Metrological Analyses

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Contents

I.	Weight Study of Tetradrachms of Later Seleukids
	a. Analyses of Well-preserved Coins b. Alternative Analyses
II.	Quantitative Study of Tetradrachm Dies of Later Seleukids
III.	Methodological Notes

I. Weight Study of Tetradrachms of Later Seleukids

This study focuses on weight distributions of tetradrachms of later Seleukids. Coins are studied without respect to their style, fabric and die links.

I.a Analyses of Well-preserved Coins

The data are collected from public sources. Only coins fulfilling the following conditions were included into the examined data samples:

1. each coin is from a reputable collection or it was offered (sold) by a reputable dealer;
2. its weight is presented with a precision of one hundredth of a gram;
3. the weight of the coin is within a reasonable range (lower and upper exclusion limits are fixed for each ruler and mint);
4. a photo of the coin is available in an electronic form (to be possible to verify correctness of its description and to easily exclude duplications);
5. the coin is well preserved and its grading is about VF or better.

The analyses have several limitations. First, the majority of these samples are small and therefore reliable conclusions are not possible so far (there is a danger that a small sample is not representative). New data are added continuously so that more precise results will be perhaps available in the future. Second, I have no possibility to verify the weight, the authenticity and the state of preservation of examined coins (except of coins which are in my collection). Third, in spite of the condition No. 5, the original weight of most coins was probably slightly greater due to the amount of wear which coins suffered during period of their circulation and due to possible changes of their internal structure. It means that, for example, conclusions about the mean weight of these coins in the time of their mintage should be careful.

Demetrios II, 1st Reign:

• Tyre mint

Antiochos VII:

• Antioch mint
• Pseudo-Antioch mints
• Comparison of Antioch mint and pseudo-Antioch mints
• Tyre mint

Demetrios II, 2nd Reign:

• Ake-Ptolemais mint
• Antioch mint
• Damaskos mint
• Tyre mint

Alexander II:

• Antioch mint

Kleopatra Thea and Antiochos VIII:

• Ake-Ptolemais mint
• Damaskos mint
• Comparison of Ake-Ptolemais mint and Damaskos mint

Antiochos VIII:

• Antioch mint – 1st Reign
• Antioch mint – 3rd Reign

Antiochos IX:

• Antioch mint – 3rd Reign

Seleukos VI:

• Antioch mint
• Seleukeia ad Kalykadnon mint
• Comparison of Antioch mint and Seleukeia ad Kalykadnon mint

Antiochos X:

• Antioch mint

Demetrios III:

• Damaskos mint

Philip I:

• Antioch mint

Antiochos XIII:

• Antioch mint

Comparison of weight standards of individual kings:

• Antioch mint – development from Antiochos VII to Antiochos XIII
• Tyre mint – development under Demetrios II and Antiochos VII

I.b Alternative Analyses

The data used here has been kindly provided by Arthur A. Houghton. Some coins in these data samples do not have to be well-preserved. It means that these data are closer to the distribution of weights of coins which survived to our days.

I do not have photos of these coins. It means that some coins can be included both in my samples (Part I.a) and in the provided samples.

Demetrios I:

• Antioch mint – undated issues
• Antioch mint – dated issues
• Comparison of undated and dated issues of Antioch mint

Antiochos VII:

• Antioch mint
• Antioch mint – comparison with the data samples in Part I.a

II. Quantitative Study of Tetradrachm Dies of Later Seleukids

The data used here has been kindly provided by Arthur A. Houghton and Oliver D. Hoover and is to be included in a forthcoming die study of the later Seleucid coinages of Antioch. It is preliminary, pending publication of the Antioch study. I must also express my thanks to Warren W. Esty for his recommendations and for the kind provision of several of his articles.

Demetrios I:

• Antioch mint – obverse dies

Alexander I:

• Antioch mint – obverse dies

Comparisons:

• Antioch mint – Demetrios I and Alexander I

III. Methodological Notes

• Weight of coins
• Maximum and minimum width of coins
• Statistical glossary