Two New Titles from CNG

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Vico Monteoliva, Jesús; Cruz Cores Gomendio, Maria; and Cores Uría, Gonzalo.

Corpus Nummorum Visigothorum, ca. 575-714: Leovigildus-Achila.

Madrid, 2006. Hardbound. 725 pp., including in-text plates in colour, charts, and bibliography. 2428 coins classified. Text in English and Spanish. An excellent addition to everyone's numismatic library. We expect to ship ordered copies by mid-December.

 

$125.00 (M178), plus postage, handling and insurance.

 

Distributed worldwide, except Spain and Portugal, by CNG. Dealer inquiries invited.

 

A well-known numismatist and Académico Correspondiente of the Real Academia de la Historia, Jesús Vico has long been an active and interested student of Visigothic coins. In 2002 he co-authored Catálogo de Monedas Visigodas, and in 2003 presented "La falsificación en la moneda visigodas" at the XIII International Numismatic Congress in Madrid. Maria Cruz Cores Gomendio and Gonzalo Cores Uría co-authored "The use of dots as control marks in coin legends at the Visigothic mint of Ispali during reign of Sisebut (612-621)," a paper presented at the same Congress.

 

The coinage of the Visigoths is one of the most significant areas of not only Spanish numismatics in particular, but early medieval coinage as a whole as well. Representing the transition between earlier Roman imperial coinage and that of the Middle Ages, it also illustrates for the first time a so-called "national coinage," which is a hallmark of more "modern" societies. Although such an intriguing coinage has attracted many collectors over the past several centuries, the availability of comprehensively available reference has posed a difficulty. Numismatists have been compelled to rely largely on the great body of Spanish literature on the subject, which, unfortunately, resides in inaccessible Spanish references and for the most part un-translated. Therefore, the work of Miles on the subject, published in English in 1952, remains the primary reference for English-only speakers. While this work is still very useful in many ways, the span of over half a century, with the more recent publication of hoards, forgeries, and so-called "fantasy pieces," has necessitated the production of a more comprehensive work. Now available is the Corpus Nummorum Visigothorum (CNV), which will definitely become the standard reference on the Visigothic series.

 

Drawing from previously published material, as well as specimens in many of the major collections and auction catalogs, CNV, provides a systematic overview of the coinage of the Visigothic kings from Leovigildus to Achila. Though technically the last Visigothic king, Ardo is unrepresented, as he apparently produced no coinage. Written in Spanish with a side-by-side English translation, the work is divided into two main sections. The first, or Estudio (Research Studies), is sub-divided into eight separate chapters, each providing detailed information on the chronology and historical background of both the individual kings and mints at which they struck coinage, as well the more technically numismatic areas of metrology and supposed Visigothic copper coinage. Detailed sections on the epigraphy and typology of the coins provide a comprehensive overview of the complexity of this coinage. The chapter on mints, arranged alphabetically by region includes a map at the beginning of each region.

 

The catalog of coins begins the second main section. Arranged by ruler and then subdivided alphabetically by mint, it lists each known variety under a general (and photographed) typological number. Thus, some of the larger mints produced several different types, and under these types can be located many different varieties. Each example is cross-referenced to its source. Following up the main catalog are supplementary ones covering contemporary forgeries, as well as modern forgeries and "fantasy pieces." A Concordance of Miles to CNV number will assist users of the earlier work as they tread new territory, and a substantial bibliography provides a springboard for further numismatic research.

 

While CNV is intended for the numismatist and specialized collector of the kings of the Visigoths, it is also an accessible and comprehensive reference for the beginning collector, the academic non-specialist, and anyone interested in this fascinating and unknown period.

 

Senior, R.C.

Indo-Scythian Coins and History: Volume IV Supplement, Additional Coins and Hoards; the Sequences of Indo-Greek and Indo-Scythian Kings.

Lancaster, PA, 2006. Hardbound with dust jacket. lv and 152 pp., including in-text illustrations and plates, charts, and monogram tables. An important addition to the published work.

 

$60.00 (GR316), plus postage, handling and insurance.

 

Published by CNG. Dealer inquiries invited.

 

This volume concludes Senior's study of the Indo-Scythian coinage begun with his three-volume 2001 publication. Attempting, in the author's words "to bring to the notice of collectors the discoveries made since ISCH.and to illustrate (author's italics) some of the hoards listed therein - plus several new hoards.since then," this supplement expands on the information contained in the first three volume set, while recording and illustrating a number of important hoards containing Indo-Scythian coins.

 

Drawing from material available only after the publication of ISCH, the Supplement provides a systematic overview of that coinage only briefly discussed in his earlier volumes. The work is divided into three main sections. The first, or Introduction, is sub-divided into eleven separate sections, each providing a detailed revision of Senior's earlier chronology and historical background of the early Indo-Scythian kings. Presented in a format similar to that of his previous publication, this section includes a number of illustrative graphs and charts, as well as a listing of control marks, previously unknown on some issues. Of particular interest is Senior's discussion of the relationship between the Indo-Scythians and early Kushan chronology.

 

The second section provides a catalog of newly discovered Indo-Scythian and related types. Many of these extremely rare or unique specimens have been published in the ONS Newsletter, and until now have been available only to its members. Each new type in the Supplement has been inventoried according to its arrangement in the earlier text, prefixed by the letter S. Thus arranged by Senior number, the scholar can quickly and easily move between those specimens listed in the Supplement and the earlier three volumes Of particular interest are the sections on the Paratarajas, local Indo-Parthian satraps, whose rare coinage has recently become more widely known outside of specialist circles, as well as the Saka Kshatrapas, or so-called "Western Satraps."

 

The third section records and illustrates thirty-two hoards containing Indo-Scythian coins, all or in part. Beginning with a detailed overview of the hoards and their relation to the construction of Indo-Scythian chronology, each hoard also contains a brief analysis, as well as notes with appropriate Senior number on new types.

 

The supplement is intended for the numismatist and specialized collector of Indo-Scythian and related coinage, as well as the academic non-specialist and non-collector.

 

Senior, R.C.

Indo-Scythian History and Coins. Coinage of the Scythians.

2001. Hardbound with dust jackets. 3 vols. 590 pp., illustrated throughout with photographs, drawings, charts and maps. Covers the history of the Indo-Scythians, and is an analysis and a comprehensive catalogue of their bilingual coinage. Many figures, tables and maps are included, as well as an easy "identifier" and checklist.

 

$175.00 (GR151), plus postage, handling and insurance.

 

Senior, R.C.

Indo-Scythian Coins and History: Volume IV Supplement, Additional Coins and Hoards; the Sequences of Indo-Greek and Indo-Scythian Kings.

Lancaster,