BRITISH MUSEUM.
A GUIDE | p
|SELECT GREEK COINS
EXHIBITED IN ELECTROTYPE | /
IN THN ©
GOLD-ORNAMENT ROOM.
| PRINTED BY ORDER. OF THE TRUSTEES. le 1872. fe
PRICE THREEPENCE. .
SYNOPSIS OF THE CONTENTS
OF THE
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DEPARTMENT OF
COINS AND MEDALS.
SELECT GREEK COINS EXHIBITED IN ELECTROTYPE.
LONDON: PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES. 1872.
Norr.—This Guide has been prepared b _of the Department of Coins and Medals.
The coins are arranged geographically, trina Num. Vet., as under :—
y Mr. Huan, Assistant-Keeper
in the order of Eckhel’s Doc-
Spain’. orc ons raeee eee p. 3 Hellas 2.490). 9e ee p. 23 Gaul vey decree 3 Kreta chi eee 28 Britain cn eats Ae coe 4 iu boea:;.. i422. sess eee 28 Etruria and t 5 Asia’ Minor eae eee 29 Magna Grecia § “°°” (Elestrum) -...050 See 35 Sicily Nc. £. blo: ae eee 11 DyTIA..... gee bee cae 40 Tauric Chersonesos ......... 16 Baktria <<... 45. See 42 Thrate 0 SA hac eee oe 16 Seleukis and Pieria......... aoe Macedon 0 Sic a 18 Pheenicia and 43 PRESSE Y Bocas, cen ee es, te 22 Palestine ©. - 44° "saws Lilyricum . asia saat cats 22 Keypt-.i nt eae 45 Hpeirosis cece abictionee ey 22 A fried ri .. (cs .ieib<seeee ee 47
The spelling of Greek names authorized by the coins themselves has, with certain modifications, been adhered to. The following abbreviations have been used :—A/, aurum ; (gold;) EL.
electrum ; (a compound of gold and silver ;) (bronze ;) Obv., obverse; Rev., reverse.
A, argentum ; (silver ;) Ai, xs;
REGINALD STUART POOLE.
oe
SELECT GREEK COINS.
SPAIN.
1. Gades. A Obv. Head of the Tyrian Herakles (Melkarth) to right, wearing lion’s skin. Rev. A GADIR MBAL, in Phoenician characters. Tunny- fish.
Gades (Cadiz), the great western emporium of the an- cient world, was established by the Phoenicians long before the beginning of classical history. The type of this coin refers to the fisheries for which Gades was celebrated. (Athen. vii. p. 315, Pollux vi. 49. Hesych. s. v. Gadeira.)
2. Helmantica. AX Obv. Male head to right, with close beard ; behind, in Celtiberian characters, HN. HLMAN, in Celtiberian characters. Horseman gallop- ing to right, bearing long lance. Helmantica (Salamanca) was a town of the province of Tarraconensis.
GAUL.
3. Massalia. AR Obv. Head of Artemis to right, wearing neck- lace and earrings, her hair adorned with sprigs of olive, the first branch of which tree is said to have been brought with the statue of the goddess from Ephesos to Massalia by the original Phokzean colonists. The cultivation of olives after- wards became a source of great wealth to the town.
Rev. MAZZA. Lion to left. This type is undoubtedly tarred from the parent country of Ionia.
Massalia (Marseilles) was founded by the Phokseans about B.c. 600.
A
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4. Nemausus. A) Obv. IMP. DIVi. F. P.P. Heads of Agrippa and Octavianus; the latter laureate, the former wearing the rostral crown.
Rey. COL. NEM. Crocodile to right, chained to a palm- tree, from which is suspended a laurel-wreath and fillets.
Acrippa alone had the privilege of wearing the rostral
crown. (Livy, Epit. exxix.) The crocodile on the reverse
refers to the conquest of Egypt by the army of Augustus,
veterans from which were afterwards sent to Nemausus to
augment the colony already existing there. Nemausus
(Nimes) afterwards became the principal city of Gallia Narbonensis.
5. Gaulish. AJ Obv. Rude head, laureate, to right.
Rev. Rude figure in chariot, drawn by man-headed horse, below which is a prostrate human figure.
Coins of this class are barbarous and fantastic imitations of the gold staters of Philip II. of Macedon, the “ regale numisnia, Philippos” of Horace, immense quantities of which were issued every year, and were everywhere diffused, more especially after the occupation of Macedon by the Gauls, in B.c. 278.
6. Pannonian. M Oby. Rude head to right. Rev. Horseman to left.
Coins of this class are barbarous imitations of the silver staters or didrachms of Philip of Macedon, struck chiefly in Gallia Transpadana and Pannonia.
BRITAIN. 7. Ring-money? AY.
These gold rings are by some supposed to have been used by the ancient Britons and Irish as money. (Cesar de Bell. Gall. V.) Compare the gold chain composed of forty- eight spiral rings in the Castellani Collection.
8. Uninscribed. A’ Obyv. Laureate beardless bust in profile. Rev. Chariot to left driven by Nike; below, a rosette. This coin is one of the most ancient struck in Britain,
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probably about B.c. 200-150. The type is derived, both on the obverse and reverse, from the gold staters of Philip II. of Macedon, through the Gaulish money.
9. Tasciovanus. AZ Oby. Cruciform ornament formed of wreath, with crescent and ring ornament in the centre.
Rev. TASCIOVAN. Horse galloping to right ; above, a ring ornament, surrounded by pellets; below the horse another ring ornament; pellets before and behind.
Tasciovanus was a British chief; his name is not men- tioned in history. On numismatic evidence, he may be supposed to have reigned from about B.c. 30-a.v. 5. (Evans, p. 223.)
10. Cunobelinus. AZ Obv. CVNQ. Horse prancing to left. Rev. CAMV. Ear of barley.
Cunobelinus, a British chief, best known to us as Cymbeline, was the son of Tasciovanus, and reigned over the ‘l'rinobantes, with Camulodunum (Colchester) for his capital, from B.c. 5--cire. A.D. 48.
11. Cunobelinus. M Obv. CV NO, on a tablet in the centre of a wreath.
Rev. TASC. F. (Tasciovani filius.) Pegasos prancing to right.
12. Cunobelinus. Ai Obv. CVNOBELINI. Laureate beardless head, in profile, to left.
Rev. TASCIGVANI. F. Centaur toright, blowing a horn.
This coin, from the fact that the portrait of Cunobelinus
is represented after the manner of the Roman Emperors, is probably the work of a Roman artist.
ETRURIA AND MAGNA GRAICIA.
13. Volsinii. A’ Obv. Head of Eros? to left, bound with a myrtle-wreath.
Rev. VELZ PAPI, in retrograde Etruscan characters. - Bull walking to left, above which is a dove carrying a wreath; in front of the bull is a star.
Volsinii was one of the most powerful of the ancient cities of Etruria: it was not finally subjugated by the
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Romans until s.c. 280. On the legend of this coin, see Pinder and Friedlaender “Beitrage zur alteren Munz- kunde,” p. 163.
4: Neapolis. RR Obv. Head of Parthenope, wearing sphendone, to right. Rev. NEOMOAITHE. Bull with buman face walking to left, above is a flying Victory, crowning the bull with a wreath ; below bull, the letter O.
Parthenope, the ancient name of Neapolis (Naples) was derived from one of the Sirens fabled to have been éxpelled from Sicily, and welcomed by the dwellers on the banks of the river Glanis, which flows through the plains of Neapolis. The tomb of Parthenope was still shewn at Neapolis in the time of Strabo, and annual games were celebrated in her honour. The human-headed bull on the reverse may be a personification of the river Glanis.
15. Tarentum. A’ Obv. Female head to left, wearing stephane, veil, earring, and necklace ; behind, A.
Rev. TA. Youthful horseman to right, placing a wreath upon the head of his horse ; in field, rudder, murex shell, and below,
KYAI=. 16. Tarentum. A’ Obv. TAPANTINGQN. Female head to
right, wearing stephane, without veil; behind, E. Rev. TAPAS. Taras, riding upon a dolphin, to left.
17. Tarentum. AQ Obv. TAPAS. (retrograde.) Naked figure
to left, kneeling on one knee; under his left arm he holds a lyre.
Rev. Same type, incuse. Such incuse coins belong to the archaic period of Greek art.
18. Tarentum. A Obv. Youthful horseman to right, placing a wreath upon the head of his horse ; below horse a naked figure kneeling on one knee, extracting a stone from horse's hoof; in field to right, ®.
Rev. TAPAS. Taras on dolphin to left; in his extended right hand he holds a kantharos, in his left a shield and trident; below, letter E and waves.
Lf
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19. Tarentum. A Obv. Naked horseman to right, armed with a spear, two javelins, and a shield ; below horse, KAA.
Rev. TAPAZ. Taras on dolphin to right, holding a crested helmet; in the field on either side is a star of eight rays;
below, API.
Tarentum was a colony of Lakedemon, founded during the first Messenian War by the Partheniz, who were led by Phalanthos in B.c. 708. The city afterwards attained to great power and wealth, of which the variety and beauty of its coins is a sufficient proof.
The female heads represented on the gold coins, Nos. 16 and 16, may be Demeter or Hera. The horsemen on Nos. 15, 18, and 19, are thought to allude to the celebrated Tarentine cavalry. The rudder and the shell (murex) on
. the reverse of No. 15, refer to the extensive maritime
commerce of T'arentum, and to the trade in purple dye obtained from these shells, for which the town was famous. From Aristotle ‘quoted by Pollux IX. 80) we learn that the youthful figure seated on the dolphin, which is the most common type on the coins of this city, was intended for Taras, a son of Poseidon, from whom the city is said to have derived its name, and who, on a gold coin in the Naples Museum, is seen reaching the shore, and welcomed by his father.
20. Herakleia. AX Obv. Head of Pallas to right; on helmet, Scylla.
Rev. FHPAKAHIQN. Herakles strangling the Nemean lion, between legs, owl.
Herakleia, in Lucania, was a colony founded by the Tarentines on the site of the ruined Siris, B.c. 482. The eoins of Herakleia bear a close resemblance to those of its parent city.
DA Metapontum. A’ Obv. AEYKIPIM. Head of the hero Leukippos, helmeted, to right.
Rev. ‘Two ears of barley, between them the letters =i , in field, E.
2: Metapontum. A Obv. META. Ear of barley.
Rev. Same type, incuse,
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23. Metapontum. JR Obv. Head of Persephone, crowned with corn-leaves and ears..
Rev. META. Ear of barley ; in field, plough.
Metapontum, an Achzan colony, founded under the leadership of Leukippos about z.c. 700, was celebrated for the fertility of its territory, especially in the growth of corn, which they cultivated with such success, that they were able to dedicate at Delphi ‘a golden harvest,’ (Strabo, Liber VI. 264,) and for this reason the ear of corn became a characteristic symbol on their coins. Demeter appears to have been chiefly worshipped there, and honours were paid to Leukippos as the founder of the city.
24. Poseidonia. M Obv. MOZEIAA... . Poseidon, naked, to right, about to hurl a trident.
Rev. MPOXEIAAN, in archaic characters, retrograde ; bull to left.
Poseidonia was a colony of Sybaris, founded during the greatest prosperity of that city, B.c. 650-510, probably by Dorian settlers from Troezen, who had been expelled from Sybaris by the Achzeans. Very little is known of the his- tory of Poseidonia, and the only evidence of its once flourish- ing condition is to be found in the number of its coins and the remains of three grand temples, more generally known as the Temples of Pestum. Poseidon was the tutelary deity of the city, which derived its name from him. It fell into the hands of the Lucanians about B.c. 300, and sub- sequently, with the rest of Lucania, became subject to the Romans, by whom its name was changed to Pestum. In the inscription on the above coin, the archaic forms of the 2 and | are used. The Doric termination of the word confirms the supposed origin of the colony. The bull is perhaps a personification of the river Silaris, on which Poseidonia stood.
2di Sybaris. AR Obv. Bull standing to left, looking back. In the exergue, YM. ey.)
Rev. Same type, incuse. Sybaris was colonized from Achzea about B.c. 720, and
it enjoyed an unexampled prosperity until B.c. 510, when i, was subdued, if not destroyed, by Kroton. The city was
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situate at the junction of the rivers Sybaris and Krathis, to the latter of which the bull upon its coins probably alludes. From the style of the above coin, it must have been struck before B.c. 600.
26. Thurium. A Obv. Head of Pallas to right, on helmet, Scylla. Rev. OOYPIOQN. Bull butting to right. In exergue, fish. ”
Thurium, on the Tarentine gulf, was one of the latest of all the Greek colonies in this part of Italy. It was colonized from Athens, about B.c. 443, and occupied a position near the site of the deserted Sybaris. The name Thurium was derived from the fountain 'Thuria, (Oovpios, leaping, rushing, impetuous,) which is, perhaps, symbolized on the coins by the butting bull. The head of Pallas, with the Athenian helmet, marks the descent of the colony, The coins of Thurium are chiefly of the 5th century B.c., and are of the finest style and execution.
27. Velia. AR Obv. Head of Pallas, full-face, wearing winged helmet, on the front of which, in small letters, KAEYAQ- POY, the name of the engraver.
Rey. Lion to left, devouring uncertain object. In exergue,
YEAHTON.
Hyele, Hilea, or Velia, was a colony founded in B.c. 544, by certain citizens of Phokeea, who left their native Ionia on its conquest by Harpagos, general of Kyros, rather than submit to the Persian yoke. The head of Pallas marks the Phokeean origin of the town, Phokeea having been colonized from Athens, and Pallas being thus wor- shipped there. The lion on the reverse is a common emblem on the coins of the Ionians.
28. Brettii. A’ Obv. Head of Poseidon to left. Rev. BPETTIQN. Aphrodite, veiled, seated upon a hippo-
camp, before her Eros shooting an arrow.
The Brettii, about the year B.c. 356, obtained possession of the most fertile portions of Lucania, and in spite: of their barbarous origin, soon acquired the civilization and arts of the conquered peoples. They, as well as the Luca- nians, continued to strike money until the end of the second Punic War.
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29, Kaulonia. M Obv. KAVA, in letters of archaic form. Naked figure to right, holding a branch in his right hand, with a small running figure on the left arm. In field, a stag.
Rev. Same type, incuse.
Kaulonia. like Kroton and Sybaris, was an Achmwan colony in Magna Grecia, founded in the eighth century B.c. It was taken by Dionysios the Elder, in 388 B.c. ; its coins are of the same style and period as the earliest coins of Kroton, Sybaris, and Metapontum.
The unexplained figure on the obverse of the above coin perhaps refers to some local tradition.
30. Kroton. A Obv. Head of Hera Lakinia. Rev. KPOTONI ....- Herakles, seated, to left.
31. Kroton. MM Obv. KPOTON. Tripod, on one side of which, Apollo shooting an arrow at the Python, seen on the other side.
Rev. OIKIZ TAS, in archaic characters. Herakles seated before a lighted altar, holding an olive-branch, &e.
Kroton was a colony from Achza, founded about B.C. %00. Its earliest coins resemble in style those of the other Achgan colonies, but unlike those of Kaulonia, Sybaris, &c., the series of its money is prolonged to a late period, as the city continued prosperous until the time of the Roman conquest.
The temple of Hera, on the Lakinian promontory, the most celebrated temple in Magna Greecia, was about six miles from Kroton; hence the head of that goddess on the obverse of No. 80.
Apollo Pythios was worshipped at Kroton, in a temple called the Pythion. Herakles was also venerated at Kroton, as Founder, according to a local tradition. The type of No. 31 refers to the sacrifice offered by Herakles to Zeus, when he instituted the Olympic Games, in which the Krotoniates were frequently victorious.
oe Rhegium. FR Obv. Lion’s head, full-face. Rev. Head of Apollo, laureate, with flowing hair. . Rhegium was founded by. a colony of Chalkidians and Messenians. Its earliest: coins are copied from those of the Samians, some of whom fled to Rhegium, after the
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capture of Miletos by the Persians, p.c. 494. The lion’s head continued as the principal type of the money of Rhegium, until the capture of the city by Dionysios, of Syrakuse, in B.c. 387, after which its coinage ceased. Apollo was worshipped at Khegium as the god who led the first Chalkidian colonists, and a temple was dedicated to him there.
30. Terina. R Obv. Head of Nike or Pandina within a wreath of laurel. :
Rev. TEPINAION. Winged Nike or Eirene seated upon a vase, holding caduceus and bird.
Terina was a colony of Kroton; little is known of its history ; its coins are of great beauty. On the obverse is a head, variously attributed to Nike, to Pandina, a local form of Hekate, and to the Siren Ligeia, whose monument stood near the city.
SICILY. 34. Akragas. JR Obv. AKPACANTOS. Eagle standing
on the capital of a column to left. Rev. Crab.
_ Akragas, or Agrigentum, one of the most famous of the Greek cities of Sicily, was a Dorian colony from Gela, founded in B.c. 582. |
The Eagle and the Crab, the commonest types on the coins of Akragas, may refer to the worship of Zeus and Poseidon respectively.
35. Kamarina. A Obv. KAMAPINAION. Head of
Herakles, in lion’s scalp, to left. Rev. Pallas in quadriga; above, Nike crowning her. On the line
of the exergue the engraver’s name, E=AKEZTIAAZ;
in the exergue, two vases, similar to the Panathenaic Am- phoree, perhaps rewards given to the victor in the chariot-race, after his return from some one of the great contests.
36. Kamarina. A Obv. Head of the river Hipparis personified.
Rev. KAMAPINA. Kamarina personified as a nymph riding upon a swan, below which, the waves of the Lake of Kamarina are indicated. Bi eRa 4
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87. Kamarina. AX Obv. Head of the nymph Kamarina to left.
Rev. Swan swimming on the Lake of Kamarina ; beneath waves, a fish.
Kamarina was colonized from Syrakuse, B.c. 599, de- stroyed in 552, re-colonized from Gela in 495, again de- stroyed and again colonized from Gela in 461, from which time until s.c. 405, it enjoyed great prosperity: to this last period its coins are assigned. For the story of the draining of the Lake of Kamarina, and the subsequent capture of the city, see Virgil, Ain. IIL, 700.
38. Katana. A Obv. Head of Apollo, full-face; in field, HPAKAEIAA (engraver’s name).
Rev. Quadriga to left ; Nike crowning charioteer. In exergue,
KATANAIQIN ; below which, a fish.
Katana, a colony from the Sicilian Naxos, was situate at the foot of Mount Aetna.
299, Himera. AM Obv. IMEPAION, retrograde. Charioteer in biga to left ; Nike flying above, holding a wreath.
Rev. Himera personified as a nymph of the local Fountain sacrificing at an altar; behind, a Paniskos standing on a step, while a stream of water from a lion’s mouth falls upon his shoulder ; in field above, barley-corn, in exergue, fish.
Himera was a colony of Zankle, founded about B.c. 660, re-colonized from Akragas in B.c. 478, destroyed by the Carthaginians in B.c. 409, celebrated for its hot springs, Therma.
40. Zankle. M Obv. AANKAE. = Harbour of Zankle, re-
presented by a curved object ; within is a dolphin. Rev. Bivalve shell, surrounded by six irregular and very shallow 1ncuses.
Fankle was colonized about s.c. 700, from Cume and the Sicilian Naxos. Its name was derived from the Sici- lian word Dankle, a sickle, and had reference to the form of the harbour.
41. Messana. A Obv. Biga, drawn by mules ; in exergue, leaf. Rev. MECCENION. Hare.
Messana was a name given to Zankle after its capture (cire. B.c. 492,) by Anaxilaos, tyrant of Rhegium, who was
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of Messenian descent. Aristotle says (ap. J. Poll. V. 75), that Anaxilaos gained a prize in the chariot-race with the mule-car (amnvy) at Olympia; and that he introduced hares into Sicily. whence these types on his coins; the latter state- ment is, however, not generally accepted by Numismatists.
42. Selinos. ZR Obv. ZEAINONTION. = Herakles con- tending with the Kretan bull.
Rev. HYWAZ. River Hypsas sacrificing at an altar, round which is entwined a serpent, thus indicating it as sacred to Asklepios. In field to right, a parsley-leaf, and a stork running to right.
Selinos was a colony from Megara Hyblea, founded in the seventh century B.c., at the mouth of the river Hypsas; it derived its name from the plant Selinon (pars- ley), which grew there in abundance, and was famous from its use for the crown in the Nemean, and, for a time, in the Isthmian Games. Strabo says that there were hot springs at Selinos (VI. p. 275). Accordingly, on the coins we find the river Hypsas personified, sacrificing to Asklepios, in the same manner as the nymph on the coins of Himera, where there were also hot springs.
43. Syrakuse. A’ Obv. ZYPAKOZIQON. Head of Apollo to left ; behind, bow. Rev. ZSQUTEIPA. Head of Artemis to right; behind, bow and quiver. .
Syrakuse, a colony of Korinth, founded 3B.c. 734, be- came, under the government of Gelon B.c. 485-478, the most prosperous of all the Greek cities of Sicily. Its coins are renowned for their variety and beauty of work- manship.
There was a celebrated temple of Artemis, on the island of Ortygia, which was the original seat of the colony. Pindar calls Ortygia “ the bed of Artemis and the sister of Delos,” (Nem. i. 8,) hence, on this coin we have Ar- temis coupled with her brother Apollo.
44. Syrakuse. A’ Obv. ZTYPAKOZIOZ. Head of Arethusa to left ; behind, barley-corn.
Rev. SYPAK. Herakles and the Nemean lion.
Arethusa was the nymph of the famous fountain in the island of Ortygia.
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45. Syrakuse. AN’ Obv. Head of Herakles, in lion’s skin, to left.
Rev. Incuse square, divided into four ; in the angles the letters, =. Y. P. A; in the centre a circle containing a female head.
46. Syrakuse. AR Obv. ZYRAY OZXION. Chariot, drawn by three horses, to right.
Rev. Incuse square, divided into four, with a circle in the centre, in which, female head of archaic style.
It is a question whether the chariot on this and the following coin be a ‘Triga.
47. Syrakuse. AR Oby. Female head to right, wearing olive- wreath (perhaps Pallas, as on a coin of Herakleia) in linear
circle, around which, SYRAKOSION and four dol- phins.
Rev. ‘Triga? to right ; above, Nike, about to crown the horses. In exergue, lion running to right.
This is one of the coins called Demaretia, from their having been coined from the proceeds of a present given to Demarete, wife of Gelon, by the Carthaginians, on occasion of the peace concluded between them ‘and Gelon, by her intervention, Bc 480. This coin was therefore struck cir. B.c. 479, at which period Greek art still preserved its archaic simplicity, and was unable to represent figures in rapid action, such as are found on the reverses of the following medallions.
48. Syrakuse. M Obv. ZYPAKOZION. Head of Perse- phone to left, crowned with corn-leaves, surrounded yc four dolphins.
Rev. Quadriga to left, horses in full action, Nike crowning the charioteer. In exergue, armour, consisting of shield, cuirass, greaves, and helmet.
. Obyv. ; 49. Sy! akuse, AR Pee, Similar to preceding.
50. Syrakuse. AR Obv. SYPAKOSZIQN. Head of Are-
thusa to left, surrounded by dolphins ; on the band across her forehead, the letters KIM, shewing it to be the work of Kimon.
Rey. Similar to preceding.
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Sli Syrakuse. AR Obv. Similar to preceding ; but KIMQN,
the artist?s name, on the dolphin below the neck.
Rey. Similar to preceding ; in the exergue below the armour, the
word AQAA. (prizes.)
he. Syrakuse. ZR Obv. Diademed head of Arethusa, full-face ; in field, on either side, a dolphin.
Rev. Quadriga to left; horses in high action. Nike above crown-
ing charioteer. In exergue, =YPAKOZION.
Specimens of this type exist with the word APEQGOZA above the head on the obverse, and with KIMQQN on the diadem.
53. Syrakuse. AM Obv. SYPAKOZION. Head of Are-
thusa to left, surrounded by dolphins. A dolphin and wave upon her diadem.
Rev. Quadriga to right; above, Nike flying, holding a wreath, to which is attached a label with the artist's name,
EYAINETO. In exergue, two dolphins.
54. Syrak use. AM Obv. Head of Arethusa to left, surrounded by four dolphins. Below, EYMENOY. (artist’s name.)
Rev. Eros in quadriga to right, crowned by Nike. In exergue, Seylla to right, and EYO©. (artist's name.) )
To what games these reverses refer is doubtful. Dio- nysios, in whose time the coins were struck, contended in the chariot race at Olympia, where he would have had the honour of a victory, had it not been for a violent political demonstration against him. (Grote, Vol. VIL, p. 66.) The prizes (AQAA) may have been rewards offered by the tyrant at Syrakusan games, or they may have been given by him after the return of his chariots from some successful contest. (Krause, “ Gymnastik u. Agonistik ds Helly? p. 933.)
55. Syrakuse. Au Obv. TEYE EAEY@EPIOZ. Head
of Zeus Eleutherios to left. Rey. TYPAKOZTIOQN . Free horse to left.
The worship of Zeus Eleutherios was established on the restoration of democracy after the exile of 'Thrasybulos, B.c. 466, (Dionysios, L. XI, ¢. 71,) when a colossal statue of the deity, with this epithet, was erected, and periodical
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games instituted, called Hleutheria. The unbridled horse may be a symbol of Liberty.
56. Hieron II. 28 Obv. Portrait of Hieron to left,
Rev. BAZIAEOZ IEPQNOZ. Nike in quadriga to right.
Hieron II. was king of Syrakuse from B.c. 275-216.
57. Philistis. A Obv. Head of Philistis, veiled, to left. Rey. BAZIAIZZAZ OIAIZTIAOZ. Nike in quad- riga to right. This queen, who, from the style of her coins, was doubt- less the wife of Hieron IL., is not mentioned in history, but her name occurs on a seat in the theatre at Syrakuse.
['TAURIC CHERSONESOS.
53. Pantikapeeum. (Kertch.) A’ Obv. Head of Pan.
Rev. FLAN. Griffin to left; in his mouth a spear; below, an ear of barley.
Pantikapeeum was a colony of Miletos, founded about B.c. 480. It was situate on the Kimmerian Bosporos. The Greek colonists connected the name Pantikapzeum, which is probably Scythian, with the god Pan, whose head they placed upon their coins.
THRACE.
59. Abdera. MR Obv. Griffin to left ; in field, kantharos. Rev. ED ZMOPAOQTOPMO KAA.
Abdera was a city of Thrace, occupied by the people of Teos in B.c. 644; hence the Ionic dialect and the Griffin, which is the type of the coins of Teos. Smordotormos, the magistrate’s name, is probably Thracian or Persian.
60. Aenos. AR Obv. Head of Hermes, full-face, wearing petasos.
Rev. AINION. Goat to right; in field, torch. Aenos was an important city of Thrace at the mouth of the Hebros.
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61. Byzantium. (Constantineple.) Au Obv. Head of young Dionysos to right.
Rev. BYZANTIQIN. Grapes.
62. Maroneia. M® Obv. MAPQQ. — Horse, prancing, to left.
Rev. EXT! IKEZIO. Square, within which a vine with four bunches of grapes. In field, left, caduceus.
Maroneia was a rich and powerful city of Thrace, said to
have been founded by Maron, a son of Dionysos, who was
worshipped there. Maroneia was famous for the excellence of its wine.
63. Perinthos. /Z oObv. AYT. K. M. AYP. CEOYHP.
ANTQNINOC AYT. Bust of Caracalla, laureate, to right.
Rev. MEPINGIQOQN NEQKOPON. Two temples ; above, AKTIA NYOIA, and two prize vases, each containing a palm-branch.
_ Perinthos was a town on the niin shore of the Pro- pontis; its coms are most frequent under the empire. The title Neokoros was conferred by the Roman emperors upon certain cities which erected or undertook the care of some important temple. The Aktia was a festival of Apollo instituted by Augustus in commemoration of his victory at Aktium, and celebrated at Nikopolis in Epeiros. The right to celebrate the Aktia and other festivals seems afterwards to have been conferred upon various cities.
64. Thasos. MR Obv. Head of Dionysos, bearded and crowned with ivy, to left.
Rev. OAZION. Herakles, kneeling, to right, wearing the lion’s skin, shooting an arrow from a bow. In field to right, shield.
Thasos was an important island off the coast of Thrace celebrated for its silver mines, first worked by the Phee- nicians. Dionysos and Herakles were especially wor- shipped there.
65. Lysimachos, A’ Obv. Head of Alexander the Great to right, with born of Ammon.
Rev. BAZIAEQS= AYZIMAXOY. Pallas Nikephoros, seated, to left. In exergue, bull, butting.
18
66. Ly simachos. ala Similar to the preceding, ev.) ith There can be no doubt that the head upon these coins is a portrait of Alexander the Great, represented, in a deified * character, as the son of Ammon. As these coins were struck in various parts of the dominions of Lysimachos, they exhibit great variety of style and workmanship. This tetradrachm is one of the finest specimens of Greek art, and may give us the traits of the statue-portrait by Lysippos, or the gem-portrait by Pyrgoteles.
MACEDON. 67. Akanthos. A Obv. Lion seizing a bull ; above, ©.
Rey. Square, divided into four quarters.
Akanthos was an ancient Greek city of the peninsula of Athos. The type of the lion attacking the bull is pro- bably of Eastern origin.
68. Amphipolis. ZR Obv. Head of Apollo, laureate, full-face.
Rev. AMO] POAITEQN , on a square frame, within which isa torch. In field to left, bee.
Amphipolis, near the mouth of the river Strymon, in Thrace, was founded by the Athenians B.c. 487. It ceased to strike autonomous coins when it became subject to Philip of Macedon, B.c. 358.
69. Chalkidike. A’ Obv. Head of Apollo, laureate, to left. Rev. XAAKIAEQN. | Lyre.
70. Chalkidike. A Obv. Head of Apollo, laureate, to right.
Rey. XAAKIAEQON. Lyre ; across the upper part of the lyre, in small letters, EM! MIOAY=EN (magistrate’s
name). Chalkidike was the name applied to the whole of the peninsula between the Thermaic. and Strymonie Gulfs;
there was probably no city of Chalkis. The coins of Chal- kidike were perhaps struck at Apollonia.
19 71. Orreskii. AR Obv. . OPPHZKION. (& retrograde.)
Bearded figure to right, naked, but wearing hat, on the further side of two oxen to right; in his right hand two spears.
Rev. Shallow square, divided into four parts.
The Orreskii were the same people as the Satree, who inhabited the mountains to the northward and eastward of the Edoni; they were one of the tribes who worked the silver mines of Pangeeum.
y bap Philippi. A’ Obv. Head of Herakles, in lion’s skin, to right. Rev. OJIAIPFFAQN. Tripod; in field to right, horse’s head.
Philippi, anciently called Krenide, was enlarged by Philip of Macedon, and named after him. In the neigh- bourhood were rich gold mines, which in the time of Philip are said to have yielded 1,000 talents a year, or more than three millions of pounds.
73. Alexander I, A Obv. Dismounted horseman, wearing peta- sos and chlamys, and holding two spears, walking beside his horse to right.
Rev. AAEZANAPO, in incuse square, within which, a
smaller square, divided into four parts.
Alexander I., son of Amyntas, was king of Macedon from about B.c. 500-454.
74, Archelaos. ® Obv. Horseman to left, with two spears. Rev. Goat’s head, behind which, caduceus, in incuse square. Archelaos, the grandson of :Alexander I.. began to reign B.c. 413. The goat’s head on the reverse, may refer to the legend of Karanos, the founder of the Argive dynasty in Macedon, who was led to Edessa by a flock of goats, in consequence of which he made it his seat of government, and changed its name to Aegee.
iy Philip II. A’ Obv. Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. OIAIPF POY. Charioteer in biga to right ; below, thunderbolt. AO. Philip Il. MR Obv. Head of Zeus, laureate, to right.
Rev. PIAIMMOY. Jockey on horse to right, holding palm ; below, thunderbolt.
Philip II, reigned in Macedon from B.c. 359-336.
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The reverse types of these two coins refer to the victories of Philip at the Olympic Games. (Krause, Olymp. p. 353, 4.)
77. Alexander IIT. (the Great.) A’ Obv. Head of Pallas to right. Rev. ANEZANAPOY. Nike standing to left, holding wreath and standard. Thunderbolt in field. (Distater.)
78. Alexander III. AZ Obv. ) game type as preceding. Mono- Rev. gram in field, (Stater.)
79. Alexander III. MR Obv. Head of Herakles, in lion’s skin, to right.
Rev. ANESZANAPOY. Zeus Aétophoros seated to left ;
under throne, monogram, below which, M. (Dekadrachm.)
This dekadrachm was found in 1849, on the site of Babylon, with a large number of others, which were melted down by the finder on account of the Turkish law of ‘Treasure Trove.”
80 Alexander III. AM Obv. ) Same type as preceding. In Rey. field, aterm. (Tetradrachm.)
Alexander the Great reigned from B.c. 336-323. His coins, from the letters and symbols upon them, must haye been struck in all parts of his dominions.
81. Philip ILI. (Aridzos.) a Obv. Head of Herakles in lion’s skin. Rev. OIAIN NOY, Zeus ibn to left, FEY under throne. (Ternarechim) Philip Aridseos, half-brother of Alexander, reigned from B.C, 823-315,
82, Alexander Aegos. ZAR Oby. Head of Alexander the Great, in elephant’s skin, to right. Rev. ANEEANAPOY. Zeus Aétophoros seated to left, In field to left, thunderbolt ; beneath throne, OP.
Alexander Aegos was a posthumous son of Alexander the Great by Roxana, his Baktrian wife, and was asso- ciated for a time with Philip Aridseos in the any He was put to death by order of Kassander, 311. His coins were probably struck in Egypt by Dales d.
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83. Antigonos. (Rex Asie. ) AR Obv. Head of Poseidon to
right, crowned with water-lily.
Rev. BAZIAEQZ ANTIFONOY, inscribed on the prow of a galley to left, on which Apollo is seated, naked, holding a bow. Below, monogram.
The type of this coin probably refers to the naval victory gained by the fleet of Antigonos under Demetrios, his son, over that of Ptolemy, off the island of Kypros, B.c.
306, in consequence of which, he assumed the title of king.
84. Demetrios. (Poliorketes.) AR Obv. Head of Demetrios, diademed, with a horn in front.
Rev. BAZIAEQ= AHMHTPIOY. Poseidon stand-
ing to left, his right foot upon a rock, in his left hand a trident.
Demetrios I., (Poliorketes,) son of Antigenos, (king of Asia,) reigned B.c. 294-287. This coin probably refers to the naval victory mentioned above.
85. Antigonos I. (Gonatas.) ZR Obv. A Macedonian shield,
on which seven crescents, each containing a star. In the centre, a head of Pan, horned ; behind his head a pedum.
Rev. BAZIAEQZ ANTITONOY. Pallas, hurling a thunderbolt, to left.
Antigonos I. ~(Gonatas) B.c. 277-239. The head of Pan on the coins of Antigonos, probably refers to the panic of the Gauls at Delphi, in 279 3.c., which was fol- lowed by their retreat from Greece and the recovery of the kingdom by Antigonos.
86. Philip V. A Obv. Head of Philip V., diademed, to right. Rev. Same type as No. 85; in field, monograms.
Philip V. began to reign B.c. 220.
87. Perseus. AX Obv. Head of Perseus, diademed, to right ; below, LOIUA. (engraver’s name. )
Rev. BASIAEQS MEPZEOZ. Eagle on thunderbolt ;
monogram in field, the whole in oak-wreath.
Perseus, son of Philip V., succeeded to the throne
22
é
B.c. 178, and was conquered by Aemilius Paullus B.c. 168,
when Macedon became a Roman province.
THESSALY. 88. Larisa. AR Obv. Head of Apollo, full-face. Rev. AAPIZAIQN. Free horse to right.
Larisa was the chief town of the district Pelasgiotis, in Thessaly ; it was situate on the river Peneios. Thessaly was celebrated for its horses.
ILLYRICUM.
89. Dyrrhachium. AR Obv. Cow suckling calf. Rev. A Y P. Gardens of Alkinoos ; in field, club.
Dyrrhachium was a colony of Korkyra, founded about p.c. 627. Its ancient name, which does not occur on its coins, was Epidamnos. ‘The types of its coins are derived from those of the Korkyrzans, who identified their island with the Scheria of Homer, inhabited by the Pheakians, and their king, Alkinoos (Od. v. 34 seq.). There can be little doubt that the device on the reverse of so many coins of Korkyra and its colonies, Apollonia and Dyrra- chium, is intended to represent the famous gardens of Alkinoos.
EPEIROS.
90, Pyrrhos. A’ Obv. Head of Artemis to right; behind, thunderbolt. Rev. BAXIAEQ2 NYPPOY. Nike flying to left,
bearing a trophy and a wreath ; in field to left, a crescent and a thunderbolt ; under wing, [7
9], Pyrrhos. AR Oby. Head of Zeus Dodonzeos, crowned with oak, to left ; below, © and monogram, Rev. BASIAEQS: MYPPOY. Hera seated to left on throne, holding sceptre in right hand and her veil in left ; below, A Pyrrhos was king of Epeiros from B.c. 312-272, of which period he passed six years in Italy and Sicily. From the fabric of the above coins, it is probable that they were struck at Syrakuse.
23 92, Korkyra. JR Obv. KOPKYPAIQN. — Fore-part of
cow to right.
Rey. Gardens of Alkinoos; on either side, grapes and ivy leaf, and the letters = Q.
(See above, No. 89.)
| HELLAS. 93. Aetolia. AJ Obv. Head of Pallas to right ; behind, owl.
Rev. AITQAQN. Atalanta, seated, to right, on four shields, ‘holding Nike and spear ; in field, to right, monogram.
94. Aetolia, RR Obv. AUTQAQN. Head of Atalanta to right.. Rey. Kalydonian boar to right ; below, spear-head.
The coins of Aetolia all refer to the famous chase of the Kalydonian boar ; hence the head of Atalanta.
~ 95. Lokri Opuntii. ZR Obv. Head of Persephone to right. Rev. OMOYNTIGCN. Ajax, the son of Oileus, armed
with shield, helmet, and short sword, advancing to right, between his legs, AIA.
The Opuntian Lokrians worshipped Ajax the Less, son of Oileus, king of the Lokrians, as their national hero.
96. Delphi. ZAR Obv. Head of Demeter, veiled, to left. Rev. AM@IKTIONQN. Apollo of Delphi seated to left
on cortina, his right arm resting on lyre, in his left hand a long branch of laurel. In field to left, tripod. This coin was probably struck under the authority of the Hieromnemon and Pylagore of the Amphiktionic Council, held at Delphi.
Oe: Thebes:* ZR (Ony Head of Dionysos, full-face, crowned with / ivy., ' . Rey} Beeotian shield. 98. Athens. 2 Oby. Head of Athena, wearing helmet, to right. Rev. A@E. Incuse square, within which, owl, with wings extended. In left corner of field, sprig of olive. (Deka- drachm.) ’ 99, Athens. A Oby. Same type as preceding.
Rev. A@E. Owl to right; in left corner of field, sprig of olive and small crescent. (Tetradrachm.)
24
Same type as preceding. (Tetradrachm.)
100. Athens. RM pbs
101. Athens. AR Obv. Head of Gorgon.
Rev, Incuse square, divided into four triangles, in the upper- most of which is a lion’s face. (Didrachm.)
All these coins are of the scale introduced by Solon, which remained in use until the time of Alexander the Great, when a reform took place in the coinage, and the tetradrachm was issued of a somewhat lighter weight and an enlarged surface.
The archaic style and execution of the Athenian coins may perhaps be accounted for by the fact, that any alteration in the appearance of coins having so wide a circulation as the tetradrachms of Athens, might have damaged their credit. This fixed hieratic character of the coinage of one of the greatest Hellenic cities, remains, however, an isolated fact in Greek numismatics.
102. Athens. Ai Obv. Head of Pallas, in Korinthian helmet, to right.
Rev. AQHN. Rock of the Akropolis, on the north side of which is shewn the grotto of Pan. On the top of the rock are the Propylea, with the steps leading up to them, the statue of Athena Promachos and the Parthenon.
103. Eleusis. A Obv. Triptolemos in a winged car, drawn by two serpents ; in his extended right hand, ears of corn.
Rev. EAEY. Pig to right, standing on torch.
Triptolemos was the great hero of the Eleusinian mys- teries ; .he introduced the worship of Demeter at Eleusis, and received from her the dragon-chariot and seeds of wheat. The pig on the reverse has reference to the connection of this animal with the worship of Demeter and Persephone.
104. Aegina. ZR, Oby. Sea-tortoise. Rey. Irregular incuse.
105. Aegina. AR Oby. Land-tortoise, on either side, A |. Rev. Incuse square, divided into five compartments, within which, the letters NN { and dolphin. The early coins of Aegina are among the most ancient specimens of money in existence, and some of them may be of the eighth century B.c., at which date it is related
oo
25
that Pheidon, king of Argos, introduced the art of coin- ing into Kuropean Greece, striking his money in Aegina.
106. Salamis. Au Obv. Head of Artemis? to right.
Rev. 2ZAAA. Beeotian shield, upon which is a sword in a scabbard.
There was a temple’of Artemis in the island of Sala- mis. The Boeotian shield on the reverse is a memorial of the Telamonian Ajax, who was worshipped in Salamis as the tutelary hero of the island.
107. Achzan League. ZR Oby. Head of Zeus Homagyrios to left.
Rev. Monogram of Achea AX, surmounted by monogram com- posed of the letters [1A\, and a Pegasos, the whole in olive- wreath.
Under the surname of Homagyrios, the god of the Assembly or League, Zeus was worshipped as the pro- tector of the Achzean League. (Pausanias, VII. 24, § 1.) The Pegasos on the reverse of this coin shews it to have been struck at Korinth. The date of the rise of the Acheean League was 280 B.c.
108. Korinth. A Obv. Pegasoswalking to left; below, Q- Rev. Incuse sinking of peculiar form.
109. Korinth. MR Obv. Helmeted female head to right. Rev. Bridled Pegasos to right ; below, ©.
The helmeted head on the coins of Korinth is usually called Pallas, but there is good reason to suppose that it is intended for Aphrodite, the goddess whcse worship was established upon the Akrokorinthos, and whose statue is mentioned by Pausanias, (II. 4, 7,) as wearing armour.
110. Sikyon. ZR Obv. Chimera to right ; below, SE. Rev. Dove flying to left, in wreath of olive.
The Chimeera refers to the legend of Bellerophon, who appears to have been honoured at Sikyon no less than at Korinth. The dove was sacred to Aphrodite, whose wor- ship was brought to Sikyon from Kypros, between which island and Sikyon there was frequent intercourse in early
26
times. (Curtius Religious Character of Greek Coins, Nu- mismatic Chron cle, N.S, Vol. X., p. 91.) At Sikyon was a temple of Aphrodite, and her statue of gold and ivory by Kanachos. (Pausan. XII. 4.)
111. Elis. A Obv. Head of Hera to right, wearing stephanos, adorned with flowers ; on it the letters HPA. Rey. Eagle to right, in laurel wreath.
112, Elis. ZR Obv. Eagle devouring ram ; Siround ahi: Rev. Winged thunderbolt ; in field, F A, the A incuse.
The types of the coins of Elis are clearly connected with the two deities. Zeus and Hera, whose temples at Olympia were so celebrated. The digamma is never abandoned on the coins of Elis, which descend to the Roman age.
113. Kephallenia. A Obv. KEQ®A. Head of Kephalos, wearing pointed cap, to right ; in field to left, head of dog ; to right, spear-head.
Rey. Female head to. right, wearing sphendone ; in field to right, stork.
The island of Kephallenia is said to have derived its name from Kephalos, who, coming to the aid of Amphi- tryon of Thebes, conquered the Teleboans, and was re- warded by Amphitryon with the island of Kephallenia. On vases, Kephalos is always represented as a hunter, The dog’s head and spear in the field of the obverse may refer to the presents made by the goddess Artemis to Pro- kris, the wife of Kephalos, whose head may possibly be that represented on the reverse, though it is more probably that of Kos, with whom Kephalos is constantly associated in ancient art.
114. Messenia. MR Obv. Head of Persephone to left. Rev. MES SANION. Zeus Aétophoros, nude, to right.
The Temple of Demeter on Mount Ithome is mentioned by Pausanias as of peculiar sanctity. There was also a temple on the same mountain to Zeus Ithomatas, in whose honour an annual festival was celebrated by the Messenians, called Ithomea. The Zeus, with thunderbolt and eagle on the reverse of this coin, is probably copied from the statue of the latter divinity, made by Ageladas, cire. 450 B.c. This coin was perhaps issued from the treasury of the Temples of Demeter and Zeus on Mount Ithome. |
27
115. Lakedemon. © Obv. AYKOYPIOX. Head of Lykurgos to right.
Rey. Club, ending above in caduceus ; in field, e A the whole in olive-wreath.
This coin is of a late period of Lakedzmonian auto-
Tomy.) |
116. Argos. AX Obv. Head of Hera to left, wearing stephanos adorned with flowers.
Rev. AP.... Diomedes advancing to right, carrying the Palla- dium in his left hand, and a short sword in his right; at his- feet, a swan.
There was a temple at Argos to Hera Antheia; here she was worshipped as a bride, and maidens called avdeopdpa bore flowers before her. (Preller. Gr. Myth., Vol. I, p. 128, note 1.) The reverse of this coin represents Diomedes earrying off from Ilium the Palladium which was afterwards taken by him to Argos.
117. Arkadia. AR Obv. Head of Zeus, laureate, to left. Rev. Pan seated to left on rocks, holding in his right hand the pedum ; at his feet, syrinx ; in field, left, the monogram of Arkadia in small letters, on the rock, OAYM.
We learn from Pausanias (VIII. xxxvii. and xxxviii.) that Zeus Lykeos and Pan were two of the chief divinities of Arkadia: their temples stood on Mount Lykeeum, the Arkadian Olympos. On the reverse of this coin Pan is represented as sitting on the summit of the mountain, The old Arkadian coinage was probably issued by these temples. (Curtius, Religious Character of Greek Coins, Num. Chron., N. §., Vol. X., p. 91.)
118. Stymphalos. AR Obv. Head of Artemis, laureate, to right,
wearing necklace and earrings.
Rev. TTYM@AAIQON. Herakles, nude, to left, wielding his club, the lion s skin round his left arm ; below, 2O.
Stymphalos was a city in the N.E. of Arkadia; the only building of this city mentioned by Pausanias was a Temple of Artemis Stymphalia, in which were figures of the Stym- phalian birds destroyed by Herakles.
4
28
KRETA.
119. Knosos. A Obv. Head of Hera to left, wearing stephanos adorned with flowers. Rev. KNQSZIQN. Square labyrinth ; in field, A P, spear- head, and thunderbolt.
The foundation of Knosos, one of the chief Biers of Kreta, is attributed to Minos. The marriage of Zeus with Hera is said to have been celebrated in this locality, and was commemorated by an annual festival, ‘‘ the Sacred Marriage ;” hence the head of Hera, as a bride, on the coins. ‘The famous labyrinth, built by Deedalos, and the abode of the Minotaur, is represented on the reverse.
120. Gortyna. JR Obv. Nymph (Europa), seated, to right, in the hollow trunk of a tree. Rev. Bull to left, head thrown back.
Gortyna, at one time the most important city of Kreta, and the rival of Knosos, was originally a colony of Gortys in Arkadia. Its coins refer to the abduction of Huropa from Pheenicia to Kreta by Zeus in the form of a bull, The nymph seated in the tree is Europa. See Pliny (Hist. Nat. XII. 5). On other coms of Gortyna we find Europa and Zeus together in the plane tree, the latter in the form of an eagle.
121. Pheestos. AR Obv. Herakles to left, the lion’s skin hanging on his left arm ; with his right hand he holds the club, and with his left he is strangling one of the heads of the hydra ; at his feet, a crab.
Rev. OAIS TION. Bull to right.
Pheestos, an ancient city of Kreta, was founded, accord- ing to some, by Minos; according to others, by Phestos, a son of Herakles. (Pausanias, II. vi. 3.) Hence the occurrence of Herakles on the coins of this city. Pheestos was destroyed by Gortyna and its territory annexed. The obverse of this coin represents the contest of Herakles with the Lernean Hydra. ‘The assistance rendered to the latter by the crab, who bit the foot of Herakles, is men- tioned by Apollodorus. (Biblioth. II. 5, 2.)
EUBQAA. 122. Euboea. ® Obv. Female head to right. Rev. EY. Head of ox, with fillets hanging from horns.
E.uboea is said to have derived its name from the cow, Io,
29
and a spot was shewn upon this island where she was be- lieved to have been killed. The coins bearing the name of the Kubceans were struck either at Eretria or Chalkis.
ASIA MINOR. 123. Pontos.
Mithradates III. /R Obv. Bust of Mithradates III. to right, diademed.
Rev. BAZIAEQZL MIOPAAATOY. Zeus Aétophoros on throne to left ; in field to left, crescent and star ; to right, and under throne, monograms.
Mithradates III. was king of Pontos from B c. 802-266. The beginning of the Pontic era, afterwards adopted by the kings of the Kimmerian Bosporos, is to be ascribed to some event which took place during this reign in B.c, 297. The star and the crescent on the reverse are perhaps sym- _bols of the sun and the moon, and allude to the ancient religion of the Persians, from whom the kings of Pontos were descended. The name Mithradates, is derived from the Persian word Mithra, the sun, and the root, da, and signifies, therefore, “ given to the sun.” (Rawlinson. Herod. I. p. 252, note 6.)
]24, Mithradates VI. AR Obv. Head of Mithradates to right, wearing diadem.
Rev. BAZIAEQZE MIOPAAATOY EYNATO- POX. Stag, feeding, to left; in field to left, crescent and star; in field to left and right, monograms, and the date, BK ; the whole in wreath of ivy-leaves and berries.
This beautiful portrait of Mithradates Eupator, com- monly called the Great, is supposed by Visconti to be copied from a silver statue, mentioned by Pliny. (L. xxxiil. § 54.) The movement of the hair, blown back by the wind, seems to indicate that the original may have been either an equestrian statue or that of a charioteer. 'The reverse bears the date of the Pontic sera, 222, or B.c. 75. The stag is the symbol of Artemis, to whom the eity of Komana, in Pontos, was dedicated, where there was a celebrated temple. The ivy-wreath may allude to Dio- nysos, to whom Mithradates was compared. (Visconti, Ieon. Grec. IL, p. 184.) Mithradates reigned from B.c, 123-63,
30
125. Amastris. AX Obv. Female head to right, wearing Phrygian , bonnet, laureate.
Rev. AMAZTPI EQN. Female figure, seated, to left, wear-
ing modius, and holding sceptre and Nike ; in field to left, a TOSse.
Amastris was a city of Paphlagonia, which derived its name from Amastris, the niece of Dareios Kodomannos, and the wife of Lysimachos, whom she married in Bc. 302. Lysimachos abandoned her shortly afterwards for Arsinde : she then retired to Herakleia, in Bithynia, and founded the city of Amastris, on the coast of Paphlagonia. The head on the obverse of this coin is perhaps a portrait of this queen. .
126. Sinope. AR Obv. Female head to left. (aymph Sinope.)
Rev. SINQ. Eagle on tunny-fish to left ; the whole in incuse square.
Sinope was the most important of all the Greek colonies on the coast of the Eyxine. Its foundation was referred to the nymph Sinope, a daughter of the river-god Asopos, who was carried off by Apollo and conveyed to Paphla- gonia. The city, after being re-colonized from Miletos and other places, attained great wealth and importance : it was celebrated for its tunny-fisheries.
127. Kios. A’ Head of Apollo, laureate, to right.
Rev. Prow to left, upon which a star; above, club; in field to left, eagle ; APNQNIAHE, in two lines, above and below.
Kios, in Bithynia, on the Propontis, was founded, ac- cording to the myth, by Kios, one of the Argonauts, who remained here on his return from Kolchis, and gave his name to the city. In later times the name of the place was changed to Prusias ad mare.
128. Nikomedes II. AR Obv. Head of Nikomedes IL, (Epi- phanes,) diademed, to right.
Rey. BAXIAEQE = ENIMDANOYZ NIKOMH- AOY. Zeus, standing, to left, holding wreath and sceptre ; in field to left, eagle on thunderbolt, monogram, and date,
AOP, 2.0. 126. Nikomedes II., (Epiphanes,) was king of Bithynia from B.c. 149-91.
31 129. Kyzikos. A Obv. ZQTEIPA. Head of Persephone
to left, crowned with ears of corn, hair in woven cap.
Rev. KY ZC]. Lion’s head to left ; behind, bucranium ; below, tunny fish.
Kyzikos, in Mysia, was a wealthy and prosperous town on the Propontis, famous for its fine buildings, its works of art, and for the Kvzikene staters. (See below, Nos. 155, 6.) It was said to have been presented as a dowry by Zeus to Persephone, hence she is called ZOTEIPA, the pro- tecting goddess of the town.
our Lampsakos. A’ Obv. Bearded head to left, wearing a pointed cap, bound with laurel.
Rev. Half hippocamp to right.
The head on the obverse of this stater is supposed by some to represent Odysseus, by others, Poseidon. It is one of the finest examples of the pictorial style of Greek numismatic art.
131. Pergamos. AR Oby. Head of Philetwros to right, wearing laurel-wreath, round which a fillet is twined.
Rev. PIAETAIPOY. Pallas, seated, to left, on throne ; her
extended right hand on a shield ; in her left hand a spear ; before her an ivy-leaf; behind, a bow; on throne, the
letter A\.
Philetseros, a eunuch, was treasurer of Lysimachos at Pergamos; on the death of the latter, Bc. 281, he became king of Pergamos, and, throuzh his nephew, Eumenes founded a dynasty which lasted 150 years, until Attalos IIL, on his death, bequeathed the territory to Rome.
The portraits on this series of coins, from their great similarity, appear, with one exception, to be all intended for Philetzros, the founder of the dynasty.
132. Abydos. A’ Obv. Nike, kneeling, to left, sacrificing ram. Rev. Eagle to left ; in front, acrostolium.
Abydos was a city of Mysia, situate on the Hellespont, nearly opposite Sestos. These two cities are famous for the story of the loves of Hero and Leander.
32 133. Tium. J obv. AYP. CEM. CEOLYHPIOC. N.
Bust of Septimius Severus, laureate, to right, wearing cuirass.
Rev. [€] KTQP IAIEQN. In exergue, nNATPO- KAQC. Hektor, armed, to right, his foot advanced upon the dead body of Patroklos, with both arms drawing his spear from the wound.
This coin was struck in the time of Septimius Severus, at Ilium, where the memory of Hektor was especially vene- rated. The artist of this coin has chosen the moment described by Homer, Il., XVL., 862.
134. Tenedos. MR Obv. Janiform heads ; Zeus and Hera ?
Rev. TENEAIQN. Bipennis. In field to left, mono- gram and grapes; to right, the bonnets of the Dioskuri; the whole in wreath.
The meaning of this type is obscure; Aristotle (Ap. Steph. Byz. s.v. Tenedos) refers it to a decree of a king of Tenedos, which enacted that all persons convicted of adultery should be beheaded. He is, however, certainly wrong in this interpretation, as Leake justly remarks, “such subjects were never represented on the money of the Greeks, their types, like their names of men and women, were almost always euphemistic, relating generally to the local mythology and fortunes of the place, with symbols referring to the principal productions, or to the protecting numina.”’
1p. Kyme. JR Oby. Female head to right, wearing narrow diadem.
Rev. KYMAIQIN. Bridled horse to right; at his feet, a one-handled vase ; in exergue, KAAAIAZ ; the whole in olive-wreath.
Very little is known of the history of Kyme, a city of Aeolis, named, according to the legend, after Kyme, an Amazon. The types of its coins have not been satisfac- torily explained.
136. Myrina, /R Oby. Head of Apollo, laureate, to right.
Rev. MYPINAIQIN. Apollo advancing to right, holding
branch with fillets, and patera ; below, diota and cortina ; the . whole in wreath of laurel.
Myrina was on the coast of Aeolis; the types of this
33
coin refer to the ancient oracle of Apollo at Grynium, situate about forty stadia from Myrina, and subject to it.
137. Mytilene. AR Obv. Head of Apollo, laureate, to right.
Rev. MY Tl. Lyre in linear square ; in field to left, thunder- bolt.
Mytilene, in the island of Lesbos, is one of the few cities of the AXgeean which have continued to flourish
to the present day. It now gives its name to the whole island.
138. Klazomenee. A’ Obv. Head of Apollo, full-face. Rev. KAAZO AOGQHNAPOPAEZE. Swan to right ;
behind it, winged boar to right.
Klazomense was a city of Ionia between Smyrna and Krythre ; in the territory belonging to the town was a temple of Apollo, and some warm springs, which are men- tioned by Strabo. (XIV.1.,36.) The swan on the reverse is the sacred bird of Apollo, who sometimes even assumes the form of a swan. (Nonnos Dionys. II., 218.)
The delta of the Hermos abounds in swans, and the name of Klazomenze may be due to them.
139. Ephesos. AR Obv. Bust of Artemis to right, wearing steph- ane ; behind her back a quiver.
Rev. TQEUS. Half-stag to right ; in field, E @; above, to right, a bee.
The bee on the reverse of this coin may refer to the old cultus of the bee at Ephesos, connected with the worship of the Ephesian Artemis, whose Priestesses were called Melisse. There was also a legend that the Muses, in the form of bees, conducted the original colonists from Athens to Ephesos. (Phitostrat. Imag. 2, 8.)
140. Ephesos. AZ Obv. T. AIA. KAICAP ANTQ- NEINOC. Bust of Antoninus Pius, laureate, to right.
Rev. EPECIQNN AIC NEOKOPON. Octostyle temple, within which is a statue of the Ephesian Artemis.
Neokori, signifying originally, ‘‘ temple sweepers,” was a
title conferred upon certain Greek cities by the Roman
emperors. The city of Ephesos enjoyed the privilege of
o4
tending the great Temple of Artemis. (Cf. Acts of the Apostles, xix. 85.) This title was conferred several times upon the people of Ephesos by different emperors.
141. Magnesia (Themistokles). Obv. QEMIZTOK- AEOS. Apollo, standing, to right, wearing chlamys ; in his right hand a long branch of a tree.
. Rev. M A. Bird with extended wings in incuse square.
Themistokles, the great Athenian general, exiled on account of his treason, was made despot of Magnesia in Tonia by the Persian king, Artaxerxes I., (Longimanus,) B.c. 464, This coin must therefore have been struck at Magnesia during his government, B.c. 464-449. ‘The speci- men in the British Museum is plated.
142. Magnesia. A Oby. Bust of Artemis to right, wearing stephane ; behind her back, a bow and quiver.
Rev. MAPNHTQN. Apollo, nude, standing to left upon the
symbol of the river Meander ; in his right hand a wreath with pendents ; behind him a tripod, upon which stands a
cista. In field, magistrate’s name, EYPHMOZ NAY- ZANIOY ; the whole in laurel-wreath.
Magnesia, an important town on the Meander, was famous for its beautiful Temple of Artemis Leukophryene, which, in the harmony of its parts, is said to have sur- passed all the temples of Asia Minor.
143. Miletos. JR Obv. Head of Apollo, laureate, to left. Rev. .. . MNAZXEAS. Lion, standing, to left, his head
turned back; above, the sun, or a star of eight rays; in field, monogram.
In the territory of the Milesians was the famous temple and oracle of Apollo Didymwos at Branchidee. The lion and sun on the reverse possibly symbolize heat and light, and may be attributes of Apollo as the sun-god.
144. Phokea. MR Obv. Seal to right.
Rey. Incuse square.
Phokeea was one of the most ancient maritime cities of Tonia. The seal (¢#xn) evidently contains an allusion to the name of the town. This coin belongs to the archaic period.
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145. Smyrna. AX Obv. Head of Kybele, turreted, to right. Rev. LMYPNAIQN, below which, monogram ; the whole in wreath. The chief seats of the cultus of Rhea Kybele, the mother of the gods, were the great mountain peaks of Asia Minor,
Didymon, Ida, and Sipylos. At Smyrna she was called
7) enTnp GcGv SinvAnm. She is the productive power in nature, the Karth Goddess, and as such, she is worshipped as the founder of the cities whose walls and turrets she bears upon her head. (Virg. Ain. VI. 786.)
146. Teos. AR Oby. Griffin, seated, to riyht.- Head of bearded faun under left paw. Rev. Incuse square, divided into four parts.
Teos was an Ionian city on the coast of Asia Minor. It enjoyed great prosperity until the time of the Persian dominion, when its inhabitants abandoned their city and removed to Abdera, in Thrace, B.c. 544. The territory of Teos produced excellent wine, whence Dionysos was especially honoured there. The griffin on the coins is probably connected with the Asiatic worship of Dionysos.
f © 147. Chios. € Obv. Spbinx, seated, to left; before her, diota,
above which, bunch of grapes.
Rev. Incuse square, divided into four parts by broad bands, on which, BAZIAEIAHS., magistrate’s name.
The island of Chios, off the coast of Tonia, was also famous for its wine, whence the frequency of the type of the diota upon its coins.
148. Samos. MR Obv. Lion’s scalp, facing.
Rev. SA. Half-bull to right; aboveye HTHZEIANAE, magistrates name. Behind bull, olive-branch ; below, mono- gram.
Samos, after Rhodes, was the most important of the Sporades. Some of its inhabitants fled to Rhegium after the capture of Miletos, and introduced there the types of the Samian coinage.
ELECTRUM COINAGE, (Nos. 149-160.)
149. ' EL Obvy. Fore-part of lion to right.
Rev. Oblong sinking between two square sinkings. Stater. Wt. 217°8 grains.
150.
151.
155.
156.
157.
158.
159.
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EL Oby. Stag, grazing, to right ; above, in retro- grade archaic characters, OAENOREMISHMA.
Rev. Oblong sinking between two square sinkings, Stater. Wt. 216°3 grains.
EL Obv. Fore-part of bull to right, head turned to left.
Rey. Incuse square, divided into four parts. Stater. Wt. 217 grains.
EL Obv. Lion lying to right ; head turned to left. Rey. Three sinkings or countermarks ; in the upper one a horse’s head, in the middle one a fox running to lefr, in the lower one a cross, in the centre of which and at the extremities are pellets.
Half-stater. Wt. 107 grains.
EL Obv. Lion’s head to right ; above forehead, small sun or star.
Rey, Oblong sinking, divided into two parts. One third stater. Wt. 72 grains.
EL Oby. Lion’s head to left ; mouth open.
Rev. Square sinking. Stater. Wt. 248°5 grains.
EL Obv. Head of nymph to left, wearing stephane ; below, tunny-fish,
Rey. Incuse square, divided into four parts. Stater of Kyzikos. Wt. 246°3 grains.
EL Obv. Head of Persephone to left ; hair long, bound with corn ; below, tunny-fish.
Rev. Incuse square, divided into four parts. Stater of Kyzikos.
EL Obv. Female head (Hera?) to left, wearing ste- phanos, adorned with flowers. Behind head, seal.
Rev. Incuse square, divided into four parts. Hekte of Phokza. .
EL Obv. Head and foot of ram to right.
Rev. Lion’s head, incuse, to left. Hekte.
EL Obv. Female head to right, veiled. (Demeter.)
Rev. Tripod. Hekte.
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160. EL Obv. Head of Kybele to right, wearing turreted crown. Hekte. Rev. Head of Hermes to right, wearing petasos. Hekte.
The above coins, Nos. 149-160, are of electrum or river- gold, which contains a greater or less proportion of silver. Nos. 149, 150, 154, are of the archaic period. Mr. Newton remarks, concerning the inscription on No. 150, (Num. Chron., N. S., Vol. X., p. 237,) that he would be disposed to assign it to the same period as the Branchide statues, viz., to the sixth century Bc. The lion’s head, sometimes accompanied by the star. would seem to designate Nos. 149, 152, 153, 154, as coins of Miletos or Knidos. The stag on No. 150 is the well known symbol of Ephesos. The bull on No. 151 would point to Samos. Nos. 155 and 156 are specimens of the famous Kyzikene staters, which continued to be struck by Kyzikos until they were sup- planted by the gold coinage of Alexander the Great. Many towns of the western coast of Asia Minor and the neighbouring islands, seem to have entered into a monetary alliance with Kyzikos, by which that city under- took to issue money bearing their respective types or emblems, with the addition of the tunny-fish, the peculiar mark of the Kyzikene mint. Phokeea was not a party to this convention, but would appear to have entered into a similar alliance with Mytilene; (see Mr. Newton’s paper “ On a Greek Inscr. at My.ilene relating to the coinage of that city and Phokea,”’ in the Transactions of the Royal Soc. Literature. N.S. vol. viii.) Nos. 157-160 are hektee, or sixths of the stater. The work upon many of these staters and hekte is exceedingly fine, and some of them belong to the best period of Greek art.
161. Knidos. Obv. Head of Aphrodite to left; hair bound over the forehead with a broad diadem. Rev. EOBQAO ... . Fore part of lion to left, in sunk square.
Knidos, on the coast of Karia, in early times united with five other Dorian colonies, Kos, Lindos, Ialysos, Kamiros, and Halikarnassos, in the confederation called the Dorian Hexapolis. Their place of meeting was the Temple of the Triopian Apollo. Knidos was celebrated for its worship of
38
Aphrodite, in whose temple stood the famous statue of that goddess by Praxiteles.
162. Maussollos. AR Obv. Head of Apollo, full-face. Rev. MAYZZQAAQO. Zeus Labrandeus to right ; in his
right hand the double axe, (Ad@pvs) ; in his left, sceptre.
Maussollos was satrap of Halikarnassos and Karia from 377-3853 B.c. Zeus Labrandeus, who carried the double axe, was worshipped in Karia.
163. Kos. & Obv. Head of Herakles, in lion’s skin, to right: Rev. KQION MOZXXIQN. Crab, and bow in case, sur-
rounded by dotted square.
The island of Kos is separated by a narrow strait from Knidos and the Triopian promontory. At a very early period, its chief city, bearing the same name as the island, appears as a member of the Dorian Hexapolis. For the story of the landing of Herakles upon the island of Kos, see Plut. (Qu. Gr, 58) He was here worshipped as a pro- tector, "Adefs, (Aristid. Herak., p. 60.) See also Ross. (Inscer. ined. fase. IIL., p. 53.)
164. Rhodes. AJ Obv. Head of Helios, full-face, his hair divided into locks suggestive of rays.
Rev. POAION.. Rose with bud, and vine-spray with bunch
of grapes from same stem ; in field to left, E,
165. Rhodes. MR Obv. Same type as preceding. Rev. POAION. Rose with bud; in field to left, sphinx.
The three ancient cities, Lindos, Jalysos, and Kamiros, which divided the government of the island of Rhodes between them, (Homer, I1., II., 665,) gave up their auto- nomy in the fifth. century B.c., and joined in founding the new city of Rhodos. The island of Rhodes was.sacred to Helios, the legend telling that it fell to his share when the whole earth was divided among the gods.
166. Lycia. JR Obv. Half-boar, advancing, to left; shoulder in- scribed K [2] B, beaded necklace.
Rev. Irregular sinking.
39
167. Lycia. JAR Obv. Herakles, naked, to left ; clubin right hand held over shoulder.
Rey. Lycian inscription, triquetra, and small diquetra in sunk beaded square.
These two coins of Lycia, inscribed with ancient Lycian letters, are attributed by Sir Charles Fellows to the eastern ‘and western extremities of the coast of Lycia respectively. The wild boar was plentiful in parts of this district.
168. Kelenderis. Obv. Horseman to right, sitting sideways, in right hand, whip.
Rev. KE AEN. Goat, kneeling, to right, and looking back.
Kelenderis, on the coast of Cilicia, is said to have been an ancient settlement of the Phcenicians. It was colonized by the Samians in the sixth century B.c.
169. Tarsos. AR Obv. Six Pheenician letters. (Baal-tars.) Zeus (Baal) of Tarsos to left, holding ear of corn and grapes. Under throne, monogram.,,
Rev. Lion devouring stag to left; above, Phcenician legend.
Tarsos, in Cilicia, was a Phoenician city of remote an- tiquity. It preserved the Phoenician language on its coins as late as the rule of the Seleucid dynasty.
170. Artaxerxes II. MR Obv. Bearded head to right, wearing mitre.
Rev. BAIA. Lyre.
This remarkable coin, of the very finest style of art, furnishes us with an authentic portrait of the Persian king, Artaxerxes Mnemon, B.C. 405-359. :1t,,was; Pro= bably struck at Kolophon, about the time when the Persian dominion was re-established in the Greek cities of Asia, that is, at the peace of Antalkidas, B.c. 387. (Waddington, Mélanges de Numismatique, I. p. 96.)
LAs Kypros. R, Obv. Male figure, winged at shoulders and heels, kneeling to left. Rev. Lion to left; above, inscription in ancient Kypriote characters. The whole in incuse square.
Very little is known of the history or the antiquities of
40
ancient Kypros. The Duc de Luynes has collected all the accessible information respecting the numismatics of this island in his ‘‘ Numismatique et Inscriptions Cypriotes.”
pd Pope Pnytagoras, A’ Obv. Female bust to left, wearing turreted crown ; in field, MIN. : Rev. BA. Bust to left; hair bound with a double diadem. Pnytagoras was king of Salamis, in Kypros; he began to reign in B.c. 351. Waddington (Rev. Num. 1865, p. 12) supposes the obverse to represent Aphrodite, and the reverse Myrrha or Adonis.
173. Kreesos. A’ Obv. Fore-parts of lion and bull, face to face, Rev. Irregular sinking, divided into two parts.
174. Kreesos. MR net Same type as preceding.
This is supposed to be the gold and silver coinage of the Lydian kingdom in the time of Kreesos. (B.c. 560-546.) It is observable that the Persians have used the obv. type, so frequent on ancient Oriental coins, as late as the end of the last century.
175. Kappadokia. (Orophernes.) A Obv. Head of Oro- phernes, wearing diadem, to right.
Rev. BAZLIAEQE OPO®EPNOYZ NIKHOO- POY. Nike holding wreath and palm ; in field, to left, owl on cippus, and monogram.
Orophernes was king of Kappadokia about B.c. 158. No coins were known of his reign until 1870, when six tetradrachms bearing his name were discovered under the foundations of the Temple of Athena Polias, at Priene. (C, T. Newton, Num. Chron., N. S., Vol. XL, p. 19.)
SYRIA.
176. Seleukos I. A Obv. Head of Seleukos to right, wearing helmet, with cheek-piece and vizor formed of horse’s hide ; bull s ear and horn visible at the side.
Rev. BAXSIAEQE ZEAEYKOY. Nike crowning trophy. In field below, Al and E.
Seleukos Nikator, the founder of the dynasty of the
41
Seleucidee, assumed the title of king in B.c. 306. The horse’s head with bull’s horns, which occurs on some of his coins, is probably that of Bukephalos, the celebrated horse of Alexander the Great, after whom the town of Bukephalia, on the Hydaspes, was named.
177. Antiochos I. A Obv. Head of Antiochos to right, wear- ing diadem, Rev. BASIAEQE ANTIOXOY. Apollo, ‘seated, to
left, on cortina ; in his right hand an arrow ; in his left a
bow. Monograms in field.
Antiochos I., (Soter,) son of Seleukos I, succeeded to the throne in B.c. 280.
178. Antiochos III. AM Obv. Head of Antiochos to right, diademed.
Rev. BASIAEQZ ANTIOXOY. Apollo, seated, to left, as on preceding coin. In field, monograms. Antiochos III. ‘The Great) succeeded his father, Seleukos IT., in the fifteenth year of his age, B.c. 223. He reigned thirty-six years; hence the portrait upon his coins varies considerably.
179. Antiochos VI. AM Obv. Head of Antiochos to right, wearing diadem, radiate.
Rev. BAXTIAEQ= ANTIOXOY ENMI@ANOY2
AIONYEOY. The Dioskuri galloping to left; in
field to right, TPY ; below, the date, ©O=P (169),
p.c. 143. The whole in wreath of corn. Antiochos VI., (Dionysos,) son of Alexander Balas and Kleopatra, the daughter of Ptolemy Philometor, ascended the throne B.c. 145.
180. Antiochos VITI. A Obv. Head of Antiochos to right, diademed.
Rev. BAZIAEQ= ANTIOXOY ENI®ANOY2.
Zeus (?), standing, to left, holding the sun in his right hand, in his left a sceptre ; above his head, the crescent moon ;
field, {E. The whole in wreath of laurel. A Antiochos VIII., (Epiphanes, Grypos,) son of Deme-
42
trios IT. and prs succeeded to the sole government B.c. 121.
181. Tigranes. JR Obv. Bust of Tigranes to right, wearing - Armenian tiara ; outside which is a plain Greek diadem.
Rev. BASIAEQ2 TIFPANOY. _ Turreted female
figure, city of Antioch, seated to right on rock, holding palm ; at her feet, the river-god Orontes, swimming ; in field, AH ; below, M\. The whole in wreath of laurel.
Tigranes, the king of Armenia, made himself master of Syria in Bc. 83. He was conquered and deprived of his Syrian dominions by the Romans in B.c. 69.
BAKTRIA.
182. Diodotos I. M Obv. Head of Diodotos, diademed, , to right.
Rev. BAZIAEQZD AIOAOTOY. . Zeus, naked, to
left, hurling thunderbolt ; at his feet, eagle.
Diodotos, satrap of Baktria under the Syrian monarchy, declared himself independent about Bo. 256, and became the founder of the Greek dynasty which ruled in that country for the space of a century and a half. Diodotos died B.c. 237.
183. Euthydemos. A’ Obv. Head of Euthydemos, diademed, to right.
Rev. BAZIAEQ2 EYOYAHMOY. Herakles, naked,
holding club, seated on rock to left.
184. Euth ydemos. JAR Obv. Youthful bust of Euthydemos, diademed, to right.
Rev. BASIAEQE EYOYAHMOY. Herakles, stand-
ing, full-face, holding club and wreath ; in field, monogram.
Euthydemos, governor of Aria and Margiana under Diodotos II., succeeded to the throne of Baktria, about B.c. 225. and reigned about thirty years. (Num. Chron. N.S., VIII. p. 274.)
The portraits of Euthydemos upon his coins range
from youth to old age, thus proving the length of his reign.
48
185. Eukratides. ® Obv. Head of Eukratides to right, wear- 7 ing helmet, ornamented on the side with ear and horn of bull.
Rev. BAZIAEQ= MEFAAOY EYKPATIAOY.
The Dioskuri to right ; in field, monogram.
Eukratides the Great is supposed to have rebelled against his sovereign, Demetrios, in B.c. 190, and to have sueceeded in making himself the independent ruler of Baktria; little is known of the history of his reign, which probably lasted more than twenty years.
SELEUKIS anp PIERIA.
186. Antioch. A Obv. SEBAZTOY. Head of Augustus,
laureate, to right.
Rev. ANTIOXEQN MHTPOPOAEQ2. Tur
reted female figure, City of Antioch, seated on rock to right, holding palm. At her feet the river-god Orontes, swimming.
In field, CA (year 36) AN (year 54) and monogram.
Antioch, in Syria, was situate on the river Orontes. The coins of this city are dated according to four different seras: 1st, that of the Seleucid ; (B.c. 312;) 2nd, that of its autonomy; (B.c. 64;) 31d, that of the victory of Caesar over Pompey at Pharsalos; (pc 495) 4th, that of the battle of Actium (pc. 31.) The above coin is dated both according to the Pharsalian and the Actian eras, and was therefore
struck in the year corresponding to a.D. D.
PHGINICIA ann PALESTINE.
187. Marathos. A Obv. Turreted female head to right. Rev. MAPAOQHNGON and Phenician legend. Naked
male figure seated on bucklers, and holding aplustre.
Marathos, on the coast of Syria, was an ancient Phoeni- cian town. It was conquered by its neighbour Arados, and in Strabo’s time was a heap of ruins.
44
188. Sidon. M Obv. Turreted female head to right. Rev. ZIAQNIQN [THE LEPAZX KAI AZYAOY] Eagle on rudder. In field, date, {_S, (year 6.)
Sidon was, in ancient times, by far the most important city of Phenicia.
189. Tyre. AR Obv. Head of Herakles to right, laureate.
Rev. TYPOY IEPAZ KAI AZYAOY. Eagle on rudder, In field to left, club and date, Hl, (year 18.)
Tyre, one of the chief cities of Phoenicia, dated its autonomy from the year B.c. 146. This coin was therefore struck in B.c. 108.
190. Tiberias. Ad Obv. AYTOKP KAIC NEP TPA- IANOC CEB. Bust of Trajan, laureate, to right.
Rev. TIBEPIEQN KAAYAIO. Fortune standing to
left, holding rudder and cornucopix. In field, to left and
right, ET AM. Tiberias, the chief city of Galilee, was situate on the S.W. bank of: the sea of Tiberias or Galilee. (Lake of Genne-
sareth ) It was built by Herod Antipas, and named after the Emperor Tiberius.
191. Aelia Capitolina. (Jerusalem under the Romans.) Ai Obv. IMP. C.M. AvR. ANTONINYS.
Bust of Elagabalus, laureate, to right.
Rev. COL AEL CAP COMM. Im exergue, P.F.
Tetrastyle temple, within which, statues of three divinities.
Hadrian, ap. 186, on the celebration of his vicennalia, conferred the title of Colony (Colonia Aelia Capitolina) upon the city of Jerusalem. The additional title, COM- MODIANA, was added by Commodus.
192. Judea. (Simon Maccabens.) MR Obv. Sy ny Sp Shekel Israel, ‘‘ Shekel of Israel.” A cup or chalice ; above, the letters Jw (for 3” JW, Shenath Shethaim), year 2.
Rev. MYT IT pwn, Jerushalaim hak-kedoshah. ‘‘ Jeru- salem the Holy.” A triple lily.
45
193. JR Obv. 2Pwit “Ur, Chatzi ha-Shekel, ‘‘ Half Shekel” A cup or chalice ; above, the letter , year 1.
Rev. mM yp Down, Jerushalem kedoshah. ‘‘ Jerusalem the Holy.” A triple lily.
194. AB Oby. Wy MOND, Liguilath Zion, «OF the Redemption of Zion.” A cup or chalice.
Rev. VAIN FV: Shenath arba, ‘‘The fourth year.” A bundle of branches between two ‘‘ Hthrogs,” citrons.
Simon Maccabeus, the brother of Judas, was High Priest and Prince of the Jews B.c. 148-135. Antiochos VII. (Sidetes) conferred upon him the right of coining money. (I. Macc. XV. 2-9.) Previously to this, the Jews had no money of their own, but employed the currency of Alexander the Great and the Seleucid kings, who had mints in Palestine. The chalice on these coins is usually considered to be the pot of manna: a similar one is repre- sented on the triumphal arch of Titus. The reverse-type of the shekels and half-shekels is supposed to portray Aaron's rod that budded. (Numbers XVII. 8.) On the reverse of the copper coin is shewn the festal branch carried by the Israelites at the Feast of Tabernacles. (Levit. XXIII. 40. Cf. Nehem. VILL. 15.)
195. Simon Bar-cochab. 2 Obv. VWwrow. Simon. Tetra- style temple. Above, a star.
Rev. o>ouny non. _Lacheruth Jerushalem. ‘* The deli- verance of Jerusalem.” Festal branches and Zithrog, citron. This coin is attributed by Dr. Levy to Simon, son of Gioras, A.D. 66-67, and by de Saulcy to the famous insur- rectionary leader in Hadrian’s time, Simon Bar-cochab, A.D. 133-188. The character of the writing upon these Jewish coins is the old Hebrew, which is very similar to the Samaritan, and clearly derived from the Phcenician.
EGYPT.
196. Ptolemy I. A’ Obv. Head of Ptolemy to right, wearing eegis tied round the shoulders.
Rev. PTOAEMAIOY BAZIAEQ. Basle standing
on thunderbolt to left. In field, oval shield and monogram.
46
197. Ptolemy I. MR Obv. Same type as preceding.
Rev. FTOAEMAIOY BAZIAEQZ. Eagle on thun- derbolt, In field to left, &.
198. Ptolemy I. AR Obv. Same type as preceding. Rev. MTOAEMAIOY ZQTHPOZS. Eagle on thun- derbolt ; in field to left, monogram of Tyre, and club; to right, AB and monogram.
Ptolemy I. (Soter) was satrap of Egypt under Alexander the Great. After the death of the latter, he took the title of king, B.c. 806. In B.c. 235, he resigned in favour of his son, ‘
199. Ptolemy II. and Arsinoé II. A’ Obv. OEQON. Busts of Ptolemy I. and Berenike to right.
Rev. AAEA@QN. Busts of Ptolemy II. and Arsinoé II. to right; in field to right, monogram. Ptolemy Soter and Berenike were deified after their deaths, and entitled GEO] SQTHPES. Arsinoé II. was sister and second wife of Ptolemy II. (Philadelphos.)
200. Arsinoé II. A’ Obv. Head of Arsinoé to right, wearing stephane and veil; behind her head, sceptre.
Rev. APZINOHE OIAAAEAGOY. Double cornu- copie, filleted. In field, monogram of Tyre, where the piece was struck.
201. Ptolemy III. A? Obv. Bust of Ptolemy III., with radiate diadem, wearing «gis, tied with serpents; a trident over his shoulder.
Rev. MTOAEMAIOY BAZIAEQZ. Cornucopix surmounted by semicircle of rays. Below, Al.
Ptolemy III., (Euergetes,) son of Ptolemy Philadelphos, and his sister Arsinoé, began to reign B.c, 247. The tri- dent perhaps contains an-allusion to his victory at sea over Antigonos Gonatas at Andros.
902. Berenike I]. <A’ Obv. Veiled head of Berenike to right. Rev. BEPENIKHE BAZIAIZZHE. Cornucopia, with fruit. In field to left, a bee.
Berenike II., wife of Ptolemy. III., (Huergetes,) was heiress of Kyrene ; hence, perhaps, the regal title.
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203. Ptolemy IV. A’. Obv. Diademed head of Ptolemy IV, to right.
Rev. TITOAEMAIOY OIAONATOPOZ. | Eagle on thunderbolt to right. In field, monogram. Ptolemy IV. (Philopator) reigned from B.c, 222-205. He was the eldest son of Ptolemy Euergetes and Berenike IT. His reign was the commencement of the decline of the Keyptian kingdom.
904. Arsinoé III. A’ Obv. Head of Arsinoé to right, with ste- phane and sceptre.
Rev. APLINOHZ OIACNATOPOZ. Cornucopie ; above, a star. Arsinoé III. was sister and wife of Ptolemy IV. (Philo- pator. )
205. Ptolemy V. A’ Obv. Radiate bust of Ptolemy to right, . spear over shoulder.
Rev. MTOAEMAIOY BAZIAEQZ. Filleted cornu-
copie, containing fruit, surmounted by semicircle of rays ; on either side, a star. g Ptolemy V. (Epiphanes) was the son of Ptolemy IV. and of his sister Arsino’. He reigned x.c. 205-181. In this reign the Rosetta Stone was sculptured.
206. Kleopatra VI. Z Obv. Head of Kleopatra to right, dia- demed. Hair tied behind in a knot.
Rev. KAEOMATPAS BAZIAIZZHZ. Eagle on thunderbolt to left ; in field to right, M1; to left, cornucopiz.
This is the celebrated Kleopatra; she reigned from B.C, 52-30.
AFRICA. GOT: Kyrene. AR Obv. KYPA. Head of Zeus Ammon to right,
in dotted circle. Rev. Silphium plant.
Kyrene was the most important Greek colony on the coast of Africa. It was founded in the seventh century B.c., by Dorian colonists from the island of Thera, under Battos, who established the dynasty of the Battiade, which
48
ruled in Kyrene for nearly two hundred vears. The worship of Zeus Aminon was derived by the people of Kyrene from the famous oracle of that god in the oasis of Ammon, (Seewah,) in the Libyan desert. The silphium plant was the chief article of commerce between Kyrene and Greece,
208. Carthage. A’ Obv. Head of Persephone to left, wearing ; necklace and earrings. Rev. Horse standing to right.
The Carthaginians adopted the worship of Demeter from Syrakuse. (Diodorus XIV., 68-77.) The horse on the reverse may refer to Libya, which was celebrated for its horses. It was probably also a Phoenician object of worship.
209. Carthage. ZR Oby. Female head to left, wearing Asiatic head-dress.
ae Rev. Palm-tree, and lion advancing to left. In exergue, ‘‘ Sham-
Machanat,” in retrograde Pheenician characters.
The head upon this coin is probably that of the Phe- nician goddess who is generally identified with Aphrodite. The lion is the emblem of Libya, and the palra-tree of Phoenicia.
The city of Carthage was a colony of T'yre, and was probably one of the latest Phoenician settlements on the African coast. It rose to great importance and prosperity, and succeeded in extending its empire over a great portion of the island of Sicily, where many of its coins (now called Siculo-Punic) were issued. After its destruction by the Romans, in B.c. 146, it again recovered much of its importance as a provincial city of the empire.
Woodfall and Kinder, Printers, Milford Lane, Strand, London, W.C.
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