Prieure de Sion Posted June 17, 2022 · Member Share Posted June 17, 2022 Hello... months ago I got my first Elektron Stater of the Kingdom of Bosporus by chance. Since then, I've been infatuated with these little Electron coins. As they are not always well represented in auctions, I only have a very small collection consisting of three specimens. So you can't really call it a collection. Here at CollecOnline - here I have also tried to gather some information: https://www.colleconline.com/de/collection-items/17017/munzen-antike-bis-romische-provinzial-cimmerian-bosporus-stater Are there any other collectors from this area? I am always pleased when I discover one or the other stater in other collections. Unfortunately, it is not easy to get hold of literature. And if it is, it is usually in Cyrillic. Here are my three in order, gold stater of Septimius Severus with Sauromates II, gold stater of Elagabal with Rhescuporis II and yes, this is not a b/w picture, it is a stater where the silver content is higher (golden silver, white gold) of Severus Alexander with Divus Rhescuporis II or III. But as I said, this is not yet a collection. It is hard to find nice pieces at an acceptable price. 13 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qcumbor Posted June 17, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 17, 2022 I love those @Prieure de Sion, but you already know that from Colleconline I can't but show mine again here 😊 Bosporan kingdom – El stater, dated 491 (194-195 CE) BACIΛΕωC CAVPOMATOV (anticlockwise). Draped and diademed bust of Sauromates II right Laureate head of Septimius Severus right. Star in right field. Retrograd VPA at exergue (year 491) 7,69 gr – 20 mm Ref : MacDonald # 502/2, Sear # 5476 var Bosporan kingdom – El stater, dated 513 (216-217 CE) BACIΛΕωC ΡHCKOΥΠOΡIΔOC (anticlockwise). Draped and diademed bust of Rhescuporis II right, before, trident. Laureate and draped bust of Caracalla right. ΓΙΦ at exergue (year 513) 7,63 gr – 18 mm Ref : MacDonald # 556/3 Q 10 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prieure de Sion Posted June 17, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted June 17, 2022 14 minutes ago, Qcumbor said: I love those @Prieure de Sion, but you already know that from Colleconline Yes we connected us at CollecOnline... and I love you too... your bosporus coins 😄 #1. I like both portraits. They are both so clear and distinct. #2. I don't have a Caracalla, so I envy you (positive). And your Caracalla is more beautiful than my Elegabal. I think my Elegabal is a bit rough. And your Caracalla is so beautifully even. But they are all interesting and beautiful coins from the Bosporus. You only see so few. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapphnwn Posted June 17, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted June 17, 2022 (edited) I like these staters as well. Av Stater of Rhoemetalkes131-132 AD Obv Bust of Rhoemetalkes right diademed and draped. Rv. Head of Hadrian right laureate Below date MacDonald 437/2 RPC 908 This coin illustrated 7.77 grms 20 mm Photo by W. Hansen When I acquired the coin back in 2004 it was described as being Hadrian with Cotys II When I started to process the coin I noticed a problem. The legend did not match up. Most of the now standard references on this coinage were unavailable to me at this time however I was able to identify the king as Rhoemetalkes. This is where things remained until about the summer of 2019. I was involved in creating new computer generated identification cards to be placed in the flips housing my coins. Thus I had to revisit all my old work. I was looking for the likely mint attribution for this coin and could not find one in MacDonald. I then checked RPC and found that my coin was now the plate specimen. They also corrected the error as well. Edited July 3, 2022 by kapphnwn spelling error 10 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prieure de Sion Posted June 17, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted June 17, 2022 7 minutes ago, kapphnwn said: Av Stater of Rhoemetalkes131-132 AD Obv Bust of Rhoemetalkes right diademed and draped. Rv. Head of Hadrian right laureate Below date MacDonald 437/2 RPC 908 This coin illustrated 7.77 grms 20 mm Photo by W. Hansen Oh... 😍 what a nice Hadrian Porträt. A excellent fine coin. Congratulations. Applaus for that coin. 9 minutes ago, kapphnwn said: When I acquired the coin back in 2004 it was described as being Hadrian with Cotys II When I started to prpcess the coin I noticed a problem. The legend did not match up. Most of the now standard references on this coinage were unavailable to me at this time however I was able to identify the king as Rhoemetalkes. This is where things remained until about the summer of 2019. I was involved in creating new computer generated identification cards to be placed in the flips housing my coins. Thus I had to revisit all my old work. I was looking for the likely mint attribution for this coin and could not find one in MacDonald. I then checked RPC and found that my coin was now the plate specimen. They also corrected the error as well. Ah ok, interesting... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles H Posted June 23, 2022 · Member Share Posted June 23, 2022 Interesting coins . I only have one Bosporan Kingdom, Eupator with Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus (154-172 AD), EL Stater Stanisławski 363 MacDonald 470/6 8 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prieure de Sion Posted June 23, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted June 23, 2022 34 minutes ago, Charles H said: Interesting coins . I only have one Only one ... ha ha ha ... he said ONLY one... ONLY...! I'll give you my nose, or my ear - left right doesn't matter ... or do you want a finger for your rare beautiful coin? 😄 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Cazador Posted June 23, 2022 · Member Share Posted June 23, 2022 (edited) I think I posted mine before, but here it is again Edited June 23, 2022 by El Cazador 4 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prieure de Sion Posted July 3, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted July 3, 2022 On 6/23/2022 at 4:22 PM, El Cazador said: I think I posted mine before, but here it is again Oh cool & nice - a double Severan Porträt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Cazador Posted July 3, 2022 · Member Share Posted July 3, 2022 2 minutes ago, Prieure de Sion said: Oh cool & nice - a double Severan Porträt! Yeah, seems like we like the same stuff:)) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prieure de Sion Posted July 3, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted July 3, 2022 Yes! I got it. That's fine - my Sunday evening is safe - I can close the auction and get some ice cream outside in the garden 🙂Won this Bosporus Stater yet with Naumann Auction. Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Caracalla Pantikapaion, Kingdom of the Bosporus Elektron Gold Stater, 216/217 AD, MacDonald 556/2 Av: Draped bust of Rhescuporis II with diadema to the right. In front of it a club (attribute of Heracles), ΒΑϹΙΛƐⲰϹ · PHCKOVΠOPIΔOC Rv: Draped bust of Caracalla with laurel wreath to the right, ΓIΦ (Gamma 3 + Iota 10 + Phi 500 = BE 513) 4 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Cazador Posted July 3, 2022 · Member Share Posted July 3, 2022 9 minutes ago, Prieure de Sion said: Yes! I got it. That's fine - my Sunday evening is safe - I can close the auction and get some ice cream outside in the garden 🙂Won this Bosporus Stater yet with Naumann Auction. Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Caracalla Pantikapaion, Kingdom of the Bosporus Elektron Gold Stater, 216/217 AD, MacDonald 556/2 Av: Draped bust of Rhescuporis II with diadema to the right. In front of it a club (attribute of Heracles), ΒΑϹΙΛƐⲰϹ · PHCKOVΠOPIΔOC Rv: Draped bust of Caracalla with laurel wreath to the right, ΓIΦ (Gamma 3 + Iota 10 + Phi 500 = BE 513) Congratulations on your win, my only target was lot #250, it went slightly over what i was willing to spend 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prieure de Sion Posted July 3, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted July 3, 2022 24 minutes ago, El Cazador said: Congratulations on your win, my only target was lot #250, it went slightly over what i was willing to spend Oh that's fantastic. Gratulations. If you like ist - and I think so - you have spend the right 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Cazador Posted July 3, 2022 · Member Share Posted July 3, 2022 33 minutes ago, Prieure de Sion said: Oh that's fantastic. Gratulations. If you like ist - and I think so - you have spend the right 🙂 I didn’t win it, was a bit rich on the expenses side Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prieure de Sion Posted July 3, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted July 3, 2022 oh 😞 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qcumbor Posted July 3, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted July 3, 2022 1 hour ago, Prieure de Sion said: Yes! I got it. That's fine - my Sunday evening is safe - I can close the auction and get some ice cream outside in the garden 🙂Won this Bosporus Stater yet with Naumann Auction. Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Caracalla Pantikapaion, Kingdom of the Bosporus Elektron Gold Stater, 216/217 AD, MacDonald 556/2 Av: Draped bust of Rhescuporis II with diadema to the right. In front of it a club (attribute of Heracles), ΒΑϹΙΛƐⲰϹ · PHCKOVΠOPIΔOC Rv: Draped bust of Caracalla with laurel wreath to the right, ΓIΦ (Gamma 3 + Iota 10 + Phi 500 = BE 513) Glad you got it. It's the same reference as my example shown above, except for the club instead of trident on the obverse right field. Congrats on a great acquisition Q 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prieure de Sion Posted July 4, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted July 4, 2022 15 hours ago, Qcumbor said: Glad you got it. It's the same reference as my example shown above, except for the club instead of trident on the obverse right field. Congrats on a great acquisition Yes I see it 🙂 you got the 556/3 club-version. 15 hours ago, Qcumbor said: It's the same reference as my example shown above, except for the club instead of trident on the obverse right field. However, I am a little confused or sceptical about the MacDonald Type 556. The coin is assigned to Caracalla. But somehow the profile of the portrait reminds me more of Elagabal than Caracalla, if I'm honest. 218 AD – MacDonald 558/3 – Stater Bosporus – Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Elagabal 216 AD – MacDonald 556/2 – Stater Bosporus – Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Caracalla But the date is actually clear on the Caracalla coin. ΓIΦ = Gamma (3) + Iota (10) + Phi (500) = 513 Dated year 513 of the Bosporan era = 216/217 AD So it "must" be Caracalla in the portrait. But the problem I have. It is one of the last Caracalla Bosphorus stater with 216/217 AD. So it is the last portrait of Caracalla! Dated 212 AD: Dated 213 AD: Datet 215 AD: Why do the Bosphorus Caracalla coins from 211 to 215 show a bearded Caracalla and just in the last year he is beardless? And I don't know if I'm imagining it - the portraits from 211 to 215 show a different Caracalla type to me than our MacDonald 552/var. The MacDonald 552/var reminds me more of the features of the upcoming Elagabal coinage. But the problem is. The date clearly shows 513 = 216/217 AD. But maybe I'm looking at it completely wrong. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prieure de Sion Posted July 6, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted July 6, 2022 (edited) It is not a stater. It is not an electron. But it had "Bosporus" written on it in the auction and I liked it. So I dared to bid. And I won it. But if I'm honest. I know it belongs to the "Cimmerian Bosporus" - but that's all I know. I have no idea (yet) what I actually got. But I thought it suited the collecting area. Maybe. I hope so. (And now, unfortunately, I have to go offline - as punishment I have to set up my wife's rowing machine - I had to buy this for her as compensation for my orders). Greek coins, BOSPORUS. Pantikapaion. Perisad I Tetrahalk 330 - 315 B.C. Bronze. 6,53 g. 21.5 mm. Vs: Head Pan (satyr) right. R.: ПАN, forepart of griffin left, fish below. Edited July 6, 2022 by Prieure de Sion 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UkrainiiVityaz Posted July 6, 2022 · Member Share Posted July 6, 2022 Pantikapeum - Пантикапеум The city state of Pantikapeum was quite possibly founded by Greeks from Miletos in Asia Minor, they possibly settled the Cimmerian Bosporus beginning in the 7th century BC. This city is located roughly near modern Kerch in Ukraine. Coinage with the satyr, Pan and the bull reverse with the legend PAN was issued beginning in the 3rd century BC. A similar example with a curious feature of having a spur which was subsequently pushed back into the flan of the coin, this piece is also slightly off of centre. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UkrainiiVityaz Posted July 6, 2022 · Member Share Posted July 6, 2022 Phanagoria - Фанагория Phanagoria was founded in the 6th century BC by colonists fleeing Asia Minor in the wake of the expansion of the Persian Empire. The city was located on what is now the Taman Peninsula in Russia, directly across and east from the Crimean Peninsula in what is now Ukraine. Phanagoria was a strategically located centre of trade and commerce and had a long lineage of rulers that continued to reign until ca. 108 BC when the ruler Paerisades V lost his kingdom to the Skythians. This coin was one of the last issued under the original kingdom that flourished in that region, the King Paerisades V and is a dimunitive AE11 that has a portrait of a bearded Satyr on the obverse and a bow and arrow and the legend "ФА". In the first century Phanagoria became part of a client state of the Roman Empire under their Bosporan Kingdom. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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