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636 pages, illustrated throughout with over 1,750 photographs, 10 maps. Valuations. Hard
cover, cloth, full colour dust jacket, 14.5 x 22 cm. Very Fine used condition.This
catalogue is unique in providing the collector with the only comprehensive and
authoritative guide devoted specifically to the local coinages of the Roman Empire,
undoubtedly the most neglected series in the whole of ancient classical numismatics. Greek
Imperial coins span more than three centuries from Augustus to Diocletian, and were issued
at over six hundred mints from Spain in the west to Mesopotamia in the east. The catalogue
is arranged in three sections; first, the coins bearing the heads of emperors and
empresses are catalogued in their chronological sequence, reign by reign. This arrangement
aids the collector in identification and emphasises the true importance of the local
series as a complement to the empire-wide Roman state coinage. Within each reign the
issues are placed in their traditional geographical sequence, as are the quasi-autonomous
coins (those without imperial names and portraits) which are listed separately in section
two. The third section of the catalogue lists contemporary coinages - the products of
independent and semi-independent states belonging to the same era as Greek Imperial issues
- and, in many instances, completes the listing begun in the two volumes of Greek Coins
and their Values. In addition to cataloguing and valuing over 6,000 coins, full
information is provided on all aspects of the subjects, types and inscriptions,
magistrates' titles, city epithets, dates and eras, denominations and marks of value and a
full alphabetical listing of all the mints (with ethnics) engaged in the production of
Greek Imperial coins.Review by Dennis Kroh - ANCIENT COIN REFERENCE REVIEWS - 5 STARS
RATING GIC Greek Imperial Coins and Their Values, the Local Coinages of the Roman
Empire By David R. Sear appeared in 1982. It was revolutionary in that it lists most of
the issuing mints by Emperor rather than geographically. This was done because it is
usually a simple matter to identify the ruler but often impossible (because of missing or
badly-struck legends) to easily identify the issuing city. Of course, only one coin
(rarely two) from each mint are listed, but it does give assistance in that all legends
are spelled out (helping with match-ups) and it narrows the search by mints quite a bit.
Quasi-Autonomous and Contemporary coins (such as the later Parthian, Celtic, Mauretanian
and Bosporous Kingdoms) are also listed and valuations in Fine condition for bronzes
and VF for silver (but they are not at all useful in most cases). In print, $80. Review by
the author David R. Sear:This is the only comprehensive and authoritative guide for
collectors devoted entirely to the local (provincial) coinages of the Roman Empire. These
were produced by hundreds of mints throughout the provinces from the time of Augustus down
to the closing decades of the 3rd century AD. Some were issued by old-established mints
with long traditions of earlier coinage, whilst others came from cities which had never
produced currency before. Local games and festivals often seem to have provided the
occasions for coin production, which was usually quite sporadic. Roman colonial
foundations were also active in the production of local coinage, though these utilized
Latin inscriptions rather than the usual Greek. The series is so vast that only a token
selection of the known types can be presented, but this book should provide the collector
with a sound introduction to this much-neglected series and encourage him or her to pursue
the interest in more detailed works. Also included in this catalogue are comprehensive
listings of the contemporary coinages of independent states and client kingdoms: Celtic
Britain; kingdom of Thrace; kingdoms of Pontus and Bosporus; kingdom of Commagene; the
Herodian dynasty in Judaea, the Roman procurators and Jewish revolts; kingdom of Nabataea;
Arabia Felix; kingdom of Edessa in Mesopotamia; Kingdom of Parthia (from circa 2 BC);
kingdom of Elymais; kingdom of Characene; kingdom of Persis; and kingdom of Mauretania.
636 catalogue pages, plus 33 pages of introductory articles, etc.; 10 maps; alphabetical
listing of mints; 6,034 coin types catalogued with valuations; almost 1,750 photographic
illustrations (by P. Frank Purvey) in the text; published by Seaby, London, 1982, later
reprint. |
