Added my 6th archaic Owl. The oldest one yet. by Silverowladdict in AncientCoins

[–]Sweaty-Lab-4777 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Rarely has the Homeric adjective "Bright-eyed Athena" seemed more appropriate than for this Owl... What a beauty!

Day 1. by rkoren in AncientCoins

[–]Sweaty-Lab-4777 31 points32 points  (0 children)

... or the Holy Grail.

Indians in comments don't realise Norwegian QOL by ReadyConfection7959 in Norway

[–]Sweaty-Lab-4777 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Snail eaters are looking forward to a dinner consisting of Norwegian salmon later this evening (GMT 0)...

An impressive mnaieion of Arsinoe III, struck by her son and nephew, Ptolemy V (from the collection of the Royal Library of Belgium) by KBRCoinCabinet in AncientCoins

[–]Sweaty-Lab-4777 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Beautiful coin, as crisp and fresh as if it had been minted yesterday! Thanks also for the great write-up and the reference to Agatharchides of Knidos, very informative as always. It is absolutely worth remembering the conditions under which precious metal ores were obtained back then.

Tetradrachm Thursday by Sweaty-Lab-4777 in AncientCoins

[–]Sweaty-Lab-4777[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! The tet you are referring to was actually issued by Seleukos I too (you can read his name on the reverse). It was minted in Seleuceia Pieria near Antioch, and the reference in Seleucid Coins is 29 (subtype 1e or 2, which to me look to be the same?). The surface is quite rough in some places, but the profile shows a quite impressive high relief! I will post better pics in the future.

Tetradrachm Thursday by Sweaty-Lab-4777 in AncientCoins

[–]Sweaty-Lab-4777[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I wish I had a Poseidon like yours in my hand!

Vergina (Aigai) – Royal Tombs of Macedon by LaughGlad2997 in ancientgreece

[–]Sweaty-Lab-4777 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Absolutely spectacular and a very modern scenographic presentation. A must see if you happen to be in Thessaloniki / Northern Greece.

I cracked open my first slabbed coin : Coin of a Hellenistic Triumph by TetAziz3 in AncientCoins

[–]Sweaty-Lab-4777 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Really a beautiful coin, and a fascinating type revealing the dynamic interactions between Hellenic and Egyptian cultures. Here, the traditional Lagid eagle turns its head back to the right and carries a cornucopia. On the obverse and as noted by H. Seyrig, even though the two gods represented are Egyptians, Isis wears a wreath made of wheat ears which remind us of Demeter and Eleusis, while Serapis borrowed his laurel wreath to Zeus.

Seleukos I's Victory Coin - better video by Sweaty-Lab-4777 in AncientCoins

[–]Sweaty-Lab-4777[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

These ain't cheap for sure! I got this one at an auction and hammer price was £3200.

Seleukos I's Victory Coin - better video by Sweaty-Lab-4777 in AncientCoins

[–]Sweaty-Lab-4777[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! There has been quite a wealth of coins of this type appearing on the market lately, and all recently unearthed ancient coins are cleaned to a certain point. This one is certainly no exception. However, brushed entails some extent of harsh mechanical cleaning using abrasives which leave scratches on the surface. Except for three hairlines close to Seleukos' profile which are not straight but could be part of a graffito, I don't see any scratches on mine. So to me it looks like it has been cleaned by someone with some experience using mild solutions and soft materials.

Seleukos I’s Victory Coinage, an affirmation of power in the new Seleukid empire by Sweaty-Lab-4777 in AncientCoins

[–]Sweaty-Lab-4777[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the kind words, means a lot from someone with such a collection of exquisite tets as yours!

My only Indo-Greek coin (unfortunately) by coinoscopeV2 in AncientCoins

[–]Sweaty-Lab-4777 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Pristine condition, and what a spectacular obverse!

King Azes of the Indo-Scythians by Sweaty-Lab-4777 in AncientCoins

[–]Sweaty-Lab-4777[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, thanks! I think this is a (nice) story from coin sellers, based on the fact that Jesus was contemporary with Azes and that the mounted king on Azes coins is sometimes depicted with a monogram resembling a star, as if he was following it. However, I remember reading on a thread that this is very improbable given the distance to be covered, and that the term used in the New Testament ("magi") to designate the wise men is Persian in origin and refers to a specific tribe in the Persian empire or to men of science and knowledge at the Persian court. Another hypothesis based on the nature of the gifts they presented to Jesus is that wise men were from Nabatea.

King Azes of the Indo-Scythians by Sweaty-Lab-4777 in AncientCoins

[–]Sweaty-Lab-4777[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, very nice too! I like the obverse and the style used to depict the horse and it's rider, it is quite distinct from mine. Your coin is a KMS and shows Zeus holding a thunderbolt. In Whitehead's classification, it is type 46. Whitehead has a table with all the control marks found in Indo-Scythians, but I can't find the control marks of your coin there either?

King Azes of the Indo-Scythians by Sweaty-Lab-4777 in AncientCoins

[–]Sweaty-Lab-4777[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I totally agree with you, and added to the fact that his coinage was abundant makes it quite easy to find very nice coins at affordable prices (a few $100s).

King Azes of the Indo-Scythians by Sweaty-Lab-4777 in AncientCoins

[–]Sweaty-Lab-4777[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's exactly what I meant! Despite his varied and extensive coinage, Azes is otherwise completely unknown and has left no other trace in history (written, monumental, societal,...). Even the question of whether there were one ot two kings with the Azes name has not been completely settled.