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Dates on Ancient Greek Coins

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  • Dates on Ancient Greek Coins

    One of my long time hobbies has been collecting ancient Greek and Roman coins. You might be surprised to learn that many of these coins were dated with the year in which the coin was struck.

    Many era dates are used, but the most common of these is the Seleucid Kingdom, in which year 1 was 312 BC, when the kingdom’s founder, Seleukus 1 Nikator, took possession of Babylon. Greek letters represent the dates and usually have to be read from right to left. The simple conversion to dates we use: 312 minus the Seleucid year equals the year in BC. While dating ancient Greek coins we list two years because their year did not begin in January.

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    Michigan Yooper
    If You Don’t Stand for Something, You’ll Fall for Anything

  • #2
    Heree are a few examples of ancient greek coins with dates they were struck:

    Apameia Syria, Æ 21 mm, Dated ςΟΣ = 37/36 BC
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    Alexander I Balas, Apameia Syria, Æ 21mm, 150/149 BC

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    Cleopatra Thea & Antiochos VIII Æ 18 mm 124/123 BC

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    Last edited by Ron Kelley; 03-22-2022, 12:20 PM.
    Michigan Yooper
    If You Don’t Stand for Something, You’ll Fall for Anything

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    • #3
      Nice examples Ron...
      These are from the Baalbek temples in Lebanon ..PF...Previously posted way back...Love the old coins
      Click image for larger version

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      Floridaboy.

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      • Ron Kelley
        Ron Kelley commented
        Editing a comment
        Hey Hal, Thanks, Those are nice old Roman coins. It's a fun hobby for sure.

    • #4
      This is one of my oldest coins but it has no date to show the exact year it was struck:

      Samaria AR Obol, 375-333 BC

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      Obverse: Winged griffin r, attacking stag with long antlers r.

      Reverse: Within frame meant to represent a temple (?), two figures: on the left stands nude, beardless divinity pointing with his upraised right arm towards a standing bearded, half-draped male figure raising his arm above an Achamenian fire altar.

      Reference: Meshorer and Qedar “Samarian Coinage” # 134

      Samaria was the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Israel; (the northern part of the West Bank).
      King Omri bought Samaria for two talents of silver: 1 Kings 16:24
      King Ahab defended Samaria: 1 Kings 20
      Samaria fell to the Assyrians in 722 BC
      Last edited by Ron Kelley; 05-12-2022, 06:55 PM.
      Michigan Yooper
      If You Don’t Stand for Something, You’ll Fall for Anything

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      • #5
        The oldest coins in my collection don't have the date stamped on the coin.
        Ionia Miletos, AR 1/12 Stater, Late 6th cent BC
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        Alexander The Great, AR Drachm, Kolophon 323-319 BC
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        Chersonese Thrace, AR Hemidrachm, Grain Ear, 480-350 BC
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        Thrace, Apollonia Pontica Silver Drachm 450-400 BC
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        Michigan Yooper
        If You Don’t Stand for Something, You’ll Fall for Anything

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        • Ron Kelley
          Ron Kelley commented
          Editing a comment
          I agree Hal: There's a lot of history depicted on these old coins.

        • Ron Kelley
          Ron Kelley commented
          Editing a comment
          On the last coin there's a crawdad on the left side of the anchor: That's not something I would have expected to see on a coin but I would love to share that meal with them.

        • Hal Gorges
          Hal Gorges commented
          Editing a comment
          Methinks the ole boys had a sense of humor..No?

      • #6
        Thanks for posting the quality pictures of your coins and the age chart.
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        Guess I'm going to have to start buying better quality coins.
        Coastal Plain of Maryland

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        • Ron Kelley
          Ron Kelley commented
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          Thanks Mondo, One thing that's nice about the Roman Imperial coins: Even if they don't have a date struck on the coin we can get a good small range of dates based on who the ruler was.

      • #7
        Ron I am love this . I just love the way they made those .
        My old neighbor had some on his table . Found them in Rome .
        Great thread , one of the better ones in a long time , thank you .

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