We hope you are all safe and well in this difficult time. Due to the Covid-19 crisis, our in person meetings are on hold of course. But you don't have to go without your monthly dose of ACCLA. The Club officers have been working to set up new ways to connect you with the rest of your ACCLA community using the online tools we talked about at the March 9 meeting.
On April 12, at 2:00 PM we will hold our first meeting online (note the start time is 2 PM not our usual 1 PM). The meeting will include a show and tell session and a presentation by Roger Burry entitled Roman Egypt - The Emperor's Private Country that is a continuation of last month's Roman Imperial Coinage topic We will use the popular Zoom program. We held a practice run on Sunday March 29 with 11 members of our newly established accla-list. It worked really well, with only a few minor problems that were satisfactorily resolved. To make sure that we don't get "Zoom-bombed" with unexpected gate-crashers, the meeting sign-up link is being sent out via the accla-list so please join the accla-list if you have not done so already. Note that you do not need to have a camera attached to your computer to participate in Zoom online meetings - while we won't be able to see you, you will still be able to see and talk to other members, share images in show and tell, and watch the presentation.
We activated accla-list, the Club's private email listserve, shortly after the March 9 meeting. The list allows members to easily connect to the rest of the group and take part in discussions at any time. So far 16 of our regular meeting attendees have signed up. If you have not signed up, either respond to one of the invitations that I sent you or just ask me to send you an invitation. The accla-list is a great way to connect with your friends in the Club and to talk coins. Signing on to the list only takes a few clicks and you only have to sign up once. If you are having technical problems in signing up to accla-list or Zoom or have questions please let me know. Either I or Keith will walk you through it.
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LAST MEETING & UPDATES
- Keith Lawler and Roger Burry and had been working on setting up remote meetings using Zoom should that be necessary. And of course that has proven to be the case. Zoom is a free program that is very easy to use. You can download Zoom to your computer or phone. You can then access meetings by clicking on the link that is emailed out to the accla-list prior to each meeting. Email me if you need instructions on downloading Zoom, have questions, or need help and Keith or I will assist you.
- Future programs will include John Borneman on the Coinage of Alexander, Bob Lattanzi on the Ptolomies, and Richard Basler on Roman Glassware. As always, if you have a program to give or ideas for a program please email Roger Burry.
- If you are getting a little bored or stir crazy at home, here are a few suggested resources and recommendations from your Secretary and from the accla-list:
Last Month's Presentation
- The March presentation featured Roger Burry leading a seminar on Roman Imperial Coins. Roger gave an outline of the early Empire and its coins and was joined by Paul Ranc and Dave Michaels. As always with interesting presentations, there was a lot of participation from the group. The topic being such an ambitious undertaking, the Seminar will continue at futures dates.
Thank you Roger for another great presentation !
Amazon Smile
- Remember to support ACCLA while shopping on Amazon by shopping through Amazon Smile. Follow the special Amazon Smile links on the website or in this newsletter and bookmark them. You will have your usual Amazon shopping experience and ACCLA will receive a donation from Amazon's Amazon Smile Foundation amounting to 0.5% of your purchases every time you shop through those links. Thank you for remembering to shop through Amazon Smile to support ACCLA.
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THIS MONTH'S NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Firstly, myself and the ACCLA Board members hope that this newsletter finds you and your loved ones healthy and safe.
Secondly, please be sure to refer to our Secretary’s instructions on how to include yourself in our next meeting (or two), which will be virtual meetings via computer through the application Zoom. Also, please, if you haven’t done so yet, sign up for accla-list, our easy communication email list.
As for Ancient History, let’s take a step back and appreciate a wider perspective.
Archaeologists have credited King Solomon with writing, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again, there is nothing new under the sun.”
There have been no less than 17 pandemics or plagues large enough to change the course of history, of which the first four occurred in the Ancient World. I thought the following would be of interest:
430 BCE: The earliest recorded pandemic occurred in part due to the 1st Peloponnesian War. The Spartans carried it with them over the Athenian walls and resulted in an approximate loss of as high as 70 percent of the population which included the death of Pericles.
165-180 CE: The Antonine plague which may have been Small Pox, began with the Huns, who infected the Roman troops, who in turn carried it throughout the Empire. Claiming Marcus Aurelius as one of its victims.
249-262 CE: The Cyprian plague originated in Carthage, and eventually made it’s way to Rome.
541 CE: The Justinian plague, began in Palestine and spread through the entire Byzantine Empire and all around the Mediterranean. It is believed to have been the first bubonic plague outbreak with a death toll of approximately 50 million.
  It was during the rule of Marcus Aurelius in Syria 170 CE by order of the Roman Judge Sebastian that a Roman soldier named Victor and young woman named Corona were tortured and executed for not being willing to recognize the Emperor as a god. In the ninth century their remains were sent to the basilica in Anzu Italy.
Because of their religious convictions, Victor and Corona have been recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as Saints. One of the areas of protection credited to Corona is patron saint of pandemics. The official feast day honoring St. Corona is May 14th.
I’m sure we are all hoping to be past the peak of this pandemic event by then. We will get through this.
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Sincerely,
Joseph Geisinger
President, ACCLA
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RECENT ACQUISITIONS
Exceptional Aspendos Stater
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Mike Cozzolino recently acquired this magnificent silver stater from Aspendos, Pamphylia. Minted circa 465-430 BCE, this AR stater (21.5 mm, 10.88 g, 6 h) features a warrior, nude but for crested Corinthian helmet, advancing right, shield on left arm, holding a spear in right hand on the obverse. The reverse features a Triskeles with E-ΣΠ above and a lion standing right below, all within an incuse square. SNG BN –; SNG von Aulock –; SNG Copenhagen –; BMC 9 = Traité II 869, pl. XXIII, 20 (same rev. die); Boston MFA 2095 = Warren 1235 (same dies). (Image courtesy of CNG)
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Ptolemy V Drachm From Alexandria
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Michael Wank recently added this attractive bronze drachm of Ptolemy V (ruled 205/4-180 BCE) to his collection. Minted in Alexandria circa 197-183 BCE, this Æ drachm (25 mm, 15.21 g) has an obverse featuring the wreathed bust of Isis right. The reverse shows a dramatically posed eagle standing left with open wings on a thunderbolt. Svoronos 1233; SNG Copenhagen 246. (Image courtesy of Naville Numismatics)
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Bob Effler recently won this striking large bronze of Trajan (ruled 98-117 CE). This orichalcum dupondius (24.5 mm, 9.23 g, 7 h) was minted in Rome for circulation in Syria between 20 February - 9 December 116. The obverse features the radiate crowned, draped bust of Trajan right, seen from behind, IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GERM around. The reverse features a wreath containing large S C, DAC PARTHICO P M TR POT XX COS VI P P around. BMC 1093-1094; Cohen 123; RIC 647; Woytek 937v.
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NUMISMATIC NEWS & RESOURCES
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COMING EVENTS
CSNA 52nd Annual Southern Educational Symposium. POSTPONED (was scheduled May 2, 2020). Carlsbad Dove Library, Plaza Paseo Real, 1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad. Confirmed speakers include Frank Martin.
Long Beach Coin Expo. June 4-6, 2020 (use code: VISITOR for free admission); September 17-19, 2020.
Van Nuys / Verdugo Coin Show. June 28. Van Nuys Masonic Hall, 14750 Sherman Way, Van Nuys.
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Respectfully submitted |
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