Coin Community Family of Web Sites Join Thousands of Coin, Bullion, & Money Collectors
Specializing in Modern Numismatics Royal Canadian Mint products, Canadian, Polish, American, and world coins and banknotes. Royal Estate Auctions - $1 Coin AuctionsJoin Thousands of Coin, Bullion, & Money Collectors Coin, Banknote and Medal Collectors's Online Mall Vancouvers #1 Coin and Paper Money Dealer 300,000 items to help build your collection!








Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?


This page may contain links that result in small commissions to keep this free site up and running.

Welcome Guest! Registering and/or logging in will remove the anchor (bottom) ads. It's Free!

Sogdian Leontomachia Ae 360 To 500 Ad

To participate in the forum you must log in or register.
Author Previous TopicReplies: 4 / Views: 1,083Next Topic  
Moderator
Learn More...
Spence's Avatar
United States
34441 Posts
 Posted 07/20/2019  4:20 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add Spence to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Some of you know that I have been dabbling in pre-medieval coins lately and so here is a recent pick-up for me. I'm definitely a student of the Dark Ages, so I would welcome any corrections or suggestions from anyone here on this subject.

The coins of South Sogdinana (also spelled Soghd), a Principality of Nakhshab, are not well described in the English literature. Sogdiana is in present day Qarshi, Uzbekistan. Unsurprisingly, these coins were first described in the Russia numismatic literature. When I searched CCF, I found only a few appearances of Sogdian coins (by @finn and @daviduk):

http://goccf.com/t/328580

http://goccf.com/t/255825

http://goccf.com/t/257235&whichpage=8#2365886

I should point out that there was also an interesting thread from @bobL on countermarked coins by the Sogdians:
http://goccf.com/t/275070

and Ron mentions them in his opus-in-progress, "Ancient Coin Reference Guide": https://www.coincommunity.com/pdf/A...ce-Guide.pdf


From what I gather, the coins of Soghd are found in both Silver and Copper, with the copper ones generally depicting an archer or a king stabbing an upright lion. Dating of them is uncertain due to the same designs being used for long periods of time and the inscriptions on these coins seem to have been badly blundered. I did reach out to Prof. Naymark at Hofstra University to get a copy of his recent paper, "The Coinage of Nakhshab during the First-Fourth Centuries CE. Towards a New Systematization of Sogdian Coinages and the Political History of Sogd during Antiquity" As with so many folks in academia, he was eager to share his knowledge. From this paper, the timing of the transition between coins depicting an archer and the "lion-stabber" or Leontomachia is pinpointed to the 360s AD. The end date seems to be less certain, perhaps into the 6th Century. The attribution of my coin is Rtveladze #39 and zeno.ru #165642.


Sogdian-Leontomachia-Ae-360-To-500-Ad
Sogdian-Leontomachia-Ae-360-To-500-Ad
"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
Pillar of the Community
Kamnaskires's Avatar
United States
7066 Posts
 Posted 07/20/2019  4:49 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Kamnaskires to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Neat coin. I like these gems from Eastern cultures.

What is the actual color of the coin, Dave? I assume the pic is not providing us with a good reading.



Quote:
As with so many folks in academia, he was eager to share his knowledge.


I am always impressed with how supportive so many serious scholars are. Michael Alram, among others, gave me a very helpful assist with some research a couple years back. These guys and gals are often so generous.
Moderator
Learn More...
Spence's Avatar
United States
34441 Posts
 Posted 07/20/2019  5:08 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Spence to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
What is the actual color of the coin,


Yes I have been struggling with this question of late http://goccf.com/t/351707).

Here are pics that are a bit closer in color to what I am seeing with the coin in hand:



Sogdian-Leontomachia-Ae-360-To-500-Ad
Sogdian-Leontomachia-Ae-360-To-500-Ad
"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
07/20/2019 5:09 pm
Moderator
Learn More...
echizento's Avatar
United States
23731 Posts
 Posted 07/20/2019  10:08 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add echizento to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I agree really neat coin, I need to add some to my collection.
Pillar of the Community
Learn More...
Palouche's Avatar
Spain
2752 Posts
 Posted 07/21/2019  4:17 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Palouche to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Very interestin coin!
Will have to look into these more..Thanks for sharing..
Paul
  Previous TopicReplies: 4 / Views: 1,083Next Topic  

To participate in the forum you must log in or register.



    




Disclaimer: While a tremendous amount of effort goes into ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in this site, Coin Community assumes no liability for errors. Copyright 2005 - 2026 Coin Community Family- all rights reserved worldwide. Use of any images or content on this website without prior written permission of Coin Community or the original lender is strictly prohibited.
Contact Us  |  Advertise Here  |  Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

Coin Community Forum © 2005 - 2026 Coin Community Forums
It took 0.25 seconds to rattle this change. Forums