Ancient Aussie Posted May 27, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted May 27, 2022 Never been too keen on very small coinage like most I suspect who like them big and bold, although this little gem fascinates me in as much as the work and skill levels needed to engrave these dies and produce such an intriqute design, although I would have liked the celator to put a bit more work in etching out the bricks in the walls LOL. 😉 SIDON, PHOENICIA AR silver 1/16th shekel. Late 5th to early 4th century BC. Galley with oars, rudder and row of shields to left in front of city’s fortifications with three towers. Reverse - Archer standing right drawing bow. SNG COP. 193. 8mm, 0.7g 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alegandron Posted May 27, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted May 27, 2022 Very cool, @Ancient Aussie! Nice. I tend to LIKE tiny coins, having several. I have a 1/16 Shekel also from Phoenicia, mine is from Tyre (and not architecture... just a Hippocamp. Tyre 1-16 shekel 10mm 0.47g hippocamp l over waves - owl with crook flail Sear Greek 5916.BMC Tyre 43 5th-4th BCE 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Aussie Posted May 27, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted May 27, 2022 In my book Hippocamp's are right up there with architecture, great coin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheTrachyEnjoyer Posted May 27, 2022 · Member Share Posted May 27, 2022 (edited) Byzantine coins have some awesome depictions of tiny architecture!! Thessalonican: Here the Arch Angel Michael is holding the city of Thessaloniki with Thessalonican emperor Theodore Ducas. The strike is a bit weak at the center which is typical for these but you can see two towers from the mini city rise to above shoulder length. An entire city is being held by a measly man! Talk about tiny architecture! This trachy is otherwise is amazing shape! Palaeologan: Another example of this type I have is emperor Michael VIII holding the city of Constantinople while sitting on the imperial throne. Michael VIII recaptured the city and this was his way to show it off 😎 The son of Michael VIII (Andronikos II) issued a similar (albeit) more crude type. Here the emperor is winged and facing left. Andronikos also issued hyperpyra with the city of Constantinople on the obverse. The Virgin Mary stands in orans at the center, blessing the city walls. A recent dissertation I read made the case that these palaeologan wall obverses could actually represent the long walls of Nicaea, home of the empire in exile before its recapture of Constantinople. Since no legends exist to identify the walls, this very well could be the case! Tradition has them as the walls of Constantinople, however. Edited May 27, 2022 by TheTrachyEnjoyer 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zimm Posted May 27, 2022 · Member Share Posted May 27, 2022 1 hour ago, TheTrachyEnjoyer said: Byzantine coins have some awesome depictions of tiny architecture!! Thessalonican: Here the Arch Angel Michael is holding the city of Thessaloniki with Thessalonican emperor Theodore Ducas. The strike is a bit weak at the center which is typical for these but you can see two towers from the mini city rise to above shoulder length. An entire city is being held by a measly man! Talk about tiny architecture! This trachy is otherwise is amazing shape! Palaeologan: Another example of this type I have is emperor Michael VIII holding the city of Constantinople while sitting on the imperial throne. Michael VIII recaptured the city and this was his way to show it off 😎 The son of Michael VIII (Andronikos II) issued a similar (albeit) more crude type. Here the emperor is winged and facing left. Andronikos also issued hyperpyra with the city of Constantinople on the obverse. The Virgin Mary stands in orans at the center, blessing the city walls. A recent dissertation I read made the case that these palaeologan wall obverses could actually represent the long walls of Nicaea, home of the empire in exile before its recapture of Constantinople. Since no legends exist to identify the walls, this very well could be the case! Tradition has them as the walls of Constantinople, however. Those are some astonishing examples! I actually happen to also have two of those types, albeit in significantly worse condition than yours 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Aussie Posted May 27, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted May 27, 2022 Certainly do by the look of yours, very nice indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AncientNumis Posted May 28, 2022 · Member Share Posted May 28, 2022 12 hours ago, TheTrachyEnjoyer said: Byzantine coins have some awesome depictions of tiny architecture!! Thessalonican: Here the Arch Angel Michael is holding the city of Thessaloniki with Thessalonican emperor Theodore Ducas. The strike is a bit weak at the center which is typical for these but you can see two towers from the mini city rise to above shoulder length. An entire city is being held by a measly man! Talk about tiny architecture! This trachy is otherwise is amazing shape! Palaeologan: Another example of this type I have is emperor Michael VIII holding the city of Constantinople while sitting on the imperial throne. Michael VIII recaptured the city and this was his way to show it off 😎 The son of Michael VIII (Andronikos II) issued a similar (albeit) more crude type. Here the emperor is winged and facing left. Andronikos also issued hyperpyra with the city of Constantinople on the obverse. The Virgin Mary stands in orans at the center, blessing the city walls. A recent dissertation I read made the case that these palaeologan wall obverses could actually represent the long walls of Nicaea, home of the empire in exile before its recapture of Constantinople. Since no legends exist to identify the walls, this very well could be the case! Tradition has them as the walls of Constantinople, however. Woah - love these, really interesting. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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