"Images of vessel took considerable place among coin-types of another Aeolian city of
Kyme. During almost two centuries since the second half of the 4th cent. BC depiction of peculiar
one-handle vase or “monota” was main type of the reverse of the Cymean coins. I have failed to
find analogies to this shape among pottery or images on the coins of the other Greek centers.
Nevertheless, one can presume that there was represented the real (though obviously quite rare) and
not fantastic form as existence of the similar shapes already in Mycenean époque (17th–16th cent.
BC) can testify.
It seems to me that the right way to the searching the reason of use of such unique coin type
by the Cymean moneyers was suggested by S. Birch more than 160 years ago. In his opinion word
 registered in Coptic Lexicon of H. Tattam had passed into the Coptic from the Greek
and was diminutive from another Greek word
. The latter was pronounced the same as
 and as
 meant “a libatory vase”  could be understood as “small
vase”. Image of this vase was put on the Cymean coins where it was considered as anagram of the
city-name or some sort of city “type parlant”.32 Hypothesis of S. Birch was met with skepticism and
safely forgotten.33 Meanwhile, I suppose S. Birch had chosen right direction in his study. However,
in order to identify the vessel on the Cymean coins one should base not on the hypothetical but on
the real names of the Greek vases. In this case I would suggest that on the coins in question there
was depicted 
or . It was bowl or drinking vessel, which got this name because
initially its shape reminded boat. As against mythical  this name is testified in the
epigraphic sources34 and is equally consonant with the city name of Cyme. If this guess is correct
we have rare possibility due to the coin images to find out how the vessel known to us only from
the mention in written sources looked like. The reality of such explanation for the emergence of this
motive in the coin typology of Cyme is confirmed by the other cases of using vase images as “type
parlant” of the coins. For example, on the coin issues of the Thracian city of Cypsela struck in the
4th cent. BC reverse type is represented by the two-handle bowl, which had the same name


.
Image of kymbe had been used as additional symbol indicating mint-place on the
Alexandrine tetradrachms issued in Cyme in 215–170 BC. The same image was put on the reverse
of autonomous tetradrachms of 150-s BC in addition to the main type of standing horse. As in the
case with above-mentioned coins of Myrina use of such additional symbol in this context could
have testified on some connection between this ware form and the cult of Cymean Amazon, which
undoubtedly dictated selection of the main obverse and reverse types of these coins."

Давно хотел иметь монету с погребальным костром. Наверное, похороны императора были незабываемым зрелищем...

Отредактировано Vesontio (2012-04-21 18:20:54)

Нет, это не редкий тип. На Вкойнс более десятка денариев с этим реверсом.

А вот хороший сестерций Филиппа с Фортуной, да ещё с таким портретом найти намного труднее...

Philip I 244-249 A.D. - AE Sestertius 29mm 19.7g
Obverse: Laureate bust right IMP M IUL PHILIPPUS AUG
Reverse: Fortuna seated left, holding rudder and cornucopiae, wheel at feet FORTUNA REDUX S C
RIC Vol.IV 174a

Отредактировано Vesontio (2012-04-25 13:10:42)

Да, в слабе снимать сложно.
А монета хороша.
                               

ROYAUME DE PÉONIE Patraos (335-315 av. J-C). Tétradrachme. Tête laurée dApollon à droite. R/: . Cavalier casqué et cuirassé, au galop à droite ; il tient une lance et vient de renverser un ennemi armé dun bouclier exemplaire varié avec la légende rét rograde et un canthare au revers, à gauche. SNG ANS 1032. 12,83 g. 23,40-25,45 mm. SUP.

Отредактировано Vesontio (2012-05-27 00:42:44)