scyphate

English

Etymology

From Latin scyphātus, erroneously interpreted as scyphus (“cup, goblet”) + -ātus; in reality, probably derives from Arabic شَفَة (šafa, “edge, rim”), and refers to the distinctive and conspicuous border of the early histamena gold coins.

Adjective

scyphate (comparative more scyphate, superlative most scyphate)

1. Concave or cup-shaped.
   • 1856, W. S. W., A. W., “Examples of Mediæval Seals”, in The Archaeological Journal, volume XIII, London, page 64:

     The curious seal, now for the first time published, presents an example of the scyphate, or dished form, which is of rare occurrence.

   • 1967 August 6, Frank Graham, “Coin Corner”, in The Press Democrat‎^[1], 110th year, number 247, Santa Rosa, Calif.:

     In the later reigns, a coinage of small bronze pieces, slightly scyphate, accompany the aspers.

   • 2012, Numismatic Digest, Numismatic Society of Bombay, page 7:

     Further, atleast^[sic] some of the coins are slightly scyphate also. However, it is not certain whether these were intentionally made scyphate or the shape was simply a result of punching process or the wooden anvil having become slightly scyphate due to repeated use.

Noun

scyphate (plural scyphates)

1. A concave or cup-shaped coin.
   • 1978, Frank Raymond Allchin, Norman Hammond, The Archaeology of Afghanistan from Earliest Times to the Timurid Period, Academic Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, page 251:

     The hoard from Tepe Maranjan near Kabul (Curiel, 1953: 101–131) containing 368 Sasanian silver drachms—326 of Shapur II, 28 of Ardeshir II and 14 of Shapur III (a.d. 383–388) with 12 gold Kushano-Sasanian scyphates, provides important evidence for the previous metal currency of eastern Afghanistan, the dating of the Kushano-Sasanian gold coinage and the chronology of Kidara who became king of the southern Kushan provinces.

   • 1981, Monumentum Georg Morgenstierne, Leiden: E.J. Brill, page 96:

     Since the radiate sun god appears in the Pahlavi series of KS coins, in one instance seemingly combined with attributes of Śiva, it is probable that the Bactrian uncial inscribed scyphates show a deity who combines Śiva (Oesho) with the sun god (Mithra, Miiro, Mihira).

   • 1985, Museum Notes, American Numismatic Society, →ISBN, page 240:

     In a light copper series of issues belonging to Peroz C and Peroz D, the imagery closely imitates that of the scyphates.

Further reading

• Scyphate on Wikipedia.Wikipedia