Mystery Coin Shop Purchase. Elymais Bronze?

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Author	Replies: 7 / Views: 994
FlaviusJ Valued Member United Kingdom 90 Posts	Posted 10/17/2017 4:27 pm Last week I visited a coin shop I'd never been to before. The owner didn't know much about ancients but he had a box of them under the counter that he'd acquired over the years. He offered me three for £10 and I picked out a countermarked as of Augustus from Antioch and a Pontic aegis bronze. This was my third. I suspect its from Elymais but this area isn't my specialty. Can anyone offer me any suggestions? AE 15. The coin has a lovely chocolate brown patina which doesn't come across in the photo Edited by FlaviusJ 10/17/2017 4:31 pm Report this Post to the Staff

DavidUK Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 2624 Posts	Posted 10/17/2017 5:05 pm Just goes to show collecting ancients doesn't have to cost the earth... Over to Bob. Report this Post to the Staff
FlaviusJ Valued Member United Kingdom 90 Posts	Posted 10/17/2017 5:10 pm Indeed! I've had some great bargains from non specialist coin shops/antique shops recently. Yes, I should probably rephrase my question to: Bob please help me. Report this Post to the Staff
Kamnaskires Pillar of the Community United States 7066 Posts	Posted 10/17/2017 5:48 pm Good call, FlaviusJ. Yes, Elymais. Uncertain Early Arsacid Kings of Elymais AE drachm Late 1st century BC - early 2nd century AD Van't Haaff type 10.1 - 10.4 The coin is actually pretty interesting and unusual in that the (obverse) anchor is completely off flan and the reverse bust is so large that none of the surrounding legend is visible. The flans on these drachms are always tight, but this one is exceptionally so. Often the obverse portrait on these is off-center, weighted to the left with the king's nose very close to the left edge, so as to leave room for the anchor at right. On this specimen the portrait is centered so that the anchor got cropped. Unfortunately it's impossible to be more specific with regard to the Van't Haaff attribution here since the distinguishing features among the types and subtypes for the Uncertain Early Arsacid Kings include the number of crossbars on the obverse anchor, as well as the devices (dots, stars, crescents) around or above it. Seems to me that with the anchor missing in action, we'll have to call it a generalized VH 10.1 - 10.4. Report this Post to the Staff
sel_69l Bedrock of the Community Australia 21788 Posts	Posted 10/17/2017 5:51 pm I like to make those sorts of purchases as well. Lotsa fun. The fun continues in the quest for their full identification. For me, that can involve years of patience before full identification is achieved. Fortunately I have a 'go to' man in Noble Numismatics in Sydney, who helps me out when I am completely stuck. He has become a very good acquaintance in the many years I have known him. Report this Post to the Staff
Spence Moderator United States 34425 Posts	Posted 10/17/2017 7:20 pm Great pick-up @FJ! "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 Report this Post to the Staff
echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 10/17/2017 8:07 pm Nice pickup. Report this Post to the Staff
FlaviusJ Valued Member United Kingdom 90 Posts	Posted 10/23/2017 12:56 pm A huge belated thank-you Bob to for your help. I think I need to go back and see what else that shopkeeper has hidden under the counter Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 7 / Views: 994

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