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Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt
Bust of Cleopatra VII The mailman brought an interesting tetradrachm that highlights the detailed inspection that can be required to differentiate between ancient coins. Looking at this coin there are a few possibilities for exactly who issued this coin. One possibility: a coin of the last Pharaoh of Egypt the 17-year old Ptolemy Caesar or Ptolemy XV. Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt, joint rule of Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XV (aka Caesarion), 37-30 BC, AR Tetradrachm, Alexandria min

sulla80
Dec 8, 20206 min read


Lion and Sun, გურჯი-ხათუნი
In 1237 CE, Ḡīāṯ-al-Dīn Kayḵosrow II became sultan when his father, Kayqubad I (1219-1237 CE), died. He would reign until his death in 1245 CE. Let's start with a coin from the father, Kayqubad I . Seljuq of Rum, Ala al-din Kayqubad I, 1219-1237 CE, AH 616-630, Siwas mint in AH 617, AR Dirhem (2.77g, 22 mm). Ref: Broome 172. Bar Hebraeus (1226 – 1286 CE), a bishop of the Syriac church, didn't think much of the Sultan Ḡīāṯ-al-Dīn Kayḵosrow II: "Then the new Sultan GHAYATH AD

sulla80
Dec 5, 20206 min read


The Gracchi Brothers and Social Reforms
Cornelia, mother of the Gracchi , by Joseph-Benoît Suvée (1795, Louvre), Public Domain image from the wikipedia. Cornelia was the...

sulla80
Nov 26, 20206 min read


Top 10 Ancients for 2020
While it is possible that one more coin might show up this year, it seems unlikely that I will displace any of the coins listed below, so...

sulla80
Nov 22, 20206 min read
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