-
Copyright credit: Auction Nomos 2022
-
Copyright credit: Auction Nomos 2022
-
Copyright credit: Auction Nomos 2022
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE WEIGHT
Authority
Mint
Athens
Denomination
1/6 Stater
Material
Copper alloy (bronze or brass)
Manufacture
Cast
Shape
Square
Length
3.50 cm
Width
3.50 cm
Height
2.00 cm
Metrology
| Mass (g) | Mass (grain) | Date of measurement | Reference | fragmented | cleaned | reference weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 133.00 | - | - | Auction Nomos 2022 | No | No | Yes |
Iconography
| Symbol | Technique | Direction | Position | Number | Synecdoche |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tortoise / Sea turtle | Relief |
Wear
Corrosion
Handle
No
Suspension hole
No
Recarved mould
No
Recarved weight
No
Intentionally destroyed
No
Archaeological description
Auction Nomos 2022: Macedonia or Thrace. Uncertain city. Circa 370-340 BC. Weight of a Hemitriton or 1/6 Stater (Bronze, 35x35x20 mm, 133.00 g), a commercial weight on the Attic standard, with possible traces of an illegible inscription on the edges. Tortoise seen from above. Rev. Plain. For an Athenian bronze weight with a turtle see Agora X, p.26 and pl. 1, BW3 ( dated to c. 500 BC); for Athenian lead weights with tortoises, very similar to this piece, see Agora X, pp. 29-30, and pl.7, especially LW 34 (dated to the 2nd quarter of the 4th century BC or later into the 3rd century). A fascinating probably late Classical weight related to similar examples from Athens, but almost certainly not from there. Rough surfaces with a green-black patina. Good very fine.
Autopsy
No
INSCRIPTION
| Language | Technique | Legend type |
|---|
Fac simile
Edition
Monogram
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
Findspot (region)
Findspot (site)
context
Auction Nomos 2022: From the collection of the late T. Skoupidiopoulos, formed in the 1970s and 1980s, and said to have been found in Thrace.
CIRCUMSTANCES OF ACQUISITION
Region
City
Date of first acquisition
Dec. 31, 1989
circumstances
Auction Nomos 2022: From the collection of the late T. Skoupidiopoulos, formed in the 1970s and 1980s, and said to have been found in Thrace.
DATING OF THE WEIGHT
Curatorial Section
GREEK
Time frame
FROM
-500
TO
-400
Comments on Chronology
Auction Nomos 2022: Circa 370-340 BC.
COLLECTION HISTORY
Collection
| Name | Date of acquisition | Inventory number |
|---|---|---|
| Antiquities Trade | May 22, 2022 | None |
| Skoupidiopoulos Collection | None | None |
Bibliography
| Reference | Page/Column | Reference (number) | Plate / Figure | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auction Nomos 2022c | None | 57 | None | None |
VARIA
Additional comment
Auction Nomos 2022: Attribution to Macedonia or Thrace.
Auction Nomos 2022: It should be clear that this is a tortoise, rather than a turtle, because of its round, albeit rather squarish shape: sea turtles are more oval in appearance, and with a slightly pointed tail end. It's date has been established through its strong resemblance to the datable pieces from the Agora; the possibility that it might be of mid 5th century date, after the change from turtles to tortoises on the coinage of Aegina, is not all that convincing given the abundance of later parallels.
Auction Nomos 2022: It should be clear that this is a tortoise, rather than a turtle, because of its round, albeit rather squarish shape: sea turtles are more oval in appearance, and with a slightly pointed tail end. It's date has been established through its strong resemblance to the datable pieces from the Agora; the possibility that it might be of mid 5th century date, after the change from turtles to tortoises on the coinage of Aegina, is not all that convincing given the abundance of later parallels.
Permalink
External link