- The Collaborative Numismatics Project
  Explore Our Website And Find Joy In The History, Numismatics, Art, Mythology, And Geography Of Coins!!! NumisWiki Is An Enormous Unique Resource Including Hundreds Of Books And Thousands Of Articles Online!!! The Column On The Left Includes Our "Best of NumisWiki" Menu If You Are New To Collecting - Start With Ancient Coin Collecting 101 NumisWiki Includes The Encyclopedia of Roman Coins and Historia Nummorum If You Have Written A Numismatic Article - Please Add It To NumisWiki All Blue Text On The Website Is Linked - Keep Clicking To ENDLESSLY EXPLORE!!! Please Visit Our Shop And Find A Coin You Love Today!!!

× Resources Home
Home
New Articles
Most Popular
Recent Changes
Current Projects
Admin Discussions
Guidelines
How to
zoom.asp
Index Of All Titles


BEST OF

AEQVITI
Aes Formatum
Aes Rude
The Age of Gallienus
Alexander Tetradrachms
Ancient Coin Collecting 101
Ancient Coin Prices 101
Ancient Coin Dates
Ancient Coin Lesson Plans
Ancient Coins & Modern Fakes
Ancient Counterfeits
Ancient Glass
Ancient Metal Arrowheads
Ancient Oil Lamps
Ancient Pottery
Ancient Weapons
Ancient Wages and Prices
Ancient Weights and Scales
Anonymous Follis
Anonymous Class A Folles
Antioch Officinae
Aphlaston
Armenian Numismatics Page
Augustus - Facing Portrait
Brockage
Bronze Disease
Byzantine
Byzantine Denominations
A Cabinet of Greek Coins
Caesarean and Actian Eras
Campgates of Constantine
Carausius
A Case of Counterfeits
Byzantine Christian Themes
Clashed Dies
Codewords
Coins of Pontius Pilate
Conditions of Manufacture
Corinth Coins and Cults
Countermarked in Late Antiquity
Danubian Celts
Damnatio Coinage
Damnatio Memoriae
Denomination
Denarii of Otho
Diameter 101
Die Alignment 101
Dictionary of Roman Coins
Doug Smith's Ancient Coins
Draco
Edict on Prices
ERIC
ERIC - Rarity Tables
Etruscan Alphabet
The Evolving Ancient Coin Market
EQVITI
Fel Temp Reparatio
Fertility Pregnancy and Childbirth
Fibula
Flavian
Fourree
Friend or Foe
The Gallic Empire
Gallienus Zoo
Greek Alphabet
Greek Coins
Greek Dates
Greek Coin Denominations
Greek Mythology Link
Greek Numismatic Dictionary
Hellenistic Names & their Meanings
Hasmoneans
Hasmonean Dynasty
Helvetica's ID Help Page
The Hexastyle Temple of Caligula
Historia Numorum
Holy Land Antiquities
Horse Harnesses
Illustrated Ancient Coin Glossary
Important Collection Auctions
Islamic Rulers and Dynasties
Julian II: The Beard and the Bull
Julius Caesar - The Funeral Speech
Koson
Kushan Coins
Later Roman Coinage
Latin Plurals
Latin Pronunciation
Legend
Library of Ancient Coinage
Life in Ancient Rome
List of Kings of Judea
Medusa Coins
Maps of the Ancient World
Military Belts
Military Belts
Mint Marks
Monogram
Museum Collections Available Online
Nabataea
Nabataean Alphabet
Nabataean Numerals
The [Not] Cuirassed Elephant
Not in RIC
Numismatic Bulgarian
Numismatic Excellence Award
Numismatic French
Numismatic German
Numismatic Italian
Numismatic Spanish
Parthian Coins
Patina 101
Paleo-Hebrew Alphabet
Paleo-Hebrew Script Styles
People in the Bible Who Issued Coins
Imperial Mints of Philip the Arab
Phoenician Alphabet
Pi-Style Athens Tetradrachms
Pricing and Grading Roman Coins
Reading Judean Coins
Representations of Alexander the Great
Roman Coin Attribution 101
Roman Coin Legends and Inscriptions
Roman Keys
Roman Locks
Roman Militaria
Roman Military Belts
Roman Mints
Roman Names
romancoin.info
Rome and China
Sasanian
Satyrs and Nymphs
Scarabs
Serdi Celts
Serrated
Siglos
The Sign that Changed the World
Silver Content of Parthian Drachms
Star of Bethlehem Coins
Statuary Coins
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum
Syracusian Folles
Taras Drachms with Owl Left
The Temple Tax
The Temple Tax Hoard
Test Cut
Travels of Paul
Tribute Penny
Tribute Penny Debate Continued (2015)
Tribute Penny Debate Revisited (2006)
Tyrian Shekels
Uncleaned Ancient Coins 101
Vabalathus
Venus Cloacina
What I Like About Ancient Coins
Who was Trajan Decius
Widow's Mite
XXI

   View Menu
 


Corinth

751px-Map_greek_sanctuaries-en_svg.png  Ancient_Greek_southern_regions.png  Greece_And_Her_Colonies.jpg  Map_Ancient_Peloponnesos_1900.jpg

See ancient coins of Corinth Greece for sale in the Forum Ancient Coins shop.

Amandry, M. Le Monnayage des Duovirs Corinthiens, Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénisque, Suppl. XV. (Paris, 1988).
Babelon, E. Traité des Monnaies Grecques et Romaines. (Paris, 1901-32).
Bishop, J.D. & R. Holloway. Wheaton College Collection of Greek and Roman Coins. (New York, 1981).
Bloesch, H. Griechische Münzen In Winterthur. (Winterthur, 1987).
Brett, A.B. Catalogue of Greek Coins, Boston Museum of Fine Arts. (Boston, 1955).
Burnett, A., M. Amandry & P. Ripollès. Roman Provincial Coinage I: From the death of Caesar to the death of Vitellius (44 BC-AD 69). (1992 and suppl.).
Burnett, A. & M. Amandry. Roman Provincial Coinage II: From Vespasian to Domitian (AD 69-96). (London, 1999).
Calciati, R. Pegasi. (Mortara, 1990).
Forrer, L. Descriptive Catalogue of the Collection of Greek Coins formed by Sir Hermann Weber. (1922-1929).
Grose, S.W. Catalogue of the McClean Collection of Greek Coins, Fizwilliam Museum, Volume II - The Greek mainland, the Aegaean islands, Crete. (Cambridge, 1926).
Head, B. Catalogue of Greek Coins in the British Museum, Corinth, Colonies of Corinth, Etc. (London, 1889).
Münzen & Medaillen. Sammlung BCD: Akarnanien und Aetolien. Auction 23. (18 Oct 2007, Stuttgart).
Naville Co. Monnaies grecques antiques S. Pozzi. Auction 1. (4 Apr 1921, Geneva).
Numismatik Lanz. Münzen von Korinth: Sammlung BCD. Auction 105. (26 Nov 2001, Munich).
Oman, C. Le classement chronologique des monnaies de Corinthe, de 450 à 390 av. J.—C. Corolle numismalù-a, 1906, 208— 216, pl. XI.
Price, M.J. Greek Bronze Coinage c. 450 - 150 B.C., its introduction, circulation, and value, with particular refference to the series of Corinth. (Dissertation, 1967).
Ravel, O.E. Les "Poulains" de Corinthe, I - II. (Basel, 1936-1948).
Sear, D. Greek Coins and Their Values, Volume 1, Europe. (London, 1978).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Denmark, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum,  Volume 3: Greece: Thessaly to Aegean Islands. (New Jersey, 1982).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Deutschland, Münzsammlung Universität Tübingen: Part 3: Akarnanien-Bithynien. (Berlin, 1985).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, France, Bibliothèque National, Collection Jean et Marie Delepierre. (Paris, 1983).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain, Vol. III, R.C. Lockett Collection: Part 4: Peloponnese - Aeolis. (London, 1945).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain, Vol. IV, Fitzwilliam Museum, Leake and General Collections: Part 4: Acarnania - Phliasia. (London, 1956).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain, Vol. VIII, The Hart Collection. (Oxford, 1989).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain, Vol. VII, Manchester University Museum. (London, 1986).

Corinth, on the Isthmus of Corinth between Peloponnesus and the mainland of Hellas, about halfway between Athens and Sparta, was the largest city and the richest port in ancient Greece. Horace is quoted as saying: "non licet omnibus adire Corinthum," which translates, "Not everyone is able to go to Corinth" (referring to the expensive living standards in the city). Corinth was known as an especially "wild" city (the Las Vegas of its time). At the Temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, 1,000 sacred prostitutes served the wealthy merchants and the powerful officials living in or visitng the city. The most famous of them, Lais, was said to have extraordinary abilities and charged tremendous fees for her favors. Korinthiazomai was a Greek word for fornicate.

Like Chalcis in Euboea, Corinth derived her standard for weighing the precious metals from Asia Minor, the unit of weight being the light Babylonic stater of circ. 130 grs.

The system of division by 3 and 6 which prevails in the Corinthian coinage sufficiently attests its Asiatic origin. The style and peculiar flat fabric of most of the early Corinthian silver coins distinguish them from those of all the other states of European Greece.

At what precise time this wealthy commercial city began to send forth her well-known Pegasos staters it is not easy to determine, but we shall not be far from the truth in placing the commencement of the Corinthian coinage as early as the age of Cypselus, B.C. 657-625.

As Aegina in those days commanded the commerce of the eastern side of the isthmus, so Corinth, by means of her port Lechaeum, on the gulf which bore her name, monopolized that of the western seas, and imparted the use of the Corinthian standard of weight to her Colonies, Ambracia, Anactorium, Leucas, etc., on the shores of Epirus and Acarnania, and to the Achaean cities of Magna Graecia on the other side of the Ionian sea.

The connexion between the Corinthian standard with its system of division by 3 and 6 and the Achaean quasi-federal currency of S. Italy can be most satisfactorily proved not only by the weights of the coins of Croton, Sybaris, Metapontum, etc., but by their flat fabric, incuse reverse type, and by the fact that they are sometimes restruck on Corinthian coins of the archaic class.

The types of the Corinthian coins refer to the myth of Bellerophon and Pegasos, and to the worship of Athena Χαλινιτις, for she it was who assisted Bellerophon to subdue the wondrous winged horse. Pegasos on his part was regarded as the author of fountains of fresh water, which with a stroke of his hoof he caused to gush forth from the rocks; cf. the fountain of the Muses, Hippokrene, which Pegasos produced in this way; hence Pegasos is also the horse of the Muses. On the Acrocorinthus he was said to have alighted, and to have drunk from the fountain of Peirene, where Bellerophon sought in vain to take and tame him, until at last, while the hero lay asleep beside the altar of Athena, the goddess came to him in a vision and gave him a golden bridle, which on awakening he found beside him, and with this he easily subdued the winged steed. Another version of the tale makes Athena herself tame Pegasos, and it is she who hands him over to Bellerophon.

The worship of Athena at Corinth, it may be here remarked, was also connected with the cultus of Poseidon and with the sea (cf. Preller. Gr. Myth., i. 172).

The chief goddess of Corinth was, however, Aphrodite, and it is her head which on the drachms takes the place of that of Athena.

The Pegasos staters of Corinth, familiarly called πωλοι (Poll. ix. 6, 76), were the principal medium of exchange along all the coasts of the Corinthian Gulf, and even beyond the seas in Italy and Sicily, where the largest hoards of them have been brought to light. In its divisional system the Corinthian coinage possessed a practical advantage over both the Attic and the Aeginetic, which enabled it to pass current in the territories of its great rivals. Thus the Corinthian stater of about 130 grs. would pass as a didrachm side by side with the tetradrachms of Athens, while the Corinthian drachm (1/3 stater) of about 44 grs. was practically equivalent to an Aeginetic hemidrachm. The region in which the Corinthian money circulated was therefore at no time confined to the narrow isthmus and limited territory of the town of Corinth.

The following are, as nearly as may be, the periods into which the coins of Corinth seem to fall.

Time of Cypselus, B.C. 657-625.
Q Pegasos with curled wing.
[BMC Corinth, Pl. I. 1.]
Incuse square divided into eight triangular compartments, of which four are in relief, as on the earliest coins of Aegina, etc., which these coins resemble also in fabric [cf. BMC Attica, Pl. XXIII].
AR Stater.

Time of Periander, B.C. 625-585, and later to circ. B.C. 500.


FIG. 220.
Q Pegasos with curled wing (Fig. 220). Incuse as above, gradually developing into the so-called croix gammé or swastika pattern [cf. N. C., 1890, Pl. I. 8, and BMC Corinth, Pl. I. 2-13].
AR Stater and Drachm.
Q Half Pegasos. Id.
AR ½ Drachm
Q Pegasos. Id.
AR Obol.
Head of Pegasos. Id.
AR ½ Obol.

The fabric of these coins is flatter than that of any other money of Greece proper. The Achaean mints of Southern Italy (Sybaris, etc.) seem to have been the only ones influenced by this early Corinthian method of striking coins. About the end of the sixth century the flat fabric is abandoned, the coins become smaller in module and more compact, and the head of Athena in an incuse square replaces the croix gammé.

Circ. B.C. 500-430.
Archaic Style.
Q Pegasos with curled wing. Incuse square, within which head of Athena Chalinitis helmeted; pure archaic style.
AR Stater and Drachm.
Id. Incuse square. Head of Aphrodite(?) of archaic style; hair turned up behind.
AR Drachm.
Q Half Pegasos with curled wing. Id. or head of Athena.
AR ½ Drachm.
Q Head of bridled Pegasos. Incuse square, containing large Δ.
AR Diobol.
Q Pegasos with curled wings; symbol, trident. Incuse square, within which Gorgon head and Τ Ρ Ι Η.
Q Head of Pegasos. Incuse square containing large Η.

For illustrations of the above coins see BMC Corinth, Pl. II. 1-18.

Circ. B.C. 430-400.
Transitional Style.
Q Pegasos with curled wing. Incuse square. Head of Athena of transitional style (eye in profile), sometimes with symbol (usually a trident) behind.
AR Stater.
Q Bellerophon, naked and bare-headed, riding on Pegasos. [1] Incuse square, in which Chimaera to r.
AR Trihemidrachm.
Q Pegasos with curled wing. Incuse square, within which head of Aphrodite l., hair rolled.
AR Drachm.
Ο Pegasos with curled wing; symbol, vine-branch. Incuse square. Pegasos prancing, to front, Inscr. ΔΙΟ.
AR Diobol.

For the above see BMC Corinth, Pl. II. 19-26, and C. Oman, in Corolla Num., pl. XI.

Circ. B.C. 400-338.
Fine Style.


FIG. 221.
Q Pegasos, usually flying, with pointed wing (Fig. 221), but occasionally standing or walking, with curled wing, or attached by a cord to a ring fixed in the wall above him; on some few specimens he is represented as drinking. Head of Athena, of fine style, in Corinthian helmet over large neck-flap. In the field a magistrate 's symbol, which was changed perhaps annually; sometimes also there are one or more dolphins in the field, which cannot be regarded as magistrates ' symbols.
AR Stater.
Q Pegasos with pointed wings. Head of Aphrodite variously represented; often with adjunct symbol.
AR Drachm.
Q Half Pegasos with curled wing. Head of Aphrodite; her hair variously dressed.
AR ½ Drachm.
Q Pegasos with curled wing. Pegasos with curled wings, prancing or trotting; sometimes with dolphin or inscr. ΔΙΟ.
AR Diobol.
Q Pegasos with pointed wings. Gorgon-head with mouth closed.
Q Pegasos with curled or with pointed wings. Cross of Swastika form.
AR Obol.
Q Id. Trident.
AR Obol.
Q Head of Pegasos. Trident.

For illustrations see BMC Corinth, Pls. III-V.

1 The trihemidrachms on which Bellerophon wears a petasos and chlamys belong to a later period, circ. B.C. 338. They usually have the letters ΔΙ in the field. [BMC Corinth, Pl. XII. 28.]

Some of the smaller denominations mentioned above might, with almost equal probability, be attributed to the period before B.C. 400, but they were not superseded by bronze coins until after the middle of the fourth century.

Fourth and Third Centuries to circ. B.C. 243.

Next in order, though in part contemporary with the series above described, there follows a large class of staters, drachms, etc., with magistrates ' letters or monograms in the field of the reverse, in addition to the adjunct symbol. These series, like the others, always have the letter Q on the obverse.

Although it is very difficult to speak with assurance as to the chronological sequence of these lettered coins, the following dates may be perhaps accepted as approximately correct. The list includes only such specimens as I have myself seen (cf. A. Blanchet, in Rev. Num., 1907).

Before B.C. 400Ξ Symbols: Shell (on obv. Pegasos of archaic style, with curled wing).
Circ. B.C. 400-350ΑΛ   „   Trident.
,,Ε or Ε   „  Forepart of bull; torch; rose; bow; poppy-head; star. (Pegasos on obv., often walking.)
  „  ΕΡ   „  Nike holding thymiaterion.
  „  ΕΥ   „  Naked figure holding fillet; tripod. (Pegasos on obv., sometimes walking.)
,,ΕΥΒ   „  Rose and dolphin.
,,ΕΥΘ   „  Double-bodied owl; chimaera; bell (?).
,,ΕΥΤΥ   „  No symbol. (Pegasos on obv. with curled wing, attached to ring by cord.)
  „  ΙΔ   „   Dolphins around.
,,Κ or ΚΑ   „   Trident.
,,Σ or Σ   „   Dolphin (cf. Imhoof, Gr. M., p. 24).
Circ. B.C. 350-338Α   „  Shield, on which trident; bee; oak-wreath; astragalos; harpa; sword; helmet with broad flap; stork.
,,ΑΛ   „  Wheel; apple; bearded mask; three crescents; cuirass; trophy.
,,ΑΥ   „  Figure holding torch and cornucopiae.
,,Δ   „  Dionysos standing; krater; ivy-wreath; vine-wreath; head of Helios; wolf; cuirass.
  „  Λ   „   Nike and dolphin; astragalos; kausia; trophy; thyrsos and tympanum crossed; trophy and ivy-leaf.
,,Ν or ΝΙ   „  Corn-wreath; three crescents in circle; kantharos; Ares(?); prow; oenochoë; cock 's head; bucranium; term; Macedonian helmet.

Circ. B.C. 338Γ Symbols: Thyrsos; dove in wreath.
,,Ι   „  Nike with fillet; cock on club; star; bow in case; owl.
,,ΚΑ (in monogram)   „  Crested Macedonian helmet.
Circ. B.C. 338-300ΑΡ   „  Boar; ivy-leaf; plough; aegis; Palladium; chimaera; helmet; cornucopiae; eagle; Triton ? (Helmet of Athena, on this series always laureate.)
,,ΔΙ   „  Cow and calf; wreath; Zeus seated; Athena, holding Nike, or with spear; Artemis, huntress; Artemis with torch; term with cornucopiae; amphora—the last on trihemidrachms of the Bellerophon type.
Circ. B.C. 300-243Β   „  Grapes; term.
,,Λ   „  Naval standard.
,,Var. Mons.   „  Term; eagle; helmet, &c.

BRONZE COINS.

Circ. B.C. 350-243.
Q Pegasos with pointed wing. Trident with various symbols and letters in the field.
Æ .5
Head of Athena, wearing crested Corinthian helmet. ΚΟΡΙΝΘΙΩΝ Trident, often with letter in the field.
Æ .75
Head of Athena as above. Κ Pegasos with pointed wing.
Æ .55
Head of Poseidon with hair falling in heavy locks, and bound with wreath of marine plant, as on the coins of Antigonus Gonatas, or Doson. ΚΟΡ or Ο, and various letters. Bellerophon mounted on Pegasos and striking downwards with his spear.
Æ .8
Head of bearded Herakles, wearing wreath. Q and various letters. Forepart of Pegasos flying r.
Æ .55
Young male head l. laureate; behind, aplustre. Q Pegasos with pointed wing to l. [Hunter Cat., Pl. XXXVI. 19]
Æ .6

Corinth, although occupied by a Macedonian garrison from B.C. 338-243, when it was delivered by Aratus, does not seem to have been deprived of the right of coinage, for its Pegasos staters continued to be struck, though much less plentifully than of old, until it became a member of the Achaean League. But in B.C. 223 Corinth was surrendered by the League to Antigonus Doson, and between this time and 196, when it was again set free by the Romans and reunited to the League, it does not appear to have been allowed to strike money, unless indeed the bronze pieces with the heads of Poseidon and Herakles are to be assigned to this period.

For illustrations of many of the above-mentioned coins see B. M. C., Cor., Pls. VI-XIV.

Corinth a Roman Colony.

[BMC Corinth, xxxiii-xlvi and Plates XV-XXIII.]

From its destruction by Mummius in B.C. 146, Corinth remained a heap of ruins for the space of one hundred years. In B.C. 44 Caesar sent a colony there (Colonia Laüs Iulia Corinthus), and the city became once more a flourishing place, as, from the natural advantages of its position, it could hardly have failed to become. Henceforth it struck bronze coins with Latin legends, LAVS IVLI CORINT, CORINT, or COR, which, down to the death of Galba, usually bear the names of Duoviri.

Of these annual Duoviri there are at least twenty-three pairs or single names which occur on coins in the ablative case, accompanied by the title IIVIR, sometimes with the addition of ITER[um] or QVIN[quennalibus]. The title QVIN. appears to have been added only in the years in which the Census was taken, on which occasions the Duoviri were entitled 'Duoviri censoria potestate quinquennales. '

For a list of the Corinthian Duoviri see Earle Fox in Journ. Int. d 'arch. num., 1899, 89 f., and for the arrangement of the names upon the coins see Froehner in Rev. Num., 1907, pp. 164 ff.

Vespasian, A. D. 69, withdrew the privileges which Nero had granted to the Greeks and reconstituted Achaea as a Senatorial province. Henceforth until the reign of Domitian (A. D. 81) no coins were struck at Corinth. But in his reign a new series of coins begins, one of which expressly states the fact that it was issued PERM[issu] IMP[eratoris] (Imhoof and Gardner, Num. Comm. on Paus., Pl. B. XXI).

From the reign of Domitian to that of Gordian III the legends are COL. IVL. FLAV. AVG. COR., COL. IVL. COR., or C. L. I. COR, while the magistrates ' names are discontinued.

Among the types deserving of special mention on the coins of Corinth as a Roman colony are the following:—Bellerophon holding or subduing Pegasos. Bellerophon standing beside Pegasos while he drinks from a stream at the foot of the Acrocorinthus. Bellerophon mounted on Pegasos contending with the Chimaera. Pegasos leaping from the point of the rock of the Acrocorinthus. Other frequent types refer to the myth of Melikertes or Palaemon, in whose honor the games called Isthmia were celebrated at the Isthmus. Such are the boy Melikertes lying on the back of a dolphin under a pine-tree (Paus. ii. 1.3); the body of Melikertes lying on a dolphin, which is placed on an altar beneath a tree with Isthmos as a naked youth holding a rudder, or Poseidon with his trident standing by; Palaemon standing or riding on the back of the dolphin; circular temple of Palaemon, sometimes with sacrificial bull in front; Ino holding her child Melikertes in her arms, before her, sometimes Isthmos seated on a rock, with a dolphin representing the sea; Ino throwing herself from the rock Moluris with Melikertes in her arms, in front, dolphin, or sea-god stretching out his arms to receive the child. The following types are also worthy of note:—

Isthmos personified as a naked youth, either seated or standing, and holding one or two rudders, in allusion to the two ports of Corinth, inscr. in one instance ISTHMVS. The two ports Lechaeum and Cenchreae as nymphs holding rudders, legend sometimes LECH, CENCH, or as recumbent male figures with the Acrocorinthus between them. The port of Cenchreae with statue of Poseidon in the center, on either side of the harbor are the temple of Aphrodite and the sanctuaries of Asklepios and Isis, while below are three galleys (Paus. ii. 2. 3). Statues of Poseidon in various attitudes. Temple of Poseidon with Tritons on the roof (Paus. ii. 1. 7). Poseidon in chariot drawn by hippocamps. Isis Pharia. Artemis huntress. Artemis Ephesia. Among the numerous copies of statues on the coins of Corinth one of the most interesting is that of the Aphrodite of the Acrocorinthus, standing naked to waist, and holding the shield of Ares, on the polished surface of which she is gazing at her reflection as in a mirror. This type illustrates the epithet ωπλισμενη applied by Pausanias (ii. 5. 1) to the statue. The Acrocorinthus with temple of Aphrodite on the top, and buildings and a tree at the foot. Head of Aphrodite or of the famous Hetaira Laïs, rev. Tomb of Laïs, consisting of the capital of a column surmounted by a lioness standing over a prostrate ram, as described by Pausanias (ii. 2. 4), ταφος Λαιδος, ω δη λεαινα επιθημα εστι κριον εχουσα εν τοις προτεροις ποσιν. Statue of Athena Chalinitis holding bridle, spear, and shield (Paus. ii. 4. 1), or bridling Pegasos. The sacred Fountain Peirene personified as a nymph seated on a rock and holding a vase, or seated at the foot of the Acrocorinthus, on the summit of which is the temple of Aphrodite, while in front is Pegasos drinking the water of the spring. Agonistic types, wrestlers, runners, etc. Stadium with meta in the center between two horsemen racing at full speed. ISTHMIA in a wreath, etc. Dionysos standing or seated. Hermes with ram, standing or seated, or carrying infant Dionysos. Tyche standing or seated. Zeus standing. Athena standing. Herakles standing. Helios in quadriga. Kybele seated. Asklepios and Hygieia. Hygieia seated feeding serpent. Kronos with sickle. Hephaestos with tongs. Ares. Triptolemos in serpent-car. The Propylaea surmounted by quadrigas. The Genius of the Colony holding cornucopiae and patera, inscr. GEN. COL. COR. The Temple of the Gens Julia, inscribed on the front CAESAR, AVGVSTVS, or GENT. IVLI. Head of Roma, inscr. ROMAE ET IMPERIO. Head of the Senate, inscr. SENAT. P. Q. R. The later coins of Nero record his visit to Greece, ADVE[ntus] AVC., ADLO[cutio] AVC., etc.

For numerous other types, which we have not space to mention, see Imhoof and Gardner, Numismatic Commentary on Pausanias, in the Journ. Hell. Stud., 1885; and Earle Fox, in Journ. Int. d 'arch. num., 1899, 89 f., and 1903, 5 f., BMC Corinth, xlvi, and Z. f. N., xxiv. p. 56.

Marks of Value. Some of the Corinthian bronze coins of Imperial times bear marks of value, e.g. those of the Duoviri, Inst.... and L. Cas...., of which the larger specimens are countermarked A (= As) and the smaller S (= Semis), although these latter were issued as quadrantes, as they bear the letter Q in the field (BMC Corinth, p. xl). A still smaller coin (E. Fox, op. cit., 1899, 99) is countermarked with three globules (= Quadrans). The letters SE on certain other coins (BMC Corinth, xl) may also stand for Semis.

Tenea, originally a village about six miles south of Corinth, issued bronze coins as a member of the Achaean League. It rose in importance after the destruction of Corinth, and in Imperial times struck a few coins with heads of S. Severus and Domna. Inscr. ΤΕΝΕΑΤΩΝ; Types, Tyche; Dionysos standing (BMC Peloponnesus 57; Z. f. N., 1874, 319).


406

COLONIES OF CORINTH

[BMC Corinth, pp. xlviii-lxviii and Plates XXIV-XXXIX.]

Under this general heading it is convenient to classify all those copies of the Corinthian Pegasos staters which are without the letter Q. They were issued by various towns in Acarnania, Corcyra, Epirus, Illyricum, Sicily, and Bruttium.

(a) In Acarnania:—
Alyzia (B.C. 350-250), with Α, Α, ΑΛΥ, ΑΛΥΖΑΙΩΝ.

Anactorium (B.C. 500-250), F, , , Α, ΑΝ, ΑΝΑ, ΑΝΑΚΤ, ΑΝΑΚΤΟΡΙΩΝ, ΑΝΑΚΤΟΡΙΕΩΝ, also ΑΚΤΙΟ and ΑΚΤΙΑΣ in reference to the Actian games in connexion with the temple of Apollo on the Actian promontory in the territory of Anactorium (BMC Corinth, lix). Abbreviated names of magistrates, perhaps officials of the Acarnanian League, with their symbols, occur on coins subsequent to B.C. 350.

Argos-Amphilochicum (B.C. 350-270), Α, ΑΡ, ΑΡΓΕΙ, ΑΡΓΕΙΩΝ, ΑΡΓΕΩΝ and ΑΡΓΙΩΝ. Later with ΑΜ, ΑΜΦ, ΑΜΦΙ, ΑΜΦΙΛ. ΛΜΦΙΛΟ, ΑΜΦΙΛΟΧΩΝ

Astacus (circ. B.C. 350), with ΑΣ and symbol, Crayfish, αστακος.

Coronta (?) (circ. B.C. 350-250), with Κ.

Echinus (?) (circ. B.C. 300-250), with Ε and symbol, Fish-hook.

Leucas (circ. B.C. 500-250), Λ, Λ, ΛΕ, ΛΕΥ, ΛΕΥΚΑΔΙ and ΛΕΥΚΑΔΙΩΝ.

Metropolis (circ. B.C. 300-250), Μ and Μ.

Stratus (circ. B.C. 350-250), ΣΤΡΑΤΙΩΝ and symbol, head of Acheloös. [Z. f. N., xv. Pl. LII. 6.]
 
Thyrrheium (circ. B.C. 350-250), Θ, ΘΥ, ΘΥΡ, ΘΥΡΡ.
 
Acarnanian Federal with , struck in Leucas (circ. B.C. 300-250), and later (circ. B.C. 250-167) (at Thyrrheium ?) on a standard reduced to 1 06 grs., the weight of a double Victoriatus.
(b) In Corcyra:— (circ. B.C. 338-250), Κ, , , and ΚΟΡ, or ΚΟΡΚΥΡΑΙΩΝ

(c) In Epirus:—

Ambracia (circ. B.C. 480 and 432-350), Α, A, ΑΜ, ΑΜΠ, ΑΜΠΡΑ, ΛΜΠΡΑΚΙ, ΑΜΠΡΑΚΙΟΤΑΝ, ΑΜΠΡΑΚΙΩΤΑΝ, and ΑΜΒΡΑΚΙΩΤΑΝ.
 
Epirote federal (after B.C. 295), (ΑΠΕΙ) and Α (probably for Ambracia), and after B.C. 238 hemidrachms on the standard of the half Victoriatus, 26 grs. with Α.

(d) In Illyricum:—

Apollonia (circ. B.C. 350), ΑΠΟΛ.
 
Epidamnus-Dyrrhachium, with (circ. B.C. 450), or Δ, ΔΥΡ, ΔΥΡΑ, ΔΥΡΡΑΧΙΝΩΝ (circ. B.C. 350-229).

(e) In Sicily:—

Eryx with ארך (circ. B.C. 344 ?).
 
Leontini, ΛΕΟΝΤΙΝΟΝ. (Time of Dion, circ. 356-353.)
 
Syracuse, ΣΥΡΛΚΟΣΙΟΝ (circ. 356-353) and ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ (circ. B.C. 344, 317-306, and 306-289 or later), or triskeles, with or without inscr.

(f) In Bruttium:—

Locri Epizephyrii (circ. B.C. 350-268). , ΛΟ, ΛΟΚ, ΛΟΚΡΩΝ.
 
Mesma (circ. B.C. 350-300), Μ and .
 
Rhegium (circ. B.C. 350-300), .
 
Terina (circ. B.C. 325), .

Of the above cities which adopted the Corinthian stater, Anactorium, Leucas, and perhaps Ambracia appear to be the only ones which did so before the close of the fifth century, for of these towns alone, in addition to Corinth, are staters extant of the transitional and early fine style.

Epidamnus, Argos-Amphilochicum, and Alyzia followed their example at a somewhat later period, but it was not until after the middle of the fourth century that the Corinthian stater came into general use in the western parts of Greece, in Bruttium, and in Sicily. From this time until the middle of the third century the Pegasos staters continued to be issued in large quantities, chiefly, it is to be inferred, for the purposes of trade with Italy and Sicily, where the largest finds of this class of coin have been brought to light.

The Pegasos coinage, common though it undoubtedly was to many cities, is not to be confounded with a federal coinage properly so called, such as that of the Achaean League, as there is no reason to suppose that it was adopted in pursuance of reciprocal treaties between Corinth on the one part, and the towns participating in the coinage on the other. The various cities would seem rather to have selected the Corinthian types independently of one another, and for their own individual convenience and profit, much in the same way as many Asiatic cities, long after the death of Alexander, copied the Macedonian tetradrachm, which his conquests had raised to the rank of an international coin, familiar in all the markets of the Greek East.

In the outset no doubt the Corinthian coinage may have been imposed either by choice or by necessity upon Anactorium and Leucas by the mother city, Corinth; but from these mints the system appears to have spread naturally enough throughout the Acheloüs district among towns which, as members of the Acarnanian League, were quite beyond the influence of the 'city of the two seas '.

Thus, as Imhoof-Blumer (Acarnania, p. 12) has pointed out, the Pegasos staters within the limits of Acarnania became a quasi-federal Acarnanian coinage, while outside those limits they would circulate freely side by side with the staters of Corinth herself, Ambracia, Syracuse, etc., as a generally recognized international currency.

 

All coins are guaranteed for eternity