William E. Metcalf, The Silver Coinage of Cappadocia, Vespasian-Commodus
ANSNNM 166 (1996), 173 pages, 54 excellent plates. Hardback, cloth.
Publisher's price is US $75.00!!! New copy.
A hoard of over 900 silver coins was discovered in
Cappadocia, probably in Caesarea, in 1983. A catalogue of the hoard is
followed by an illustrated conspectus of the silver coinage minted in
Caesarea between the reigns of Vespasian and Commodus.
The
Silver Coinage of Cappadocia, Vespasian-Commodus by William E. Metcalf
as ANSNNM 166. The first portion of this Society publication is a
catalogue of over 900 pieces from a hoard (estimated at over 2,000
coins) seen at the ANS in 1983; all but one are didrachms traditionally
assigned to the mint of Caesarea. These are the point of departure for a
conspectus of all Cappadocian silver of the period. Commentaries deal
with the coinage reign by reign, and concluding chapters summarize the
significance of the hoard and the coinage.
A major conclusion is
that not all Cappadocian silver was actually struck in Caesarea.
Metcalf argues that portions of the coinage of Vespasian and his
family, of Trajan, and of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus were
actually produced at Rome; and that all the coinage of Domitian was
struck there. The volume concludes with five appendices (including a
discussion of the silver and copper coins, "ghost" coins, and a
concordance with Sydenham) and four indices. |