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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,925 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Seems like a slow day on the board, so I'll post. Over the years I've been lucky enough to acquire some coins that were previously part of important collections (ex-David Sellwood, ex-Tom Mallon), some that are posted on study sites like Parthia.com, Grifterrec.rasmir.com, and Coinproject.com, and one that was even mentioned in a Celator article. But, up to now, I've never owned a plate coin - that is, a coin that is illustrated in a reference book devoted to an ancients series. Pieter Anne van't Haaff's "Catalogue of Elymaean Coinage" was published by CNG in 2007 and is recognized as the most up-to-date reference for the challenging (in terms of attributions) Elymaean series. Today I purchased the rough-looking little coin below. This is the dealer's pic. Hopefully the coin won't hit a snag in transit from Europe to the American Midwest, and it'll be in my hands soon. The coin is not at all attractive but it is very rare. An obol from the reign of Kamnaskires IV, it was minted c. 63/2 - 54/3 BC. The period in which it was minted is known as the "Later Kamnaskirid Dynasty" and is the middle of three distinct periods in the history of Elymais, the first being the so-called "Early Kamnaskirid Dynasty" and the last being the "Elymais Arsacid Dynasty," when we start seeing Parthian names for kings like Orodes and Phraates. This is my second coin of this king, the first one being a tet that is much prettier and is one of my favorites in my collection: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/ga...?pos=-118106The obverse of the obol below shows a portrait of the king with an uncertain mintmark behind him. The reverse shows Belos or Zeus seated on his throne, holding a small Nike in his outstretched right hand. The remnants of a Greek legend are visible. It would have translated as "King Kamnaskires, grandson of King Kamnaskires." At the bottom I show the coin as illustrated in Van't Haaff. It serves as the reference for Van't Haaff 8.2.3-1.a. So I can now say I own a plate coin!   Edited by Kamnaskires
06/05/2016 8:18 pm
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Valued Member
Poland
392 Posts |
Very interesting coin, thanks for sharing!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Now, That's ONE way of demonstrating provenance  |
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Moderator
 United States
34427 Posts |
Super-cool coin!
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7066 Posts |
Thanks, all. Quote:
That's ONE way of demonstrating provenance Yeah, kind of the hard way, David.  |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
I don't see anything ugly about this coin. Excellent addition to your collection Bob.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
You say not pretty but really I have seen far uglier coins... if they chose to use that one as an example it really can't be all that bad.
Congratulations on a good pick up :)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Thanks, David. I think Van't Haaff chose it simply for lack of options...this type - this denomination for this ruler - is very rare. I'm pleased to own it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
I'm not seeing anything ugly about this coin. It sure is not pretty, but it ain't ugly.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Thanks for the continuing comments, all. Well I actually never did use the word "ugly" to describe it. I did say "not pretty" - which is certainly apt. But that's fine...I'll take a "not pretty," very rare plate coin over eye candy any day. I don't think I've ever seen more than three Kamnaskires IV obols...two of those are from the Van't Haaff book, and the third was from the well-known Bellaria Collection. So this is, presumably, seriously rare. And, as my first and only plate coin to date, it's a milestone for me. When I have the coin in hand and have a chance to take my own pics, I'll be able to post them in Forum's exalted "Plate Coins" gallery.  I wonder if you get a smoking jacket with a Forum logo, or a special ring or anything? All that for a decent price too. I'm happy. To keep the stream of consciousness going: I'm reminded somewhat of oh-my-florin's post from a few months back: https://goccf.com/t/255829&SearchTerms=provenanceI came down heavily on the side of "provenance" in that thread. As I said there, in my opinion "pedigree trumps style." |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1269 Posts |
Great coin. I think it is very cool that your coin is in a reference book. Congrats!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4971 Posts |
oh cool, congrats on picking elymian rock star! that other coin other kamnaskires coin of yours is drop dead gorgeous! here's my only elymian still, so this would be from the arsacid period I guess (orodes ii)...  so I don't know my history of the region, I assume that when your coin was minted they were not vassals of the parthians? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Thanks for the nice comments, Chris. Quote:
here's my only elymian still, so this would be from the arsacid period I guess (orodes ii)... Yes, your coin (Orodes II) is from the Elymais Arsacid period (c. 25 BC - AD 228). Orodes II reigned from sometime in the early to mid 2nd century. Quote:
I assume that when your coin was minted they were not vassals of the parthians? Elymais is often described as having been "semi-independent." The political situation is a bit vague due to lack of written records, but it would seem that since Parthia often had its hands full with wars with outside powers, and uprisings within the kingdom, they more or less gave Elymais some breathing room, including the right to mint their own coins. Having said that, there was a half-century period between the early and late Kamnaskirid Dynasties (we're talking from about 127 BC through 82 BC) during which time no Elymaean minting took place and, instead, Parthian coinage was used. |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,925 |
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Posted 06/05/2016 7:32 pm
