Rare Arab-Islamic coins from the GandavAr Collection, Ghent (Belgium) 1 (original) (raw)
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Survey of Numismatic Research 2002-2007: The Levant
Since the last edition of the Survey of Numismatic Research six years ago, numismatic research of the Southern Levant has significantly flourished. Besides the numerous synthetic monographs and articles covering numismatic research from the Persian, Hellenistic and Roman periods (for Ptolemaic and Seleucid coinage see respective separate sections), a significant number of numismatic reports from archaeological sites have been published, which-based on coins from known provenances-provide a major contribution to research. In addition, the appearance in 2006 of a new numismatic journal, the Israel Numismatic Research, has contributed extremely to the study of coinage in the region. This survey aims to be a comprehensive summary of numismatic literature published during the last six years and to serve as a basic tool for scholars and numismatists dealing with coinage of this region. The author is however aware that discussion of some issues might be missing here and apologizes for any bibliographical items which may have been overlooked from this survey. Before referring to the detailed numismatic literature by specific sections, a number of general and very useful studies should be mentioned here. A comprehensive bibliographical revue of numismatic literature on Persian and Hellenistic coinage by DUYRAT (1) discusses subjects such as methodology, mints and monetary circulation, synthetic papers, typology, hoards and autonomous issues. Also worthy of mention is ELAYI AND LEMAIRE (2) second bulletin of coins from Syria, Phoenicia and Palestine (1999-2002) with full commentaries on new literature and coin types based mainly on coins from the market (auction catalogues; very few finds in situ). This bulletin stresses an influx to the market of Philisto-Arabian coins. Both bulletins (together with the one published in 1999, Transeuphratène 17:117-153) comprise a total of about 3,040 coins and 801 additional pieces in auction catalogues). YASHIN (3) published recently his private collection of coins from the southern mints of Ascalon, Gaza, Raphia and Anthedon, dated from the Persian to the Roman periods. The catalogue includes short introductions to the mints. Hacksilber and 'coinage before coins'.
At the corner of Palaeography, Numismatics and Antiquarianism, this contribution aims at discussing, attributing and presenting the contents of an unpublished manuscript by the famous Rosetta stone code’s breaker, Jean François Champollion. The manuscript is of numismatic interest since it contains drawings and notes taken from the first volume of the Jacopo Nani collection, published in 1787 by Simone Assemani. The manuscript evidence presented here contributes, on one hand, to enlarge the knowledge of Champollion’s numismatic research and, on the other hand, to a better understanding of the spread and influence of Assemani’s works on Numismatics in the scientific community. Moreover, an updated and illustrated catalogue of a number of specimens of the Nani collection is provided and new light is thrown on the Arabic coins of this collection, their provenance and attribution.