Dated Coins of Antiquity Release 2

[Ocatarinetabellatchitchix]

In this new publication written by Edward E. Cohen,  do not look for imperial Roman coins, or even provincial ones, apart from a few exception like the coinage of Tyre or the coins of Caesar struck on the occasion of his 52nd birthday. If the author touches on these areas, his study focuses 99% on dated Greek coins. These are found more particularly in the eastern part of the Mediterranean. As for the periods discussed, they relate more to the classical and Hellenistic periods.

This new edition (DCA2) is not only a rework of the first title, but a completely revised version of the work by integrating all the data that has appeared on the market since the publication of the first edition. The work is sometimes even in advance since it includes the Lagid kings from Ptolemy V to Cleopatra VII (205-30 BC). The work thus goes from 652 pages (DCA) to 908 pages (DCA2) and is therefore divided into two volumes. The catalog, with nearly 1,200 types of coins struck (1,187 exactly) in all metals (gold, silver and bronze) and more than 10,000 entries for different dated coins, constitutes a set which makes it an essential reference for entire Greek world, with numerous rarities and completely new coins referencing both reference works and the most recent sales catalogues.

As the author points out, in Antiquity more than fifty different dating systems or eras could have been used and constitute a real headache for collectors and sometimes also researchers. These systems vary from one region to another, sometimes from one city to another in the same region. Some cities may have used several different dating systems throughout history. The complexity can be extreme, certain eras are not necessarily fixed precisely and may experience slight distortions.

The structure of the new edition (DCA 2) is built around 21 chapters of unequal importance, sometimes with approximate and inappropriate titles. The first volume covers pages 1 to 426 and volume 2 from 427 to 908. In each of the volumes, at the top, you will find the unnumbered table of contents to mark because you will undoubtedly need to refer to it, in particular if you are using the work for the first time. The first volume includes the coinages of Northern Europe and Central Asia with the Seleucid kingdom and the Syrian cities, the Parthian kingdom and the territories dependent on it as well as Anatolia and Armenia.

As for the second volume, it is devoted to Phoenicia, the Mediterranean islands, the south of the Levant, the Nabataean kingdom, Africa and the Lagid kingdom, to coins dated by the month as well as to undated coins, but using the alphanumeric Greek alphabet. A « must have » for all numismatists or collectors, published by CNG and available for 195 USD.

[panzerman]

Great book!