Moneta's Temple and Gallery

Rome - Legion X Fretensis Counterstamps (x2)

Moneta — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 14:06:03 -0700

by: Moneta

Description: The price of these Judean (Syria) Legionary counterstamps is high in the market but I try to acquire all Legion X Frentensis material that I can find. Countermarks were applied in the late 1st C. A.D. OB: Bust in oval countermark. Rev: galley in rectangular countermark on a Judea Capta bronze (?). For this exact type (perhaps this one) see Hendin # 6644. For the suspected host coin see Hendin 6472-4. Countermarks are VF on a fair host. The host may be a Judea Capta series coin of Vespasian from the mint of Caesarea Maritima, H#6472. It's ~ 22mm at 3.59 g.

Achaemenad Daric

Moneta — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 15:08:26 -0700

by: Moneta

Description: Darius the Great (522-486 B.C.E.) of the Achaemenid Dynasty, of ancient Persia, issued these gold coins of ~ 8.4 gr, toward the end of the 6th century B.C.E. The gold daric and the similar silver coin, the siglos (see a matching type III silver siglos here in the Moneta Museum), represented the bimetallic monetary standard that the Achaemenids developed from that of the Lydians (Herodotus, 1.94) and King Croesus, perhaps the first western coin issuer. These are very interesting and historically important coins. First documented by Herodotus himself there is a lot of study that has gone into these. This example is a rather nice one compared to most I have seen. Often the obverse is struck off-center but here almost every detail of a complete design is seen here. This is encapsulated by NGC as and AU example with Strike: 5/5 and Surface 4/5 due to some edge 'scruff' which I am not able to see at all. Description states ACHAEMENID EMPIRE; 5th - 4th Centuries BC; AV Daric (8.33 g). Obverse Hero-King w/ Bow & Spear (making it a Type III); reverse and incuse punch. There is a wonderful online source [Encyclopedia Iranica] for the essential information on this series, you can visit at this http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/daric#prettyPhoto These are very interesting and historically important coins. First documented by Herodotus himself there is a lot of study that has gone into these. This example is a rather nice one compared to most I have seen. Often the obverse is struck off-center but here almost every detail of a complete design is seen here. This is encapsulated by NGC as an AU example with Strike: 5/5 and Surface 4/5 due to some edge 'scruff' which I am not able to see at all. Description states ACHAEMENID EMPIRE; 5th - 4th Centuries BC; AV Daric (8.33 g). Obverse Hero-King w/ Bow & Spear (making it a Type III); reverse and incuse punch. There is a wonderful online source [Encyclopedia Iranica] for the essential information on this series, you can visit at this http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/daric#prettyPhoto You can see a silver siglos here in the Moneta Museum at this /showphoto.php?photo=299&title=achaemenid-siglos-3b-lydiapersia&cat=536 In the Near East, money evolved independently, taking an entirely different trajectory. Around the same time that China was casting miniature tools in bronze, the kingdom of Lydia (located in modern Turkey) started striking coins in a natural alloy of silver and gold. Previously most transactions in the region had involved the exchange of bullion, which required weighing and assaying with every exchange. With the stater and its fractions “soon struck in pure gold or silver instead of alloyed electrum“ Lydia standardized monetary units while also certifying authenticity. Lydia was defeated by the Achaemenid Empire in 547 BCE. Learning metallurgy and minting from their new subjects, the Achaemenid kings started to issue their own coinage in precious metals with one signal difference: In contrast to the lions and bulls gracing Lydian staters, the new sigloi portrayed the monarch, depicting him as a kneeling archer with drawn bow. Wherever the Achaemenid currency spread, it carried an implicit threat of colonization. [NNP, Newman Numismatic Portal] From his book Cultural Change, Jewish, Christian and Islamic Coins of the Holy Land Hendin adds, “When mentioned in the Old Testament, the shekel is a weight, not a coin. But the daric mentioned in Chronicles 1 (29:7), Ezra (2:69, 8:27) and Nehemiah (7:70-72) was a circulating coin through the fifth and fourth century B.C.E. in the western Persian Empire.” For more information on the earliest use of silver, about 1000 years before the first coins, please see this article: https://armstronginstitute.org/839-3600-year-old-silver-hoard-likely-the-levants-first-currency

Judea - Ascalon Legion X Counterstamp

Moneta — Sat, 22 Apr 2017 16:09:43 -0700

by: Moneta

Description: Time of Vespasian and Titus - Pseudo-autonomous municipal coin of Ascalon (coastal city between Tel Aviv and the Gaza strip), a principle Roman held city and Legion X (Ten) permanent encampment. Extremely historical coin of the period of the First Jewish Revolt (66 - 70 A.D.). AE16 (16.11 mm) 3.89 g 4H, aVF. OB: Veiled and turreted bust of Tyche r.; 'X' (w/ bar over or under the X) in incuse rectangular countermark; Rx: galley right, ~OP (date). Not and impressive looking piece but very historical and part of my Legion X series, nonetheless the piece was expensive! cf. Rosenberger 53; RPC 2204; SNG ANS 679-82 (Agora Auction Sale 65, Lot# 119) There is a great article on the "Countermarks of the Roman Legions" - this is from an Numismatics Internationals "Bulletin" issue of Jan 2008. Perhaps this https://archive.org/details/NIB2008JanVol43No01/page/n3/mode/2up will get you there. The Roman Coins site has many examples of all of the variations of Legion countermarks at this: http://www.romancoins.info/CMK-legionary.html

Judaea - 1st Jewish War

Moneta — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 12:57:03 -0800

by: Moneta

Description: AE Prutah of the 1st Jewish War against the Romans and particularly the 10th Roman Legion (Fretensis). The revolt took place between 66 - 70 C.E.; this coin is dated year '2' and was struck 67-68 A.D. OB: Amphora with handles, no lid; Rx: Vine Leaf on small branch, archaic Hebrew legend means "The Freedom of Zion". Very historical coin, aVF, 18.3 mm, 2.88g (6h). For a great article on Bible Times coinage follow this: http://onlinedigitalpublishing.com/publication/?i=447016&ver=html5&p=70

Rome - Vespasian and Judea

Moneta — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 16:32:46 -0800

by: Moneta

Description: Vespasian, A.D. 69-79. AR Denarius. Judaea Capta type. Rome, A.D. 69-70. Laureate head of Vespasian right. Rv. IVDAEA in exergue, Judaea, in attitude of mourning, seated right at foot of trophy. 2.92 grams. RIC 2. BMC 35. RSC 226. Very Fine. (200-250) For a great introduction to the coins of the Bible see the Nov 2017 issue of ANA's "Numismatist" at > http://onlinedigitalpublishing.com/publication/?i=447016&ver=html5&p=70

Rome - Tiberius -

Moneta — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 16:18:33 -0800

by: Moneta

Description: Tiberius AR Denarius minted between A.D. 17-37 at Lyon. Obverse: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS. Laureate head of emperor right. Reverse: PONTIF MAXIM. Seated female right (Livia), holding vertical staff and branch. RCV 1763, RIC 26. This is probably the coin Jesus was referring to in the Bible when he told the apostles to "Render to Caesar what is Caesars." For a great introduction to the coins of the Bible see the Nov 2017 issue of ANA's "Numismatist" at > http://onlinedigitalpublishing.com/publication/?i=447016&ver=html5&p=70

Judea - "Widow's Mite"

Moneta — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 13:51:50 -0700

by: Moneta

Description: Hasmonean Kingdom of Judea (Israel). Issue of Alexander Jannaeus (103 - 76 B.C.E.) AE Prutah (Lepton), ~16.3 mm, 1.92 gram, 12H, Legend between rays of star with eight rays within diadem. Inverted anchor. This is a very nice example of the common, low denomination coin of Judea. It has become associated with the famous coin mentioned in the Bible as the "Widow's Mite." While there was no 'mite' denomination, however, there was a mite at the time of the creation of the King James Bible, as indeed there had been at the time of earliest modern English translation of the New Testament by William Tyndale in 1525. The denomination was well known in the Southern Netherlands. The Lesson of the widow's mite is presented in the Synoptic Gospels (Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4), in which Jesus is teaching at the Temple in Jerusalem. The Gospel of Mark specifies that two mites (Greek lepta) are together worth a quadrans, the smallest Roman coin. A lepton was the smallest and least valuable coin in circulation in Judea, worth about six minutes of an average daily wage. In the story, a widow donates two small coins, while wealthy people donate much more. Jesus explains to his disciples that the small sacrifices of the poor mean more to God than the extravagant, but proportionately lesser, donations of the rich. (Wikipedia) (Agora Auctions #34, Lot 097) For a great introduction to the coins of the Bible see the Nov 2017 issue of ANA's "Numismatist" at > http://onlinedigitalpublishing.com/publication/?i=447016&ver=html5&p=70

Phoenicia - TYRE Shekel "30 Pieces of Silver"

Moneta — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 11:50:25 -0700

by: Moneta

Description: A Biblical related coin known as type "30 Pieces of Silver" accepted/rejected by Judas for the betrayal of Jesus Christ to the Romans. The Tyrian shekel weighed four Athenian drachmas, about 14 grams, more than earlier 11-gram Israeli shekels, but was regarded as the equivalent for religious duties at that time. Because Roman coinage was only 80% silver, the purer (94% or more) Tyrian shekels were required to pay the temple tax in Jerusalem. The money changers referenced in the New Testament Gospels (Matt. 21:12 and parallels) exchanged Tyrian shekels for common Roman currency. (Wikipedia) Other possibilities for the "30 Pieces" have been advanced but none were as common as the Tyrian Shekel and meet the criteria of Temple authorities. In 126 - 125 B.C.E. Tyre regained it's autonomy from the Seleukids and the Ptolomaimic Kingdoms and began minting this fine series of shekels. With such a long-running series, it is only natural that some dates within the series would take on an added significance for collectors of ancients. For example, there is the so-called “millennium shekel,” which was struck in civic year 126, or 1 BC/AD 1. The most popular date in the series, however, is the issue of civic year 159, or AD 33/4. Following traditional chronologies, this is the year in which Jesus was crucified by the Procurator Pontius Pilate. (CoinWeek) This silver tetradrachm (Shekel) weighs 14.27 grams, which is the median mass for this series, is dated 'Year 5' which equates to 122 - 121 B.C.E. It bears a wonderful portrait of a beardless Melqarth. Being on a smaller and thicker flan, the lion's skin around his neck is off flan as is most of the eagle's head on the reverse. The eagle stands on the "beak" of a galley carrying a palm frond under it's right wing; in the filed to the left is a club, a symbol of Herakles (Hercules). with which Melqarth is associated. Melek-qart, "King of the City"; (Akkadian: Milqartu) was the tutelary god of the Phoenician city of Tyre. Melqart was often titled Ba'l Sur, "Lord of Tyre", and considered to be the ancestor of the Tyrian royal family. In Greek, he was identified with Heracles and referred to as the Tyrian Herakles. As Tyrian trade and colonization expanded, Melqart became venerated in Phoenician and Punic cultures from Syria to Spain. The first occurrence of the name is in a 9th-century B.C.E. stela inscription found in 1939 north of Aleppo in northern Syria, the "Ben-Hadad" inscription, erected by the son of the king of Arma, "for his lord Melqart, which he vowed to him and he heard his voice". Melqart is likely to have been the particular Ba‘al found in the Tanakh (the Jewish Bible, specifically in 1 Kings 16.31–10.26) whose worship was prominently introduced to Israel by King Ahab and largely eradicated by King Jehu. In 1 Kings 18.27, it is possible that there is a mocking reference to legendary Heraclean journeys made by the god and to the annual egersis ("awakening") of the god: And it came to pass at noon that Elijah mocked them and said, "Cry out loud: for he is a god; either he is lost in thought, or he has wandered away, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened." Toned XF, BMC56 (Pegasi Auctions A32-223) VIEW and DOWNLOAD: For a detailed presentation of the fine art of dating these Shekels see this pdf by James Knox at this: /library/Tyre%20Shekel%20Dating%20-%20J%20Knox.pdf Also: see his site on Biblical history at this :https://biblecoins.com/ For a great introduction to the coins of the Bible see the Nov 2017 issue of ANA's "Numismatist" at > http://onlinedigitalpublishing.com/publication/?i=447016&ver=html5&p=70 Here's an excellent article on dating the coins from this 191 year issue by Tyler Rossi in "Coin Week" at this: https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/dating-the-ancient-shekels-of-tyre/?fbclid=IwAR1s2AYavq0W-6EbB7nqNii985MTnXZT7L1OqY2SQXca8Z-EZ10oGy2wJuQ AND, there's this fine article by David Hendin on the iconography of the series at this: https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/graven-images-and-the-coins-of-ancient-tyre/

Pontius Pilate - Prutah 29-30 A.D.

Moneta — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 18:13:43 -0700

by: Moneta

Description: The Land of Judea under Roman Procurators - the Prefect Pontius Pilate (26 - 36 A.D.). During the reign of Emperor Tiberius. This AE Prutah is dated Year 16 which equates to the modern dating of 29-30 A.D. - the golden period of Jesus of Nazareth's ministry and just before the traditional date of the cruxifiction. OB: TIBEPIOY KAICAPOC LIc; (of Tiberius Caesar, year 16 = 29/30 AD); libation ladle (simpulum); Rx: IOYAIA KAICAPOC (Julia the Queen); [Greek represented in sim. Arabic alphabet]; three bound ears of grain, the outer two droop. Hendin 1341. Meshorer TJC 331. AJC II 283,21. RPC 4967. Samuels 137. ~ 15.8 mm, 1.90 grams. For a great introduction to the coins of the Bible see the Nov 2017 issue of ANA's "Numismatist" at > http://onlinedigitalpublishing.com/publication/?i=447016&ver=html5&p=70

Lydia - Persia - Walking King Daric

Moneta — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 17:53:54 -0800

by: Moneta

Description: This famous type, with kneeling archer holding a bow and spear interpreted as a Great King, was struck during the long reign of the Persians (Circa 450-330 B.C.). This period of time means that the 'Great King' here could be Artaxerxes I to Darius III (defeated by Alexander III, The Great). The reverse is just a crude oblong punch. This is a rather nice example with two small countermarks, probably the signets of money changers. This AR Siglos weighs 5.55 gm and is 11 mm in diameter. S4682 ACHAEMENID PERSIAN EMPIRE. Artaxerxes III - Darius III (ca. 350-333 BC). Mint in western asia Minor (Ephesus?), Chian standard, ca. 336-334 BC. Persian Great king, wearing kidaris and kandys, in kneeling-running position to right, holding transverse spear with round rear terminal in right hand and bow in left. For a great article on Bible Times coinage follow this: http://onlinedigitalpublishing.com/publication/?i=447016&ver=html5&p=70