AMERICAN
NUMISMATIC
MUSEUM
THE
AMERICAN
SOCIETY
NOTES
NUMISMATIC
SOCIETY
NEW YORK
1969
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CONTENTS
GREEK
Hyla A. Troxell and William F. Spengler. A Hoard of
I
Early Greek Coins fromAfghanistan
Nancy M. Waggoner. The Early Alexander Coinage at Seleucia
on the Tigris
21
Jennifer Warren. The Earliest Triobols of Megalopolis
31
ROMANAND BYZANTINE
Richard E. Mitchell. The Fourth Century Origin of Roman
Didrachms
R.
J.
Jones. Vettienus Monetalis
Joan M. Fagerlie. Roman and Byzantine Medallions in the
Collection of the American Numismatic Society
Eugene Dwyer. An Alexander/MacedoniaContorniate
Arthur F. Johnson. A New AnonymousBronze ofConstantineX
41
73
77
93
97
MEDIAEVAL
D. M. Metcalf. A Hoard of "Porcupine" Sceattas
101
ORIENTAL
Richard W. Bulliet. A MuctaziliteCoin of Mahmd of Ghazna 119
Paul Z. Bedoukian. The Copper of the Later Kings of Cilician
Armenia
131
L. N. Kukuranov. The "Urd" Issues of Emperor Akbar
137
iii
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A HOARD
OF
"PORCUPINE"
SCEATTAS
D. M. Metcalf
(Plates XX-XXI)
In the period between ca. 675 and ca. 750 the currencyof Frisia
and southern England consisted of "sceattas" - silver coins of a
characteristic small, dumpy fabric, which replaced the earlier gold
trientesand which were themselveseventually replaced by the larger
and thinner denarii of Pepin and Offa. The "sceattas" are mostly
anepigraphic, or inscribed only with a few half-understoodletters.
There are upwards of seventy differentvarieties in the series. Of
'
'
'
'
these, the most plentifulis the 'wolf-standard' or 'porcupine' sceat.
Its obverse, which has been variously interpreted,has an abstract
design of a central curve, bristles, straight lines, crosses, and other
Fig. i
symbols; its reverseis occupied by a square standard with a degraded
copy of the inscription VOT /XX, or with a pattern or group of
symbolsto replace the letters.The obverse can be seen as a porcupine,
but the name is purely a conventional one. The minor variations in
the basic design are seemingly endless. A survey shows, however,
that there are a half-dozen common versions, in each of which the
details of the obverse and of the reverse and (significantly)of the
reverseborder are consistentand regular.1The Franeker hoard helps
to demonstrate that the common versions were substantial issues.
The general impression they give, taken overall, is that there were
several mints or centers of production, each with its familiar and
'
acceptable version of the 'porcupine" design. Most of the coins were
struck in Frisia, but some are English, as can be seen by comparing
1 This summarizes
the argumentin D. M. Metcalf,"A StylisticAnalysisof
to numerous
the'Porcupine'Sceattas,"NC 1966,pp. 179-205,wherereferences
earlierstudieswillbe found.
IOI
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102
D. M. METCALF
the relative proportionsof the main variants among the Dutch and
'
the English hoards and stray finds.The 'plumed bird" version, for
example, is English. It has its own characteristicreversedesigns; and
the systemby which particular patterns of reversewere accepted as
"belonging with" particular obverses spilled over to include other
contemporarytypes of sceattas, both in England and on the continent. These relationshipsare expressed in concise formin figure2.
The "porcupines" are not as tidy a series as figure2 mightsuggest.
Large numbersof specimensdo not fitinto any of the main categories.
Some of them are straightforward
forgeries,coins with silveringover
a copper core, which have been found for example on the beach at
Domburg. Others are of better quality, although the silver may be
quite heavily alloyed with copper. They are generally based on the
standard designs, but they usually borrow, and combine, elements
derivingfrommore than one source. The Cimiez hoard contains some
good examples of such "imitations." The date of deposit of Cimiez
has generally been set at 737. It is important as a terminus: if an
imitative"porcupine" in the hoard exhibitselementsclearlyborrowed
from one of the substantive versions, that version must antedate
the hoard. But there is little prospect of studying the imitations
throughtheir chronology.Among the "porcupines," as among other
early types of sceattas, attractive designs seem to have been copied
promptlyand far afield.
The difficultyof studying the derivative coins (which this article
is about) lies in the fact that there is no orderlysystem to be uncovered. One cannot hope to arrive at conclusions which will confirm
and commend themselves as plausible. Almost by definition,the
imitations are opportunist,or at least uninspiredby respect for the
conventional scheme. It is even harder to say just where they were
struck than it is to date them closely. One cannot even be sure that
much political controlwas exercised over the strikingof sceattas in
Frisia evenwhenitwas at itsmostorderly,althoughthelargequantities
and consistent style in which varieties E and F were produced (see
Fig. 2) suggest regularityand some kind of planning, as do the very
accurate weights of the best "porcupines."
A small proportionof coins which are in a coarse or stiffstyle are
obviouslythe resultsofprivate enterprise;but many of the imitations
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HOARD
OF "PORCUPINE"
SCEATTAS
103
Fig. 2
circulation area: the German grave-findsof Galgenberg, Roisdorf,
and Bonn might be cited as examples. The Cimiez hoard, again,
illustrates several palpable imitations, mingled with Merovingian
and English coins which had been carried to the south of France.
The English findsare, on the whole, coins of good quality.
It is undoubtedlyin Frisia that the more problematic"imitations"
of the best quality were struck and used. The die links between the
Groningen, Lutje Saaksum, and Kloster Barte hoards offersome
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104
D- M. METCALF
support for the theory that they are an east Frisian currencycontemporarywith regularvarieties issued in the politicallymore settled
area of western Frisia; the scarcity of "imitations" at Dorestad
perhaps points to the same conclusion. But they are very plentiful
also among the findsfromDomburg, the emporium at the heart of
the "porcupine" country. They are present, along with other types
of sceattas, in the hoards from Hallum and Franeker. The former
was concealed (to judge fromits English element) early in the 730%
and Franeker may be even earlier. Thus, the derivative coins were
already being struckby ca. 730, at a date when the debasement of the
English sceatta series had barely begun. Some, of course, may have
been issued appreciably later; this is a point which detailed research
may be expected to clarify,by definingthe scope and extent of the
known varieties, by grouping the coins together as far as possible
into little blocks fromrelated dies, and then by seeing how far the
blocks can be "tied in" to the specimens which are dated by a hoardcontext. In an effortto classify the "imitations" in more detail,
there are various lines of enquiry to be followed.
1) Analyses of the metal contentsof the coins will show the relative
finenessof the different
varieties. Dirks describesall the "porcupines"
fromFraneker, but especially varieties E and F, as being of "very
pure silver;" and he also quotes an analysis of another coin published
by Rethaan Macare, which contained 53% silver. More recent
analyses have shown that certain English varieties of "porcupine,"
includingthe "plumed bird" and "VOIC" varieties,contain upwards
of 95% silver.2A forthcomingstudy,3based on a larger number of
analyses, will show that the Frisian imitations (including several of
those catalogued below) usually contain 70-85% silver, but sometimes less. It is not yet known whetherthis is appreciably lower than
the alloy of the regularFrisian varieties, or even whetherthey themselves were of a closely controlledcomposition; but at least the figures
offeran explanation for the scarcity of the "imitations" during the
primaryphase of sceattas in England.
2 D. M. Metcalf,J.M. Merrick,
and L. K. Hamblin,Studiesin theComposition
Handbooks
, No. 3) (NewcastleofEarlyMedievalCoins(MinervaNumismatic
8 By MissHamblinand thewriter.
1968),p. 22.
upon-Tyne,
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HOARD OF "PORCUPINE"
SCEATTAS
105
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io6
D. M. METCALF
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HOARD
OF "PORCUPINE"
SCEATTAS
107
Fig. 3
One cannot exclude the possibility that it is a parcel from one of
these hoards. The coins have been listed under the headings of the
'
'
main varieties, but most of them are 'derivative/ They are very
varied in style,no. 32 being particularlycrude. Nos. 1-5 are probably
regular coins of variety A, among which one can detect a consistent
obverse style. No. 15 may be a regular coin of variety C. No. 13 is a
"VOIC" coin in the best style- deriving its design fromvariety B,
but with the status of a regular variety. Die similaritiessuggest that
it is an English coin, and it is likely to be of very pure silver, if
analyses of other "VOIC" specimens are a guide. If so, it may help to
put a relatively early date on the hoard. The die-linked coins, nos.
18-19, togetherwith no. 20, may be the best pointer to its origin.
5The writerwouldbe pleasedto hearfromanyonewhoboughtcoinsfromthe
hoard.Lettersmaybe addressed"AshmoleanMuseum,Oxford."
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io8
D. M. METCALF
CATALOGUE
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HOARD OF "PORCUPINE"
SCEATTAS
109
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no
D. M. METCALF
mediate in style, and with an obverse that is close in style to
nos. 1-4: note that there is a long cross on the obv., and a rowof
small dots. Collection of J. D. A. Thompson.
1.00 gr./i5.5 grains. -
5. Obv. : Three lines and 2 (or 3 ?) dots beneath the curve; 15 "quills."
The lines are stepped downward to the left. Beneath, A + T.
Generally very similar to RN 41 (Cimiez), of which the reverse,
however,has dotted serifson the letters T, T.
Rev. : Variety A, to which a pyramid of 4 dots has been added.
Small, neat letters,with pseudo-serifs,as on no. 4. In the border
the crosses, too, are square-cut. L-shaped elements are carried
around the two lower corners.
1.25 gr./ig.3 grains, f
6 .Obv.: Curve with 4 lines beneath; 12 "quills." The symbols
beneath are perhaps A A X X. Note that there is no dot at the
tip of the curve; this suggests strongly that the coin is not a
regular specimen of variety A. Two minute "ears" part way
along the curve may be an echo fromthe design of variety F.
Rev. : Design of varietyA, dotted style. In the border are crosses,
with dots to (each?) side; and a line runs outward from the
cornerof the square. Very similar to no. 1.
1.15 gr./i77 grains
Cf. Dirks, C, 9 (Hallum).
7. Obv.: Curve without a dot at the tip. A finedotted line runs most
of the way round the curve, but not around the tip (cf.variety F).
Four lines, of which the fourth is small and thin. An annulet
beneath, and traces, perhaps, of another annulet to the left of
the first.The "quills" are bolder and more widely spaced, but
: there are
they are distributedaround more of the circumference
traces of 13.
Rev. : Design of variety A, with dots added at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock.
Dots (part of crosses?) in the border above and to the left; a line
with a dot superimposed,to the right.
1.23 gr./ig.o grains. ->
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HOARD
OF "PORCUPINE"
SCEATTAS
hi
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112
D. M. METCALF
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HOARD
OF "PORCUPINE"
SCEATTAS
113
Rev. : There are traces of a cross in one side of the border. If this
side is placed at the top, the symbols in the square are Hl/X"
around an annulet. Under the 2 dots are 5 faint dots forming
an L; the die cutterperhaps changed his mind afterroughingout
the pattern. In the left border, .r'. . In the lower border, a zigzag line(?).
1.00 gr./i54 grains |
16. Obv.: Curve with dot part way along. Beneath, XIII; two large
dots and an annulet. The curve and "quills" are of rough workmanship.
Rev. : Small square with ["/ around an annulet. Unusually
elaborate border: 5 or 6 "quills" to left; H :T/ below.
1.17 gr./i8.i grains. <- D. M. Metcalf.
Cf. Dirks A, 5 (Franeker). The reverses of SCBI Hunterian 44
and Man 25 are comparable, but theirobverses are very different.
Van der Chijs 10 also has "quills" in the rev. border.
17. Obv.: Widely spaced design. Curve with dot at end; 3 lines; A
beneath.
Rev. : The beading of the square consists of dots spaced out along
the lines; TO/CX around annulet, with a dot above and below.
to right. Cf. Lockett
Zig-zag border above; opposed curves
217i.
1.10 gr./i7.o grains.
Ashmolean Museum.
Variety E
18. Obv.: Two small dots on the curve close to eitherside of the point
where the triangle joins it. The other two angles of the triangle
are marked by small dots. Beneath, XA; 2 very small dots in the
field.
Rev.: Small square, erraticallydotted; TO/
around annulet.
VIIw around lower left cornerof border.
1.31 gr./20.i grains. <- D. M. Metcalf.
SCBI Hunterian 41 is perhaps related.
8
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D- M- METCALF
114
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HOARD OF "PORCUPINE"
SCEATTAS
115
Variety F
26. Obv.: Fat curve, with small dot superimposed; complete outline
of small dots. Reversed "quills." Dot, 3 lines, and ringed dot
below.
Rev.: Cruciformpattern; the central dot is ringed with minute
dots. Border with ( ?) cross above, 3 ( ?) quills to the right,( ?) an
annulet to the left,and a zig-zag line below.
D. M. Metcalf.
1.28 gr./ig.7 grains.
From the same dies as Lockett 219c. Extremely similar to SCBI
Copenhagen 35 (where the quills are not reversed).
8*
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D. M. METCALF
27. Obv.: A bold dot on the curve, which reproduces the "beaked"
style of variety F closely. The border of finedots runs round the
beak but is lacking inside the curve. X*:III; annulet beneath.
Rev.: Probably + above and below, with - :/:.X around annulet (cf. SCBI Copenhagen 32). Zig-zag line to left. The die has
given a softor blurredimpression,like that of no. 28, and in contrast with no. 29, where the reverse is sharp.
1.22 gr./i8.8 grains. '
Very similar to SCBI Copenhagen 32. Cf. also NC 1966, p. 194,
Fig. 3c (Thanet), and Hill 7 (Groningen).
28. Obv.: Similar to no. 27: again, the border of finedots is lacking
on the inner side of the curve. Otherwise, extremelysimilar to
SCBI Copenhagen 32 and doubtless by the same hand. Three
lines inside curve; T+ beneath.
Rev. : Border in high relief,with dots superimposed (presumably
one at each corner,and then 4 more on each side). Inner square
of finedots; 4 dots around annulet. Cf. NC 34-6.
1.36 gr./20.ggrains. D. M. Metcalf.
29. Obv. : The curve is thinner,but still in the style of variety F. It is
outlined with large, widely-spaced dots. Very bold "quills."
Within the curve, XIII; beneath, .0'.
Rev. : The same design as no. 28, but more sharply struck. Outer
square with (presumably) one dot at each corner,5 more on two
sides, and 6 more on the other two. Note that NC 37, which
appears to be similar, has many more dots to mark the outer
square.
1.32 gr./20.3grains,
From the same rev. die as Carlyon-Britton,lot 159, and froman
extremelysimilar obverse die. Extremely similar also to SCBI
Copenhagen 29 and certainlyby the same hand.
30. Obv.: Very similar to no. 29, and even closer to SCBI Copenhagen
29 (note the X of XIII), almost certainly by the same hand. The
link is furtherdemonstratedby BMC 70 (pl. II, 7).
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HOARD OF "PORCUPINE"
SCEATTAS
117
Rev.: Small square; around the central annulet are two Ts with
a dot at each end, and two I's with a dot half way along. The
borderis apparently compartmentedby dotted lines (or crosses?)
running outward from the corners of the square. Cross above;
[I and 2 dots to the left; (?) H . below.
Cf. the rev. of BMC 70.
1.40 gr./2i.6 grains, f
Cf. Hill 17 and 19 (Lutje Saaksum), which have a much neater
reverse design.
31. Obv.: Curve with dot superimposed (as variety F), but with large
annulet joined to tip. The outline is of bold dots, joined by a
fine line. Three lines, flanked by dots; beneath, 4 or 5 dots.
Widely-spaced "quills."
Rev.: Perhaps in the same style as no. 24. Small square; Jl/XC
around annulet, with 5 dots added. Large symbols in border:
bold dotted cross, flanked by dots, above; angle around upper
left corner; (?) triangle to left.
I-I5 g^-M-7 grains.
Variety G or D
32. Obv.: The heavily-modelled curve is apparently derived from
variety G, although the large cross beneath is perhaps copied
from variety D.
Rev. : Design of variety D (cf. NC 26-29). Rough square of coarse
dots. Flattened zig-zag with dots, as the border pattern.
1.25 gr./i9-3grains, s*
33. Obv.: Curve, etc., perhaps derived from variety G. Cross and
annulet beneath.
Rev. : Small square, with dots spaced irregularlyalong the sides.
IT/IT around annulet. Large dotted cross beneath (and above?);
two annulets roughlyapplied in the right-handborder.
1.22 gr./i8.8 grains,
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ii8
D. M. METCALF
34. Obv.: Five lines, the right-handone joined to the curve. Six long,
swept-back "quills," and perhaps a seventh very long one, with
its dot at 5 o'clock. Symbols beneath, perhaps VA.
Rev.: Symmetricalpattern, V1V/I I/ATAaround annulet. Border
with U to left and right, and zig-zag line beneath. Extremely
similar to Dirks F, 19 (Domburg), the obverse of which also has
long, swept-back "quills."
1.25 gr./i9.2 grains. '
35. Obv.: Crude curve, with 3 lines beneath.
Rev. : Rotating cruciformpattern with central annulet. Border
with zig-zag pattern.
D. M. Metcalf.
1.09 gr./i6.8 grains.
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XX
12
4A
10
11
1-2
14
HOARD OF "PORCUPINE"
SCEATTAS
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XXI
18
19
20
21
22
28
24
25
2(5
27
28
29
so
31
o4
oo
HOARD
OF "PORCUPINE"
85
SCEATTAS
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