Benefactor Ancient Coin Hunter Posted March 26 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted March 26 I was thinking about the ritual of placing a coin in the mouth of the deceased in ancient times representing the fare for Charon the boatman who ferried the dead across the river Styx. As I recall Livia reminded her family to remember the coin before she passed away in I, Claudius. The question for my Numisforums friends is what denomination was used. Would a sestertius been acceptable, or a denarius? Or a silver-washed antoninianus? What do you think? 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordoba Posted March 26 · Member Share Posted March 26 (edited) i think it's specified as an obol https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charon's_obol Edited March 26 by Cordoba 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor Ancient Coin Hunter Posted March 26 · Benefactor Author Benefactor Share Posted March 26 Thanks for the reference. Some Roman examples are discussed including evidence of bronze coins being used...sort of depended on social status I suppose... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor kirispupis Posted March 27 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted March 27 It was an obol. Troas, Neandria Circa 350 BCE AR Obol .57g, 9mm Laureate head of Apollo right Ram standing right "NEA-N", all within an incuse square SNG Cop 446 Citizens of Hermione didn't have to pay it, though, since they had a shortcut. Argolis, Hermione Circa 360-310 BCE 14.46mm 2.26g Obverse: Head of Demeter Chthonia left Reverse: Torch flanked by E-P, all within wreath BCD Peloponnesos 1297 Ex BCD Collection (not in LHS sale) Eventually, inflation would have brought it up to two obols. THRACE, Apollonia Pontika Mid 4th century BCE AR Diobol 1.2 gm, 10mm, 12h Obv: Facing gorgoneion. Rev: Upright anchor; A to left, crayfish to right. Topalov, Apollonia p. 386, 3; SNG BM Black Sea 167 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevikens Posted March 27 · Member Share Posted March 27 The Greeks had easy access to "obols" but not so likely to be found among the Romans. They must have had their own equivalent and I world guess a copper As would do. Archaeologist ought to have been able to discover some of these coins in grave sites, perhaps some in situ among skulls. Anyone know if certain coins were found in such excavations? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zarco Posted March 27 · Member Share Posted March 27 This article from the New York Times is primarily about nails found in a Roman tomb outside Sagalassos in Turkey, but it also mentions other items found in the tomb, including an obol. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/25/science/archaeology-ancient-rome-tomb.html?unlocked_article_code=4EHozuCx1_6lX7HZ6MzZklK6yG9cq10DeG3p9Y_CiQhDZ--nPfRbVvQC3kMCK5AQfWbY4YWSh2L8M8AU7eXNkETB7Y_o8BNU8djyvU7OWX4MJdDhNjiMMZAjRgEjf4LW_sljGjV1fzi5ihupAvTHjaowmOrDiKMKfT3joB-CUmcF6fwYatZS9bVbV5bih1lu2vkOXAsybSicBmN8GFZx1z9K1Kr9Z498K42rmXzI0j2-4J-cKTMOLsdw4z-Ioto6fgRaS-EihIAFwTcaUVBvPE4bfJBSiUUE6Hnxvu5FGCruYHY5FTR1uPaO24lDj9D8fWnBVYGofYS-7v12swS5oL7FQBkJABQ&smid=url-share 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevikens Posted March 27 · Member Share Posted March 27 I wish the article had mentioned more about the coin found, but my guess is that any small denomination coin would have sufficed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ominus1 Posted March 27 · Supporter Share Posted March 27 The skull of a crowned athlete with a gold wreath in the shape of a laurel branch still attached to it is perhaps one of the most impressive exhibits in Greece. The flesh disintegrated after 2,500 years, but the wreath stuck and remained on the skull. Inside the mouth, a silver coin was found as a token to Charon, who in Greek mythology was the ferryman of Hades who carried the souls of the newly deceased to the underworld. The skull was found in the cemetery of the ancient city of Lato and was one of the most spectacular exhibits at Agios Nikolaos museum in Crete. Skull with gold wreath discovered in the ruins of the ancient city of Lato 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted March 27 · Member Share Posted March 27 The Chinese have had a custom of putting a jade cicada in the mouth of dead before burial that dates back over 5,000 years. The cicada was seen as a symbol of life after death because they burrow in the ground in the larva stage, sometimes for many years, & then emerge as a beautiful flying insect. Jade cicada toggles are still very popular amulets today, & people who can't afford the real thing can buy inexpensive imitations on Ebay for just a few bucks ☺️. Actual cicada that burrows in the ground for 17 years before emerging as a flying adult. Liangzhu Period Jade Cicada, 3400-2250 BC. 2.4 in. long. Shang Dynasty Jade Cicada, 1600-1050 BC. 2.6 in. long. Wester Han Dynasty, 206 BC-AD 9, 2.9 in. long Eastern Han Dynasty, AD 25-220, 2.4 in. long. Ming Dynasty, AD 1368-1644, 2.75 in. long. AWK Collection. Qing Dynasty, 1644-1911 (18th century), 2.8 in. long. Modern Ebay imitation made of cast glass, 2.36 in. long. $8.62. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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