Pi-Style Athenian Tetradrachms, 353 - 295 B.C.A summary of Kroll, John H. "The Reminting of Athenian Silver Coinage, 353 B.C." in Hesperia Vol. 80 (2011). "Combining evidence from Athenian silver coins, an unpublished Agora inscription, and several accounts concerning historical figures, this article reconstructs the Athenian program of 353 B.C., whereby all of the larger-denomination silver coinage in the city was demonetized and called in for restriking as a means of raising revenue during the fiscal crisis in the aftermath of the Social War. The folded-flan technique and erratic, substandard appearance of the resulting "pi-style" coins, attestations of their hurried production in that year, were retained in all subsequent Athenian silver coinage down into the 3rd century as recognized attributes of good Athenian money." - Abstract for John H. Kroll's "The Reminting of Athenian Silver Coinage, 353 B.C." in Hesperia Vol. 80 (2011). Pi-style refers to the floral helmet ornament on the obverses, which on the most advanced and numerous coins in the series is configured like the Greek letter pi (P) bisected by a long central tendril. On the pi-style reverse, the alpha is positioned below the head, its left diagonal wedged in the notch where the head meets the body, thus permitting every pi-style tetradrachm to be distinguished from earlier specimens of the same denomination instantaneously. Pi-style tetradrachms were probably struck from 353 to c. 297 B.C. The first pi-style tetradrachms were likely produced in 353 B.C. (as discussed in the Abstract to Kroll's article above). The last pi-style tetradrachms were probably struck in 297. The last Athenian pi-style coins were gold staters minted by the Athenian tyrant Lachares in 296 - 295. Demetrius Poliorcetes captured Athens in 294 B.C. Athens' 353 B.C. demonetization and restriking was apparently very successful. Third century hoards found at Athens do not include 5th century tetradrachms and include very few of the transitional type. The chart below, from Kroll's article, page 233, shows the phases of the pi-style helmet ornament. Differentiating between the pi-style types can be difficult because they are not very dissimilar and because the entire ornament is often not on the flan. Dating of the various types also varies greatly. Most dealer catalog and auction listings do not differentiate between the pi-style types and date all pi-style tetradrachms c. 355 - 297 B.C. It is, however, possible to identify the specific pi-style type of some specimens and to date them more precisely, as discussed below. For comparison, we also show examples of an earlier classical or old style tetradrachm, an earlier transitional type tetradrachm, and a later quadridigitée type tetradrachm. Classical / Old-Style.
Transitional / Eye-in-Profile.
Pi-Style I.
Pi-Style II.c. 353 - 350 B.C. The lower branches of the floral ornament are lengthened and spring from the point where the vertical axis and the curved horizontal intersect (not yet at true pi form). The Pi II type was probably struck shortly after the demonetization. Pi-Style III.c. 353 - 340 B.C. The outside tendrils move outward from each other along the curved horizontal and have become verticals paralleling the central tendril (resembling the Greek letter pi). Struck on folded flans. Pi-Style IV.c. 353 - 340 B.C. The outside tendrils move further outward from each other along the curved horizontal, the central tendril can be exceptionally long, extending down to Athena’s ear. Struck on folded flans. Pi-Style V.c. 350 - 297 B.C. A relatively square shape and a shorter central tendril that reaches no farther than the upper edge of her helmet visor. This type has been found in hoards dating to 330s, indicating the type was introduced in the 340s. Some are struck on folded flans. Most are struck on cast flans. This may indicate that the pi-style evolved to Pi V type early, even before the frantic pace of demonetization and restriking ended, or alternately restriking may have continued alongside striking new flans for some time. Quadridigité.ReferencesFlament, C. Le monnayage en argent d’Athènes. De l’époque archaïque à l’époque hellénistique (c. 550-c. 40 av. J.-C.). (Lovain-la-Neuve, 2007). | Pi-Style Athenian Tetradrachms, 353 - 295 B.C.A summary of Kroll, John H. "The Reminting of Athenian Silver Coinage, 353 B.C." in Hesperia Vol. 80 (2011). "Combining evidence from Athenian silver coins, an unpublished Agora inscription, and several accounts concerning historical figures, this article reconstructs the Athenian program of 353 B.C., whereby all of the larger-denomination silver coinage in the city was demonetized and called in for restriking as a means of raising revenue during the fiscal crisis in the aftermath of the Social War. The folded-flan technique and erratic, substandard appearance of the resulting "pi-style" coins, attestations of their hurried production in that year, were retained in all subsequent Athenian silver coinage down into the 3rd century as recognized attributes of good Athenian money." - Abstract for John H. Kroll's "The Reminting of Athenian Silver Coinage, 353 B.C." in Hesperia Vol. 80 (2011). Pi-style refers to the floral helmet ornament on the obverses, which on the most advanced and numerous coins in the series is configured like the Greek letter pi (P) bisected by a long central tendril. On the pi-style reverse, the alpha is positioned below the head, its left diagonal wedged in the notch where the head meets the body, thus permitting every pi-style tetradrachm to be distinguished from earlier specimens of the same denomination instantaneously. Pi-style tetradrachms were probably struck from 353 to c. 297 B.C. The first pi-style tetradrachms were likely produced in 353 B.C. (as discussed in the Abstract to Kroll's article above). The last pi-style tetradrachms were probably struck in 297. The last Athenian pi-style coins were gold staters minted by the Athenian tyrant Lachares in 296 - 295. Demetrius Poliorcetes captured Athens in 294 B.C. Athens' 353 B.C. demonetization and restriking was apparently very successful. Third century hoards found at Athens do not include 5th century tetradrachms and include very few of the transitional type. The chart below, from Kroll's article, page 233, shows the phases of the pi-style helmet ornament. Differentiating between the pi-style types can be difficult because they are not very dissimilar and because the entire ornament is often not on the flan. Dating of the various types also varies greatly. Most dealer catalog and auction listings do not differentiate between the pi-style types and date all pi-style tetradrachms c. 355 - 297 B.C. It is, however, possible to identify the specific pi-style type of some specimens and to date them more precisely, as discussed below. For comparison, we also show examples of an earlier classical (old style tetradrachm) an earlier transitional type tetradrachm, and a later quadridigité type tetradrachm. Classical / Old-Style.
Transitional / Eye-in-Profile.
Pi-Style I.
Pi-Style II.c. 353 - 350 B.C. The lower branches of the floral ornament are lengthened and spring from the point where the vertical axis and the curved horizontal intersect (not yet at true pi form). The Pi II type was probably struck shortly after the demonetization. Pi-Style III.
Pi-Style IV.
Pi-Style V.
Quadridigité.
ReferencesFlament, C. Le monnayage en argent d’Athènes. De l’époque archaïque à l’époque hellénistique (c. 550-c. 40 av. J.-C.). (Lovain-la-Neuve, 2007). |