KM240 (Early Roman Gold-Foil Impression of Hellenistic Sikyonian Coin) [permalink]

Type

Inventoried Object

Logical part of

Greek-American Excavations at Koutsongila Inventoried Objects

Typological identification

Gold-Foil Impression (Bracteate)

Comparanda

Warren1983, pp. 36-52, Groups 4A/C, 5

Description

Prototype: Sikyon, ca. 330–200 BCE. Perhaps it bore an earlier impression (e.g., of an Aigina bronze, ca. 300 BCE, with incuse square reverse) before someone decided to mold the foil over the obverse of a Sikyonian coin instead.

Preservation description

Wear F. Good condition but surface is crumpled and creased.

Published as

Weir2022, p. 1143, no. 858, fig. 23.16

Numismatic Diameter (mm)

15.0

Numismatic Weight (g)

0.24

Obverse Description

Dove flying to right (leading edge of wing, head visible); underneath, traces of a possible earlier design, a 6 × 6 mm square.

Explanation of deposition

Mourners left it as a funerary offering in one of loculi inside Tomb 2, but graverobbers apparently dropped it here when departing.

Belongs to Historical Period

Early Hellenistic (Historical Period)

Belongs to Historical Period

Early Roman (Historical Period)

Material

Gold (Material)

Has visual motif (depicts)

Bird (Visual Motif)

In Excavated Unit

Locus TRC0908-001

Location in unit

Graverobbers’ spoil heap on modern surface west of tunnel through upper stomion of Tomb 2.

Drawing

Photograph

Photograph