non-Macedonian shield coins

[kirispupis]

After some recent pickups, I realized that I've built a small collection of non-MSC shield coins! For practical purposes, we'll define an MSC as "not minted in Macedonia and not minted under a Macedonian king." So, here's what I've built up so far.

Feel free to share your non-MSC shield coins!

Islands off Attica.Salamis
c.339-318 BCE
Æ 17mm 2,45g
shield of Ajax, Nymphe Salamis
SNG Munich 465
Ex Variana Coins

 

Crete, Polyrhenion
circa 330-280 BCE
AE 11mm, 1.14g
Round shield; in center, bull's head facing
Π-O/Λ-V; spear point
SNG Copenhagen 534
Ex Chistopher Morcom collection
Ex Edward P. Warren collection
Ex CNG 2007
Ex Gert Boersema

 

Thebes, Boeotia
AR stater 368-364 BCE
12.062g 21.2mm
Kabi magistrate
BCD Boiotia 539, BMC Central p.83, 150; SNG Cop 339; Hepworth 61
Ex Forum Ancient Coins

 

Epeiros.The Molossi
AE Circa 360-330/25 BCE
Æ 19mm, 6.16g
Vertical thunderbolt on shield
R/ Vertical thunderbolt within wreath
SNG Copenhagen 53.
Ex Bertolami Auction 44 (Sep 2017)
Ex Catawiki

 

Selge Pisidia
300 BCE - 119 CE
Ae 15mm 2.1g
Obv: Round Macedonian type shield
Rev: Spear-head, C - E to either side
BMC 62
Ex BargainBinAncients

 

Asia Minor. Uncertain mint
circa 250 BCE
Æ 11 mm, 1,30 g
Unpublished. One copy owned by BCD but could not be attributed.
Tentatively marked as Black Sea Region, but probably Aspendos or Side
Ex Savoca

 

Cyprus, Marium, Stasioikos II
AE 16 4.32g.
c. 330-312 BCE
Ex Harlan J Berk

[Ryro]

How. Dare. You!?

Jk. Man, you know how much I love that Epeirot shield. And these are all beauties. Though, two of the last three are of the MSC style. 

Here is a bronze age golden shield boss that I picked up a few years back:

Here are a few ancient shield:

This type is often erroneously described as two eyes or grains:

OK boomer, then this boar is ramming his head into an eyeball:

[shanxi]

Here is one, only one:

 

Boeotia, Tanagra
AR Obol
Early-mid 4th century BC
Obv.: Boeotian shield
Rev.: forepart of horse right, T above, A below
Ag, 10 mm, 0.9g
Ref.: BMC 35
Ex BCD Collection.

 

Edited March 2, 2023 by shanxi

[kirispupis]

2 hours ago, Ryro said:

Here are a few ancient shield:

 

A lot of very interesting ones there, several of which I'm not familiar with. I really like your Aspendos shields. I may have to pick one up if a decent copy comes up...

[kirispupis]

2 hours ago, shanxi said:

Here is one, only one:

 

Boeotia, Tanagra
AR Obol
Early-mid 4th century BC
Obv.: Boeotian shield
Rev.: forepart of horse right, T above, A below
Ag, 10 mm, 0.9g
Ref.: BMC 35
Ex BCD Collection.

 

Which happens to be one I've been trying to pick up (but keep getting outbid on) for the last few months... 🙂 

[Ed Snible]

This coin is a great mystery to me.  It is from an old Triton group lot.  Another example was in the Pozzi collection (3359ter).  Other than those two, I've never seen another.  I have no idea if the shield shows a Chi or a cross.

Euboea, Chalkis (?), 1.28g, AE11
Obv: Female head wearing triangular earring right
Rev: Cross or Χ (Chi) upon circular shield
Pozzi 3359ter, otherwise perhaps unpublished
CNG, Triton VI, January 2003, lot 1563 (part of) David Freedman collection. Described as 'Uncertain, possibly Selge'.

Here is half a shield:

BOIOTIA, Thebes. 525-480 BC. AR Hemiobol (0.53 g).
Obv: Half Boiotian shield
Ref: BMC p. 33, 13.

Ex two "name" sales:
- Classical Numismatic Group, Triton IX, January 2006, lot 326 (BCD collection)
- Malter 49, 15 November 1992, lot 422 (Dr. J.S. Wilkinson Collection)

[Alegandron]

Indo-Greek Baktria Menander I Soter BC 155-130 AR Tet 26mm 9.6g Diad - Athena Alkidemos tbolt Gorgon shield SNG ANS 764-767

 

RR Malleolus Albinus Caecilius  Metellus AR Den 20.0mm 3.7g Rome 96 BCE ROMA - Roma seated L pile of  shields spear and sword Vict Cr335-1b Syd611a

 

Judaea Claudius w-Britannicus CE 41-54 Æ Prutah 17mm 2.8g Antonius Felix-procurator Dated RY 14 54 CE 2-crossed shields spears - Palm tree BPIT K AI L IΔ date Hendin 1348

 

Thessaly AR Stater Double Victoriatus 21mm 5.7g 50 BCE Zeus - Athena Itonia spear shield RR Prov. SNG Cop 299var

 

RR Anon AR Denarius 115-114BCE Rome  mint 19.52mm 3.82g ROMA X Seated r on shields spear birds she-wolf Romulus  Remus Cr 287-1 S 164

 

RR Titurius Sabinus 89 BCE AR Den Tarpeia buried shields S 251 Cr 344-2a

 

Marsic Confederation denarius 89 BCE Italia-Italia seated shields vict Corfinium Campana retro B 105 HN Italy 412a Sear 228 RARE

[DonnaML]

Some shields of mine that constitute a prominent part of the design, although only a couple take up the entire reverse:

Boeotia:

Technically a Macedonian shield, but on a Roman Republican Metellus denarius:

L. Procilius, Juno Sospita:

Servilius Vatia:

Anonymous; Roma seated on pile of shields:

M. Nonius Sufenas; another pile of shields:

Q. Thermus

Augustus denarius from Colonia Patricia

Nero as with Victory on reverse holding shield inscribed with "SPQR"

Divus Vespasian:

Edited March 2, 2023 by DonnaML