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 Replies: 27 / Views: 3,671 |
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
oh, okay => well that's certainly better, but man, even a 9mm coin is a wee one, eh?
... my smallest coin a Macedon Eion, which is a whopping 12mm ...
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
It's actually 9mm wide. AE4 is just a term to describe any Roman coin under 17 mm. Well, that explains the details. I can only guess the later Roman Empire lost the art of engraving tiny coin dies--or it was simply not worth the effort. The peak of the art may have been Greece, such as this 9mm obol from Kyzikos c. 400 BC:  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
I don't know if the late Roman's lost the ability or not. I think that they didn't care too much about the AE coinage. On the other hand, gold is a bit higher in quality.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
I'm only suggesting there is a visual progression of die work seen on Roman Republican coins to Empire coins, followed by the later Byzantine era.  Die work on AV solidi is better, but does not approach work on aureii of the Twelve Caesars or especially earlier Greek gold staters. A similar craft to die engraving are the signet rings of the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine eras, where you see a corresponding level of quality to the celator's work of each period. Many artistic skills are simply lost over time due to disuse, style, or the necessities of mass production. The high art of engraving was lost for centuries, only revived in the Renaissance era. I like ancient signets and I would collect them if I could afford them--they are way out of my budget. Here is a Greco-Roman signet stone from c. 100 BC.  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4778 Posts |
But why were they making such tiny flans in the first place? Was it due to economic conditions? Or was copper scarce?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
VK, I'm not sure either--it could be devaluation or due to seignorage--as a way to fund the empire.  |
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Valued Member
United States
422 Posts |
DVC! What a great topic for a coin club banquet!  Progression from the true artistic style of the Greeks, Republic and 1st, 2nd century through the downhill slide of real craftmanship at the end of the western leg of the empire? Wha'dya think?  |
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
That's a super-cool Greek coin, DVC (is that yours?)
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Steve--nope, that one is way out of my budget! But I have seen them for a reasonable price too... Oxos, yeah--it's an interesting subject for further study, and who knows...maybe I'll actually know enough to talk about it?  (Sorry to hijack this thread on a different subject)  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Quote:
(Sorry to hijack this thread on a different subject) No worries, it's all good Not often one of my threads gives way to further discussion like this Edited by VisigothKing
05/03/2012 4:43 pm
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Valued Member
United States
422 Posts |
My apologizes as well ValiantKnight! The subject brought to mind a different direction. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
That's ok oxos Gives me an idea for a new thread actually |
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Replies: 27 / Views: 3,671 |
First Page
Posted 05/03/2012 12:52 pm
