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V20 2017 INDEX       E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 20, Number 24, June 11, 2017, Article 20

E.T. AND THE ANCIENT PERSIAN DARICS

PERSIA. Achaemenidae. Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II obverse PERSIA. Achaemenidae. Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II reverse
Last week we discussed an ancient Persian coin with a design element that could be seen as depicting a alien being, as in the title character from the movie, "E.T., The Extra-Terrestrial". I asked what the design element was supported to represent. Mark Verbeck kindly provided this response illustrated with images from the archive of CNG, Lancaster, PA. Thanks! -Editor

The reverses on ancient Persian darics do not bear a type of any sort. The apparent patterns within the deep incuse area are merely the impression from the punch or similar tool used to drive the coinage metal into the anvil die.

Here is a reverse that might appear to represent a female facing right with a scarf around her neck.

Persian Daric1

Another might seem to show the head and long neck of the Loch Ness Monster. Similar marks appear on several coins in the archive.

Persian Daric2

The early coins of Aegina, often considered the first struck in Europe, are not a great deal more sophisticated. The reverses bear an incuse square divided into segments.

early coin of Aegina

The corresponding silver coins (siglos, plural sigloi) from this era are abundant, though style and artistry vary considerably. This is an attractive one, once again from the CNG archive.

Persian silver coin

This exercise reminded me of travel in the Rocky Mountains. After a few days you're saying, "It really does look like a Lizard Head."

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JUNE 4, 2017 : The "E.T." Coin (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n23a11.html)



Wayne Homren, Editor

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