The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 42, October 17, 2004, Article 12

EZECHIEL SPANHEIM, PROFESSOR OF ELOQUENCE

  Regarding the query about Ezechiel Spanheim, Ron
  Haller-Williams writes: "I must admit I had not heard of him
  either, but a quick internet search  reveals several things,
  including that he had in 1670/1 written a book on the
  symbology of ancient coins.

  A web page on Louis XIV suggests as "additional reading"
  "Ezechiel Spanheim, Relation de la cour de France en 1690
  (1704; Account of the Court of France, 1900)."

  He seems to have been born in Geneva, Switzerland, on
  18th (or 7th?)  December 1629 and died in London on 7th
  December 1710.   Created a baron in 1701.  At some stage
  he seems to have been ambassador of  Brandenburg (in Paris?),
  and later the first Prussian ambassador in London.
  See Additional Info

  I could offer plenty more (by cheating, of course!),
  including details of his religious dispute with Richard Simon.

  In order NOT to pick up recent items on Brian's research,
  I asked "Google" for Ezechiel and Spanheim but not Ogilvie,
  and was offered some 187 items.   Try clicking on Google Search

  I hope this helps, and can offer further data if requested."

  Gar Travis also did some web searching, but did not exclude
  Ogilvie's work.  He writes: "... this link (below) seemed the
  most interesting to read, which by the way, is the work done
  by Olgivie. One wonders if he was feeling "obscure" and
  needed to stir up some press to be recognized as he is being
  endowed for $40,000?

  Brian W. Ogilvie  (journal article).
  Ezechiel Spanheim and the learned culture of
  seventeenth-century Europe (book project).
  U Mass Book Project

  Scott Miller writes: "Ezekiel Spanheim is listed as follows in
  "A New Biographical Dictionary" by James Ferguson, 1810:

  SPANHEIM (Ezekiel), a learned writer and statesman, was
  the eldest son of the preceding, and born in 1629 in Geneva,
  where he was appointed professor of eloquence at the age
  of 20.  He soon after became tutor to the son of Charles
  Louis, elector palatine who employed him in several
  important missions.  After the Peace of Ryswick he was sent
  to France, and from thence to England, where he died in 1710.
  His principal works are, De Prestantia et usu Numismatum
  antiquorum, 2 vols. folio; Letters and Dissertations on Medals;
  an edition of the Works of Julian, with Notes folio.

  The entire entry was copied into Appletons' Cyclopaedia of
  Biography, American edition edited by Francis L. Hawks,
  D.D.,  LL.D., 1856, which was based on the "Cyclopedia of
  Biography" edited by Rich."

  Ferdinando Bassoli, of Torino, Italy writes: "Ezechiel
  Spanheim (1629-1710) was in fact a numismatist, a diplomat
  and ambassador to France and England. He wrote a book on
  "De praestantia et usu numismatum antiquorum". The thirteen
  discourses addressed to his friend Ottavio Falconieri, a Roman
  antiquary,  represent the seventeenth  century peak of classical
  numismatics. Spanheim meticulously (and not without
  digressions) records every image and inscription shown on
  ancient coins that could be made out.  This weighty tome,
  highly esteemed by the scholars of the time was republished
  following the first edition (Rome 1664) in Paris, London and
  Amsterdam (Elsevier 1671)."

  Bill Daehn writes: "Ezechiel Spanheim (1629-1710) was one of
  the most significant numismatists in the 17th century. This Swiss
  scholar spent many years in the capitals of Europe and spent
  twelve years as a special envoy of Frederick William I.

  Clain-Stefanelli writes, "At the home of the Duke of Aumont,
  Spanheim would meet with a group which can be designated
  a coin collectors' club, convening weekly to discuss numismatic
  problems."

  Information on Spanheim can be found in Ferdinano Bassioli's
  Antiquarian Books on Coins and Medals (Spink/Kolbe, 2001),
  Elvira Clain-Stefanelli's Numismatics: An Ancient Science, and
  the recently published Ancient Numismatics and Its History,
  Including a Critical Review of the Literature by Ernest Babelon,
  newly translated by Elizabeth Saville (Kolbe/Spink, 2004)."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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