Ryro Posted December 30, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted December 30, 2022 When my Dad gifted me this "Black Betty" it was identified as Boattiaia, Macedonia 196-168 BCE AE22, 9.5g, w/ Zeus and thunderbolt reverse. The seller from whom he bought this coin had numerous other coins missattributed. The reverse is a mess but I just don't see it. It looks like grapes on a branch or in a wreath. Nor does the head on the obverse look like the images of Zeus on this coin types. Poseidon maybe? Here are pics of the type it was identified as: Here is the closest type that I could find on AC search, though the lack of long wet(?) hair makes me think this isn't it either, though the write up be BCD is very exciting: EurymenaiCirca 2nd quarter of the 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 21mm, 6.8 g 5). Bearded male head to right, head bare. Rev. EURU Bunch of grapes on stalk between two grape leaves. Unpublished . Apparently unique . A coin of superb style with a fine brown patina. About extremely fine. This coin, hitherto unknown, is quite a surprise. Its thick and solid flan makes it likely that it was struck slightly before the more common, albeit still very rare, issues bearing a head of the young Dionysos (as the following lot). Exactly who is on the obverse is rather uncertain: the lack of any wreath on the head makes it unlikely to be Zeus (or Poseidon or Dionysos), so it may, perhaps, be a local hero. A note from BCD : If this coin was a surprise for ASW it was a relevation for this collector, who always nutured a theory in the back of his mind that the bronze coinage of Thessaly started earlier than it was generally thought. The discovery of this coin, that he thinks may go back to almost the turn of the century, c. 400, reinforces his feeling that at that time some Thessalian townships initiated the minting of bronzes more as an experiment than as bulk issues of fiduciary money, obviously influenced by the example of western mints. This is the reason why there are no signs of haste or carelessness in their production and that the artistic standard of the die cutters called upon to engrave the dies is unusually high. Needless to say, this coin is highly thought of by the collector and he hopes that the buyer will be someone who shares his beliefs, and is prepared to search for other such early Thessalian bronzes with the aim of an eventual publication. Does anyone know, think they know or wanna take a guess at telling me who, what where when and why this coin is? 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevikens Posted December 30, 2022 · Member Share Posted December 30, 2022 Possibly a barbarian imitation. As I look at the reverse I see a person mounted on horseback but also another ghost image, that possibly an overstrike from an overstrike. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambr0zie Posted December 30, 2022 · Member Share Posted December 30, 2022 What about https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=997629 RhizosCirca 352-344 BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 18mm, 7.94 g 2). Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. RIZOUSI[WN] Vine branch with bunch of grapes and two leaves; above grapes and below branch to left, L. Rogers 537. Traité IV, 746, pl. CCC, 18. Warren 1961, pl. I, 3. Very rare. Very well struck in high relief, of lovely style and with a fine dark green patina. Extremely fine. 6 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryro Posted December 30, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted December 30, 2022 12 minutes ago, ambr0zie said: What about https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=997629 RhizosCirca 352-344 BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 18mm, 7.94 g 2). Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. RIZOUSI[WN] Vine branch with bunch of grapes and two leaves; above grapes and below branch to left, L. Rogers 537. Traité IV, 746, pl. CCC, 18. Warren 1961, pl. I, 3. Very rare. Very well struck in high relief, of lovely style and with a fine dark green patina. Extremely fine. Fuck me! Thanks old friend! That coin sold for 5,500€ before juice! There are a few others in worse shape then mine. None have sold under hundreds! 3 2 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambr0zie Posted December 30, 2022 · Member Share Posted December 30, 2022 I am pretty sure the coin is from Rhizos. A closer variety (looking at the curls above the grape) https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1283607 6 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quant.geek Posted December 30, 2022 · Member Share Posted December 30, 2022 Guess it runs in the family...Great eyes! Congrats... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryro Posted December 30, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted December 30, 2022 1 hour ago, ambr0zie said: I am pretty sure the coin is from Rhizos. A closer variety (looking at the curls above the grape) https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1283607 Oh great, this one only sold for over $500 before the juice🤑 It didn't show up in my search due to the difference in spelling of to Rhizos vs Rhizous 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Collector Posted December 31, 2022 · Patron Share Posted December 31, 2022 Well, it's a good thing we have @ambr0zie, otherwise you and I would still be ... 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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