26 years of service to numismatics
Volume 26 Number 5 ISSN: 0197-3088 Price .... Two Dollars
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
FEATURES
A Trip to the Medals of Peter the Great in London, Paris and
Stockholm, by Jan L. Perkowski 109
An Introduction to Byzantine Coinage, No. 70,
by B. B. Kutcher 116
The Countermarked Copper Coinage of the Knights of Malta,
by Donald S. Yarab 105
Numismatic musings on the eight o'clock news, by Peter Kraneveld 113
DEPARTMENTS
Book News & Reviews 120
Member Notice Page 124
INSIDE N.I .
Librarian's Report 103
Membership Chairman's Report 103
OTHER ITEMS
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan 103
Israel's 1991 Greetings Token 104
Numismatic Extracts from Selected Literature 119, 124
Copyrighted by Numismatics International, P.O. Box 670013, Dallas, Texas USA 75367-0013
MAY 1991
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
ROBERT W. RICHTER Chairman & Past President
DR. HOWARD FORD President
ROSSSCHRAEDER Secretary 214-995-4921 D 21 4-237-4347 N
LARRY KNIGHT At- Large- Director
JOHNE. VANDIGRIFF Vice-President
DON DOUGLAS Treasurer
PHILIP BRANDENBURG At-Large-Di rector
WILLIAM E. BENSON MARVIN L. FRALEY JACK E. LEWIS ELMORE B. SCOTT CARL YOUNG
KARYT. EDWARDS PHILIP L. LAWRENCE CHARLES MUCHMORE WILLIAM B. THOMPSON
Past-Presidents
APPOINTED
Curator, Nl REFERENCE COLLECTION Philip L. Lawrence
Curator, JOHN GRAVES MEMORIAL
PAPER MONEY COLLECTION David Block P.O. Box 12473 Gainesville, FL 32602
Editor, Nl BULLETIN Marvin L. Fraley 2813 - 57th Street Lubbock, TX 79413 Phone 806-795-7623
Book News & Reviews Editor
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Article Abstractor, Nl BULLETIN Joseph Uphoff La Jolla, CA
Index Compiler, Nl BULLETIN Dick Schubert Denver, CO
STAFF
Publicity Chairman Stuart T. Eisen Phone 301-530-5400
Librarian, Nl BOOK LIBRARY Granvyl G. Hulse, Jr.
30 Pleasant Street Colebrook, NH 03576
Librarian, Nl CATALOG-SUB-LIBRARY Paul Edmund Garner P.O. Box 224584 Dallas, TX 75222-4584
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MEMBERSHIP FEES: Individual & Club Memberships — $15.00 Annually. Junior Membership (1 8 years of age and under) — $1 0.00 Annually. Senior Membership (70 years of age and older) — $10.00 Annually.
102
INSIDE N.l.
MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
May, 1991 Applications for Membership: The following persons have ap-
plied for membership. If no written objections are received by August 1, 1991, their membership will become effective on that date.
2358-MT Charles W. Scheffer, Jr., 272 N. Spring St., Sparta, TN 38583 (German States, especially Munster)
2359 Anna Polinska, U1 . Kickiego 5m6, Warszawa 04-373, Poland (Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia)
2360-MT Roger Case, 700 E. State St., Iola, Wise. 54945
2361 Tyge Sondergaard, Nr. Alsev Syrendejt 1, DK 4840 Nr. Alsev,
Denmark -- (Baltic Paper Money)
2362 Klearchos Katsouris, 34372 Gun hi 1 1 Dr., Fremont, Calif. 94555
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
The following books have been purchased by the Library: aabd oi.i-iQqn-rA
CRiBB, J0E/C00K, BARRIE/CARRADICE , IAN The Coin Atlas Pub. 1990, 337pp, illus.
AA90.CooD: 1988: ACC COOPER, DENIS R.
The art and craft of coinmaking . A history of minting technology .
Pub. 1988, 264pp, illus.
Granvyl G. Hulse, Jr., Book Librarian Jim Haley, Periodical Librarian
********************************************************************** ANGLO-EGYPTIAN SUDAN
Modern factory made money was found to be worthless in the Sudan.
When the English took over the rule of the government of the Sudan, the Sudanese were using hand made shell bead money. The English wish- ing to speed up progress, took the stones from the local mines back to England where factory made stone shell beads were manufactured. How- ever, the fine industrialized bead strung by machine did not find any acceptance by the Sudanese population. The collectors of Odd and Curious money of today do find the strings of white and black shells very collectable though.
(Submitted by R. R. Kutcher) 103
ISRAEL'S 1991 GREETINGS TOKEN
Historic commemorati ves are produced every year that money can't buy, but they can be obtained free! Beginning in 1964, the Israel Govern- ment Coins and Medals Corporation has minted special Season's Greet- ings tokens, which are sent free to all those on their mailing list.
The first token consisted of an Israeli coin set in a brass frame, the second in 1965 was a miniature "Liberation" medal contained in a plastic bookmark.
Beginning in 1966, the annual Season's Greetings token were 30 mm. cop- per-nickel pieces, changing to one inch diameter in 1983. The most famous pieces in the series were issued in 1975, when a few were sent out containing a spelling error - "GREATINGS" instead of "GREETINGS". These error pieces quickly became valuable collectors' items. Note that previously issued Greetings Tokens are no longer available.
The 1991 Greetings Token features a striking modern design, portraying new immigrant families receiving a warm greeting to Eretz Israel, along with a prophetic quote from Jeremiah in English and Hebrew: "Your sons
shall return to their own land."
The Law of Return, passed by the Israel Knesset in 1950, was one of the earliest and most significant of the basic laws in the State of Israel.
It declared that every Jew has the right to settle in Israel. Survivors of the Holocaust were welcomed, as well as millions of Jews from the diaspora, including the Arab countries, India, and more recently, the Felashas from Ethiopia. The new Greetings Token in particular refers to the mass immigration of Soviet Jews, which is expected to amount to 200,000 in 1990, and may add up to a million by 1992. In addition, permission has just been obtained for 20,000 Ethiopian "Falasha" Jews to emigrate to Israel in the near future.
Israel's 43rd Anniversary commemorative silver and gold coins, to be issued in the Spring of 1991, will also honor the new wave of immigrants. These coins will not be available to the general public, but will be offered exclusively to those on the Israel Government Coins and Medals Corporation mailing list. Anyone can place their name on this "Sub- scriber List" with no obligation to make future purchases, by writing to the Israel Government Coins and Medals Corporation, P. 0. Box 2270, Jerusalem 91022, Israel. Subscribers will receive full information about the beautiful and historic coins & medals of Israel, and speci- ally discounted prices. Profits from sales are earmarked for the pur- pose of beautifying the countryside of Israel.
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The Countermarked Copper Coinage
of the
Knights of Malta
By Donald S. Yarab
The Order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem was given sovereign possession of the island of Malta in 1530 by the Emperor Charles V. The Order resided on the island until 1798 when it was forcibly expelled from Malta by the aggressions of the French under Napoleon. One of the more interesting numismatic legacies arising from the Order's tenure on Malta was the issuance of a copper coinage inscribed with 1, 2, and 4 tari denominations (denominations traditionally associated with the Order's silver coin- age) and the subsequent countermarking of this copper coinage by the Order to attest to its authenticity.
THE GREAT SIEGE OF MALTA IN 1565 AND THE NECESSITY OF COPPER COINAGE
Grand Master John de la Vallette (1557-68) opened his reign with the knowledge that the Ottoman Sultan Sulieman was preparing to attack Malta with great force. Vallette therefore issued a call to arms to which over 9,000 men responded. He also devoted the resources of the Order to the construction and reinforcement of defensive fortifications in preparation for the coming onslaught.
In 1565, an Ottoman fleet carrying over 35,000 men descended on Malta and com- menced a siege which lasted a staggering 113 days. The religious zeal which animated both the Christian and Mohammedan forces gave rise to an Homeric epic. The struggle for Malta, which saw the birth of many extraordinary acts of heroism and valor, was costly. By the time the siege was lifted this astonishingly brutal engagement had claimed over 30,000 Mohammedan and 8,400 Christian lives.
Grand Master Vallette, who survived the siege, immediately began the costly task of reconstructing the Maltese defenses. By March of 1566, the Grand Master had placed the cornerstone of the new city of Vallette. This city, erected on the entire area of Mount Sceberras, was designed to provide an impenetrable defense in the event of further Ottoman aggression.
It is small wonder, then, that by 1566 the treasury of the Order was depleted and a general scarcity of silver prevailed on Malta. In order to meet the monetary needs of the Maltese, the Order began minting 1 , 2, and 4 tari coins in copper. Prior to 1 566, these de- nominations were struck in silver.
These new copper coins featured the arms of the Grand Master on the obverse and two clasped hands on the reverse. The reverse latin inscription read NON AES SED FIDES (Not copper but Faith). Though the intrinsic worth of the copper coins did not even
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remotely approach the stated value of the coins, the Maltese accepted the coins with, no doubt, the same Faith which enabled them to endure the Great Siege of 1565.
THE PREVALENCE OF COUNTERFEIT COPPER COINS AND THE NECESSITY OF COUNTERMARKING
The continuing financial exhaustion of the Order necessitated the issuance of similar copper coinage by later Grand Masters. Such coins were struck by Grand Masters Peter del Monte (1568-72), Hugh de Loubenx Verdala (1582- 95), and Jean Paul Lascaris Castellar (1636-57). Collec- tors are most apt to encounter the issues of Grand Master Lascaris. Issues of the other Grand Masters are relatively
scarce. A Copper Four Tori of Lascaris
Unfortunately, the low intrinsic worth and high denominated value of these copper coins, especially the 2 and 4 tari pieces, soon made these coins a popular object of the counterfeiter's art. Indeed, by 1646 the problem of counterfeit 2 and 4 tari coins became so pervasive that Grand Master Lascaris issued an edict which provided that "it is expedient that all copper coins current in this Island of Malta be restamped in the hope of avoiding frauds which are likely to occur." Under this and subsequent edicts, all copper coins were to be taken to the mint for examination. Coins found to be genuine were countermarked as an indication of their authenticity. In practice, only 2 and 4 tari pieces were countermarked although an occasional 1 tari coin was countermarked.
In spite of the countermarking of these copper coins by Lascaris, and the imposition of heavy fines and penalties on counterfeiters, counterfeit 2 and 4 tari coins continued to plague Malta. Thus, many of Lascaris' successors also found it expedient to countermark the copper 2 and 4 tari coins. In all, six different Grandmasters found it necessary to guarantee the authenricity of the circulating copper coinage by applying various counter- marks. Two of the Grand Masters found it necessary to countermark the coinage twice during their reigns.
The countermarks used by the various Grand Masters were symbolic of the arms of the Grand Master or, on occasion, were some other appropriate religious emblem. These countermarks have been found on 1 , 2, and 4 tari copper coins with the 4 tari pieces being the most frequently countermarked, and the 1 tari coins being the least frequently countermarked.
In most instances, the countermarks of several Grand Masters appear on a coin. Generally, the 2 and 4 tari coins appear with between three and five different counter- marks. Occasionally, a 2 or 4 tari coin is found with as many as six different
106
countermarks. Finally, it appears that the most uncommon 2 and 4 tari coins are those with all the possible countermarks and those with none of the countermarks.
Countermarked 1 tari coins are seen with such infrequency as to make any generali- zations about them prone to significant error.
The British, who acquired Malta after the defeat of Napoleon, allowed the copper coinage of the Order to continue in circulation until 1827 when the British ordered its withdrawal. This retirement from use was well earned for much of the Maltese copper coinage had been in active circulation for well over 250 years as attested to by the vari- ous countermarks placed on them over the years.
A Countermarked Copper
Four Tari of Lascaris
The following countermarks were employed by the Order to validate its copper coinage:
No. 1 No. 2 No. 3
No. 6 No. 7 No. 8
No. 4 No. 5
No. 9
1. Double-headed eagle within a circular impression (app. dia. 6-7mm). Countermark of Jean Paul Lascaris Castellar, 1636-57. Countermark authorized by decrees of 17th May, 1646 and 28th May, 1646.
2. Double-headed eagle within a shield impression (5mm x 6.5mm). Countermark of Jean Paul Lascaris Castellar, 1636-57. Countermark authorized by decrees of 17th May, 1646 and 28th May, 1646.
Note: It appears that the above two countermarks (no. 1 and no. 2) are merely distinctive varieties of the ccuntermarking authorized in 1646. Also, the countermark within the shield impression (no. 2) seems to be the more uncommon of the two varieties.
107
3. Head of St. John the Baptist within an oval impression (app. 4.5mm x 7mm). Countermark of Raphael Cotoner, 1660-63. Countermark authorized by decree of 19th April, 1662.
4. Crowned fleur-de-lys within an irregular impression (app. 4.5mm x 7.5mm). Counter- mark of Adrien Wignacourt, 1690-97. Countermark authorized by decree of 27th August, 1696.
5. Crowned star within an irregular impression (app. 10mm x 7mm). Countermark of Raymond Despuig, 1736-41. Countermark authorized by decree of 13th December, 1740.
Note: The above countermark (no. 5) is reported to be the most uncommon of all the countermarks. This is attributed to the close of Despuig' s reign within months of the authorization of his reign's countermark- ing.
6. Crowned crescent within an irregular impression (app. 6mm x 10mm). Countermark of Emanuel Pinto, 1741-73. Countermark authorized by decree of 31st January, 1741.
7. MA monogram within an irregular impression (app. 6.5mm x 7mm). Countermark of Emanuel Pinto, 1741-73. Countermark authorized by decree of 30th May, 1766.
8. Crowned diamond within an irregular impression (app. 5mm x 7mm). Countermark of Emanuel de Rohan, 1775-97. Countermark authorized by decrees of 19th June, 1777 and 10th January, 1778.
9. Paschal lamb with banner of the Order within an octangle impression (app. 6mm x 6.75mm). Countermark of Emanuel de Rohan, 1775-97. Countermark authorized by decrees of 17th July, 1792 and 29th October, 1792.
Note: Schembri , Pridmore, and other early sources erroneously attributed the above countermark ( no. 9) to the reign of Grand Master Raymond Perellos (1697-1720). The scholarship ofSammut has definitively attributed this countermark to Rohan's reign.
Resources Consulted:
Brunk, Gregory G. World Countermarks on Medieval and Modern Coins. Lawrence: Quarterman Publi- cations, 1976.
Currey, E. Hamilton. Sea-Wolves of the Mediterranean. New York: E.P. Dutton and Co., 1910.
Kinross, Lord John. The Ottoman Centuries: The Rise and Fall of the Turkish Empire. New York: Morrow Quill Paperbacks, 1977.
Pridmore, T. "The Countermarked Copper Coinage of Malta." The Numismatic Circular. April 1950, pp. 191-92.
Sammut, J. "Lascaris and His Countermarked Copper 4 and 2 Tari Pieces." Seaby's Coin and Medal Bulletin. June 1964, pp. 205-07.
Schembri, H.J. Coins and Medals of the Knights of Malta. London: Spink and Son Ltd., 1966 reprint of a 1908 work.
108
A TRIP TO THE MEDALS OF PETER THE GREAT IN LONDON, PARIS AND STOCKHOLM
Jan L. Perkowski 3 Charlottesville 3 Virginia
In its Mikhailovich col lection the Smithsonian has an extensive set of Peter the Great commemorative medals, especially the MUller silver series. Having studied these in great detail, I then went on to examine even rarerspecimens in the Hermitage. 1 There are still other Peter medals to be found in the great European national numismatic museums for which published catalogues of their Russian collections do not exist. During May 1987 I had the opportunity to visit three of them: the British Museum in London, the Bibliotheque Nationale in
Paris, and the Kungliga Myntkabi nettet in Stockholm. Not only did these three museums yield an impressive array of Peter medals, but in all three capitals the existence of still other collections were revealed.
LONDON
The majority of Peter medals, numbering sixty-eight, in the British Museum emanate from the private collection of George III (1760-1820). Through the kind offices of Mark Jones, I had the opportunity to ex- amine 29 trays of medals and a few jetons, commemorating personages and events of 18th century Russia. There are 343 medals in all: 276 copper, 58 silver, 2 gold (jetons), and 7 tin. Of these there are 94 Peter medals which are listed in Iversen.2 There are no Muller orig- inals and only five silver O.K. (K.O.) medals. The apparent number -- some are impossible to date -- of medals produced during Peter's reign is 32 (23 silver, 6 copper, 1 tin, and 2 gold jetons). For the most part the Muller series is represented by T.I. (Timofey Ivanov 1729-1802) copies, which are, of course, contemporaneous to the reign of George III.
There are three other significant col lections of Peter medals in the British isles. Unfortunately no published catalogues exist for them either, nor did I manage to see any of them during my brief visit.
The least known and most promising is housed in the Windsor Castle collection. To my knowledge no researcher has thus far seen it.
Next is the Princess E. R. Dashkova collection, housed at the Univer- sity of Edinburgh library. It consists of 130 copper 18th century Russian medals with no Muller originals. The collection was presented to the University by the Dashkov family in the 18th century. Finally there is the Dr. (Baron) Dimsdale collection, brought back to England in the 18th century by Dr. Dimsdale. The current owner is Robert E. Dimsdale who lives in Barkway House, Royston, Hertfordshire. The col- lection is said to consist of 120 silver, copper, and tin 18th century Russian medals. There are no Muller originals.
While researching Peter medals in the Hermitage I learned of two en- graver's handbooks known to Peter the Great, which he consulted for some of the symbols and designs on his commemorative medals. Having recorded them as:
H. Wetstenium, Symbola et Emblemata (Amsterdam, 1705) and F.
109
Saavedra, Idea Principis Christiano Politici: 101 Simbolis
Expressa (Amsterdam, 1651)
I was not able to locate copies in the United States. The British Library, however, does have copies. Symbola et Emblemata is in fact an edition of D. de la Feuille's Devises et emblemes. H. Wetstenium is the Dutch publisher Henricus Wetstein (Latin = Wetstenius). The British Library copy is dedicated to Peter the Great and has an int- eresting frontispiece depicting Peter surrounded by eight emblems label d in Russian and Latin. The title of the work is given in Russian at the bottom of the page. Saavedra is Fajardo Diego de Saavedra. This Latin edition is a translation of the Spanish original: Idea de un Principe Politico Christiano. Representada en cien Empresas, (Monaco: Nicolas Enrico, 1640).
PARIS
Mme Servie de Turkheim Pey was my gracious guide to the Russian medals of the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris. A manuscript catalogue entit- led Inventaire de Medailles3 which may have been compiled in 1876, has a listing of 'Medailles de Russie' on pages 75-80. In all, 229 medals are listed, 1-76 for Peter I and Catherine I. However, when I examined the 12 trays of Russian medals, 104 were Peter medals (80 copper, 16 silver, 3 gold, 2 gold plated, 3 tin). On tray #10 there are also 6 round beard tokens and 1 square one. There is one silver Muller, listed as #55 in the Inventaire. It is Iversen XXX (M-l), 45 mm,
49.63 g. Of the 15 others dating to Peter's reign 4 are 0K/K0 (2 copper, 1 silver, 1 gold). As in London, most of the later copies are by Timofey Ivanov, but there are also quite a few by Samuel Yudin (1730-18??). Two of the later copies are not listed in Iversen:
XXXV silver, 47 mm, 41 g and XXXVII. 1 copper, 40 x 34 mm, 35.71 g.
Of special interest is a gold coronation jeton of Catherine I; LV.7,
21 mm, 3.55 g, which has a Hutten-Czapsky counterstamp at 8 o'clock.
As an aside, I might add here that the Bibliotheque Nationale has 600 pieces of Russian wire money, mostly attributed, dating from the 14th century to Peter the Great. The numismatic section of the Biblio- th£que Nationale also has a good library of works on Russian medals including: A. Olenin's Opyt . . . (1817), Tiregale's Medailles . . . (1772), S. Stroev's Sobranie . . . (1840-1841), and F. Tolstoy's Medaliony . . . (1838). From December 1950 through January 1951 the Cabinet des Medailles of the Bibliotheque Nationale presented an ex- hibition entitled'La Medaille Russe de Pierre le Grand a nos jours' for which a 93 page catalogue was prepared. The great majority of medals were lent by: M. Pernikoff (70 gold and platinum coins, 143
gold medals), M. Stakhovitch (358 historical medals of Peter the Great), M. Pachkoff (117 medals of recompense), M. Sementchenkoff (gold medals, etc.), and le Musge des Cosaques (various medals).
Some of Stakhovitch 's and Pachkoff 's medals arrived too late to be listed. Both the Smithsonian and the Bibliotheque Nationale have copies of the catalogue, but only the Bibliotheque Nationale has a set of the illustrations entitled: Andr£ Guillou du Cabinet
des Medailles de France, Les Medailles de Pierre lev de Russe Planches (26 plates showing the obverse and reverse of 282 medals).
The fates of the Pernikoff, Pachkoff and Sementchenkoff collections are not documented. None of them seem to have made their way perm- anently to the Bibliotheque Nationale, although on June 14, 1960 it did receive 70 gold coins from Nathalie and Efrin Pernikoff. Several
110
of these 'coins' listed as ducatsarein fact jetons. Two are coronation jetons of Catherine I. In 1983 M. Stakhovi tch ' s son sold his father's medals to the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow, where they were stored until an exhibit of 183 of the medals with an accompanying cata- logue was organized in 1988.3
The Museum of the Lieb Cossack Regiment of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Russia is found in Asnidre, a suburb of Paris (12 Rue Saint- Guillaume, Courbevoie). I was very fortunate to meet the original and continuing custodian of the museum, Boris Fedorovich Dubentsov, a man in his nineties. There are 208 medals in the collection with nothing of interest from Peter's era except a modern mule commissioned by the Museum in 1950. On the obverse is Iversen XLVII by du Vivier and on the reverse an inscription dated 1950 and celebrating the founding of the regiment.
There are at least two additional collections of Peter medals in Paris, but I did not manage to see them. One is in the mint collection and the other is a private (anonymous) collection on consignment to Saint Petersbourg Antiquitgs Russes (106 rue de Miromesnil). It contains approximately 300 Russian medals.
STOCKHOLM
When I arrived at the Kungliga Myntkabi nettet in Stockholm my expec- tations were more than fulfilled. My a priority assumption was that there must be a sizeable collection in Stockholm, since Peter the Great's opponent in the Northern War was Sweden and it is the Northern War medals that predominate among those struck during Peter's reign. And there they were catalogued under 'Fientliga Medal jer' -- medals of the enemy.
Lars Lagerqvist, Tcimcis Scirkciny, and Thom Braunerheilm were perfect hosts, providing all manner of assistance in studying the cabinet's three Russian medal collections. Basic is the Oueen Louisa Ulrica (wife of King Adolf Fredrik 1751-1771) collection, part of which came from Count Carl-Gustaf Tessin. Next is the Ossbahr collection, which is organized according to his book on foreian coins and medals struck abroad to commemorate battles with Sweden.^ Finally there is the collection of the National Bank's coin cabinet.
In the Queen Louisa Ulrica collection there are 21 trays of Russian medals containing 520 pieces. Of these 98 are Peter medals, 28 of which date from Peter's era. There are 7 tin MUllers: XLII.2, 46 mm,
38.99 g; XVI. I, 46 mm, 40.17 g; XVII. I, 46 rim, 41.05 g; XVI. II, 45 mm, 40.33 g; XXIX, 45 mm, 42.06 g; XXIII. 6. I, 46 mm, 36.15 g; XXI, 45 mm, 35.37 g.
The Ossbahr collection^ has 223 Peter medals, 65 of which date from Peter's time. There are 35 Mullers (4 silver, 23 tin, cl bronzed:,
6 cast lead -- mostly bronzed, 1 undetermined). These are the first I have seen of the cast lead medals and wonder about their origin.
Unfortunately I did not have sufficient time to examine the National Bank collection closely. Among the few I did see there were several tin Mullers. From the shelf list of the collection I would estimate that there are approximately 67 Peter medals, mostly tin and copper.
Ill
In addition to Russian medals the Myntkabinettet has 20 trays in the Royal Russian collection, 8 trays of novodels and the Johansson Col- lection: 200 Russian coins beginning from the 16th century. There
is also the uncatalogued National Bank collection, which I did not see. There are 3 rare Kievan coins from Scandinavian hoards.
The University of Uppsala houses a collection of 200 Russian medals given to Count von Fersen by Catherine II in the 1790's. A bit fur- ther east in Finland there are two additional large collections of Russian medals, one in the Helsinki National Museum and the other, assembled by von Suchtelen, in the Turku Castle Museum. 6 I have not yet visited these collections.
Toward the end of the 18th century Catherine II bestowed sets of Rus- sian medals on numerous Western European dignitaries and fortunately for us many of these collections have survived intact. Virtually 7 none are catalogued and few are even known to the scholarly community.7 Germany and Austria would be fertile ground on which to continue the quest.
Notes :
1 - Jan L. Perkowski , "The Reign of Peter the Great: A Catalogue of
Medals in the Smithsonian Collection. " The Numismatist , Vol . 95,
No. 5 (Colorado Springs, Colorado, May, 1982), pp. 1188-1204 and "More on Grand Duke Georgi.j Mikhailovich and His Collection," Journal of the Russian Numismatic Society 3 No. 16, Fall 1984,
Akron, Ohio, pp. 31-38.
2 - J. Iversen, Medaillen auf die Thaten Peter des Grosser (St. Peters-
burg: Wilhelm Pratz, 1872) and Medali v chest' russkikh gosudar-
stvennykh dejatelej i chastnykh lie (St. Petersburg, 1880), vol. I.
3 - R. Zander, "A. A. Stakhovich," Journal of the Russian Numismatic
Society , No. 36, Autumn 1989, Akron, Ohio, pp. 11-14.
4 - Carl Anton Ossbahr, Mynt och Medaljer Slagna for Frammande Makter
i Anlectning av Krig Mot Sverige (Uppsala: K. Vitt. Hist, och
Anti kvitetsakademiens FOrlag, 1927). The book was published pos- thumously two years after Ossbahr' s death.
5 - C. A. Ossbahr, Mynt. pp . 157-239, Plates XXIV-XLV. In most cases
each separately listed medal in the book is represented by several metal varieties in the collection.
6 - While in Sweden I was shown an article on Russian medals from
Helsinki: E. Pikoff, "Ryska medljer, som berora Sverige" in
Nordisk Numismatisk Arsskrift (Koenhavn, 1936), pp. 177-192.
7 - One recent and very pleasant exception is Toderi and F. Vannel ,
Medaglie Russe Del Settocento (Bargello: Museo Nazionale Del Bargello, August 1989).
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112
Numismatic musings on the eight o’clock news
by Peter Kraneveld, Draveil, France
Saddam Hussein claims that Kuwait is a province of Iraq. He says it is a colonial creation, carved out of Iraqi territory for reasons of oil policy.
Cuiious, 1 leaf through Krause and Mishler1. The section on Iraq is unre- markable. It contains the usual numismatic aberrations. Costly high de- nomination proof only coin-like objects. Yet, these already give some in- teresting insights. There is a large gold piece with Saddam Hussein’s por-
100 Dinars 3 Gold3 1980 Saddam Hussein3 15th Century of Eegiva
trait, apparently devoted to a battle. A small map shows the dominantly Islamic Arab states; the dictator as defender of the faith. Henry VIII would have understood.
Dinar 3 Nickel 3 1981 50th Anniversary of Iraq Air Force
Further pieces are commemorating the armed forces. Those for the air force again show Saddam Hussein. There is a vintage airplane and a mis- sile over his head. I wonder if it is a Scud and remember the time I would not have known what a Scud was: the dictator as the great military leader. The emperors of Rome (who were not very democratic either) would have recognized the object of the exercise.
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Dinar, Nickel, 1982 Tower of Babylon
Dinar , Nickel, 1982 Baghdad Conference
Some of Saddam Hussein’s other favorite subjects are also on coins: I see the Babylon series of circulation coins and even the series on the “Baghdad conference” (whatever that might have been) in the perspective of the dictator’s wish to be a latter day regional leader, bent on forming a nationalistic, racially based empire. The emperors of China and Adolf Hitler had the same hopes.
Dinar, Silver, 1973 Oil Nationalization
Among the remaining series, there are no coins for industry and those for agriculture are uninspiring. Most are very close to circulation coins. The series on oil nationalization provides a clue to an important event in Iraqi history. Oil is seen as a positive force: it lights the torch of freedom; a sun emanates from a tanker.
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The coins of the Hashemite kings are of another era. They are Anglo-Egyptian in execution, but Arab in style: letters are bent and shaped into decorations, as in an official document or on a mosque, yet the style is Western Europe 1930’s. The scalloped coins and the portraits re- mind me of that great coin and banknote hoarder. King Farouk of Egypt. Yet, the denomination in fils (or falus) is purely Arabic. Here is a state traveling on two roads simultaneously. It needed a great politician like Kamal Atatiirk to reconcile the two movements. It got the Ba’ath party in- stead.
The coins listed for Mesopotamia are enlightening. Here is Iraq as a province of the Ottoman empire, but the six-pointed stars on the small, thin coppers remind me of Morocco. Iraq’s was looking north and west.
Eagerly, I look up Kuwait. Surprise! The only coin of the period is a small copper baiza that in name and design evokes India and East Africa. This is not a coin of a provincial Turkish mint. It is currency of the slave traders of Zanzibar and the proud wandering tribes of the south of the peninsula. Why is there such a difference? Quickly, I look up the map in the Turkey section. Kuwait is not on the map, but Saudi Arabia is. Its bor- ders and coast are within the empire, but the outback is not.
I speculate that even if Kuwait were in the empire it was a lot farther from the Porte in Constantinople then Baghdad. As the Chinese say when they ignore the central powers: “The emperor is great and Peking far away”.
My Encyclopedia1 2 provides a more sophisticated answer: “As Kuwait is in fact a part of the Arab desert and situated just outside the fertile plains of Mesopotamia the government of the Abbasids, Mongols and Osmans has had little influence.” The encyclopedia explains that the East India Company could establish a British sphere of influence in Kuwait around 1 800 as the local rulers needed protection against invasions from Turkish troops in Iraq.
My voyage has ended. Coins speak louder than words.
1 Chester L. Krause and Clifford Mishler: 1991 Standard Catalog of World Coins (17th edition, lola. Wise. 1990)
2 Grote Winkler Prins (7th edition, Amsterdam 1975)
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AN INTRODUCTION TO BYZANTINE COINAGE
R. R. Kutcher3 Lincoln 3 Nebraska3 NI # 1289
No. 70 - MANUEL ANGELUS COMNENUS DUCAS (1230-1232)
Manuel was crowned Emperor when his brother Theodore was captured by the Bulgarians, however, his reign was rather short. Also, the size and the authority of Thessalonica was greatly reduced under Manuel's care. Theodore obtained his own release in 1232 and returnd to Thes- salonica and Manuel returned to Epirus, where he continued to reign as Despot until 1237.
The Coinage
AR Trachy Type A
Obverse: IC XC in field. A bust of the bearded and nimbate
Christ with his right hand raised in benediction, his left hand holds the Gospels
Reverse: MANWHAA. FTP ©V in upper field. Full-length figure
of the emperor on the left, being crowned by the nim- bate Virgin. The emperor holds in his right hand a labarum-headed scepter and in his left, an anexikakia.
Type A Type B
Type B
Obverse: IC XC UJ (sic) 6MMANWHA in two columnar groups. A bust
of the beardless nimbate Christ Emmanuel, holding a scroll in his left hand.
Reverse: MANyHAACCnOT OA(riOCAIMITPIOCP) . Full-length figure
of the emperor on the left, and of St. Demetrius, who is beardless and nimbate. They hold between them a labarum which is surmounted by a triangular decoration on its long shaft. The emperor holds a sheathed sword with its point resting on the ground in his right hand. The Saint also holds a sheathed sword with its point resting on the ground, but in his left hand.
Bill . Trachy
Type A
116
Obverse :
q ^ A bust of the beardless and nimbate St.
Ar HM Demetrius, who is holding a spear in his IO IT right hand that is resting over his shoulder.
c oc In his left is the hilt of a sword or a cross.
Reverse: MANWHA. ic XC in upper field. Full-length figure of
the emperor on the left, being crowned by a bearded and nimbate Christ. The emperor holds a scepter cruciger in his right hand and in his left is an anexikakia. Christ is holding the Gospels in his left hand.
Type A Type B
Type B
Obverse: MT ©V in upper field. The nimbate Virgin seated on a
throne with a back. She is holding a beardless and nimbate head of Christ on her breast.
X
Reverse: .. AMULj A M
MANyHAA€CnOT ^ — or var-
A?
Full-length figure of the emperor on the left, and the nimbate Archangel Michael. They hold between them a labarum on a long shaft.
Type C
Obverse:
M-P ©V * *
in field.
A bust of the nimbate Virgin.
Reverse: MANyHAA€Cn ri^ (AIMITPIOC ?)— or var.
Full-length figure of the emperor on the left, and the beardless and nimbate St. Demetrius, who is giving into the hands of the emperor a globus surmounted by a patriarchal cross. The emperor holds a scepter cruciger in his right hand and the Saint holds a spear in his left.
Type C
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Type D
Type D
Obverse: X x Half-length figure of the nimbate Archangel Mic-
^ M hael , who holds a sword that is resting over his shoulder, in his right hand. In his left hand is the sheath.
Reverse: MANWHAAe OKUJNCTANTINOC — or var. Full-length fig-
ure of the emperor on the left, and of St. Constantine, who has a forked beard. They hold between them a pat- riarchal cross on a long shaft resting on three steps. The emperor holds a palm-frond in his right hand and the Saint holds one in his left.
Type E
Obverse: IC XC in field. A bust of the beardless and nimbate
Christ, who is holding a scroll in his left hand.
Reverse:
(MAN«HA?)A /P (X?) FulIrle"9S!? f1?1"-6 0f th® f^r°r v ' V|V1 ' on the left being crowned by the
nimbate Archangel Michael. They hold between them a
sheathed sword pointed downward. The emperor holds a
specter cruciger in his right hand.
Type E
Type
Type F
Obverse: A^ A bust of the bearded and nimbate St. Theodore,
O holding in his right hand a spear that is resting over his shoulder, while his left holds a shield. iy
Reverse: MANVHA OA . Half-length figure of the emperor on
the left, and of the beardless and nimbate St. Demetrius. They hold between them a sheathed sword pointed downward. In the upper center field is a cloud with stars in the center, out of the cloud extends the Manus Dei, crowning the emperor.
Type G
Obverse: x X Full-length figure of the nimbate Archangel
A> M Michael, holding in his right hand a sword which he is unsheathing, the sheath is held horizontally in his left hand.
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Type G
Reverse: nOAIC
MANyHAAecnOTI OAriOCAHMHTPIOC — or var.
IKH
The emperor on the left and St. Demetrius, bearded and nimbate, seated together on a throne without a back.
They hold between them the city of Thessalonica repre- sented as a walled town with three towers. The emperor holds a labarum-headed scepter in his right hand and the Saint holds a sword that is resting over his shoulder in his left hand.
************************->*********************************************
NUMISMATIC EXTRACTS FROM SELECTED LITERATURE
i
"Chinese coinage had its precursors, as in many other countries, in the use of cowrie shells, their imitations, and the 'ant nose money'
( i-pi ch'ien ), which appears to have been a degenerate form of the imitation cowrie. Actual minting began under the Chou dynasty and copper became for about a thousand years the means for ordinary trans- actions. The first actual coins were the bronze or copper spade coins {pu); originally they were actual agricultural tools, which then de- generated into toys too small for practical use, and then into legend- bearing coins, of which there were four main varieties. Their dating is still doubtful, and their origin may go back as far as the begin- ning of the Chou period; but their use became general only after about 500 B.C. In their latest forms they circulated till the end of the anarchy and the unification of China by the Ch'in. The spades were a regional currency, and 187 mint names are known, mostly from states on the banks of the Huang-ho. Minting was at first free and coins were merely a commodity for barter. The principle of state monopoly for minting and standardization of the issues appeared rather late, perhaps for the first time in the state of Ch'in at the time of its reform by Shang-chun along legalist lines. For a long time Ch'in was alone in having a state currency."
Taken from p. 401, History of Man- kind Volume 2 The Ancient World, by Luigi Pareti , Paolo Brezzi and Luciano Petech. (New York: Harper & Row, Publisher 1965).
(Submitted by R. J. Hdbert)
119
BOOK NEWS & REVIEWS
El Papel Moneda Del Banco De Mexico. By Duane D. Douglas. Mexico, 1990. Profusely illustrated, 75 large size pages, plus 11 pages of prologue, statutes, in- troduction to grading, and note to English speaking collectors. Available from: Dale Seppa, 103 Sixth Avenue North, Virginia, MN 55792. Price is $12.50 plus postage.
This useful catalogue is limited to emissions of the Bank of Mexico, from 1925 to the present. As author Douglas points out, it represents the first attempt to number and describe all known dates, series, and sub-series, for all denominations of these banknotes. Without comparing it item for item with earlier and/or more general works, I believe that it is fair to say that it will amplify considerably on the Pick catalogue while superceding both the Schlieker 1 Peso work and the Deana-Salmeron 5 Peso work.
Since the scope of the catalogue is limited, it will be of greatest interest to the specialist, particularly as the author is one of the leading dealers and paper money researchers in Mexico today. Listings are limited to those letter combinations (sub- series) which the author has seen personally, and he urges collectors to send specimens or clear photocopies of the notes which he presumes to exist but which he has not yet confirmed. ( As a parenthetical note, this reviewer urges anyone interested in any phase of Mexican numismatics to visit the Douglas shop in Mexico City. It is a completely bilingual, family-type operation with an excellent selection of Mexican collectibles available.)
For anyone (even non- specialists) with a basic reading knowledge of Spanish this catalogue makes interesting reading as it has several pages devoted to simple, clear-cut explanations of the grading of paper money which will be of interest to almost any numismatist or exo-numismatist. The text itself, comprising illustrated listings and valuations in several grades (in Mexican Pesos, at an exchange rate of 2,800 = $1 U.S.) is replete with the author's personal observations. These include, but are not limited to: general availability, condition-rarity, artistic and historical comments on the vignettes used, etc. There is also ample technical data on production techniques and watermarks, and a discussion of the historic changeover from the American Bank Note Company in New York to autochtonous production, begun in 1969 by the Fabrica de Billetes in Mexico City.
From the standpoint of monetary history, devaluation, and inflation, it is of interest to note one of the most dramatic changes which occurred within the First, Second, and Third emissions. The first bore the legend "Payable to the Bearer in Gold," the second "Payable to the Bearer in Cash Money," and the third, simply "Payable to the Bearer on Demand." By the time of the Second Emission in the mid-1930's, the de-linking of the Mexican Peso from a gold standard had already begun. By the Third Emission this process had become a de facto condition, not only in Mexico but on a world-wide basis, as currencies became inflated during the post-World War II era.
El Papel Moneda Del Banco De Mexico has much to recommend it to numismatists in general, being "user-friendly" in format. Although it includes a wealth of legal data (the original statutes for all emissions are reprinted verbatim) author Duane Douglas
120
maintains a collector-oriented, personalized style throughout, which is both pleasing and useful.
Reviewed by David B. Fiero.
La Moneda Hispanica Desde Sus Origenes Hasta El Siglo V. Vol. I of Catalogo General de las Monedas Espanolas. By Fernando Alvarez-Burgos. Madrid: Editorial Vico-Segarra, 1987. 325, profusely illustrated with original, high quality line drawings. Available from Dale Seppa, 103 Sixth Avenue North, Virginia, MN 55792. Price is $43.00 plus $2.00 postage. Foreign orders must addfor registry and/ or air, if desired.
The third volume to appear (issued out of sequence) in a series which treats the coinage of Spain and its possessions from pre-Roman times to the present day, Desde Sus Origenes ... is a necessity for Iberian readers and at least of interest to any aficionado of early coinages. It spans a crucial historical period, generally speaking from about 200 B.C. up to the pre-visigothic and Visigothic coinage of the fifth century. The author has followed convention and divides the issues into the following "cycles": Greek, Carthag- inian, Phoenician, Indigenous, Hi spano- Roman, and Roman Imperial. Prefactory sections have information on the above cycles, as well as information on monetaiy epigraphy and comments on the different alphabets used for the various issues. A thematic index, well illustrated with clear line drawings, will be of great use to anyone, but particularly to the novice or non-Spanish speaker. The alphabetical index will be of great use to anyone, to include even the most advanced student of the series. Advanced "numismatic Spanish," as well as some knowledge of the issues will be necessary to fully utilize the text portions of the book.
The catalogue section of the book is basically in two parts: Part I, Autochthonous issues listed alphabetically by region, commencing with ABARILDUR and finishing with VESCI, a region in the southern part of Extremadura. Part II, Roman Imperial coinage used or minted in Spain. With the hundreds of line drawings and clear transliteration of legends, the catalogue section should be instantly usable by anyone, including those with no knowledge of the Spanish language.
The coins themselves, priced in two grades, are broken down by area, ruler, metal, mint, and date of issue, with detailed legend descriptions. Careful mention of even minor distinctions is always made, and most types included are clearly illustrated with excellent, possibly original, line drawings. This gives the book a definite advantage over many traditional, more specialized works.
Certainly, not everyone will agree with every aspect of the codifications used; the times themselves, with their divided and changing loyalties, sometimes do not permit exact- ness. The codifications however, represent a basically European viewpoint, and the seemingly "more clear than reality" divisions have been defined by the author with a far better background than the average American numismatist. In the opinion of this reviewer, this will promote a more critical approach to further research on this almost untouched (at least by American standards) period/area of rich and diversified numis- matic treasures.
121
The chart showing the relations between the ten different alphabets used on these coinages will be of particular interest to budding linguists. Covereing two pages, it is clear and easy to use. The glossy, high quality, hardcover octavo+ format is superb.
Any book of this nature must have flaws, but with my limited knowledge of the period/ area, I am unable to detect them. However, I believe that any such presumed flaws in such a definitive work, in what promises to be THE definitive series on one of the world's most lengthy, complex coinages, will be considered by most to be truly trifling.
In terms of historical or numismatic method, Desde Sus Origenes ... is a must for every serious numismatist with an interest in early coinage. In the practical sense, and again, based on my knowledge, if one desires detailed information on this period/area, it may be "the only game in town," in terms of actual availability.
Reviewed by David B. Fiero.
«j» **♦
The Gold Coinage of Gran Colombia ( Colombia , Ecuador, Venezuela). By Frank Sedwick. Maitland: 1991. Identification, rarity, values, 90 pages, illustrated, and softcover. Available from: Dale Seppa, 103 Sixth Avenue North, Virginia, MN 55792. Price is $12.50 plus $2.00 postage. Foreign orders must add extra if registry or airmail is desired.
A reader engrossed in the "Historical Background" section of this work might well read on avidly until coming to the words: ". . . there is not one Colombia, but many." With a sense of deja vu he may realize that he has been here before. Upon turning back to examine the "Foreword," it will be remembered that it has long been Sedwick's intention to expand upon his extended article, "Colombia and its Gold Coinage," which appeared in the January 1982 issue of The Numismatist. In the present work, the coins are listed by confirmed date rather than issuing entity, and the scope of the work has been expanded to include Venezuela and Ecuador, extending as it were the original Gran Colombia from independence to the present time.
It was a number of major sales of Latin American gold coins, especially Stack's 1982 Hammel Collection and Sotheby's 1990 sale in Geneva, which have enabled Sedwick, after consultation with the most knowledgable specialists, to fill in the many gaps which have hitherto remained, especially among the 19th century gold coins. With what will seem to the uninitiated like rash abandon, Sedwick has established a new benchmark, which he refers to as "recitification." Dates which have been passed along through generations of catalogues, but which neither Sedwick nor any other expert have seen, have been summarily eliminated. New dates, mintmarks, and assayers have been added as they have appeared. The recent Geneva Sale by Sotheby's in particular contained partial date runs. Most pieces were in average circulated grade but, as is stressed on several occasions, a number were known in no higher grade, if indeed at all. Such windfalls of information speed up the normally long, slow cumulative compilation of numismatic knowledge, and were crucial to the termination of The Gold Coinage of Gran Colombia in particular.
122
By far the most changes are to be found in the main section of the book. This covers the five political entities of the Republicas of Colombia (1822-1838), Nueva Granada (1837-1858), Confederacion Granadina (1858-1862), Estados Unidos de Colombia (1862-1886), and, to complete the cycle, Colombia (1866 to date). Ecuadorean gold coins were also a complex coinage in the early years, beginning as an integral part of the original federation of Gran Colombia and continuing through the rare Bolivar-head types of the 1840's and 1850's. Venezuelan gold coins, by contrast, remain the uniform, clear-cut series they have always been considered to be.
A short bibliography concludes this work, its very brevity and yet completeness a testimony to the groundbreaking nature of Sedwick's effort. Where possible, a rarity rating and recent valuation in "average XF" appear for every issue. Not content with being merely an introduction and a listing, this work contains numerous comments on specific dates, especially when their status has been clarified of late. Any curious reader, especially one who has missed the major sales of the last decade or so, will appreciate the highly readable, complete and yet attractively concise format of The Gold Coinage of Gran Colombia.
Reviewed by David B. Fiero.
Standard Catalogue of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei Coins & Paper Money. By Steven Tan. 1991 publication date, 197 pp., 7 1/4 in. by 10 1/4 in., and plastic covered card cover. Available from Mr. Steven Tan, GPO Box 12016, 50764 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Price is U.S.$ 15.00 postpaid seamail.
The first part of this volume catalogues the coinages of British North Borneo, Brunei, Malaya, Malaya and British Borneo, Malaysia, Penang, Sarawak, Singapore, and Straits Settlements, as well as the British trade dollar series. Singapore Merchants' tokens and tokens issued in British North Borneo are also catalogued. A photo and the metal are given for each type coin or token. V aluations in Malaysian ringgit are given for each coin and token date. Mintage figures are included.
The second part of the volume catalogues the banknotes issued by the above mentioned countries as well as Japanese occupation notes issued for use in Burma, Netherlands East Indies, Oceania, and the Philippines. Rubber export coupons for Malaya, Sarawak, and Singapore and private note issues for Straits Settlements and Malaya are also included. Photographs are given for both sides of each type of banknote along with the size and printer. Valuations are given for up to five grades of preservation. Various types of varieties are catalogued including differences in date, signature, and color of seal as wll as replacement notes.
The catalogue is the standard reference for the coins, tokens, and notes of the above- mentioned countries. Mr. Steven Tan is a dealer in the coins, notes, and stamps of the Malaysia area and well-qualified to author this catalogue.
Reviewed by Jerry Remick.
123
MEMBER NOTICE PAGE
Shane M. Cornell, P. 0. Box 279, Jenks, OK 74037: WANTED - French
Tokens of all types. Municipal, Colonial, Private, Transportation, EncasedPostage, etc. Send list with price requested.
Phil Wing, P. 0. Drawer 58204, Cincinnati, OH 45258: British Coins
Wanted - All hammered silver and gold coins Fine or better. All silver coins 1660-1760 V F or better. All gold Guineas VF or better. Will buy for cash or trade for other coins. Please send or write.
Eli A. Homza, 308 Scene Ridge Road, McKeesport, PA 15133: WANTED -
Soviet Russia Olympic gold and silver coins. Particular mintmarks only. Found out 80% were minted in both Leningrad and Moscow. Wish to complete mint sets. Please write if you have singles for sale.
Will reimburse postage. Write with Y no., mm, prf or unc, and price wanted.
Chopmark Club issues newsletter: This new club for collectors of
world coins found with Chinese chopmarks has issued their second newsletter. The newsletter covers world coins D through M (excluding Mexico) fotndwith chopmarks and includes an extensive listing of chopmark coins found by members of the club.
Merchants of the Far East often chopped coins to test their fineness and as a defense against debased counterfeit coins. Collectors have found many interesting U.S. and world coins with chops. An effort is being made for future newsletter to identify the meanings of the many chopmarks found on these coins.
Interest has been growing in this area of numismatics and those inter- ested in this new club may contact Everett R. Jones, P. 0. Box 3302, Chula Vista, CA 91911.
NI ATTRIBUTION SERVICE: The NI Attribution Service will accept items
for attribution. Please refer to page 201 of the September, 1990 issue for new rules regarding items sent in, or write to the Chairman of the Attribution Service at the regular Dallas address before sending items.
********************************************************************* NUMISMATIC EXTRACTS FROM SELECTED LITERATURE
"Celtic coinage also became a medium for artistic and mythological expression. Caesar says of the British financial system: 'They use
copper or copper coins or bars of iron carefully made to a certain weight, as money.' In fact coinage was introducted to Britain by the Belgic Celts in the second century B.C. and these coins were spread as far as the Humber and the Severn. The coinage was issued by individual tribes and many of these British coins were of gold and silver."
Taken from Peter Beresford Ellis, Caesar's Invasion of Britian. N.Y.: New York University Press 1978, p . 56 .
124