Bethsaida Coin Report: 2014 Season Gregory C. Jenks School of Theology, Charles Sturt University
[email protected]
The current archaeological excavations at Bethsaida began in 1987 under the leadership of Dr Rami Arav, who continues as Chief Archaeologist for the project. The project operates as a consortium with several universities participating, and its administrative center is the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Since excavations commenced a total of 579 coins have been recovered: Category
Total
2014
Autonomous Classical (but not identified further) Hellenistic Ptolemaic Seleucid
29 8 3 59 130
0 0 0 2 6
Hasmonean Herodian Early Roman Late Roman Byzantine
38 22 83 4 4
0 2 1 1 0
Crusader Islamic (incl. 32 Mamluk & 78 Ottoman)
2 126
1 8
European Syrian Arab Republic
8 7
2 0
Not identified/Unidentifiable
56
3
During the 2014 season 26 coins were found, and their categories are shown in the previous list. One of the coins was found in area A South, 14 were found in area A West, 7 coins were found in area C, and the remaining 7 coins were found in area T. These coins are described in this report. An appendix provides details of a coin from the 2000 season that had not previously been reported. The information in this report has been prepared in collaboration with and under the supervision of Dr Donald T. Ariel, Head of the Coin Department, Israel Antiquities Authority. Ariel Berman was responsible for identification of the Islamic coins. We also acknowledge the contribution of David Jacobson (UK) and Peter Lewis (Australia), each of whom has assisted with the identification of particular coins. Except for coin 12 (Basket 23716) and coin 25 (Basket B31231) all photographs are by Hanan Shafir, the project photographer for Bethsaida. ©2014 Bethsaida Excavations.
After as much as 2,000 years (or more) in the ground, the coins from Bethsaida– which are mostly bronze coins–are rarely in good condition. Descriptions of the design are derived from the comparative literature and may not be well preserved on the actual coin. On the other hand, descriptions of the legends will indicate the extent to which any inscriptions are visible on the particular coin from Bethsaida. When reading the coin descriptions in this report, it may be helpful to be aware of the conventions that have been applied to the information: The information in the first line of each coin description refers to the IAA number (where one is assigned), basket number, locus, grid and area Letters in inscriptions with underscore indicate a letter that is not sufficiently clear for a confident reading. The proposal is conjectural to some extent. [ ]
indicates text not visible but conjectural
[…]
legend is visible but illegible
|
indicates a line break on the coin
—
indicates a gap between letters
Cf.
indicates that the literature cited is not the same coin but a similar coin
This report is also available online at: http://www.academia.edu/5524798/2013_Bethsaida_Coin_Report
Gregory C. Jenks Coin Curator Bethsaida Excavations Project 31 January 2015 Last revised 7 February 2015.
[01] 144626| B11464 | L1199 | M59 | Area A South Coin, Herodian, Herod the Great (37–4 BCE), Jerusalem, prutah, bronze, 24–12 BCE. Weight: Diameter: Axis:
1.33 g 15 mm 12
Obv legend: Obv design:
[ΗΕΡWΔΟΥ | ΒΑϹΙΛΕ] Anchor, border of dots.
Rev legend: Rev design: Literature:
Double cornucopia with caduceus between horns; above, 5 pellets; border of dots. TJC: 222–223, No. 59; Ariel & Fontanille 2012: 63, No. 15; Hendin 2010: No. 1188.
[02] 144636 | B21960 | L5738 | ZZ28 | Area C Coin, Seleucid, bronze, 198–126 BCE. Weight: Diameter: Axis: Obv legend: Obv design:
Rev legend: Rev design: Literature:
1.73 g 13.0 mm 12 Diademed head of Antiochus III, r., with mature to elderly features and baldness at temple, dotted border. (around) [ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ palm tree, dotted border] Cf. SC I: 411, No. 1081.
[03] 144639 | B21966 | L5739 | DC29 | Area C Coin, Seleucid, Antiochus III (222–187 BCE), bronze, 198–187 BCE. Weight: Diameter: Axis:
1.37 g 11.0 mm 12
Obv legend: Obv design:
[Laureate] Head [of Apollo] r., [dotted border]
Rev legend: Rev design:
[ --- ] [ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ (on right) and ΑΝ]ΤΙΟΧ[ΟΥ] (on left) Nike (?) standing l., holding wreath and palm l, dotted border]
Literature:
Cf. SC I: 416, No. 1096.
Note:
At 11.0 mm, this is a smaller coin than either SC 1: 417, No. 1097 (21.0–23.0 mm) or SC 1: 417, No. 1099 (19.0–20.0 mm).
[04] 144642 | B21967 | L5742 | ZZ28 | Area C Coin, Seleucid, Antiochus III (222–187 BCE), bronze, 198–187 BCE. Weight: Diameter: Axis:
1.14 g 11.0 mm 12
Obv legend: Obv design:
[Laureate] Head [of Apollo] r., [dotted border]
Rev legend: Rev design:
[ --- ] [ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ (on right) and ΑΝ]ΤΙΟΧ[ΟΥ] (on left) Apollo standing l., holding wreath and palm l, dotted border]
Literature:
Cf. SC I: 416, No. 1096.
[05] 144637 | B21981 | L5738 | ZZ28 | Area C Coin, Seleucid, Antiochus III (222–187 BCE), Antioch, bronze. Weight: Diameter: Axis: Obv legend: Obv design:
1.72 g 12.0 mm 1 Head of Antiochus III, laureate, as Apollo [Dotted border]
Rev legend: Rev design:
[ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΑΝ]ΤΙΟΧ[ΟΥ] [ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ (on right) and ΑΝ]ΤΙΟΧ[ΟΥ] (on left) Apollo standing l., holding arrow and resting l. hand on grounded bow.
Literature:
SC I: 402, No. 1055.
[06] 144638 | B21999 | L5738 | ZZ28 | Area C Coin, Seleucid, Antiochus, Ako-Ptolemais, bronze, 198–187 BCE. Weight: Diameter: Axis:
2.22 g 12.0 mm 12
Obv legend: Obv design:
[Laureate] Head [of Apollo] r., [dotted border]
Rev legend: Rev design:
[ --- ] - [AN]T[IO]X[OY] (blundered inscription) [[ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ] (on right) and [AN]T[IO]X[OY] (on left) Apollo standing l., holding wreath and palm l, dotted border].
Literature:
SC I: 416, No. 1096.
[07] 144641 | B22001 | L5740 | ZZ30 | Area C Coin, Ptolemaic, bronze, 260–240 BCE. Weight: Diameter: Axis:
44.7 g 38.0 mm 12
Obv legend: Obv design:
Laureate head of Zeus (?), r.
Rev legend: Rev design:
[ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ] - ΠΤΟΛΕΜ[ΑΙΟΥ] Eagle l. on thunderbolt
Literature:
Lorber forthcoming (2015), B313
[08] 144640 | B22007 | L5740 | ZZ30 | Area C Coin, Seleucid, Tyre, bronze, 198–126 BCE. Hole-centered. Weight: Diameter: Axis: Obv legend: Obv design:
1.80 g 13.0 x 15.0 mm 12 Diademed head of Antiochus, r., with mature to elderly features and baldness at temple, dotted border.
Rev legend: Rev design:
[…] [ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ around, palm tree, dotted border]
Literature:
Cf. SC I: 411, No. 1081.
[09] MODERN | B23670 | L2264 | G59 | Area A West Coin, Ottoman, Constantinople, 20 para, bronze, pierced and in secondary use as ornament, 1800–1900 CE. Weight: Diameter: Axis:
1.12 g 20.0 mm
Obv legend: Obv design:
Tughra
Rev legend: Rev design:
(illegible)
Literature:
Identified by Berman, 21 Jan 2015
[10] 144629 | B23705 | L2266 | G58 | Area A West Coin, Roman provincial, Tyre, bronze, 98/97 BCE–84/85 CE. Weight: Diameter: Axis: Obv legend: Obv design: Rev legend: Rev design:
6.21 g 20.0 mm 1 Head of Tyche r., wearing turreted crown, veil, and earring; behind, palm branch; border of dots. Galley l., with prow terminating in volute, and aphlaston at stern; above, [date, monogram and] inscription: ΙΕΡΑΣ [ἀσύλου]; below Phoen. inscr ;לצרborder of dots.
Literature:
Cf. BMC Phoen.: 25, No. 252.
Note:
Originally assigned basket number 23672.
[11] 144627 | B23706 | L2265 | G59 | Area A West Coin, Herodian, Agrippa II (49/50–94/95 CE), bronze, 25th year of his reign = 84/85 CE. Weight: Diameter: Axis:
3.14 g 16.0 mm 12
Obv legend: Obv design:
ΔOMET KAIC [ΓEPMAN] Bust of Domitian, r. Circle of dots.
Rev legend: Rev design:
(below) ET KE / BAC AΓP / ΙΠ Palm tree with date clusters
Literature:
TJC: 236, No. 156; Hendin (2010): No. 1320.
Note:
(1) The dating of Agrippa's coins is problematic, and this date has been assigned by Donald T. Ariel on the basis of the unpublished work of Alla Kushnir-Stein. (2) Originally assigned basket number 23673.
[12] MODERN | B23716 | L2266 | G58 | Area A West Coin, Ottoman, Selim III (1789-1807), Egypt, para, silver, pierced and in secondary use as ornament, 2nd regnal year = 1790 CE. Weight: Diameter: Axis: Obv legend: Obv design: Rev legend: Rev design: Literature:
Identified by Berman, 4 July 2014
Note:
This coin is currently listed as missing.
[13] UNIDENTIFIED | B23764 | L2269 | G59 | Area A West Unidentified coin, bronze, no IAA number.
[14] MODERN | B23779 | L2262 | G58 | Area A West Coin, Ottoman, Constantinople, 9th regnal year of an unidentified sultan, silver, pierced and in secondary use as an ornament, late 18C or early 19C. Weight: Diameter: Axis: Obv legend: Obv design:
Tughra
Rev legend: Rev design: Literature:
Identified by Michael L. Bates, personal communication, February 2015.
Note:
Presumably it is from one of these three Sultans: Mustafa III, 1757–1774 Abduhamid I, 1774–1789 Mahmud II, 1808–1839
[15] UNIDENTIFIED | B23791 | L2274 | G59 | Area A West Unidentified coin, bronze, no IAA number.
[16] MODERN | B23805 | L2276 | F59 | Area A West Coin, Ottoman, Mahmud II (1123–1255 AH / 1808–1839 CE), Constantinople, 20 para, bronze, pierced and in secondary use as ornament, 30th regnal year = 1837 CE. Weight: Diameter: Axis: Obv legend: Obv design:
0.4 g 17.0 mm
Tughra
Rev legend: Rev design:
٣۳٠۰ ﺿﺭرﺏب ﻓﻲ ﻗﺳﻁطﻧﻁطﻧﻳﯾﺔ ١۱٢۲٢۲٣۳ Literature:
Pere 1968: 194, No. 523.
[17] 144628 | B23806 | L2271 | F59 | Area A West Coin, European, Antonio Venier, doge of Venice (1382-1400), silver, pierced and in secondary use as ornament. Weight: Diameter: Axis:
1.68 g 23.0 mm 6
Obv legend: Obv design:
DVX next to flag. ANTO VENERIO S. Marco porge il vessillo al doge ANTO VENERIO lungo l'asta DVX, a destra •S•M•VENETI (The doge standing receives a flag from St Mark.)
Rev legend: Rev design:
IC–XC above. * in left field Il rednetore in trono IC XC. Nel campo a sinistra una stella di cincque punti, a destra l'iniziale del massaro. (Christ enthroned)
Literature:
Papadopolo 1893: vol 1, 229, No. 2; Thomsen Collection, No. 1887.
[18] MODERN | B23823 | L2271 | F59 | Area A West Coin, Ottoman, Constantinople, para, silver, pierced and in secondary use as ornament, ruler & date uncertain, 1800–1900 CE. Weight: Diameter: Axis:
0.17 g 16.0 mm
Obv legend: Obv design:
(effaced)
Rev legend: Rev design:
(effaced)
Literature:
Identified by Berman, 21 Jan 2015
[19] 144634 | B23832 | L2280 | G59 | Area A West Coin, European, Leopold, king of Hungary (1657-1705), 6 krajczar, silver, in secondary use as ornament (attached to metal ring when found), 1671 CE. Weight: Diameter: Axis:
2.34 g 27.0 mm 12
Obv legend:
(below) LEOPOLDVS.D.G. I.S.A.GE.HV.B.REX. Laureate bust of Leopold VI within two bands containing legend.
Obv design: Rev legend: Rev design:
PATRONA.HV NGARIAE.1671 Madonna and child between K and B (KB is the mint mark for Kremnitz)
Literature:
Krause and Mishler: 829, No. 164.
[20] 144630 | B23839 | L2278 | G59 | Area A West Coin, Crusader, Amaury, king of Jerusalem (1163-74), denier, billon, probably pierced and in secondary use as ornament. Weight: Diameter: Axis:
0.81 g 20.0 mm
Obv legend: Obv design:
AMALRICVS REX Cross pattee with annulets in 2 quarters.
Rev legend: Rev design:
+DE IERVSALEM Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Literature:
Cf. Malloy 1994: 76, No. 28.
[21] 144633 | B23857 | L2279 | G58 | Area A West Coin, Ptolemaic, bronze, Tyre, 274–271 BCE. Weight: Diameter: Axis:
3.46 g 15.0 mm 12
Obv legend: Obv design:
Laureate head of Zeus r.
Rev legend: Rev design:
Eagle l., on thunderbolt.
Literature: Notes:
If the obverse design is Apollo, then the coin is most likely Seleucid: cf. Lorber forthcoming, B313. However, the date appears too early for that to be the case. On balance, when both the date and the Zeus image are taken into account, it seems to reasonable to identify this as a Ptolemaic coin
[22] 144632 | B23859 | L2278 | G59 | Area AW Coin, Byzantine, Constantius II (337–361 CE), bronze. Weight: Diameter: Axis:
1.06 g 16.0 mm 11
Obv legend: Obv design:
DN CONST - [TIVS PF AVG] Bust Constantius r., laureate, draped.
Rev legend: Rev design:
[SPES REIPVBLICE] Constantius standing left, holding globe and spear.
Literature:
Cf. LRBC II: 87, No. 2053. Like Sear (1988): No. 4011, which was minted at Thessalonica.
[23] 144635 | B31191 | L4016 | C69 | Area T Coin, Abbasid, uncertain mint & ruler, pierced and in secindary use as an ornament, broken, 800–900 CE. Weight: Diameter: Axis:
1.57 g 18.0 x 22.0 mm
Obv legend: Obv design:
(illegible)
Rev legend: Rev design:
[…]|[…]|[…]
Literature:
Identified by Berman, 21 Jan 2015
[24] UNIDENTIFIED | B31230 | L4016 | C69 | Area T Unidentified coin, bronze, no IAA number.
[25] MODERN | B31231 | L4016 | C69 | Area T Coin, Ottoman, Mehmed V (Resad) (1909-1918 CE), Constantinople, 5 para, silver, 5th regnal year = 1913 CE. Weight: Diameter: Axis:
g mm
Obv legend: Obv design: Rev legend: Rev design: Literature:
Identified by Berman, 4 July 2014
Note:
This coin is currently listed as missing.
[26] MODERN | B31232 | L4016 | C69 | Area T Coin, Ottoman, Ahmed II (1115–1143 AH / 1703–1730 CE), Constantinople, para, silver, no date so possibly in accession year = 1703 CE. Weight: Diameter: Axis: Obv legend: Obv design:
0.44 g 14.0 mm
Tughra
Rev legend: Rev design:
ﺿﺮﺏب ﻓﻲ ﻗﺴﻄﻨﻄﻴﯿﺔ ١۱١۱١۱٥ Literature:
Pere 1968: 194, No. 523.
APPENDIX Previously Unreported Coins from Earlier Seasons 2000 Season
144631 | B5460 | L425 | H56 | A West Coin, Roman, Julia Mamaea (222–235 CE), Bostra, bronze. Weight: Diameter: Aix:
5.78 g 22.0 mm 6
OBV legend: OBV design:
IVLIA MAMAEA - AVGVSTA Bust of Julia Mamaea r.
REV legend: REV design:
C[OLO]NIA BOSTRA Bust of Tyche (?) l., turreted crown.
Literature:
Same reverse die as CHL: 151, No. 47.
References Ariel & Fontanille
Donald T. Ariel and Jean-Philippe Fontanille, The Coins of Herod: A Modern Analysis and Die Classification. Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity 79. Leiden: Brill, 2012.
CHL
Yaakov Meshorer, Gabriela Bijovsky, and Wolfgang Fischer-Bossert, eds, Coins of the Holy Land: The Abraham and Marian Sofaer Collection at the American Numismatic Society and the Israel Museum. 2 vols, Ancient Coins in North American Collections 8. New York, NY: American Numismatic Society, 2013.
Hendin
David Hendin, Guide to Biblical Coins. 5th ed. New York, NY: Amphora, 2010.
BMC Phoen.
George Francis Hill, Catalogue of the Greek Coins of Phoenicia. A Catalogue of the Greek Coins in the British Museum. London: British Museum, 1910.
Krause & Mishler
Chester L. Krause and Clifford Mishler, Standard Catalogue of World Coins: Seventeenth Century, 1601-1700. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Krause Publications, 1999.
Lorber
Catharine C. Lorber, Coinage of the Ptolemaic Empire (forthcoming)
LRBC
R. A. G. Carson, P. V. Hill & J. P. C. Kent, Late Roman Bronze Coinage A.D. 324–498. I: The Bronze Coinage of the House of Constantine A.D. 324–346. II: Bronze Roman Imperial Coinage of the Later Empire A.D. 346–498. New York, NY: Spink, 1978.
Malloy
Alex G. Malloy, Irene Fraley Preston & A. J. Seltman, Coins of the Crusader States 1098–1291. New York, NY: Attic Books, 1994.
Papadopli
Nicolo Papadopli Aldobrandini, Le Monete di Venezia. Venice: Topografia Libreria Emilana, 1893.
SC
Arthur Houghton, Catharine Lorber, and Oliver Hoover, eds, Seleucid Coins. A Comprehensive Catalogue: Part 1: Seleucus I through Antiochus III; Part 2. Seleucis IV through Antiochus XIII. 4 vols. New York, NY: American Numismatic Society, 2002-2008.
Thomsen Collection
Kristian Ersev, Medieval Coins in the Christian J. Thomsen Collection: Byzantine, Dark Ages, Crusader, Islamic, England, Serbia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, and the Low Countries. South Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1992
TJC
Yaakov Meshorer, A Treasury of Jewish Coins: From the Persian Period to Bar Kokhba. Jerusalem: Yad Ben-Zvi Press, 2001.
Pere
Nuri Pere, Coins of the Ottoman empire. Istanbul: 1968
Sear
David R. Sear, Byzantine Coins and their Values. London: Seaby, 1988.
