Sulla80

Thank you for the research - and a good point about the dates being written out. My coin definitely doesn't have a date mixed in with the Kalima.

Thanks @John Conduitt, that is a good visual match & a useful avenue to chase.... what I am seeing is that there are no coins on zeno from Shirvanshahs in a weight range of 2.2-3.5g (compared to my coin of 2.78g) and the writing on the reverse much different and these 4-5 gram tankas seemingly always on a flan too small for the die....and hard to see a quatrefoil surrounding the Kalima.. http://search.zeno.ru/index.php?v=0&ar=on&th=on&c=&t=Shirvanshahs&k=&d=&wmin=2.2&wmax=3.5&smin=&smax=&m=&ymin=&ymax=&y=&u=&n=&a=&e=&f=0&s=0&p=2

Here are two favorite Valerian portrait. For an article with a Valerian reconstruction see: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/13041/valerian-facial-reconstruction/ This coin is the coin that first inspired any interest in these little lumps of metal.

If I make a small attempt each day, eventually my expectation is that I should start to be able to read the inscriptions on Islamic coins more easily. I have to admit that it still feels more like identifying shapes that reading...some words and names are starting to be easy to see. Here's my coin of interest today.... Looking at this coin the first thing I see is : "There is no God but God" although I am not sure I am reading this right as there are some stray lines in red that I can't explain other than an engraver who wasn't very good or some flourishes. Here's a cleaner version from another coin: The next element that stands out for me: "Muhammad" I enjoy this style of script with its elongated letters and flourishes, although I have to admit that I have difficulty seeing the mapping to محمد and the next (at this point expected line of the Kalima) which seems fairly easy to see even with the sloppy calligraphy of this coin: rasūl Allah (is the Messenger of God) and the last elements are the names in the four lobes of the quatrefoil which I am expecting as the names of the first four caliphs, i.e. the "rightly guided" caliphs because they learned directly from Muhammad. Abū Bakr/'Umar/'Uthman/'Ali only two are visible which I see as: (bottom lobe) (left Lobe) here again - I am seeing with more expectation than ability to read letters and asking questions like: - are the four caliphs always ordered on coins in chronological order? - does this engraver just have really bad handwriting? Here is an example with much neater calligraphy from a coin of Abu Sa'id. SOLVED with many thanks to @John Conduitt. Jalayrids: Sultan Husayn I, 1374-1382, AR dinar (2.78g), AH 780-783, AR 2 dinars (variant of A-2308.3 and Zeno 53369)...and thanks to @DLTcoins the mint is Hamadan, rather coarsely engraved, undated, Zeno #83055 (this coin). type TC : five-vaned pattern / quatrefoil, kalima within Album notes: "The date is engraved in minuscule words between the five vanes, often so wretchedly as to be utterly illegible" This coin weighs 2.78g and could be a 2 dinar based on the 1 dinar coins that I have seen in the 1.4-1.5 range. It is an ellipse with a diameter that ranges 17-21mm. What was the region that the Jalayrids ruled? The Jalayrids were a Mongol tribe that spread over Central Asia after the Mongol conquest in the 13th century, those that migrated to Iran and Iraq founded the Jalayrid Sultanate in 1330 the the breakup of the region ruled by the Ilkhanids (the core territories of which are today parts of Iran, Azerbaijan, and Turkey). Public Domain map via Wikimedia Commons. Share your experience reading medieval Islamic coins, post coins with interesting calligraphy from this period, or anything else you find interesting or entertaining.

Here's one of my favorite coins with an unusual obverse portrait of a bull: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/of-greeks-and-cattle

My full story on this coin can be found here: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/heroes-gods-wild-boars

The Mithridatic Wars are a top period of interest so I recently gave into a long standing temptation to pick up a tetradracm of Tigranes II - this one with the die break and doubled reverse helped me to stay in the stratosphere on pricing. My notes on this coin are here: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/tigranes-ii-the-great Kings of Armenia, Tigranes II ‘the Great’, 95-56 BC, Tetradrachm, AR, 28.5mm, 15.66g, 1 h), Tigranocerta (literally meaning built by Tigranes), circa 80-68 Obv: Draped bust of Tigranes II to right, wearing five-pointed tiara decorated with comet star between two eagles Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ - TIΓPANOY The Tyche of Tigranocerta seated right on rock, holding long palm frond in her right hand; below, river-god Araxes swimming right; on rock, monogram; in field to right, θ; all within wreath Ref: Kovacs 74.2; Nercessian die study Group 2, A22

Edit: oops shared the wrong coin, this one is the one I think you were looking for: "The Diva Faustina coin is only known from a sale by Lanz (Auction 60, 11 January 1992, 513; I thank Bernhard Woytek for sending me a copy of the original photograph from Vienna, where the Lanz photo archive is now stored). The same reverse die was used with an obverse die of Faustina the Younger, of which there are at least three examples: British Museum, Pius 1089; J. Hirsch Auction 20, 13 November 1907, 607; Stack's 24 April 2008, 23 See: BECKMANN, MARTIN. “Intra-Family Die Links in the Antonine Mint at Rome.” The Numismatic Chronicle (1966-), vol. 169, 2009, pp. 205–11.

Voting with pebbles shown in an detail from an Attic Red-Figured Kylix, 490–480 BC, attributed to the Brygos Painter, active about 490 - 470 BC. Public domain image used with thanks to the Getty Museum Collection. Ancient coins and art can give us insights into ancient peoples. The coin that I share today shows an image of a representative voting in ancient Antioch, province of Syria, region of Seleucis and Pieria. Seleucis and Pieria was a region within the greater province of Syria that included the northwestern part of modern Syria and southeastern Anatolia in modern Turkey. Seleucia was the ancient sea port and capital of the Seleucid empire under Seleucos I and Pieria refers Mt. Pieria, the mountain the rises above Seleucia. After Seleucus I was assassinated (281 BCE), his son, Antiochus I, moved the capital to Antioch. The region retained the name Seleucis and Pieria. Dating System I enjoy coins that can be pinpointed to a specific date, this one reads ЄIP (5+10+100 = Civic Year 115 dated from the start of the Caesarean Era). Civic years in Antioch were measured from the This date 115 years from the start 49/8 BC and a Caesarean era that Antioch began to use after Caesar granted the city Autonomy. More on the visit of Caesar to Antioch can be found here: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/julius-caesar-in-antioch A Parthian invasion in 40BC disrupted this dating system - for a coin from this period see: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/parthian-invasion-40-bc The Boule (βουλή), was a council (Greek: βουλευταί) in the representative democratic system of ancient Greek city states that was appointed to operate daily affairs or the city. This coin is a beautiful example showing, on the reverse, the voting of the Boule, by placing a pebble into an urn. The First Jewish Revolt This coin was issued during the time of the First Jewish Revolt against Rome and the last years of the reign of emperor Nero (reign 54 – 68 AD). The first legions sent from Syria to quell the rebellion failed and their commander Cestius Gallus died on his return to Syria. "Insomuch that the soldiers, through the astonishment and fear they were in, left behind them their engines for sieges, and for throwing of stones, and a great part of the instruments of war. So the Jews went on pursuing the Romans as far as Antipatris, after which, seeing they could not overtake them, they came back, and took the engines, and spoiled the dead bodies, and gathered their prey together which the Romans had left behind them, and came back running and singing to their metropolis. While they had themselves lost a few only, but had slain of the Romans five thousand and three hundred footmen, and three hundred and eighty horsemen. This defeat happened on the eighth day of the month Dius, [Marhesvan], in the twelfth year of the reign of Nero." -Josephus, Antiquities, 19.9 Licinius Mucianus succeeded Gallus in 67 AD as governor of Syria and emperor Nero appointed Vespasian, future emperor, as commander of the Roman forces to address the rebellion in Judea. Syria, Seleucis and Pieria, city of Antioch a Pseudo-autonomous issue. Assarion (Bronze, 19 mm, 5.89g, 1h), CY 115 = 66/7 AD. Obv: ΑΝΤΙ[ΟΧЄΩ]Ν Diademed head of Zeus to right Rev: ЄTO - ЄIP Boule seated left, placing vote in urn Ref: RPC I 4305. McAlee 112 Another favorite voting scene is this one from the Roman republic: L. Cassius Longinus, moneyer, AR Denarius minted at Rome, 63 BC. Obv: Draped bust of Vesta veiled left, kylix behind, letter before Rev: Male figure left, dropping inscribed tablet into a cista Ref: Crawford 413/1; Syd. 935; Cassia 10 For more coins depicting voting in ancient Rome and discussion of voting and voting laws in the Roman republic see: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/roman-voting-laws Post your coins or art with ancient voting scenes, or anything else that you find interesting or entertaining. References Kristina M. Neumann, Antioch in Syria: a history from coins (300 BCE-450 CE). Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2021. Pp. xxvii, 410. ISBN 9781108837149. (available from Cambridge University as a Digital Book for about US $40). Antioch in Syria: a history from coins (300 BCE-450 CE) a review in Bryn Mawr Classical Review by Alan Stahl, 21-June-2022, Princeton University. Coinage in Roman Syria: 64 BC - AD 253. Kevin Edward Templar Butcher, Ph.D Thesis, University of London, 1991, University College London, Institute of Archaeology

My latest isn't a pretty coin, but it is an interesting coin from the Olympia Sebasmia Games in Damascus issued in the name of Volusian, son of Trebonianus Gallus.

I am not certain, but I think "Yes". There are later examples as well e.g. this coin that CNG calls a Vespasian "Judaea Capta" Restitution issue of Trajan. https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5977957 and this Antoninus Pius AV Aureus Indian imitation https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=3334199

this coin leaving the question - what could be underneath that created this curve:

I like the classic style of your Titus - imitating the reverse of this coin Crawford 427 from 56 BC where C. Memmius C. f. recalls his uncle, C. Memmius L.f., and victories in Asia Minor (Bithynia & Pontus) with a kneeling captive at the base of a trophy. Roman Republic, C. Memmius C. f., AR Denarius, Rome, 56 BC Obv: Head of Ceres to right, wearing wreath of grain ears; C•MEMMI•C•F downwards before Ref: Naked captive, his hands tied behind his back, kneeling right at foot of trophy of arms with a Greek shield; C•MEMMIVS downwards to right, IMPERATOR downwards to left Ref: Crawford 427/1; BMCRR Rome 3937; RSC Memmia P.S. love the portrait on your second coin!

Thanks! for the ID and the pointer to Thompson - didn't realize it was there from ANS/Hathi Trust!

I always enjoy your posts @NewStyleKing, here's my entire NewStyle sub-collection. ATTICA. Athens. Circa 165-42 BC. Tetradrachm, Phanokles, Apollonios and Hieron, magistrates, 111/0. Head of Athena Parthenos to right, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet adorned with Pegasos and long tendril on the bowl, and with the foreparts of four horses above the visor. Rev. A-ΘE / ΦΑΝΟ-ΚΛΗΣ / ΑΠΟΛ/ΛΩΝΙΟΣ / IE/PΩΝ Owl standing facing on amphora; to left, Artemis Phosphoros standing front, holding torch with both hands; on amphora, [Θ]; in exergue, ME; all within laurel wreath. Thompson 706a. This one not attributed properly (by me) - no controls on the amphora that I can see and perhaps something below? AP? ATTICA. Athens. Tetradrachm (149/8 BC). New Style Coinage. Polychares and Timarchides, magistrates. Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right. Rev: A - ΘE / ΠO / ΛY - TIM (monogram). Owl standing right on amphora, head facing Ref: Thompson 109c.

Congrats on your Spartan coin @Ryro! Here is the closest I can get to Sparta : a coin from Mantineia where the largest land battle of the Peloponnesian War was fought. Sparta and its allies defeated an army here led by Argos and Athens 418 BCE (more that 230 years before this coin was issued). Achaia. Antigoneia (Mantinea). Achaian League circa 188-180 BC. Triobol-Hemidrachm AR Laureate head of Zeus right / League monogram, A-N across field, monogram below, all within wreath.

https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=915THY1ZeNEC&pg=GBS.PP1&hl=en Posted as an admonition at the entrance of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, and before that attributed to others including Chilon, philosopher and councilor in the city-state of Sparta and one of the Seven Sages of Greece, "Chilon of Lacedaemon, son of Damagetus, said: 1. Know yourself (γνῶθι σαυτόν). 2. When you drink do not speak too much: for you will commit a wrong. 3. Do not threaten free men; for that is not just...." (Ref: Early Greek Philosophy: Reflections On Gods and Men) "Solon, son of Execestides,1 an Athenian philosopher, lawgiver and leader of the people. He flourished in the 47th Olympiad (592/89), according to others in the 56th (556/3).2 When the tyrant Pisistratus plotted against him, he spent time abroad in Cilicia and founded a city which he called Soloi after himself. [SKIP] He is also one of the Seven Sages, as they are called. The maxims “Nothing in excess” and “Know yourself” are said to be his.Sages, as they are called. The maxims “Nothing in excess” and “Know yourself” are said to be his." - Solon, Testimonium there are others....

no question for me - this coin is nicer than the "supertooled" example from Tauler and Fau 🙃 https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=9426420

There is certainly an element of "how badly tooled" vs. just "cleaned" that factors into my personal buying choices. Although I wouldn't buy it annotated as "smoothed and tooled", I would probably not notice if it weren't called out. Roma described this coin as "somewhat smoothed and tooled." and I would not consider this coin (properly described or not) that Tauler & Fau describe as "Tooled". I am sure that there is more subtle tooling and smoothing (not called out by the seller) that I have overlooked.

XXVIII. On Travel as a Cure for Discontent Do you suppose that you alone have had this experience? Are you surprised, as if it were a novelty, that after such long travel and so many changes of scene you have not been able to shake off the gloom and heaviness of your mind? You need a change of soul rather than a change of climate." -Seneca the Younger, Letters, XVIII a 22g Lucilla Sestertius with Hilaritas standing to left, holding cornucopiae and long palm; S-C across fields

I have a couple of nice coins from http://akropoliscoins.com/ and I would have to agree that Pete B is great! I also enjoy a good Vespasian from Ephesus. Here's one with Titus and Domitian.

I'll add another vote for harshly cleaned, not fake. Here is my first Alexander - unlisted Price 1379 variant from CNG that shows up as an example on wildwinds. It took me a while to realize that there are non-Roman ancient coins.

here's a favorite occurrence of lillah in an eye from Eretnid 'Ali Beg, 1366-1380 CE, AR akçe, AH 768

A couple of additionalimperfect matches - maybe enough to reinforce the time period 13th century? ISLAMIC, Persia (Post-Seljuk). Khwarizm Shahs . 'Ala al-Din Muhammad II. AD 1200-1220. https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=966192 DELHI: Iltutmish, 1211-1236, AE jital (3.36g), Multan https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=9716834 Robert Tye has a category in his book on Jitals that is "Anonymous and Unattributed 13th century Coppers" maybe as "attributable as possible". Someone with better arabic skills than me might see more in the lettering on the reverse.

I think you have this upside down : Allah لله