Ancient Coin Collecting IV: Roman Provincial Coins (v. 4) [Hardcover]

Wayne G. Sayles (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1998 | Series: Ancient Coin Collecting

Travel to the far-flung corners of the Roman Empire, where provincial coin makers had more freedom to celebrate their local festivals, art, games, mythology, architecture, and other beliefs on their coins. From Augustus in 27 B.C. to the end of the third century, author Wayne Sayles reveals the empire of rich and diverse cultures to be found in the coinage of the provincial mints. Great for hobbyists of all levels.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Krause Publications (June 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873415523
• ISBN-13: 978-0873415521
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #425,299 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Wayne Gerald Sayles was born on March 8, 1943 at Waukesha, Wisconsin to Wayne F. Sayles and Betty J. Harris. He attended Catholic schools through 8th grade when the family moved to Horicon, Wisconsin. Wayne graduated from Horicon High School in 1961. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force that same summer and was trained in Communications-Electronics Maintenance at Keesler AFB, MS. His tours as an electronics technician included assignments to Gander, Newfoundland; Fort Bragg, NC; McCoy AFB, FL; Incirlik AB, Turkey and McClellan AFB, CA. In 1971, Wayne was accepted into the Commissioning Bootstrap Program and attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in History. He received a commission in the USAF through Officer's Training School in May 1972. Assignments as a Communications Officer included Squadron Commander at Goodfellow AFB, TX; Group Detachment Commander at Levkas, Greece; Air Force Advisor to the Air National Guard and USAF Reserve Forces; and Team Chief for Operational Readiness and Management Effectiveness Inspections conducted by the Air Force Communications Command, Military Airlift Command and Strategic Air Command Inspector General teams. In addition to multiple awards of the Meritorious Service Medal and other decorations, Wayne was presented with the coveted "Minuteman" award for his service as advisor to the Air National Guard. He retired from the Air Force as a Captain in 1982, having traveled to more than 40 countries and all 50 States. He is a Life Member of the Military Officer's Association of America, a member of the Ninth Air Force Association and has been a member of several different VFW and American Legion posts.

Wayne earned a Masters degree in Art History at the University of Wisconsin in 1986 and that same year founded The Celator -- a monthly journal about ancient coins (still the premier periodical in its field today). He co-authored Turkoman Figural Bronze Coins and Their Iconography (2 vols.); wrote the six volume series Ancient Coin Collecting (3 are in expanded 2nd ed.); the monograph Classical Deception; and the exhibition catalogue of the Ned H. and Gloria A. Griner Greek and Roman Coin Collection at Ball State University. He wrote the "Coin Collecting" article for Encyclopaedia Britannica and most recently the biography of William Edward Cramsie titled First to Fall. Wayne has also published several titles by other authors under his own banner of "Clio's Cabinet". He is a Life Fellow of the American Numismatic Society; Fellow of the Royal Numismatic Society (London, England); Life Member of the Hellenic Numismatic Society (Athens, Greece); Life Member of the American Israel Numismatic Society; member of the American Numismatic Association and the Numismatic Literary Guild, and an honorary member of several coin clubs in various states. He is the founder and Executive Director of the Ancient Coin Collectors Guild and was honored by that organization's Board of Directors in 2006 with a special award for "Exceptional Contributions to Ancient Numismatics." Wayne has lectured extensively at national conventions, symposia, seminars and club meetings, written more than 200 articles about ancient coinage, and has been honored with numerous Numismatic Literary Guild awards. He has twice presented testimony before the U.S. State Department's Cultural Property Advisory Committee in Washington, DC. He continues to write a monthly column in The Celator and maintains two personal blogs on the internet. He is a recipient of the prestigious "Numismatic Ambassador" award from Krause Publications, and was selected by KP in 2007 as one of the 55 "Most Intriguing People in Numismatics". He has been a biographee in Marquis, Who's Who in America and in Who's Who in the World, for the past several years.

Wayne's service to the community includes terms on the Boards of Education of American Community Schools, Athens Greece and the Lodi School District in Lodi, WI where he was elected Vice President. He has coached several youth football, baseball and basketball teams while in the military and as a member of Optimists International. He also has served as a judge for debate and forensic competitions at high school level and as chaperone for the Amery High School (WI) Ski Club. He is the founder and webmaster of the 416th Bomb Group (WWII) memorial site at http://416th.com . He enjoys camping and sailing, is an amateur genealogist and is a member of Trout Unlimited.

With more than 50 years combined experience in the field of ancient numismatics, Wayne and John C. Lavender operate two retail storefronts on the popular Vcoins site -- one specializing in ancient coins and the other in books about coins and the ancient world.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars By Far My Favorite In The Series, January 28, 2001

By 

JAMES M. MCGARIGLE (Merrill, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ancient Coin Collecting IV: Roman Provincial Coins (v. 4) (Hardcover)

The study of Roman Provincial coinage is one that needs greater attention now than ever before. With the combined factors of the fall of Soviet Communism, the advent of the Internet and it's various auction sites - these coins are becoming plentiful and an inexpensive overview was sorely needed and Mr. Sayles book fits the niche well. While it is not comprehensive, it is an excellent starting place. For the person who is thinking of collecting Roman Provincial coins or who has started already and feels themselves a bit overwhelmed with choices, this book might help them find some direction and focus.

Like all the other books prior to it, it is about 200 pages in length and it has over 300 coin photos. The print is easy on the eyes and the layout over all is well executed and there is a bibliography within most of the chapters and an index in the back of the book as well as a glossary.

The first two chapters describe provincial coinage itself and the provincial territory in general. The third chapter is the longest part of the book (100 pages) is "A Tour Of The Provinces" and takes the reader through the western provinces, the Balkans and Greece, Asia Minor and Mesopotamia, the Levant, Roman Egypt (it is notable here that Kerry Wetterstrom the current publisher & editor of the Celator - formerly Mr. Sayles publication who is a well known collector of the coins of Roman Egypt wrote this section) & North Africa.

The fourth chapter covers some interesting portraits and "client kings" - often the puppet monarchies of the Roman Empire. The 5th chapter is on understanding provincial coinage and the sixth is on deciphering them - attributing them. Make no mistake though, this book makes no intention of being an attribution catalogue/reference work. Rather, chapter six is sort of a guide for the user who has a "coin in hand" that they are trying to decipher.

Chapter seven is on iconography, items like portraits, temples, astrological symbols and other things common to the series. The eighth and final chapter is like several of it's predecessors in the series, a number of "Masterpieces" of Roman Provincial coins - a sort of gallery of the finest types you may come across.

As a collector of Roman-Syrian and Roman-Egyptian coins as well as some other types, I found the book very satisfying and it is my favorite of the whole series. This book put into the hands of young and old readers alike is sure to inspire a fair amount of daydreaming. I would highly recommend this book to the lover of ancient art as well as the numismatist, it is just as beautiful as it is an informative work.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a book of basics for a confusing area., December 2, 2000

By 

Philip - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ancient Coin Collecting IV: Roman Provincial Coins (v. 4) (Hardcover)

I recently purchased a copy of this book on the strength of other volumes in the series. I was happily surprised to find explanations to many of the questions on Roman Provincial coins (Greek Imperial Coins) that I had not been able to find elsewhere. If you are looking for an excellent introductory volume to this area of ancient numismatics, I can't think of a better place to start. You will want to keep the volume right at hand when you examine your coins, and will enjoy reading it from cover to cover as well. Highly recommended.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for any collector., April 30, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Minneapolis, Minnesota USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ancient Coin Collecting IV: Roman Provincial Coins (v. 4) (Hardcover)

If you are a starting collector of ancient coins, or even a seasoned pro, this series is a must for your library. Mr. Sayles does a wonderful job of covering a vast subject in a concise and interesting way. Highly recommended!!