Glebe

Thanks for that Ivan, and I found a better version of Melcher et al on Academia here: https://www.academia.edu/68558247/Investigation_of_ancient_gold_objects_from_Artemision_at_Ephesus_using_portable_%CE%BC_XRF This has the proper version of Table 1. Regarding the 11 coins in the table, do we know what types they are? I’m guessing they’re (mostly) Mysian of some sort. Ross G.

An interesting paper, particularly the references to the electrum objects with a gold content of c. 67% and a silver content of c. 33%, which suggests the use of a standardised electrum composition in the 7th cent. Presumably these are the objects referred to in paragraphs 17 & 18 in the paper by Melcher et al on the XRF analysis of the gold/electrum objects found at Ephesus. However I couldn’t find these objects in Table 1 of Melcher et al’s paper, which is supposed to summarise all those results (you have to link on Table 1). It doesn’t help that in the body of the Melcher paper these objects are referred to via their inventory number in the Ephesus museum (at Seljuk), but in Table ! a quite different numbering system is used. And why does Table 1 mostly omit the silver content for the various objects? Ross G.

For some alternate ideas on the origin of electrum coinage see here: https://www.glebecoins.org/electrum/index.html Ross G.

I note that CNG E Auction 473 included two coins (lots 455 & 456) that according to Simon Bendall showed the Hetoimasia (the empty throne of Christ) as in the Michael VIII trachy Sear 2272. In fact these coins seem to be examples of the reasonably common type Sear 2368 of Andronicus II, and the “empty throne” is more likely a reliquary box. See note k in “Some Palaeologan Finds” on my website here: https://www.glebecoins.org/paleos/Data/Palaeologan_Finds/palaeologan_finds.html Below is an example of S.2368. Ross G.

Does Hiett say anything about the weight standard of items like this? Ross G.

Thanks for those references. It seems Celsus freely mixed Roman (denarius & sextantes) and Greek (obolus) terminology in the early 1st century. Ross G.

Perhaps because this is actually a question of metrology rather than numismatics. What I am really looking into is the origin of the Apothecaries' weight scale and it's connection with the the Roman weight scale. And ultimately to the origin of the Troy pound. Ross G.

I'm looking for references in Galen or other ancient medical authors - the usual search engines have not returned anything useful. Ross G.

It's commonly assumed that the denarius (Nero's) was used as a drachm weight by ancient doctors but can someone point me to a specific reference for this usage? Ross G.

These odd types copying the John III hyperpyron Sear 2073 first appeared on the market not too many years ago, along with numerous examples from the same or similar dies with a variety of quite different patinas. As far as I know there are no examples of these types in museums, so draw your own conclusions. Ross G.

This is Sear 2149 Uncertain of Nicaea, DOC IV Uncertain B.2 (Pl. XXXVII, B.2). It is one of the rare “Christ Chalkites” types, along with S.2148, S.2150 & S.2153. See below for two more examples of S.2149 posted on Forum Byzantine on (or about) 13/12/2012. The top (neatly clipped) coin was from Orthodox Coins and the second from a private collection. Ross G.

As I understand it the post 1204 section of Sear 2nd edition was largely the work of Simon Bendall and Michael O'Hara, advised by Hendy. George Bates was the author of the report on the 1234 Byzantine coins found during the second series of archaeological explorations of Sardis by Harvard College from 1958 to 1968. Ross G.

Here is the Labarum online catalog arranged by Sear (SB) type: https://labarum.info/lbr/?sf_refsear=&sf_main_search=&sf_submit=Search&sf_state=&sf_ruler=Michael+II+Angelus+(Epirus)&sf_mint=&sf_denom= Ross G.

Yes, this guy looks like a good candidate. If so, this would put the Gandufus weight a century after Charlemagne's (possible) weights. Ross G.

Interesting - there are saints on coins, but I don't know about weights. I'm guessing Gandulfus is some early medieval ruler - there are similar weights labelled CAROLI PONDVS, possibly meaning Charlemagne. Ross G.