KyNumis Posted October 13, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 13, 2022 Hello everyone! The topic I chose today was ancient African coins. I own a very nice Numidian bronze coined minted under Massinissa or his son Micipsa. Micipsa(?) Numidia, Northwest Africa AE Unit. 2nd or 1st Century BC Info from Numidia: Numidia was the ancient kingdom of the Numidians located in northwest Africa, initially comprising the territory that now makes up modern-day Algeria, but later expanding across what is today known as Tunisia, Libya, and some parts of Morocco Info about Massinissa: Massinissa was an ancient Numidian king best known for leading a federation of Massylii Berber tribes during the Second Punic War, ultimately uniting them into a kingdom that became a major regional power in North Africa. Post your numidians (and africans) Below! 34 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniard Posted October 13, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 13, 2022 That's a nice example! Still not got round to photographing this one...Sellers photo. ZEUGITANIA. Carthage.Æ16, 2.8g, 2h; Circa 400-350 BC.Obv.: Wreathed head of Tanit left.Rev.: Horse standing right before palm tree.Ref.: SNG Cop 109-119. 30 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambr0zie Posted October 13, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 13, 2022 A grand total of 1 coin 4.55 g 16.7 mm Zeugitania, Carthage; Sicilian mint, c. late 4th - early 3rd cent. BC. Obv: Palm tree with two bunches of dates. Rx: Horse's head and neck r. SNG Cop 102, Sear 6531 27 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted October 13, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 13, 2022 I sold this lovely Roman-African provincial bronze at CNG Triton XXIV, lot 928 for $1,560.00 ☺️. SYRTICA, Oea. Tiberius, AD 14-37 (struck circa AD 22-29). AE 19.25 gm, 32 mm, 3 h. Obverse: Tiberius, eagle in left field holding palm frond, olive branch in right field. Reverse: Apollo with lyre in right field, Neo-Punic inscription in left field, all surrounded by olive wreath. RPC 832. 26 1 1 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edessa Posted October 13, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 13, 2022 Numidia, Kings of Mauretania. Juba II, 25 BC-AD 24. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.37g, 9h). Caesarea mint. Struck circa AD 16-17. Obv: REX • IVBA; Diademed head right. Rev: Cornucopia and scepter in saltire; crescent above. Ref: MAA 94; Mazard 241; SNG Copenhagen 593. Good Very Fine. Ex CNG eAuction 251 (9 Mar 2011), Lot 194. 29 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor kirispupis Posted October 13, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted October 13, 2022 Kyrene, Magas Ptolemaic governor, c. 300-282/75 BC AR Didrachm 20mm, 7.30g, 12h Head of Karneios r. R/ Silphion plant; ZE monogram to upper l., crab to upper r., KY-PA across lower field. BMC 256; cf. SNG Copenhagen 1243 Ex London Ancient Coins Ptolemy I 311-305 BCE 27.5 mm 14.6g 1h Sv.162 (37 ex) - Cop.29 - GC.7750 var. - BMC.- - MP.6 Avers : Buste cornu et diadémé d'Alexandre le Grand sous les traits de Zeus-Ammon à droite, coiffé de la dépouille d'éléphant avec l'égide. Revers : Athéna Promachos ou Alkidemos marchant à droite, brandissant une javeline de la main droite et tenant un bouclier de la gauche ; dans le champ à gauche, un casque corinthien, un monogramme et un aigle sur un foudre tourné à droite. Ex CGB Kyrenaica. Kyrene. Ptolemaic Governor Ophellas First Reign 322-313 BCE 18.58mm 7.26 grams Obverse: Youth on horseback right Reverse: Wheel with four spokes and hub, silphium plant between left spokes SNG Copenhagen 1221 Ex Marc Breitsprecher 32 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursus Posted October 13, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 13, 2022 Same type as OP: Kings of Numidia, Massinissas or Micipsa, ca. 203–118 BC, AE31. Obv: head of king (?), laureate, l. Rev: horse galloping l.; below, pellet. 31mm, 20.15g. Ref: SNG Copenhagen 505–7; MAA 18a. 26 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougsmit Posted October 13, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 13, 2022 While small and not as attractive as other Silphium options, I believe this Kyrene AE16 Sear6341 with three plants joined at the base with legend K Y P (retrograde) is something you don't see everyday. https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=7679815 https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=8264483 https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=436362 So, what demand is there for equal or better of the three on acsearch of what is probably the least appealing silphium type? Is there a number less than zero? 24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapphnwn Posted October 13, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 13, 2022 Ptolemy V Ar Drachm Alexandria Mint 200-180 BC Obv Head of Zeus Ammon right wearing taenia Rv Two eagles standing left on thunderbolt wings folded. Svoronos 1423 37.63 grms 35 mm Photo by W. Hansen Starting with Ptolemy V a new series of coins was started with new designs. It would appear that in most cases from this point in time different images were placed on the coins to denote different denominations. Unfortunately for many years this was not understood and the study of the last two centuries of Ptolemaic aes has been made more difficult as a result. Naturally there is still a lot of work on this subject yet to do. 26 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Severus Alexander Posted October 13, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 13, 2022 (edited) I have yet to get a version of the OP coin... on the list. I wish it were possible to differentiate between coins of Massinissa and Micipsa... I'd prefer the former. No Axumite coins in the thread yet! Here's one: Ezana (c. 330-360) AR unit My notes: In the worldview of the prophet Mani, founder of the Manichaean religion, there were four empires that ruled the world: the Empire of the North (Persia), the Empire of the West (Rome), the Empire of the East (either Mauryan India or Han China) and the Empire of the South (Axum). The fact that Axumite coins frequently turn up in southern India is an indication of the extent of their trading network. They were essential to the trade link between Rome and India, as well as the main source of African goods to both. Ezana (or Ezanas) was the first monarch of the Kingdom of Aksum to embrace Christianity, after he was converted by his slave-teacher and Syrian Christian, Frumentius. Frumentius became head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, whose scripture and liturgy are still in Ge’ez. A surviving letter from the Arian Roman emperor Constantius II is addressed to Ezana and his brother Saizana and requests that Frumentius be sent to Alexandria to be examined for doctrinal errors and be replaced by Theophilos the Indian. Around 350, Ezana conquered the Kingdom of Kush. Ezana’s exploits are recorded on the trilingual “Ezana Stone,” still found in the modern day town of Axum. (The languages: Ge’ez, Sabaean, and Greek.) The tradition of erecting monumental grave stelae probably ended during or shortly after Ezana’s reign; one of those intact is called “King Ezana’s Stele.” He is regarded as a saint by both the Ethiopian Church and the Catholic Church. Edited October 13, 2022 by Severus Alexander 24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edessa Posted October 14, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 14, 2022 Numidia, Kings of Mauretania. Juba II, with Kleopatra Selene. 25 BC-AD 24. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.28g, 6h). Caesarea mint. Struck circa 20 BC - AD 24. Obv: [RE]X IVBA; Diademed head of Juba right. Rev: •BACIΛI-CCA-KΛEΟΠΑΤΡA; Headdress of Isis set on crescent. Ref: Mazard 331; MAA 103; SNG Copenhagen 574. From the Benito Collection. Ex CNG eAuction 468 (20 May 2020), Lot 147. 27 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted October 14, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 14, 2022 Great coins all. Here are a few I think are relevant. 25 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougsmit Posted October 14, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 14, 2022 11 hours ago, Severus Alexander said: No Axumite coins in the thread yet! Axum has some very nice gold and silver coins but my favorites are the small denomination issues where the full weight of gold is born on a bronze coin. Most of these coins are in pretty bad shape but we do see them with gold intact. This .4g is cataloged as Kaleb and successors 520-540 AD. Junker? Yes but it has intact gold. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaleb_of_Axum 19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sulla80 Posted October 15, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 15, 2022 CYRENAIKA, Cyrene (Koinon). Circa 250 BC. (modern Libya) and, although it isn't ancient a small H-shaped Katanga Cross from the Congo (approx. 15th to 17th century AD) 21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alegandron Posted October 15, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 15, 2022 Carthage - Zeugitana AR Shekel-Didrachm 360-264 BCE Tanit Horse r head l palm SNG COP 141 Carthage-LIBYAN UPRISING - Mercenaries issueMercenary War 241-238 BCE7.36g AR DiShekelHerakles Head in Lion's Head-Lion walking; Punic M above; LIBYA belowR SNG Cop 240fOverstrikeCoins were struck in the name of Libya and "M", which has been taken as either "machanat" - the Camp (of the mercenaries), or perhaps Matho, their leader 20 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted October 15, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 15, 2022 This coin was struck at the Rome mint, however, it honors the province of Africa, the birthplace of emperor Septimius Severus ☺️. 20 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marsyas Mike Posted October 15, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 15, 2022 4 hours ago, Al Kowsky said: This coin was struck at the Rome mint, however, it honors the province of Africa, the birthplace of emperor Septimius Severus ☺️. That's a great-looking coin, Al. That cuirass on Septimius Severus is heavy-duty! Here is a less pretty one, with no cuirass, RIC 668b: 19 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alegandron Posted October 15, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 15, 2022 Carthage Zeugitana310-270 BCEEL Dekadrachm-Stater18.5mm 7.27gTanitHorse 3 pellets in exMAA 12 SNG COP 136 13 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alegandron Posted October 15, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 15, 2022 PTOLOMY IEgypt Ptolemy I Soter Tet Delta bankers marks 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alegandron Posted October 15, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 15, 2022 KYRENAICA Kyrene Æ25 9.6g 250 BCE Diademed Zeus-Ammon r - K-O-I-N-O-N; Silphium plant; monogram SNG Cop 1278 BMC 16-19 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helvius Pertinax Posted October 18, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 18, 2022 I dont see any Alexandrian AE coins yet, so here you go 😅 20211223_142845.mp4 This took decades to upload 13 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor LONGINUS Posted October 20, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted October 20, 2022 Great post, @KyNumis I don’t have many but here’s my favorite. 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alegandron Posted October 27, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 27, 2022 Carthage Zeugitania 400-350 BCE AE 15mm 3.39g Head of Tanit left Horse galloping r SNG Cop 97 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alegandron Posted October 27, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 27, 2022 And the BESTEST Island off the Coast of Africa, one of my favorites places that I have visited in the world... 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanxi Posted October 29, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 29, 2022 (edited) @Alegandron Yes I know this is off topic, but here are some recent pictures from Madeira: Edited October 29, 2022 by shanxi 13 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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