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 Replies: 9 / Views: 2,294 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Of the two Naumann lots, this was by far my favorite find! And to think it wasn't even in the auction photos! Ionia, Phokaia AR Obol or Trihemiobol (10mm, 0.94g) 520-478 BC Archaic style female head left, wearing cap or helmet Rough Quadrupartite incuse  Ionia was one of the earliest adopters of coined money in the 7th or 6th centuries BC, and were renowned mariners and tradesmen, sailing as far away as Iberia (Spain.) They were subjugated by the Achaemenid empire, but were active participants in the various rebellions and wars to shrug off Persian dominance. These coins follow the even more archaic series featuring seal and griffin heads, and are among the earliest coins to depict the human form. The identity of the archaic female is not known with certainty, but some suppose it to be Athena or Aphrodite. |
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Moderator
 United States
34419 Posts |
That is a sweet pick-up! That is an interesting thought experiment--which coin in your collection is the oldest that has an image of the human form? I'll have to dig through mine.  Added: and the answer is that my Siglos from the Achaemenid Empire is my oldest coin (455 to 420 BC) with an image of a person. "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
Edited by Spence
05/14/2018 8:54 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Really lovely coin. You'll never get tired of looking at that beauty.
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Pillar of the Community
 Spain
2752 Posts |
Little gem there Steve! 10mm and they put that kind of detail into to the obverse....Amazing!
Super little coin with the reverse Quadrupartite giving it great character, nice pick-up.
Paul
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6130 Posts |
Thanks all! Doing a little bit more light reading on the peculiar style of the coins from this period, I learned that these extremely early coins correspond with the zenith of "Black Figure" vase painting in Greece:  Traditionally, the dominant artistic culture of the Mediterranean was Egypt, with Persia also of significant but less wide influence. Greek art began as copies of the rigid, formalized Egyptian art until about the 7th/6th century BC when Persia sprung to become the dominant world power. The Black Figure period is beginning experiments in innovation, while still largely clinging to the artistic traditions of Egypt and Persia. It wasn't until the 5th century BC that Greek art began to truly surpass the others; therefore the archaic figure period of numismatics occupies a rather narrow strip; perhaps only 50-100 years! On the subject of "first human figure on a coin" I would love to know the answer, although I suspect that most coins of this period have ranges of uncertainty spanning at least two to five decades--it probably isn't possible to know who was "first" although I would love to read opinions! |
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New Member
Bosnia And Herzegovina
25 Posts |
Here is mine   |
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Moderator
United States
34419 Posts |
Quote:
Here is mine @terza, for those of us still learning about ancient Greece, could you please provide some details? "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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New Member
Bosnia And Herzegovina
25 Posts |
Yes of course I posted the coin in another new topic when I have a beter pictures and time sory I just posted like this ;)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
Of all the dealers on Vcoins I think Nuemann is the one I have had most dealings with... they always have fantastic coins and fair prices. This coin is no exception, certainly my cup of tea.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 2,294 |
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Posted 05/14/2018 5:25 pm
