This morning I did a fun and fast visualization of the die clusters of RRC 25/1. You’ll have to wait until the final publication to see those.
I thought to myself is this similar or different than other striking patterns. I thought RRC 22/1 would be an ‘easy’ point of comparison. It wasn’t easy or fast, but it was interesting and v v different.
At first I was going to ignore the alphabetical sequence of the Greek control marks, but as I looked at the clusters they grouped so nicely around letter sequences that I felt I had to use it.
My first explanation is that there was one anvil working through the letters with the ‘reverse’ control marked die in the anvil (thus the obverse!) and that there was a die box next to the anvil with a number of punch dies ready to go.
Next steps.
- Check ‘odd’ reverses (the greens above).
- Check the overlaps to ensure the die ids are correct.
- Inspect flans for curvature.
- Consider if imitations ancient or modern may be effecting the results.
- Figure out what the Leake collection is (supposed to have a Pi specimen)
- Write Cambridge and ask if they really do have a Pi and if a photo could be sent
- Redraw with Greek letters for clarity.
I wonder if Theta was skipped for its association with death (thanatos). Perhaps H was skipped for fear of confusion with Zeta?
All die ids and links are based on the Schaefer Archive as catalogued in RRDP
The above diagram is interpretive.
If we do machine best fit. The three largest clusters show significant overlap in the linkages.
But there many single pairs and small changes as well. These I worked into the above chains in the diagrams above.
If there were not sequential control marks, I likely would have concluded this was at least partially a two anvil one die box system of striking. And that might also be true…
The AB die suggests to me they were engraving dies on an as needed basis at least at the end of the series.
Finally I’ll note that the ratio of obverses to reverses is 1:1.17. This is surprisingly like the ratios we see at the end of the republic. Even as there are die chains and clusters their still averaging the same type of usage.
Liv Mariah Yarrow 