PBJI Ancient Coins and Antiquities

06/21/2025

Our discussion continues on CollectPBJI.com. If you are here, you came to hear what we had to say once upon a time. Come join us again. It is a fresh start and an attempt again to master the beast that is the World Wide Web! 🤣

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576777740115

Antiquities and Classical Numismatics

05/27/2025

PBJI is announcing a new project underway currently. Find more information at CollectPBJI.com!

04/23/2025

April, 2025
Salisbury, MD, USA

I don't often get time to make posts or comment here much on this page. The simple reality of making things happen on a daily basis sometimes leaves little time at the end of the day to put one more post up on the internet. I've come however to a point in time that I realize that it is not to my or anyone else's advantage to stay quiet here. Facebook has people from all walks of life and often, people have amazing things to say and teach others.

As an active antiquarian focused on ancient art and classical numismatics, I think I return to this great metaverse of minds in social media with a unique and maybe rare point of view on things. I may not always be right, I am proud to announce that I am flawed at times, but I think I've gained a few insights over the years not only about collecting, but also about the ancient world and the trade I am in.

It is an honor and a privilege to have access to the past. I recently had a very nice conversation with a gentleman scholar and friend, and we discussed at length the old Spiderman saying, "With great power comes great responsibility." I am a steward of the past. That is my superpower. My great responsibility is that I do this endeavor ethically and within the law where I live.

That ethical and responsible collecting and stewarding is a matter of deep thought. Anyone that does this, or has access to this, in truth holds a piece of the past. It is a tangible and concrete piece of evidence of our common history. This is something both innate and deeply human and its practice in some form or another predates even written word. We all seek to know ourselves and where we came from in some shape or form.

PBJI strives to do that within the confines of our laws, within the ethical boundaries set by others and most importantly, by our own "little voice" that sometimes whispers to us from our experience. We realize that we only get to tend to and care for these things and that one day, they will go elsewhere. We strive to find examples that reflect that in our practice, to the best of our ability within our little world that we live in.

I think we're doing pretty ok these days. I thought to share one of my report cards so to speak. It is one of my favorite pieces in my personal collection, because it not only tells a story about Ancient Egypt, but also about who has studied it. Let this be a standard for responsible collecting. If I had 100 such pieces, I would be very proud... I will leave today with that attribution and my thanks to all of you who have dared to listen over the years.

My best regards to you and yours.

Phil

You're welcome to comment below or send me a message here via pms. I will do my best to get back to you as I can.

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Egyptian Faience Menat Amulet
Faience with Blue Glaze.
Late Dynasties Period.
26th – 30th Dynasties.
688-343 BCE.
5 cm.
Ex: Dr. and Mrs. Goddard DuBois Collection, excavated in Egypt 1900-1907.
Exhibited: Metropolitan Museum of Art 1920’s – 30’s.
Exhibited: Boston Museum of Fine Arts 1940’s – mid-60’s.
Exhibited: San Diego Museum of Man 1967-8, inv. No. M405.

Purchased from Medusa Ancient Art, 2021.

A counterpoise amulet in turquoise-blue faience, the double-sided Menat is decorated with an inner groove and ribbed suspension ring above for mounting. Originally, the amulet was worn at the back of the neck to counter weigh a large string of beads to the front worn by priestesses of Hathor. The Menat was meant to give the appearance of a yoke and was used in ceremonies related to fertility and motherhood from the New Kingdom Period into the Ptolemaic Period.

The piece is intact and mounted on a custom-made metal stand.

Cf: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA accession no. 72.2433 for parallel.

04/18/2025

A reminder to any friends here, we're attending the Vienna, VA coin show the following dates this year (2025):

-April 26th
-Aug. 2
-Nov. 1

It's a great show, one of the best in my opinion in the area for ancient coins. Several dealers are always in attendance: it's a great crowd and great energy always. If you're in the area, please consider it.

02/02/2024

Posted today from CNG:

Baktrian Seals
A Look at the Incredible St. Croix Collection
Beginning with Electronic Auction 555, CNG will be offering a fabulous and highly important collection of Baktrian seals from the St. Croix Collection. This collection, formed over a lifetime, includes more than 130 seals with a wide variety of types cataloged by Sarianidi number. Our cataloger, Phil Jones, commented that this is “the finest collection of this material to appear on the market in many years.”

Baktrian seals were produced and/or used in the part of the world that included Baktria, Margiana, and points north into modern Tajikistan, and south to the Indus Valley. These were produced in the middle bronze age and are generally dated to the second half of the third millennium BC. Our cataloging, in accordance with the work done by the Russian archaeologist Viktor Sarianidi, dates the material to 2,400 – 2,100 BC.

The seals were primarily created by casting copper and consist of open form and closed form geometric and human/animal designs. There are several theories as to the use of these seals including: stamped on bullae and pottery to denote ownership; worn as amulets for religious protection or for identification of family groups. All seals have a central loop on the reverse for suspension. The variety of design is extensive, however, the commonality of known pieces indicates these items were used by extended groups, either families or business associates. The consistency of types may also indicate a religious tie which is not fully understood. This part of the world is where Zoroastrian religion would develop.

These pieces were important enough that they are often found in burials with the deceased. They were, at one time, also known from extensive surface finds, indicating that they were likely worn by the owner, suspended from a string or sewn into clothing.

These seals are among the few types of relics that can be collected from the middle bronze age. Their construction, whether open form or closed form, is a glimpse into the manufacturing capability of civilization during a time period when the first communities would develop around walled fortresses. These seals would have surely been created in workshops devoted to the task. The skill level to produce these must have been greatly admired at the time.

View the Baktrian Seals in Electronic Auction 555

10/18/2023

I very rarely and with some reservation even now, post here about world events and world politics. In the last 10 days however, we have seen a destabilization of the Middle East that continues to decline into all-out war. We at PBJI are deeply saddened and horrified at what has happened. We abhor war and the horrible tactics used against non-military individuals that have been demonstrated so far. It seems important to for us here to especially extend a hand of solidarity to those victims of the Hamas attack on southern Israel. Israel has the right and responsibility to its citizens not only to maintain self-determinization, but also to defend itself against any and all threats to its sovereignty. We pray for a quick and decisive resolution and pacification of the region.

09/16/2023

I have some older coins from my B box posted now on Ancient and Medieval Sales. Find me in one of my posts and you should be able to bring up all of the offers I posted in the last few days. Check them out! There are some real deals there!

08/28/2023

A general inquiry to the members of the page: Would you be interested in attending a live sale of coins from here? What kind of things would you like to see offered? (remembering of course that I deal in Ancient and Early Medieval Coins) What kinds of parameters would you like to see for these live auctions? How would you be comfortable in arranging payment? PayPal F&F? G&S with an added surcharge? Other payment services? Please feel free to give me feedback. I've seen these work in other areas of collectibles and am curious about interest in applying this format to Ancients.

04/11/2023

Greetings everyone. It's been a long while since I've used Facebook and this page to announce anything or keep in touch with those around the world interested in what we're up to. I suppose that falls on me, a ton of attribution work with companies such as CNG and Harlan Berk Ltd. has kept me busy along with my local show schedule. I want to say thanks to everyone that has stuck with us all this time on Facebook. This year marks our 20th anniversary in business! It's crazy to think about it, but I guess time flies when you're having a great time doing what you love! To all my friends and colleagues across the coin and antiquities communities, I want to say thank you for your sharing knowledge, thoughts, ideas and most of all, patronage over the years. I'm still here because of you. My best to everyone! Please don't be shy to drop me a message here or on my personal page if you have any questions or inquiries!

01/19/2023

We will be in attendance at the Vienna VA Coin and Stamp Show 28 January as we normally are. Please come say hi if you are able to make the event.