. Rev: LAETITIA.TE MPORCOS.II .. l aetitia stg. to l. hid. a
denarius. Obv: OIWSANTONINVS. Pius to r. Rev: long &C(t9tre. RIC 4A. Grade: CH. abt. E.F" origi nal too ing,
CONSECRATIO eagle 5tg. 10 r. on an al tar, head to I. RIC 43t. with a magnificent detailed portrait bust and strong legends,
Grade: Gem Abt. Mini, original toning. excellent detail & strike. minor ftan o-ack men ~on&d lor aa:uracy, rarely soon so
Cosl- $575 choice. Cos1- S2200

VII VIII

Roman, CIodiuI Albinus, ,gs.197 AD, silver denarius. Obv:

IMP.CAESD.CLO.SEP.AL8.AVG.lllU'eata bust of A1binus 10 r.
Rev: FIOES.lEGION.COS.l1.. clasped hands hid. a Legionary
eagle. RIC 206. Grade: GE M MINT, orig. lustre, sI. tight
planehet, but rarely eY9f SfKII'I 10 choice with an excellent
portrait eo.l- $1800
RcmarI, Pupienus, 238 AD, siIYer antoniniarus. Obv. IMP.
CAES.PVPIEN .MAXtMVS.AVG., rad" dr. & cuir. bust 01
Pupienus to r. Rev: CARITAS.MVT\IA.AVG, two clasped hands.
RIC 106. Grade: GEM E.F., blaling orig. luslre. rarely ever
seen soch::lioo, wilhamagnifioonl portrait. Cost- $1150

P,O, Box 374. South Orange. N,J, 07079

Phone (201) 761-0634 FAX (201) 761-8406
All coins guaranteed genuine, we accept Visa & Mastercard,
shipping postpaid, NJ residents add appropriate sales tax .
If you enjoy this quality of ancient coin but have other needs give us a call.

S eptember 1990 17
associated with Mercury. The pro-
duction 01 this coinage continued into
the time 01 Roman control, at least until
the lime 01 Hannibal's invasion 01 Ualy
during the Second Punic War. The use
of Etruscan lellers on coinage issued
during this period has been laken by
some as evidence of an anti-Roman
sentiment, although that may be an
over inte rpretation of simp le control
marks.
Volsinii has also been assigned aes
grave coinage from the same general
time period as that of Volaterrae.
These issues, however, show more
variety in their obverse devices, with
dolphins, and the heads of boars and
rams being produced. The reverses do
not have pellets to denote denom-
ination, but the symbols which are
there, such as an anchor, club, and
spear, may have served the same
function. Other aes grave from Volsinii
have a wheel design on the fronl and
back. The wheel was a common device
on many other Etruscan coins, both
cast and struck, which makes it
diflicult to assign a mint when (as is
typically the case) no inscription
appears. One issue of aes grave with
a six sided wheel backed by an anchor
has, however, been attributed to
Vetulonia, and was probably issued at
about the time other aes grave was
produced.
There is a large variety of similar
cast coinage, which is clearly Etrus-
can, although the location of a mint, or
mints, has not been possible. Most 01
these coins have six or four sided
wheels on the obverse, sometimes with
an assortment of Etruscan letters.
Others have the facing bust of an
augur. The reverse of these unknown
mint issues also may hold a number 01
symbols centered around objects such
as an anchor, amphora or krater. The
pellets, as well as some other symbols,
almost cer tain ly refer to the
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100 ancient coins in flips and attributed. A diverse lot
including Nero , Caesar Augustus, Alexander the Great,
Biblical "Widow's Mite", etc. Only $475.00 postpaid,
with satisfaction guaranteed!
£onJon Coin galleries
Mission Viejo Mall, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
1-5 at Crown Valley (7t4) 364-0990
18 The Celator
~-
/ B.C. have a male or female head with a
AE uncia, uncertain mint
denomination, although other marks
probably refer to the minting authority.
Unfortunate ly the interpretation of
these symbols remains a complete
mystery and no city has been
authoritatively identified as the mint.
Since the distribution of the finds of
these coins has not been useful in
narrowi ng down the location it is
possible that they were produced by
several mints during the time when
Etruria was under heavy Roman
influence and control.
Struck coinage was also prod uced
by other Etruscan cities during this
period. Vetu lonia issued a series 01
struck bronze, at least by c. 250 B.C.
The obverse shows the head of a youth
which has been identified by some as
being a marine deity. The reverse
shows a trident, dolphin, and pellets. It
is possible that Vetulonia issued an
even earlier series, with a similar
obverse and a plain reverse, although
these coins may instead have been
produced at Populonia. Another issue,
with Hephaestus backed by lorging
tools. is similar to a type minted at
Populonia and indeed may be of that
city, although Vetulonia has been
suggested as an alternative mint. A
series of small bronzes with Hermes or
Apollo 0(1 the obverse, and a standing
owl on the reverse were issued by
Peithesa c. 250 B.C. And a similar
issue with Mars backed by a horse's
head was produced by Cosa at the
same time.
As with the cast coinage of Elruria,
a great deal of the struck coinage
rema ins of unknown origin. Several
small silver types issued aher c. 350
plain reverse. They are approximately
half the weight of the smallest silver
definitely known to have been issued
by Populonia at the time. These small
silvers, in lact, bear an "X" as a
symbol, which may denote their
denomination as ten units. Since the
smallest issues definitely associated
wit h Populonia generally have an "XX",
these small "lens" may in fact be of
Populonia . A type with Hermes,
however, which seems stylistically
similar does not have the same malk of
value, although this may simply be a
variation. Later, probably c. 250, a
great deal of small struck bronze was
produced for wh ich no mint has been
assign ed . The obverse generally
contained a bust 01 a figure or deity
and was usually backed by a variety of
animals includ ing eagles, dogs and
elephan ts . A variety 01 Etruscan
letters were sometimes included on the
reverse, but it is unclear whether they
were intended to denote the mint, the
denomination, or a minting authority.
As with the unknown aes grave, it is
unclear whether one mint or several
was responsible for these coins.
The production of Etruscan coins
continued as the area lell under the
sway of the Romans who felt no need,
at lirst, to impose a uniform currency
for all areas which they controlled.
Th is eventually changed as Etruria
along with the rest of Italy became
more Roman ized. The fate of the
various Etrusca n cities during the
Republic and Imperial ages varied
wildly, bul everywhere the Etruscan
language and culture eventually died
out. Legends persisted for some time,
however, and Etruscan related themes
occasionally were portrayed on Roman
coins, although even by early Imperial
times much 01 the knowledge of Etruria
was already lost. Today the coinage of
these people provides a fascinating
glimpse 01 this largely lost, but highly
influential culture, although, like so
much 01 Etruscan lore, many mysteries
remain.
Say you saw it in
~~
Antiquities
•
Amphorae served dual purpose III antiquity
by David Liebert Modern collectors will find that ,-i'&--r
One can hardly envision the world amphorae are regularly available in a
of antiquity without thoughts of the variety of types and price ranges. A
familiar amphora coming to mind. The small and relat ively simple
term is originally from the Greek, undecorated amphora might fetch $200
Ul1t/J0P£VG,and represented a specific - $300. On the other hand, examples
measure of liquid equivalent to with scenes painted by masters of the
approximately nine ga llons. The art may bring hundreds of thousands of
Roman amphora held six gallons and dollars.
seven pints.
The distinguishing characteristic of Greek painted amphora
the amphora is its two symmetrical
handles. Body shapes varied greatly
and some were made with bases, ROMAN EMPIRE, Galba
others with pointed bottoms designed 68-69 AD, AR Denarius
.... ..... ','. ,.
~ '

/ - - """':::>,,-
to be set in a basket or hollow stand. (17mm&34g) .- 7,"J'" '--"""-.

~
Another Greek term, t he Dicta Obv IMP SER GAlBAAVG, ' S 1J' ~li::'~ \
(&wrocr) which literally means "two bare head of Galba to nghl ....: 1.Ci-ti) \<~~
Rev SPQRO BCS, Inthroo , ,.. ... • :r')
ears·, is often used synonymously with lines In oak-wreath , j \C. ~ //
amphora. Minted In Rome, Circa July 68 \.7\:. .:-..r·./~ J Y
through January 69 AD. ~ • /. , / ; /
RIC 167,rarity 3. " j -~ .
.....- ...~ Lovely toned EF and RARE-$2,600
William B. Warden, Jr.

o
Typical shapes of amphorae
of Ik Roman Empiu:
Cla.tsical Numismatist, Specialist ill tilt Coins
P.O. Box 356, New Hope, PA 18938 U.SA 1-215-297-5088

The main purpose of the amphora
(plural is amphorae) was to store oil,
honey and especially wine. Certain
Greek city-states, famous for their
commercial wine production, depicted
amphorae on their coins. The amphora
was often connected in ancient art with
the god Dionysos (Roman Bacchus),
who was the deity of life fluids,
including wine.
Coin of Andros depicting
Dionysos and amphora
In 5th and 4th century Greece, the
amphora was given as a prize at Pan-
Alhenaic and similar games. Hence
the term Pan-Athenaic Amphorae.
These amphorae were very skillfully
decorated with black-fig ure and red-
figure scenes and were highly prized
as works of art at the time of their
manufacture.
The
Time Machine Company
is always eager to aid beginning collectors with moderately priced coins and
antiquities. Call David Ueben direct to discuss your interests and needs.
The Time Machine Company
is pleased to announce that we will be offering a
superb collection of scarab shaped seals and
amulets from ancient Egypt and the Near East
in our first special interest mail bid sale
to be held next November.
The fully illustrated catalog will be meticulously
researched and we hope it will serve
as a useful reference in the future.
If you are not already receiving our catalog, drop
us a note and we will reserve a copy for you.
We have many more interesting antiquities and ancient coins in stock. If you are
not on our mailing list, you are missing some of the best buys in ancient art. Send
for your free catalogue today. For more information contact:
The Time Machine Co.
P. O. Box 282, Flushing Station,
Queens, NY 11367
(718) 544-2708
September 1990 19
 People in the News
New dealer guild announces private bourses
A group of collector oriented dealers
have formed a corporation known as
the Historical Numismatic Guild. The
primary objective of the Guild is to
provide collectors and dealers the same
atmosphere which was created by the
now defunct Classical Numismatic
Bourse. Many of the participants of
the eNB are members of the Guild.
Collectors will receive invitation s to
the Historical Numismatic Guild's
shows. No one will be admitted
without an invitation.
There are 35 dealer members of the
Guild which handle only ancient and
foreign coins, medals and banknotes.
The inaugural show was held in
Washington D.C. on June 15th and
16th. The site of the next Guild show
will be the lake front area of Chicago
on September 14th and 15th. For
collectors to get additional information
about this show, contact Chicago
show chairman Harlan J. Berk at 31 N.
Clark St., Chicago, lL 60602,
telephone (312) 609-0017.
According to Berk, collectors who
in the past had attended the CNB
shows can expect a small informal
setting, a relaxing atmosphere and
uninterrupted attention from their
ONS newsletter details events
The Oriental Numismatic Society,
in Newsletter No. 124, has announced
the dates for the first ONS conference,
which will take place in Nagpur, India
from October 27th to November 2nd,
1990.
Other events discussed in News-
letter 124 include MINTEX 90. an
exhibition of numismatic items held in
India, and the fourth Tilbingen con-
ference on Oriental Numismatics.
favorite Guild dealer. Refreshments
such as wine and cheese will be served
at all functions of the Guild.
Berk stated that the Guild will have
a Code of Ethics patterned after the
PNG and IAPN of which many of the
Guild members are also a member.
Of particular interest to collectors
and students of early Islamic coinage is
an article by W.A. Oddy in which he
details the discovery and importance of
a new type of the coinage of Hims.
Persons wishing to obtain further
information about the Oriental
Numismatic Society should contact
William B. Warden, Ir. at P.O. Box
356, New Hope, PA 18938.

GREATER
Profiles in NEW YORK
NUMISMATIC
:JIumismoIics CONVENTION
11th Annual
Theodore-Edme Mionnet FAll MEETING
T.E. Mionnet was born in France in 1770. SEPT, 5, 6,7, & 8, 1990
At the youthful age of 25 he joined the OMNI PARK CENTRAL HOTEL
Cabinet des Medailles as a numismatist 7th Ave. & 56th SI. New York City
and began work on a series of publications Held simullanoously with the
describing the type. history and rarity of AMERICAN ISRAEL NUMiSMATiC
ancient coins. The final work became a six volume treatise utled Description ASSOCIATION CONVENTION
des midailles antiques grecques et romaines avec degrt de rarete et leur CONVENTION FEATURES:
estilTUltion. The work was published between 1806 and 1813 and was Auctions by jjJ.m>'bJ' ,plus an ancients
supplemented in nine volumes between 1819 and 1837. At the time Mionnet auction, and a meda!slexonumia auction
became active in numismatics. the French were experiencing a renewal of conducted by leading auctioneers. The
interest in the antique. This was especially so in the field of art Famous artists well known "Ancients Arcade" and
like David and Canova created monumental works with classical inspiration to MedalslExonumia hall. Meetings, forums ,
seminars, award winnill9 exhibits,
satisfy the taste of the age of Napoleon. Several famous meda1lisl~, who numismatic literature & supplies, 100+
emerged during this period, were supplied by Mionnet with a massive "source numismatic dealers in all categories,
book" of images in his published works as well as in the preparation of plaster- and much more!
like reproductions which were widely distributed. It is said that his descriptions FrH tldmission lind Shekel
included over 52,000 coins. The images on ancient coins were also popular to all registered visitors
among artists working outside the medalJic field, just as they had been with Special convention rates at hotel
For infonnation & reservation forms:
earlier renaissance and post-renaissance artists of Italy and Northern Europe.
Mionnet died in 1842. Moe Welnschel
P.O. Box 277
This feature is provided courtesy of Rockaway Park, NY 11694-0277
The C.B. Byers Corporation, Newport Beach, CA (718) 634-9266

20 The Cefator
 Art and the Market
Royal Athena's 'Masterworks in Bronze'
New York exhibit realizes $7.6 million
With significantly less fanfare than
the recent Hunt sale, a long-established
57th Street antiquities gallery has sold
24 ancient bronzes for $7.6 million
this past month. Royal-A thena
Galleries, operating in New York since
1952 under the direction of Dr. Jerome
M. Eisenberg, opened its show of 30
ancient bronze masterworks on June
1st and within four weeks sold 24 of
the objects. This figure eclipsed the
$6.2 mi llion paid for bronzes from the
William Herbert Hunt collection.
The success of 'Masterworks in
Bronze from the Ancient World', which
closed on June 30. and which surpassed
the results of the internationally-
acclaimed Hunt bronze sale by 1.4
million dollars, was due to the quality
of the objects as well as the reputatio n
of the gallery. Ancient bronzes from
Greece, Etruria, Rome and Egypt were
cast in great quantity, primarily fo r
devotional purposes in temples. Many
are of ordinary quality and are available
through dea lers o r at auction from
about $1,000 to $5,000. Ancient
bronzes of hig h a rti s tic merit,
however, are significantly rarer and are
much sought after by mu seums and
collectors.
Well into his fourth decade as a
specialist in anc ient art, D r. Eisenberg
assembled 30 bronzes of exceptional
quality for the June show, wh ich
included several works of surpassing
rarity. He wrote his dissenalion on the
authentication of anc ient art and has
lectured widely on this subj ect, and he
is also the publisher and editor-in-c.hief
of an antiquities magazine in England,
Minerva.
Please ..•.
Check the date on your
mailing label. If it has
passed, you are in danger
of nor receiving future
issues. Renew today!
Several of Royal-Athena's bronzes
fetched seven figures. O ne of the
highlights was unquestionab ly the
nearly life-s ize Roman bronze youth,
probably the finest large Roman
bronze on the market in the past
twenty years. Other remarkable pieces
included a 24 inch Egyptian bronze cat,
the larges t known , and a uniqu e
Egyptian bronze lion-headed goddess
supported by an attendant. Slightly
more than half the works were Roman
and Ettuscan, o ne-third were Greek and
the remainder were Egyptian and Near
Eastern. The thirty works spanned
over a millennium. from the e ighth
centu ry B.C. to the third century A.D.
Royal Athena is o ne of the world's
largest dealers in ancient art. In its far-
flung galleries there are 3500 works of
art in stock, ra nging from s mall
terracouas and ceramics in the $100 to
$1,000 range to spectacu lar works
worth y of the fine st mu seu m
collections. For many years Roya l-
~,:~!~~~ : Ital y
World ",
II a rt
has always beert
turning golden
moments of hiSlory
,nto the etern,ty oj
bronze.
""~ "'"
need a special I (:ommemoretln'il
., ,
speaal event call
the medanoc
$CulIllO< whose 11\0
nova1lve artwork
boos lis InsprratlOll
on the d assocal
lIad,i.OIl oj the old
masters.
SCULPTOR
OR ..
Athena has assembled thematic shows
inCluding the 1988-1989 'Age of
Cleopatra' exhibition and the 1989
'Gods and Mortals' ancient bronze
show. With it's ample stock Royal-
Athena is positioned well in an art
market that is beginning to appreciate
the value of antiquities.
'Masterworks in Bronze from the
Ancient World' was exhibited at Royal-
Athena's flagship gallery in New York
at 153 East 57th Street. Royal-Athena
also has loc ations in Beverly Hills,
California and in the Pl ace des
Antiquaires at 125 Easl 57 th Street.
Dr. Eisenberg is also the c hairman of
B.A. Seaby Ltd. in London, a
prestig ious finn established in 1926.
dealing in coins and ancient art and
publishing books in these and relaled
fields.
Royal Athena may be contacted by
writing to them at their New York
gallery, 153 East 57th Street. New
York, NY 10022 or by phoning (2 12)
355·2034.
mlnl.monument s
outst.ndlng
events end
pers onelliles
In the e rt .
s ports e nd
history
September 1990 21
 FROM OUR
EG YPTIAN COLLECTION

EGYPTIAN CAT STATUE· A blad<.

basalt cat statue from the
Ptolemaic Period (c. 300 BCE ).
lengit119 inches ............ $17.000

EGYPTIAN SARCOPHAGUS
• A pai nted wooden sarcoph -
agus from the Ptolemaic
Period (c. 300 BCE) with
hieroglyphic inscripti(){1S on
the front and back. Length
55 inches .............. $35,000 EGYPTIAN STONE OFFERING STELA -
A carved black basa lt offering stela lor
the W8b Priest. Pey. Late Period
(c. 625-300 BCE) 13 inches talll( 9 1/2
incheswKle .......... _....... ... ... .. $12,000

EGYPTIAN FALCON
STATUE· a limestone statue
of Horus the falcon god.
XXVI Dynasty (c. 600 BCE )
16 inches tall. .......... $4.000

EGYPTIAN IBIS STATUE - A

EGYPTIAN COPTIC FUNERARY
wooden funerary stallJe of an ibis, CARTONAGE MUMMY MASK·
STELA - A caNed limestone funerary
associated with it1e ibis god Thoth, An Egyptian cartonage mummy
stela with original paint. Child holding
patr(){1 01 know-ledge and learning. mask (full head) with gold gil!
a dove and grapes. Coptic Period
late Period (c. 600 BCE) 10 inches face from the Ptolemaic Pariod
(c. 324-640 CE) 13 inches wide l( 2S
high l( 18 inches long __ ... .. . $3,500 (c. 300 BCE) mounted on a lucile
inches taIL_ . ..... .......... .. .... .. . $6,000
stand. l engit1 18 inches tall
x 9 1/2 inches wide ........ $45.000

22 The Celator
 EGYPTIAN MUMMY MASKS

Wooden mummy mask, painted, Wooden mummy maSk. with beard, Cartonage mummy mask, with gold gi ll
PlOIemaic Period. e. 300 Be. 12 inches painted, New Kingdom , e. 1000 Be. 16 lace. Ptolemaic Period, C. 3000 BC, 14
tall, on lucile stand ................... $1.200 inches tan, on lucile stand ......... $2,500 inc:hes tal , on k.tC:ite stand .. . . ... 56,000

The ancient Egyptians wi shed to achieve eternal life through identification with the funerary god, Osiris , and they
believed that the deceased would attain immortality if the body were preserved lor resurrection and the proper
funerary ri tes were performed. The mummy mask and the anthropoid sarcophagus emulated t he divine Osiris,
and aided the deceased in the dangerous journey to the next wer1d where it was believed that re surrection would
magically occur.
Mummy masks and anthropoid sarcophagi were made 01 wood or cartonage which was a relatiYely inexpensive
material composed 01 layers 01 gummed linen or papyrus, plaster and paint. Cartonage was used lor funerary
objects and primarily in the making 01 mummy masks which were placed oyer the head and shoulders 01 the
mummy, and painted with an idealized face and appropriate magical symbols.
Because wood was relatively scarce in ancient Egypt, wooden mummy masks were usually constructed of small
pieces joined tog ether, and pegged into place on the front 01 the sarcophagus. The mask and sarcophagus were
covered with plaster and then painted with religious motifs to help the deceased in his journey. The original
plaster and paint are still in place on many masks, and the pegs and holes are often visible.

WE HAVE A SELECTION OF WOODEN MUMMY MASKS

(600 BC - 300 BC) PRICED ACCORDING TO CONDITION
AND SIZE FROM $600 TO $2500

September 1990 23
SAN journal features informative articles
The Society for Ancient Numis- Subscription prices fo r the Journal sent to the Society for Ancie nt
matics offers several informative of the Society fo r An c ient Numismatics, Beate Rauch, Secretary,
articles in their SAN Journal , July Numismatics are $10 in the U.S. per P.O. Box 2830, Los Angeles, CA
1990. volume (fo ur issues). Orders may be 90078-2830.
A silver denarius of Diadumenian as
Caesar is featured on the cover. An
historical commentary, written by
Roben Kutcher, accompanies the
University of Michigan offers
illustration
"Graeco-Egyp tian Religion and
archaeological publications
Roman Po li cy on a Coin of The Journal of Roman Archae- include the recent work at Aphrodisias
Alexandria" . by L.E. Beauc haine , ology, a journal publis hed at the and various papers dealing with
attemplS to explain various elements University of Michigan, specializes in Aphrodisian sculpture. The cost is
of the reverse types of the serpent articles of broad interest to Romanists $29.75 plus $2 postage.
Agathodaimon found on coin s of and review articles of new books in the A seven volume set of Excavations
Alexandria slnick by Hadrian. field. The Journal is publi shed at Carthage: Conducled by the Univer-
Marvin Tameanko's "Three Dimen- annually each summe r. The subscrip- sity of Micmgan . is a comprehensive
sional Graphics on Ancient Coinage" tio n rate to private indi viduals fo r repo rt of the work done by
provides an in-depth look at ancient Volume 3, (1990) is $24 plus postage. archaeologists at Carthage. The seven
drawing methods, comb ined with Also offered is a work entitled volume set is available for $100 when
photographic examples of three Aphrodisias Papers, a 160 page cloth prepaid and ordered directly.
dimensional an on various Roman bound publica tion dea lin g with Orders for all three works should be
coins. architecture and scu lpture. Topics sent to Editor, JRA, 2016 Angell Hall,
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,
MI 48 109. Checks should be made
payable to the University of Michigan.
JENKINS
ANCIENT GREEK COINS M & R Coins
A new, revised edition. 192 p., 435 b & w photos releases List 103
8 PAGES OF COLOR PHOTOS M&R Coins, of Palos Hills,
Ill inois, has just released a special
$70 plus postage fixed price list of ancient coins for
sale. List #103 for August, September
OTHER NEW BOOKS and October 1990 includes 85 lots of
CARSON, Coins of the Roman Empire $175 Greek and Ro man Coinage, most of
FOSS. Roman Historical Coins $60 them illustrated.
JONES, Dictionary of Ancient Greek Coins $50 Among the early Roman issues are
two portrait denarii of Julius Caesar in
JONES, Dictionary of Ancient Roman Coins $5 0 gVF, one at $500 and one at $570. A
WRITE FOR FREE: Mark Anto ny portrait denariu s is
• Fixed price catalog of quality coins. offered in gVF at $600. Some
• Auction of medium-priced coins. impressive bronzes include an XF As
• Catalogs of books about ancient coins. of Augustus at $275; two more of
Tiberiu s, the same g rade ; a gVF
dupondius of Antonia at $420; and a
Please add $4 for postage lovely portrait As of Drusus.
U.S.P.S. Special Handling $2 additional A run of attractive Late Roman and
Ro man Egypt bro nzes, along with a
few Greek, Panhian. and English silver
THOMAS P. MCKENNA pieces ro unds out the offering. For a
complimentary copy of List #103
P.O. Box 1356-F - Fort Collins, CO 80522 write to M&R coins, 10705 S.
303-226-5704 Roberts Rd, Suite 146, Palos Hills, IL
60465.
24 The Celato,
Waddell offers
rare a ureus of
Crispina in FDC Coming Events ....
Edward J. Waddell's List Nu mber
Forty-Seven contains II I lots of Sep.5-8 Greater New Yo rl<lAINA, NYC
ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine and
Medieval co ins. Sep. 13 - 15 Christie's Auction , New York
Featured prominently on the cover Sep.14 - 15 NAB, Chicago
is an aureus of Crispina, the wife of
Commodus. This rare and exceptional Sep. 21 - 23 WESTEX, Denver
piece is offered for $20.000. O ther
Ro man ite ms include small runs of Sep. 24 - 26 Gorny Auction, Munich
Roman Republican silver and Roman
imperial silver. Sep. 26 - 29 Hirsch Auction, Munich
Roman Imperial bronzes are a main Sep. 28 - 30 Toronto Int'I Coin Fair, Downview
highlight, beg inning with an EF As of
Aug ustus and Agrippa, lis ted at Sep. 28 - 30 CSNA, San Jose, CA
$ 1,200. and various ses tertii and
antoninianii. Oct.5-6 San Diego Coin Show
Greek silver is well represented, in Oct. 8 Glendining's Auction, London
addition to a s mall run of Greek
Imperials. Small runs of Byzantine Oct. 11 -13 COINEX, London
and Medieval sil ver and bronz.e
concludes the list Oct. 11 -14 Long Beach Expo, CA
For more information or copies of Oct. 14 Antiquities Fai r, London
List Number Forty-Seven, write to
E dward 1. Waddell , L td . 79 10 Oct. 27 - 28 t 9th Int'I Coin Conv., Zurich
Woodma nt Ave., Bethesda, MD 208 14
or phone (30 i ) 654-0470.

=MAGNIFICENT NEW BOOK F ROM LAURI~N:!!

VE
By D avid Van MeIer
This comprehensive and beautifully illustrated book is
, framework for understandi n~ and enjoying a collection
Impcraloria l and early Imperial era Roman coins! This
will breathe new li fe inlo your collection, and give you
excellent working knowledge of the role coins and their designs
played in this epochal era.
Thefascinating
and lJJe Z4c/w insi$hts
Qyizr O f biographical O!csp.cr"cumbines car~~fi"~i::~~~;~ 1
to explore the
o f Ihis ever-popular series o f cOinage. Includes
thorough survey o f types, and ill ust ra tes how they
o n t he publicity, propaganda, econo mic and anistic co n~c "ns
each successive Imperial administration. Further, th is book
, breaks new ground by analyzing co in designs and legends to give
us an understanding of how the different emperors viewed OTHER BOOKS E8.Q M LAU RIQ N
themselves, their powers, and their fe llow Romans. This book .. $14.95
also features a fully illustrated st udy of the development of art
'Collecting Greek Coins~ ........... ..... .. .. ... $1 7 .95
styles, cspeciaJly portraiture, o n Roman coins. Yo u wilt also
benefit from : 'Classical Numismatics
• Data on mints, issues. au thorities, denomi nations & circulation And Common S enss· ....... .... .. .... .......... $1 5.95
• A dc tailcd chronology. histOf)' and in terpretative essays for each
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• A political. financial and anistic overview of each reign.
A treasure trove of information fo r numismatists and historians!
200 pages, over coins photogra phed. Enhance
knowledge and o f yo ur collection! O rder
vai",bic book $1 9.95

Sepfember 1990 25
Augustus denarius enters
twilight coin zone for
•
trip back III time
by an Augustus D ena r iu s
with an introduction by Bob Levy
(special thanks for inspiration
to Rod Serling)
Witness one unsuspecting ancienl
Roman denarius of Augustus, a rare
type who is a bit miffed at the hand of
cards he has been dealt in this, the
game of lile. Little does he realize, as
he lay there cont emplating his
situation in Ihe serenity of his safe
deposit bOl(, w hat strange circum-
stances are about to befall him. He is
soon to embark on a journey through
space and time to a world of light and
sound - a unique journey hom the
coin's point 01 view. Cautionl Walch
out on the road up ahead. You are
about to enler "The Twilight Coin Zone".
"Whenever I used to hear songs by
you humans aboul memories or Ihe
pasl, I would feel a Iwinge of heaviness
deep in my fl an that made me feel ever
so sad and depressed. What's that
you say? You didn't realize that we
coins experience many of the same
feeli ngs that humans experience? Let
me fill you in • we're not as different as
you think. I am an ancient Roman
denarius of the first Roman emperor,
Aug ustus. It seems I enjoyed 'living
for the past' until a recent experience
changed my views for life."
"Let me first give you some
personal information about myself. I
was struck into this world by the
moneyer P. Petronius Turpilianus, a
man of Sabine ancestry, in the year
you humans now refer to as 19 B.C.
My obverse portrait is of the emperor
Augustus, looking mighty youthfuf, I
Public Auctions
Numismatic Literature
Momhly /flustrated Price Lists
• Ancien!, Medieval, Islamic and Modern Coins
Avenue de Tervueren 65, Bte 1
1040 BRUSSELS· BELGIUM
Tel: 011·322·734·6356
26 The Celatar
Obv. youthful Augustus right
Rev. traitor maiden Tarpeia
might add , for someone over forty
years of age. My reverse depicts a
scene from Ihe early history of Rome.
The moneyer's gens, Pelronia, being
of Sabine origin, claimed descent from
King Tatius. My reverse brings to life
the legend of the traitor maiden,
Tarpeia, guardian of the Roman citadel
on the Capitoline Hill who, tempted by
the promise of gold Sabine bracelets
and necklaces, opened a gate of the
fortress to T. Tatias and his Sabine
invaders. Despising her treachery
against her own people for male rial
gain, the Sabines threw their shields
upon her as they entered the fortress
crushing Tarpeia to death."
"Enough about me • Jet's continue
ou r discuss ion of the past. I often had
memories of 'the good old days' when I
was first struck almost 2,000 years
ago. I longed to go back. The world of
the 1990's was not for this coin, as far
as I was concerned. t hardly ever got
to change hands anymore. Just once
every 10 or 20 years or so (Life's not
easy being a collectible when you were
Jean
ELSEN, s.A.
·. ·"· ·
:
. '
\. "D... '
/
'0
.O'
Augustus denarius
minted in 19 B.C.
once a medium of exchange !). Don't
you humans otten think about Ihe days
gone by and long 10 relive them? That
is exactly the situation in which t found
myself."
"One night as I lay in the quiet of my
safe deposit box, I again tried to
remember what a wonderful time I had
enjoyed back in ancient Rome. All of
the other coins in the box had gone to
sleep which is a miracle in itself
considering some of the chatterboxes
in my present colledion! An eerie calm
engulfed my modern metal cubicle .
Suddenly a brimant flash nearly blinded
mel There had been an explosion I I
felt myself hurtling through the air at an
unbelievable speed! I landed rather
abruptly with a thud in a pile of dust on
an unpaved, hot street. I wondered
what could have happened as the
small dust cloud I had caused started
to settle. A man then almost stepped
on me with his sandals - sandalsl I
looked up to find that the man was
dressed in a toga! 'What have we
here?', queried the man as he bent
down to pick me up. 'This is my lucky
day' , he exclaimed, 'I've lound a
denarius.' He held me in his hand as
he continued on his way. The streets
were fifled w ith people dressed in
ancient Roman costumes. I pinched at
my rim· no, I don'l feel asleep. Then
the realization hit me like a striking
hammer on a coin Ilan. I had somehow
been transported back to ancient
Rome l These people weren't wearing
costumes· they were wearing their
everyday clothes. I was so happy· I
was back In 'the good old days'l I
overheard much talk in the street
abo ut the recen tly deified Augustus.
As best I could guess, the year I had
travelled to would now be known as
about 15 A.D., early in the reign of the
second Aoman emperor, Tiberius, who
ruled from 14 to 37 A.D:
-Filled with excitement, I eagerly
observed my surroundings . I had
forgotten that there were hardly any
sidewalks in Aome. And the streets
were so narrow and congested .
Certainly a far cry from the nicely-
paved modern streets to which I've
grown accustomed. Then the long-
forgotten malodorous scent burned the
nose on my obverse. Aome, you see,
had qu~e an odor about it - especially
during the summer months. After all.
the eas iest way to dispose of trash
was to throw ~ out the window! Multiply
this solution for one's personal trash
by the roughly one million people living
in the vicinity of Rome at the end of
Augustus' reign and you can under-
stand why there would be an odor
problem. As we passed an apartment
building, much of which had caved in, I
remembered another problem from an-
cient tim es. The well-to-do possessed
nice houses and estates but what of
the average plebians on the streets?
Many were jammed into these stuffy
apartments that had been hurriedly
constructed with often inferior and
shoddy building materials. Cave-ins
such as the one I had noticed were not
infrequent events nor were fires in
these buildings . Due to these hazards
Augustus had at one tim e prohibited
the building of private dwellings more
than 70 feet high on public streets:
"I had by this time ascertained that
my friend who had picked me up was
named Mariu s. We soon approached
the market area passing by a wine
merchant's stall and a baker who was
selling fresh bread and cakes. Street
musicians were playing which seemed
to only heighten the constant noise in
the street. Marius became hungry and
decided to stop for his lunch at a tiny
restaurant near the baker's stall. I had
forgotten the types of food served at
many resta urants in ancient limes. I
was more in tune to modern tastes
such as charcoaled sirloin steak.
broiled lobster, blackened redfish,
rack of lamb, marinated chicken and
grilled salmon . My mouth started to
water in anticipation. We took our seat
and observed the menu which was
written on the wall.
What! Only bread and winel How
limited. Restaurants sure have come a
long way in these last 2000 years!
Marius ordered bread and falernum
which is a better-quality wine. He then
handed me to the restaurant owner as
concerning religion and the gods with
Marcus. a clothing merchant. Obvi-
SERVING OF BREAD ously Jesus of Nazareth, at this point
· A1Ii D WI1'iE in tim e an unknown in his late teens,
SERVISG OF BREAD had not made any impact on the
AND f'ALERNVM
mullitudes who would. in the near
future, embrace his teachings. Ap-
pius, a displaced farmer who had been
forced to move to the city in search of
payment and received 3 sestertii and 2 employment, nearly came to fisticuffs
asses as change. 'There is such a with Publius, an oil merchant, over the
thing as a free lunch', Marius quipped high cost of living. Publius, of course,
to the owner, Titus, as he told the tale had taken this personally to mean that
of finding me in the dirt that morning. I he was overcharging for his oils used
was placed in a pouch with a number of for lamps, for cooking and in soaps.
other denarii. How degrading! I wasn't Others discussed and comp lained
special anymore. I was just another
about unemployment, taxes , con -
denarius. Nobody even thought to
gested trallic and the high rate of crime
observe my type or strike or style or
in the streets. Hearing all these
condition or anything like they do in
comments made me realize that life
what I guess I must now considerto be
here in ancient Rome has just about all
the future, centuries from now."
of the problems that face humans in
"As I lay in the pouch at the
the 1990's and beyond."
restaurant, I heard many interesting
conversations during the course of the "As darkness fell. the restaurant
day. A gentleman named Quintus owner, Titus, locked up and ventured
complained to a bu ilding inspector, out with his money pouch onto the
Aufus, about the housing shortage in street. Night-tim e travel was not to be
the city and the subsequent soaring taken lightly. Walking the streets of
rents. Manlius discussed the air Aome by day was confusing enough
pollution problem with Faustus. a public seeing as how most residential streets
health official. Aulus, a politician, was were unnamed and all houses were
having a rather animated discussion unnumbered. By night the journey was
Y::~J
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wants to buy
ANCIENT GOLD COINAGE
• Aurei of the 12 Caesars
• Staters of Alexander m and Philip II
• Ptolemaic gold tetraclrachma
• Solidi of Justinian IT
• Carthaginian gold and electrum
IMPORTANT
NUMISMATIC LITERATURE
• Ars Classica Sales
• Dumbarton Studies
• SNG, RIC, Banti/Simonetti Sets
• Antiquarian Books
STAR RARITIES, INC.
7501 East McConnick Parkway, Ste. 220N
Scotl,dale, Arizona 85258
1-800-468-1422
September 1990 27
almost impossible since there was no overlooked - I was to be part of the sil·
slreet lighting . Trademen 's carts, ver used in the next batch which was
chariots and olher heavy Irallic were already in production! I noticed a small
forced to rumble through the streets at pile of denarii of Tlberius, known in the
nig ht since they were barred Itom future as 'tribute pennies'. right next
doing so during dayti me hours . to me. They all looked exactly alike I
Prostitutes beckoned customers on I asked one coin who was particu larly
Ihe narrow ven ues as robbe rs and smooth and lustrous ~ he was scared
thieves came forth, protected by the of being melted. 'Why should I be?
cover of darkness. Our trip to Titus' I've just been struck with all these
home was rather uneventful with Ihe other coins in my pile. You. however,
9)(ception of our being approached by Tiberius should be plenty scared ! Maybe I'U
four prostitutes and our almost being fcurree see you sometime in the future,' he
run over by a runaway cart filled with denarius wryly smiled, 'but don't count on it!I'
baskets ! Nothing like this 'sale' city About 100 of us stolen denarii were
me. I thought to myseH. ~ brought over to a small cauldron of
slowly bubbling silver alloy. Scared to
-We arrived at Titus' door safe and " I could n't believe what I saw.
death I began to shout. 'Th is can't bel
sound or so I thought. Suddenly three There in the room with me were all the
j'm not like you othe r co ins! I live in
men emerged from the shadows! 'We'll im plem ents used to make denarii! This
the future over 2000 years from nowl'
be taking that money pouch from you - was not an official mint but the lair of a
A man named Clodius reached into our
that is, if you value your life', said the group of counterfeiters making what
bag pulling out a handful of us coins.
tallest of the three as he menacingly are now called fourrees. Base metal
He held us over the acrid vapor. Then,
waved a sword near Titus' mid-sadion. cores would be plated with a thin layer
suddenly, he dropped us - Ahhhhl"
Obviously the three thieves were quite of silver. struck with copies of official
"I awoke on my reverse in the safe
familiar w~h Titus' daily routine. 'You'll coin dies (or sometimes with actual
deposit box with a bit of condensation
not gel away with this'. Titus indig- dies that had been smuggled from a
covering my surfaces. I realized that I
nantly intoned. 'Why, I'll -', cut-off in mint) and then passed oN as standard-
must have had a nightmare. I flipped
mid-sentence, Titus fell to the ground, weight denarii. By my estimates, the
over onto my obverse and pondered
knocked unconscious by a shield's silve r fr om one denarius would be
for a few moments the events that had
blow to his head. Before I knew it, I about enoug h to make at least three
'happened'. The lesson I've learned is
had been scooped up and was soon fourree denarii. Quite a handsome
a very simple one and should be taken
inside the robbers' hide-out: profit. I suddenly realized a fact I had
to heart by both us coins and you
humans. U's important to remember
the past and how far we've come in the
course of our lives. But just as you
Are you interested in remember the past, you must not live
there. The 'good old days' did not
CHOICE WORLD COINS? seem that 'good' way back when we
You shouk::l be receiving our publications first lived them. In reality you will find
that your pot of gold aurei at the end of
MORE THAN THREE the rainbow is very lik ely in your
MAIL BID CATALOGUES ANNUALLY possession at this very moment. After
all, when you really think about it you
will realize, th6s6 are 'the good old
days' of tomorrow."
Featuring RARE and CHOICE gold and silver coins of Hav ing made his ever·so-true
the wo rld as well as ancient coinage and world paper observation of life, the Augustus
money. A sample catalogue is $15.00 postpaid. denarius closed his obverse eye and
drifted oN to sleep. Unbeknown to him,
in the corner of the safe deposit box,
Includes Prices Realized lay a worn, scratched, toned fourree
denarius of Tiberi us whose plating had
An annual subscription is also available. Th e cost is $45 been partially worn away by the
within the U.S. and $60 outside the U.S. ravages of time revealing its dark,
base metal core on the lower obverse
side and on parts of its rim. The arrival
Ponterio & Associates, Inc. of morning awakened the Augustus
piece. He noticed an unfamiliar coin in
1616 Robinson Ave. the corner 01 the box. Astounded at
Box 33588, San Diego, CA 92103 the sight belore him, he was
1-800-854-2888 or 619-299-0400 speechless. "So, we meet again-, said
the Tiberius fourree denarius ..... ~
Licensed Auction Company # 968
I...M. #2163
P.N.G, # 3()8
Richard H. Ponterio - President

28 The Celator
Bargain section
•
is included m
Pegasi List #54
Pegasi Coins has issued Ancient
Coins and Antiquities No. 54 fixed
price list. Coins offered include
classical Greek, Roman Republican,
and Roman Empire issues . Also
included are antiquities and a bargain
section.
An AR tetradrachm of Perseus,
graded aXF highlights the Greek
section, with Alexander the Great,
Philip II and Philip III also
represented. Also offered are coins of
Sicily, Asia M inor and Syria,
including a rare AR tetradrachm of
Seleukos I in YF.
Leading off the Roman section is a
small run of Republican denarii from
various moneyers, as well as several
anonymous issues.
Of particular interest is an AR
denarius of Caligula with the radiate
head of the Divine Augustus on the
reverse.
The antiquities range from early
civilizations in Mesopotamia through
the Roman period.
The bargain section offers 95 lots
of Greek and Roman coins, most
graded VF or beuer and most under
$100 for the budget consc ious
collector.
Copies of Ancient Coins and
Antiquities No. 54 may be obtained by
writing to Pegasi Coins, P.O. Box
4207, Ann Arbor. MI 48106 or by
phoning (313) 434-3856.
Hirsch auction
features coins
and antiquities
The finn of Gerhard Hirsch. Nachf.
will hold their auction #167 on 26-29
September 1990 in Munich. Included
in the sale is a wide variety of
antiquities (400 lots) including glass.
pottery and bronze from the ancient
world.
Over 1600 lots of coinage from the
Celtic, Greek, Roman and Medieval
worlds are featured with examples in
gold, silver and bronze.
Another 400 lots of numismatic
literature are to be auctioned as well.
For information write to Gerhard
Hirsch Nac hf., Promenadeplatz 10,
8000 Miinchen 2, West Germany, or
call 01}-49-89-292150.
JUST FOR BEGINNERS
by Wayne G: Sayles
Questions Answers
Are coins cheaper This is one of those questions that requires
at an auction than a yes aOOno answer. An auction is
the same coin conducted under very different
offered by 8 dealer? circumstances than a dealer bourse or list.
The purpose of an auction is primarily to
"liquidate" coins. That does not imply the
selling of coins cheaply. because
competition for desirable pieces is
very keen . On the other hand, some
coins have been sold inexpensively at
M
auction because the Mright buyers (mllstf:l¢
two or more) were not involved. The prices
of coins sold at auction "¥lyV<iI'y\liidelyand
sometimes unpredictablY. Thedealer's
stock is less volatile in terms of price and
usually there is some "concensus" price
relativ~y. Coins of simifar type tend to fall
between more-or-Iess predictable ranges
based on current market conditions and
competitive offerings. With patience,
auction bidders can obtain very desirable
coins at prices which are relatively
reasonable. Just as often, however, the real
bargain is hiding in a dealer's tray.
....... .. . .
Is there one book No. There are coffee table books that
that covers all of survey the field of numismatics, but they do
the types of ancient not really cover anyone area in more than
coins? superticial passage. A good library is
essential to understanding ancient coins. If
you cannot afford to build an adequate
library, take the time to build a good
bibliography and use the public library loan
systems.
ROMAN EMPIRE, Batb/nus
238 AO. AR Denarius (20 mm &
3.3g). Qbv. IMP.C.O.CAEL.
SALSINVS.AVG.laureated
bust 01 Balbinus draped
and cuirassed tl right
Rev. PM.TRP.COS.II.PP.
Emperor standing Mlf·left,
!Ogata. holding ol ive branch
and short sceptre. 8MC 2612
& RIC 5. Ex-CNAAlI(':tionIX.lot46B. ....;:::::=:~::;
toned choice EF-$950
William B. Warden, Jr.
Classical Numismalisl, S~ciali.sl ill the Coins oflM Roman Empire
P.O. Box 356, New Hope, PA 18938 U.S.A. }-215-297-5088
September 1990 29

TRIVIA QUIZ
This Greek goddess, II daughter of Night,
is the personification of conscience, and
measures out happiness and unhappiness
to mortals. By what name is she known?
(Answer on page 44)
QUOTES FROM THE PAST
"Patience is needed with everyone,
but first of al/ with ourselves."
Saint Francis De Sales
NFA fixed prIce
.
list includes rare &
•
exceptional COInS
NFA's Publication No. 38 is a
fixed price list of 121 lots from their
current inventory.
Greek coin highlights include a
selection of exceptional Iberian
drachms and Siculo-Punic tetra-
drachms. Also of interest are staters
from Lucania, tetradrachms from
Syracuse. and a Syracusan decadrachm.
Related issues include Rhodes,
Lydia, Cilicia, the Seleucid Kingdom,
Bactrian and Indo-Greek coinage, as
well as Panhian issues.

r-------------------------,
I Clip & Save I
Macedonian types include a rare
gold stater of Philip II, struck
posthumously under Philip III. The
I • . . I laureate head of Apollo is backed by a
biga galloping to the right.

: Coin File
L _________________________ I : Coins of the Ptolemy's incl ude a
gold octadrachm of Ptolemy II, minted
at Alexandria and a silver tetradrachm
Lucius Verus of Ptolemy I as satrap, also from
Alexandria.
AE • SQstertlus,
Roman items include a run of first
AD 161-162
Laur. bust r J
century denarii as well as aurei of
Varus & Aurelius
Lucius Verus, Severns Alexander and
Probus. Noteworthy among the early
RIC 1311
Roman coinage is an anonymous gold
Lucius Aurelius Varus, born
6O-As piece with Mars in a Corinthian
in AD130 as L. Ceionius hel met on the obverse, while the
Commodus, was adopted, by
the emperor Antoninus Pius. he sUlXeeded to the purple along with Aurelius and
reverse shows an eagle on a
married the latter's daughter Lucilla. Varus and Aurelius ruled jointly until the thunderbolt with the inscription
sudden death of Varus in 169. The t......o are often depicted with right hands
ROMA.
clasped as they stand face to face , wearing the toga, as co-rulers. This symbol For further infonnation or copies of
of concord was intended to convey a sense of imperial unity to the general Publication No. 38 contact
populace and to the armies of Rome. The sensitive portraiture on th is piece, Numismatic Fine Arts. P.O. Box
although mirroring the sculptural art of the period which evolved particularly 3788, Beverly Hills, CA 90212, or
under the reign of Hadrian, reveals a subtle abstraction that foretells the phone (213) 278-1535. Their FAX
L
-------------------------
dramatic shift in Roman art of the late 2nd and early 3rd centuries. J number is (213) 286-7841.

LET ME GUESS ...

IM~~R:IAL. ITS 'fOUR FIRST DAY
MINT ON Ti-IE :rOB', R I GI-IT '?
t>lFlRMAR'f

30 The Gelator
 ANNOUNCING
THE CHICAGO NUMISMATIC
& ANTIQUARIAN BOURSE
When: September 14th & 15th
Where: Holiday Inn - O'Hare Airport (Kennedy)
In Rosemont, Illinois
(At River Road & Kennedy Expressway - directly across from the Hyatt Hotel)
Hours: 2-day show 10-7 each day
FEATURING:
Many of the most important dealers in ancient coins, medieval
coins, coins of Britain, and foreign coins from the United States
& England (so far), and also classical antiquities.
'" '" '" '" '"
The only auction lot viewing outside of California
for the Fall auction of Numismalic Fine Arts of Beverly Hills.
'" '" '" '" '"
The only area showing (Midwest) of their forthcoming auction
lots by Classical Numismatic Group (Victor England).
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One of the rare appearances of the venerable firm of
B.A. Seaby Ltd. from London in the United States.
* '" '" • •
Free parking , free shuttle bus service from O'Hare to the
Holiday Inn & back, no hassling with taxis, downtown traffic jams.
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We can also offer our special hotel rates of $80 either single or
double to all participants whether dealers or collectors (you must
contact us directly to get a special rate card for this event).
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Guest dealers without tables will be supplied with security.

As of this time, we still have a limited number of tables

available, dealers should contact us immediatelv for further
information on obtaining a bourse table and participation.

THE NUMISMATIC & ANTIQUARIAN BOURSE

(Dr. Arnold R. Saslow)
P.O. Box 374, South Orange, N.J. 07079
Phone: (201) 761-0634
FAX: (201) 761-8406
September 1990 31
Temple of Isis buried at Pompeii
provides evidence of Roman cult worship
by Marvin Tameanko
During the 1812 excavations of the
Triangular Foru m, in the older part of
Pompeii, archaeologists found several
skeletons scattered along the edge of
a collapsed portico. Some of these
men had been crushed by the falling
columns of the colonnade and the
others had died from the poisonous
vapors released by the volcano.
Apparently. the men had carried sacks
which contained gold coins, statues,
ritual instruments, ladles, shallow
A sketch of a bronze sistrum found in the excavations at Pompeii
bowls called paterae (singular patera),
and incense shovels. After some
study, archaeologists determined that overcome in their desperate, last holding this Egyptian musical instru-
these men were part of a larger group minute flight through the forum. 1 They ment. It is a bronze ratle which emits a
fleeing towards the southern gate of carried with them the temple treasury high pitched metallic sound when the
Pompeii during the final conflagration of 69 gold coins and the utensils used loose rods inserted in it strike the metal
which engulfed the c~y in A.D. 79. in ceremonies to the goddess. The frame. Sistra are often seen on the
Reconstructing the scene, the temple implements were ident~ied from reverses of Roman coins which portray
excavators speculated that this group wall paintings discovered in Pompei i deities such as Nilus, the god of the
of men were the priests and slaves of and Herculaneu m showing the rituals of Nile, Isis and Aegyptos.
the Temple of Isis which was located the cult of Isis. One utensil, a sistrum The temple of Isis was uncovered in
nearby. They had remained in the (plural sistra) is considered to be an 1766 and it was to become the best
temple during the eruption, perhaps to attribute of Isis as she is often preserved religious building in Pompeii.
protect it from looters, and were portrayed, in sculpture and paintings, In the living quarters of the priests, at
the rear of the temple, the excavators
found a meal of fish, eggs and bread
set out on a table and protected by the
Aigai Numismatics is currently offering the ashes which encased the building. The
finest ancwnt Greek, Roman and Byzantine occupants seemed to have hastily
numismatic art in the marketplace today. abandoned their lunch and fled in
terror. The temple and its wall
Before you buy, think quality and remember paintings became the prime source of
.... Quality is our business. information abo ut this mysterious and
popular cult. Seen in its rest ored
state, the temple is a small but very

AlGAl< I
N V N\ I fN\ATI
impressive and elegant edifice, reflect-
ing the opu lence and devotion of its
Pompeian congregation. It was dis-
covered that this temple was bu ift over

-0-
~I~
"7?,~
the foundations of an earlier one which
dates back to a time earlier than 100
B.C.
Isis was the Egyptian goddess of
heaven and she was the sister and wife
Call or send us your want list of Osiris, the sun god. These deities
9:00 - 5:00 M-F appear in the very early history of
ancient Egypt. In Egyptian mythology,
Aigai Numismatics will have a table at: Osiris was slain and dismembered by
Sept. 5-8 Greater New York Numismatic Convention his brot her, Set, god of darkness and
Oct. JJ-J4 Long Beach Expo, L.B. Convention Center also god of confusion. Isis searched
Nov. Numismatic & Antiquarian Bourse for the body parts of her husband to
San Francisco (Date & Place TBA in Oct.) make him whole again. Horus, called
Nov. 30- New York International, N.Y. Hilton Harpocrates by the Greeks and
Dec. 3 Romans, was the son of the de~ies Is is
and Osiris and the god of silence.
Kevin R. Cheek - Pres. 2800 S. University #22 Horus sua::eeded his father as the new
(303) 329-5922 Denver, CO 802 10 ANA, ANS, SAN
sun of a new day and avenged his
father's death by slaying Set. Osiris
32 The Gelator
then became the ruler of the realm of
the dead and reigned in great
splendor. 2 Harpocrates is sometimes
portrayed on Roman coins and he is
shown as a child holding his index
finger to his lips making the universal
gesture for silence.
The later cult of Isis which began
sometime before 400 B.C. taught that
man was a new Osiris and would enjoy
a better existence beyond the grave.
This mystery cult promised immortality
and a bodily resurrection after death if
man could pass the earthly tests. The
rituals of the cult fascinated and
seduced people by its music, daily
celebrations of the dawn called the
"Awakening of the God", sacrifices,
and the libations with water from the
Nile. The priests of Isis were con-
sidered to be experts in astrology, the
inte rpretation of dreams and the
conjuring of spirits. Because they "
were dramatic, colorful pageants and A sketch of the Temple of Isis as it may have looked befortJ A.D. 79. The shrine for
very emotional, the daily services and the water of the Nile is located to the left of the horned altar. Images of Isis and Osiris
ceremonies to Isis appealed strongly were placed in the two small wings of the Temple. The entire court was surrounded by
to the congregation. a high colonnade to assure privacy for the secret rites.
Greek troops of Ptolemy I stationed
at the southern frontier of Egypt
adopted the cult of Isis as their religion earlier date because of trade con- oriental religious influences in Rome,
nect ions between that city and attempted to ban the cuh. The temple
In A.D. 80, the temple of Isis was
AlelCandria. The Roman senate, to Isis in Rome was destroyed three
destroyed in a fire. The emperor
always fearful 01 any Egypt ian or times by order of the consuls in 58, 50
Domitian, who was reputed to have
been saved from a childhood illness by
the priests of Isis, became a strong
supporter or perhaps a minor priest of QUALITY COINS & ANTIQUITIES DON'T APPEAR
the cull. He built a new temple to Isis
and made it into one 01 the linest
WITH THE WAVE OF A WAND.
buildings in Rome. By A.D. 50, the cult
of Isis was firmly entrenched and very
popular in the entire Roman empire,
especially in southern Italian cities
such as Pompeii. The congregation of
the cult must have given substantial
tithes or valuable gifts to the temple
and after the earthquake of A.D. 62,
the wealthy and aristocratic Pompeian
family of Numerius Popidius Celsinus
qu ickly rebuilt and restored the
shattered building. 6 An inscription of THEY COME FROM RELIABLE DEALERS ...
thanks to this person appears in the LIKE ME.
around 300 B.C. Ptolemy, seeing how
popular the cult became, decided to 00 YOU COLLECT ANCIENT GREEK, ROMAN AND JUDAEAN COINS AND
use it as a national or state religion to ANTIQUITIES FROM THE HOLYLAND?
unite the two races of Egyptians and WOULD YOU LIKE TO BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH A DEALER WHO CAN
Greeks under his rUle. 3 This royal REALLY IDENTIFY WITH COLLECTORS BECAUSE HE IS ONE HIMSELF?
sanction helped to spread the cult
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU !
through the areas in the East under the
control of Egypt. Eventually, it was SEND FOR MY FREE LIST OF MODEAATELY. FAIRLY PRICED
carried to Greece and Italy around 100 COINS AND ANTIQUITIES IQIlAY.
B.C., by scholars, merchants, diplo-
mats and Roman soldiers or mer- SOUTHLAND ANTIQUITIES & NUMISMATICS, LTD.
cenaries. TODD A. HERRING
A college of Servants of Isis was RT.3 BOX 398, STARKVILLE, MS 39759
founded in Rome in 80 B.C. but the cult PHONE (601) 324 - 2517
had actually reached Pompeii at an
September 1990 33
and 48 B.C.4 Some historians claim
that the famous queen Cleopatra , who
was ident ified with the goddess Isis,
made the cult popu lar in 46 B.C., when
she came to visit Julius Caesar in
Rome. In 42 B.C. a new temple to Isis
and Osiris was built in Rome by order of
th e tri umvirs, Antony, Lepidus and
Oct avian . later, the emperors
Augustus and Tiberius made attempts
to suppress the cult's activities. In
A.D. 38, the emperor Caligula decreed
that a large temple to Isis be built in the
~Campus Mart i us~, the Field of Mars.5
A rare sestertius of Vespasian, struck
in A.D. 71, shows this famous temple
to Isis in Rome.
Th9 temple of Isis in Rome shown on a
s9st9rtius of Vespasian, RIC 453.
In A.D. 80, the temple of Isis was
destroyed in a fire . The emperor
Domitian, who was reputed to have
been saved from a childhood illness by
the priests of ISis, became a strong
supporter or perhaps a minor priest of
the cult. He built a new temple to Isis
and made it into one of the finest
buildings in Rome. By A.D. 50, the cult
of Isis was firmly entrenched and very
popu lar in the entire Roman empire,
especially in southern Ita lian cit ies
such as Pompeii. The congregation of
the cult must have given substantial
tithes or valuable gifts to the temple
and after the earthquake of A.D. 62,
the wealthy and aristocratic Pompeian
family of Numerius Popidius Celsinus
quickly rebuilt and restored the
shattered build ing. 6 An inscription of
thanks to this person appears in the
temple despite the fact that he was
only five years old at the time.
The treasury of the temple con-
sisted of 69 aure ii dating from the
emperor Tiberius , A.D. 14-37 to
Domitian as Caesar under Yespasian,
A.D. 79. This is a time span of over 60
years. The majority of the coins were
struck under Yespasian with some
duplication of reverse types. This
probably indicates that they were
current coins taken out of circulation
as donations to the cult. Because all
the co ins were gold, archaeologists
be lieved that this was the treasury of
the temple and not a petty cash
reserve which would have contained
smaller denomination coins of bronze
asses and silver denarii. The au reus
was worth 25 denarii and a commonly
held theory is that a soldier of this time
earned one aureus a month. The
purchasing power of 69 aureii in A.D.
79 would have been equal to almost six
years salary for a legionary . This is a
substantial sum of money even by
teday's standards.
The aureii in the treasury indicate
the types of gold coins which were in
circulation at that time. Some of the
reverses are rare and very desirable to
collectors today. Two hybrid varieties
from provincial mints are also included
in the hoard and both have never been
documented in reference books.
This group of coins is described in
detail in the Italian numismatic journal,
Annali di Numismatica, Vol. 1, 1846, on
pages 229-233. The artide was written
by Guiseppe Fiorelli, who was the
director of the excavations at Pompeii.
He was one of the most prominent
Ita lian archaeologists of the times and
an expert In ancient numismatics. In
1812, excavation reports from Pompeii
were kept secret or not properly
documented and one of Fiorelli's lirst
tasks when he became director was to
publish this informat ion. This 1846
report on the coins was the lirst and

ANTIQUITIES only official documentation available to

FAIR

at The Inter-Continental BRITANNIA HOTEL

Grosvenor Square, London Wl
SUNDA Y 14th October 1990
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Over 20 Dealers with Quality Antiquities
Admission £2 - Concessions
For more infonnation
Telephone CLIVE SA WYER
09592-2336
;'
34 The Celalor
The aureus of Vespasian with an
unlisted, possibly hybrid reverse,
of the Lugdunum mint.
numismatic scholars. The description
of the coins was given in the usual
scholarly format of those days using
classical latin numismatic expres-
sions, grammar and words. For
example, most goddesses appearing
, on the coins are labelled as ~Mu lie r· ,
Latin for a ·woman~. They can be
identified as Fortuna, Pax or Livia only
by their attributes or legends.
 The aureii, described below, are
listed by reverse types only, except for
the two varieties not in the references
which are fulJy noted. The standard
references of the Roman Imperial
Coinage, RIC or the British Museum
Catalogues, BMC are used. All of the
coins were struck at the mint of Aome
unless noted otherwise with the ArC
reference number.
The destruct ion of the temples to
Isis in the cities around Mount
Vesuvius in A.D. 79 did not retard the
cult's growth and it eventually spread
throughout the Roman empire. By the
end of the fourth century A.D., alJ the
pagan cults, including the worship of
Is is, were superseded and totally
replaced by a greater, universal
religion of love, Christianity.
Notes and Bibliography :
1 Th is seane is vividly described in the book.
Pompeii IJlId Herw/anaum, The Gkliy IJlId Ih8 Gda'
by Marcel Brion and Edwin Smith, Paul Elek,
London, 1973, pages 36·37.
2 Lempri9f8's Classical DicJjonatyby J. Lemj)(iere,
Bracken Books, London, r8l>rint 1984. page 330.
3 Thll Grllill E\Ill'flls by Famous Hislorians. edited
by Rossile r Johnson, The National Alumni,
Londoo. 1904, page 9.
4 Pompeii, lIs Art and LiI6 by Aug ust Mau. The
Maanillan Co., london, 1904, page 169.
5 EV8f}'day Ufll in Ancienl Times. Worship of Isis.
Reprinted !rom the Nationaf Geographic Magazine,
Nationaf Geograp!1ic Society, 1958, page 338.
6 Pompeii, by Amedeo Maiuri , Instituto
Geographico De Agostini, Novara. Italy, 1956,
page 48.
Huston's List
101 pub lished
Stephen M . Huston of San
Francisco has just released List 101
which prov ides a selection of Greek,
Roman and Medieval coins, all fully-
illustrated in the plates accompanying
the descriptive text and historical notes
for each coin.
Huston has also announced that
List 100 (a mail bid sale and his
largest catalogue in eleven years) sold
out! Readers are encouraged to phone
Huston's 24-hour message phone to
leave a request for List 101. Phone
(415) 781-7580 and leave a full name
and mailing address with your request
Stephen Huston iss ues lis ts 10
times per year, always ill ustrating
every coin listed. A copy of his latest
publication can be obtained free on
request by writing to him at P.O. Box
193621, San Francisco, CA 9411 9, or
by phoning (4 15) 781-7580.
THE AUREII FROM THE TREASURY
OF THE TEMPLE OF ISIS AT POMPEII
Tibe nu" A.O. 1" · 37
Uvi.. lea:Ied rlg hl. PONTIF MAX IM, RIC 2S
,,,
"'-ro, A.D. S4-68
Virtut. standing left. PONTIF MAX TR I' VII COS 1111 PI'. EX SC. RIC 25
Cer" . Ianding left. PQNTIF MAX TR I' VII COS 1111 PI'. EX SC . RIC 23
, Nero $tanding. wears a looa and radiate CWNn. AVGVSTVS GERMANICVS. RIC 46
Concord ... . ...,ed left. CONCORDIA AVGVSTA. RIC 4tI
,•, Jupiter sealed left, IvPPITER CVSTOS. RIC 52
Jupiter sealed 1eft.lvPPITER CVSTOS. RIC 63
Roma sooled 1aIt, ROMA. RIC 54
SaJulsealedlel1.SALVS, RIC59
0..0. A.D. Sf
Sect.Jr~y . tanding left, SECVRITAS PR. RIC 7
Vlg.j llua, A. D. Sf
A lripod. do~1n over. raven belew, X V VIR SACR FAC. RIC 95
,,,
Vup...l.n. A. D. 18-7'
Neptu"" ' la'Id lng. loct on prow. cos ITER TR POT. RIC II
Pu Ila'Iding Iet!.COS ITER TR POT. RICO
F<>rIun"lItanding let! holding a roddet. COS III FORT RED. RIC 280
, (L ugdunum mini)
FOI1Unettandi r\O IetI holding ag lobe. COS III FORT RED. RIC 281
,, (Lugd unum mint)
Equily t tandlng 1eII holds tcaIe8. COS tit TR POT. RIC 12
, legend SPaR PI' OB CS In an c.ak wreath. RIC 298 (lugdunum mint)
Vk:tory standing right on a globe VIC AVG. RIC 51
Judaea. sealed at right o! . palm ['98. 8n1l8fDr at ~ no legend. RIC 53
Vlctorystanding 1eII 00 an anar.?ON MAX TR P COS VI. RIC 92
Mnonaseated 1011. ANNONA AVG. RIC 131
Ceres 0' Cooooo:lia B&ated kilt. her foot 00 In.. prow 01 t Op. holding &aI'S o! grain and a cornucopia.
CONCORDIA AVG. UNUSTED The obYe,,,, 1eg8l'd d INs ooIn. IMP CAES VESPA(; AVG. Th. aUIWI .
no! ~B1ed In lhe standard references with this obverse legood. h iI.lrrilar to edenarius, RIC 312. with lhe
5a/T'tEI obvome legend bu1 with. reverse not showing tho .hip'. prow unde' Ce,.lool. Th is aureul II
p<obabty a hybrid. rrillOf variety o! tho fairly corrmon CONCORDIA AVG reverse "".o::~ at a mint In ASia MillOf.
FOI1une Sland lng IeI1 on an alar. FORTVNA AvaVST. RlC l 23
FOI1uneSianding ioft on an aIIar. FORTVNA AVGVST. RIC 81
Ma.. advancing right. MARS VLTOR. RIC 257 (Tarraco. Spain rrMo!)
PU I ...tedleft. PAXAVGVST. RIC19
Theleg9fld SPQR DB CS In Ih'.... """'. In an oak wreath. UNLISTED. Th is ooIn has an obvol'S" legood 0/
IMP CAES VESPASIANVS AVa. Th i. revf)f$8. withlhil obYe,,,, legend Is not listed In Ihe standard
relerel'lCes. RIC. BMC nor In lhe Older refor" """, D86ap;"" HisIofique{/H Monna_ Frappees Sous
fErrpirB RomUl. by Henn Cohen. Cohen lillI an aureus o! V... paalan with thil revf)f$8 but with a diffe'ent
obvome legend. Cohen 523 . .&.alUming the numir;ma.tlc 'gpor\ of the ooIn', obverse legend iI correct.lhls colo
Is an ,-",listed hybrid.""".1bIy strod< at tile Lugdunum nint 1'1 A.D. 70-71.
Round tenllle 01 V"1a. VESTA. RIC 69
VIctory standing light on aglObe. VIC AVG. RIC (1
,,,
Til ... . . el.... under V. ......I.n, .... 0 . 68·18
Etornlly standing left. AETERNITAS. RIC209
ForIunes1arlding left, PONT F TR POT. RIC 177
, Vidory standing rig ht on a globe. VIC AVG. RIC 159
,,,
Pu Slatldin(! !eII. PAX AVG. RIC 161
A Oul buiting ri;t1!. COS lUI. RIC 161
Victory standing loll on an altar. PONTIF TR I' COS 1111. RIC 184
,, Cowwa/loJng loll. COS V. RIC 190
Roma . ....ted rlghl. she wolf and ""'imI allie, 1eeI. COS VI. RIC 194
Tll.$ Sealed right. PONTIF TR POT. RIC 169
Jud...... sooted at right 0/ palm tr ..... erJl)8<O/ slanding at left. No krtgend.
RIC 160
,,,
Domltl . n .. C..... .......r Veapnin, A.D. Sf-7$
Oorrltian on hor6ebac~
riding Jell. no I9gend. RIC 232
51- (Hope) advancing 1etI, PR INCEPS IVVENTVT. RIC 233
, Cornucopiae. COS 1111. RIC 237
CerN standing loft. CERES AVGVST. RIC 2.(9
ROMAN EMPIRE, Nero ?
54-68 AD, AR Denarius ~ ;::,.,.-; - " ,
(19mm&3.5g). ~ ,:t ~k ~.
Obv.IMP.NERO.CAESAR. , ~;"J\....
""'-.'1
AVGVSTVS,laureatadhead : ."''t,y. :'.
of Nero facing right ' tt . .-' <I
Rev. SALVS, SaulussBated \. . '~
to left holding patera. \."\.. . 'i <>
R!C67&ASC314var. ~'{fl
Lovely portrait aEFN F+-$1 ,650 __
William B. Warden, Jr.
Classical Numimulisl, S~ci<llisl in 1M Coins of 1M ROfNl1l F-mpiu
P.O. Box 356, New Hope, PA 18938 U.S.A. 1-215-297-5088
September 1990 35
Coins of the Bible
Ancient coinage relates tale of captive Israel
(Part 1 of 2)
by David Hendin
The anc ient land 01 Israel.
traditional home of the Jewish people
since the very dawn of civilization, has
seen many captors.
Persian king s, Alexaner the Great,
Egypt's Plolemies, Syria's Seleucids,
Crusaders, Turkish potentates, the
British, and the Arabs have each for a
lime claimed sovereignty over Israel in
the past three thousand years.
In this column, and in the next one,
wa will trace a free and captive Israel,
as shown on thirteen coins selected
from the Second Temple Period. We
will begin with coins of the Macx:abean
(Hasm onea n ) king Ale xander
Jannaeus. We follow the politica l
subjugation of Israel by Rome under
Jannaeus' successors and eventually
the outright caplu re of Israel by
Vespasian and Trlus.
For a short period in the first
century C.E. (A.D.) Israel had another
short turn of freedom under Simon Bar
Kochba and his ooins reflect this. But
Hadrian's forces quickly put an end to
Bar Kochba's ambitions.
Thus Israel remained in foreign
hands until 1948, when the United
Nations declared the official existence
of the Jewish Slale.
A 1m,,,'
'SS81~1..
"'lT~j<fJ'l j l711i1~;;
<t"4~8t?
::I'1.-q .,
'iJ'ln'7
0'70l
>j \, '=:i" :1 X :,..zr~ JOHN HVRCANUS II, High
Priest and Ethnarch of Judaea 67 and
17):)" lnm" 63-40 B.C.E. Hyrcanus II, son of
Alexander Jannaeus, ruled Judaea at
ALEXANDER JANNAEUS, king the whim of Pompey. Hyrcanus was a
of Judaea 103-76 B.C. E. W he n weakling . His main hold on the power
Jannaeus, great · nephew of Jud ah was due to his advisor, Antipater, a
Maccabee, assumed power he became client of Rome . Antipater played a
not only high priest, but he took the major role in governing Judaea. The
title -King~ as well. For the first time the ~A- on this coin may refer to Antipater,
Jewish ruler had equal rank with the who was also lather 01 Herod the
Hellenistic rulers. Ja nnaeus was Great.
hungry for conquest, and his reign was
prosperous, if bloody. His kingdom ROMAN REPUBLIC , silver
reached the same size as that ruled by denarius struck in 54 B.C.E. by A.
King David. Plautius, commander of Pompey's

The Lepton of Pontius Pilate

Pontius Pilate. me procurator Of Judaea. p laced there by the Roman
emporer Tibe rius, is known 10 al l fo r his delivery of Je~u~ to the
crUCi fix io n, April 17. A.D. 30:
Matth~ 27:1 4 - When Pilate saw that h e cou ld not
prevail. but rather a tumult Win made. he took water and
waShed his hands be fore the multitude ~ saying. I am
Innocent of the blood of thiS person: see ye to it.
A furmer reference to Pontius Pilate is also found:
John 18:28. 19:42 - Pilate then went OUt into them. and
said. What accusation brong ye against thiS man1___ etc
,-------------------- ---1
I 0 Yes. I would like to order the Lepton of I
COined in AD 3()'31. ea(h Pontius Pilate lepton we offer e~hibi~ an I Pontlu, Pilate. I
augur's wand (appears as an upslde·down umbrella handle). the famous , 0 , Lepton: 139. 50 0 3 Leptons: S112.50 I
telltale oev.ce whICh is uxally UflIQ~ to this coinage. This curious looking
devICe relates to P,late's position as an ardent believer in augury. J N~ I
I Mare»: I
ThiS type COlO which was in daily use must have truly angered the I I
Children of Israel. Ever Sln<e the time of MO'ies. Jews were taught the I City. 5{ate. Zip I
evils 0 1 diVIning or augury rn any form. I 0 Che<:k En<:lOsed Charge' 10: 0 3!: 0 _ 0 • I
Judaean Bron:re Lepton of Pontius PJlOltte I J'.CCt~: E~p.Date: I
Procurator under Tlberius. COined A.D. 30-31 : Slgn<llure' :
Obverse· Augur's wand ffi{ircled by the name Ti~rius (~arly always
illeglole) 1___ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Re~f\e: Th e date of Tj~"uf reign wrthln a wreath_~.. .- .
Cona i r;onFi~, with the augur's wand clearly dis.:ernibl e_ ~ _
1 Lepton ••••.•••••••••••••.•.• .• •••••••• 139.50 . Superior Stamp & Co.n CO. Inc.
r
3 Lepton, •• , •••••••••••••••••••••••••.•• S112.50 9479 Wesl Olympic Blvd. Be~rly Hills. CA 902 12-4299
(2131203·9955 • OutsJde CA: (BOOI 42J-(175 4 • FAX, 12131 203-{)496

36 The Celato,
 the ninth day of the Jewish month of
Ab, 70 C.E .

army in Syria. The captive "Bacchius

the Jew· shown here was no doubt
Juda h Aristobulus II, defeated by
Pompey, who supported Hyrcanus II.
Atistobulus is referred to as "Bacch ius·
because when he was trying to win
Pompey's support he gave him a
magnificent golden grapevine, among
other gifts. Bacch ius was the Roman
god of wine and the vine, hence this
reference.
AULUS GAB INIUS , coin of
Nysa-Scythopolis in Judaea st ruck
betwee n 57 and 54 B.C.E. Under
Pompey, Aulus Gabinius was governor
of Syria - which included ancient Israel
- from 57 to 55 B.C.E. He supported
Hyrcanus 11 again st Aristobulus II.
However, Gabinius deprived Hyrcanus
of all civil powers. For taxat ion
purposes, Gabinius divided the land 01
the Jews into five districts, and rebu i ~
Greek cities, including the city 01
Nysa-Scythopolis in Judaea.
. '. 8 H" 3 7 3 '7 3
. n7. )71 )11:)n
ANTIGO NUS MATTATHIAS ,
king of J udaea 40-37 B.C.E. In 40
B.C.E. Antigonus Mattathias, the lasl
Maccabean ruler, bribed the Parthians
to help him invade Jerusalem and win
the crown from his uncle Hyrcanus II, a
Roman puppet. For th ree years
Antigonus battled the Romans, now
supporting Herod, to maintain a free
Israel. Finally in 37 B.C. E., Herod's
forces captured Jerusale m and killed
Antigonus.
JEWISH WAR AGAINST
ROME 66-70 C.E, silver shekel struck
68-69 C.E. In 66 C.E. after profound
insults by the procurator Gessius
Florus the Jews united to rout th e
Roman garrisons in and around
J erusalem. Ne ro ordered his
distingu is hed ge neral , Fl av ius
Vespasian, to Judaea to stamp out the
rebellion. The Jewish Temple fell on
)ID 1;}-
»8 I"""\. ')01 1,,:0;;
4"1..,-' '1/'1
"jQj8H ",:li117
::;1"~"'!. c,n-
Coins of the Jewish War Against
Rome expressed the Jews' desire for
freedom . One way the Jews protested
Ro man oppression was by striking
coins of si lver - a privilege reserved
strictly for the emperor. Coins of this
period are dated years one through
live, corresponding to the five years of
the war.
e 1990 by David Hendin
(Editor's Note: Send your questions on
Biblical coins to David Hendin at P.O.
Box 805, Nyack, NY 10960. When
possible, he wifl answer these
questions in future is sues of Th e
C6fator.)

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 Paid Adver!i • .,.,ent
THE BACK PAGE
Dear Celator Reader:
Well, we are in our new Celatorformat so this first
Back Page is an experiment , to see how much of my
insightful, pithy comments can be fit into this new
reduced format. You will note the slightly new
location, as I wanted to remain the Back Page and
not become the Inside Back Cover.
The run-off from the Hunt Sales continues, as in
the July 2nd issue of US News & World Report there
was an overview of the art market in general, with the
following comment: ~ The smart money is backing
ancient art~. There is a general feeling which I have
heard a lot lately, that ancient art, which to the non-
specialist includes ancient coins, as ancient coins
seem to be thought of as another example of an
ancient "thing", is way under-priced in comparison
to say modern or French impressionism which may
indeed be way over-priced. I have also seen
rather common ancient objects being advertised
lately for what would have been rather extravagant
prices just a few months ago, but in today's market
are perhaps still very inexpensive . It should be
realized , let us say with ancient Egyptian objects ,
that in the "good·old-days" there was a general
la issez-faire policy as a stream of objects seemed to
flow with great regularity and with linle governmental
interference. This was also noted with ancient
Egyptian coins . Recently, things have gonen much
tighter. Thus ancient Egyptian art now seems only
buyable from old oollections which were formed prior
to all this, or from auction. So the prices are now
higher, and I would guess , for significant items , will
go much higher in the future.
Source governments have become much keener
in keeping an eye on what has come from their
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cost to have my publications sent to Ankara on a
regular basis . I imagine other dealers must have
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I have added what I hope will be a new regular
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It is called "Museum Quality Selections From RCCA"
and will consist of a full-page display ad every month
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which I think are unusual in some way , perhaps due
to quality andlor rarity, and which represent fair value.
Since I have been told numerous times that Gelator
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since we have literally thousands of choice
ancients in stock, this may give you the impetus to
contact us directly. We obviously do not know all
Celator readers, as you may not be able to go to the
coin shows which we attend, and you have little
experience with what we carry since you have never
seen a display ad or catalogue from our firm. Atthe
moment we still do not issue catalogues but
that is coming soon . The purpose of this new display
ad will be to encourage many of you to contact us for
coins which you have been searching for but have
had IiUle luck finding . Due to preparation and
advertising cost the "Museum Selections" will be
limited to coins over $500 in va lue, but we certainly
have many coins well below that price in inventory.
We have just bought a magnificent Polaroid MP-4,
industrial photo set-up which will allow us to take
quality black & whites and color shots comparable to
almost anyone . Feel free to request photos of coins
which we may have in stock if you are seriously
interested in certain coins and you feel more
comfortable seeing a photo before you purchase.
One other point worth mentioning . Since this is a
display ad, I have noted that some readers seem to
feel it necessary to write a Letter to the Editor about
my ads. Do you do the same when you see ads
from Ford or Calvin Klein jeans? I would be happy to
receive any comments you have to make, just mail
them to my oompany address below.
FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER I WilL BE
AllOVER THE PLACE - USE S. ORANGE TO
CONTACT ME & TO ORDER COINS FROM
Upcoming Event.
New York City · Sept. 5-8th, Omni Park Central Hotel,
56th & 7th Ave., 3 112 day show, Wed. - Sal. (no Sun.)
show hours 2-7 on Wed., to-7 Thurs. & Fli., 10-5 on Sat.
Important show lor ancients and the start 01 the Fall
Season. We will have the corner table in -Ancients
A lley~.
Chicago - NAB Show, Sept. 14th & 15th, at the Holiday
Inn (Ken nedy) at O'Hare Airport. Hours are 10-7 each day,
with 2 important auction viewings and a lot of very
important ancient coin dealers. (See display ad in this
month's C6Iator).
San Jose · Cal. State Coin Show, Sept. 28-3Oth, at the
Hyatt House Mediterranean Center in San Jose, Calif.
This 3 day show is Fri.·Sun. with show hours 10-7 on Fri. &
Sat. and 10-4 on Sun. Another important Northern
California show, and we urge your attendance.
Plea.e Note: Due to the contliet 01 long Beach &
COINEX, we will not be at this fall's l ong Beach (nor will
some other ancient dealers). Give some consideration to
seeing us in Northern California it you can.
(]Jr. ~noLl 9t &.10....
Rare Coins & Classical Arts Ltd.
"Specialists in Museum Quality Goins"
Member: ANA, ANS, SAN, AINA, INS, Felk:>w RNS
P.O. Box 374 P.O. Box 699
South Or.nge, NJ 07079 Palm Oeaert, CA 92261
Phone: (201) 761-0634 Phone: (619) 345-7161
FAX: (201) 761-8406
September 1990 43
 INDEX OF
DISPLAY
ADVERTISERS Rates:
Aigai Numismatics 32,38 $5.00 forthe firsl20 words , 20¢ each additional word .
Amsellem, Claude 16, 4\
Anylhing Anywhere 3.
Aries Photographic 42
G r eek, Roman , Medieval coin s. Collector (non-dealer) of Ancient
Bank Leu Lki. 10 Mo nthly c atalogs with very reasonable Egyptian and Native American artifacts
Bay Stale Coin Show 44 prices and discou nts issued for 23 .wishes to se ll both coll ections .
Beach, George M. 40 years. Franc is 1. Rath, Box 266, Interesting pieces at good prices. L.
Berk, Harlan J . l td. Cover. 4 1
Birkler, Lucien & Co. 41
Yo ungstown, NY 14174. Benmour, Box 10103, Oakland, CA
BIom, Christian 41 94610.
Byers. C.B. COtp. 20 Mahogany Co in Cab inets custom
Ceder1ind, Tom 14 made for your collection by the same Comp u te r ril ing (IBM ): Lis t,
Christie's 3 hands which bui ld c abinets fo r the Son. Print out your collection. Easy.
Classical Coins Ltd. 3. British Mu seum. Full color brochure powerful, Shareware. S15 postpaid.
ClassicaJ Numism atic Group Co_ Bob's, 100 Overlook, Willow Grove,
Coen, Joel D. 41 on request. David McDonald, 196 East
Colosseum Coin Exchange 41 Main, Westminster, MD 2 11 57, (301) PA 19090.
Cummings, John Ltd. 42 857-3775. The Best of The Celntor . 1989
Davissons Ltd. 40
Ecooomopoulos Enterprises 40 offers 24 excellent articles about
Elsen, Jean, SA 26 Ancient Gre e k, Ro man, J udaean ancient coins and antiquities reprinted
Elysian Fields 3. and Byzantine coins. Very reasonably from the pages of The Celalor in
Empire Coins Inc. 38 priced. Send wanI list to B. Levin, magazine format. Order The BeSI of
Gorny, Dieter GmbH 13
One Independence Place, Suite 1908, Th e Celalor • ]989, for $6.95
Greal9r New York Numismatic Conv. 20
Hamidi, Omar 41 Philadelphia, PA 19106. postpaid, or The Best of The Cela/or·
HoBos ad World Antiquities 38 1988 and 1989, $10 postpaid for the
Herman, David P. 41 Fa irly priced anc ient & medieval
coins. Good varielY. Honest grading.
pair. Wrile to The Cefator. P.O. Box
Hirsch, Gerhard Nachfolger 7 123, Lodi, WI 53555.
Hus ton, Stephen M. 11 , 42 Free listing. Compton's Coins, Box
(APN 12 COLLECTOR WANTS ancient
92, Swanto n. OH 43558.
Imperial Coins & Antiquities 41 coins with any of the following words
Kern, Jonathan K. 40 T h e o t her ancients: Africa .
Kogan, Howard 3. Mideast, India, Southeast Asia. the
in Greek or Latin: Olympia, Isthmia,
Kovacs, Frank L 42 Nemea, Actia, Capilolia. Anthony
Lanz . Hubert 42 Orient. Primiti ve Monies. Books, Milavic, 6861 Elm SI. # I A, McLean,
Laurion Numismatics 25 too. Free list. Semans, Box 22849P,
Leibs. Albert
VA 22101.
38 Seattle, W A 98122.
link, Arthur J . 3. STILL LOOKING for a spec ia l
london Coin Galleries 16, 18, 42 book on anc ie nt or foreign coins? We
Manoy, Alex G. lnc. 38
Maller, Joel & Co. 38 stock over 1000 different titles. Please
McDaniels, Bill
McKenna, Thomas P.
3'
24, 40
Sep. 90 ~ Triv ia Answer:
" Nemesis"
write: A. G. van der Du ssen,
Hondstraat 5, 62 11 HW, Maastricht,
Minerva 37 Nerherlands.
MOnzon und Medaillen AG 15
M&RCoins 38
Numismatic Fine A rts 5
Numismalica ARS Classiea AG 3.
Oracle Atrienl Coins
Pegasi Coins
42
40
( Shows & Conventions) ( Shows & COrlventions )
Phoenicia Holyiand Antiquities
Pontano & Assoc.
•
28, 42
Rogers, Calvin J .
Rosenblum, Willi am M. 6.39
41
BOSTON... ANTIQUITIES FAIR
Royal Athena Galleries Co_ Ancient and Foreign Coin at
Rynearson. Paul 42 The Inter-Continental
Sadigh Galleries 22, 23.38 Mecca o/The Northeast!
Saslow, Arnold R. 17, 31 , 43 BAY STATE COIN SHOW
BRITANNIA HOTEL
Sawyer. Clive 34, 44
November 16, 17, 18, 1990 Grosvenor Square, London WI
Schinke, Glenn 3.
Sonior, R.C. Lt:!. 3. June 7, 8, 9, 1991 SUNDAY
Shagin. Alex 21 November 22, 23, 24, 1991 14th October 1990
Shore, Fred B. 3. 10:00 a.m. • 5:00 p.m.
Southland Antiquities 33 "57" PARK PLAZA HOTEL
Star Rarities 27 Room reservatlons: 617·482.1800 Over 20 Dealers with QuaJity
Sternberg, Frank 42 Over 25 years ... Antiquities
Superior Galleries 7, 36, 40
TenaC3Sa 38 HNt!W England's Largesl Coi" Show!!!"
Admission £2 - Concessions
TIme Machine Co. 19. 38 Bourse spoceS195 andu.p.
For more information
Treasure Island
Waddell. Edward J . Ltd. ,
40
40
Chairman: Ed Aleo
Box 400, Winchester, MA 01 890
Telephone
Walker, Thomas D. CLIVE SAWYER
Warden, William B.
Wolf, Michael
19, 29,35,40
38
617-729-9677 A 09592-2336

44 The Gelator
 CLASSICAL NUMISMATIC GROUP, INC.
QUARRYVILLE, PA BEVERLY HILLS, CA

An important
Mail Bid Auction Sale
of
CLASSICAL COINS
fe at ur in g

Bronze Coins of Alexandria

(PART I)
from the
Kerry Keith Welter s /rom Coll ectioll
Parthian Coins
from th e
Charle s If. Wolfe C olleelion
and other consignments of
Greek
.; Ir Greek Bronze
'.J Roman Republican
~ Ancient Roman
-, .' (All Metals)
Byzantine Coins
Medieval European
English, Irish & Scottish
Large Lots
CLOSING DATE
Wednesday, September 26, 1990
SALE XII
$10.00 WITH PRICES REALIZED

SUBS C RIPTION I NFORMATION

S u bsuiplions are ava il allie to all Our publicat ions. In the US 530.00. Overseas $40.00. This includes Auct ions and all fixed price lists. A free
copy of OUr quarterly list is available UpOll request . Thank you. Office hours are from 9:30 AM - 4 1':>1 Monday -Friday.

CLASSICAL NUMISMATIC GROUP, INC.

Box 245, Quarryville, PA 17566-0245
(717) 786-4013
 AMPHIPOLIS

Tetradrachm circa 354/353 B.C.

Provenance:
Richard Cyril Lockett. Glendening's, 12 February 1956, lot 1219;
Hess~Leu 45 , 1970, lot 117
Maller 1, 1973, lot 68. illustrated on front cover
Raul Abecassis Collection, Lisbon
Hunt, June 19, 1990, #91

Literatu re:
K. Aegling , "Phygela, Klc.zomenai, Ampl1ipoliS". Z.f.N. 33, 1922, p. 57 , 15
S.N.G. Lockett 1300
C.C. Lorber, "The Civic Coinage of Amphipolis in Silver and Gold", page 138, 51a
Wealth of the Ancient World, 90
Serene and powerful , the head of Apollo on this coin is in ijsetf a major work 01 Greek Art . This has
been and will be a major addition to some ollhe linest of Greek collections .

Price : Seventyfive Thousand Dollars

J. BERK, LTD.
31 N. Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602
(3 12) 609·0017 FAX: (312) 609·1309
.. ".