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Please show your Ancient North African Coins!


Alegandron

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4A97A5DA-E036-46C7-A5CC-FD5C04211598.thumb.jpeg.1b2fbc5ba9410e227e7865a633bd6374.jpeg1B149191-4EEE-4690-A4B9-F111D9E95E80.thumb.jpeg.f00a28e9ea94b95e23e622d74cdd1d27.jpeg

Revolt of the Heraclii follis, Alexandria mint!

Bronze follis, DOC II 16, Morrisson BnF 9/Ax/AE/02, Hahn MIBEC 16a, Grierson 164, Tolstoi 279, SBCV 722, Sommer -, Ratto -, aF, uneven strike, a little off center, scratches, overstruck, edge cracks, weight 5.587 g, maximum diameter 29.4 mm, die axis 180o, 1st officina, Alexandria or Alexandretta mint, Sep - Oct 610 A.D.; obverse dm N ERACLIO CONSULII, facing busts of Heraclius and his father, both bearded, bareheaded and wearing consular robes, cross above center; reverse Large M (40 nummi), cross above, ANNO left, X/IIII (year 14) on right, A (1st officina) below, AΛEZAN∆ in exergue;


This extremely rare coin was minted by the Heraclii during their usurpation of throne from Phocas. It interestingly appeals to ancient roman senatorial powers and doesn’t refer to the usurpers as emperors but rather consuls! This is the last coin to feature the office consul. 608-10 AD.

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This didrachm from Cyrene arrived the other day. I've been wanting an example showing the "wonder plant' for a while and this was a rather affordable example for the type. I believe the black stuff is horn silver, so I may attempt a treatment today.

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Kyrenaica, Kyrene, Second Revolt of the Kyrenaikans, AR Didrachm 

Circa 305-300 BC
Obverse: Horned head of Karneios left.
Reverse: Silphium plant; KY-PA across lower fields, tripod to upper left, monogram to upper right. 
References: Müller, Afrique 167; BMC 251–2; SNG Copenhagen 1242; Traité III 1892.
20mm; 7.46g

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Here are Juba II (son of Juba I of Numidia) and Cleopatra Selene II (daughter of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII of Egypt), Roman client-rulers of the north African kingdom of Mauretania.

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KINGDOM OF MAURETANIA, JUBA II and CLEOPATRA SELENE II
AR Denarius. 2.91g, 17.2mm.
Iol-Caesarea mint, circa 20 BC - AD 20. Mazard 361; MAA 108; SNG Copenhagen 566.
O: REX IVBA, diademed head of Juba right.
R: BACIΛICCA KΛEΟΠΑΤΡA, diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra Selene left.
Ex Stein A. Evensen Collection, purchased from John Jencek, July 2009

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Uncle Claudius looks very displeased with the low silver content on his Tetradrachm!



EGYPT. Alexandria. Claudius, with Messalina, 41-54. Tetradrachm (Billon, 24 mm, 12.11 g, 1 h), RY 2 = 41/2. [TI] ΚΛΑYΔΙ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑ ΓΕΡΜ[ΑΝΙ ΑYΤΟΚΡ] / L Γ Laureate head of Claudius to right. Rev. ΜΕΣΣΑΛΙΝΑ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑΣ Messalina standing front, head to left, leaning left on column, holding two children in her right hand and grain ears in her left; to left, lituus. Dattari (Savio) 122. Emmett 74.2. K&G 12.6. RPC I 5116.

01940q00.jpg

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DISHEKEL
upload_2021-2-22_12-4-44.png
Zeugitania, Carthage. 
After 241 BCE 
Æ Dishekel (27 mm, 10.81 g, 12 h). 
Wreathed head of Tanit left / 
Horse standing right; in background, palm tree. 
MAA 45; SNG Copenhagen 253. Scarce issue. Dark brown-green patina with scattered deposits. Good fine.
Comments: This coinage appears to have been struck in the aftermath of the First Punic War (264-241 B.C.), when Carthage faced a serious revolt of its mercenary forces. This conflict, known as the Truceless War (240-238 B.C.), resulted in the rise of Hamilcar Barca to prominence and provided a Roman for intervening in Sardinia. Hamilcar's son, Hannibal, would later raise the banner of war and come close to destroying Rome in the Second Punic War (218-201 B.C.)
Ex: Triskeles

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Ptolemaic Egypt
eyJpZCI6ImNvaW4vNTk0NC9vYnZlcnNlX2ltYWdlL2Jhc2ljLTJkOGNlZWNkNjBjZjVmY2Q2ZTljODRmMGIxZWE5N2QyLmpwZyIsInN0b3JhZ2UiOiJzdG9yZSJ9?version=3&filename=coin-bd-cabinet-0bC55O-stitched-1600.jpg&signature=cb78e6f9aff35b6b7cbe8d7247fc0002caed134d98e15dca94d7d840bbb0d0d9
Ptolemy I
305-285 BCE
Alexandria mint
28mm, 13.8 grams
Svoronos 265
 
Roman Carthage

eyJpZCI6ImNvaW4vNTk0NS9vYnZlcnNlX2ltYWdlL2Jhc2ljLWZjNGNhYzRhMTE3MTM0YTdkODczNzUwMmE2MWU1ZjE4LmpwZyIsInN0b3JhZ2UiOiJzdG9yZSJ9?version=3&filename=coin-bd-cabinet-y3CrrW-stitched-1600.jpg&signature=ea0a0c0e39b1e8e017d28d898b23d31c2bbf96abd65ccb1028011aebf9c404d6
Severus II
AE Follis
Carthage mint
306 CE
FL VAL SEVERVS NOB CAES, Head of Severus II, laureate, right
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART, Carthage, wearing long robe, standing front, head left, holding fruits in both hands
RIC VI Carthage 40A
28mm, 8.49 grams

 

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@Alegandron, you have some uncanny genius for OPs that lead to equally, cumulatively brilliant threads.

And, Right, pics of the one, less than stellar Numidian AE I ever landed are eluding me.  Is this close enough? From the opposite side of, well, still sort of the northern part of a conspicuously large continent.

711055526_AKSUMLATE4THC.LATINCROSSOCT.2021HOLYLANDAUCTIONS.jpg.5d008d590ac7759f911b0bbe964d02e2.jpg

Aksum /Axum; anonymous ('BACILEVC'), c. later 4th century.

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My two from Kyrene are the low end price options for Silphium but neither seems common in the market. The little one with three plants joined at the base seems least common.  It would not be a high demand item so there may be many but all in junk boxes???

Kyrene, AE16, S6341g82050bb1145.thumb.jpg.667076fdee17440c0f89058d033e1b49.jpg

AE24, S6364

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I got both of mine in 1995 but from different dealers.  

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3 hours ago, JeandAcre said:

@Alegandron, you have some uncanny genius for OPs that lead to equally, cumulatively brilliant threads.

And, Right, pics of the one, less than stellar Numidian AE I ever landed are eluding me.  Is this close enough? From the opposite side of, well, still sort of the northern part of a conspicuously large continent.

711055526_AKSUMLATE4THC.LATINCROSSOCT.2021HOLYLANDAUCTIONS.jpg.5d008d590ac7759f911b0bbe964d02e2.jpg

Aksum /Axum; anonymous ('BACILEVC'), c. later 4th century.

I WANT an Axum... never seem to get one! Especially with a gold fleck! Your example is GREAT.

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[IMG]
Carthage 
Third Punic War with Rome 149-146 BCE
Billon Serrate Double Shekel
12.83g, 26mm. 
Obv: Wreathed head of Tanit left 
Rev: Horse standing right, pellet below raised left leg 
Ref: SNG Copenhagen 403. 
Comment: Very fine, several (cleaning?) scratches


[IMG]
Carthage 
AE 31mm 
Trishekel 220-215 BCE 
2nd Punic War 
Tanit 
Horse Palm Punic "th" 
SNG COP 342

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4 hours ago, Alegandron said:

I WANT an Axum... never seem to get one! Especially with a gold fleck! Your example is GREAT.

Thanks, @AlegandronMaybe I'll do an OP with all of mine in one place.  ...And I feel your pain --conpicuously regarding Carthaginians!  Yours are Awesome. 

 ...That Aksumite is just a variant of the commonest anonymous type, Munro-Hay 52.  

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  • Benefactor
21 minutes ago, TheTrachyEnjoyer said:

What is the type with the hand obverse? I haven’t seen it before

Cr-546/7, an especially rare variety of a scarce type struck in Cyrene by the erstwhile Antonian general L. Pinarius Scarpus, several months after Actium. He commanded four legions in Antony's name, the last substantial force remaining to Antony. He also was Julius Caesar's grand-nephew and Octavian's cousin. In the nick of time (!) Scarpus recalled that blood is indeed thicker than water and reached out his hand in friendship to his beloved cousin. Since that hand contained four legions, Octavian was happy to accept it...

At least for awhile. Nothing is heard from Scarpus after the legions were duly transferred, so we may surmise that while he probably retained his life, his subsequent career didn't precisely flourish

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A trio of Imperatorial period Scipios minted in North Africa for your consideration:

 

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Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio and and P. Licinius Crassus Iunianus. Denarius, Africa 47-46, AR (3.97g, 18.5mm, 10h). Q·METEL·PIVS - SCIPIO·IMP Lion-headed figure of Genius Terrae Africae or Sekhmet, standing facing, clad in long robes, holding symbol of Tanit or Ankh (per Crawford) in r. hand; at sides of head, G·T· – A. Rev. P·CRASSVS·IVN – LEG PRO·PR Victory standing l., holding caduceus and shield. Babelon Caecilia 51 and Licinia 21. Sydenham 1050. Sear Imperators 43. Crawford 460/4.

Provenance:

RBW Collection NAC Auction 63 May 17, 2012 Lot 379

NAC Auction 1 March 29, 1989 Lot 725 purchased by Leu for RBW 

Henry Platt Hall, Glendining July 19th, 1950 Lot 586 sold to Santamaria

 

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Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio and P. Licinius Crassus Iunianus. Denarius, Africa 47-46, AR (3.89g, 19mm, 10h). CRASS·IVN – [L]EG·PRO·PR Turreted female head r.; above and below respectively, uncertain object and rostrum tridens. On l. and r. respectively, ear of corn and caduceus. Rev. METEL·PIVS – SCIP·IMP Trophy between lituus and jug. Babelon Caecilia 52 and Licinia 22. Sydenham 1049. Sear Imperators 42. RBW 1603. Crawford 460/3.

Provenance:

The Collection of Roman Republican Coins of a Student and his Mentor Part III NAC 83, May 20, 2015 Lot 418

Monnies et Medailles Auction 43, November 12-13, 1970 Lot 201

 

image.thumb.jpeg.388984c9a7cc8927a0c5b7af2583a407.jpeg

Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio and Eppius, 47-46 BC, AR Denarius (3.84g, 18.2mm, 7h).  head of Africa right, wearing elephant's skin and corn stalk, Q. METE{LL] before, [S]CIPIO.IMP behind, rev. Hercules standing facing, [EPPIVS] on right, LEG .F.C left. Crawford 461/1;  Sear CRI 44, Caecilia 50a; Syd 1051

Provenance:

Spink Spring Auction ex Dr. Erik Miller Collection, March 27. 2019 Lot 242

Spink Numismatic Circular, October 1965, no. 5564 - "very rare piece, and almost perfect" - £28.0.0

 

Edited by Carthago
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Roman Imperial: Constantius I, as Caesar (293-305 CE) Æ Follis, Carthage (RIC 24a)

Obv: CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES; Head laureate facing right
Rev: FELIX A - DV - ENT AVGG NN; Africa in elephant-skin headdress standing left holding vexillum and tusk, lion attacking bull at feet, PKT in exergue, H in left field

ConstantiusI_RIC-24a.thumb.jpg.f96b3ed718369019ac093683337e7daa.jpg

 

Vandals: Gunthamund (484-496) AR 50 Denarii, Carthage (MEC 8-10; MIB-3)

Obv: DN RX GVNTHA; diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev: D•N within wreath

MEC-8(1).thumb.jpg.2e4870f5c341fd1665e2c275ab7d5737.jpg

 

Fatimid: al-Mustansir (427-487 AH / 1036-1094 CE) AV Dinar, Misr, 453AH (Nicol 1932; Album 719A)

Obv Center: المستنصر بالله أمير المؤمنين (al-Mustansir bi'llah, Commander of the Faithful)

Obv Inner Margin: دعا الأمام معد لتوحيد الإله الصمد (the Imam Ma'add summons all to confess the unity of God the eternal)

Obv Outer Margin: بسم الله ضرب هذا الدينر بمصر سنة ثلث وخمسين وأربعمائة (in the name of God, this dinar was struck in Misr, the year three and fifty and four hundred (453))

Rev Center: لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله (no god but God, Muhammad is the messenger of God)

Rev Inner Margin: وعلي أفضل الوصيين ووزير خير المرسلين (and 'Ali is the most excellent of the caretakers and the vizier of the best of the messengers)

Rev Outer Margin: محمد رسول الله ارسله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله ولو كره المشركون (Muhammad is the messenger of God. He sent him with guidance and the true religion to reveal it to all religions even if the polytheists abhor it (Quran, Surah al-Tawbah, Verse: 33))

Note that the Obv and Rev are reversed in the image below...

 

Album-719A.thumb.jpg.390dac862c8bc764c165f7d1abe7a55a.jpg

 

 

Edited by quant.geek
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  • 1 year later...

got a ton of em! Here are 4 Islamic

Ottoman Empire/ Egypt

AV Sultani AH 982= 1574

Misr Mint

Murad III 1574-96

 

Bahri Mamluks

AV Dinar ND

Alexandria Mint

Al Zahir Rukn al-Din Baybars I 1260-77

 

Fatimid Caliphate/ Egypt

AV Dinar AH467 (1097AD)

Misr Mint

al-Mustansir

 

Ayyubid Caliphate

AV Dinar AH625

al-Qahira Mint

al-Kamil Muhammad I 1218-38

 

 

 

 

 

 

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