Nisibis (Antiochus III), silver, drachms (204-187 BCE)
From SILVER
204 BCE - 187 BCE Silver 490 kg
Description
| ObverseInscription or printing placed on the obverse.: | Diademed head of Antiochos III to right. |
| ReverseInscription or printing placed on the reverse.: | ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY (Greek).BAΣIΛEΩΣ - ANTIOXOY Elephant walking right, to right, uncertain monogram. |
Mint and issuing power
| MintIdentifies the place of manufacture or issue of a numismatic object.: | Nisibis | Ancient regionAncient region.: | Mesopotamia | 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: | Antiochus III the Great (Seleucid king, 222-187 BC), Seleucid Dynasty (312-63 BC) |
Chronology
| FromIdentifies the initial date in a range assigned in a numismatic context. | 204 BCE | toIdentifies the final date in a range assigned in a numismatic context.. | 187 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 | 4.10 | DenominationTerm indicating the value of a numismatic object. Examples: tetradrachm, chalkous, denarius.: | drachma
|
StandardStandard.: |
Image
H278 Nisibis drachm.jpeg [1]
References
| Die study referencePublication of the study: | Houghton 19861Houghton 1986, p 107-24, pl. 27-9. | ||
| Coin series referenceReference to coin series study: | Sear II2Sear II, n° 6940, RQEMH3RQEMH, n° 278, SC I4SC I, n° 1131 | ||
| 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 | 1 | 16.67 | 1 | 1.3 | 5 |
| 2 | 1 | 16.67 | 2 | 2.6 | 6 |
| 4 | 2 | 33.33 | 8 | 10.39 | 3, 4 |
| 12 | 1 | 16.67 | 12 | 15.58 | 2 |
| 54 | 1 | 16.67 | 54 | 70.13 | 1 |
| Total | 6 of 6 | 100.01 | 77 of 77 | 100 |
Reverse dies distribution
no distribution is available
Quantification
| Number of obversesNumber of obverse dies. ᵖ (o) | 6 | Number of singletons (o1)The number of singleton coins. ᵖ | 1 |
| Number of reverse diesNumber of reverse dies. (r) | 36 | Number of coinsNumber of coins. (n) | 77 |
| Coins per obverse dieNumber of coins per obverse die. (n/o) | 12.83 | Coins per reverse dieNumber of coins per reverse die. (n/r) | 2.14 |
| Reverse per obverse ratioRatio of obverse dies divided by reverse dies. (r/o) | 6 | Percentage of singletons (o1)number of coins (n) divided by the number of singletons (o1) ᵖ | 16.67 % |
| Original number of dies (O) (Carter 1983 formula)The estimation of the number of coins according to Carter 1983 ᵖ | 5.98 | Coins struck if 20,000 as average productivity per dieCoins made if the average productivity for obverses (according to Carter) is 20,000. ᵖ | 119,600 |
| 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) | 6.51 | Survival rate if 20,000 as average productivity per dieSurvival rate if average productivity is 20,000. ᵖ | 0.00064 |
| Coverage (o = % of O) (Esty 1984 formula)Esty 1984 - coverage (% of O) ᵖ (o = % of O) | 98.7% | Die productivity if survival rate 1/2,000Average productivity if survival rate is 1/2,000. ᵖ | 25,752.51 |
| 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 | 490 kg <br /> 490 kg | Die productivity if survival rate 1/5,000Average productivity if survival rate is 1/5,000. ᵖ | 64,381.27 |
Remarks
Most likely one single workstation
References
- ^ Houghton, Arthur (1986), "The Elephants of Nisibis", American Numismatic Society Museum Notes 31, p 107-24, pl. 27-9
- ^ Sear, David R. (1979), Greek coins and their values. Vol. II, Asia and North Africa, London, xlviii, p. 317-762
- ^ Callataÿ, François de (1997), Recueil quantitatif des émissions monétaires hellénistiques, Numismatique Romaine, Wetteren, X + 341 p.
- ^ Houghton, Arthur - Lorber, Catharine (2002), Seleucid coins : a comprehensive catalogue. Part 1, Seleucus I through Antiochus III, New York - Lancaster - London, 2 v. (xxxviii, 488 p. + 300 p.), 101 pl.
