MONTHLY MEETINGS ARE NOW HELD AT SKIRBALL CULTURAL CENTER.
JANUARY 2010
FELICEM ANNUM NOVUM HABEAMUS!
The next meeting of the club will be held on Sunday January 10, 2010 at 1:00 P.M. It will be the annual Installation-Cum-Banquet and the venue will be the Balboa Mission Town Hall, Granada Hills. Bring your edible item and appetite for the comestibles. Be prepared for a feast ab ova ad mala.
LAST MEETING
The December meeting was called to order at 1:27 P.M. by President Mark Westerline. Secretary David Stepsay passed around a blank copy of a Banquet Roster for people to sign up for their contribution to the Banquet. Treasurer Barry Rightman gave the Treasurer's report. Ken Baumheckel on behalf of the OCACC: Last program on Hannibal of Carthage. There is a coin convention at Ontario Convention Center starting Thursday through Saturday. Roger Burry reported that there is nothing new to report on behalf of Celator. Michael Connor reported still 200-250 new visitors per day to the website.
The nominations and elections of ACCLA Officers and Board of Directors for 2010 were held. Elected were:
ACCLA Board of Directors 2010
President: Mark Westerline
Vice President: Roger Burry
Secretary: David Stepsay
Treasurer: Barry Rightman
Bob Effler (Past President)
Randy Butler
Michael Connor
Ken Friedman
Merrill Gibson
Paul Ranc
PRESENTATION
Randy Butler gave a Powerpoint presentation on the Severan Dynasty. According to him, the Severans "don't get no respect". Once again, we were the beneficiaries of one of Randy's well-planned, erudite, and entertaining presentation.
Respectfully submitted
David Stepsay, Secretary
FEBRUARY 2010
The next meeting of the club will be held on Sunday February 14, 2010 at 1:00 P.M. at the Balboa Mission Town Hall, Granada Hills. The program will consist of a presentation by Barry Rightman entitled Roman Empresses: Period of The Second Triumvirate Through The Rule of Hadrian.
BUSINESS
The meeting was called to order by President Mark Westerline at 1:40 P.M. Barry Rightman gave the Treasurer's report and announced that the rent and insurance have been paid. He also reported that on the History Channel there was a showing of man-made ducts below ancient sites. Ken Friedman read a letter of thanks from ACCG for our contribution. The lawsuit is still in progress. There ensued a discussion of the Ontario (California) and other shows. Roger Burry reported that there was a press release in the Celator regarding the meeting we held at Loyola Marymount University. The Long Beach Convention will be in early February. We then had a Round Robin evaluation of the best and worst coins of 2010. Roger solicited questions for another coin quiz in the future.
The officers and members of the Board of Directors were duly installed.
We then enjoyed the festivities of the day. Books were sold and a raffle held. A good time was had by all.
Respectfully submitted
David Stepsay, Secretary
MARCH 2010
The next meeting of ACCLA will be held on Sunday March 14, 2010 at 1:00 P.M. at the Balboa Mission Town Hall, Granada Hills. Be sure to park behind the shops and at the enter by the back door. The program will consist of a presentation by Dr. Robert Cleave on The Constitution of Ancient Rome From the Republic to the Monarchy
LAST MEETING - BUSINESS
Meeting called to order by President Mark Westerline at 1:35 P.M. Treasurer Barry Rightman gave the Treasury report. Roger Burry discussed up coming meeting programs including a possible seminar on the coins of Julius Caesar. Michael Connor reported that we continued to have over 200 visitors a day to the website. He will bring a list of search terms used by visitors to the site so members can think about useful additions. The Long Beach Convention Center show was reviewed. Mark Westerline proposed that we consider buying numismatic texts for the door prizes and a lively discussion ensued. Ken Friedman reported that in this month's Celator is an article on provenance.
LAST MEETING - PRESENTATION
The presentation by Barry Rightman was on the Roman Empresses: Period of the Second Triumvirate Through the Rule of Hadrian. The coin photos were as follows: Fulvia: first wife of Marc Antony. Fulvia was the driving force behind Antony's success. Octavia, Senior: second wife of Antony from Ephesus. Livia: third wife of Augustus. Julia: second wife of Tiberius and daughter of Augustus. Agrippina, Senior: wife of Germanicus and daughter of Agrippa. Caesonia: third wife of Caligula. Messalina: third wife of Claudius. Promiscuous and ambitious. Agrippina, Junior: fourth wife of Claudius, daughter of Germanicus and Agrippina, Sr., and mother of Nero, who ordered her death. Antonia: daughter of Mark Antony and mother of Claudius and Germanicus. Octavia, Junior: first wife of Nero, daughter of Claudius and Messalina. Poppeia: second wife of Nero. Statilia Messalina: third wife of Nero, who survived him. Domatilla, Senior: wife of Vespasian, mother of Titus and Domitian Julia Titi: wife of Titus. Domitia: wife of Domitian exiled after his death. Plotina: wife of Trajan and intelligent mentor of Hadrian. Marciana: sister of Trajan. Sabina: wife of Hadrian.
Respectfully submitted
David Stepsay, Secretary
APRIL 2010
The next meeting of the ACCLA will be held on Sunday April 11, 2010 at the Balboa Mission Town Hall, Granada Hills and the usual time of 1:00 P.M. Be sure and use the back door. The program will consist of a presentation by President Mark Westerline entitled Introduction to Bactrian Coins.
LAST MEETING - BUSINESS
Meeting called to order by Barry Rightman, acting for Mark Westerline, at 1:25 P.M. He started with the Treasurer's report. Web-master Michael Connor reported that he had gone through the list of search terms used by visitors to the website. Because the most popular terms included Trajan, Hadrian, Sabina et al. he proposed that we embark on a new project featuring the Coins of the Five Good Emperors. He is soliciting high resolution photos (easier to cut down than enlarge) from members. Roger Burry reported that Randy Butler's talk was outlined in the Celator.
LAST MEETING - PRESENTATION
Dr. Robert Cleave gave a presentation on The Constitution of Ancient Rome From the Republic to the Monarchy covering Period I: Kingdom 753-509 BCE Period II: Republic 509-27 BCE Period III: 44 BCE-476 CE. Description of Constitution: unwritten, based on Mos Maiorum (custom of our ancestors). Three components: Senate, Consules, and Tribunes. Senate was the best of the three forms. Consisted of all present and past magistrates (around 450, ideally). Only advisory to the magistracy--offered advice on everything. Gradually assumed following functions. 1) Assigned duties of magistrates; 2) Proposed legislation to Assembly; 3) Fixed number of conscriptees to the Army; 4) Fiscal powers--taxes, coinage. 5) Foreign policy; ambassadors, etc; 6) Issued Senatus Consultum Ultimum (Martial Law); could outlaw opposition parties. Became most important power of the state (SPQR). Magistracy: had to run through the cursus honorum, to wit: 1) Tribune: 10 elected for one year by the plebes; absolute veto of everything. Served as Senators. 2) Quaestors (30). 3) Aediles: in charge of public bldgs, streets, and games. 4) Praetors: 6 in all served as judges and held military and political offices. 5) Consules: only 2 of them who were the supreme magistrates. Gave name to the year. Named Dictator who served for 6 months or til the end of the crisis. 6) Censores: Only 2 who every 5 years compiled list of citizens. Maintained public morality and named the Senators.
Assemblies: Comitia Centuriata--composed of 193 centuries, among whom equites and proletarii. There was a list of 8 classes from equites to proletarii. Comitia Tributa--composed of 35 tribes. Senate: all magistrates were Senators. Our Constitution was written by classicists, viz praesidens (president) and senatores (self explanatory).
There was much more. Suffice it to say that Dr. Cleave cut through 700 or 800 years of history like a hot knife through butter. He reviewed the accomplishments of some of the outstanding characters of the Republic and Empire; and he mentioned the two main factions, the Populares and the Optimates, as well as the two Triumvirates and some of their conflicts resulting in Augustus being the first of the Emperors, having started out as Caesar's nephew Octavian, which effectively was where Dr. Cleave left off. As always his presentation was extremely professional and captivating to the audience.
Respectfully submitted
David Stepsay, Secretary
MAY 2010
The next meeting ot the club will be held on May 9, 2010 at 1:00 P.M. and at Balboa Mission Town Hall, Granada Hills. The program will consist of a Coin Quiz, as hosted by Roger Burry. It is always amazing to witness the erudition of the members of the club who divine the correct answers to this rigorous exercise.
LAST MEETING - BUSINESS
Meeting called to order by President Mark Westerline at 1:37 P.M. Treasurer Barry Rightman gave the Treasury report. Roger Burry, Celator liaison, said the June issue will feature Dr. Cleave's last presentation. The June presentation will be by Ken Baumheckel on Seals (official, not mammalian). In July, Randy Butler will hold forth on the latest of his Turkey series (Caria, Upper Meander Valley). Roger indicated that there are still openings for upcoming meetings. Joe Tooma reported he did the Sassanian presentation at OCACC. Michael Connor, Webmaster, reported that he has received some write-ups and photographs from members for the Five Good Emperors project.
LAST MEETING - PRESENTATION
Mark Westerline gave a talk on Bactrian coins. He began with a map showing the Greco-Bactrian kingdom which consisted of today's Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. He reviewed Persian, Greek, Seleucid, Bactrian and Indo-Greek control of the region. Mark did a really creditable job of presenting the coins of this complicated and semi-obscure era.
Respectfully submitted
David Stepsay, Secretary
JUNE 2010
Next meeting of the club will be held on Sunday June 13, 2010 at 1:00 P.M. and at the Balboa Mission Town Hall, Granada Hills. The presenter will be Ken Baumheckel who will hold forth on Royal Seals of Judea.
LAST MEETING - BUSINESS
The meeting was called to order by President Mark Westerline at 1:33 P.M. Barry Rightman gave the Treasurer's report. He passed on Ralph and Sally Marx's regards to the club. Michael Connor, Webmaster, is working on the Five Good Emperors project so please send him pictures. There have been 195 visitors per day this year. Ken Baumheckel gave a report on the recent OCACC meeting. Thereupon we had a discussion of recent auctions. Roger Burry said a couple of ACCLA related items may show up in the June issue of the Celator.
LAST MEETING - PRESENTATION
Roger Burry hosted two coin quizzes both using coin images in a Powerpoint presentation. Game I consisted of comparing two coins of the same issue and identifying which was the better in quality. For game II, the meeting attendees were split up into 3 teams that competed with each other to answer questions that had been et by Club members. A lot of excitement was created by all this competition and a good time was had by all. The idea of the contest is to promote learning and there were very few failures to guess the right answer.
Respectfully submitted
David Stepsay, Secretary
JULY 2010
The next meeting will be held on Sunday July 11, 2010, at the Balboa Mission Town Hall, Granada Hills at 1:00 P.M. Be sure and use the back door. The presenter will be Randy Butler our resident expert on Ionia who will hold forth on Caria and the Upper Maeander: Sites, Coins, and History
LAST MEETING - BUSINESS
The meeting was called to order by President Mark Westerline at 1:35 P.M. Treasurer Barry Rightman reported on the condition of the treasury. Webmaster Michael Connor's gave a brief report.
LAST MEETING - PRESENTATION
Ken Baumheckel gave an excellent PowerPoint presentation on Royal Judean Seals of the 8th and 7th Centuries - official seals used either for stamping on documents or making impressions on pottery. A jar handle fragment bearing a seal was passed around.
Respectfully submitted
David Stepsay, Secretary
AUGUST 2010
The next meeting of the club will be on Sunday August 8, 2010 at the usual time of 1:00 P.M. at the Balboa Mission Town Hall, Granada Hills. The presentation will be by Roger Burry. It will be a seminar on all the coins related to Julius Caesar, not just the portrait ones. Background references are David R. Sear, The History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators; Ken Friedman, Gaius Julius Caesar; MacQuarie University, The Coinage of Julius Caesar. Bring your coins. Don't forget to enter at the back entrance.
LAST MEETING - BUSINESS
The meeting was called to order by President Mark Westerline at 1:30 P.M. Mark is proposing a trip to the next ANA Convention in Sacramento next spring. We could rent a van, carpool, or go by bus. Let him know if interested. Barry Rightman rendered the Treasurer's report. Michael Connor reported on the the five good Emperors (Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius) project. Discussion ensued about bidding at coin auctions, both electronic and face-to-face. Lots of skepticism re ethics of the process. You can employ a service to represent you at the auctions you can't attend. Never tell two different dealers you want the same coin!!! They might bid against each other and raise the price to an intolerable level.
PRESENTATION
Randy Butler made the third of his presentations on Turkey. This was arguably the most intriguing one due to the area covered, namely Caria and Cappadocia. He illustrated his talk with slides of the places and their coins throughout. We were introduced to sites along the Maeander River, both Carian and Cretan and some native to the area. Aphrodisias was a city of marble with the world's greatest ancient stadium. Next Laodicaea Ad Lykum. It is mentioned in the book of Revelations. A slide of a Laodicaean Roman coin was shown. Hierapolis was next, a city of white cliffs and sacred pools and site of the death place of Apostle St. Philip--the only one of the apostles whose place of death is known. Next was Colossae, then Heraclea Ad Latmon with its Hellenistic walls. Then Euromos with 16 original columns still standing. The next city was Labraunda up in the hills, site of a battle between the Greeks and the Persians. The tomb of Mausolos, after whom the Mausoleum was named, is there. Then Stratonikea, with a rock quarry and bouleterion (council place); and finally Halicarnassus (modern day Bodrum).
Respectfully submitted
David Stepsay, Secretary
SEPTEMBER 2010
The next meeting of ACCLA will be held on Sunday September 12, 2010 at the usual time of 1:00 P.M. in the Balboa Mission Town Hall, Granada Hills. The presenters will be Mark Westerline and Paul Ranc and the subject will be Early Roman Coinage in Spain. (Early meaning before Augustus)
BUSINESS
The August meeting was called to order by President Mark Westerline at 1:30 P.M. Barry Rightman, Treasurer, reported that we may have to find a different meeting room, as the present one might be shut down. Mike reported that visitors up 5% over last year on website.
PRESENTATION
Seminar on coins of Julius Caesar led by Roger Burry. 97 different coin types related to Julius Caesar in six years:
49-44 BCE:
49-47 BCE: denarius-2 types.
49-47 BCE: moneyers supporting Caesar.
47-45 BCE: African and Spanish campaigns under Caesar.
44 BCE: Portrait coins and exemplars (slides).
44-42 BCE: Portrait coins, posthumous. Non-portrait: posthumous of Octavian and
Antony.
Respectfully submitted
David Stepsay, Secretary
NOVEMBER 2010
The next meeting of the club will be held on Sunday November 14, 2010 at 1:00 P.M. at the Balboa Mission Town Hall, Granada Hills. The program will be The Ten Greatest Ancient Coins. Members are asked to submit their three candidates for the all-time greatest ancient coin prior to the meeting. At the meeting each member will get a chance to advocate their choice. We’ll then look at the results of the poll and see the top ten ancient coins
LAST MEETING
The meeting was called to order at 1:42 P.M. by Barry Rightman. Barry gave a report on the treasury. Michael Connor, Webmaster said visitor-count is about 200 per day. The recent Long Beach Convention Center show was discussed. David Sears’ 4th volume of coins of the Roman Empire is at the printers. He has agreed to bring copies to one of our meetings and sign them.
PRESENTATION
Paul Ranc continued the subject began last month by Mark Westerline - Early Roman Coinage in Spain. He showed slides of maps and coins coins. The talk was interlaced with cogent comments by a surprising number of the audience. Apparently the membership is quite strong in the arena of Hispanic coins.
Respectfully submitted
David Stepsay, Secretary
DECEMBER 2010
The next meeting will take place on Sunday December 12, 2010 at 1:00 P.M. at the usual venue of Balboa Mission Town Hall, Granada Hills.The program will be a presentation by Randy Butler called 1066 A.D…... The Trifecta. It bids to be very interesting as we do not often get lectures on the Middle Ages.
LAST MEETING - BUSINESS
Meeting called to order by President Mark Westerline at 1:30 P.M. Dave Weir, a new member, was introduced: His in-laws, the Madsens, left photos to him, some of which he brought and showed. Barry Rightman, Treasurer, gave his report. Also, he said the status of the room is still up in the air. Roger Burry indicated the subject matter of the next meeting and urged reading up on the Battle of Hastings in 1066, and possibly the Bayeux tapestry. Also if you have any coins from the time of Alfred the Great, bring them in. Roger gave a run-down of the meetings through February. Elections will be held next month. Joe Tooma said that an Armenian numismatist in Pico-Rivera is having a fire sale on literature. Ken Baumheckel indicated that he is no longer the rapporteur on OCACC. He also suggested that we each bring a blind gift at the potluck consisting of coins wrapped and thrown into a common pot for sortition. Paul Ranc said there are great deals on books on the CNG website, to wit, all classic books are on sale. Barry said that David Sears’ Vol IV is still in manuscript form due to a British Museum delay. They will be out some time in February or March. David Sears is already working on Vol. V, which takes us up to Anastasius. David is agreeable to bringing a copies to a meeting for a book signing.
PRESENTATION
Roger Burry ran an interesting program - an election of ancient coins, the five most important as suggested by members. The primary was on November 8, wherein the candidates were chosen. Today will be the general election. The turn-out at the primary was 20% and 22 coins were nominated. There was a sort of Mafia mystique with the most candidates being from Sicily (Syracuse). Roger gave out some rules or criteria: Historical Significance and Notoriety, numismatic influence vis a vis today, contemporary coins, which characteristics may not have been perceived at time of issue. If there was a message, its significance and degree of success. And then he showed slides of the 12 candidates and we voted. It was decreed that for a write-in to make it, there had to be 2 sponsors. It was a very well-run election and there was very little evidence of voter fraud (although as at every election, there is sure to be some). The winners in rank order are as follows:
1) Syracuse facing head tetradrachm by Kimon S944.
2) Roman Republic denarius -
Julius Caesar first roman portrait of a living person.
3) Syracuse decadrachm by Euainetos S953.
4) Roman Imperator Brutus Ides of March denarius.
5) Athenian owl tetradrachm post 454 BCE.
The ballots cannot be inspected as it was a hands-raised vote.
Respectfully submitted
David Stepsay, Secretary