Kamnaskires

I've got a number of duplicates, but these two are very special. They may be the only extant/known examples of this particular subtype of the Elymaean ruler Kamnaskires IV - so I appear to have cornered the market on this particular Elymaean variety. They are the two plate coins used for the subtype in Pieter Anne van't Haaff's Catalogue of Elymaean Coinage. Furthermore, the lower coin was purchased from the estate of a collector whose rare last name strongly suggests was a relative of mine. I did not know him personally, but am pleased to - in a sense - keep the coin in the family. Kamnaskires IV c. 63/2 – 54/3 BC, AR obols Van't Haaff 8.2.3-1 (these two coins) Top coin also in the Parthia.com database as PDC 10496.

Since 2014 I've spent most of my coin-focused time online at Coin Community Family's ancient/medieval subforum. Sadly, there was a major exodus there years ago (as some here will recall) due to a moderator's dumb actions. CCF's loss was CT's gain at that time, just as CT's current loss is Numis Forums' gain. CCF's ancient/medieval section never fully recovered from that incident - it has had low traffic ever since. But to this day it remains a great board for the few regulars (like Spaniard) who contribute. It's a small group there - but supportive and friendly. My own activity there, however, has somewhat lessened of late. I've occasionally contributed at CT, but not much, through the years. Same with Forum Ancient Coins - where I still contribute occasionally, although the "Parthia and Other Eastern Coins" subforum (my coin collecting area) is near death - the last post being from early February. Still, I lurk at Forum each week, especially in the "Other Metal Antiquities" section moderated by Shawn Caza, who is incredibly knowledgeable. I also maintain my galleries there. I regularly peruse posts at AncientArtifacts and Parthia-L - and joined each recently. There's not much activity these days at Parthia-L, unfortunately. I did just make my first post there a few days back, though. I'm also a member of World of Coins, but with so many other options - and so little free time, I don't get there much...

You may be right in thinking Ephesos, but the hairstyle on the back of the obverse head, as well as the neckline, seem very close to the Zeus of Melitaia, Thessaly issues with bee reverses. Also, that little "hook", left reverse, resembles the end of the paperclip-like wings on the Melitaia coins. https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?term=ae+left+bee+zeus+-right+melitaia&category=1-2&lot=&thesaurus=1&images=1&en=1&de=1&fr=1&it=1&es=1&ot=1&currency=usd&order=0

Gotta be Macedon, right? Male head, possibly Apollo. Rider-less horse reverse with possible remnants of a legend. Maybe Alexander II or III?

Two very rare AE's of Kamnaskires II Nikephorus, c. 147-139 BC, recently cherry-picked from a dealer's group lots. Next: eagle right

Yep.

Hah! That's him. Thanks for the pic, RC. - Bob (a flesh-and-blood one from Missouri, that is)

That would be my guess. Either that, or a rendition of B.O.B. from Disney's The Black Hole. (I'm sure that's far, far too obscure a reference to be funny to anyone but me.)

Well, the cabinets are relatively new and so I haven't yet done much dusting of the interior yet. When the time comes, though, I'll have to see how compressed air dusters work. I wouldn't enjoy having to remove each and every item to dust, but will do so if needed. The white shelving is just sheets of acid-free foam core board, which I cut and placed in the cabinets to cover the glass shelves. (I feared the potential of the metal weaponry scratching the glass - and also figured the mostly dark/bronze objects would "pop" nicely against white.) If and when I remove the foam core pieces, they will be easy to blow clean with dusters.

Paul, the most recent antiquities pickups are these: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=175792 https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=175857

Paul, in my Forum gallery, that is “AE Dirk #01”: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=157248 There is often disagreement about the usage of certain types of blades from ancient Iran, and this is an example of that. Oscar White Muscarella (Bronze and Iron, Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art) and W. M. Flinders Petrie (Tools and Weapons) both list this type as a dagger. I am unclear how the tang would attach to the grip, and how the “wings” would physically relate to the hilt. Here are their illustrations: However, Ezat O. Negahban (Weapons from Marlik) has a somewhat similar one illustrated as a spearhead: All three of these authors agree about the attribution to the southwest Caspian area (NW Iran - where Marlik is located), and the dating to the Early Iron Age I and II in Iran, 1200-800 BC. Having made the assumption that Muscarella and Petrie were on the right track, I referred to mine as a “dirk” in my gallery. Why “dirk” as opposed to their use of “dagger”? Well, edged ancient weapons are often classified by length. Although many catalogers do not differentiate between the terms “dagger” and “dirk”, if one measures 36 cm (14”) or less, it is, technically, a dagger. If one measures between 36 cm (14”) and 50 cm (19.6”), it is, technically, a dirk. If one measures greater than 50 cm (19.6”) it is a sword. My example is almost 15” sans hilt, comparable with those in the reference books – which I would call dirks as well. There are definitely sellers I would avoid like the plague. But you will do well to use a VCoins dealer - do searches on "arrowhead" (one word) and "arrow head" (two words) and you get a number of hits. There are a lot of legit - and cheap - arrowheads available through Ebay. But there are fakes there too - particularly among larger, tanged types. Most of the smaller, socketed bilobate and trilobate ones are kosher, IMO. You can always have them vetted here. Word of caution: Arrowheads are often misattributed. Also, sometimes similar types were used across distances/cultures - which can complicate the attribution process.

The buyer’s premium does not impact the earlier calculation of what you, as the seller, will make on the deal.

I’ve moved a lot of coins through CNG this past year, some through feature auctions but most through e-auctions. It has generally been a positive experience. My primary contact has been Ken McDevitt. He’s very helpful.

Very avian Nike, there!

You've got your work cut out for you, Steve. But I know it's a labor of love. Looking forward to the published version. So glad you migrated here. For those who don't know Finn235: his research on Indo-Sassanian/Peroz-derivations is extensive and his insights and descriptions of coins from the series are detailed and fascinating. He's the go-to guy for a lot of ancient coinage info, both Western and Eastern - but, especially (IMO), the Indo material.

A favorite of mine, despite the double/triple striking. Kamnaskires IV AR tetradrachm, c. 63/2 - 54/3 BC Van’t Haaff 8.1.1B Next: Zeus seated, holding Nike.

Not a coin, but bent and beautiful, IMO. AE Sword Northwestern Iran, Talish area 1200-800 BC 45.5cm (18”) Description: Tapering ribbed blade, round shoulders, tip missing and end bent (possibly a deliberate act in antiquity). Next: edged weapon (on a coin) - sword or dagger.

To quote Ritchie Valens: Oh, Donna! There are so many interesting and informative threads across the sub-forums of this fun new site, but I think this one is shaping up to be my fave. I look forward to your updates. The initial group above is wonderful. The lekythoi trio is particularly impressive, as is the cup. (Too short a base to qualify as a kylix?)

Thought I’d contribute again to the bizarre thread. This one may not be quite as strange as the Phraates II situation I wrote about earlier, but it’s still just weird. I’ve written about the following at CT and CCF in the past, so this is an abbreviated version with just a few examples provided. One of the most bizarre occurrences in ancient coinage, IMO, happened with the transition of power in Elymais, from the previous Kamnaskires royal family to the Arsacids (the Parthian royal clan). As might be suggested by the iconography on coins such as the sampling below, the wresting of control by the Arsacids may not have sat well with the local populace. We don’t know the names of the first several kings of the Arsacid family (the coins of this period don’t have individual rulers’ names), and so coins from this period are designated as being issued by the “Uncertain Early Arsacid Kings” of Elymais. Note the stark contrast, as seen in these coins below, between the strong obverse portraits and the - shall we say - "less-than-strong" reverse portraits. The obverses, perhaps representing the current Arsacid king, are stylized in accordance with the Iranian revival in Parthia at that time – a deliberate, probably politically-motivated reaction against Greek cultural influence. But, despite the stylization, those obverses are bold and are generally well rendered. The reverses, though, reflect what was likely a slow (decades-long), methodical erasure of the iconography and legends of the preceding Kamnaskirid coinage. Presumably the iconography was associated with that lineage, and spoke to its authority. It is not known, with certainty, whether the reverse bust represented a god (as most people assume) or the progenitor of the Kamnaskirid line – but, either way, it must have been a powerful symbol associated with that dynasty’s authority. Eventually the degenerated bust and legend became just independent abstract lines – the representation (portrait) of the reverses degraded completely. But, in these presumably earlier coins of the Arsacids in Elymais, the abstraction of the reverse bust is just getting underway – we see in these the beginning of the erasure of the Kamnaskirids from the collective memory of the populace. There has been speculation that an abrupt rupture – eliminating the iconography in one fell swoop – would have been politically inexpedient. It would not have gone over well. Either the above theory is correct – or perhaps we may be looking at results of “take your kid to work” days at the Elymaean mint. Pop worked on the obverses, junior on the reverses...

Thanks, Cam and Paul. Regarding the lighting - actually, I believe Paul had recommended that in earlier correspondence he and I had had. It's definitely something I will need to look into, down the line, at least for the bottom shelves. The upper shelves are fine with the room's lighting, but the vessels on the lowest shelves are usually partially in shadow - and I don't want to move those large vessels to upper shelves since they are relatively heavy. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated.

Thanks, all. For some background about the weaponry: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=119753.msg724936#msg724936 And for info about the amphora fragment: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=174781 Enlargement: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=174781&fullsize=1

Wow. Ancient coins don’t come much nicer than this. What a stunner. Congrats.

If interested, info about each piece is in these galleries: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=7069 https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=7377 Thanks for the comments, all.

Picked up these two display cases this past year. At some point along the line, they transitioned from pleasing displays to overpacked storage bins. I admit, though: as problems go, this is a nice one to have. My initial stopgap was to purchase the acrylic boxes to put on top. Helped, but only for a while (since the collecting bug continues). Hoping to pick up another case at some point in the next few months, to alleviate the crowding. Where it’ll go, I don’t quite know yet…

Fantastic. Nice to see a forum devoted to antiquities. Thanks, admin!