- Archaeometallurgy, Papyrology, Ancient economies (Archaeology), Archaeology, Ancient History, Ancient numismatics (Archaeology), and 25 morePtolemaic Egyptian History, Graeco-Roman Egypt, Ancient History and Archaeology, Experimental Archaeology, Ancient Greek Numismatics, Ancient Metallurgy, Graeco-Roman Alexandria, Coin Hoards, Ptolemies, Bronze Coinage, Ptolemaic coinage, Ptolemaic coins, Greek and Roman Egypt, Eastern Desert of Egypt, Egyptian Archaeology, Numismatics, Hoard finds, Ptolemaic Egypt, Gold mining, Ptolemaic Period, Numismatic Quantification, Archaeology of Mining, Ancient economy, Ancient jewellery, and Ptolemaic Numismaticsedit
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Ptolemaic bronze coins from the Alexandria mint provide a unique example for examining the full extent of the operational chain of monetary production, from the supply of metal to striking the coin. Aside from the provenance of the... more
Ptolemaic bronze coins from the Alexandria mint provide a unique example for examining the full extent of the operational chain of monetary production, from the supply of metal to striking the coin. Aside from the provenance of the different constituents necessary for the creation of bronze, one can also comment upon the evolution of the alloy and thus class distinct coin series through an analysis of the metallic composition. The mint and its component parts provide a second field of study. Given that ancient sources are almost non-existent, one must look at the coin itself to obtain information regarding the engraver and his creation: the die. The engraving of coin types leads to questions regarding the identification of images chosen by the authorities, and as part of the history of technology, thoughts must turn to the work undertaken within the workshop: making the blanks, trimming and finishing, and striking the coin. This study demonstrates the evolution of Ptolemaic bronze coinage. As a continuation of a strong Macedonian tradition, the coinage was adapted and modernised to become an extraordinary currency. For all this, the Alexandrian mint was not actually exceptional. It was simply a reflection of the evolution of the Hellenistic world.
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In 2020, during excavations in the Wadi al-Ghozza in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, archaeologists from the French Archaeological Mission to the Eastern Desert of Egypt discovered a well-preserved Flavian praesidium. This small and... more
In 2020, during excavations in the Wadi al-Ghozza in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, archaeologists from the French Archaeological Mission to the Eastern Desert of Egypt discovered a well-preserved Flavian praesidium. This small and unusually shaped fort, identified in ostraca found in the fortress as Berkou (Βɛρκου), lay along a track leading from ancient Kaine (Qena) to the imperial quarries at Porphyrites. The fort lay over the remains of a Ptolemaic village and incorporated elements from the water system of the older settlement. This article presents the results of those excavations, including an overview of the fort's architecture and associated finds, as well as a discussion of its role in the regional transportation and security network that supported Roman exploitation of the nearby porphyry quarries in the 1st c. CE.
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1. Problematique et bilan des principaux resultats La mission archeologique francaise du desert Oriental a explore entre 2013 et 2016 le district minier de Samut. Elle a fouille la mine d’or de Samut Nord et le fort de Bi’r Samut, tous... more
1. Problematique et bilan des principaux resultats La mission archeologique francaise du desert Oriental a explore entre 2013 et 2016 le district minier de Samut. Elle a fouille la mine d’or de Samut Nord et le fort de Bi’r Samut, tous deux dates de l’epoque ptolemaique, et localises sur l’ancienne route menant d’Edfou au port de Berenice. Lors des campagnes 2017 et 2018, nous avons fouille un deuxieme fortin ptolemaique, localise sur la meme route, pour completer les donnees cruciales mais i...
Since early 2014 the French Archaeological Mission of the Eastern Desert has been working in the Samut district, with the aim to close gaps in our knowledge of the mining, production and circulation of gold in Ancient Egypt up to the... more
Since early 2014 the French Archaeological Mission of the Eastern Desert has been working in the Samut district, with the aim to close gaps in our knowledge of the mining, production and circulation of gold in Ancient Egypt up to the Ptolemaic Period. During the course of the season, two large round structures were cleared and, tentatively, identified as mineral processing plants – though with the proviso that further excavations were needed to verify their function. And indeed, as more recent works shows, the original assumptions now need to be revised. In January 2014, the French Eastern Desert mission under Bérangère Redon and Thomas Faucher discovered two ‘heavy mineral processing plants’ at Samut North. Yet as further work has now shown, the structures are, in fact, mills of outstanding proportion.
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Le trésor de Gézéïr provient des rives du lac Mariout, non loin d'Alexandrie. Il comprend plus de deux cents monnaies en bronze dont la grande majorité appartient à un type peu connu de monnaies lagides datées. Cette trouvaille nécessite... more
Le trésor de Gézéïr provient des rives du lac Mariout, non loin d'Alexandrie. Il comprend plus de deux cents monnaies en bronze dont la grande majorité appartient à un type peu connu de monnaies lagides datées. Cette trouvaille nécessite de resituer la frappe de cette émission dans la capitale lagide lors du règne de Ptolémée IX Sôter Il à la fin du Il' s. av. J.-C.
Abstract.-The Gezeir hoard cornes from the shore of the Mari ut Lake, not far from Alexan-dria. It consists of more than two hundred bronze coins wh ose majority be longs to a Ptolemaic dated coinage. This fi nd requires a new attribution of this emission in the capital of the Ptole-mies at the end of the second century during the reign of Ptolemy IX Sôter II.
Abstract.-The Gezeir hoard cornes from the shore of the Mari ut Lake, not far from Alexan-dria. It consists of more than two hundred bronze coins wh ose majority be longs to a Ptolemaic dated coinage. This fi nd requires a new attribution of this emission in the capital of the Ptole-mies at the end of the second century during the reign of Ptolemy IX Sôter II.
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The classification of the Hellenistic coinage of Cyrenaica is for a long time a matter of discussion among numismatists. Some, like E.S.G. Robinson and recently M. Asolati, were studying it as a specific production. However, J. Svoronos,... more
The classification of the Hellenistic coinage of Cyrenaica is for a long time a matter of discussion among numismatists. Some, like E.S.G. Robinson and recently M. Asolati, were studying it as a specific production. However, J. Svoronos, or us, in our publication of the coins from the French excavations in Alexandria, have considered it as a part of the Ptolemaic coinage. The Cyrenaican coins were very rare in Alexandria and it is clear that they were not used there.
The analysis of the types shows in one hand a very strong Ptolemaic influence and, on the other hand, the same evolution in the technical practices (die production, metallic composition). However, most of the time, some subtle transformations on the types and the discrepancy between the weights are indicating that coins from Alexandria and Cyrenaica have a different value.
The analysis of the types shows in one hand a very strong Ptolemaic influence and, on the other hand, the same evolution in the technical practices (die production, metallic composition). However, most of the time, some subtle transformations on the types and the discrepancy between the weights are indicating that coins from Alexandria and Cyrenaica have a different value.
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Les techniques de fabrication des monnaies antiques nous sont mal connues. L’absence de coins authentiques ainsi que le petit nombre de sources sur lesquelles s’appuyer, qu’elles soient archéologiques ou littéraires, ne permettent que... more
Les techniques de fabrication des monnaies antiques nous sont mal connues. L’absence de coins authentiques ainsi que le petit nombre de sources sur lesquelles s’appuyer, qu’elles soient archéologiques ou littéraires, ne permettent que difficilement de reconstituer la chaîne opératoire qui conduit à la production des monnaies. L’approche expérimentale est une voie nouvelle pour tester, et ainsi infirmer ou confirmer les différentes hypothèses émises par les spécialistes de la monnaie, qu’elles concernent l’or, l’argent ou le bronze.
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La (re)découverte de nombreux trésors ces dernières années offre un visage plus juste de la circulation monétaire dans le sud de l’Égypte. Même si le développement de l’utilisation de la monnaie s’est opéré un peu plus tardivement... more
La (re)découverte de nombreux trésors ces dernières années offre un visage plus juste de la circulation monétaire dans le sud de l’Égypte. Même si le développement de l’utilisation de la monnaie s’est opéré un peu plus tardivement que dans le reste de l’Égypte, les trouvailles montrent bien que la Vallée thébaine était monétarisée. Le paiement des taxes a favorisé l’emploi de la monnaie (surtout du numéraire de bronze) par toute la population. Et si les troubles ont amené à un paiement plus sporadique des taxes, et donc à une utilisation de la monnaie moins fréquente, elle est restée comme un moyen d’échange accepté de tous. Il en résulte qu’il n’est pas forcément possible de faire le lien entre présence grecque et utilisation de la monnaie.
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"RÉSUMÉ La masse d’informations considérable donnée par les trouvailles et les monnaies de fouilles en Égypte offre la possibilité d’étudier avec précision les mouvements monétaires à l’époque hellénistique. La fermeture du système... more
"RÉSUMÉ
La masse d’informations considérable donnée par les trouvailles et les monnaies de fouilles en Égypte offre la possibilité d’étudier avec précision les mouvements monétaires à l’époque hellénistique. La fermeture du système monétaire par Ptolémée Ier après 300 a créé dans le royaume une situation exceptionnelle. D’une part, les monnaies trouvées en fouilles montrent bien que les monnaies extérieures au pays n’ont pas circulé sur le territoire égyptien. On observe d’autre part que notre vision du développement de la monnaie dans la chôra était peut-être trop liée à la connaissance des textes (essentiellement les papyrus). La monnaie de bronze se retrouve en nombre dans le Sud de l’Égypte dès le début du règne de Ptolémée II. Enfin, le phénomène des monnaies moulées aux deux aigles ne s’est sans doute pas étendu à tout le territoire mais seulement à la zone autour d’Alexandrie et au Fayoum.
SUMMARY
In Egypt, information provided by hoards and excavations coins offer the possibility of studying with accuracy the monetary movements in the Hellenistic times. The closed currency system introduced by Ptolemy I created in the kingdom an exceptional situation. On the one hand, coins found during excavations show that coins minted outside the country did not circulate on the Egyptian territory. On the other hand, we can see that our vision of the monetary development in the chôra was perhaps too related to the knowledge of texts (especially papyri). The bronze currency is present in numbers in South Egypt as soon as the beginning of the Ptolemy II’s reign. Finally, the phenomenon of the molded two eagles coins is presumably not spread over all the territory but only over the area around Alexandria and in the Fayum.
ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗ
Ο εξαιρετικά μεγάλος αριθμός πληροφοριών που προέρχεται από τα ευρήματα και τα ανασκαφικά νομίσματα της Αιγύπτου προσφέρει τη δυνατότητα να μελετήσουμε με ακρίβεια τη νομισματική κυκλοφορία κατά την ελληνιστική εποχή. Το κλειστό νομισματικό σύστημα που εισήγαγε ο πτολεμαίος Α μετά το 300, δημιούργησε μια ιδιαίτερη κατάσταση μέσα στο βασίλειο. Από τη μία μεριά, τα ανασκαφικά νομίσματα φανερώνουν πως τα ξένα νομίσματα δεν κυκλοφόρησαν στο αιγυπτιακό έδαφος και από την άλλη, παρατηρεί κανείς ότι η ερμηνεία της εξέλιξης του νομίσματος στη χώρα ήταν ίσως αρκετά στενά συνδεδεμένη με την γνώση των κειμένων (ιδιαίτερα των παπύρων). Τα χάλκινα νομίσματα βρίσκονται στο νότιο τμήμα της Αιγύπτου από τις αρχές της βασιλείας του πτολεμαίου Β. Τέλος, το φαινόμενο των χυτών νομισμάτων με τους δύο αετούς αναμφίβολα δεν απλώθηκε σε όλη την επικράτεια, αλλά μόνο σε μία ζώνη γύρω από την Αλεξάνδρεια και το Φαγιούμ."
La masse d’informations considérable donnée par les trouvailles et les monnaies de fouilles en Égypte offre la possibilité d’étudier avec précision les mouvements monétaires à l’époque hellénistique. La fermeture du système monétaire par Ptolémée Ier après 300 a créé dans le royaume une situation exceptionnelle. D’une part, les monnaies trouvées en fouilles montrent bien que les monnaies extérieures au pays n’ont pas circulé sur le territoire égyptien. On observe d’autre part que notre vision du développement de la monnaie dans la chôra était peut-être trop liée à la connaissance des textes (essentiellement les papyrus). La monnaie de bronze se retrouve en nombre dans le Sud de l’Égypte dès le début du règne de Ptolémée II. Enfin, le phénomène des monnaies moulées aux deux aigles ne s’est sans doute pas étendu à tout le territoire mais seulement à la zone autour d’Alexandrie et au Fayoum.
SUMMARY
In Egypt, information provided by hoards and excavations coins offer the possibility of studying with accuracy the monetary movements in the Hellenistic times. The closed currency system introduced by Ptolemy I created in the kingdom an exceptional situation. On the one hand, coins found during excavations show that coins minted outside the country did not circulate on the Egyptian territory. On the other hand, we can see that our vision of the monetary development in the chôra was perhaps too related to the knowledge of texts (especially papyri). The bronze currency is present in numbers in South Egypt as soon as the beginning of the Ptolemy II’s reign. Finally, the phenomenon of the molded two eagles coins is presumably not spread over all the territory but only over the area around Alexandria and in the Fayum.
ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗ
Ο εξαιρετικά μεγάλος αριθμός πληροφοριών που προέρχεται από τα ευρήματα και τα ανασκαφικά νομίσματα της Αιγύπτου προσφέρει τη δυνατότητα να μελετήσουμε με ακρίβεια τη νομισματική κυκλοφορία κατά την ελληνιστική εποχή. Το κλειστό νομισματικό σύστημα που εισήγαγε ο πτολεμαίος Α μετά το 300, δημιούργησε μια ιδιαίτερη κατάσταση μέσα στο βασίλειο. Από τη μία μεριά, τα ανασκαφικά νομίσματα φανερώνουν πως τα ξένα νομίσματα δεν κυκλοφόρησαν στο αιγυπτιακό έδαφος και από την άλλη, παρατηρεί κανείς ότι η ερμηνεία της εξέλιξης του νομίσματος στη χώρα ήταν ίσως αρκετά στενά συνδεδεμένη με την γνώση των κειμένων (ιδιαίτερα των παπύρων). Τα χάλκινα νομίσματα βρίσκονται στο νότιο τμήμα της Αιγύπτου από τις αρχές της βασιλείας του πτολεμαίου Β. Τέλος, το φαινόμενο των χυτών νομισμάτων με τους δύο αετούς αναμφίβολα δεν απλώθηκε σε όλη την επικράτεια, αλλά μόνο σε μία ζώνη γύρω από την Αλεξάνδρεια και το Φαγιούμ."
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The skill of the engravers from the mint of Alexandria during the Ptolemaic period is not questionable, even if some charge of monotony the coins of the Ptolemies. Likewise, analyses of metallic content have shown early that the fineness... more
The skill of the engravers from the mint of Alexandria during the Ptolemaic period is not questionable, even if some charge of monotony the coins of the Ptolemies. Likewise, analyses of metallic content have shown early that the fineness of gold and silver coins is of good quality, and for a long period, at least until the beginning of the first century BC as regards to silver coinage. Even if it is not exactly the case for the bronze currency, analyses held at the Ernest Babelon centre highlight the quality of the monetary alloy until the half of the second century. Though, it turns out that a great care was taken of the engraving even when the coin was not produced with a fine alloy. It is natural to wonder about the correlation between the fineness of the engraving and the one of the coins metallic content.
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In front of the First Pylon of the Karnak temple, a team of archaeologists found a hoard of coins during the excavations of the Ptolemaic public baths. The hoard consists of 316 bronze coins from the second century BC, bearing the heads... more
In front of the First Pylon of the Karnak temple, a team of archaeologists found a hoard of coins during the excavations of the Ptolemaic public baths. The hoard consists of 316 bronze coins from the second century BC, bearing the heads of either Isis or Zeus Ammon on the obverse, and one or two eagles on the reverse. The discovery of a hoard of coins with its exact content is something rare, and this is the first example known for
second century Egypt. It provides a chance for a better understanding of the different sets of coins issued at that time by the Ptolemies, and its presence in Karnak is strong evidence for the use of coinage in the area during those troubled times. The hoard, possibly buried around 120 BC, represented a not insignificant sum for the period, although it is hard to know exactly for what purpose the coins were collected.
second century Egypt. It provides a chance for a better understanding of the different sets of coins issued at that time by the Ptolemies, and its presence in Karnak is strong evidence for the use of coinage in the area during those troubled times. The hoard, possibly buried around 120 BC, represented a not insignificant sum for the period, although it is hard to know exactly for what purpose the coins were collected.
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Un film de Gaël Pollin et Thomas Faucher sur la Mission du Désert Oriental d'Egypte.
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After Ptolemy Soter took possession of Egypt, he soon installed a closed currency system, at that scalę, a novelty in ancient coinage. With regard to the three metals Struck in the mint of Alexandria-the only mint in the entire country... more
After Ptolemy Soter took possession of Egypt, he soon installed a closed currency system, at that scalę, a novelty in ancient coinage. With regard to the three metals Struck in the mint of Alexandria-the only mint in the entire country for almost 300 years-innovations in the manner of minting occurred when the kings were faced with specific needs. Millions of coins were struck. These coins appeared in a succession of series, sometimes struck continuously but not always. The different metals that were used filled different demands and needs. The Greek rulers adapted themselves to the country and to the economic and politic Situation, always showing a great sense of resilience with regard to the problems they faced. We can understand these issues in a new manner and refresh our view of this peculiar coinage by way of recent research on these coins' metallic content but also by way of archaeological experiments conducted on the minting process itself. How can the minting methods help us to understand the distinction between each series, and how can they help us to understand how the workers at the mints struggled with new challenges brought by the head of the mint? How can Egypt help us understand from a broader perspective the minting of coins in the Greek world? KEY WORDS: Egypt, Ptolemies, metallurgy, bronze coinage, experimental archaeology ABSTRAKT: Techniki bicia monet w ptolemejskim Egipcie. Obserwacja, analiza, nowe spojrzenie Wkrótce po objęciu w posiadanie Egiptu Ptolemeusz I Soter wprowadził zam-knięty system monetarny, co w takiej skali stanowiło novum w historii pieniądza starożytnego. Na skutek szczególnych wyzwań, z jakimi musieli się zmierzyć pto-lemej scy władcy, w Aleksandrii-jedynej mennicy działającej w kraju przez prawie 300 lat-wprowadzano innowacje w zakresie sposobu produkcji monet bitych li
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The Institut français d'archéologie orientale and Ain Shams University are organising an international conference on History of Egyptian Coinage. The conference is organized by Tomas Faucher (IRAMAT-CEB, CNRS/Univ. Orleans) & Naglaa Ezzat... more
The Institut français d'archéologie orientale and Ain Shams University are organising an international conference on History of Egyptian Coinage. The conference is organized by Tomas Faucher (IRAMAT-CEB, CNRS/Univ. Orleans) & Naglaa Ezzat (University of Ain Shams) March 25, 2018 at the auditorium of the French Institute in Egypt.
Contact details: nagfollis@yahoo.com or thomas.faucher@cnrs-orleans.fr
Simultaneous translation to Arabic will be available for all English and French communications and all the interventions in Arabic will be simultaneously translated into English.
جميع المداخلات باللغة الأنجليزية أو الفرنسية سيتم ترجمتها فوريا للعربية في القاعة كما سيتم ترجمة المداخلات العربية الى اللغة الأنجليزية
Contact details: nagfollis@yahoo.com or thomas.faucher@cnrs-orleans.fr
Simultaneous translation to Arabic will be available for all English and French communications and all the interventions in Arabic will be simultaneously translated into English.
جميع المداخلات باللغة الأنجليزية أو الفرنسية سيتم ترجمتها فوريا للعربية في القاعة كما سيتم ترجمة المداخلات العربية الى اللغة الأنجليزية