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 Replies: 14 / Views: 2,490 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
As promised I am posting a few coins recently purchased from a very good ebay seller located in sunny "Hispania". During the past year I have expanded my interests in Roman bronzes to include the pre-Roman and early Roman issues of the Iberians. Not being very familiar with the coins I have "borrowed" the attribution used by CNG for a nearly identical coin (only differences being weight & diameter) IBERIA, Arse-Saguntum. Circa 150-100 BC. Æ Unit (30mm, 21.29 grams). Helmeted head of Roma right / Prow right; above, [Victory flying right]; kerykeion to right. ACIP 1985; SNG BM Spain 1116-7 Some Spanish online sources further identify the script as reading Obv. IKOBELES - BALKAKSALTUR Rv. ARSE "Arse" being the original Iberian settlement which allied itself to Rome against Carthage and was the spark in setting off the second Punic war after Hannibal laid siege to and captured the city.   Perhaps some of our European (Iberian) friends can confirm the attribution ! It makes a nice pairing to an earlier purchase from same seller and which I have posted previously   Both have that wonderful olive green patination (the kind that does not wash off with acetone !!!) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Nice! So just to reiterate: "ARSE" is on the backside of the coin - which, at this size and weight, might be an as?
Sorry, I revert right back to childhood with this stuff.
Great to see some prime pick-up's from some of the group here lately. I've crashed and burned in my last four auction attempts, so at least I can take some vicarious pleasure in your acquisitions.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Very nice! Didn't know that the prow reverse appeared on the Spanish series.
I have some catching up posting new coins.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3443 Posts |
Yes indeed señor Bob L you are correct ! Some of the (English) online sources identify it as "Arsaos" but most seem to use the "Arse" version. Suffice to say that when wiped with acetone it shone brighter than a full moon in June ! Being relatively new to this area I also was surprised by the prow reverse but prior to this time the city had been wiped out by the Carthaginians and rebuilt by the Romans so it was a healthy mix of both cultures. With a bit of patience I do hope to acquire more Iberians in the near future. In fact yesterday I won 2 Obulco Ae Asses from the same seller. These have a primitive style (often comical) obverse portrait with a reverse that has a definite Republican feel. They are an improvement over this prior purchase made last fall. I bought it relatively cheap   |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Iberian die cutting has an identifying and distinctive character to it.
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Moderator
United States
34425 Posts |
Quote:
These have a primitive style (often comical) obverse portrait I agree! Thanks for posting these. "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
Canada
1269 Posts |
Very interesting coins. I love the reverse on that first coin. Wow, you have picked up some nice coins lately.
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Moderator
United States
34425 Posts |
Quote:
you have picked up some nice coins lately. @orfew, I just said the same thing on your recent post.  "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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Valued Member
Spain
108 Posts |
Very nice coins. The ibereian script is according to "Diccionario de cecas y pueblos hispánicos" (M. Paz-Bellido and Cruces Blazquez) as: Balkakaltur / Ikorbeles and they say it corresponds to an AS, 15th issue ( ca. 125-100 B.C.). The town is Arse (roman Saguntvm, today Sagunto), because Arsaos is a different town.
Second coin is from VALENTIA (today Valencia). In the same book they say is an AS (average weight 17,5 gr.) and the latin script must be C. MUNI Q. (right side) and C. LVCIEN (left side), 1st. issue dated post. 127 ante 75 B.C.
Edited by Veton
04/17/2017 11:40 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
Thank you Veton !
I was hoping I would find someone with more intimate knowledge. I hope we can make good use of your expertise in the near future.
After many years of concentrating on Roman Imperial Bronze I have only recently 'rediscovered' the early Pre Roman and Roman issues that
came out of Iberia. In the past year I made several very pleasant purchases. Hopefully I will make more come the "dog days" of summer when the markets
get cold. Ideal for old cheapskates like myself.
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Valued Member
Spain
108 Posts |
Not al all. It is a pleasure to share with you. But I am not an expert in these coins, only I can share references and , if possible, help in identing some coins. The one from Obulco it is also a very cool coin. Obverse has a female bust, although it is not easy to read, the legend must be in latin script OBULCO (Ibolka in the native language of the turdulos tribe). Reverse has a plow up and a spike down (with an "X" above), in the middle in two lines the names of the two aediles in south iberian script (they must be read fron right to left): BO TI L KO S (up) and BE KO? E KI  It is an AS, 4th issue nº 15 (Garcia -Bellido/ Blazquez) and in Monedas Hispánicas (Ripolles and Abascal) may be n. 558 or 559 (18,5/18,2 gr.) and 165-110 B.C. Very nice. Edited by Veton
04/18/2017 11:05 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
Now you have me excited !
I have two more Obulco AE's which I purchased recently. I will be posting them for your inspection.
Few of us here are real experts. But knowing where to find the reference makes us sound like experts !
I will post them in the next day.
Many thanks !
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Valued Member
Spain
108 Posts |
I will expect them. There is, for a general view of iberian coins, an article in english language that you can download from http://www.museuprehistoriavalencia...iones/853/es a PDF "Ancient Iberian coinage" by Ripolles. If you check page 35, you can find an obulco like yours, but names in different position. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1315 Posts |
FVRIVS
I like this thread and looking forward to more talk about Iberians. I recently got one from Arse, but not photographed yet. will get it done and post it. Your getting some nice ones!
I've been collecting Iberian and Roman coins of ancient Spain for a couple years now, and not much else.
@Veton.. thanks for the link. I had not seen that site before, it's great. Ripolles is very knowledgeable. I have several of his papers.
Also have ACIP, Burgos and Hess books.
Do you post or visit Imperial Numismatico? I'm splcj over there.
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Valued Member
Spain
108 Posts |
Yes, I am in imperio numismatico as levita, but there I focus in buttons and exonumia.
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Replies: 14 / Views: 2,490 |
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Posted 02/26/2017 3:16 pm
