Tarsus (Demetrius II), silver, tetradrachms (Demetrius II/Zeus nicephorus) (129-127 BCE)
From SILVER
129 BCE - 127 BCE Silver 2,473 kg
Description
| ObverseInscription or printing placed on the obverse.: | Diademed head right within fillet border |
| ReverseInscription or printing placed on the reverse.: | ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ NIKATOPOΣ (Greek).Zeus Nikephoros seated left, two monograms to outer left (the lower of which is engraved over a prior control mark) |
Mint and issuing power
| MintIdentifies the place of manufacture or issue of a numismatic object.: | Tarsus | Ancient regionAncient region.: | Cilicia | Modern countryModern country: Turkey | 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: | Demetrius II Nicator (Seleucid king, 145-140 and 129-125 BC), Seleucid Dynasty (312-63 BC) |
Chronology
| FromIdentifies the initial date in a range assigned in a numismatic context. | 129 BCE | toIdentifies the final date in a range assigned in a numismatic context.. | 127 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
H303 Tarsus Demetrius II.jpg [1]
References
| Die study referencePublication of the study: | Houghton 19791Houghton 1979 | ||
| Coin series referenceReference to coin series study: | RQEMH2RQEMH, n° 303, SC II3SC II, n° 2158, HGC 94HGC 9, n° 1128 | ||
| 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 | 2 | 28.57 | 2 | 4.76 | 2, 6 |
| 2 | 1 | 14.29 | 2 | 4.76 | 1 |
| 3 | 1 | 14.29 | 3 | 7.14 | 7 |
| 7 | 2 | 28.57 | 14 | 33.33 | 5, 3 |
| 21 | 1 | 14.29 | 21 | 50 | 4 |
| Total | 7 of 7 | 100.01 | 42 of 42 | 99.99 |
Reverse dies distribution
no distribution is available
Quantification
| Number of obversesNumber of obverse dies. ᵖ (o) | 7 | Number of singletons (o1)The number of singleton coins. ᵖ | 2 |
| Number of reverse diesNumber of reverse dies. (r) | 16 | Number of coinsNumber of coins. (n) | 42 |
| Coins per obverse dieNumber of coins per obverse die. (n/o) | 6 | Coins per reverse dieNumber of coins per reverse die. (n/r) | 2.63 |
| Reverse per obverse ratioRatio of obverse dies divided by reverse dies. (r/o) | 2.29 | 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 | 7.54 | Coins struck if 20,000 as average productivity per dieCoins made if the average productivity for obverses (according to Carter) is 20,000. ᵖ | 150,800 |
| 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) | 8.4 | Survival rate if 20,000 as average productivity per dieSurvival rate if average productivity is 20,000. ᵖ | 0.00028 |
| Coverage (o = % of O) (Esty 1984 formula)Esty 1984 - coverage (% of O) ᵖ (o = % of O) | 95.24% | Die productivity if survival rate 1/2,000Average productivity if survival rate is 1/2,000. ᵖ | 11,140.58 |
| 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 | 2,473 kg <br /> 2,473 kg | Die productivity if survival rate 1/5,000Average productivity if survival rate is 1/5,000. ᵖ | 27,851.46 |
Remarks
Most likely one single workstation Likely military
References
- ^ Houghton, Arthur (1979), "The Second Reign of Demetrius II of Syria at Tarsus", American Numismatic Society Museum Notes, 24, p. 111-116, pl. 27-29.
- ^ Callataÿ, François de (1997), Recueil quantitatif des émissions monétaires hellénistiques, Numismatique Romaine, Wetteren, X + 341 p.
- ^ 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
- ^ Hoover, Oliver D. (2009), Handbook of ancient Syrian coins : royal and civic issues, fourth to first centuries BC, The Handbook of Greek Coinage 9, Lancaster, lxix, 332 p.
