Friday, January 31, 2025

Lorber, Coins of the Ptolemaic Empire, Part I (Brepols)

NEW BOOK FROM BREPOLS:
Coins of the Ptolemaic Empire, Part I: Ptolemy I through Ptolemy IV
Volume 1: Precious Metal, Volume 2: Bronze

Catharine C. Lorber

Pages: 2 vols, xxxiv + 836 p.
Size: 210 x 297 mm
Illustrations: 37 b/w, 122 plates
Language(s): English
Publication Year: 2024

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ISBN: 978-0-89722-398-0
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Buy e-version
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ISBN: 978-0-89722-399-7
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SUMMARY

Coins of the Ptolemaic Empire, Part 1, Volumes 1 and 2 (Precious Metal and Bronze) by Catharine Lorber, is the massive, long-anticipated catalogue of coins struck by the first four Ptolemaic kings. It essentially rewrites the sections on these rulers in J. N. Svoronos’ classic, but now much out of date, Ta Nomismata tou Kratous ton Ptolemaion (1904). The body of coinage catalogued by Svoronos is enlarged by more than 300 further emissions in precious metal and more than 180 emissions in bronze, recorded from subsequent scholarship, from hoards, from commercial sources, and from private collections, and constituting about a third of the total catalogue entries. Lorber’s attributions, dates, and interpretations rest on numismatic research since Svoronos, or on the latest archaeological and hoard information. She also provides extensive historical and numismatic introductions that give the coins deeper context and meaning. The coinage of Ptolemies I through IV is supplemented by a few issues possibly attributable to Cleomenes of Naucratis, the predecessor of Ptolemy I in Egypt, as well as by coinages of Ptolemy Ceraunus, Magas, and Ptolemy of Telmessus, members of the Lagid dynasty ruling their own kingdoms outside of Egypt.

I noted a publication announcement for Part II last year, with links. But it appears that the latter is still forthcoming, slated for this year. Cross-file under Numismatics.

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