   This coin from the Peter R. and Leonore Franke Collection is a silver stater of Tarentum, struck shortly after 280 B.C. The obverse (left) is a male crowning a horse with legends Gu (above the horse) and Aristio (between the horse's legs). The reverse of the coin (at right) is a boy riding a dolphin, with an elephant underneath. |
The Yale University Art Gallery has acquired a collection of 4,100 coins of Greek and Roman origin.
"This collection, formed over a lifetime by one of Europe's most eminent numismatic scholars, will significantly enhance Yale's holdings of ancient coins and medals, already one of the largest of any university collection in the country," said Jock Reynolds, the Henry J. Heinz II Director of the gallery.
The collection was formed by Peter R. Franke, formerly professor of ancient history and numismatics and head of the Institute for Ancient History at the University of Saarbrücken, Germany. Franke was mentor to many of the numismatists on staff at various collections throughout Europe, and taught until recently at the Institut für Numismatik in Vienna. He is well-known as the author of a number of specialized monographs as well as introductory treatments of coinage.
Although the collection covers the entire Mediterranean basin, its principal focus is on Greek coins of the Roman period, which were produced at individual cities to meet local currency needs. "I am delighted that my collection has been acquired by Yale," says Franke, "since I know that there the coins will be employed for teaching as well as research, and my work will be continued."
William E. Metcalf, who was appointed the first curator of coins and medals at the Yale Art Gallery in 2002 as well as adjunct professor of classics, remarked, "Franke did not collect just to fill gaps in his holdings; every coin has a reason for being there. For the art historian, there are continuous streams of imperial portraits from various regions of the Roman Empire; for the historian, there is evidence of local cults and magistrates, as well as representations of local buildings and such customs as games and religious festivals."
The purchase of the Peter R. and Leonore Franke Collection was made possible through the Ruth Elizabeth White Fund for the acquisition and publication of ancient art.
The collection of coins at Yale goes back to the early 19th century, and as long ago as 1863 there was a publication of the University's numismatic holdings. Over the years the collection has grown to approximately 100,000 objects of all periods, of which roughly 25,000 are of the ancient world. These include not only coins from Yale's excavations at Dura-Europos, Syria and elsewhere, but donations from friends of Yale. The collection may be consulted by appointment.
T H I S
Gallery acquires collection
of Mediterranean coins
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