Damascus (Alexander II Zebinas), silver, tetradrachms (126-122 BCE)
From SILVER
126 BCE - 122 BCE Silver 4,776 kg
Description
| ObverseInscription or printing placed on the obverse.: | Diademed head right |
| ReverseInscription or printing placed on the reverse.: | (Greek).Zeus seated left, holding Nike in right hand, lotus-tipped sceptre in left, monogram outer left, monogram below throne, date in exergue |
Mint and issuing power
| MintIdentifies the place of manufacture or issue of a numismatic object.: | Damascus | Ancient regionAncient region.: | Syria | Modern countryModern country: Syria | AuthorityIdentifies the issuing power. The authority can be "pretended" when the name or the portrait of X is on the coin but he/she was not the issuing power. It can also be "uncertain" when there is no mention of X on the coin but he/she was the issuing power according to the historical sources: | Alexander II Zabinas (Seleucid king, 128-123 BC), Seleucid Dynasty (312-63 BC) |
Chronology
| FromIdentifies the initial date in a range assigned in a numismatic context. | 126 BCE | toIdentifies the final date in a range assigned in a numismatic context.. | 122 BCE | PeriodTime period of the numismatic object.: Hellenistic 323-30 BC 
|
Physical description
| MetalThe physical material (usually metal) from which an object is made.: | Silver
|
Median weightMedian of the weights of numismatic objects (in grams). in grams | 16.40 | DenominationTerm indicating the value of a numismatic object. Examples: tetradrachm, chalkous, denarius.: | tetradrachm
|
StandardStandard.: | Attic |
Image
S2059 Damascus Alexander Zebinas tetradrachms.jpg [1]
References
| Die study referencePublication of the study: | Iossif - Gerritsen 20211Iossif - Gerritsen 2021 | ||
| Coin series referenceReference to coin series study: | SC II2SC II, n° 2248 | ||
| Coin series web referenceCoin series web references: | |||
Obverse dies distribution
| FrequencyFrequency of specimen in distribution. ᵖ | Number of obversesNumber of obverse dies. ᵖ (o) | % (o) | Number of coinsNumber of coins. (n) | % (n) | Die nameName(s) of the die(s). |
| 1 | 4 | 28.57 | 4 | 3.64 | 2, 8, 9, 12 |
| 2 | 3 | 21.43 | 6 | 5.45 | 1, 3, 7 |
| 3 | 1 | 7.14 | 3 | 2.73 | 6 |
| 4 | 1 | 7.14 | 4 | 3.64 | 4 |
| 6 | 1 | 7.14 | 6 | 5.45 | 10 |
| 10 | 1 | 7.14 | 10 | 9.09 | 11 |
| 13 | 1 | 7.14 | 13 | 11.82 | 14 |
| 32 | 2 | 14.29 | 64 | 58.18 | 5, 13 |
| Total | 14 of 14 | 99.99 | 110 of 110 | 100 |
Reverse dies distribution
no distribution is available
Quantification
| Number of obversesNumber of obverse dies. ᵖ (o) | 14 | Number of singletons (o1)The number of singleton coins. ᵖ | 4 |
| Number of reverse diesNumber of reverse dies. (r) | 69 | Number of coinsNumber of coins. (n) | 110 |
| Coins per obverse dieNumber of coins per obverse die. (n/o) | 7.86 | Coins per reverse dieNumber of coins per reverse die. (n/r) | 1.59 |
| Reverse per obverse ratioRatio of obverse dies divided by reverse dies. (r/o) | 4.93 | Percentage of singletons (o1)number of coins (n) divided by the number of singletons (o1) ᵖ | 28.57 % |
| Original number of dies (O) (Carter 1983 formula)The estimation of the number of coins according to Carter 1983 ᵖ | 14.56 | Coins struck if 20,000 as average productivity per dieCoins made if the average productivity for obverses (according to Carter) is 20,000. ᵖ | 291,200 |
| Original number of dies (O) (Esty 2011 formula)The estimation of the number of coins according to the singleton formula in Esty 2011 ᵖ (O) | 16.04 | Survival rate if 20,000 as average productivity per dieSurvival rate if average productivity is 20,000. ᵖ | 0.00038 |
| Coverage (o = % of O) (Esty 1984 formula)Esty 1984 - coverage (% of O) ᵖ (o = % of O) | 96.36% | Die productivity if survival rate 1/2,000Average productivity if survival rate is 1/2,000. ᵖ | 15,109.89 |
| Weight of silver (in kg) if 20,000 coins per die (O = Carter formula)Carter 1983 * Median weight * 20000 (*10 if gold or electrum) ᵖ | 4,776 kg <br /> 4,776 kg | Die productivity if survival rate 1/5,000Average productivity if survival rate is 1/5,000. ᵖ | 37,774.73 |
Remarks
Most likely one single workstation Obv. 5 is linked to 20 reverse dies and Obv. 13 to 21
References
- ^ Iossif, Panagiotis - Gerritsen, Corine T. (2021), "Alexander II Zabinas in Damascus: a numismatic reading of the evidence," Revue belge de Numismatique, 167, p. 19-63.
- ^ Houghton, Arthur - Lorber, Catharine C. - Hoover, Oliver D. (2008), Seleucid coins : a comprehensive catalogue. Part 2, Seleucus IV through Antiochus XIII, 2 v., New York - Lancaster - London, (xxx), 120 p. of plates : ill., maps, tables
