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 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,408 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
1168 Posts |
Although it isn't in the greatest of shapes I thought this little coin from Lesbos was worth sharing. I hadn't seen one of these tiny coins with an African head before, and was surprised that the ancient Greeks and Africans went so far back in history together. Even though the bust on the coin is somewhat stylised, it is clear that the engraver was familiar with Africans. A few sites quote the following: "Though Aethiopians - the Greek name for all Africans characterized by dark skin and short hair - feature regularly in Greek art, their depiction on coins is by contrast very infrequent." "The Greeks were well acquainted with black Africans; they appear often in Greek literature as mythical or semi-mythical characters and warriors; it appears that they were known in the Greek world as early as the Minoan period, where they were employed by Minoan commanders as auxiliary troops. Indeed, if we may believe Quintus of Smyrna, the Greeks encountered black Africans in the army of Memnon at Troy. Black African contingents also formed a part of Xerxes' army and according to some scholars fought at Marathon (see Frazer, J. G., 1913: Pausanias' Description of Greece, II. Macmillan, London, pg. 434; and Graindor, P., 1908: Les Vases au Nègre. Musee Belge, pg. 29)."  Lesbos: Lesbian Koinòn. c. 510-480 B.C. AR BI Obol (Twelfth-Stater, Sixth-Shekel). Obverse: Head of Nubian African, right. Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square with alternating raised and sunken quarters. Metal: Silver/billon. Diameter: 9-10mm. Weight: 0.89gm. African head in very high relief. Babelon, Traite pl. XV, 7. BMC 43. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Neat little coin. Enjoyed the write-up. Thanks for sharing!
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Pillar of the Community
 Sweden
2124 Posts |
That was an interesting piece of history, the role of black Africans in ancient Greece. Thanks for sharing, indeed. Nice coin too.  |
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Moderator
United States
34393 Posts |
Hey that is pretty cool @novi. Thanks for helping me learn something today.
"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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CCF Advertiser
United States
1303 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
1168 Posts |
Thanks for the comments, guys. I had been looking at another coin, similar to the one on the second link posted by @louisvillekyshop, where the head looks left, and there was another bit of info that I found interesting. "According to Bodenstedt, the head, which also appears on the coins of Delphi and Phocaea, was associated with the cult of Delphic Apollo, the main cult in Mytilene. The African head is also said to be a reference to the Lesbian participation in the establishment of Naukratis in Egypt." https://www.britannica.com/place/Naukratis |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11880 Posts |
Great add to your collection. IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11880 Posts |
IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1168 Posts |
Quote:
Thought that this high grade example was spectacular really showing the type. I agree 100% on that, but I don't think I'll ever be able to afford such a beautiful example myself.  Edited by Novicius
07/16/2022 6:20 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4959 Posts |
Oh wow, what an interesting coin...very cool Novicius!
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Valued Member
Germany
141 Posts |
Cool coin with an interesting story behind, thanks for sharing!
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Pillar of the Community
Spain
2752 Posts |
Yes what interesting coin Jim..
Nice pick up and thanks for the informative write up as always.
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Replies: 11 / Views: 1,408 |
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Posted 07/08/2022 5:17 pm
