Velia, silver, drachms (440-400 BCE)
From SILVER
440 BCE - 400 BCE Silver 1,746 kg
Description
ObverseInscription or printing placed on the obverse.: | Head of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet or head of Nymph left or right. Behind, letter. |
ReverseInscription or printing placed on the reverse.: | YEΛH (Greek).Owl standing right on branch, head facing, Δ to inner right. |
Mint and issuing power
MintIdentifies the place of manufacture or issue of a numismatic object.: | Velia | Ancient regionAncient region.: | Lucania | Modern countryModern country: Italy | 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: |
Chronology
FromIdentifies the initial date in a range assigned in a numismatic context. | 440 BCE | toIdentifies the final date in a range assigned in a numismatic context.. | 400 BCE | PeriodTime period of the numismatic object.: Classical 480-323 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 | 4.05 | DenominationTerm indicating the value of a numismatic object. Examples: tetradrachm, chalkous, denarius.: | drachma ![]() |
StandardStandard.: |
Image

AC 14 - Velia, silver, drachma, 440-400 BC.jpg [1]
References
Die study referencePublication of the study: | Williams 19921Williams 1992, Groupe III: variétés 129-131 et 170-208 (D88-D90 et D110-D127, R99-101 et R128-R161). | ||
Coin series referenceReference to coin series study: | Sear I2Sear I, n° 452 and 457, RQEMAC3RQEMAC, n° 14, HN Italy4HN Italy, n°N 1272, HGC 15HGC 1, n° 1329 |
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 | 3 | 14.29 | 3 | 1.6 | 114, 118, 126 |
2 | 1 | 4.76 | 2 | 1.07 | 127 |
3 | 2 | 9.52 | 6 | 3.21 | 88, 121 |
4 | 1 | 4.76 | 4 | 2.14 | 112 |
5 | 2 | 9.52 | 10 | 5.35 | 89, 125 |
6 | 3 | 14.29 | 18 | 9.63 | 90, 111, 122 |
9 | 2 | 9.52 | 18 | 9.63 | 116, 124 |
10 | 1 | 4.76 | 10 | 5.35 | 119 |
11 | 1 | 4.76 | 11 | 5.88 | 113 |
12 | 1 | 4.76 | 12 | 6.42 | 115 |
13 | 1 | 4.76 | 13 | 6.95 | 120 |
18 | 1 | 4.76 | 18 | 9.63 | 123 |
28 | 1 | 4.76 | 28 | 14.97 | 110 |
34 | 1 | 4.76 | 34 | 18.18 | 117 |
Total | 21 of 21 | 99.98 | 187 of 187 | 100.01 |
Reverse dies distribution
no distribution is available
Quantification
Number of obversesNumber of obverse dies. ᵖ (o) | 21 | Number of singletons (o1)The number of singleton coins. ᵖ | 3 |
Number of reverse diesNumber of reverse dies. (r) | 37 | Number of coinsNumber of coins. (n) | 187 |
Coins per obverse dieNumber of coins per obverse die. (n/o) | 8.9 | Coins per reverse dieNumber of coins per reverse die. (n/r) | 5.05 |
Reverse per obverse ratioRatio of obverse dies divided by reverse dies. (r/o) | 1.76 | Percentage of singletons (o1)number of coins (n) divided by the number of singletons (o1) ᵖ | 14.29 % |
Original number of dies (O) (Carter 1983 formula)The estimation of the number of coins according to Carter 1983 ᵖ | 21.55 | Coins struck if 20,000 as average productivity per dieCoins made if the average productivity for obverses (according to Carter) is 20,000. ᵖ | 431,000 |
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) | 23.66 | Survival rate if 20,000 as average productivity per dieSurvival rate if average productivity is 20,000. ᵖ | 0.00043 |
Coverage (o = % of O) (Esty 1984 formula)Esty 1984 - coverage (% of O) ᵖ (o = % of O) | 98.4% | Die productivity if survival rate 1/2,000Average productivity if survival rate is 1/2,000. ᵖ | 17,354.99 |
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 | 1,746 kg <br /> 1,746 kg | Die productivity if survival rate 1/5,000Average productivity if survival rate is 1/5,000. ᵖ | 43,387.47 |
Remarks
References
- ^ Williams, Roderick T. (1992), The silver coinage of Velia, Royal Numismatic Society. Special publication. No. 25, London, xi, 152 p., 47 pl.
- ^ Sear, David R. (1978), Greek coins and their values. Vol. I, Europe, London, xl, 316 p.
- ^ Callataÿ, François de (2003), Recueil quantitatif des émissions monétaires archaïques et classiques, Numismatique Romaine, Wetteren, VII + 267 p.
- ^ Rutter N. Keith et alii (eds.) (2001), Historia Numorum Italy, London, xvi, 223 p., 43 pl.
- ^ Hoover, Oliver D. (2018), The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series, Volume 1. Handbook of Coins of Italy and Magna Graecia, Sixth to First Centuries BC., Lancaster-London, 2018, lxi, 527 pages, 23 cm