| Description: |
Greek Imperial Coins and Their Values - The Local Coinages of the Roman Empire by David R.
Sear
636 pages, illustrated throughout with over 1,750 photographs, 10 maps. Valuations.
Hard cover, cloth, full colour dust jacket, 14.5 x 22 cm.
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, reprinted 1997. |
