Notae Numismaticae - Zapiski Numizmatyczne (3/4.1999)

nations. A separate problem is posed by the appearance of rather fre-
quent countermarks. The generał political and economic background
associated with the appearance of these coins also remains unclear.

Cossyrian coins can be divided into three basie types:

1. Averse: head of the goddess Isis,

Reverse:



turned to the right; behind her,

In an olive wreath,



a smali figurę of Nike standing





to the right with a laurel crown.

(SNG Cop. 447)

la. Averse: as above, but Isis's

Reverse: as above



head is turned to the left; in front



(SNG Cop. 449)

of her, a smali figurę of Nike





standing to the right with a laurel





wreath.





Ib. Averse: head of goddess Isis

Reverse: as above

(Mayr 15)

turned to the right.





2. Averse: head of the goddess

Reverse: Tanit sign;

Countermarks:

Isis, turned to the right; behind

later COSSVRA; all within

REG; eagle

her, a smali figurę of Nike standing

a laurel wreath.

with wings

to the right with a laurel crown.



spread to the





right; capricorn





to the right.





(SNG Cop. 451)

3. Averse: head of the goddess Isis,

Reverse: COSSVRA within

Countermark:

turned to the left; in front of her,

a laurel wreath

DD with branch

a smali figurę of Nike standing



between

to the right with a laurel wreath.



(SWG Cop. 452)

The identification of the goddess Isis, thanks to the modius, neck-
lace, and wig worn on the head, is relatively certain and rather generally
accepted. Only a few scholars maintain a certain reserve, placing a ques-
tion mark before this identification, while those hypercritical scholars
who see simply a woman's head here are exceptions.16

16 See H. Clay Lindgren, Ancient Greek Bronze Coins: European Mints from the Lindgren
Collection, Berkeley 1989, no. 655.

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