Variation or Unpublished

[-monolith-]

So here's the big debate. Why are some Greek / Provincial coins listed as variations and others as unpublished types. What qualifications does a coin need to have to be a classified as a different type and not just a variation?

 

Example - Troas, Cebren:

Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo right

 Reverse: Forepart of ram right, K below

 References: SNG Cop 20, 263-264; SNG München 19, 287

 

 

Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo right

 Reverse: Forepart of ram right, K above

 References: Typically listed as variables of SNG Cop 20, 263-264 (var. K below); SNG München 19, 287 (var. K below), however I believe it is a different type and should be listed as unpublished.

 

Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo right

 Reverse: Forepart of ram right

 References: Typically listed as variables of SNG Cop 20, 263-264 (var. no K below); SNG München 19, 287 (var. no K below), however I believe it is a different type and should be listed as unpublished.

 

 

[wuntbedruv]

It's a variant because the primary designs are the same across all the pieces. I would term it an unpublished variety of a known type. 

[shanxi]

The centre coin has the K in front of the ram's head, like this:

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1888-0618-6

The reference (BM number) is given in the link, but the BMC catalogue number, also in the link, is not clear. The position of the K is not mentioned and the picture is not shown in the old catalogue, only now online.

 

And there is also the Berlin example which is also published in "Klein". Ref. in the Link.

https://ikmk.smb.museum/object?lang=de&id=18278613

 

This is also published in CN online

https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/coins/38868

 

and your references for this type are: CN Online 38868; Klein 313; BMC Troas p. 45, 23 

 

 

As far as the lower coin is concerned, it is probably impossible to say whether there is or was a K underneath. In fact, there is a little structure very close to the rim that could be part of a K.

 

So, IMHO not unpublished 

Edited September 22 by shanxi

[-monolith-]

3 hours ago, shanxi said:

The centre coin has the K in front of the ram's head, like this:

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1888-0618-6

The reference (BM number) is given in the link, but the BMC catalogue number, also in the link, is not clear. The position of the K is not mentioned and the picture is not shown in the old catalogue, only now online.

 

And there is also the Berlin example which is also published in "Klein". Ref. in the Link.

https://ikmk.smb.museum/object?lang=de&id=18278613

 

This is also published in CN online

https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/coins/38868

 

and your references for this type are: CN Online 38868; Klein 313; BMC Troas p. 45, 23 

 

 

As far as the lower coin is concerned, it is probably impossible to say whether there is or was a K underneath. In fact, there is a little structure very close to the rim that could be part of a K.

 

So, IMHO not unpublished 

My point exactly; some of these coin types are published in standard references such as SNG or Klein while others are not. Therefore they should not be listed as "variables" of SNG Cop 20, 263-264 but should be listed with the lesser known publications or simply listed as "unpublished in standard references". I've started citing CN and RPC Online as "standard" references because they list the coins while most publications don't. 

I do agree that the 3rd coin my be a SNG Cop 20, 263-264 (K below) but do to the offset it just can't be determined. 

[-monolith-]

Here is another very messy example of classified separate types and variables of the same type:

These are all coins of Pamphylia, Perge - Gallienus; all coin types share the same obverse and reverse design / inscriptions. However, some are classified on RPC Online as individual coin types based on where ΑϹΥΛΟΥ is located and what, if anything, is located in the exergue while others are not. Most people may classify these as variables of the same type but the British Museum Numismatist for some reason listed some as variables and others as a unique type. For example RPC Online X, 62270 has 64 specimen's listed under this coin type. They can be separated into "variables" listed below as Type 1A ΑϹΥΛΟΥ in exergue, Type 1B ΑϹΥΛΟΥ in pediment, Type 1 C ΑϹΥΛΟΥ in pediment and crescent in exergue. So why are these coins listed as variables under one coin classification (RPC Online X, 62270) while other similar coins are identified as unique coin types RPC Online X, 62271, RPC Online X, 62374, RPC Online X, 84319?

Edited September 22 by -monolith-