KM165 (Early Roman Gold-foil Impression of Hellenistic Sikyonian coin) [permalink] [show more links]
Type
Inventoried Object
Logical part of
Inventoried Objects from the Greek-American Excavations at Koutsongila
Typological identification
Gold-Foil Impression (Bracteate)
Comparanda
Warren1983, pp. 36-52, Groups 4A/C, 5
Description
Prototype: Sikyon, after ca. 330–200 BCE. The prototype coin was a bronze on the basis of the size and the simplified head-and-wing-feather iconography. It was almost certainly of Sikyon’s Group 4A (ca. 330–270 BCE), Group 4C (ca. 270–200 BCE), or Group 5 (ca. 330–305 BCE), due to the style and the lack of obverse lettering. Unlike other bracteates found on Koutsongila, this example lacks extra gold foil on the margin of the impres-sion that would have formed a margin around the prototype. Being able to keep the foil in place with a lip would have made taking an impression easier. Perhaps a lip was present originally but then trimmed off once the impression was made.
Preservation comment
Wear aVF. Good condition but wrinkled.
Published as
Weir2022, p. 1143, no. 857, fig. 23.16
Numismatic Diameter (mm)
14.0
Numismatic Weight (g)
0.15
Obverse Description
Dove flying to left.
Belongs to Historical Period
Early Hellenistic (Historical Period)
Belongs to Historical Period
Early Roman (Historical Period)
Belongs to Historical Period
Middle Hellenistic (Historical Period)
Material
Gold (Material)
Has visual motif (depicts)
Bird (Visual Motif)
Suggested citation
“KM165 (Early Roman Gold-foil Impression of Hellenistic Sikyonian coin).” In Kenchreai Archaeological Archive, edited by J.L. Rife and S. Heath. The American Excavations at Kenchreai, 2013-2025. <http://kenchreai.org/gaek/km165>