Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum Österreich. Sammlung Leypold I.

Contribution to Publishing Costs D 3259 Syllogennummorum Graecorum Österreich Sammlung Leypold I. Wolfgang SZAIVERT 09.10.2000 The international series of the Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, initiated by the British Academy, had aimed to publish antique Greek coins with the most modem means then available, i.e. to describe and depict each item. The world of Greek coins and coinages were of far more individualistic production than Roman or, for emphasis, Byzantine issues. Rarely does one coin resemble another. The understanding and reading of many pieces in many instances can only be gained by combining the legends and titles of these coins with other, complimentary coins. Therefore, especially in Greek numismatics, every single coin is of particular importance. In recent times, the science of numismatics has increasingly looked towards the so-called Greek Imperials. The Sylloge Aulock, with its ultimately completed volume of indices of 1981 (Franke, Leschhom, Stylow), has been responsible for this impetus. Today, the only almost finalised series is the SNG Copenhagen, though presently and concurrently other large collections are being worked on. Notably these include the collections of the University of Tübingen, the American Numismatic Society, the Bavarian State Collection in Munich, but also the Commune di Milano, the Museum of Ljubljana (Slowenia), the Nemzeti Museum in Budapest (Hungary) and others. More and more private collections are being examined, studied and the findings published. This is an important trend, because in many instances individual acquisitions and assembling of collections may contain and disclose specialties and specifics-as important as large spectrum collections. Unfortunately many private collections are in imperilled, simply because of changes in ownership or due to economic rationalism, causing time and specific circumstance changes. It has happened collections were disbursed and the items disappeared undocumented in the coin trade. From Austria so far, only three small publications have been submitted to the Sylloge (1967 - 1990). In each only a small part of the Dreer collection, now in the Country Museum of Klagenfurth, Carinthia, has been illustrated. The fourth publication of the Austrian series covers approx. one half of the collection of Dr. Leypold, medical practitiofter, of Wr. Neustadt (in close proximity of Vienna). Assiduously and steadfastly Dr. Leypold has collected Greek coins struck in, Asia Minor during Roman Imperial times. His collection of approx. 2,600 coins contains an unusual high proportion of rarities and unique pieces. The first part of the publication covers coins from Pontus to Lydia; in the second part the coins from Cilicia to Galatia will be described. It has been common practice by SNG to cite manifold references pertaining to each piece, to permit location of every item in topical literature, and to facilitate recognition of related coins including the names of moneyers or mint masters (if any). Legends are painstakingly reproduced. Depictions on the coins are briefly described; normal addresses and interpretations are in contemporary style. We believe Dr. Leypold`s collection, will, with the finalisation of the second volume, become an additional reference catalogue to Asia Minor`s minting during the Roman Empire. Therefore, detailed indices will be included in the second volume. No topical literature references could be found for approx 340 coins. In summation, we trust this publication will be of use to numismaticians, historians and others wishing to delve into the times of Roman Empire in Asia Minor.