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 Replies: 10 / Views: 3,527 |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
946 Posts |
Bought this last month, got round to attributing it today. Coin: AE 20 Obverse: Laureate bust of Zeus, facing to the right. Reverse: ANTIΩ-K-EΩN MHTPΩ-ΠΩΛEΩΣ, around Aries, running to the right, his head turned back to the left, ✵ above him. Delta M (Actian Year 44, 13 A.D.) below, Weight: 6.77 g, Diameter: 20 mm, Die axis: 310°, Mint: Antioch, Reference: SNG Cop. 95 According to Claudius Ptolemy, Aries was associated with Judea and lower Syria. According to Michael Molnar, this series of coin refers to "the Star of Bethlehem". http://www.eclipse.net/~molnar/  Edited by Masis
03/10/2013 2:33 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Cool - but how did the star of bethlehem (I assume this is a biblical reference) end up on a coin so very early?
Perhaps its the Julian star?
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Neat coin. I have no idea about the star though.
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Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
946 Posts |
Quote:
Cool - but how did the star of bethlehem (I assume this is a biblical reference) end up on a coin so very early? I assume the link to Michael Molnar's page, of the coin, and his book, is still there. If it is, it will give his explanation. "Star of Bethlehem" or not, to me, it is a nice and rare coin. |
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Moderator
Australia
16871 Posts |
It's a neat enough coin, but the "Star of Bethlehem" theory postulated in the above link has holes big enough to fly a Star Destroyer through. Let's just look at the numismatic connection, for starters: Quote:
I think the coin was issued by the Romans of Antioch to commemorate their takeover of Judea in AD 6. Um, what? These coins were issued long after the takeover; Masis' coin is clearly and unambiguously dated to AD 13. A quick search for the word "ram" on the Wildwinds page for Antioch shows us that coins featuring this same leaping-ram-with-head-turned design were issued in Antioch right up until the end of Antioch provincial coin series under Valerian, over 200 years later; later coins always seem to show the ram associated with Tyche, so perhaps the local Tyche cult featured rams. There's certainly no intended or implied symbolism of Judaism on this coin. Besides, in AD 6 the Romans removed the Jewish monarchy, owing to the incompetence of the monarch; Judaea effectively became part of the Roman Republic, with no claimant to the throne recognized. Why would they then put on the coin an astrological symbol which, if his theory is correct, is proclaiming a "new King of the Jews"? Such symbolism would only make sense if there was a king in Antioch at the time the coin was made who was trying to justify expanding his realm by claiming that he was also King of the Jews. But there wasn't. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1315 Posts |
Another nice coin from Antioch, a most fascinating place.
I don't know enough to comment on the Star question, but Sap has an strong argument.
I like this coin. Good choice Masis, I may have one someday.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4981 Posts |
that's a great coin masis...love that reverse...but don't have a clue about it. still...  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
4227 Posts |
Cool thread, a coin club member gave a talk about this subject with nice examples of relevant coins last meeting. Very interesting subject.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
Nice coin! I like the reverse, attractive and intresting! |
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Valued Member
Canada
129 Posts |
maybe it's one of a kind lol
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
946 Posts |
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maybe it's one of a kind lol~uchihadesendent Hardly, there are other examples known. LOL |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 3,527 |
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Posted 03/10/2013 3:36 pm
