Mast-Step Coins among the Romans

The archaeological evidence of more than a dozen ancient shipwrecks indicates that the tradition of placing a coin inside the mast-step of a ship's hold probably originated with the Romans. The mast-step coin phenomenon, which persisted through the Middle Ages and continues in various forms today, has often been characterized according to the modern concept of 'luck'. The custom was, however, not one of an exclusively maritime nature; rather, it was ultimately derived from a long-standing religious tradition that can be traced back to the consecration of the earliest Greek temples.
© 2007 The Author     

Nano-CT evaluation of totally corroded coins: A demonstration study to determine if detail might still be discernible despite the lack of internal,non-corroded,metal

Five unidentifiable, completely corroded ancient coins (three of which were large fragments), proven to lack any residual internal metal, were scanned by nano-computed tomography (CT) to see if discernible detail might still be present. One fragment could be identified as an early fourth-century Urbs Roma commemorative AE 3/4. Another fragment was a coin of either Valerian or of the joint rule of Valerian and Gallienus, which could be dated to the period 254–56 ce . The other three lacked discernible detail. This proof-of-concept study shows that nano-CT scanning has the potential to allow non-invasive identification of at least some totally corroded coins.     

成都博物馆藏东汉陶仙山插座初探

成都及周边地区东汉晚期墓葬中出土有一种明显为仙山造型的陶质插座,倾向于为摇钱树的树座。其整体的三山、平台、洞穴造型及其上较为丰富的人物、羽人、伏羲、女娲、西王母形象应是当时观念中以昆仑、西王母为中心的神仙信仰的表现。将其制作为专门的丧葬用品,一方面反映了当时丧葬文化中的神仙信仰成分和超越死亡的升仙愿望,另一方面也再次印证了西南地区流行的摇钱树的主要内涵应与升仙有关。     

林则徐关于"银贵钱贱"的认识与困惑

林则徐最初认为“银贵钱贱”是鸦片透漏白银出境造成的,但是到了1846年,当他看到西安市场上银价“忽低忽昂”,在不了解“杰科布定律”的情况下,最后他还是陷入一片迷茫之中,留下了“其理亦不可解”的感叹。     

“项梁铸大钱”补论

学术界关于异形布币(所谓"楚大布")的时代和国别归属讨论已久,众说纷纭.根据此种布币的出土地、铸造遗址情况及其自身特征,结合历史和地理文献及考古资料综合分析,我们认为应属秦末项梁所铸之大钱.     

也谈巴蜀货币及其相关问题

巴、蜀国未铸币。见于列国遗址的桥形铜片非货币而为铜璜,是上个世纪五六十年代学术界的共识。但随着近十几年巴蜀青铜化大发现,这一问题又被提了出来。本先是重新审视了各地桥形铜片的出土环境(部位、伴存物件)、形制特点和存在时限,判定它与配饰品关系多多,并找到它在商周组玉佩的发展与衰减中的位置,遂确认它源于玉佩中的璜。为规范物定名,建议统一命名为铜璜而不再它称。最后,从巴蜀国的时代背景、经济化状况及其同周边国家关系、货币铸行规律等多方面考察,认为巴蜀国可能仍处在实物货币阶段,使用盐、帛(赛布)类为交换媒介。     

洛阳新发现一批大型空首布及其相关问题

2007年,洛阳新发现一批大型平肩弧足空首布,均形体巨大,制作精美。我们对这批空首布进行介绍,并重点对"排"字布进行了论证;还对这类空首布的发现情况、铸行区域、铸行年代等相关问题进行讨论。     

从新出土资料再论“项梁铸大钱”

河南省新郑"郑韩故城"相继出土了几批古钱范和一处古钱币窖藏,其中"异形布"的归属与出现各国货币的现象一直有争论,根据伴出的兵器性质以及当时西楚政权控制封地经济、楚汉相争楚军败退等历史资料分析,这批钱范和钱窖所反映的社会内容最符合项羽西楚政权的历史背景,它们都应属西楚政权时期遗存。     

河南安阳孟村魏晋时期古钱窖藏探析

１９９１年８月,河南省安阳县伦掌乡盂村（岳城水库南区“柏阳城” 战国遗址南１５００米处）出土一古钱窖藏,计１６０余公斤８万余枚。我们征集到其中的２０余公斤,现经初步整理报告如下。 一、出土概况 据发现人称,古钱原放在一灰陶缸内,距地表０．５米,在出土过程中陶缸被打碎,残存陶片上饰有花纹,无盖。出土时钱币多成串放置在一起,大小相混,锈蚀严重,有穿系痕迹,呈长条形盘放其中。据初步整理,该窖藏数量大,种类丰富,有较多的珍稀币种,是安阳地区近一时期发现较重要的古钱窖藏之一,实为难得的实物资料。 二、钱币类别…     

Statistical methodology in numismatic studies

The note is concerned with the statistical methods applied to numismatic studies with particular reference to a previously published study of the trace-element composition of Augustan coins (Carter, G. F. (1978), Journal of Archaeological Science5). In particular, it is shown that the grouping procedure proposed by Carter is likely to produce too many “significant” groups. The compositional differences between predefined groups based on issue and year of manufacture are also considered. Multivariate techniques are used to investigate these differences and the advantages of this approach in comparison to the inspection of univariate plots are pointed out.