Varbanov IVarbanov, Ivan. Greek Imperial Coins And Their Values, Volume I: Dacia, Moesia Superior & Moesia Inferior, (English Edition). (Bourgas, Bulgaria, 2005). Summary: The long awaited English version of Varbanov’s guide to coins of the Balkans Peninsula is completed and published. This reference is vastly superior to the translation of Moushmov which is available for free on the internet. It is a comprehensive guide to the coins of the cities of Moesia Inferior. 5821 coins are described and a substantial number of the coins are illustrated both observe and reverse. Each coin description includes a citation, if one exists, as well as a value in Euros for the coin in VF condition. Probably the best affordable guide to the coinage of Moesia Inferior and Dacia that is available in English. Contents and a more detailed review: Greek Imperial Coins begins with a section dedicated to describing the variety of reverses found on the coinage of the Balkans. This section is approximately 18 pages long and is vastly superior to the analogous section in Sear’s Greek Imperial Coins, because all of Varbanov’s types are illustrated. There are listings of the major types, including Deities, Personifications, Colonial Types and Animals. All of the descriptions include at least one or more photographs. In the case of the Deities, details of the scenes and motifs they are likely to be found with are described as well as their Greek and Roman names. The section covering the Deities is the best overall guide that I have seen regarding the Gods on coins. The rarity scale that Varbanov uses is explained in the next section. The rarity scale begins with R1 (Quite common, more than 1500 examples) and concludes with R10 (Very rare, only 1 or 2 examples known). I much prefer this type of scale with many well defined graduations, to those found in the older RIC volumes (CC, C, S, R, R1, R2) or Van Meter (VB1 – VB6), where each of these gradients might mean just about anything. After these introductory sections, the coinage catalog begins. As a prelude to each City and Province there is a very brief historical overview. Then follows the actual coin descriptions. The coin listings are Grouped by City, then by Emperor (or family member) and then by Reverse Legend. The observe legends and types are contained in tables at the start of each Emperor section, very much like RIC. Dacia: Approximately 8 pages and 96 coin descriptions are devoted to Dacia. Moesia Superior: Varbanov devotes 12 pages to Viminacium, and lists approximately 145 coins. This section contains my only disappointment in the book. A distinction is made for the dates in the exergues, but it isn’t very consistent. This strikes me as being a major oversight for a catalog of Viminacium. For those fluent in German, and with deeper pockets, the section in AMNG is vastly superior to what is found here. Moesia Inferior: This section is the main focus of Greek Imperial coins. This sections listings are superior and make this reference a “must have” for those who only know English, or read German poorly. Approximately 400 pages and 5700 coin listing are spread amongst the 7 cities (Callatis, Dionysoplois, Istrus, Marcianoplois, Nicopolis ad Istrum, Odessus, and Tomis). The coinage of each of these cities is covered in detail with appropriate references to AMNG and other sources. After a glace at the listings for Nicopolis ad Istrum and Marcianopolis approximately 25% of the listings are hitherto unpublished. These are the coins that are frequently found in unclean coin lots from the Balkans, and this reference should be owned by those who clean or collect these coins. Comparing the listings in Varbanov against the same listings in AMNG is very difficult for me, but my impression is AMNG will cite more sources for many coins, and possibly provide more descriptive material on some coins. But Varbanov is very richly illustrated and on most pages photographs, of the observes and reverses, of at least 4 coins are shown. Conclusion: If you have an interest in the coins of Moesia Inferior, and can afford $145.00 for a reference, put in your order today. CLICK HERE TO BUY THIS BOOK FROM |FORVM| Varbanov's Degrees of RarityR1 Over 1500 exemplars The "number of exemplars" seems to be an estimate of the total thought to exist, rather than a firm count of the number of published examples. Based on market records, some coins listed as R5 - R7 are common, but some are scarce or rare. Varbanov's degree of rarity is important but it is not the only factor Forum uses to assess rarity for our shop catalog listings. Key to References Used by Varbanov (with his numbering)Bold indicates references frequently used by Forum in conjunction with Varbanov. 1. Karayotov 19922. Jurukova Hadrianopolis 3. Moushmov 4. Jurukova Deultum 5. SGICV 6. Cohen (also #41 and #89) 7. SNGvA 8. Müller Afrique 9. Heiss 10. Rec Gén 11. RSC I - V 12. AMNG II (Strack) 13-39. BMC Greek 15. BMC Thrace 40. SRCV 41. Cohen (also #6) 42. Kharitonov 43. Jurukova Bizye 44. Schönert-Geiss Byzantion 45. Schönert Perinthos 46. Schönert-Geiss Augusta Traiana 47. AMNG I (Pick) 48. AMNG II (Strack) (also #12) 49. Mouchmov Serdica 50. Topalov Messambria 51. Numizmatika i sfragistika IV 52. Ruzicka Pautalia 53. Karayotov 2001 54. Proceedings of Veliko Tarnovo Museum 55. Proceedings of the Historical Museum Lovech 56. Proceedings of the Historical Museum of Plovdiv 57. Proceedings of the Historical Museum Sofia 58. Schönert-Geiss Maroneia 59. AMNG III 60. Numizmatika i sfragistika VI 61. Proceedings of the IBA (1946). 62. Proceedings of PAM: Mushmov, etc. Ancient coins of Plovdiv. (1924). 63. Plovdiv Hoard 64. Proceedings of Vlad Gerasimov T. Contribution to the numismatics of Odesos 65. Tzotchev 66. SGCV I - II 67. Burnett 68. Minkova 69. Ulrike Stephanos 70. SNG Milan 71. Yearbook of the National Archaeological Museum Plovdiv, book VI (1968). 72. Kolev 73. Yearbook of the National Archaeological Museum Plovdiv, book IX (1999). 74. Zhekov Medallions 75. Tacheva 76. Kuzishchin 77. Faodorovar 78. Numismatic research 3 - 4 (Sophia, 1996) 79. Numismatic research 1 - 2 (Sophia, 1998) 80. Secasanu Greek 81. Secasanu Roman 82. Bozhkova Monuments 83. Bozhkova Monuments (also #82) 84. Dzanev 85. Bozhkova 86. SNG Stancomb 87. Encyclopedia Bulgaria 88. Kharitonov Bulgaria 89. Cohen (also #6 and #41) 90. Heiss Antiques 91. Spijkerman 92. Svoronos Crete 93. Rosenberger 94. Sydenham Cappadocia 95. Wruck 96. Staal 97. Bellinger Philippi 98. RPC I 99. Chitwood 100. Ivanov Bulgaria 101. Dimitrov Dionysopolis 102. Zhekov Viminacium
| Varbanov IVarbanov, Ivan. Greek Imperial Coins And Their Values, Volume I: Dacia, Moesia Superior & Moesia Inferior, (English Edition). (Bourgas, Bulgaria, 2005). Summary: The long awaited English version of Varbanov’s guide to coins of the Balkans Peninsula is completed and published. This reference is vastly superior to the translation of Moushmov which is available for free on the internet. It is a comprehensive guide to the coins of the cities of Moesia Inferior. 5821 coins are described and a substantial number of the coins are illustrated both observe and reverse. Each coin description includes a citation, if one exists, as well as a value in Euros for the coin in VF condition. Probably the best affordable guide to the coinage of Moesia Inferior and Dacia that is available in English. Contents and a more detailed review: Greek Imperial Coins begins with a section dedicated to describing the variety of reverses found on the coinage of the Balkans. This section is approximately 18 pages long and is vastly superior to the analogous section in Sear’s Greek Imperial Coins, because all of Varbanov’s types are illustrated. There are listings of the major types, including Deities, Personifications, Colonial Types and Animals. All of the descriptions include at least one or more photographs. In the case of the Deities, details of the scenes and motifs they are likely to be found with are described as well as their Greek and Roman names. The section covering the Deities is the best overall guide that I have seen regarding the Gods on coins. The rarity scale that Varbanov uses is explained in the next section. The rarity scale begins with R1 (Quite common, more than 1500 examples) and concludes with R10 (Very rare, only 1 or 2 examples known). I much prefer this type of scale with many well defined graduations, to those found in the older RIC volumes (CC, C, S, R, R1, R2) or Van Meter (VB1 – VB6), where each of these gradients might mean just about anything. After these introductory sections, the coinage catalog begins. As a prelude to each City and Province there is a very brief historical overview. Then follows the actual coin descriptions. The coin listings are Grouped by City, then by Emperor (or family member) and then by Reverse Legend. The observe legends and types are contained in tables at the start of each Emperor section, very much like RIC. Dacia: Approximately 8 pages and 96 coin descriptions are devoted to Dacia. Moesia Superior: Varbanov devotes 12 pages to Viminacium, and lists approximately 145 coins. This section contains my only disappointment in the book. A distinction is made for the dates in the exergues, but it isn’t very consistent. This strikes me as being a major oversight for a catalog of Viminacium. For those fluent in German, and with deeper pockets, the section in AMNG is vastly superior to what is found here. Moesia Inferior: This section is the main focus of Greek Imperial coins. This sections listings are superior and make this reference a “must have” for those who only know English, or read German poorly. Approximately 400 pages and 5700 coin listing are spread amongst the 7 cities (Callatis, Dionysoplois, Istrus, Marcianoplois, Nicopolis ad Istrum, Odessus, and Tomis). The coinage of each of these cities is covered in detail with appropriate references to AMNG and other sources. After a glace at the listings for Nicopolis ad Istrum and Marcianopolis approximately 25% of the listings are hitherto unpublished. These are the coins that are frequently found in unclean coin lots from the Balkans, and this reference should be owned by those who clean or collect these coins. Comparing the listings in Varbanov against the same listings in AMNG is very difficult for me, but my impression is AMNG will cite more sources for many coins, and possibly provide more descriptive material on some coins. But Varbanov is very richly illustrated and on most pages photographs, of the observes and reverses, of at least 4 coins are shown. CLICK HERE TO BUY THIS BOOK FROM |FORVM| Varbanov's Degrees of RarityR1 Over 1500 exemplars The "number of exemplars" seems to be an estimate of the total thought to exist, rather than a firm count of the number of published examples. Based on market records, some coins listed as R5 - R7 are common, but some are scarce or rare. Varbanov's degree of rarity is important but it is not the only factor Forum uses to assess rarity for our shop catalog listings. Key to References Used by Varbanov (with his numbering)Bold indicates references frequently used by Forum in conjunction with Varbanov. 1. Karayotov 19922. Jurukova Hadrianopolis 3. Moushmov 4. Jurukova Deultum 5. SGICV 6. Cohen (also #41 and #89) 7. SNGvA 8. Müller Afrique 9. Heiss 10. Rec Gén 11. RSC I - V 12. AMNG II (Strack) 13-39. BMC Greek 15. BMC Thrace 40. SRCV 41. Cohen (also #6) 42. Kharitonov 43. Jurukova Bizye 44. Schönert-Geiss Byzantion 45. Schönert Perinthos 46. Schönert-Geiss Augusta Traiana 47. AMNG I (Pick) 48. AMNG II (Strack) (also #12) 49. Mouchmov Serdica 50. Topalov Messambria 51. Numizmatika i sfragistika IV 52. Ruzicka Pautalia 53. Karayotov 2001 54. Proceedings of Veliko Tarnovo Museum 55. Proceedings of the Historical Museum Lovech 56. Proceedings of the Historical Museum of Plovdiv 57. Proceedings of the Historical Museum Sofia 58. Schönert-Geiss Maroneia 59. AMNG III 60. Numizmatika i sfragistika VI 61. Proceedings of the IBA (1946). 62. Proceedings of PAM: Mushmov, etc. Ancient coins of Plovdiv. (1924). 63. Plovdiv Hoard 64. Proceedings of Vlad Gerasimov T. Contribution to the numismatics of Odesos 65. Tzotchev 66. SGCV I - II 67. Burnett 68. Minkova 69. Ulrike Stephanos 70. SNG Milan 71. Yearbook of the National Archaeological Museum Plovdiv, book VI (1968). 72. Kolev 73. Yearbook of the National Archaeological Museum Plovdiv, book IX (1999). 74. Zhekov Medallions 75. Tacheva 76. Kuzishchin 77. Faodorovar 78. Numismatic research 3 - 4 (Sophia, 1996) 79. Numismatic research 1 - 2 (Sophia, 1998) 80. Secasanu Greek 81. Secasanu Roman 82. Bozhkova Monuments 83. Bozhkova Monuments (also #82) 84. Dzanev 85. Bozhkova 86. SNG Stancomb 87. Encyclopedia Bulgaria 88. Kharitonov Bulgaria 89. Cohen (also #6 and #41) 90. Heiss Antiques 91. Spijkerman 92. Svoronos Crete 93. Rosenberger 94. Sydenham Cappadocia 95. Wruck 96. Staal 97. Bellinger Philippi 98. RPC I 99. Chitwood 100. Ivanov Bulgaria 101. Dimitrov Dionysopolis 102. Zhekov Viminacium
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